Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on December 29, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

“Hello, my name is Jay Cutler…and I am an intercept-aholic…”

When Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo morphed totally out of character to make the bold move to acquire Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos, Bears fans everywhere shouted for glee.

Now we’re screaming bloody murder.

Look, as much of a nightmare as Cutler’s debut season with the Bears has been, never fear, for addiction specialist Dr. Bob is here.

Yes, I believe that Cutler can be saved. But in order to do so, we must follow these 12 steps.

Step One: Admitting there is a problem is the first step

Alright, this is an easy one but a very necessary step. Yes, we have a problem. Cutler has not come close to fulfilling the great expectations from Bears fans. He leads the world in interceptions. He throws from his back foot. He can’t score in the red zone. 

Enough already, I think you get the point. Even Cutler has to recognise there is a problem at this point.

Step Two: It’s the coaching, stupid!

Yes, Cutler has accountability for his poor decision making. But heck, you must remember he is still a young 26 and he needs solid coaching, or at least a mentor that can help with the mental and physical part of the game.

QB coach Pep Hamilton? Be serious. I doubt that Cutler has much respect for him. Much like Derrick Rose with the Bulls and not-ready-for-prime-time coach Vinny Del Negro, Lovie Smith and Ron Turner and everyone else associated with this team needs to go.

The sooner the better.

Step Three: Weapons of mass destruction

Look, it was stupid of Angelo to make such a bold trade, giving up draft picks and paying lots of money, and then not giving Cutler the weapons he needs.

In Denver, he had receivers like Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. In Chicago, he has a former college teammate who couldn’t find the field last year, a kick returner still learning how to be a wideout, and assorted other mismatches and spare parts.

Get this man a true number one wideout. End of story.

Step Four: The O-line is O-so important

True, Angelo did go out and sign a couple of offensive lineman to protect Cutler. Unfortunately for Jay, they turned out to be a washed-up former Pro Bowl in Orlando Pace and the undistinguished Frank Omiyale.

And, to add insult to injury, they played Omiyale out of position.

This will be a tough one to solve, given the lack of high draft picks. But through a combination of free agency and the development of Chris Williams, a stronger and more cohesive O-line next year will give Cutler the time he needs to complete passes.

Step Five: Come off the bus running

I know, we’ve heard this all-too-familiar refrain from Lovie Smith too often, but in this context I am referring to having a running game Cutler can count on in the red zone.

Perhaps this goes hand-in-hand with the O-line, but if the running game doesn’t improve, Cutler will continue to think he has to do it all. And we all know how this normally turns out, with 10 interceptions in the red zone over the last two seasons.

Step Six: Improve the play calling

Yes, no matter what changes are made (or not made) to the coaching staff, offensive coordinator Ron Turner has to go.

How hard is it to come up with a roll-out package for Cutler? All year long Cutler has been running for life, yet only broken plays have resulted in Cutler rolling to his right.

Step Seven: Better decision making

This one’s on Cutler. He needs to throw the ball away instead of forcing it into tight coverage. He needs to understand when it’s prudent to check down instead of trying to throw the ball down field when the receiver isn’t open.

In other words, he needs to make better decisions.

Step Eight: Be a leader

Cutler needs to grow up and grow a pair, and be the leader the offense needs him to be.

Instead of sulking and pointing fingers when things go wrong, Cutler should look in the mirror and realize he is accountable for the results on the field.

Cutler has been tagged as a baby, and an immature player mostly concerned with his stats. Fair or not, he needs to start exhibiting the leadership that all of the great QBs do if he wants to make it to the next level.

Step Nine: Run baby, run!

Cutler can move, and he needs to use this to his advantage. There are times when he seems to have an open lane in front of him, yet he won’t take off.

Now I realize this could get him killed. So he will need to pick his spots. Still, I think it would be a more effective compliment to his game than simply forcing the ball when no one is open.

Step 10: Better mechanics

Jay often throws off his back foot and this habit needs to be cured. Sure, a better offensive line would help, but this is something he needs to work at.

Also, he has a tendency to lock on to a receiver, particularly his buddy Greg Olsen. Defenders can easily follow those eyes and know where the ball is going.

Step 11: In “defense” of Cutler

An improved defense would help take the pressure off of Cutler and the Bears offense. A full, healthy season from Brian Urlacher and a healthy and productive Tommie Harris should go a long way toward accomplishing this goal.

Signing a safety and a pass rush specialist would be a bonus, as well.This way, Cutler wouldn’t have to feel like he has to do too much on the field.

Step 12: Be confident!

This one is really a chicken-or-the-egg kind of thing. Do you need confidence to be successful or does success breed confidence? Well, in Cutler’s case he was confident almost to a fault at the start of the season.

Now, he has gone to the other extreme and seems to lack the confidence and brashness necessary to success as a QB in the NFL.

Hey, every great QB has an enormous ego. If you think that Joe Montana wasn’t an ass at times to his teammates, then you don’t know football, my friends.

Addiction can never be cured, but it can be treated. If the Bears follow each of these twelve steps, perhaps Jay Culter can be salvaged after all, come to think of it.

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