Thread: Cutler's fundamentals `horrendous,' must change: Esiason

Been saying it for the last several weeks, Cutler has to improve also, not sure if it's as strong as Boomer says, but he does need to improve. I also agree that the gun slinger is dead right now; turn overs are too imporant, b/c of how easy it is to score.

I don't know that you need a guy like Manning either, that's an unfair comparrision. I doubt Big Ben or Rogers are like that, probably not Brees either, although Brady and Eli probably are close.

having Drake here as a WR didn't help the bad routes made by Knox, Hester, Bennett, etc... Marshall knows how Cutler does his business. I think this next year will prove that it was time for Lovie to move on.

Jay certainly has things to work on, and his fundamentals may be poor (though probably not nearly as bad as Boomer thinks). However, it's wrong to keep faulting him for throwing to Marshall so much. First off, Marshall had about as many catches as in previous seasons, so it isn't like he was overused to a crazy amount. His targets were much higher because Forte, Knox, Jeffrey and Bennett all missed time. Had everybody been there, he wouldn't have been thrown to as much. And really, everybody who was there, other than Marshall, had a bad season. We saw time and time again that Jay would try to get guys involved and Marshall was the only one he could trust to catch the ball, run the right routes and make plays.

But I agree that I hope the new coach and OC are hard-asses on Cutler. I place probably 95% of the blame on Angelo, Lovie, Martz and Tice, but Cutler still needs to improve. The new coaches need to instill a new system and fundamentals in Jay to completely flush him of the failure. I am hopeful that they didn't completely ruin Cutler's career, but I think they came close.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I know this is going to sound like blasphemy, but here goes...

Cutler does need to improve. Everyone should be of the mindset that they can and want to improve their game.

I do think Boomer is a bit over the top though. Here's why I think so. Many, of the great QB's have had poor fundamentals/mechanics. And many QB's who failed at the NFL level (many) have had solid mechanics, but sucked as quarterbacks anyway.

And sometimes I believe you can screw up a good QB, by tinkering with mechanics (yes even if the guy has less than perfect mechanics). Cutler does need to protect the ball better (I totally agree with Boomer on that). But really, if we just get better on the oline, so the skill players can go back to being runners and receivers, instead of max-protect blockers. And Cutler doesn't have to fear getting his head ripped off by guys like Suh. And we get TE's who can catch a football. And we get 1 more WR who can run solid routes and catch passes (not Hester) -- then Jay Cutler will be just fine.

Cutler needs to improve in his own right for sure, but I gotta believe that the lion's share of his "failures" fall heavily on his supporting cast, or lack thereof. He has had a SHIT OL for 3-4 years now. He has had SHIT OCs too. Poor receiver development and management too. And prior to Marshall, it was pretty much a WR-weapon-wasteland out there for him. It must have an additive mental effect on a guy to play year after year knowing in the back of his mind that he can't trust his A) pass pro and B) most of his receivers not named Brandon.

Jay has some connection with Bennett and seems to be fostering some with Jeffery too. But one or both of those guys were out hurt most of the year and beyond that it was a dry desert. KDavis and Hester sucked big time and let's face it Spaeth and Weems had nothing much to offer either. Cutler needs and DESERVES a decent OL, competent coaching staff, and a legit 4th receiving option before I'm prepared to pass judgment on his future "franchise QB" status. Let's sew that up first and cross the "Cutler bridge" when we get to it, cuz we ain't there now.