Our starting LT next year will be...

[steelcitysledge]

You see no correlation between a garbage line effecting the play of a QB? If Cutler's regressed it's because he's dealt with the worst O-line in the NFL during his tenure here and (prior to acquiring BM) the worst group of WRs in the NFL, as well. J-Webb nation would get abused on a regular basis even if <insert HOF QB here> were under center.

This has become a chicken-and-the-egg argument. I concede the lines poor play affected Cutler's play in '10 and '11. Those seasons, I saw Jay trying to overcome the weaknesses he had in protection. If you want to argue the damage incurred by Jay playing behind this OLine in '10 and '11 affected his play this season, I'll believe that. If you're trying to say the 2012 version of our OLine was responsible for Jay's bad play, that's where we part ways.
The line and Webb in particular showed improvement. The Jay Culter we thought we were getting should have shown improvement as well, but did not. It may be "QB-PTSD" resulting from the beatings he took the previous two seasons, but it wasn't due to the protection he received in 2012.

I'm not nearly as worried about Webb in 2013 as I am about Cutler in 2013.

Go Bears!

J

[steelcitysledge]

We also went from Martz to Tice as OC. Clearly it's Cutler's fault that his numbers went down since he "regressed". When a team has a top 25% defense, leads the league in defensive interceptions and TDs, but the head coach gets fired, clearly having a first time OC (who also got fired) has nothing to do with declining offensive performance.

The OC argument is moot considering it's common knowledge Cutler didn't want Martz around any more and he signed off on Tice and got them to bring in Bates. These guys weren't forced upon him. These are the guys he wanted. If they sucked, then Cutler still deserves blame for that.

Go Bears!

J

[Mikefive]

The OC argument is moot considering it's common knowledge Cutler didn't want Martz around any more and he signed off on Tice and got them to bring in Bates. These guys weren't forced upon him. These are the guys he wanted. If they sucked, then Cutler still deserves blame for that.

It was Lovie Smith's responsibility to hire the OC. The offense sucked. Both Lovie and the OC were fired. It was not Jay Cutler's responsiblitiy. That's why he still has a job.

[thunderspirit]

So Cutler bears responsiblity for our hiring a bad OC. I get it now. Anything else?

#BlameJayCutler

[Mikefive]

No fair! I edited that!

[Nastradamus]

I get the impression from what I've read that you can sign 2, maybe 3 of Peppers,Urlacher,Melton and Long or a similar LT. Do you do something like cut Peppers to sign a guy like Long,Clady or Bushrod. Maybe even Andre Smith.

[DaSuperfan]

I get the impression from what I've read that you can sign 2, maybe 3 of Peppers,Urlacher,Melton and Long or a similar LT. Do you do something like cut Peppers to sign a guy like Long,Clady or Bushrod. Maybe even Andre Smith.

Urlacher would be the most likely candidate to get cut, I don't see Peppers getting the axe as he has more value to the team right now than Urlacher.

[Mikefive]

Peppers is under contract for the next 3 years. Urlacher and Melton are FAs, so they can't be cut.

[Nastradamus]

Urlacher would be the most likely candidate to get cut, I don't see Peppers getting the axe as he has more value to the team right now than Urlacher.

He saves him the most money though. Urlacher will probably take a team friendly deal to stay IMO.

[PC Load Letter]

This has become a chicken-and-the-egg argument. I concede the lines poor play affected Cutler's play in '10 and '11. Those seasons, I saw Jay trying to overcome the weaknesses he had in protection. If you want to argue the damage incurred by Jay playing behind this OLine in '10 and '11 affected his play this season, I'll believe that. If you're trying to say the 2012 version of our OLine was responsible for Jay's bad play, that's where we part ways.
The line and Webb in particular showed improvement. The Jay Culter we thought we were getting should have shown improvement as well, but did not. It may be "QB-PTSD" resulting from the beatings he took the previous two seasons, but it wasn't due to the protection he received in 2012.

You're oversimplifying things...and I am still in the "where the hell are all of these improvements on the O-line??" camp. Again, maybe the number of sacks, hits, hurries were not as bad, but that was because we were giving our tackles more help and the inside of the line was still getting abused. That additional help means Jay has less receiving options. Do I need to remind you how many times we ran plays where Marshall was literally the ONLY option on the play?

I'm not nearly as worried about Webb in 2013 as I am about Cutler in 2013.

I agree - I'd worry more about Jay as well - if Webb is responsible for protecting him. If you honestly think Webb is a better LT than Jay is a QB then I really do not know how to respond to that.

The OC argument is moot considering it's common knowledge Cutler didn't want Martz around any more and he signed off on Tice and got them to bring in Bates. These guys weren't forced upon him. These are the guys he wanted. If they sucked, then Cutler still deserves blame for that.

A) It's common knowledge the only reason Martz was here in the first place is because he's Lovie's buddy. B) Martz has a history of getting QBs killed. C) he doesn't allow his QB to audible. Please tell me why ANY QB with the worst line in football would want Martz as their OC?

I also have no clue why you'd suggest Cutler wanted Tice (or signed off on?) as the OC. If anything Jay probably wanted Bates running the show, but again, we were left with another Lovie blunder. Now you seriously want to say Cutler deserves the blame for Lovie naming Tice the OC .... AND .... not being smart enough to realize Tice was in over his head during the season and handing play-calling over to Bates?

#BlameJayCutler indeed.

[steelcitysledge]

I'm done discussing Cutler in this thread (the offseason is long and we'll have plenty of other threads to discuss this in).
I've made my point about our LT situation. I feel Webb is being used as the scapegoat to excuse yet another disappointing season by our QB.
I'd rather take the resources many want to use to upgrade our LT position to acquire a competent backup QB who could push/replace Cutler as I'm more concerned about his continued regression than Webb's slow improvement.

Go Bears!

J

[Mikefive]

You're oversimplifying things...and I am still in the "where the hell are all of these improvements on the O-line??" camp. Again, maybe the number of sacks, hits, hurries were not as bad, but that was because we were giving our tackles more help and the inside of the line was still getting abused. That additional help means Jay has less receiving options. Do I need to remind you how many times we ran plays where Marshall was literally the ONLY option on the play?

Really good point.

I also have no clue why you'd suggest Cutler wanted Tice (or signed off on?) as the OC. If anything Jay probably wanted Bates running the show, but again, we were left with another Lovie blunder. Now you seriously want to say Cutler deserves the blame for Lovie naming Tice the OC .... AND .... not being smart enough to realize Tice was in over his head during the season and handing play-calling over to Bates?

Let's say that Cutler didn't like Tice as the OC. But Lovie promotes him anyway. Does sledge really think Cutler would say "Tice isn't the guy I wanted"? How did being honest and negative work out for DJ Moore? Instead, his positive statements that meet his Boss's expectations are considered 100% honest and truthful? Really?

[Wounded Bear]

I'm done discussing Cutler in this thread (the offseason is long and we'll have plenty of other threads to discuss this in).
I've made my point about our LT situation. I feel Webb is being used as the scapegoat to excuse yet another disappointing season by our QB.
I'd rather take the resources many want to use to upgrade our LT position to acquire a competent backup QB who could push/replace Cutler as I'm more concerned about his continued regression than Webb's slow improvement.

Go Bears!

J

Well with that line of logic, you'd better use that money to obtain 3 or 4 backup QB's.....and be prepared for them not to perform as well as you had thought.

Sacrificing Cutler to keep Webb....unbelievable.