BroncosZone search:
Selected BroncosZone searches:
Players Broncos Picks Injuries Projections Rookies Blogs Superbowl
Why Jay Cutler Will Fall Flat on His Face in Chicago
Published: July 13, 2009
The petulant child—Jay Cutler—finally got his wish, and the blockbuster trade to the Chicago Bears commenced. Chicago now has their first “franchise” QB since Jim McMahon was taking them to the Super Bowl once upon a 1985.
I still don’t understand the reasoning behind labeling Cutler a franchise QB when he has a losing record as a starter (17-20) and has exactly zero playoff appearances. What makes me smirk is that the Broncos not only made out with three high draft choices, they also get a QB who is 21-12 as a starter, who proved he can win, in Kyle Orton.
Cutler, say goodbye to your young, stud offensive line who only gave up 11 sacks in 2008. Say goodbye to that magical running game they brewed up there in the Mile High City, now headlined by rookie RB Knowshon Moreno.
As you enter Bears training camp later this month, absent will be WR’s Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, perhaps the top young duo of WR’s in the league. Along with slot WR Brandon Stokely, makes a very formidable trio you no longer have.
Say goodbye to the offense ranked second in yards, third in passing, and 12th in rushing in 2008.
At least Cutler is leaving the 30th-ranked defense in points allowed, and 26th in passing yards per game right? Well, not exactly.
Say “Hello” to the 21st-ranked passing attack, 24th-ranked rushing attack, and a team who ranked in the bottom quarter of scoring.
Say “Hello” to the 30th-ranked pass defense, and to a unit who gave up 334.4 yards per game, ranking in the bottom third.
Cutler should help raise that offensive passing number higher; that was what he was brought into do. The only problem is, who is going to catch his passes?
The Bears’ Devin Hester is the No. 1 WR, in 2008 he brought in 51 passes for 665 yards, and three TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 1 WR Brandon Marshall who had 104 catches for 1265 yards, six TD’s. Marshall at least doubles Hester in each category.
The Bears’ No. 2 WR is Rashied Davis. He hauled in 35 catches for 445 yards and two TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 2 WR Eddie Royal, who grabbed 91 balls for 980 yards and five TD’s, almost tripling Davis’ output.
The Bears’ No. 3 WR is Earl Bennett, who has yet to catch an NFL pass, compared to Broncos No. 3 WR Brandon Stokely who had 49 catches for 528 yards three TD’s. I think there’s a pattern emerging.
The Bears did do themselves justice by grabbing Juaquin Iglesias in the bottom of the third round. I would not bank on a third-round WR to jump start an entire unimpressive WR unit.
It’s not like the Bears had an incompetent QB leading their team either; Kyle Orton can win games. It’s not like this team was rushing more then Denver, they were ranked 12 slots lower in running the ball.
Cutler will have two reliable TE’s in Desmond Clark and Greg Olson though. They combined for 95 catches, 941 yards, and six TD’s, fairly similar to the output he got in Denver.
I am sorry to break the news, but you probably wont be successful in attempting to lineup your TE’s as the WR’s the entire game.
The Bears made a bold move, a move that has taken Chicago by storm, and has the entire city saying the words “Jay Cutler.”
They sacrificed a lot to obtain their franchise QB; in many eyes, too much.
They even went out and got Pro Bowl T Orlando Pace the same day to protect his blind side for the next three years.
That’s all great except when you have no one to throw to. When teams start doubling Hester and blitzing every single play, Cutler is not going to have the luxurious security blankets he had in Denver.
The first time Rashied Davis drops a 30-yard TD pass, or a five-yard slant pattern, he is going to truly miss that guy named Brandon Marshall, and that team called the Denver Broncos.
Sponsored Links
Buy Denver Broncos Tickets, NFL Tickets, Football Tickets and Sports Tickets at StubPass.com.