Jay Cutler only needs offensive stability to reach the next level

Continuity on offense, especially the offensive line, will go a long way toward making the Bears an elite team. They’re all coming together now, at just the right time too.

Gotta agree. Wasn’t big on the Martz signing in the off-season, but I’m sold for the most part. Even if we are one and done in the playoffs I want to at least see Martz retained. I think with 1-2 new offensive linemen and another year in the system Cutler, Forte, Knox and Olsen can flourish in this system next year.

three things

drew brees. bad ass mofo. not just qb but a football player.

all the guys lester listed are already the leaders of their teams.right now our biggest leaders are on the defense side.

jay q will be = as bad a mofo, but id like jay to take a step toward being the leader of this team starting this sunday.

Very informative & enthralling.

As for the idiocy of the commentators… One “oh shit” always takes away ten “that-a boy”

Most of the talking heads that criticise Cutler are old hasbeens/wannabes that never had half the potential Cutler has. “Good Fundementals” only get one so far. Dug up a little nugget that will help prove my point.

Outstanding footwork, mastered all the basic fundementals, and all this coupled with a great arm. Best QB prospect to ever head to the pros

granted there were some here at WCG earlier in the year that put the blame squarely on Cutler and ignored other factors.
it bears repeating that the enhanced play of the offensive line has been huge too – giving Cutler time…
stability is always good

GO BEARS!

Who we gonna play in the playoffs?

winning a superbowl, once Jay does that all his critics will be silenced- look at Eli Manning, who is a mediocre QB at best but people rarely say anything bad about him now- why? Because he won a SB. I really don’t think there is any other way his critics can be silenced.

…in as much as he’s that guy on the team who just doesn’t like to lose. During the Jets game, Cutler looked every bit the leader with that subtle shoulder shrug after the Jets TD (which he promptly followed with a laser beam TD of his own). The way he rips the chin straps off after a TD, the confidence, the swagger, I think he’s every bit the leader he’s ever going to be. Will he be an rah-rah type leader? Probably never, but, there is something to be said for that arrogance that so many hold against him. I don’t think a team leader has to be the Drew Brees model, sometimes they can be a Jordan, exuding confidence and demanding the best from teamates, thats more of Jay’s style.

Cutler will always be viewed as a “gun-slinger,” but until he wins a SB or comes close, he’ll be lauded and scorned in the same breath. It’s the nature of the beast- Dilfer and Hasselbeck are just insanely jealous cause he has the natural ability that they never had.

He can put a lot to rest if the Bears go deep in the playoffs. Analysts everwhere can make all the excuses they want, but if they win no one will listen to their incoherent rants.

I just want to add a couple things.

1) Re: Continuity and learning new offense. I agree with everything you said and I just want to add that it’s not just about learning the language and the play calling. It’s knowing where every single receiver is supposed to be and WHEN on every single pass play. When he gets to the line of scrimmage, and all of the presnap motion is done, Jay is expected to look at the defense and figure out based on what he sees, who the ball should go to. Add to this that most of Martzfense is built around timing, and it becomes especially difficult. Making matters even worse, many times the play called is supposed to go to a certain receiver, regardless of what the defense is showing at the line of scrimmage. IE, This play is designed to draw the safety to the short side giving one on one coverage to the slot, who should be at X spot in exactly 2.5 seconds. This is extremely difficult and it only gets easier with experience. He has not be given enough credit this year, that’s for sure. Especially playing behind this O line early on.

2) Re: Not getting enough credit. Unfortunately for Jay, he’s playing against a stacked deck. The Chicago Bears have a long history of the QB position not working out. Kind of like the stigma that bad teams are perennially bad so getting over the hump becomes an even more arduous task. The same old same old Lions team etc. So it is with Jay. The quarterbacks who have preceded his arrival have paved the way for his failure. At least in his critics eyes. So, they aren’t as generous when passing judgement. Cutler threw a pick 6… well it’s obviously his bad mechanics combined with 58 years of poor quarterback play. Drew Brees makes a bone headed play and he’s just trying to make something happen. As a Bears fan, these so called experts can be infuriating.

All I know is, I’m a believer. I think Jay Cutler is absolutely the real deal and will only get better with time. Time and an offensive line. The future’s so bright I gotta where shades. B)

Great write up, Lester.

I’m still a Cutler fan in Bronco land, and I’m in complete agreement that he needs good coaching and stability and he’ll be a top QB.
I don’t know about Martz – he’s a bit of a QB killer (see, the middle of Kurt Warner’s career, and the # of sacks his QB takes each year of his coaching career – yikes!) but he runs a great offense. He could make Cutler a really good QB. I thought he was the guy when Shanny moved up to draft him – wish he still was (though I’m glad to have Tebow). I hope he has success in Chitown.
Good luck to you all!

I was remarking last night when during MNF they put up the graphic that Brees has the second most INTs in the league this year (behind Manning) and yet those two are noted as being great (in Brees’s case) or “really good” (in E. Manning’s case) yet Cutler is always called a “turnover machine” and “erratic” but since the former have rings the INTs get overlooked. It’s ridiculous!

The only comment is regarding Jay’s mechanics. You’re right about the analysts talking out of both sides of their mouths, but there is some credence to it. It hasn’t been as much a factor the last few games but last season and earlier this year, there were times when Jay showed poor mechanics even when he wasn’t pressured. That kind of thing will come back to bite him if he continues.

As I said, I haven’t noticed it as much the last 3-4 games and, hopefully, the light has come on for him. Think back to when Elway first came out of school, he did many of the same things but as he matured and his pure physical ability deteriorated a little, he worked on his mechanics and that’s when the Super Bowls and championships started coming.

I’m not saying Jay is Elway, yet, but I also don’t see any reason he couldn’t be in that category if he puts the time and effort in.

If Mike Martz and his system is still around in 2011

I’d like to see all these coaches stay (never thought I’d say that … maybe Babich can split), especially Toub and Martz … hell, Tice too. I think this team needs continuity, especially on offense. If Martz sticks around and doesn’t get offered a head coaching gig (def. know SF is out of the question, but Denver?) then I think Cutler absolutely becomes one of the league’s elite.

Sure his mechanics suck, but that’s what makes him great. I don’t often agree with Gruden, but Cutler does seem to like the challenge this offense gives him, which is why I think he will work to master it if given the opportunity. He’s definitely making better decisions and being protective of the ball … if he can harness the idea of fitting every throw into a tight space, he’ll be great.

I have been saying the exact same things across the treads of months. I agree with it all. Rec’d

That would be huge for Cutler. I watched the MNF game and it just blows my mind how good some of these team’s offensive line looks. If we had Atlanta’s offensive line…Matt Forte would average 5.4 yards a carry and Jay would have 5 seconds to throw on like 85% of the snaps. It’s crazy. We need some OL love this draft.

Probably like a lot of us, I’ve been screaming that at my TV this season. Give it time!!! And the fact that we’ve been able to keep winning despite that inexperience is awesome. Like I said above, if we can keep Martz and Tice around, I think our offense is badass for some time. Would be nice to see in Chicago!

who thought Jay wouldn’t last the season in this system (and I thought the Giants game proved me right). But I’ve really been impressed by how well Jay and the offense has come together in the first year of arguably the most difficult offensive system in football.

I’m now a firm Cutler/Martz believer, which is why I feel our pre-draft off-season priority should be ensuring that Martz (and Tice) are here for years to come. Then we’ll see Cutler become the QB we’ve all waited for him to be.

Nice write-up, Lester!

soon, very soon, in about 5 weeks.