Thread: Cutler: Bears will cure protection, third-down ills

Bears have bad case of the 3rd-down blues

Team is at or near bottom of league in every related category

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, standing at the podium Wednesday, couldn't resist the chance to make a crack.
Asked how the Bears can improve their third-down efficiency, Cutler said: ''One would be an improvement. I don't think it would be that hard.''

If only the Bears could convert as effectively as Cutler timed his quip.

Converting third downs has been a Herculean effort for the Bears, the one element of the offense they've struggled with all season.

The NFL average this season is 38.5 percent, and the Bears are at 17.6 percent, according to STATS LLC. And no matter the third-down distance -- whether short or long -- the Bears are among the four worst teams in the league.
''We have to do a better job,'' tight end Greg Olsen said Thursday. ''We have to stay on the field. That helps time of possession, gives our defense a break, keeps their offense off the field.''

But there hasn't been an overhaul of the Bears' third-down package this week at Halas Hall.
''We've just been working on it like we have all along, nothing magical,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''I'd say we have to first off [convert] one, then from there we get a little momentum going.''

The Bears, though, haven't helped themselves on first and second down. Their average third-down distance is 7.91 yards, which ranks 26th, according to STATS.
Cutler suggested a better run-pass mix on third down might help.
''We've got to fix our third-down issues and mix our runs in there,'' he said. ''That's really the crux of it. We've got to fix that so we can continue to mix things in there.''

The Washington Redskins have given up the most yardage in the NFL, but their third-down defense is ranked ninth. The Bears expect better results.

''We've worked hard on it,'' Olsen said. ''Obviously, the results haven't shown up yet. But we had a good day.''

Third-and-long


The Bears trail most of the NFL in terms of average yards to go on third down:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/footb...bear22.article

Originally Posted by jackiejokeman

Assuming nobody gets hurt on O-L ...

can we just stick with these guys for a while & see if they gel ?

I know they suck now ... but if they stuck together for awhile maybe it would work.

Nothing better is going to happen ... thats the fact.

I supposse we can keep moving Shaffer from LT to RT for shits & giggles.

The same with Edwin Williams at LG & RG.

We can put in Garza & Louis depending on whether its an even or odd number play date.

they are sticking with same 5 this week, so hopfully do see the difference and MUCH better communication

i don't think you can get worse than 0-13.

Originally Posted by dabears54

they are sticking with same 5 this week, so hopfully do see the difference and MUCH better communication

Yeah I was optimistic going into this strech at home but now I dunno.

It is time to set an O-L & stick with it. (injurys change that)

Theres still 9 games to go.

Plenty of time for the O-L to get together on the same page.

The fact that we are 4-2 is in itself astounding considering this whole thing was an experiment when we walked in thru the front door.

If the O-L can gel we are pretty much set but that is going to take time without constant changes.

As a reminder to ANCIENT HISTORY ... this is how the O-L was penciled in before pre-season :

LT Chris Williams / Kevin Shaffer

LG Josh Beekman / Lance Louis

C Olin Kreutz / Josh Beekman

RG Roberto Garza / Lance Louis

RT Frank Omilyale / Kevin Shaffer

Shit happens eh gang ?

How is this O-line gonna improve when :
- opponents show obvious blitz packages, and your tackles and tight-ends always opt to block down ( double teaming with whoever the guard is blocking ) taking the EASY WAY OUT !
- is it fear of having a db or linebacker blow by you and still get the sack ? ( or just mind-boggleing stupidity )
- can ANY of our tight-ends actually block ?
- where's the sense in having 7-step drops when the line is a sieve ?
- the wr's are supposed to actually be able to get open b4 Cutler is being pressured or sacked ?
- your QB is the only chance the team has at being competitive
- and you can't protect him
- recipe for disaster ( sooner or later )
- and that's a reality

Well Bluie Martz brought in Manumaleuna to block & Clarks an obvious ...

seems Martz knew what the O-L was going to be in advance.

Tice got handed a shit sandwich with the O-L & it appears Martz is trying to shore that up with Manumaleuna.

This shit may take all year to gel.

But lets hope not.

No matter what happens with the skins ... after the bye we better be looking at the KEY FAILURE of the O-L.

They suck without T.E. help ... that could change with the skins game ... if they are together on the same page.

Win or lose against the skins ... if we come out of the bye with an O-L that has to use T.E.'s as a crutch ...

we are in deep shit.

No team anywhere is going anywhere without a solid O-L.

Unfortunatly at this point in time ... we are the proof of that.

DRAFT THE GODDAMN TRENCHES
YOU STUPID SON OF A BITCHES
AT HALAS HALL !!

You know when we get mentioned on ESPN ?

When they talk about our O-L.

You think they are saying anything GOOD about our O-L ?