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Who Made Who?



Did Jay Cutler help in the development of the Bronco pass catchers or did the Bronco receivers help in Cutler’s development? Jerry Angelo has been very adamant about it being the quarterback that make others better around him. If he’s correct then we could expect career years from the Chicago Bear wide out holdovers.

Star-divide

Last year Denver rookie Eddie Royal arguably was the top rookie receiver in the NFL. He was the 11th pick in the 2nd round, and the 5th WR off the board. Were the NFL experts expecting 91 receptions and nearly a thousand yards from the 5'10" 182 pounder from Virginia Tech? Royal started all 15 games he appeared in. I'm sure starting opposite Brandon Marshall really helped his game, but I'm sure having Jay Cutler slinging it around was a big help too.

Speaking of Brandon Marshall, in 2006 (both his and Cutlers rookie campaign), Marshall started showing the playmaking capabilities that would allow Denver to install him as the #1 receiver moving forward. He played in 15 games that year, but he didn't really start to produce until Cutler took the reigns... coincidence? Jay Cutler started the last 5 games of that '06 season and Marshall grabbed 14 balls for 233 yards with a TD during that time. In the previous 10 games he had only 6 catches for 76 yards and 1 TD. Brandon Marshall was a 4th round draft pick in '06, the 14th WR selected. Did Denver think he'd blossom into a 100 catch receiver his 2nd year? A Pro Bowler by his 3rd? I'm sure they hoped for the best, but honestly speaking, they'd say he exceeded their expectations.

Tight end Tony Scheffler was also in the '06 rookie class, and he also produced more numbers after Cutler took over. In 8 games before Cutler he caught 6 balls for 67 yards with no TD’s, in the 5 games he played with Cutler his numbers increased to 12 receptions, 219 yards, and 4 TD’s.

There were some other circumstances that led to Jay Cutler emerging as a franchise QB, the passing friendly offense the Broncos ran, the drafting of a premier pass blocking left tackle in Ryan Clady ('08 ), but Jay Cutler is a talented QB with all the tools you look for in a QB.

Next year I'd look for Cutlers passing yards to decrease, as the Bears still are committed to "get off the bus running", but the Bears passing game will improve. I'd be completely content if the Bears decided to not go after any scrap heap wide-outs. Moving forward with the guys they have now is fine by me. I agree with Angelo that the upgrade at QB will make the offense that much better. While there are some instances where a top flight WR can help out a QB, the QB still has to be able to get the ball to the playmakers.

You can easily pencil in 100 catches from the TE position (Greg Olsen will have a career year). Devin Hester will take another step forward as a receiver, and with a more accurate passer putting him in more opportunities for yards after the catch, I could see him approaching 1000 yards. Matt Forte may not approach the 63 balls he caught last year, but he'll be close to 50. Either Earl Bennett or Juaquin Iglesias (maybe both) will become a favorite target of Cutler.

So who made who? Honestly I think it’s a little bit of both, but I will say you can’t make chicken soup out of chicken crap, so hopefully the talent is there among the Bear receivers and Jay Cutler will assist in bringing it out.

Comment 45 comments  |  4 recs  | 

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Well done wiltfongjr.

It is one of those things that we really don’t know yet… but it will certainly be worked out this year whether Cutler can transform average WRs into good ones.

Only thing… you think Olsen getting 100 grabs is a possibility?

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 4, 2009 1:30 PM CDT reply actions  

From the TE position

I think he meant Olsen will have a career year, and that between Olsen and Clark the TEs will have over 100 catches.

by ddub101 on Jun 4, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

Gotcha.

I read it too fast I reckon.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 4, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

exactly… Clark and Olsen nearly got 100 last year… I could see Olsen making the Pro Bowl

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 4, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Who Made Who? Who Made You?

Who made who, who made you?
If you made them and they made you
Who picked up the bill, and who made who?

A little AC/DC for you.

by Mike Mueller on Jun 4, 2009 1:41 PM CDT reply actions  

My thoughts exactly

Well played sir!!!

Unreasonable people make life difficult...

by WisBearsFan34 on Jun 4, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

Look, there's no Chicken and Egg talk to this.

it’s the Quarterback. the QB is what makes the recievers. History forever shows just that. A WR has never been the biggest reason that a championship team has won a superbowl.
There’s a lot more HOF or HOF potential WRs who’s never won a ring than QBs.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on Jun 4, 2009 1:52 PM CDT reply actions  

I wouldn't call Plaxico or Burress

scrap heap receivers. I don’t know of any other names that have been mentioned in relation to the Bears recently.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by Adam T on Jun 4, 2009 2:36 PM CDT reply actions  

Definitely

not Plaxico or Burress.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 4, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

LoL

PC Load Letter? WTF does that mean?!

by ChiTown2ShineIn'09 on Jun 4, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

what about Plax???

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 4, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

I either meant he's so good its like he is on the field twice

or I mean Plaxico or Boldin.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by Adam T on Jun 4, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

brutal crowd!!!

you can’t get away with sh personally, i think had we picked up anquan, we wouldn’t even be speculating about boldin…

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 4, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

LMAO

and so it continues

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 4, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

Thank god

spell check didn’t ruin anything for us. WCG still finds a way! :)

Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.

by Ditkavsworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions  

they said he would...

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 4, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Boldin would be acquired via a trade and I’d welcome that, and I don’t see the Bears wanting to deal with any Plax drama…

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 4, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

haha sounds good to me

a pro bowl receiver for a third string LB recovering from a hernia repair would be a sick trade haha

by ChicagoFan on Jun 5, 2009 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions  

But logically...

I think QBs make WRs better first. The QB, we know, is like a good point guard. If they can get the ball to the right player at the right time then then the team scores.

Look at Randy Moss in Oakland; Jerry Rice in Oakland; Dwayne Bowe in KC. Bowe, from games I have seen, looks like a Pro Bowl WR but his QBs were average at best. If Cassel is as good as he was in NE then Bowe’s numbers might explode, and so might Mark Bradley’s!

It makes sense. WRs can run great routes, have great hands, get open on most plays, and still not have the ball thrown to them or thrown at the right time. This is the logic that has me shaking heads at those who “believe” Royal and Marshall are some how so great.

I’m not saying that very good WRs can’t help out by making amazing catches in traffic and on the sidelines, but it isn’t like Cutler was erratic or inaccurate and these WRs just happened to have the best hands in the world. It’s reciprocal, but the QB is more important. I could say more, but I’ve already said my usual novel of posting…

by ethan a on Jun 4, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions   2 recs

you can’t make chicken soup out of chicken crap

Well, you can… but no-one will want to drink your chicken crap soup!

Wait, what we were talking about again?

"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense

by Spongie on Jun 4, 2009 9:13 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

that was SO random... ilove it!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 5, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions  

runing the football

i like the idea that if your such a great threat in the pocket your running game improves.forte becomes a pro-bowl player.

by stepeo on Jun 5, 2009 12:34 AM CDT reply actions  

Good at WR

I don’t think we need to bring in the Burress or Boldin headaches. I believe we will be good with Hester, Iglesias and Bennett.

In Denver Cutler took two average college receivers and turned them into good NFL receivers. Yes, I’m talking about Marshall and Royal. Both Iglesias and Bennett had much better college careers and should carry that over to the NFL with a QB like Cutler.

In 2-3 years we’ll have one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the league. Not to mention Forte or Oslen.

by boondock_saint812 on Jun 5, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Nice name

Have you heard wether the sequel will be made or not?

by rdent4hof on Jun 7, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions  

It'll be an extremely interesting thing to watch..

Hester having 150yds games with sideline catches where he cheats the CB and takes it to the house, as well as Marshall and Royal running open, waving their arms at Orton..

OR

Orton’s emergence as a legitimate QB once he’s coupled with a good LT and some decent WRs.

How about that!

by Mathias-K on Jun 5, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions  

interesting thought to ponder...

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 5, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions  

I think it's all about confidence on both sides

if the QB can make the throws and is accurate most of the time, the WR’s will go after the “below average” throws with more effort. If the WR catches everything thrown his way, the QB is more likely to take the chance in “tight” situations. I really think it goes hand in hand. Except for Rashied, who, unless a St. Bernard comes running up to him with a football strapped around his neck and gives it to him, won’t hang onto anything.

by BearFan611 on Jun 5, 2009 10:58 AM CDT reply actions  

he better have a leash or that ball is gettin' away from him too!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 5, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions  

"and at WR, no 81... FIDO!!!"

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 5, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

Hahaha

cutest mental image ever.

"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton

by Ashley Czuba on Jun 5, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

and for your viewing pleasure...

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 5, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions  

YAY!

I think I’ve seen this before… but still:
AWWW!! He’s SO cute! :)

"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton

by Ashley Czuba on Jun 5, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions  

It goes both ways I think

There’s no question that Cutler made all of them better, but all of them also have good skill sets.

by packallday555 on Jun 5, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions  

You might be happy with the recievers we have now.....

But you cant say we would be better off without a guy like Plaxico or Boldin. Its true great quarterbacks can still succeed without the greatest wide receivers ever. i.e. Dan Marino, Drew Brees, and even Tom Brady and his 3 Super Bowl Championships seasons. Deion Branch is o.k. but HOF Im not sure. I love the optimism but to say Bennett or Iglesias WILL become a favorite target is a little bit of a stretch. If it happens great, but I would feel alot better about the passing attack and even the progression of Devin Hester if we had a proven commodity like Burress SB Champ, or Boldin SB Runner Up, or on the lesser side a Matt Jones. But one thing all those WRs have in common is SIZE which none of our guys have maybe besides Brandon Rideau. Its a roll of the dice to have a receiver with no catches in the NFL to play opposite of Hester who is inexperienced at the position to begin with. It would help alot more with someone to take the attention away from him so hester can progress like we want him to.

by ANYTIME09 on Jun 9, 2009 10:53 AM CDT reply actions  

Boldin would have to be picked from a trade, and I’d be OK with that… and I don’t see any way Angelo persues Plax, too much drama… and there are no FA wideouts that intrigue me

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 9, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions  

A trade for Boldin

Interesting, but didn’t Angelo make an offer to the Cards, and was turned down, obviously we didn’t have what they wanted in exchange for Boldin. We have a QB now let’s see what our recievers can do, and if niether of them really make a big impact we can address the WR issue next year. But we do have a solid running game, and 2 good TE’s as weapons for Cutler, if our defense can hold up we should have a great season, I think 12-4, NFC North Champs, and anything is possible in the playoffs.

by touchdown bears on Jun 17, 2009 7:42 PM CDT reply actions  

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