2015 could be a redemption year for Jay Cutler
By Ryan Disdier
It appears that nearly everyone has given up on Jay Cutler.
His seemingly-perpetual apathy has drawn the ire of many Bears fans and he’s coming off a season that saw him being benched. Cutler signed an enormous extension in the offseason that was good for a guaranteed $22.5 million in 2014. Cutler was paid a sum of that $22.5 for standing on the sideline with a clipboard in his hand.
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However, there’s still time for Cutler to turn things around in the Windy City.
I don’t want to detract from the atrocity that was Cutler’s 2014 campaign. But the gun-slinging signal-caller was in the midst of the one of the best years of his career. Yes, actually.
Cutler threw for 3,812 yards, 28 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while completing 66 percent of his passes. Cutler finished the year with a quarterback rating of 88.6 – the highest of his career with the exception of 2013 when he appeared in only 10 games.
Here’s where I say something ludicrous: Jay Cutler doesn’t deserve all of the blame for the Bears’ struggles.
Now, I’m not going to proclaim Jay Cutler a future MVP like Michael Irvin did, I’m just saying that he’s not the only problem in Chicago. I did send Jameis Winston to the Bears in a mock draft and insinuated Cutler had played his last game with Chicago.
Upon reevaluating the situation, I think Cutler could be in for a big 2015.
While it’s indubitably true that Cutler turns the ball over far too much, his teammates don’t exactly do a great job of helping him out.
According to ESPN Stats, since joining the Bears in 2009, Cutler has been in the top-10 for most sacked quarterbacks every year excluding the years he missed significant time due to injuries (2011 and 2013). He was the most sacked quarterback in 2010, getting dropped a whopping total of 52 times.
Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dante Rosario (88), wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) and wide receiver Marquess Wilson (10) against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
While the Bears have done a great job of supplying Cutler with a bevy of weapons (Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Martellus Bennett), Chicago hasn’t done enough to truly improve the offensive line. Kyle Long is a great interior lineman, but the tackles remain suspect. The signing of Jermon Bushrod was a positive, but it wasn’t a long-term solution. If anything, it was more of a adhesive strip. They overpaid when they brought in Bushrod, and he’s more of a run blocker.
The Bears’ defense hasn’t offered their quarterback much help either. Chicago has been the 30th ranked defense for the past two years, and it’s at least partially due to Brian Urlacher‘s retirement. Speaking of the former inside linebacker, Urlacher even called out his former teammate when Cutler began to falter.
Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback
Jay Cutler(6) drops back to pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
“Financially, he is one of the elite guys in the NFL,” Urlacher said, via NFL.com. “You look at his contract, he was paid like an elite quarterback, if I’m not mistaken. He just hasn’t produced like an elite quarterback.”
The Bears’ defense has some talented players, though the secondary gets gauged to frequently. Granted, Kyle Fuller has a bright future and Lamarr Houston should be healthy next year, provided he doesn’t try any celebrations in the offseason. As for the offense, guard Matt Slauson should be healthy for the offseason, which is terrific news for Chicago.
Why is all of that relevant, though? It’s relevant because while 2014 was a catastrophically disappointing year for Cutler and the Bears, it’s a little bit too early to completely give up on No. 6.
The Bears won’t outright win any games solely on Cutler’s arm, but Chicago can certainly lose games due to Cutler. Cutler is a quarterback that can be successful, provided he has the support around him. He can’t carry a team, but he can help manage some of the weight. Cutler is not in the same class as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees or the Mannings. He’s a player similar to Matthew Stafford, who has faced some of the same criticisms that Cutler has.
Stafford, however, was given a stellar defense, a very good offensive line and a group of playmakers, and he helped lead the Lions to the postseason.
Cutler is an above-average quarterback, and his career stats – 61.7 completion percentage, 180 touchdowns, 130 interceptions, 85.2 quarterback rating – reflect that. He has a cannon of an arm and he’s mobile enough to elude some defenders in the pocket. However, what’s been Cutler’s main bugaboo has been his proneness to force passes into the tightest of windows.
Like any quarterback, he gets flustered under pressure and is prone to make poor decisions, but coaches can work with that (see; Eli Manning).
While his physical attributes and numbers are often erratic, it’s not as if the coaching staff surrounding him has been much more consistent. Cutler has played under Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman, numerous offensive coordinators including Mike Martz and Aaron Kromer, and a plethora of quarterback coaches.
John Fox’s arrival could be just what Cutler needs to prove to the Bears he’s a quarterback that can be productive in the right system. If Fox can help create a playoff team with Tim Tebow at quarterback, it’s not impossible to see him do the same thing with Jay Cutler at the helm.
Adam Gase followed Fox to Chicago to serve as the Bears’ offensive coordinator. Gase was the Broncos offensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014, tat first year being the season in which Peyton Manning threw an NFL single-season record 55 touchdown passes. Last year, we saw the diversity of Gase’s offense in Denver. After helping C.J. Anderson have an All-Pro second-half of the year, Gase now has perennial Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte to work with.
Former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is now in charge of the Chicago Bears’ attack. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Gase was also Denver’s quarterback coach in 2011 when, you guessed it, Tim Tebow was the leading man.
All of the pieces will be in place for Cutler to succeed. One would assume the defense will be better with Vic Fangio coming over from San Francisco, the offense should have an identity with Gase calling the shots and John Fox is a coach that knows how to win. Cutler obviously doesn’t have the offensive mind Peyton Manning does, but Gase’s arrival is an upgrade.
Instead of forcing Cutler to change like previous offensive coordinators, expect Fox and Gase to put together an offense that fits Cutler best. Short passes, play-action passes and deep jump balls to Jeffery and Marshall should be the focal points. In fact, Chicago’s 2015 offensive unit isn’t too unlike the group Gase worked with in Denver. Chicago has a pair of lethal wide receivers, a good running game and a stellar tight end.
Cutler is (obviously) not as accurate as Manning, but he’s accurate enough. He’s not as mobile as Tebow, but he’s mobile enough. The bottom line is that 2015 will be Jay Cutler’s best and most likely his last chance to prove he can win with the Bears.
If there’s anything that can be learned from Ben McAdoo’s first year with the New York Giants, it’s that it is entirely possible to teach a veteran quarterback new tricks. The new coaching system could be exactly what Cutler needs to be productive and lead the Bears into the postseason.
He has the receivers, the running back and the coaches necessary to succeed. There are no more excuses for Jay Cutler.