Bears stumbling on their way downfield

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-29-2012, 08:23 PM

Good read.

LINK to the article

Bears stumbling on their way downfield

The Chicago Bears have fallen short in fielding the kind of explosive offense they envisioned after making receiver Brandon Marshall the centerpiece of an offseason overhaul. Trust me, however. It hasn't been for lack of trying.

The Bears have pushed the ball downfield more than most NFL teams through three weeks, but their efficiency on such passes -- judged as balls that travel in the air more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage -- is among the league's worst. As they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys' top ranked-defense on ESPN's "Monday Night Football," the question is whether the Bears will pull back or keep pushing.

Jay Cutler Throwing Downfield

How he has fared this season on throws that travel more than 10 yards.

NFL Rank
Pct. of Att. 37.6 8th
Cmp. Pct. 40.0 31st
Yds. per Att. 8.6 30th
Total QBR 85.7 25th

Note: Among 32 qualified QBs

"It's the first year in this offense," Cutler told reporters this week. "It's going to take time. Very few teams go out there in the first year of an offense with a new offensive coordinator, a new system, and put up 30-40 points per game. It's a whole season, and you've got to build each and every week and get better."

The Bears opened the season with a 41-point showing against the Indianapolis Colts but have managed a total of 33 points in their two games since. Cutler's average pass has traveled 9.8 yards past the line of scrimmage, the fourth-highest in the league according to ESPN Stats & Information, and overall he is averaging a pass of 10-plus yards once every 2.66 attempts. That figure ranks eighth in the league.

Jay Cutler Passing With 3+ WRs

How he has fared throwing from these formations the past two seasons.

................2011 2012
Cmp. Pct. 58.2 52.6
Yds. per Att. 7.5 6.0
TD-Int. 7-3 2-5
Total QBR 70.1 27.3

But as the first chart shows, Cutler ranks at or near the bottom of quarterback performance on such throws, completing only 40 percent of them. He has been especially ineffective with three or more receivers on the field, completing a little more than half of his throws from that formation and throwing five of his seven interceptions, as the second chart shows.

Cutler has always been known as a gunslinger, but never in his career has he pushed the ball downfield the way he has so far this season. He averaged a career-high 11.5 air yards per pass in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and 11.1 air yards against the Colts, the third-highest total of his career.

Here were Cutler's averages for air yards in each of his previous three seasons with the Bears:
2009: 7.5
2010: 7.4
2011: 8.7

OK, enough with the numbers. What does this all mean?

Week 4 Coverage

• Hensley: Ravens rise with resiliency
• Clayton: 5 things about ref deal
• Week 4 scoreboard
• Monday Night HQ

Like everyone else, Cutler and the Bears are eager to produce the kind of offense they should be capable of playing, based on the skill players on their roster. Not only does Marshall provide a legitimate threat, rookie Alshon Jeffery has also proved dangerous running down the middle of the field. Cutler, meanwhile, has been given new freedom to change plays to best capitalize on defensive fronts.

The Bears, however, have struggled to protect Cutler, most notably against the Packers. More significant, I think, has been an underwhelming average of 3.32 yards per first-down play. That performance can be traced to the passing game as well. With so many low-percentage throws, it's not surprising that Cutler's first-down completion percentage of 47.1 percent ranks 30th in the NFL. That only sets up the Bears for more difficult, and lower-percentage, throws on second and third down.

The Bears are expected to get tailback Matt Forte back for the Cowboys game. That gives them the 1-2 punch with Forte and Michael Bush they haven't had for most of the last six quarters. Forte's return will put the Bears back to full strength, but it might take more time than everyone hoped to get them to peak efficiency.

(All statistics from ESPN Stats & Information, unless otherwise noted.)

**Shark86x** · 09-29-2012, 09:03 PM

Here's another headline: Shark86x stumbling trying to find good news about the Bears.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-29-2012, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Shark86x

Here's another headline: Shark86x stumbling trying to find good news about the Bears.

The negative news is probably due to everyone believing this offense would be powerful with the skill weapons added in the off season. We failed to understand how important good blocking is to a team. With the 32nd rated oline in the NFL, the team can't use these fancy new weapons. It's like having a powerful race car, but no fuel. You aren't going anywhere.

We were all set for a Super Bowl year. Instead we watch a struggling offense. The good news is that the defense is solid.

**JJ-30** · 09-30-2012, 11:01 AM

Romo nor Rogers is getting that good of protection from their OLine but are still puting up far better numbers then Jay. Our OLine might be a big problem for us but the gray matter between Jay ears is also a major problem for this team.

**Shark86x** · 09-30-2012, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by JJ-30

Romo nor Rogers is getting that good of protection from their OLine but are still puting up far better numbers then Jay. Our OLine might be a big problem for us but the gray matter between Jay ears is also a major problem for this team.

I think he's turning into Bad Rex and hearing footsteps. Whether they're there or not. He's not taking time to go through all his reads, most plays he doesn't have time to do so. But he needs to have an open guy and nobody is getting open. I get that BM is his first read. But if BM is double covered, somebody else needs to be open. Maybe they should make BM the last read. Cutler definitely needs to step up in the brainiac department, but he's not so bad we need to name him "Baron of Gray Matter". Not yet. What kills me is where is his safety outlet? Why doesn't he dump off more often for the safe short yardage?

**soulman** · 09-30-2012, 12:35 PM

New power full and explosive offense to lead Bears this year. Hester package will take advantage of mismatches. Cutler says he loves his new toys. Bears offense has many new weapons.

Now all I hear is whining about it and comments like. "it's gonna take time".

Horseshit

. How many other teams do that very same thing every year with new personnel or a new QB or a new OC and they don't make excuses like this. It's time somebody stood up and said, "this isn't acceptable".

So there. I just did.

If Tice can't get this offense rolling with his play calling then give it over to Bates and start focusing on getting the blocking straightened out. Let Bates deal with Cutler and his issues with getting drives going and sustaining them.

And for Christ's sake somebody get Marshall some stickum for his hands or some gloves of some kind. So far he looks like Roy Williams.

**JJ-30** · 09-30-2012, 01:08 PM

Good points. As for Marshall I don't care if he catches a ball as long as Cutler stop trying to get him the ball on ever damn passing play. Let him get double teamed hell triple team him as long as someone tell Cutler that he is not the only WR on this team.

Originally Posted by soulman

New power full and explosive offense to lead Bears this year. Hester package will take advantage of mismatches. Cutler says he loves his new toys. Bears offense has many new weapons.

Now all I hear is whining about it and comments like. "it's gonna take time".

Horseshit

. How many other teams do that very same thing every year with new personnel or a new QB or a new OC and they don't make excuses like this. It's time somebody stood up and said, "this isn't acceptable".

So there. I just did.

If Tice can't get this offense rolling with his play calling then give it over to Bates and start focusing on getting the blocking straightened out. Let Bates deal with Cutler and his issues with getting drives going and sustaining them.

And for Christ's sake somebody get Marshall some stickum for his hands or some gloves of some kind. So far he looks like Roy Williams.

**MPBears68** · 10-01-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by JJ-30

Romo nor Rogers is getting that good of protection from their OLine but are still puting up far better numbers then Jay. Our OLine might be a big problem for us but the gray matter between Jay ears is also a major problem for this team.

What I'm struck by this year is how many teams--even otherwise good teams--have glaring OL problems. It isn't just us. Philly was struggling mightily last night too (until they made halftime adjustments the Bears never seem to be able to make). Dallas' OL is plain terrible. Ditto for Green Bay. And Arizona. And St. Louis. Detroit is struggling too. Atlanta gave up a slew of sacks yesterday and barely beat a terrible defensive team (Carolina) at home thanks to ridiculous lapses in deep coverage. And that's just the NFC.

I wonder if there's been so much focus lately on acquiring/drafting pass rushers across the NFL that teams have neglected to find/develop pass protectors. Or if the available talent coming out of college the last few years simply hasn't been what it used to be. I don't know.

What I do know is that is the Bears need to stop whining about it, deal with the problem effectively (we have been over how to do that a thousand times), and Jay Cutler needs to step up his game under pressure. Receivers need to help out their QB movement-wise and actually catch the damn ball too. We will see tonight if it happens or the Bears offense is an embarrassment once again on national TV.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 10-01-2012, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by MPBears68

What I'm struck by this year is how many teams--even otherwise good teams--have glaring OL problems. It isn't just us. Philly was struggling mightily last night too (until they made halftime adjustments the Bears never seem to be able to make). Dallas' OL is plain terrible. Ditto for Green Bay. And Arizona. And St. Louis. Detroit is struggling too. Atlanta gave up a slew of sacks yesterday and barely beat a terrible defensive team (Carolina) at home thanks to ridiculous lapses in deep coverage. And that's just the NFC.

I wonder if there's been so much focus lately on acquiring/drafting pass rushers across the NFL that teams have neglected to find/develop pass protectors. Or if the available talent coming out of college the last few years simply hasn't been what it used to be. I don't know.

What I do know is that is the Bears need to stop whining about it, deal with the problem effectively (we have been over how to do that a thousand times), and Jay Cutler needs to step up his game under pressure. Receivers need to help out their QB movement-wise and actually catch the damn ball too. We will see tonight if it happens or the Bears offense is an embarrassment once again on national TV.

I've noticed the exact same thing. I think the problem is that the defensive schemes have evolved more than blocking schemes can keep up. The better defenses are incredibly complex - and effective. Offensive blocking schemes are more than just the oline. How many times do you see the QB get hit/hurried because a defender comes in without anyone touching him? It seems to me that there is often a misunderstanding as to "who is to block who" and a guy gets a straight shot to the QB. It's often not a problem with a defender "beating" our olineman. There's a guy getting in untouched. The Bears look totally confused in these situations. Clueless about blocking assignments.

Then, of course, we DO have plenty of guys getting flat beaten by their man too. It all ends up as a disaster.

I believe the answer is to have a solid oline AND your RB's and TE's need to be solid blockers too. The QB needs to be sharp about recognizing and reacting to this effectively (the better QB's don't hold onto the ball like Cutler does). Cutler needs to get rid of that ball quicker in these situations. The better teams handle the heat better than we do.

We seem clueless with our blocking, QB play & play calling. You end up with Cutler screaming and pushing around his own blocker. It's a BIGGER problem than just Webb. Webb is part of a bigger problem.

**Shark86x** · 10-01-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I've noticed the exact same thing. I think the problem is that the defensive schemes have evolved more than blocking schemes can keep up. The better defenses are incredibly complex - and effective. Offensive blocking schemes are more than just the oline. How many times do you see the QB get hit/hurried because a defender comes in without anyone touching him? It seems to me that there is often a misunderstanding as to "who is to block who" and a guy gets a straight shot to the QB. It's often not a problem with a defender "beating" our olineman. There's a guy getting in untouched. The Bears look totally confused in these situations. Clueless about blocking assignments.

Then, of course, we DO have plenty of guys getting flat beaten by their man too. It all ends up as a disaster.

I believe the answer is to have a solid oline AND your RB's and TE's need to be solid blockers too. The QB needs to be sharp about recognizing and reacting to this effectively (the better QB's don't hold onto the ball like Cutler does). Cutler needs to get rid of that ball quicker in these situations. The better teams handle the heat better than we do.

We seem clueless with our blocking, QB play & play calling. You end up with Cutler screaming and pushing around his own blocker. It's a BIGGER problem than just Webb. Webb is part of a bigger problem.

All good points. Like I said earlier, where is the safety outlet? Erin Rodgers always has a guy open short just past scrimmage. When he gets hurried, he just lobs it over the rusher for a completion. Since everybody rushing has already past the receiver, he can usually get some decent YAC. Why aren't we doing this?????

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