| Randolph Charlotin. 15th November, 2009 - 11:19 pm
 The holiday shopping season isn’t even underway, and the Chicago Bears might already feel a little buyer’s remorse. On Thursday night, quarterback Jay Cutler threw a career high five interceptions in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
After a 3-1 start that included a win over the reigning Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bears are 1-4 in their last five games. Cutler’s play has slumped during this period, throwing six touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
This wasn’t what the Bears expected from Cutler when they traded for what they envisioned as the franchise quarterback. But Chicago got glossy-eyed at the prospects of acquiring a young and talented passer and failed to acknowledge his flaws.
Josh McDaniels apparently was aware of Cutler’s flaws. The newly minted Denver Broncos head coach dropped jaws when he tried to trade the up and coming Cutler away to make space for one year wonder Matt Cassel. People thought the former New England Patriots offensive coordinator was too attached to Cassel and was making a mistake. Who trades a Pro Bowl quarterback to get a career back-up?
As word got out, Cutler pouted and refused to contact the Broncos organization. When it was obvious that Cutler didn’t want to play for Denver anymore, the Bears jumped on the opportunity.
How much was the Q-B in the window? Three draft picks (a first and third in 2009 and a first in 2010) and Kyle Orton, the ordinary but effective starter for the Bears last year.
So what that Orton worked fine. Cutler was the newer and better model. Jay was mobile, had a rocket arm and featured Q-B grip! Cutler had all the tools to be a franchise quarterback.
Clearly things haven’t gone as planned for the Bears. What really stings is Orton led the Broncos to a 6-2 record. Though Orton doesn’t have big numbers, he has protected the ball, throwing just four interceptions.
Chicago didn’t do a good enough job reading the label. As talented as Cutler is, he is a gun slinger. Blessed with a powerful arm, Cutler can make every pass, and believes he can make the pass on practically every single play. He doesn’t exercise good judgment to throw the ball away and try to make a play later.
There wasn’t a better example last Thursday than the second quarter interception on third and one. If Cutler threw the ball away, the Bears had the opportunity to kick a chip shot field goal.
If the Bears kicked a successful 18-yard field goal in the second quarter, then Chicago just needed to get in field goal position on the final drive instead of a game-winning touchdown. Cutler led the Bears all the way to San Francisco’s 12-yard line, close enough for a 29-yard attempt for Robbie Gould. Gould is 13-for-14 on field goal attempts on the year.
But down by four, Cutler knew Chicago needed a score and forced a pass that was picked for his fifth and final interception. That was second down. With :08 seconds left when the ball was snapped, it was possible to run two plays.
It’s funny to think that the best thing that could had happened to Cutler was McDaniels’ arrival in Denver. Josh not only turned Cassel into a productive quarterback for a season, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots’ record-setting offense in 2007. McDaniels could had worked magic with Cutler.
But mutual respect was lost and they parted ways. Everyone was happy when the trade happened in April. But for Chicago, they aren’t getting what they hoped for when they traded for Cutler.
Read more by Randolph Charlotin at his New England Patriots blog at Randolph. He can be reached at talktome@randolphc.com. |
