Diner morning news: It’s not all Cutler’s fault

VERY good article Mike...I completely agree with you. Being a QB sucks sometimes...you get all the credit, or take all the blame. And you could tell very early on that the Bears' O-Line was getting manhandled...

This is exactly what I was telling my brother after the game. Its not all his fault. Yes, it does apear that he needs to work harder in preparation and in the film room to improve his decision making, but there weren't a lot of good decisions to be made. The Bears run a VERY predictable and vanilla offense. It almost looks like they don't practice. Where is the creativity? the chemistry? To me this is on the coaches. Lombardi is right, where in the hell was a coach going over photos with Cutler in the sidelines? The Bears are taking a play out of the Obama playbook and just hoping everything works out without doing anything. Lovie Smith for the Nobel Peace Prize!

Cutler does not have the offense he had last season in Denver that is for sure, but even last year he still made far to many mistakes in the Red Zone. He has all the skills in the world but like Bowen said in his article this morning you can not win in the NFL alone, for that matter he did not win in college on hid own. Cutler has become his own worst enemy.

This all goes back to the day after the Bears loss in the Super Bowl. The "brain trust" decided that we were all good. Clearly, we had clear weakness at safety, the offensive line was aging rapidly, the receiver corps was mediocre, Grossman and our d-line was nice but not game-changing. They have not upgraded the talent, except at QB.
My Bears are far, far away from being a playoff winner. The players are very small and now, looking very slow. There is no point making the playoffs if the reality is that you cannot win a playoff game. At least, we won't have to see that this year

That third INT involved outstanding defense. That DB has just as much right to run straight to the ball as Olsen does. He didn't run through him, rather he was the aggressor and ran to the ball off of Olsen's shoulder. You're making lame excuses for Cutler. Aaron Rodgers is getting killed with a far more ineffective offensive line, worse special teams and even poorer running game than the Bears yet he he minimizes INT's (I will not apologize for the Buc's performance) and doesn't cough it up in the red zone.

I won't deamonize Cutler but I will not make lame excuses for a veteran, supposed elite QB either.

Yeah I'm not a big fan of Ron Turner . Why go to a jumbo formation & throw the ball when the defense has no respect for your running game .? The Bears can't run the ball . They have an average group of receivers & are forced to throw repeatedly . How many times can one team be in 3rd & long ? Jay Cutler not only isn't the problem he seems to be the only thing the Bears O has going for it . Of course he is throwing alot of picks . When you have little time in the pocket & no running game how can interceptions not become routine .

First of all - maybe 50% of all interceptions are not totally the responsiblity of the QB - so if you compare Cutler's league leading interceptions, you also have to compare the QB's below him, also have many interceptions that are not their fault also.

As a Viking fan, I have come to the conculsion that I love the Bears trade for Cutler. I think the Bears are a better team if they would have not done the trade. Orton plus those draft picks make for a better overall team.

Cutler does not have the leadership to be great. Maybe in 5 years?

Mike,
You're right, Cutler isn't the modern day Jeff George. He's the modern day Drew Bledsoe! Like Bledsoe, he has all the physical skills and looks the part, but continues to make STUPID decisions with the ball.

They are both talented and can move the ball for your team, but they ultimately throw the big pick in the red zone or try to force it in when they should throw it away... They are coach-killers...

The way I saw it was two INTs by Cutler, two INTs by Hester and one good play by a Safety. That was NOT pass interference, sorry Mike, since when is a defender not allowed to break on a ball? Good non-call.

There are many teams in the NFL with weak offensive lines, Cutler's biggest problem is he has no receivers (other than Olsen). Hester is a joke, a shifty burner who 4 years into his career still can't run pass patterns. Hey Devin, how about starting with the basics like knowing what foot to plant when making a cut!!!

Classic NFL.

The media sells Cutler to the fan base as the next great hero and then chides the fan base for over-reacting when Cutler doesn't live up to the hype they induced.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat

The doors of perception in Chicago were decorated with festive Cutler garlands and glowing predictions of success, but upon their opening, revealed the same abyss that was always there.

Window dressing the doors of perception is a proven method for selling a House of Cards in a down economy.

I can't wait for the Bears to fire Lovie Smith, and hopefully Jerry Angelo, too. I'd love to see Bill Cowher take over as head coach after this season. However, knowing how cheap the Bears are, they probably will not fire Smith because of not wanting to pay him millions to leave.

These types of articles crack me up! Why is Cutler the only quarterback in the league that gets all of his interceptions broken down and blame assigned to others? You could do this with all quarterbacks' ints. I didn't see anyone breaking down Stafford's 5 interceptions and assigning blame to receivers, or claiming a penalty should have been called. Cutler constantly forces the ball into tight spaces. He has all of his career. It's one of the reasons people love him. He has an amazing arm, and trusts it fully. If his receivers aren't capable of making certain plays, he needs to adjust. Instead, he just does the same things over and over and over again. This game was 10-6. If Cutler had been willing to take a couple field goals, they win. Instead, he cost them the game.

What cracks me up is that the Bears are taking on the personality of their leader. He is whiny, undisciplined, and never takes blame for his mistakes. He is "fiery", in a spoiled brat kind of way. Funny that this is how the whole Bears team looks now. They are now Cutler's team, and it shows.

Cutler should be held responsible for ALL the INTs in last night's game. While his receivers did fall or were blocked out by refs, the defenders were positioned correctly to make the interceptions with little effort to adjust to the incoming ball. Poor play by Culter (and the receivers) allowed the defensive backs to know where the ball was going. Even if the receivers had been there, their receptions were going to be highly contested at best, Cutler was throwing into coverage and the passes still could have resulted in interceptions.

I agree Cutler biggeest problem right now isn't the number of INTs it's where the occur: Inside the 20 yard line. He has to correct this, but I think he can. He is not Jeff George. George didn't give a damn about his team, his game or the score. Cutler does care and wants to improve. George never had that quality.

I could only stand to watch the first half. Both teams were less than impressive. But am I the only one that thinks Hester is a lousy WR? He doesn't adjust to the ball, runs terrible routes, etc. Olsen just looks lost out on routes. I like Knox, but he's a rookie and will need another year to learn the game. And yeah the O-line is bad, but Forte has no speed to the hole. How did this guy get 1200 yards last year? It isn't just the O-line the entire offensive side is just less than average.

In all it looks like the Bears are close to blowing this up and starting over. But the timing isn't bad. With the new CBA, there will be a rookie salary cap. That'll allow teams to take chances in the draft. Draft a QB and you know actually sit him a while before being forced to play him right away because he's making 50M. The Bears have already decided to pass on the high picks until after the CBA is settled. By that time, they'll know if Cutler is going to fix his issues and if not they can go get someone who can.

Hasn't this been Cutler's M.O. over his career? Didn't he poop the bed last season against the Raiders, Chiefs, and Dolphins? Was it the OLs and WRs fault then as well? At which point do you say that Cutler is just too much of a gambler?

Before we call Cutler, Jeff George, let me compare him to another QB who fans where saying was a bust after 45 Games started.
QB1
45 Games Started
20 Wins, 25 losses
40 TDs, 54 INT
Highest Completion in first 4 seasons: 65%
In games 43-45, he threw 2 TD and 7 INT.

Cutler
45 Games Started
21 Wins, 24 losses
68 TD, 49 INT
Highest Comp in first 4 seasons: 64%
In games 43-45, he threw 3 TD and 7 INT.
QB1 is Hall of Famer, Troy Aikman. Not all comparisons are the same but let's get a little perspective before we say a guy doesn't have leadership or is a bust. Much of a QB's success is the talent he has around him.

Agree with many comments above. You can parse any interception and spread the blame around for any NFL QB. The fact is, these things keep happening to Jay Cutler (do Tom Brady's receivers ever slip? do defenders make borderline pass interfercence plays against Carson Palmer?). Didn't watch every play of the game last night but I can think of at least two other passes/horrible decisions that could have been additional INTs. Cutler was headed for a 5-INT night one way or another.

Glad to hear he cares, though. He just oozes "I care" with every action on a football field, don't you think?

"Teams don’t mind paying $20 million for a player but hate to pay $50,000 to make sure the player is successful. Smart, right?"
===
This always baffles me. I think it happens more in the NBA - with fewer players each guy is more important and each guy represents a bigger investment. But I'm always surprised at teams who pay young guys millions of dollars and then scrimp on paying people to support them. It's not about "he's getting paid, why should I have to do that for him?" or "in my day, players knew how to play." Feh. It's about maximizing production from your most expensive investments. Stupid to splurge on the Ferrari and then only run it on 87 octane.

Mike...I generally like your insight but this is just more defending a trade that you and everyone loved for the Bears last April. Let's face it - Cutler has been a major disappointment. Bear fans have been fed a steady diet of "it's not his fault" since the first four-interception game at Green Bay in Week One. Quick stat: arguably the Bears' three biggest ganmes this year (@GB, @ATL, @SF), Cutler has 3 TDs and 12 INTs. So make all the excuses you want, but he has been terrible.

I watched the game last night and counted one time that Cutler threw the ball away when it was clear that there was nothing downfield. He forces the ball into the middle of the red zone constantly, where he should be throwing it away. I'll be the first to admit that the Bears receivers are well below average - they don't even have a solid No. 2 on this roster, and that this has certainly contributed to Cutler's problems. I don't feel as though he's missing open receivers. And the O-line is beyond terrible.

But given those circumstances, you need your QB to play a smart game. You can't take risky chances when your team isn't good enough to overcome them. And that is on Cutler. Good QBs understand not only patterns and routes, but understand their teams and what they can and can't do to win the game. Cutler thinks he can sling this team to victory. He can't.

He's 21-25 as a starter in his career. The facts - great arm, bad results. Bear fans have four more years of this staring them in the face.

The game became like a bizzaro world episode of Clue:

Col.Cutler in the basement with a pick.(five times)

Any thoughts on Cutler's mechanics? My friend pointed out that he seems to step into his throws with his rear foot, so he ends up with both feet next to each other on his follow-through and no balance. I haven't exactly studied him, but his delivery does look a little off. I suppose mine would suffer, too, if I had that same lack of protection in the pocket!

I am so surprised to see so many folks believe Cutler is a great quarterback. Sorry, but he sucked in Denver and he continues his losing way. One day I forsee Chicago giving up on him as well. Meanwhile, go Broncos.....

Mike,

You are easily the national columnist I respect the most...hardly ever disagree...but you are like a monkey in a coconut trap with this Cutler stuff-- you just can't let go. Nobody argues his immense talent and potential, but at what point will the normal standards of evaluating the whole player be applied? He made exactly the same boneheaded decisions and lethargic efforts under Shannahan, Heimerdinger, and Bates. He hasn't improved, evolved, matured or any of those things that have put equally physically talented players like Javon Walker and Vernon Gholston in your cross-hairs. I'm baffled about what keeps him from being treated like any other gifted athlete that can't consistently translate his tools to tangible results on the field? The whole 'the team around him sucks' is a non-starter. He had the tools in Denver, and couldn't even keep them in games against good teams. It's always somebody/something elses' fault. You guys (the pundits) are like the codependent mom that says: Johnny's a good boy, when doesn't drink-- never mind all Johnny does is drink....

If I was JC I wouldn't change a thing. The normal rules of accountability don't seem to apply to him. He is the Teflon-QB.

It looks like Josh McDaniels holds the keys to the doors of perception right now.

I don't think people realize how bad Orton is... we're starting to see it over the last two weeks, and we'll see it even more as the year continues. The Bears would be 2-7, maybe 3-6, and blown out of a lot more games with Orton as the QB. I don't think 9-7 is crazy talk with Denver.

That said... if we wanted to QB who has a great arm and makes bad decisions... why didn't we just keep Grossman and the picks?

Glad to see you're still a staunch Jay Cutler apologist, Lombardi.

Cutler is proof that being a good QB involves much more than physical tools. I know a guy who played on offense with Cutler at Vandy, and he said Cutler was obviously talented, but no one could stand him. He is seriously lacking in the leadership side of being a QB.

As a Pats fan, I say whoever wrote that about the comparison with Bledsoe was spot on.

I don't understand this obsession for football writers to blame INTs on anyone but the QB. If there's a miscommunication on a route, it's always the receiver's fault. Writers - and I'm one - don't have any idea what route was supposed to be run, or what the read was on an option route, but that never stops writers and announcers from throwing the receiver under the bus.

Yes, Hester fell down on the one interception. On the one where he bumped the umpire, that's still a throw into blanket coverage. Your claim of pass interference is really a stretch - the safety was clearly making a play on the ball, since he did, well, catch it. And again, he's trying to force a ball into tight coverage.

There's just no excuse for the two in the red zone. The first one was just a brutal decision, and the one at the end wasn't a throw into a tight window - it was a panicked throw directly to a 49er defensive back. If he didn't think he had time to abort that play and get another down, he *has* to put the ball in position for a Bear to at least have a shot. He just fired it right down a DB's throat.

He's certainly not Chicago's only problem, but he is definitely a major problem until he learns to make better reads and better decisions.

Excellent article. Great insights and a welcome departure from the sensationalist, agenda driven pap passed off as sports journalism in other media.

Mike,

Obviously your football acumen goes far beyond the casual fan's. that being said I have a couple of questions for you specific to the throws in question with regard to "proper" fundamentals.

1) on the throw where Hester slipped the DB was sitting over the route and set to drive to the ball. Obviously the slip was a big factor but my understanding is that if both receiver and DB are running down field the QB should make a back shoulder throw. If the DB is sitting on the route then the throw should be low and in front leading the receiver low and to the sideline...both to prevent injury and an interception. to me the bad positioning of the actual pass contributes to the int.

2) On the final interception with underneath coverage isn't he supposed to float the ball much higher...basically trying to create a jump ball back at the receiver, pass was much to flat for the coverage.... separate from being a "poor" decision.

3) On the short over the middle Int it sure seemed to me like his footwork and mechanics were bad and he was very undecided. Basically it came out as more of a "flip" then a pass. Obviously the O-line is terrible and the schemes and overall play calling suffer accordingly but he (Cutler) still has to be in rhythm and on time in his progressions. From my admittedly amateur observations 4 of the 5 originated with poor technique and progression, In effect they are interceptions waiting to happen sooner or later regardless since he continues to expect for his athletic ability to make up for the flaws in his game. As a Cardinal fan there is no question in my mind that Haley's constant prodding on Warner with regard to sound fundamentals (with receivers as well) contributed tremendously to his (Warner's) success last year.

In fact if you combine this with the horrible fundamentals the bears defense exhibits and its pretty easy to see that the Bears just don't really teach/stress fundamental football on either side of the ball anymore.

MIke, as a 49er fan I have been watching some pretty marginal QB play for the past four years. Your basic premise is correct for this game, it was not all Cutler's fault. It is never only the QBs fault. But let's be honest, the two clear mistakes you acknowledged, the red zone interceptions, cost the Bears the game. They needed one touchdown to win. Cutler could not do it. Great QBs win those games. Cutler is probably not Jeff George, but instead of picking a stiff like that as the comparison, why not pick other players that have lesser skils but did win those games. Your pal Rich Gannon would have won that game.

The 49er QB situation is not good. Smith may pull out of his nose dive and resurrect his career, but the window is very close to closed. But Cutler, with all his tools, is no better. He does not win football games. He helps to lose them, along with his team mates. That is all you need to know.

Normally, your columns bring something really new and fresh, this one missed the mark.

Lombardi,

No, not all of the interceptions were Cutler's fault, nor were they in Denver last year, but there is a reason, a less talented Kyle Orton is winning at a higher clip than Cutler last season (notwithstanding Orton's suckola performance Monday, those are the exception rather than the rule this season thus far, come on Kyle prove me right against the Skins!). Cutler always seems to make stupid decisions at the worst possible time and the Bears are paying for it. I knew this would happen and Bears fans are just as stupid as we were in Denver for buying all the hype. Cutler may be an all-pro quarterback, but he's an All-Universe sorcerer. He's adept at placing everyone under his spell with his laser rocket arm. Whenever I see Bears fans acting as Cutler apologists, I say been there done that. It's too bad. We'll take our chances with Orton both against Washington and throughout the season. GO BRONCOS!!!

cutler wasn't succesful in denver because the defense was awful, he had no running game and had to throw the ball 50 times to have a chance to win any game, its not his fault put some guys around him and he'll be fine....then he goes to chicago cutler isnt succesful because he has no running game/offensive line and a terrible defense...its not his fault put some stuff around him and he'll be fine..... funny last year chicago had a great running game and defense, and this year Denver's defense is suddenly top five......hmmm maybe ol jay just has bad luck

Jay Cutler=Jeff George

If Cutler doesn't have any talent around him than why did you think the Bears (and GB for that matter) would be a playoff team and the Vikings would finish third? I enjoy your takes, but you were way off on the NFC north and you haven't really mentioned that.

Hubris is a powerful thing. It appears you have decided that because of all the energy you spent telling the world how lopsided the Cutler trade was you need to put on rose colored glasses rather than call events as they really are. I really enjoy reading your work. You have some great insights and clearly know more about football than I ever will. It appears though on this subject you have lost a bit of objectivity and are having a hard time seeing the forest for the trees. If he was the quarterback you told us he was this kind of game would NEVER happen. He might be really good someday but in the short term the Bears struggles have been as much because of him rather than in spite of him as you try to imply.

All the blame doesn't go to Cutler, someone has to be blamed for trading away two #1s for Cutler.

Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the receiver’s opportunity to make the catch.

(b) Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.

(c) Grabbing a receiver’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.

(d) Extending an arm across the body of a receiver thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the defender is playing the ball.

(e) Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.

(f) Hooking a receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the receiver’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving.

Something you failed to mention about the red zone picks is that Cutler has been stuck on teams with limited opportunies in either scoring or holding opponents. This does not excuse poor decisions, but it may help explain why he forces things so often. Look at Cutler's record in games his D could hold people vs. games he couldn't. Last night's loss is an anomoly where his D did the job and he did not do his.

@dshot_daren

it's becuase not everyone is having bad games this way and it's clear they aren't all on him.

Also, Stafford throwing them isnt' a surprise. He's a rookie.

O.K., only two were his fault. But how bad were those two? Awful. Especially the first one, which a Chicago Tribune columnist called one of the worst interceptions you'll ever see. This his fourth year in the league, and he's still making these horrid mistakes. Just these two awful picks cost the Bears the game, so who cares if the other three were his fault? If he had thrown the ball away on the first one, they could have kicked a field goal. They then would have been in a position to just need a field goal at the end of the game. Those six points would have been the difference. Those two dreadful Cutler picks cost the Bears this game. I completely agree with the previous poster who pointed out that EVERY QB in the league has picks that are not his fault. So the fact that Cutler is still the NFL's interception leader (inside the red zone and out) in his fourth year in the league does tell you something.

Denver Broncos the season before Cutler takes over: hosting the AFC championship game.
Broncos the year after they get rid of Cutler: start 6-0 and likely in the playoffs.
Broncos with Cutler the starting QB: sub .500 record.

Immediately before and after Cutler, playoffs. During Cutler, losers.

Chicago Bears, the season before Cutler: 9-7 and one game from the playoffs.
Bears, the first season with Cutler: sub .500, unlikely to make the playoffs, and he leads the league in INTs.

The media (and as of late, gullible Bears fans) have hyped Cutler for several years, even though all he has done in the NFL is LOSE. In Denver, with a franchise that won both before and after him.

Cutler has a lot of talent, a major lack of character, and an ego that surpasses his skills. The Bears got exactly what they deserved in letting him whine his way out of Denver.

Do Denver fans actually think Kyle Orton will lead them to victory if they are, at any point, down 10 points in the game? If the Raiders or Chiefs get up ten on the Broncos, it's over. Orton cannot win games with his arm. Sorry.

You would think after having great to darn good QBs over the last 25 years Denver fans would know a thing or two about quarterbacks...

Let's ignore the three interceptions that may or may not have been on him. What are we left with? Two picks in the red zone, costing at least 6 points and the game. Does Brady do that? Payton? That's still horrible, it still goes to lousy decisionmaking and too much confidence in his ability to jam the ball into impossible places.

The question at the beginning of the year was how much of Cutler's performance last year was accountable to Shanahan, a talented O-line, and talented receivers, and how much was Cutler. I think we're seeing the answer, just as we're seeing how much of Matt Cassell's numbers last year reflected on NE's system, coaching, and personnel.

There's so much off-season pressure on losing teams to find the hot coordinator and run the hot system that we tend to forget that Donovan McNabb, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Payton Manning, and (with the exception of his one year as a Jet) Brett Favre have two things in common. THey're all great, Pro Bowl level quarterbacks, and they've all played within the same system for their entire pro career. Forget hiring Bates as a consultant -- they should have hired him as their offensive coordinator, given Cutler some consistency at least in terms of system if not talent, and built around him. Given the investment, nothing else makes sense. But I'm thinking Ron Turner might have been a little too (justifiably) insecure about his position to let Bates in the door, even on a short-term basis.

It was nice to see Cutler come out in the postgame presser and acknowledge fault. He said he owed the defense an apology, which is bigger than his usual behavior.

Unfortunately it only lasted a couple seconds because he couldn't resist adding, "The entire offense owes them an apology actually." Ah, yes. Leadership.

What does Kyle Orton's performance have to do with whether or not Cutler stinks? The bottom line is that Chicago gave up two firsts, a third, and a higher rated QB with a better record, and there is no evidence that they are a better team. (And a lot of evidence that they're worse.)

I can't comment if it was all Cutler's fault. It's not if the head coach, offensive coordinator, qb coach and others didn't practice situational football, situational redzone offence over and over, drill it into Cutler's head, if the reads are not open, throw it AWAY! If this doesn't happen in practice, the film room, offensive meetings then it's not just Cutler's fault, it's the coaching staff too.

The Bears loss to S.F. was Cutler's fault imo though, he hung his defense out to dry with 2 redzone picks.

It's funny how the Cutler apologists point to his record when his defense gives up fewer than 21 points. Aren't those the games his team should win? The question should really be, if his defense gives up more than 21 points, how many games does his team win? This should be a measure of an elite QB. When the defense isn't playing well, a franchise quarterback will make plays to help his team win those games. An average or below average qb won't have that ability.

Another thing to think about: How many turnovers has he committed that has put his defense in a bad spot, leading to an opponent scoring more than the 21 points.

Stop trying to quantify his record. It is what it is.

That game in San Fran was the ABSOLUTE best thing that could have happened for the Bears. It showed what Bears fans have been saying for years: THE SCHEME IS FLAWED. Ron Turner is not and has not used the talent supplied to him. You do not take out your best players to "trick" the other team. Cutler, Forte, Hester, Olsen, Bennett, Knox are all talented but misused. Bring in Kubiak if fired by the Texans or someone who can run a successful offense and teach young talent.

The Bears are one of several teams where the o-lines seem to be central. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to fix in Chicago, GB, etc. And why the Steelers line looks so much better with the same people. And perhaps why the Giants line looks worse -- or is it Eli and Brandon?

Dshot hit it on the head, Cutler gets more excuses than anyone.

Was looking forward to reading Lombardi's take on it because since the end of last season, he's blasted the 49ers for losing their West Coast identity and trying to be the Bears teams of the 80s and has defended Jay Cutler as a budding QB star in the wake of the offseason trade.

Sure enough, the tough Niners D forces 5 INTs, grits out a tough win, and his angle is to NOT blame Cutler. C'mon Mike, you may not like seeing SF play like that, but they deserved to win the game, and their defense was great last night. Cutler may care about winning but that by how does that translate to being a better QB? I suspect Jeff George-apologizer Jason Whitlock would argue that George wanted to win, too. Some guys just aren't winners. Stop being blinded by all the "tools" and look at the results...