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Jay Cutler=Jeff George; Bleak Outlook on the Season
I have to say, gentlemen, that from now on, I will believe that we will beat the Packers when I see the results themselves. That game last night was a complete wash -- only our defense played well until it was worn down late because of being on the field for far too long. We were outcoached on offense and, dare I say it, special teams. The death knell for this team was the touchdown scored on the fake field goal, but the fact that we only had like 57 total yards of offense in the first half was disheartening and, shall I say it, disturbing to say the least.
First, let's give the Bears' defense the kudos it deserves, because it was every bit as dominant against the Packers as was the 49ers. Our four-man rush was brutal; I think we had like five sacks if memory serves me correct unless we had another one after I turned the game off with only half of the 4th Quarter remaining. Now, onto the criticisms. If we only had an offense and an offensive line -- a competent left tackle and, yes, a smart quarterback who isn't a hot head and doesn't commit hubris leading up to the game -- we would have won this game. The playcalling baffled me on offense somewhat because we didn't attempt to establish a running attack until well into the second half. As far as I know, we out gained the Packers on the ground for a while, though Benson had some pretty decent run of about five or six yards out of the I-Formation, something that Packers coach Mike McCarthy committed to after his ignominious failure in Week One. Matt Forte played well while he was in the game, but it was mainly as a receiver in which he did most of his damage. I was pleased with Michael Bush's consistency in getting us tough yards on the ground and moving the yard markers. Still, it's the pass protection that has me baffled. Perhaps the preseason game against the Giants did more to foreshadow what is to be in store for us this year than anyone ever thought, because despite chipping tight ends and running backs on the left side in order to help J'Marcus Webb, neither he nor Chris Spencer could do anything to consistently stop oncoming pass rushers from destroying any attempt to set up a passing game.
And Jay Cutler...what can you say about him? He really screwed the pooch last night with poor throws that resulted in four interceptions. When it became obvious that the deep pass wasn't available to Cutler, offensive coordinator Mike Tice opted to continue throwing deep anyway, and it cost the Bears dearly. Again, as was stated earlier, Tice didn't try to establish a running attack until the 3rd Quarter, which was ultimately dashed in its effort because Matt Forte had to leave the game with a high ankle sprain. The biggest reason why Cutler couldn't make a connection to Brandon Marshall and company is because of the horrible blocking by the offensive line. The offensive line has to be fixed next year if we are to make a serious run for the Super Bowl. This means that J'Marcus Webb and Chris Spencer must go because the other three-fifths of the line are doing their job pretty damn well. The left side (Webb and Spencer) is the weak side of the line.
To make this season a success, Tice is going to have to scrap trying to throw the ball deep all the time and use the old "three yards and a cloud of dust" strategy to crush defensive front sevens across the league. What's more, if he does this, he will open Cutler up a window by which playaction passes can be employed and then the offense will be able to click like Tice wants and we might be able to throw the ball deep like he wants. Until then, however, this will never happen, and I don't foresee the Bears making the playoffs with a pathetic offensive line effort like the one we saw last night, or because of the poor judgments by Cutler.
By the way, Jay Cutler is looking more and more like Jeff George than I ever thought he would. He's every bit the hot head, blaming teammates in public for mistakes they make rather than be supportive of them, and he chokes in big games.
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High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 5 Dislikes
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Bullshit. Cutler is no Jeff George.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
Bullshit. Cutler is no Jeff George.
I'm not going to compare Cutler to Jeff George, nor do I thinks Dags meant to in anything more than a frustrated, non-literal way. There was plenty of blame to go around and fairly so for last night, with the lion's share falling on the coaching staff, the OL, and yes Jay too. Not going to argue how much percentage you want to assign to each and let's face it they're all inter-related. Better performance by any one of the three would have made the other two look less bad. As it turned out, the utter ongoing terrible-ness of each of them reinforced the ongoing shitty-ness of the other two all game long.
I'm not as down as you, Dags, as far as playoff pessimism goes (yet) but otherwise I agree wholeheartedly with just about everything you wrote. What really irritated me last night was the pathetic and lackadasical squandering of a golden opportunity...one we won't see again for a long time. We had the divisional favorite coming off a short week loss, without their #1 WR, staring at 0-2 at home with a 2+ game deficit in the standings, and our Defense containing Rodgers nicely (even with a hurt Urlacher).
And we pissed it away...on a trick play, horrible coaching, terrible OL play, and a QB who chokes rather than leads.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
soulman Bullshit. Cutler is no Jeff George.
You know soul, for once, someone disagrees with you, and as usual, you can't handle it. According to you, you condone every act that Cutler has done since he's been in Chicago, particularly with regards to how he treats players. He's done some very nice things, granted, but his behavior with regards to his coaches and his teammates are inexcusable. I don't know what boneheaded thought processes are out there, but apparently you happen to be one of the people who thinks embarrassing people in the media and on national television is kosher. IT'S POOR ETHICS, that's what it is! Just because Cutler is a cry baby and a prima donna, it doesn't excuse him from treating people with respect. He should be thankful that Webb didn't deck his ass for being the smug, arrogant son of a bitch he is.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 You know soul, for once, someone disagrees with you, and as usual, you can't handle it. According to you, you condone every act that Cutler has done since he's been in Chicago, particularly with regards to how he treats players. He's done some very nice things, granted, but his behavior with regards to his coaches and his teammates are inexcusable. I don't know what boneheaded thought processes are out there, but apparently you happen to be one of the people who thinks embarrassing people in the media and on national television is kosher. IT'S POOR ETHICS, that's what it is! Just because Cutler is a cry baby and a prima donna, it doesn't excuse him from treating people with respect. He should be thankful that Webb didn't deck his ass for being the smug, arrogant son of a bitch he is.
Does Webb respect the position he's playing? To me his actions ,or lack of, says no. REALLY, you don't think Webb is as arrogant as JC. By your standards, put them to use on BOTH equally. JC has shown way more upside then Webb's. Hell Webbs downside turned upside down is the only way Webb would have a chance at topping JC. Webb doesn't stick up for himself, like he's going to for HIS QB?
Last edited by yttocs; 09-14-2012 at 09:00 PM.
The passion of a few, to rule the many, that's Washington D.C.. Where else was that said before, about whom?
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Honestly my biggest issue with the game was the play calling. We didn't put any real effort into running until we were down 13-0 and we didn't utilize Marshall until it was a non-factor. Yeah there's a safety over the top, that doesn't mean you cannot pass to him. Use short routes, use slants, change up the routes. It's not like it's hail mary or bust. As soon as the safety took away the deep pass all of a sudden we can't play offense? This team isn't screwed, the season isn't over. We got stomped by the Saints last year after a solid win. We can have a great season this year, but when they put a safety over Marshall we have to realize that the game isn't fucking over. OL is an issue and will be all season but playcall can play into the huge. Run it, get them comfortable. Short routes. When Cutler had time in the pocket no one was open. Look how great that D did against them. If we can have any sort of real drives we win that game no problem with a rested defense. This team is good play calling away from Championship. The OL is a weakness, but this team can win against anyone if you ask me. This team can dominate. This team will go as far as playcalling takes us. My two cents.
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Jay needs to improve his body language. Be attentive, stay positive no matter the score. Don't do a Rex and pout on the sideline. If you need to admonish someone do it in private. If all else fails fake it 'till you make it.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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Originally Posted by
Chi66 Honestly my biggest issue with the game was the play calling. We didn't put any real effort into running until we were down 13-0 and we didn't utilize Marshall until it was a non-factor. Yeah there's a safety over the top, that doesn't mean you cannot pass to him. Use short routes, use slants, change up the routes. It's not like it's hail mary or bust. As soon as the safety took away the deep pass all of a sudden we can't play offense? This team isn't screwed, the season isn't over. We got stomped by the Saints last year after a solid win. We can have a great season this year, but when they put a safety over Marshall we have to realize that the game isn't fucking over. OL is an issue and will be all season but playcall can play into the huge. Run it, get them comfortable. Short routes. When Cutler had time in the pocket no one was open. Look how great that D did against them. If we can have any sort of real drives we win that game no problem with a rested defense. This team is good play calling away from Championship. The OL is a weakness, but this team can win against anyone if you ask me. This team can dominate. This team will go as far as playcalling takes us. My two cents.
I think that's a fair take on it, Chi66. I do think Jay tends to choke/sulk/force in big games or when he's sacked a few times but you're right that better playcalling would have really helped an OL that admittedly was terrible on the left side especially. It's really frustrating because the formula was obvious to us armchair fans and scripted by the Niners only 4 days before. It's amazing that Tice, Bates, and Cutler didn't see fit to execute it and all 3 deserve some blame for that, especially for not adjusting quickly after the first few possessions revealed GB's plans.
That's what really sucks. It's not like they put up 14 on us in the first Q and we forced into play catchup. The D held solid and was way better than I expected with BU not being 100%. Heck, we were only down 3-0 until near the end of the first half. What the hell took so long for Cutler/Tice/Bates (whoever?!?!) to assert themselves and exploit what the GB's D was weakening to blitz like crazy and keep 2 safeties deep every pass play?
Epic fail on all 3 & Lovie for that, the OL's follies notwithstanding. If we had played a solid, smart game and lost 23-20 I would have been a lot less pissed than what we did, which was doing the same stupid shit over and over and expecting a different result.
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Didn't Tice say last week " we'll get the running game going ". Then he didn't do it . By trying to out smart the Fracks he would up out smarting himself.
Didn't want to be predictable I guess . What's wrong with predictable sometimes ? I had a coach in high school who said " I don't care about being predictable .... they still gotta stop us ".
Run it down their throats next time .
I don't think Cutler cares if he has 10 yds passing or 300 - he just wants wins , and wants to see teammates who are giving it their all . He'll make plays - if a game plan is handled correctly .
What should you call any : Fumble , Hold , Interception , Three and out , or Sack ?
A " F.H.I.T.S " ? or a J'Marcus ?
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/09/...ampaign=350778
Holmes reports that Cutlers verbal tirade and physicalness w/Webb is sure to be dealt with. It's not all Rose Soul, that game last night was not all on the OL and coaches. Cutler had a shit game, and has had far to many in Lambaugh for some of the blame not to be laid on his feet.
I disagree, I think he has a lot of Jeff George in him when he gets hit early. He loses all poise, and just starts chucking it. George's problem was his attitude, not his talent, not his knowledge of the game. You saw it last night, they hit him early and often and from then on even when he had time he stared down one guy and then launched it, rarely w/good mechanics. Woodson even said that is their MO on him, get his pissed, make him lose his poise, and he starts turning the ball over. He said it, it's not imaginary and you cannot deny it.
For Cutler to go from being a really good/near elite qb, to an elite qb he doesn't have to work on his game, he has to work on his composure and poise under pressure.
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