Game 10 - BEARS @ San Francisco 49ers - 7:30 MNF

[Soul]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

[Banedon]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

 

NFL quarterback is the hardest position in sports to fill. Period.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

 

are you kidding me? The Colts and Packers haven't had a lot of trouble with the position, but nearly every other franchise has struggled with it for decades at a time. San Fran went from Joe Montana to Steve Young. But they haven't exactly been rolling out the studs since the 90's. New England went from Bledsoe to Brady, but prior to that they had garbage. That is why it is so important to protect the one you have when you get it, give him all the tools you can to maximize his abilities, but first and foremost, recognize what you have when you have it.

[Guest]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

[Banedon]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

 

are you kidding me? The Colts and Packers haven't had a lot of trouble with the position, but nearly every other franchise has struggled with it for decades at a time. San Fran went from Joe Montana to Steve Young. But they haven't exactly been rolling out the studs since the 90's. New England went from Bledsoe to Brady, but prior to that they had garbage. That is why it is so important to protect the one you have when you get it, give him all the tools you can to maximize his abilities, but first and foremost, recognize what you have when you have it.

 

Washington (pre-Griffin) has gone through as many QB's if not more than the Bears over the last quarter century. The Browns have had a hilarious mess of QB's take the helm. Miami hasn't found a solution since Marino retired. The list goes on and on. Arizona has had Jake Plummer and the last gasp of Kurt Warner. Tennessee, Oakland, Minnesota, the Lions pre-Stafford....

[jersey cubs fan]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

 

It would help if they had a real OC as well.

[Banedon]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

 

It would help if they had a real OC as well.

 

I've tried to give Tice a reasonably lengthy leash, but I'm starting to come around to the idea that Jay might have to learn yet another new offense in the next year or two.

[Guest]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

 

It would help if they had a real OC as well.

 

Yeah, didn't mean to exclude the play calling.

[Guest]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

 

It would help if they had a real OC as well.

 

I've tried to give Tice a reasonably lengthy leash, but I'm starting to come around to the idea that Jay might have to learn yet another new offense in the next year or two.

 

Just give it to Bates at this point.

 

 

I know Marshall isn't a Martz type small speedy receiver (but neither was Roy Williams in the big year he had under Martz in Detroit), but I would've liked to have seen what the toned down (post bye week) Martz offense could've done with him.

[Guest]

Yes, I believe Bates is a better OC than Tice too.

[ctcf]

Sean Jensen ‏@seankjensen

Indication that I'm getting is that #Bears QB Jay Cutler will not practice today. His status for Monday night remains unclear

[Sammy Sofa]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

 

How could you possibly say this seriously.

[CubInOK]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

You know a team just gave up 2 future 1st round draft picks, 2 2nd rounders, and a 3rd round pick just to switch 1 1st round pick with another team drafting 4 spots ahead of them to pick a hot shot college QB, right?

[Banedon]

It's hard for *us* to acquire QB talent. It's really not a league-wide problem.

You know a team just gave up 2 future 1st round draft picks, 2 2nd rounders, and a 3rd round pick just to switch 1 1st round pick with another team drafting 4 spots ahead of them to pick a hot shot college QB, right?

 

Which is weird, cuz they'd just had a good QB back in 1985.

[Guest]

Robbie Gould - K - Bears

Bears K Robbie Gould said the field conditions at Soldier Field could be a factor in if he re-signs.

Gould's contract is up after next season. He 10-of-13 at Soldier Field this season and appeared especially upset with the ragged, wet field in last Sunday night's loss to the Texans. "Those will be situations that I'm going to take into [consideration]," Gould said. "I don’t know if I want to deal with that as I get older as a kicker."

[Banedon]

Boy, he's really bent out of shape this week.

[Banedon]

Looks like so far, most ppl picking the 49ers.

[KingCubsFan]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

Not to pick on you, but these kind of statements always bother me. Having a great defense shouldn't excuse the Bears (or any other team) from maximizing the talent at what is far and away the most important position on the team. If the Bears could get Aaron Rodgers, for example, I would hope they'd try everything in their power to do it, regardless of how the team is constructed.

 

I get the playcalling arguments, but Cutler now has two of the best playmakers in the league, so we can't really blame his performance on a lack of talent surrounding him. And even the playcalling argument has its holes. I remember someone posting an article after the Packers game breaking down some of Cutler's decisionmaking, and a lot of the botched plays were based on his own choices on where to throw the ball.

[Banedon]

I really don't think there are many people who could come in and do a better job than Cutler. Is he in the top 5 QB's in the league? Nope. Is that what this team needs? Nope.

 

Having Peyton Manning behind center might get you a few more accurate passes and maybe one or two less interceptions, but you'd have had your back up QB in his place in game 2 or 3 after one too many hits to the cranium. Drew Brees would be watching Kellen Davis let balls go between his fingers over and over.

 

The problem with the offense of this team is NOT the QB. It's the offensive line and the lack of playmakers outside of Marshall and Forte. Hopefully Jeffery's return will remedy that a bit. Hopefully Evan Rodriguez can remedy that a bit if he gets a shot at starting TE.

Not to pick on you, but these kind of statements always bother me. Having a great defense shouldn't excuse the Bears (or any other team) from maximizing the talent at what is far and away the most important position on the team. If the Bears could get Aaron Rodgers, for example, I would hope they'd try everything in their power to do it, regardless of how the team is constructed.

 

I get the playcalling arguments, but Cutler now has two of the best playmakers in the league, so we can't really blame his performance on a lack of talent surrounding him. And even the playcalling argument has its holes. I remember someone posting an article after the Packers game breaking down some of Cutler's decisionmaking, and a lot of the botched plays were based on his own choices on where to throw the ball.

 

Agreed for the most part, except I think you can still put at least a portion of Cutler's troubles on the O-line.

[Sammy Sofa]

I get the playcalling arguments, but Cutler now has two of the best playmakers in the league, so we can't really blame his performance on a lack of talent surrounding him. And even the playcalling argument has its holes. I remember someone posting an article after the Packers game breaking down some of Cutler's decisionmaking, and a lot of the botched plays were based on his own choices on where to throw the ball.

 

But who here has ever said he doesn't make bad choices and has his obvious flaws? My main issue is that until they got Marshall his team had seemingly done next to nothing to maximize his strengths and instead practically went out of their way to set things up to exacerbate his flaws.

[KingCubsFan]

I get the playcalling arguments, but Cutler now has two of the best playmakers in the league, so we can't really blame his performance on a lack of talent surrounding him. And even the playcalling argument has its holes. I remember someone posting an article after the Packers game breaking down some of Cutler's decisionmaking, and a lot of the botched plays were based on his own choices on where to throw the ball.

 

But who here has ever said he doesn't make bad choices and has his obvious flaws? My main issue is that until they got Marshall his team had seemingly done next to nothing to maximize his strengths and instead practically went out of their way to set things up to exacerbate his flaws.

I agree the team has generally done a horrible job maximizing his talents. But my point is that, even with one of the best receivers in the league and a fully healthy Matt Forte, he's still not playing that great. People have always like to say "well, if he had a real NFL O-line, some WR's, and a good OC, he'd be putting up great numbers." I'm just not sure if that's true anymore. The excuses are starting to run out. Regardless, I still think he's an above-average QB, and I hope the Bears keep him until there's a clear opportunity to get someone better than him. I just have my doubts that he'll reach that elite or near-elite status we all hoped for when the Bears got him.

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree the team has generally done a horrible job maximizing his talents. But my point is that, even with one of the best receivers in the league and a fully healthy Matt Forte, he's still not playing that great. People have always like to say "well, if he had a real NFL O-line, some WR's, and a good OC, he'd be putting up great numbers." I'm just not sure if that's true anymore. The excuses are starting to run out. Regardless, I still think he's an above-average QB, and I hope the Bears keep him until there's a clear opportunity to get someone better than him. I just have my doubts that he'll reach that elite or near-elite status we all hoped for when the Bears got him.

 

I don't know why something as completely meaningless and arbitrary as "the excuses are starting to run out" is supposed to have any weight when some of those "excuses" are hugely important things that have not been addressed properly. Having Forte and Marshall doesn't somehow make the OL any less horrible or the playcalling any less bad or the deficiencies with the other receivers any less of a reality. The passage of time isn't some automatic cure-all where problems that aren't fixed just stop being problems.

Edited November 15, 2012 by Sammy Sofa

[cubbyvirus00]

I get the playcalling arguments, but Cutler now has two of the best playmakers in the league, so we can't really blame his performance on a lack of talent surrounding him. And even the playcalling argument has its holes. I remember someone posting an article after the Packers game breaking down some of Cutler's decisionmaking, and a lot of the botched plays were based on his own choices on where to throw the ball.

 

But who here has ever said he doesn't make bad choices and has his obvious flaws? My main issue is that until they got Marshall his team had seemingly done next to nothing to maximize his strengths and instead practically went out of their way to set things up to exacerbate his flaws.

I agree the team has generally done a horrible job maximizing his talents. But my point is that, even with one of the best receivers in the league and a fully healthy Matt Forte, he's still not playing that great. People have always like to say "well, if he had a real NFL O-line, some WR's, and a good OC, he'd be putting up great numbers." I'm just not sure if that's true anymore. The excuses are starting to run out. Regardless, I still think he's an above-average QB, and I hope the Bears keep him until there's a clear opportunity to get someone better than him. I just have my doubts that he'll reach that elite or near-elite status we all hoped for when the Bears got him.

 

I agree with this 100%. Cutler will never find himself in the best situation, but he has to put up better numbers and make better decisions.

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree with this 100%. Cutler will never find himself in the best situation, but he has to put up better numbers and make better decisions.

 

Oh, so it's as simple as "making better decisions?" Well, that's an easy fix.

 

And he's been nowhere near "the best situation" in his time with the Bears. Not even close. I'm stunned (not really) that someone like you, as vocal as you've been about the OL and the playcalling, would suddenly reverse course like this.

[KingCubsFan]

I agree the team has generally done a horrible job maximizing his talents. But my point is that, even with one of the best receivers in the league and a fully healthy Matt Forte, he's still not playing that great. People have always like to say "well, if he had a real NFL O-line, some WR's, and a good OC, he'd be putting up great numbers." I'm just not sure if that's true anymore. The excuses are starting to run out. Regardless, I still think he's an above-average QB, and I hope the Bears keep him until there's a clear opportunity to get someone better than him. I just have my doubts that he'll reach that elite or near-elite status we all hoped for when the Bears got him.

 

I don't know why something as completely meaningless and arbitrary as "the excuses are starting to run out" is supposed to have any weight when some of those "excuses" are hugely important things that have not been addressed properly. Having Forte and Marshall doesn't somehow make the OL any less horrible or the playcalling any less bad or the deficiencies with the other receivers any less of a reality. The passage of time isn't some automatic cure-all where problems that aren't fixed just stop being problems.

My point is that maybe some of these huge problems (O-line, playcalling, horrible receivers) are not entirely the Bears' fault, but also a function of Cutler not being as good as we thought he was. Would the O-line be as bad with someone like Drew Brees getting rid of the ball quicker? Who knows. Is the "bad playcalling" a function of Cutler's inability to make good reads and throw to the open receiver? Maybe. Is the inability of the Bears to find good receivers strictly a function of their inability gauge the talent level of WR's? I still think this one is mostly on the Bears, but guys like Rodgers continue to put up huge numbers with randoms like Randall Cobb.

 

Through the three OC's and numerous offensive lineman and wide receivers, there's been one constant. Yet people are reluctant to really place any blame on that constant. I'm a big Cutler fan, but much of the discussion over the past few years has revolved around how the people surrounding Cutler have to improve. Maybe it's time some of that discussion turn a bit towards Cutler as well (and I'm talking about discussion from dedicated, educated Bears fan, not the ESPN crowd wailing about his body language or how he's not a "winner," whatever that means).

 

With that said, Devin Hester remains a horrible receiver.