2009 Chicago Bears Preseason Thread - A new era begins

[David]

Last year among guys who started 10+ games, only Bulger, Favre, Frerotte, Romo and Roethlisberger had a higher INT%. Two of those guys are out of football.

 

You can say it's because he had to do too much but that's just who he is and it's what everyone said he would be coming out of college. Don't get me wrong, he's a stud and I wish like hell the Vikings would have been able to make that deal. He'll complete a good percentage, he can get the ball downfield, he'll score touchdowns but he'll also make a good number of bad decisions where he forces the ball and throws picks.

 

I agree with your overall asessment of Cutler, but the INT% stat is a bit misleading.

 

Out of that list of QBs, only three threw more TDs than INTS - Cutler (25:18), Romo (26:14) and Roethlisberger (17:15). Cutler's main benefit to a team is that even though he'll throw a lot of interceptions, he'll throw more TDs. Keep in mind he's still very young as well, so while he'll likely always throw a decent number of picks, he could still improve his ratio considerably as he develops.

 

 

Plus those guys were playing (especially ROFLsberger) with much better defenses.

[dew1679666265]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins. In 1999, Trent Green went out for the year in the preseason and backup Kurt Warner led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. That's just a couple historical examples of good backup QBs. It's not a frequent occurence, but there are times when a starter can go down and the backup can lead the team to a successful year.

 

This year, teams that, if they lose a starter, could have a backup lead them to the playoffs (in my opinion): Cardinals (Leinart), Titans (Young), Texans (Grossman), Colts (Sorgi), Vikings (Jackson/Rosenfels), Patriots (O'Connell) and Steelers (Batch). Some of those guys are just on good teams that could carry the QB (Titans, Colts, Pats, Vikings, Steelers), but a couple of them are at least decent in their own right (Grossman, Leinart).

[dew1679666265]

Last year among guys who started 10+ games, only Bulger, Favre, Frerotte, Romo and Roethlisberger had a higher INT%. Two of those guys are out of football.

 

You can say it's because he had to do too much but that's just who he is and it's what everyone said he would be coming out of college. Don't get me wrong, he's a stud and I wish like hell the Vikings would have been able to make that deal. He'll complete a good percentage, he can get the ball downfield, he'll score touchdowns but he'll also make a good number of bad decisions where he forces the ball and throws picks.

 

I agree with your overall asessment of Cutler, but the INT% stat is a bit misleading.

 

Out of that list of QBs, only three threw more TDs than INTS - Cutler (25:18), Romo (26:14) and Roethlisberger (17:15). Cutler's main benefit to a team is that even though he'll throw a lot of interceptions, he'll throw more TDs. Keep in mind he's still very young as well, so while he'll likely always throw a decent number of picks, he could still improve his ratio considerably as he develops.

 

 

Plus those guys were playing (especially ROFLsberger) with much better defenses.

 

Right. I'm interested to see what Cutler can do with some more experience and even an average defense. I think the INTs could be cut down to 12-15 easily, perhaps a little lower.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins.

 

Yeah, but that was a 16 win team that got to play the two crappy western divisions. He led them to 5 fewer wins. A typical 10 win team that suffers such a decline would be considered to have had a disastrous season.

[Soul]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins.

 

Yeah, but that was a 16 win team that got to play the two crappy western divisions. He led them to 5 fewer wins. A typical 10 win team that suffers such a decline would be considered to have had a disastrous season.

 

Maybe that's not the best example.

[dew1679666265]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins.

 

Yeah, but that was a 16 win team that got to play the two crappy western divisions. He led them to 5 fewer wins. A typical 10 win team that suffers such a decline would be considered to have had a disastrous season.

 

What was the likelihood that the Patriots, with Brady, would have repeated a 16-win season? Maybe they would have, but age and regression likely played a part in the lesser number of wins.

 

A QB with a 63.4 completion percentage, 21 TDs to 11 INTs and a QB rating of 89.4 isn't costing the team very many wins. The defense in 2008 dropped from 4th in yards allowed and 4th in points allowed to 8th and 10th respectively. The defense also had 8 key players (not all starters) over 30 years old - with 3 of them 35 or older. The 2007 defense was bound to regress and that likely cost them more wins than the move from Brady to Cassel - unless you think Brady was likely to repeat one of the greatest statistical years in the history of the NFL.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins.

 

Yeah, but that was a 16 win team that got to play the two crappy western divisions. He led them to 5 fewer wins. A typical 10 win team that suffers such a decline would be considered to have had a disastrous season.

 

What was the likelihood that the Patriots, with Brady, would have repeated a 16-win season? Maybe they would have, but age and regression likely played a part in the lesser number of wins.

 

A QB with a 63.4 completion percentage, 21 TDs to 11 INTs and a QB rating of 89.4 isn't costing the team very many wins. The defense in 2008 dropped from 4th in yards allowed and 4th in points allowed to 8th and 10th respectively. The defense also had 8 key players (not all starters) over 30 years old - with 3 of them 35 or older. The 2007 defense was bound to regress and that likely cost them more wins than the move from Brady to Cassel - unless you think Brady was likely to repeat one of the greatest statistical years in the history of the NFL.

 

They weren't going to win 16 again, but everything was in place for them to be absolutely fantastic last year. Cassell could not have stepped into a better situation to enjoy success. It's a very QB friendly offense with loads of talent around him, plus the division is mediocre and they were playing 2 really bad divisions.

[dew1679666265]

If Cutler or any starter goes down for the season, that team won't go anywhere. But a good backup can hold the fort down if the starter is just injured for a few games. That can be the difference between getting in the playoffs and holding the team steady until the starter gets back.

 

Brady was out all year last year and Matt Cassell led the Pats to 11 wins.

 

Yeah, but that was a 16 win team that got to play the two crappy western divisions. He led them to 5 fewer wins. A typical 10 win team that suffers such a decline would be considered to have had a disastrous season.

 

What was the likelihood that the Patriots, with Brady, would have repeated a 16-win season? Maybe they would have, but age and regression likely played a part in the lesser number of wins.

 

A QB with a 63.4 completion percentage, 21 TDs to 11 INTs and a QB rating of 89.4 isn't costing the team very many wins. The defense in 2008 dropped from 4th in yards allowed and 4th in points allowed to 8th and 10th respectively. The defense also had 8 key players (not all starters) over 30 years old - with 3 of them 35 or older. The 2007 defense was bound to regress and that likely cost them more wins than the move from Brady to Cassel - unless you think Brady was likely to repeat one of the greatest statistical years in the history of the NFL.

 

They weren't going to win 16 again, but everything was in place for them to be absolutely fantastic last year. Cassell could not have stepped into a better situation to enjoy success. It's a very QB friendly offense with loads of talent around him.

 

Exactly, that's part of my point. Some teams (like the Pats, Colts, Titans, Steelers, etc) have the system to succeed almost no matter the QB. Certainly, having a great QB helps a lot, but the two best teams in the AFC last year (Ten and Pit) didn't have remarkable QBs leading them. Neither would have turned into mediocre teams if their backups had played the entire year.

 

Keep in mind I'm responding to the bolded. Any of those teams would have a dropoff (some larger than others), but I think all would have remained playoff contenders with their backup playing most of the year (which the Pats actually did).

[Banedon]

Huh...I'm surprised we're having a backup QB conversation. I thought Hanie actually looked pretty decent. In fact, I don't think Orton would've been able to make that TD pass that Hanie made while running toward the sideline.

[jersey cubs fan]

Huh...I'm surprised we're having a backup QB conversation. I thought Hanie actually looked pretty decent. In fact, I don't think Orton would've been able to make that TD pass that Hanie made while running toward the sideline.

 

That was an incredibly easy throw to make though. I'm fine with Hanie. I really don't see the need for a random veteran. Cutler is the one who is making or breaking this team. All hopes for 10, 11 wins are because of him, without him this team isn't a serious contender, and the backup doesn't really matter. But I like having a young guy with potential in that role.

[UMFan83]

I think you are overrating Grossmans ability. He was already beaten out by Dan Orvolosky for the 2nd QB spot and is third on their depth chart (this was before the injury he suffered on Saturday).

[dew1679666265]

I think you are overrating Grossmans ability. He was already beaten out by Dan Orvolosky for the 2nd QB spot and is third on their depth chart (this was before the injury he suffered on Saturday).

 

Grossman's got the ability, but he's very inconsistent with it. I think the Texans are on the verge of a playoff spot anyway (though the Colts and Titans are significant roadblocks in their way) and Grossman can be good enough to help them achieve one. Only if he can start playing consistently, though, I'll admit.

[Soul]

My main concern with the backup situation isn't with Hanie. It's that I would prefer a 3rd stringer who has some kind of upside. I fail to see the benefit to having someone like Basanez take reps in practice. He's not an NFL QB, and I would prefer someone who I can at least say has some potential, even if its years off.

 

Other than that, I agree the bulk of the concern needs to be with Cutler and getting the 1st string offense to click as soon as possible. Without that, we're going nowhere.

[jersey cubs fan]

My main concern with the backup situation isn't with Hanie. It's that I would prefer a 3rd stringer who has some kind of upside. I fail to see the benefit to having someone like Basanez take reps in practice. He's not an NFL QB, and I would prefer someone who I can at least say has some potential, even if its years off.

 

Other than that, I agree the bulk of the concern needs to be with Cutler and getting the 1st string offense to click as soon as possible. Without that, we're going nowhere.

 

I would agree with the concern for Basanez. I didn't remember ever thinking he had a future when I saw him in college. The tipped INT seemed to completely rattle him.

[Banedon]

Yeah...Basaenez doesn't instill much confidence, but I think if Cutler were to go down, and Hanie had to start any number of games, the Bears would look to pick up somebody off the scrap heap anyhow. I think Basaenez probably only plays if Cutler and Hanie both got injured in the same game, in which case, we're SOL anyway.

[Soul]

We've got a large number of eggs in the Cutler basket :)

[jersey cubs fan]

We've got a large number of eggs in the Cutler basket :)

 

Or all of them.

[Banedon]

Boy, I was really hoping for more info out of MMQB today. I knew it was going to be Bears heavy, but nothing there was really new.

[jersey cubs fan]

Boy, I was really hoping for more info out of MMQB today. I knew it was going to be Bears heavy, but nothing there was really new.

 

I always assume that whenever a big national guy does a story on a team I follow, it's basically going to be a rehash of stuff we've seen reported by the local guys. I mean, he actually put in the story where Urlacher called Cutler about that name calling and said, "hey p*****". Everybody already reported that weeks ago, and King decides to throw it out there as some sort of interesting nugget only he got out of him.

 

 

The best part about MMQB these days is Drew Magery giving it the FJM treatment on kissingsuzykolber.

[Soul]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-18-bears-bits-chicago-aug18,0,1064970.story

 

M.A.S.H. unit (I'm ignoring the Cutler/Hester morass because I think its a non-story).

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-18-bears-bits-chicago-aug18,0,1064970.story

 

M.A.S.H. unit (I'm ignoring the Cutler/Hester morass because I think its a non-story).

 

I think it's a story in that Jay has to realize that Hester isn't going to make those kinds of plays. He should have known that before that one, but maybe he wanted to see for himself.

[Soul]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-18-bears-bits-chicago-aug18,0,1064970.story

 

M.A.S.H. unit (I'm ignoring the Cutler/Hester morass because I think its a non-story).

 

I think it's a story in that Jay has to realize that Hester isn't going to make those kinds of plays. He should have known that before that one, but maybe he wanted to see for himself.

 

When I read the entire comment, it was easy for me to see that what he was saying wasn't a knock on Hester, but a knock on himself for not playing to Hester's skill set.

 

But of course many didn't see it that way. I view it as a non-issue, but I acknowledge its just more fuel for the fire of those who are waiting and hoping for Cutler to fail.

[David]

If the Vikings have already paid for the private jet that Brett Favre is flying to Minnesota, then the Bears should pop for the limo to get the aging, post-op quarterback to Vikings camp to make sure he signs there.

I already had the Chicago Cutlers at 13-3, but that goes to 14-2 as soon as the drama queen becomes a Viking. I mean, it doesn’t get much better for a questionable Bears defense than for Minnesota to bring in a quarterback with a worse rating than Tarvaris Jackson --- true fact --- and compound that with a quarterback who has the credentials to overrule handoffs to Adrian Peterson, whom the Bears can’t tackle. What’s more, Bears coach Lovie Smith beats Favre more than he beats Jackson.

The only way it could get any better for the Bears is if Favre was coached by Charlie Weis. Goodness, even Bob Babich could deisgn a defense to win that game.

And please, don’t give me that garbage about Favre’s being a Hall-of-Famer, and here’s why: The guy had 10 fumbles and 22 interceptions last season, and the only way the Hall-of-Fame hooey makes sense is if you’re talking the the football version of Willie Mays, circa ’73 Mets. . . .

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/2009/08/favre-a-viking-thats-the-bears-best-offseason-move-after-getting-cutler.html

 

 

One of the few times I agree with Rosenbloom.

[Soul]

That's pretty strong worded.

 

I'm *hoping* he's right. Favre deserves failure.

[Banedon]

Rosenbloom is awful. He loves the cute nicknames like the "Chicago Cutlers" or calling preseason games "fake games". And if he's being serious about the Bears going 14-2, he's certifiable.