Week 5 Saints (4-0) @ Bears (3-1) Noon CT Fox/780

[UMFan83]

Pretty good albeit negative Cutler article analyzing his performance and potential worth after this season.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mike-sando/post?id=1016

 

Insider but I'll include some snippets:

 

Coaches I correspond with during the season liked Cutler's production through three games. They liked the way Cutler was throwing shorter passes and taking fewer sacks. But they also issued a few warnings. They saw the same fundamental flaws in mechanics and decision-making that have in the past prevented Cutler from maximizing his prodigious physical gifts. Those are errors of process, independent from results on specific plays.

 

Cutler could put up the best totals of his career, but he'll be graded first on how those totals were produced. A critical play at Pittsburgh in Week 3 provides one example of outcome versus process.

 

Chicago's lead was dwindling. Up 24-3 in the second quarter, the score was 27-23 with under 10 minutes left. It was third-and-10. With no options upon dropping back, Cutler made an outstanding play to help the Bears finish off the Steelers by scrambling for 13 yards. The Bears would end up scoring to put the game away. But going back to the play: Instead of sliding when safely past the first-down marker, Cutler instead lowered his throwing shoulder to engage safety Robert Golden in a high-impact collision. He got the first down -- but he was also fortunate to avoid injury, or a game-changing fumble. Great outcome, highly questionable process.

 

Against the Lions last week, Cutler was holding the ball below his waist and in one hand as the pocket collapsed, another fundamental no-no, and this time the faulty process led to costly results. Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sacked Cutler and punched at the unprotected ball, forcing a fumble. The Lions returned the fumble for a touchdown, stretching their lead to 21 points late in the third quarter. Game over.

 

These are the sort of habits that seem correctable, but quarterbacks often revert to natural form under pressure. What a coach told them during a spring minicamp doesn't always mean much when a 300-pound defensive tackle is bearing down. The rest of the season will reveal whether Cutler's showing against Detroit was a case of results catching up with process or simply an aberration. It's pretty clear some of the fundamentals have not changed, at least.

 

"Cutler is 30 years old and has been coached by Mike Shanahan, Mike Martz and Marc Trestman -- three of the bigger offensive names of the last 20 years," one coach said. "Nobody can get him to hold the ball with two hands in his chest the way Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning and Tom Brady do. He is so fundamentally unsound that he could always be erratic, but he can really drive the ball into tight spots."

 

Case in point, again from Week 4 against Detroit: second-and-10, 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Cutler sets up to throw from the left hash at the Bears' 47-yard line. Receiver Alshon Jeffery is running up the right sideline, a step ahead of cornerback Chris Houston. Jeffery is passing the Detroit 32 when Cutler fires the ball toward the 16-yard line. Glover Quin, the Lions' strong safety, is backpedaling onto the painted yard-line marker at the 20, about to make his break. The race is on. If Cutler can get the ball 30 yards past the line of scrimmage from the left hash to the right sideline before Quin can cover 12 yards, Jeffery can make a play without taking a crushing hit. "Getting the ball up and down in the void" is what coaches call the quarterback's job on this type of throw, and Cutler has the arm to do it. The play gains 36 yards, setting up a field goal. Quin slams his hands together in disgust. It's a signature Cutler throw, the kind you put on a reel titled "NFL-level arm strength."

 

These are the sort of plays Cutler makes with some regularity. But if you look at his numbers since joining the Bears in 2009, you'll have to scroll down a way through other names, some clearly lesser talents, to see where he stacks up. He ranks 18th among qualifying quarterbacks in Total QBR (50.3) and 23rd in passer rating (82.1). Six of the 10 other young quarterbacks we evaluated back in 2007 outrank Cutler in QBR since that piece ran. Of the others, only David Garrard, Palmer, Campbell and Derek Anderson trail Cutler by that measure. The Bears had weak offensive lines and questionable receiving weapons much of the time, but some of the other QBs have faced challenges, too.

 

"Cutler had a chance to be spectacular," the personnel director said. "He had a couple roller-coaster rides along the way where he wasn't as productive. He had some interesting offensive lines. He also had his own athletic arrogance that got him in trouble a bit. He is very competitive. He wants to win. He's done amazing things -- great throws, won games, but there is probably even more to his game. More upside."

[rawaction]

Holding the ball low to me isn't any kind of sign that he will never put it together. Neither are his mechanics. It obviously doesn't stop him from making the throws. I've heard that his mechanics are much better this year but I don't see a difference.

 

The fumbles suck, especially since they've been returned for TDs. But he will hold the ball higher and tighter when he makes a conscious effort to say "hey I might fumble and cost my team a game" or "ok this play is dead.....ill just take this sack and punt". He knows how to hold a ball. He doesn't fumble most of the time. He just has to think about it and at some point it will become second nature. If not....hell fumbling didn't hurt Kurt Warner's career much.

[Soul]

Yeah, not seeing it. Thanks for posting the article -- but it seems like a lot of blather to me.

[Banedon]

In particular, on ESPN and other networks I see the 'Good Jay Bad Jay' thing pretty often. Maybe it's because I dont pay as much attention to other QBs, but I loathe that narrative.

 

Just heard Bob Brenly on The Score and referred to "Bad Starlin" vs "Good Starlin".

[cubbyvirus00]

In particular, on ESPN and other networks I see the 'Good Jay Bad Jay' thing pretty often. Maybe it's because I dont pay as much attention to other QBs, but I loathe that narrative.

 

Just heard Bob Brenly on The Score and referred to "Bad Starlin" vs "Good Starlin".

 

Awful :banghead:

[Guest]

http://www.thedrawplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-05-23-JayCutler4-393x1024.png

[WrigleyField 22]

In particular, on ESPN and other networks I see the 'Good Jay Bad Jay' thing pretty often. Maybe it's because I dont pay as much attention to other QBs, but I loathe that narrative.

 

Just heard Bob Brenly on The Score and referred to "Bad Starlin" vs "Good Starlin".

Wait, there's been a good Starlin this year? Where?

[rawaction]

That's excellent.

[rawaction]

Week 5 game preview up on the blog.

 

www.mr-irrelevantpgh-chi.blogspot.com

[NOLA]

Good luck guys...not really.

I think it all will come down to which O-line keeps their QB on his feet.

[Guest]

I know the tarp is down. Wonder how big a mess the field is.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Paea inactive

[rawaction]

Bears inactives: C. Wilson, A. Walters, J Brown, J Scott, S Maneri, S Paea, C Washington.

 

Marquess Wilson active for the first time as is Zach Minter and David Bass. Maneri is an interesting "out".

[Guest]

Ugh. Paea out.

 

Inactives: C.J. Wilson, Anthony Walters, Cornelius Washington, Jonathan Scott, Steve Maneri, Stephen Paea, James Brown

[rawaction]

I know the tarp is down. Wonder how big a mess the field is.

Supposedly not too bad. Reporters on the field say no moisture.

[rawaction]

I like Wilson being active. Look for the Bears to get him involved in the offense for a handful of plays....possibly a deep shot.

[Guest]

Bears inactives: C. Wilson, A. Walters, J Brown, J Scott, S Maneri, S Paea, C Washington.

 

Marquess Wilson active for the first time as is Zach Minter and David Bass. Maneri is an interesting "out".

 

I am surprised with Bass over Washington.

[OleMissCub]

So it's been raining up there?

[Guest]

So it's been raining up there?

 

They had quite a bit of rain from a thunderstorm yesterday evening but it's been over 12 hours since that passed.

[rawaction]

Bears inactives: C. Wilson, A. Walters, J Brown, J Scott, S Maneri, S Paea, C Washington.

 

Marquess Wilson active for the first time as is Zach Minter and David Bass. Maneri is an interesting "out".

 

I am surprised with Bass over Washington.

Bass has been working inside in practice. Versatility has him active.

[d_money]

Joe Buck....great

[Butterscup1679666578]

what the hell is forte's deal

[UMFan83]

Ugh, rough way to start the first possession of the game. 3 and out

[Guest]

Wow, Forte.

[Butterscup1679666578]

podlesh is so bad