The Play Of The Game: Cutler to Olsen for 29 yds

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 22, 2009 11:00 AM CDT in Xs and Os

What was the big play in the Bears game? The Knox leaping TD catch (why did he leap?), the two missed FG's by Steeler kicker Jeff Reed, the game winner by Robbie Gould? Maybe one of the two sacks by Alex Brown, or his pressure on Ben Roethlisberger that led to the interception by Charles Tillman?

For my money it was none of these. If I was pressed to pick a play of the game it was a play during the Knox TD catch drive. The playaction pass to Greg Olsen by Jay Cutler for 29 yards. It was a great and a well executed play call. Kudos to Ron Turner... that doesn't happen to often...

It was first and ten after the Bears converted a third down pass to Devin Hester. They were near midfield and it was a perfect time for a play action pass. Up to that point the Bears running game wasn't anything special, but they kept with it enough to keep the Steeler D honest. The Bears were doing a real good job with the short quick passing game, so the Steelers had that to think about as well. Throwing deep over the middle at that time was probably down on the list of things Pittsburgh was looking for.

During the game CBS Color man Phil Simms remarked that the usual route for Bears tight ends on that particular play was a drag across the middle, and by Greg Olsen taking it vertical it was sure to have surprised the Steelers. Simms said it was an unusual, but well designed play. One other aspect of the play was Olsen knowing he'd get creamed after the catch, yet hanging on.

After getting knocked silly earlier in the game down the left sideline by Tyrone Carter, Olsen showed the kind of toughness us Bears fans respect by holding onto that ball. He knew Carter was again barreling down in him, but he secured the reception on the way to the ground.

The play itself started with Olsen coming in motion right to left and settling in the slot on the left side. Hester (right) and Earl Bennett (left) were lined up split wide, and Kellen Davis was on the right side of the line as a TE. Matt Forte was the lone running back. Hester and Bennett both ran deep out routes, just deep enough for the safeties to have to respect them running a fly route, thus holding them from the middle long enough for Olsen to find an opening. The fake to Forte held the linebackers momentarily to allow Olsen to get behind them. Cutler actually made the pass before he had his feet set, yet he still threw a strike. He made a confident throw, Olsen showed good concentration in holding on to the catch, and the Bears pass protection gave Cutler plenty of time to find his receiver.

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That was one of my favorite plays of the game too...

I was impressed that Olsen held onto the ball considering, as you mentioned, the hit that he took earlier in the game. We need to see more of that out of our TE’s so that the safeties will be forced to worry about the TE’s a little more, giving our burners Knox and Hester a chance to get behind them for the big play.

Despite the dropped pass (and in all honesty not many people make that catch after getting hit like he did) and losing his footing in the endzone (damn sod!), I was overall pretty impressed with the both Olsen and Davis. I could see this being Clark’s last year on the Bears, Olsen and Davis are the present and future of the TE position fo us.

"One time I went to a social gathering, I brought a bottle of Tanqueray and a shotgun and showed those motherf&#@ers the best time they ever had!"- Kenny Powers (Eastbound and Down)

"Why give 100% when 35 can still get you paid and laid."- Kenny Powers

by gridiron_assassin on Sep 22, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

Now that's how you respond...

To a solid hit. Everyone knows he got the TE fundamentals. But he put his toughness on display in that game. Not to mention the awareness to recover that fumble.

by Big Ike on Sep 22, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

The earlier hit was more of a "blind side" shot

This time, Olson was eye-balling Carter as he came down with the ball and he was able to brace himself a little bit before he took the hit.

I thought he might have gotten a concussion on the first hit, but I guess he’s okay…

by JimmyMack on Sep 22, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Best play vs. favorite

Best- Gould’s game-winning kick.
Fav- Knox’s game-tying TD catch.

"Repetition is only good when you've been winning." - Valet

by propheteer on Sep 22, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

Tyrone Carter

Has there been any news on discipline on Carters two hits on Olsen? It looked like he led with his helmet on both of the hits he lay on Olsen, especially the first.

It was pretty impressive that Olsen held onto the ball thrown over the middle.

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Sep 22, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

I thought

leading with the top of the helmet was illegal?

I wonder if he’ll get fined?

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 22, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Havent heard anything

and there definitely should have been 2 flags, leading with the “crown” of your helmet is illegal (see: Mike Brown hit Marcus Pollard)

"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler

by BearNecessities on Sep 22, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

you mean mike brown attempting to kill pollard

that shot was DEADLY

by Bear Lovin 21 on Sep 22, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

he probably will be fined

because hes Tyrone Carter. however, if troy polamalu made that hit people on sportscenter would be calling it the tackle of the year

by dabears85 on Sep 22, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

That first one was definately close to being illegal...

It did look like he may have hit Olsen with his helmet, but they let it slide. Plus Olsen didn’t have a chance to protect himself because he didn’t see it coming. That’s how Hines Ward broke Rivers’ jaw last year…

by JimmyMack on Sep 22, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Hold on Mendenhall's long run

They seemed to miss the “mugging” on Hunter on that play. Both hands tied around his shoulder pads, spun-around, and thrown to the ground. Not sure what they didn’t see there.

"Repetition is only good when you've been winning." - Valet

by propheteer on Sep 23, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh somebody saw it alright

but i’m getting more and more jaded every day about “on the level” officiating

"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler

by BearNecessities on Sep 23, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Pittsburgh

seems to benefit from a lot of calls, but everyone says it’s just coincidence or just our imagination. I have a difficult time believing that their crappy O-line wasn’t called for a holding penalty all game.

"Repetition is only good when you've been winning." - Valet

by propheteer on Sep 23, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I might make a case

For Olsen’s fumble recovery…without that, game-wining drive over…

OT? I don’t know, alot of important plays. That’s what you get when you play the World Champs and play a close game.

by BigAppleBearsFan on Sep 22, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

good call on the recovery

that is why you follow the play on all levels of football!

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 22, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

good call

by SoulEater7 on Sep 22, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I have to go with

Peanut’s pass disruption on Holmes… without his hand in there, TD and now we have a different ball game

"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler

by BearNecessities on Sep 22, 2009 11:45 AM CDT reply actions

When Knox jumped...

He turned his body to shield the ball from the defender.

It was a great move for a smaller guy to protect the ball

Formerly Scespy12... needed a better name!

by Eaten by Bears on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Thats exactly what I was going to say........

Very good point.

Phil: " Whose baby is that?
Alan: "Check his collar or something." - The Hangover

by ANYTIME09 on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions

this is totally what I was going to write.

why are people dogging him for shielding the defender? Hub Arkish is just a bitter asshole.

by SoulEater7 on Sep 22, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

you are correct sir on arkesh. another score dbag

by reefermadness3 on Sep 22, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions

he almost out jumped the ball

On replay he ended up catching it below his waist, I’m just glad he held on

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 22, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

my take

As I recall, Tyrone Carter rang his own bell when he layed the wood to Olsen the first time, so he was probably a shade hesitant to go all out the second time around.

Wilt, I agree that play action to Olsen worked to perfection.
My hat is off to Alex Brown – he’s playing hardnosed defense and he drop into coverage pretty good for a DE,

"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Pasteur

by Maelvampyre on Sep 22, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions

I would have to go Alex Brown's pressure that led to Tillman's interception

if he didn’t do that we could have been down 14-0, which could have been a complete mental collapse that early in the game.

by BearFan611 on Sep 22, 2009 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

Love the catch to Olsen, but how the defense looked on that second possession it looked like Big Ben was going to march the defense down the field for another touchdown.

by Dominique Blanton on Sep 22, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

i defnitly think ALL were big but peanut tillman came up hugr

after the pick bears outscored the steelers 17-7 and on that possesion after the pick the gained 40 yards and got into a groove then the defense stopped pitt and cutler to davis for a td

the reed misses i think were just as big

by Bear Lovin 21 on Sep 22, 2009 12:47 PM CDT reply actions

I think Olsen's recovery

would have to big the biggest play. I can’t blame Forte for the fumble (James Harrison clubbing your arm when you can’t see him is gonna cause a fumble almost every time), but I was praising Greg Olsen for eternity after that recovery. He didn’t have a great statistical game (better than Green Bay though), but he played with more intelligence, toughness and character than I can remember him playing with. I think this game endeared him more to us than any game of his yet.

by Cosmis on Sep 22, 2009 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

Had to leap

Know had to leap because Cutler throws the ball too hard. It would have killed his stomach if he didnt give it a cushion.

by brands735 on Sep 22, 2009 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

He leaped up to keep the ball from hitting him in the stomach, so he was going to "cushion" it

with his testicles?

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Sep 22, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Hence the expression

Balls of steel?

"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler

by BearNecessities on Sep 22, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I like it!

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 22, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

same here

by Zarco on Sep 22, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Balls of steel

by Zarco on Sep 22, 2009 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions

When you watch replays of that catch

It appears that if Cutler made the decision to throw just a second earlier, Olsen would still be running. He was wide open underneath the safety… but, the pass brought him and the ball directly to the safety. Timing is everything.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Sep 22, 2009 8:59 PM CDT reply actions

I know it's an expression.

but I’d be REALLY impressed if Olsen was still running on Wednesday morning. He’d probably make it to Seattle in time for the game. He’d be the only Bear wearing a home jersey… =)

by Cosmis on Sep 23, 2009 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought Olsen looked tentative

On that play, it seemed like Olsen didn’t want to try to fight off the safety and go further…he just caught the ball and went down immediately. Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered, but it seemed like he was maybe a little gun-shy after the hit he took earlier.

Not that I can blame him. Can anyone really believe there wasn’t at least one concussion on that play? I’m shocked they both went back out there.

Don’t get me wrong—I love Olsen, and I think he’s tough as nails. I was just surprised that he went down so fast on that catch, so I thought something was wrong. Maybe it was just me, though.

by TCBullfrog on Sep 23, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions

If I'm recalling correctly.

He’s been like that since he’s been here. Not really afraid of contact, but he seems to go down fairly easy, in most cases. I love the guy too, and hope he lives up to his potential, but I don’t think of Olsen as being tough as nails.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Sep 24, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions