Week 8: Bears (3-4) @ Patriots (5-2) Noon Fox/780

[jersey cubs fan]

The worst thing possible is to have a veteran laden team and suck.

I'd rather have a veteran laden team that sucks than a young team that sucks, because at least a veteran team that sucks could theoretically improve with an influx of young talent. If you're young and you suck that suggests you suck at finding young talent and there is no fix for that.

[rawaction]

The worst thing possible is to have a veteran laden team and suck.

I'd rather have a veteran laden team that sucks than a young team that sucks, because at least a veteran team that sucks could theoretically improve with an influx of young talent. If you're young and you suck that suggests you suck at finding young talent and there is no fix for that.

 

Ah good point. I guess it's more like a veteran laden team with contracts you can't get rid of. {hiladelphia Phillies style

[WrigleyField 22]

Not sure about Marshall but Cutler, Slauson, and Jennings all were structured to be not too hard to dump within what, two years of the initial extension? It's only bad to be vet heavy if you've gone too overboard with the salaries. I don't think thats really the case outside of Allen. Anyone else is producing, near the end of their contract, or relatively easy to cut. And in the NFL if you're serious about getting younger it's really just a matter of taking a one year hit on salary cuts.

 

 

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[gscool89]

NE 600

Bears 14

[rawaction]

Not sure about Marshall but Cutler, Slauson, and Jennings all were structured to be not too hard to dump within what, two years of the initial extension? It's only bad to be vet heavy if you've gone too overboard with the salaries. I don't think thats really the case outside of Allen. Anyone else is producing, near the end of their contract, or relatively easy to cut. And in the NFL if you're serious about getting younger it's really just a matter of taking a one year hit on salary cuts.

 

 

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Still, if this team goes 7-9 or 8-8, they are set to bring back all 11 starters on an offense that isn't good enough and 7 of the 11 starters on defense (though a couple more could be upgraded fairly easily). Basically, if this is a 7-9 offense, they don't have anyone that's going anywhere except maybe Mills. Unlike last year, there aren't enough realistic upgrades on defense to take this team from 7-9 to the playoffs unless the offense goes back to 2013 form.

[Soul]

The hits keep comin'

 

Bears 20

Pats 34

[WrigleyField 22]

Do you really think this is the talent level of a 7-9 offense though? The perception is definitely a talented group massively underperforming,

 

 

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[Guest]

Fuller doesn't need surgery on his broke hand, which is nice.

[rawaction]

Fuller doesn't need surgery on his broke hand, which is nice.

 

Apparently, he's day-to-day. Not ruled out for this week.

[rawaction]

Do you really think this is the talent level of a 7-9 offense though? The perception is definitely a talented group massively underperforming

 

 

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Of course they are underperforming. But they've underperformed for what is almost half a season now. It doesn't take long for this spiral to continue and effectively end this season.

[cubbyvirus00]

Haha, every week now a Cutler supporter here turns his back.

 

Truth be told I'll probably have faith in the guy until the day he hangs up the helmet, not because I'm close-minded or trying to prove a point, but because I, with all my being, believe in him as a QB. Seen him do too many great things to lose hope that he could be all I want him to be (lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, not be an MVP or even elite). Unless he wakes up one day completely devoid of all his talent, or at the very least shows an indisputable regression in level of play, it'll likely remain that way. Always with the relentless desire to focus/obsess over the QB. Especially here in Chicago.

 

If that makes me a meatball then [expletive] it.

 

This. 100% This.

 

 

At what point do you join the loud chorus of people who have given up on Cutler? Just curious. Obviously from a national perspective, pretty much everyone already has. I think this is the first year that locally I've seen the beat reporters and the radio guys starting to dump on him and think of him as a wildly erratic and inconsistent starter.

[WrigleyField 22]

Do you really think this is the talent level of a 7-9 offense though? The perception is definitely a talented group massively underperforming

 

 

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Of course they are underperforming. But they've underperformed for what is almost half a season now. It doesn't take long for this spiral to continue and effectively end this season.

I agree with that but not sure how that necessarily makes them less equipped or whatever for a rebuild if we're looking at a overhaul situation with the coaching staff. I have to think many coaches would love a crack at our offense as currently constructed.

 

 

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[UMFan83]

Haha, every week now a Cutler supporter here turns his back.

 

Truth be told I'll probably have faith in the guy until the day he hangs up the helmet, not because I'm close-minded or trying to prove a point, but because I, with all my being, believe in him as a QB. Seen him do too many great things to lose hope that he could be all I want him to be (lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, not be an MVP or even elite). Unless he wakes up one day completely devoid of all his talent, or at the very least shows an indisputable regression in level of play, it'll likely remain that way. Always with the relentless desire to focus/obsess over the QB. Especially here in Chicago.

 

If that makes me a meatball then [expletive] it.

 

This. 100% This.

 

 

At what point do you join the loud chorus of people who have given up on Cutler? Just curious. Obviously from a national perspective, pretty much everyone already has. I think this is the first year that locally I've seen the beat reporters and the radio guys starting to dump on him and think of him as a wildly erratic and inconsistent starter.

 

I've turned on him in terms of being a MVP caliber QB. That ship sailed awhile ago. He is what he is but I think he's still in the top half of QBs in the league and on his better days a top 10 QB. I believe he can lead a contender and yes I believe he can QB a Super Bowl champion.

[Splendid Splinter]

67.3 comp % - highest in his career

266.6 yards per game - 2nd highest

5.3 TD % - tied for 2nd highest (3rd if you wanna count his rookie season in 5 games)

2.7 INT % - 2nd lowest (yes... you're reading that right)

94.4 QB rating - highest

63.34 ESPN total QBR - 3rd highest

 

 

Basically what this means to me is that he just got the "shittiest timing for a turnover" problem this year. Cutler really has played well enough this year to win and to not get all or most of the blame. I put bad coaching/play calling/player development/fundamentals/knowing your assignments/boneheaded penalties/defense still below average overall (still giving up 24 pts/game and giving up a score on 43% on the drives so far which is the same % as last year) before I get to Cutler. But if we're talking just players only, then yes... Cutler would be at the top because QB is so important to a team. Allen could be ahead of him, but he's about the only player.

 

Also just curious if anyone knows... out of the 7 INTs and however many fumbles he lost (I think it's 5 now), has the defense stop the other team from scoring just ONCE yet this year? It seems like they haven't and it just makes the turnovers from Cutler look even worse. It just compound the mistakes. It doesn't help that every turnover the other team returns it for like 40+ yards so they already got a short field. Not saying Cutler shouldn't get his share of blame because he does, but it seems like Lovie's defense a lot of the time would stop the other team from scoring after a turnover so it was no harm no foul type and wasn't made as big of a deal. We're not getting that this year.

 

Then my last point... Is it just me or has Jeffery's and Marshall's hands taken a step back this year? Injuries could've been a part of it, but man... I've seen quite a few passes that they aren't catching this year that were no brainers last year. They're also not as aggressive going after or coming back to the ball as last year.

[WrigleyField 22]

Haven't noticed a hands issue but the injuries could certainly effect coming back on balls. Not really noticed that either though.

 

 

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[rawaction]

Yeah, I think we were spoiled last year. They made impossible catches all the time. Especially Jeffery. I felt he should have come down with the deep ball near the endzone yesterday. There's a couple others this year too. They aren't coming down with the contested balls as much this year. They caught so many while covered well last year, and being that they aren't fast/quick, they aren't going to always be running away from defenders. They need to make some more plays, frankly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Haha, every week now a Cutler supporter here turns his back.

 

Truth be told I'll probably have faith in the guy until the day he hangs up the helmet, not because I'm close-minded or trying to prove a point, but because I, with all my being, believe in him as a QB. Seen him do too many great things to lose hope that he could be all I want him to be (lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, not be an MVP or even elite). Unless he wakes up one day completely devoid of all his talent, or at the very least shows an indisputable regression in level of play, it'll likely remain that way. Always with the relentless desire to focus/obsess over the QB. Especially here in Chicago.

 

If that makes me a meatball then [expletive] it.

 

This. 100% This.

 

 

At what point do you join the loud chorus of people who have given up on Cutler? Just curious. Obviously from a national perspective, pretty much everyone already has. I think this is the first year that locally I've seen the beat reporters and the radio guys starting to dump on him and think of him as a wildly erratic and inconsistent starter.

 

Depends on the tipping point.

[rawaction]

Of the 210 NFL teams to start a season 0-3 at home, 3 of them have made the playoffs. The most recent....the 2013 Philadelphia Eagles.

 

The Eagles actually started 0-4 at home (3-1 on the road, 3-5 overall) and finished 10-6.

 

The 1st 3 home losses? 2 vs. AFC teams thought to be rebuilding at that point (SD, KC) and an embarassing loss to their biggest rival in the division.

 

Eagles had 4 of their last 6 games at home, including 2 in December vs.a warm weather or dome team. Won all 4. Bears have 5 of last 7 at home, 3 of them are against dome teams in December.

 

Eagles actually were 5-1 on the road at one point. After a game where they put up 7 points at home with a pair of INTs and a fumble on offense, they got it turned around with back-to-back road games on their schedule in Weeks 9 and 10. Their week 10 opponent? At Green Bay (though it was without Rodgers, but they were also breaking in Foles full-time as their starter).

 

The Eagles offense got going when they started leaning on McCoy in the run game more and got the ball out of Foles' hands and into his playmakers hands quicker, minimizing his mistakes and sacks allowed.

 

There is hope for the Bears. But Trestman has gotta start using his team's strengths. Get these big WRs the ball earlier (not on WR screens) and let them use their bodies to shield defenders, because they aren't going to outrun anyone to get open. Force smaller corners to tackle Marshall and Jeffery. It's also when Cutler and McCown were at their best last season.

[UMFan83]

Looking at the Eagles last year they started 3-5 but then faced:

 

4-12 Raiders ®

8-7-1 Rodgersless Packers ®

3-13 Redskins (H)

10-6 Cardinals (H)

7-9 Lions (H)

5-10-1 Vikings ®

8-8 Bears (H)

8-8 Cowboys ®

 

That's a pretty soft schedule overall. Bears schedule gets softer but still have 5 games against teams that are on pace to finish 11-5 or better: 5-2 Pats ®, 5-2 Packers ®, 5-2 Lions ®, 6-1 Cowboys (H) and 5-2 Lions (H)

 

It's an interesting comparison though, thanks for pointing that out.

[Banedon]

#Bears GM Phil Emery will answer fan questions during a live Q&A on http://t.co/Oea3izFkxV today at noon (CT). http://t.co/rePTZxOm6b

[UK1679666180]

Cutler has been cursed with poor timing and now every mistake he'll make will be magnified even more, especially with the new contract.

 

This offense isn't geared towards him right now, it's a safe offense right now not geared towards risk taking. He's still going to take risks, just 15 yards deep instead of 40 to 50 yards into double coverage.

 

It went from a team that could stretch the field and run the ball to a team that allows teams to press and not defend the deep pass. Now, they're running Teas Tech style of offense without the quick pace and it's not working.

 

Last year, they did everything they could to protect Cutler and this year they're not. Mills was just as bad last year but they gave him help.

 

I'm just as frustrated with the loyalty to worse players. No way Shea should be starting, he's not a starter anywhere.

 

Count me in as someone who needs to see improvements before I can say that I'd want Trestman returning next year.

[UMFan83]

So if the Pats put Revis on Marshall, its likely that Jeffery will be matched up against Alfonzo Dennard. The two played against each other in college at the Capital One Bowl, got into a fight and were both ejected. Should be interesting to see that matchup.

 

[Sammy Sofa]

Haha, every week now a Cutler supporter here turns his back.

 

Truth be told I'll probably have faith in the guy until the day he hangs up the helmet, not because I'm close-minded or trying to prove a point, but because I, with all my being, believe in him as a QB. Seen him do too many great things to lose hope that he could be all I want him to be (lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, not be an MVP or even elite). Unless he wakes up one day completely devoid of all his talent, or at the very least shows an indisputable regression in level of play, it'll likely remain that way. Always with the relentless desire to focus/obsess over the QB. Especially here in Chicago.

 

If that makes me a meatball then [expletive] it.

 

This. 100% This.

 

 

At what point do you join the loud chorus of people who have given up on Cutler? Just curious. Obviously from a national perspective, pretty much everyone already has. I think this is the first year that locally I've seen the beat reporters and the radio guys starting to dump on him and think of him as a wildly erratic and inconsistent starter.

 

Apparently you've paid as much attention to local sports press as you do to Cutler's actual numbers; it's been a cliche shtick on the radio shows alone to have one goon be pro-Cutler and one goon be anti-Cutler for years now. The papers and blogs have had plenty of anti-Cutler pieces over the years. None of it's new.

[apete6]

67.3 comp % - highest in his career

266.6 yards per game - 2nd highest

5.3 TD % - tied for 2nd highest (3rd if you wanna count his rookie season in 5 games)

2.7 INT % - 2nd lowest (yes... you're reading that right)

94.4 QB rating - highest

63.34 ESPN total QBR - 3rd highest

 

 

Basically what this means to me is that he just got the "[expletive] timing for a turnover" problem this year. Cutler really has played well enough this year to win and to not get all or most of the blame. I put bad coaching/play calling/player development/fundamentals/knowing your assignments/boneheaded penalties/defense still below average overall (still giving up 24 pts/game and giving up a score on 43% on the drives so far which is the same % as last year) before I get to Cutler. But if we're talking just players only, then yes... Cutler would be at the top because QB is so important to a team. Allen could be ahead of him, but he's about the only player.

 

Also just curious if anyone knows... out of the 7 INTs and however many fumbles he lost (I think it's 5 now), has the defense stop the other team from scoring just ONCE yet this year? It seems like they haven't and it just makes the turnovers from Cutler look even worse. It just compound the mistakes. It doesn't help that every turnover the other team returns it for like 40+ yards so they already got a short field. Not saying Cutler shouldn't get his share of blame because he does, but it seems like Lovie's defense a lot of the time would stop the other team from scoring after a turnover so it was no harm no foul type and wasn't made as big of a deal. We're not getting that this year.

 

Then my last point... Is it just me or has Jeffery's and Marshall's hands taken a step back this year? Injuries could've been a part of it, but man... I've seen quite a few passes that they aren't catching this year that were no brainers last year. They're also not as aggressive going after or coming back to the ball as last year.

 

All absolutely fair. But when you are now the highest paid player on the team (and, in a technicality, the league this year), you still have to be better than that. He's 13th in the league in QBR and 11th in rating. When the overwhelming majority of your talent/payroll are on offense, you have to be better than that.

 

Obviously he's far from the biggest problem, but the defense is middle of the pack, and if everyone would have known that going into the season, you'd think the Bears would be 5-2 (which you could argue they would be if not for terrible Cutler turnovers in the Bills and Panthers games).

[WrigleyField 22]

The salary thing is not too relevant. The past decade, any new deal for a really good player is tops in the league until a few more guys get extended and you're middle of the pack again. Until the league stops growing that will be the case.

 

 

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