Cutler in his franchise context

by xarker on Jan 4, 2010 7:48 AM CST

OK, so it wasn't a great season, and a lot of us were disappointed. And Jay Cutler didn't post stats on par with his Denver numbers. But when you compare Cutler to our franchise history, he comes out alright for a first season.

Cutler became only the fifth Bear to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season, and 2009 was only the sixth time in franchise history that a passer exceeded the mark. Cutler finished 172 yards behind Erik Kramer's total from 1995.

1995 Erik Kramer 3,838
2009 Jay Cutler 3,666 (the Yardage of the Beast)
2006 Rex Grossman 3,193
1962 Bill Wade, 3,172
1991 Jim Harbaugh 3,121
1997 Erik Kramer 3,011

Cutler threw 27 touchdown passes, two behind Kramer's record and good for third on the single-season franchise list. Alarmingly, it was only the 8th time that a Bear QB threw for 20 or more touchdowns.

1995 Kramer 29
1943 Sid Luckman 28
2009 Jay Cutler 27
1947 Luckman 24
1949 Johnny Lujack 23
2006 Rex Grossman 23
1961 Bill Wade 22
1965 Rudy Bukich 20

More TDs than INTs

In only 27 seasons since 1933 has the Bears passing leader thrown more scores than picks (and we've done it in two consecutive years). That makes us 27-49 in hitting that mark. Yowsa.

20 or more interceptions

Cutler became the ninth Bear to throw 20 or more interceptions in a season. But he's not even close to the record: Sid Luckman's 31, in 1947. Of those performances, Cutler is only the second Bear to throw more TDs than picks (27-26), following Luckman's 23-22 season in 1949.

This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good post!

-------
"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 Jan 4, 2010 8:26 AM CST reply actions

Nicely Done

While IMO Cutler had a decent yet rough year, we got to remember it was his 1st year in the Bears system and we had a crap O-line and no running game for the most part.

And throwing that many picks is unacceptable, he has proven at times to be very efficient with the ball and can provide a completely different look from what the Bears have had in many years.

I hope the Bears get him a top notch OC and work to further develop his skills and find his fit in this organization.

by TheMan1 on Jan 4, 2010 3:05 PM CST reply actions

Interesting

But not surprising considering how often he chucked the rock (thanks OLine/RBs/Turner). I think there is a good chance that he top the franchise records next year. If anything QB & WRs establishing a rapport should yield better #s, even if the offensive scheme changes next year. I also wonder what his numbers would have been if the Bears had started Williams at LT and Aromashodu at WR (with Hester/Knox in the slot.)

"Why does Jay Cutler look so bad running these awful plays behind an incompetent offensive line?" - VeryFakeAlDavis

by TrialsBass on Jan 4, 2010 9:46 PM CST reply actions

by lookingdeadred on Jan 16, 2010 10:15 AM CST reply actions

my bad, this was meant to be a reply to maxwellsdemon

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 16, 2010 10:16 AM CST up reply actions