Jeff Fisher: Get off Jay Cutler's back and let him play

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-19-2012, 11:39 AM

I like Jeff Fisher. Hope we beat his team on Sunday, but other than that I wish him luck in SL.

Jeff Fisher: Get off Jay Cutler's back and let him play

St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who knows Jay Cutler better than most NFL coaches who never coached him, said ''Chicago is lucky to have Jay'' and critics of his on-field demeanor last week against the Packers ''ought to back off and let him play.''

''A guy has an opportunity as a quarterback in the huddle or on the sideline to voice his opinion,'' Fisher said in a conference call with Chicago-area reporters Wednesday morning. ''[He's] not the first quarterback to do that. A quarterback that's got a chance to lead a football team and win games has to take that position.

So I think you guys, or whoever's generating this stuff, ought to back off and let him play.''

Fisher not only coached the Nashville-based Tennessee Titans throughout Cutler's career at Vanderbilt, but his staff coached Cutler at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. in 2006, attended his Pro Day workout at Vanderbilt, conducted an individual workout with him and visited with Cutler three times prior to the draft.

After the combine that year, USC's Matt Leinart, Texas' Vince Young and Cutler were considered the top three quarterbacks in the draft, with Cutler hailed as the best by NFL Network's Mike Mayock, ESPN's Ron Jaworski and Joe Theismann and others.

The Titans had the No. 3 overall pick and chose Vince Young. Leinart went at No. 10 to the Arizona Cardinals. Cutler was taken at No. 11 by the Denver Broncos, who moved up four spots to get him.

''I watched Jay in college,'' Fisher said. ''We spent a lot of time with Jay prior to the draft. I've gotten to know Jay over the years. Jay was close with [former Titans offensive coordinator] Mike Heimerdinger. So I know Jay. I think Chicago is lucky to have Jay. Jay is a very, very talented quarterback. The Green Bay Packers have a very, very talented defense. So that happens sometimes at that position.

''That's not the first quarterback the Packers have given a hard day to. I don't think anybody needs to worry about anything. It's very early in the season. You can bounce back from these kinds of things very easily.''

Asked about the Titans' evaluation of Cutler from a personality standpoint, as it pertains to NFL success, Fisher said Cutler is a competitive, smart guy who hates losing.

''Gosh, I mean, he's just a really talented player,'' Fisher said. ''I'm always pulling for him. I'm probably not going to pull for him this weekend. But I'm always pulling for Jay. I think Jay's very talented. He's Jay Cutler. He's a good football player.''

**Riczaj01** · 09-19-2012, 12:08 PM

he was allowed to play, and threw 4 pics, someone needs to reel him in as much as martz was needed to be reeled in. What he cannot do is lose his composure and act like a bitch on the sidelines.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-19-2012, 12:13 PM

I'm thinking the team will be crazy-fired-up after the Green Bay fiasco. I'll bet Tice will call a much better game, and Cutler will respond with a stellar performance.

If we bury the Rams Sunday in a blowout, then all will be well. It's the old saying, a win can heal about everything.

p.s. I thought it was a classy move by Jeff Fisher to try and get the sports media guys off Cutler's back. Regardless how folks feel about Cutler's actions last week, it's time to let it go and move on. Maybe I like Fisher because he was a Bear, back in the day. I've always liked the guy. I think he had a crazy owner who was over-involved when he was coach of the Titans.

**Riczaj01** · 09-19-2012, 12:14 PM

Per usual the fans will over react to blowouts either way. But I'm not sure that this OL will allow a blowout of a team like StL. Their DL is real good, and Webb again has to face another top level player.

**Shark86x** · 09-19-2012, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

he was allowed to play, and threw 4 pics, someone needs to reel him in as much as martz was needed to be reeled in. What he cannot do is lose his composure and act like a bitch on the sidelines.

Agreed with his composure, but it happens. As far as the picks, how many of the four were Cutler's fault? Bennett waited for the ball instead of dropping back to get it, letting the defender step in front of him. Then he made no effort after the INT. Cutler's fault? No. The others I don't remember now, but I thought another one was bad route running by somebody. The other two were Cutler's fault. But when coverage is tight all game and you need to make a play, and you're under pressure, sooner or later you just have to try. Maybe he should throw it away more often, but most of the time he doesn't even have time to do that.

Yes, everybody needs to back off Cutler. Especially the Defense. (The other guys' D too!)

**motownbear** · 09-19-2012, 12:35 PM

One thing I remember the big rift that started in Tennessee was fisher wanted cutler and the owner wanted young

With that said I think after the play ccalling we saw on Sunday alloy of people miss martz. One thing for sure allot of people don't miss Roy Williams and Knox lol

Under martz cutler wasn't a pick machine

**Riczaj01** · 09-19-2012, 01:02 PM

Who misses martz? Not I. I don't miss RT either, or Schoop. And if the playcallling doesn't get better I won't miss Tice.

Sharx, one of the problems Cutler had last week was he kept keying on his WR that made it easy for the DB to jump the route. Ya Bennett didn't help, but you have to look off the WR to help create the space you need to throw the ball where you want it to go.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-19-2012, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Who misses martz? Not I. I don't miss RT either, or Schoop. And if the playcallling doesn't get better I won't miss Tice.

Sharx, one of the problems Cutler had last week was he kept keying on his WR that made it easy for the DB to jump the route. Ya Bennett didn't help, but you have to look off the WR to help create the space you need to throw the ball where you want it to go.

I don't want to keep dumping on Cutler. Or Webb. But I will say that Cutler looked rattled in the Green Bay game. In fact, he looked very much like how Rex Grossman used to look in big games where he got rattled.

I'm not saying (at all) that Cutler = Grossman. But in that GB game, he sure did a "Bad Rex" impersonation.

**wazzupi** · 09-19-2012, 02:03 PM

jay cutler just wanted the whole team to play at a high level he sacrificed 1 game (took a chance) to see how the team would match up playing the whole game at a high level, hoping everyone else would do so as well. i believe it was with the best intentions to unify the team just like gould was talking about, there are 16 games in a season everyone that keeps talking crap are bored and have nothing to do apparently. Every time crap like this happens I just reminisce on one of my favorite songs ugly casanova - Parasites because I feel for jay since I know how it feels to be in his position.

**GermansbombedPH** · 09-19-2012, 02:58 PM

Fisher is a guy I would want to replace Lovie if we replace him. I like Lovie and would like Fisher

Thread: Jeff Fisher: Get off Jay Cutler's back and let him play

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Jeff Fisher: Get off Jay Cutler's back and let him play

Posting Permissions