Thread: Cutler Demands More From the Offense.....................

Inside the Bears




Jay Cutler demands more from the Bears' offense

By Adam L. Jahns on November 5, 2012 12:59 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks


It's about time the Bears' offense gets things together and consistently produces.


That would just about sum up Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's thoughts on his team's offense, which he shared Monday during his weekly radio show on WMVP-AM 1000 with ESPN's Waddle & Silvy.


Cutler doesn't want himself or the offense to be at fault if the Bears fail to reach or win the Super Bowl this season. Although the offense was productive in the Bears' 51-20 demolishing of Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Cutler said they could and should be much better.


"We've got to pick up the pace," Cutler said during his radio show. "We've got to raise our game up to [the defense's] level because they're playing lights-out football.

"At the end of the day, I don't want it to come back on the offense to say, 'Hey, you didn't win a Super Bowl. You didn't go this far because the offense was lacking.' That's something I don't want on my shoulders. I don't want to have to look the defensive guys in the eyes next year and be like, 'Hey, sorry we couldn't get it done for you guys.' Because that's a Super Bowl-caliber defense we have." (Well Jay if it doesn't happen you've got the reason nailed here. )


Of the all topics discussed on his radio show Monday, Cutler was the most adamant about the offense's struggles, particularly in the red zone and early in games. Against the Titans, the Bears were forced to settle for three field goals by Robbie Gould.


"[With a] 7-1 [record] at this point, we feel good about it," said Cutler, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. "Defensively, we're playing amazing. Those guys are fun to watch each and every week just to see how they raise their game.


"Offensively, we still have some ways to go. We struggled in the red zone a little bit. We've got to get off to better starts. Third [and] fourth quarters, I think we're playing really well, making adjustments. But at some point, we have to put together four quarters.


"We picked it up [on Sunday]. We got some drives together. In the second half, I thought we played a lot better. But we're still having some red-zone problems down there of really executing plays and having to settle for field goals too often." (No shit. Time to stop Robbie Gould from improving his percentage with chip shots.)


The Bears also have concerns about pass protection -- Cutler was sacked three times by the Titans and fumbled once -- and they continue to falter on first downs. The offense has consistently relied on the defense to put them in good field position to produce. (That why I'd say that early in the game we should punt on first down then let the defense produce a turnover in their end. We'd move the ball better with punts than we have on offense. )


How do they fix things with stellar defensive teams in the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers next on the schedule?


"Just practice," Cutler said. "Learn from your mistakes, including myself. The turnover (the fumble) down there was all me trying to do too much within the play." (Why is that any different than last week. You do that all the time. When you gonna change and just throw the damn ball away?)


Cutler, though, did say the adjustments the Bears have made offensively late in games have worked very well. He also said the Bears are seeing "everything" when it comes to defensive schemes. (Really? Must be the poor officiating stopping you then huh?)


Cutler entered Sunday's game with the league's best fourth-quarter passer rating. That trend continued in Nashville as he threw two touchdown passes to receiver Brandon Marshall in the fourth quarter. (Well when we asked them to play a full 60 minutes every game maybe they thought we just meant in the last few minutes and they're saving it up for then. )


But it still wasn't good enough for Cutler.


"Our second-half adjustments have been spot on," Cutler said. "We've just got pick it up and start doing it in the first quarter and second quarter." (Yeah Jay, that's what we've all been bitching about all season long. )