Thread: Shanahan found way to utilize Cutler and minimize sacks

Originally Posted by dabears54

Shanahan found way to utilize Cutler and minimize sacks

Secret for Redskins coach then with Broncos was to move mobile QB in and out of pocket

Dan Pompei On the NFL

Bears coaches want to reduce the hits on Jay Cutler Sunday, they should take a hard look at the Redskins sideline across the field.

Stealing Mike Shanahan's signals would help. But so would stealing one of Shanahan's philosophies.

Shanahan is one of the NFL's foremost proponents of quarterback movement. When he was Cutler's coach for the Broncos, he had him taking the snap and moving maybe 10 times a game. He probably will have Donovan McNabb moving as frequently at Soldier Field.

Mike Martz had Cutler move the pocket a number of times in the Bears' opener. But in the five games since, Cutler has stayed in the pocket as if he were staked to the ground. Cutler has attempted only five passes outside the pocket this season, according to Stats, Inc.


You look at Mike Martz's system and you don't see a lot of quarterback movement," said Brian Billick, former Ravens coach and current Fox analyst. "Shanahan took it to another level. It was all about him believing you can't just drop back in this league anymore because you are going to get killed with the pass rush schemes. They had dropbacks, but it was a lot of boots, waggles, short sprints, full sprints, break contain. That was Mike's offense at the time."

Viva la difference: In 2008, Shanahan's last year with Cutler, the quarterback was sacked once every 57 dropbacks — the best rate among regular starting quarterbacks in the NFL. This season, Cutler has been sacked once every 7.1 dropbacks — the league's worst rate.

The offensive lines certainly have something to do with it, but Cutler wasn't exactly playing behind the Seven Blocks of Granite in Denver that year.

The point is this: The Bears know they have pass protection issues. They need to help their offensive line, as well as their quarterback. Moving the pocket is a time-tested way of making the line's job easier.

Changing the launch point creates indecision in the minds of pass rushers. They can't charge up field quite so aggressively if they aren't sure where their target is. And it also gives pause to blitz-crazed defensive coordinators.

What's more, moving the pocket and calling for bootlegs plays into Cutler's strengths. It would help the Bears attack more efficiently, as well as prevent them from being attacked so relentlessly.

Lack of movement plays was an issue last year too. Then-offensive coordinator Ron Turner acknowledged as much late in the season.

It's about understanding what Cutler is. Shanahan, the man who drafted him, understood his talents better than anyone. In Cutler's three years with the Broncos, nearly 12 percent of his pass attempts were outside the pocket.

Cutler has excellent movement skills and can throw on the run. He can fling it like Elway (better than Elway, he once said). Having him move buys him time and allows receivers to get deep so he can use that magnificent arm.

In his career, Cutler has a 114.1 passer rating outside the pocket, compared to 81.3 in it.

Getting Cutler on the move reduces the chances of having walls close in around him. If he's pressured while out of the pocket, he usually can run away easily from the one or two men, or throw the ball out of bounds. When pressured inside the pocket, Cutler has tended to make questionable decisions get hit so hard he sees little birdies flying around his head.

Moving Cutler could save him from mad scientist defensive coordinators like the Redskins' Jim Haslett, from his overmatched offensive line and from himself.

"One thing about Jay is he's going to try to make a play," Shanahan told me. "Especially if he's behind. He has some of that gunslinger mentality."

The only argument against moving Cutler is it reduces some of his options. When a quarterback bootlegs right, for instance, he is reading only the right side of the field for the most part.

The Martz offense usually calls for the quarterback to throw to an area based on the defensive look. Reducing the number of likely areas to throw to could cause some problems.

In those cases a throwaway or a run would suffice. Either certainly would be preferable to a sack.

Just ask Shanahan.

dpompei@tribune.com

It would be nice if Martz followed Shanahan's lead, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Golly, imagine doing something that your qb is good at and helps take pressure off the o-line.