Cutler vs McMahon

Just to start a different discussion: Say Cutler were the qb draft pick in 82 instead of Jimmy Mac, do any of you think they would've walked away with an unbeaten season at some point, multiple superbowls, the same amount or none? Same if you were to acquire Jimmy via trade. Would he have handled all the stressers and lack of offensive help better than Cutty, or would he fair the same or worse? Not meaning a stat comparison at all, and I know they both had injuries at really delicate moments in seasons with high potential.

Cutler would have been killer in that offense playing behind that line and with those weapons. He has a much bigger arm than Mac but is he as crafty and resourceful? There I'd give the edge to Mac and his personality was a much better fit in that zoo than Cutler's would be.

Great post Henry. I agree with Soul that McMahon & the Bears of the 80's were a great fit. He was tough, took good care of the ball & was excellent at reading defenses. However I rewatched some of the 85 Bears games lately & McMahon had great protection most of the time & missed ALOT of open receivers. If he was more accurate the 85 Bears would've been even more dominate. He did throw a great deep ball though. Having the fastest WR in the NFL at the time probably helped. McMahon was also a great leader which helped make him a good QB. McMahon was a good athlete but not as good as Cutler is & would've gotten killed playing behind our current OL. He couldn't stay healthy behind a very,very good OL in the 80's.

Cutler is also tough but doesn't protect the ball or read defenses as well as McMahon did. However he is more accurate & would've been alot more accurate playing behind the 85 OL & having the greatest RB of all time next to him. With better protection & the threat of having #34 he probably wouldn't have had near the INTs he has these days.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I think Cutler stays constantly healthier than McMahon did playing for the 85 Bears & wins multiple Super Bowls & the Bears, not the 49ers would've been the team of the decade.

(1986: Charles Martin flips his hitlist towel upside-down, so the #9 becomes the #6)

Sorry. Had to go there..

Cutler wouldnt have had multiple SBs in the 80s because it was the departure of Buddy Ryan that lead to our failure to get back to a SB when Ditka was HC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

Cutler wouldnt have had multiple SBs in the 80s because it was the departure of Buddy Ryan that lead to our failure to get back to a SB when Ditka was HC

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I have to disagree with ya Jimmors. It was McMahon's inability to stay healthy & our struggles at QB that stopped us from winning multiple SBs. I agree losing Buddy didn't help the cause but instability at QB hurt us much worse. The 86' defense allowed less than 12 pts a game.

I think Jim was a better leader & team-mate.
I think the relationship he had with his offensive-line was such that, those guys gave it their all, at all times.
Since Jay's been here, the o-line has been (almost) constantly bad. Not only that, but I don't get the impression that this is a group of guys that cares quite as much about being #1.

Don't think there's any question that Jay has the better arm. But there's more to being a top qb than just arm strength. Jim inspired his team more & had *winner* intangibles that I've yet to see outta Jay.
Had Jim not been injured in '86 --- the Bears likely beat Washington & probably beat the Giants 10-3 in what would've been the two greatest defenses ever on the same field. 27 years later, I still feel robbed for not getting to see that match-up.

Honestly, I think the media would've portrayed each player differently, given the times (McMahon would be HATED by many today; Cutty's acerbic personality would've gone great with the image of "grabowski". Honestly, we saw what Cutty did with an o-line in Denver, now imagine if he had a great line, and had to wait for a 3 and out before getting the ball again. Btw, the 86 Bears gave up fewer points than any of Buddy ryan's defenses. Back to JC, I think he'd be in the top 5 back then, and this team certainly would've kept him, but with all the egos all over the team, it's obvious there was a gap somewhere in leadership to curb those, and although I think it's silly blaming egos for doug flutie not winning the playoff game. I think on the 80's roster, Cutty woulda got us 3 sbs at least ('84,85:86), if he didn't get injured, lol.

With McMahon playing on the 09 roster, I have to wonder if a legally half-blind qb would even make it today. I didn't watch much of him, save the twil end of his career, but I think he would've been a little calmer than Cutty, in game, qnd could have won us a few more games, but lower scores (I don't see him throwing 4 ints to the same guy).

Honestly, I think the media would've portrayed each player differently, given the times (McMahon would be HATED by many today; Cutty's acerbic personality would've gone great with the image of "grabowski". Honestly, we saw what Cutty did with an o-line in Denver, now imagine if he had a great line, and had to wait for a 3 and out before getting the ball again. Btw, the 86 Bears gave up fewer points than any of Buddy ryan's defenses. Back to JC, I think he'd be in the top 5 back then, and this team certainly would've kept him, but with all the egos all over the team, it's obvious there was a gap somewhere in leadership to curb those, and although I think it's silly blaming egos for doug flutie not winning the playoff game. I think on the 80's roster, Cutty woulda got us 3 sbs at least ('84,85:86), if he didn't get injured, lol.

With McMahon playing on the 09 roster, I have to wonder if a legally half-blind qb would even make it today. I didn't watch much of him, save the twil end of his career, but I think he would've been a little calmer than Cutty, in game, qnd could have won us a few more games, but lower scores (I don't see him throwing 4 ints to the same guy).

With Cutler I think they would have won multiple super bowls. Who needs to protect the ball with that defense? They were fricken insane. Plus the offensive line would have kept him clean. If you wanted to protect the ball, hand it off to Walter. If you wanted a bomb to Willie Gault, pretend to hand it off to Walter and let it rip. So maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but my point stands. I would have let Jay be Jay with that defense protecting the other end zone.

Imagine Jay with Adrian Peterson in the backfield and the 49ers offensive line. That's what he would have had. That's filthy. I bet if you had a game where Cutler was on target and not wild, while the defense was especially rabid, you might have seen grown men crying on the other sideline. Just my opinion.