Bears game 13: Sunday, Dec 12 vs NE on CBS

[Soul]

Cutler's best yards per carry average was in 2007, his first full year of starting, and he had 44 carries for 205 yards, for a 4.7 average.

 

He had 40 for 173 last year in his first year with the Bears for a 4.3 average.

 

He has 41 for 200 so far this year, for a 4.9 average...so he's having his best average per carry this year, but it's not by leaps and bounds or anything.

 

I think .6 ypc is fairly significant in terms of the success of those runs.

[jersey cubs fan]

Cutler's best yards per carry average was in 2007, his first full year of starting, and he had 44 carries for 205 yards, for a 4.7 average.

 

He had 40 for 173 last year in his first year with the Bears for a 4.3 average.

 

He has 41 for 200 so far this year, for a 4.9 average...so he's having his best average per carry this year, but it's not by leaps and bounds or anything.

 

I think .6 ypc is fairly significant in terms of the success of those runs.

 

You are talking about only a handful of runs though so differences in average can vary, and the success of the runs isn't really meaningful when attempting to say he's doing something differently.

[Banedon]

Cutler's best yards per carry average was in 2007, his first full year of starting, and he had 44 carries for 205 yards, for a 4.7 average.

 

He had 40 for 173 last year in his first year with the Bears for a 4.3 average.

 

He has 41 for 200 so far this year, for a 4.9 average...so he's having his best average per carry this year, but it's not by leaps and bounds or anything.

 

I think .6 ypc is fairly significant in terms of the success of those runs.

 

From last year to this one...fine. But in terms of his career best, it's .2ypc. And there's still 4 games left, against some strong football teams.

 

My point is only that it's not like Cutler morphed from a stand still QB into a mobile one. If anything, the first half of this year, where he was more stationary, was the outlier.

[jersey cubs fan]

My point is only that it's not like Cutler morphed from a stand still QB into a mobile one. If anything, the first half of this year, where he was more stationary, was the outlier.

 

He ran in the first three games until he got a concussion.

[Banedon]

My point is only that it's not like Cutler morphed from a stand still QB into a mobile one. If anything, the first half of this year, where he was more stationary, was the outlier.

 

He ran in the first three games until he got a concussion.

 

Hmmm...true enough. It must just be the high number of sacks that makes it seems like he was more stationary.

[jersey cubs fan]

My point is only that it's not like Cutler morphed from a stand still QB into a mobile one. If anything, the first half of this year, where he was more stationary, was the outlier.

 

He ran in the first three games until he got a concussion.

 

Hmmm...true enough. It must just be the high number of sacks that makes it seems like he was more stationary.

 

It's not like he stopped getting sacked. 4 in back to back games.

[JonJayCutler]

You're missing my point entirely. It's obvious that changes were made offensively after the Washington game, and if we don't lose that game in such a ridiculous fashion, it's debatable whether or not those changes get made when they do. My argument is perfectly valid.

 

I don't think it is. Martz has been adjusting all season long. They didn't run before because they couldn't. They've gotten a little better, to the point where guys are actually breaking long ones on occasion. They ran a lot in Carolina because they had to, and because they could. It's not like they came out against Buffalo and ran all day long. Cutler had more passing attempts against the Bills and Vikings than he did against Dallas and the Packers. Forte ran just 13 and 14 times the last two games. Taylor is just 6 and 9.

 

I just don't see any reason to point to a stupid loss against the Redskins as the reason for more success now. It just doesn't hold up at all.

 

Again, agree to disagree. None of what we're arguing can be proven, thus it's merely a matter of opinion.

 

You are the one attempting to prove the butterfly effect happened and that Lovie Smith screwing up the Redskins game was a godsend. It's on you to prove your myth, not me.

 

I've already said previously (in the Bears-Lions thread I think) that I could not prove it, which is why I called it a theory. But you cannot disprove it either.

 

For what it's worth, the Bears are indeed running more often after the bye.

 

Total rushing attempts per game between Forte and Taylor before the bye:

 

26, 14, 14, 15, 40, 12, 13.

 

After the bye:

 

24, 32, 36, 20, 22.

 

So that's 5 of the 7 games before the bye where they ran 15 times or less, where they've ran at least 20 times for every game after the bye. And the running 40 times against Carolina was mostly due to Cutler being out and our backup QB throwing 4 picks in 16 passing attempts. I'm not sure how you can deny that they're trying to run more when Martz himself said they're going for a more balanced attack on offense.

[jersey cubs fan]

. I'm not sure how you can deny that they're trying to run more when Martz himself said they're going for a more balanced attack on offense.

 

Not because Lovie Smith chose not to flap his butterfly wings on a challenge against Washington. They've talked about balance all year. They got a little better running the last 2-3 games

[jersey cubs fan]

20 runs the game immediately following the supposed butterfly game, how is that a change? 20 and 22 the last two games, how is that any different from how they started the season?

[JonJayCutler]

20 runs the game immediately following the supposed butterfly game, how is that a change? 20 and 22 the last two games, how is that any different from how they started the season?

 

24 attempts in the game after Washington, not 20. They had 13 in the Washington game, so they almost doubled that.

[jersey cubs fan]

20 runs the game immediately following the supposed butterfly game, how is that a change? 20 and 22 the last two games, how is that any different from how they started the season?

 

24 attempts in the game after Washington, not 20. They had 13 in the Washington game, so they almost doubled that.

 

Still fewer than opening day. How is that evidence of a change that Lovie's wings created?

[JonJayCutler]

20 runs the game immediately following the supposed butterfly game, how is that a change? 20 and 22 the last two games, how is that any different from how they started the season?

 

24 attempts in the game after Washington, not 20. They had 13 in the Washington game, so they almost doubled that.

 

Still fewer than opening day. How is that evidence of a change that Lovie's wings created?

 

They definitely came out in Week 1 running the ball. But there is no denying that they became very pass-heavy after that. Like I said, 5 of the first 7 games with 15 or less total rushing attempts. They're much more consistent now, with the last five games all seeing 20 or more rushes, like I said.

 

I can't get the image of Lovie flapping butterfly wings out of my head now, lol.

[rawaction]

It's pretty clear the Bears were not really trying to run the ball early in the season. I understand they weren't very good at it, but in the aforementioned Washington game, Forte and Taylor ran the ball 13 times for 61 yards for a 4.7 average. And they completely stopped despite the game never being anywhere near the point where you had to abandon the run. It's pretty clear now that they have put an extra emphasis on the running game.

[Banedon]

Tinoisamoa had his knee scoped. His status for Sunday is uncertain.

 

Roach's hip injury was supposedly minor, and he should be good for Sunday.

[JonJayCutler]

How is that evidence of a change that Lovie's wings created?

 

And to answer your question, the more frequent rushing is evidence that points to a revamping of the offensive gameplan after the Washington game, even if it was minor. Could they have still made those changes if they hang onto win the Washington game? Sure, but we'll never know that for certain.

 

I don't know why it's a big deal though, I'm not asking you to agree with me.

[David]

So are we running a Patriots/Broncos like YAC heavy offense?

[rawaction]

Tinoisamoa had his knee scoped. His status for Sunday is uncertain.

 

Roach's hip injury was supposedly minor, and he should be good for Sunday.

 

Grand scheme of thing, it doesn't matter. Will likely run a lot of nickel anyway. I like DJ Moore on a TE or even Danieal Manning with his size and speed if you want to play 3 safeties.

[Soul]

Cutler's best yards per carry average was in 2007, his first full year of starting, and he had 44 carries for 205 yards, for a 4.7 average.

 

He had 40 for 173 last year in his first year with the Bears for a 4.3 average.

 

He has 41 for 200 so far this year, for a 4.9 average...so he's having his best average per carry this year, but it's not by leaps and bounds or anything.

 

I think .6 ypc is fairly significant in terms of the success of those runs.

 

From last year to this one...fine. But in terms of his career best, it's .2ypc. And there's still 4 games left, against some strong football teams.

 

My point is only that it's not like Cutler morphed from a stand still QB into a mobile one. If anything, the first half of this year, where he was more stationary, was the outlier.

 

I think that's fair. My perception is that he's doing a better job with it now. I wasn't really attempting to justify it with hard stats, just that when he's taking off it seems to hurt the opposing defense and I'm really liking it. And I hope he keeps doing it.

[Guest]

My own theory on what the offense is doing differently is running plays that helps keep their QB alive. Fingers are crossed that the running game can produce enough of a threat to give Cutler more than .00000000005 seconds to set up a pass play.

[jersey cubs fan]

My own theory on what the offense is doing differently is running plays that helps keep their QB alive. Fingers are crossed that the running game can produce enough of a threat to give Cutler more than .00000000005 seconds to set up a pass play.

 

The quick pass and draw play strategy was kind of crazy yesterday how often they relied on it.

[Magnetic Curses]

My own theory on what the offense is doing differently is running plays that helps keep their QB alive. Fingers are crossed that the running game can produce enough of a threat to give Cutler more than .00000000005 seconds to set up a pass play.

 

The quick pass and draw play strategy was kind of crazy yesterday how often they relied on it.

 

isn't the quick pass part all cutler rather than martz? i mean martz might have instructed him to hit the hot read, my understanding of the offense is that the qb doesn't audible but has a ton of options within the framework of the play itself.

[jersey cubs fan]

My own theory on what the offense is doing differently is running plays that helps keep their QB alive. Fingers are crossed that the running game can produce enough of a threat to give Cutler more than .00000000005 seconds to set up a pass play.

 

The quick pass and draw play strategy was kind of crazy yesterday how often they relied on it.

 

isn't the quick pass part all cutler rather than martz? i mean martz might have instructed him to hit the hot read, my understanding of the offense is that the qb doesn't audible but has a ton of options within the framework of the play itself.

 

As much as it happened I have to think that was part of gameplan and very much related to Martz, much like the halftime adjustment against Dallas.

[UMFan83]

You guys are all boring me with this discussion.

 

/waits for someone to suggest that we start talking about power rankings

[Wilson A2000]

So are we running a Patriots/Broncos like YAC heavy offense?

 

Sure. You don't have a big guy to throw the ball to deep where he can go up and get it. The line doesn't give Jay the time to do it anyway. I don't really remember the type of offense Martz had in St. Louis with respect to deep balls, but I guess they really didn't throw bombs much. Since the Bears have quick, shifty receivers Martz certainly seems to be drawing up plays where YAC can come. In that respect the receivers are a good fit for what Martz wants to do.

[UMFan83]

Let's talk about who we want to win tonight. I have a couple of theories. I don't think either team winning really effects our chances more than slightly but...

 

If you root for NE...a NE victory in such an emotional game would most likely provide some sort of letdown effect next weekend against the Bears. It's just hard not to. Then again, Belichick should have them ready to play regardless. Also, NE would only be up 1 game on the Jets, and tied the head to head so its not like the division is locked up with a win. They still have a ton to play for.

 

If you root for the Jets...a Jets victory gives them a huge leg up in the division race. They would have basically a 2 game lead on the Pats due to having a 2-0 head to head record. Why is this important? Two reasons. While it makes the NE game tougher most likely, it also probably ensures their game against GB is more of a must win. Also, the Bears play the Jets in week 16. It's possible the Jets will have locked up the #1 seed at that point if they win today and could have nothing to play for.

 

I think rooting for the Jets is a much better option as far as the Bears are concerned.