| 15 December 2009
Rolling up the sleeves for another long winded offensive film review session. Examining what went right and what went wrong in a game the Bears could have won. Penalties, turnovers, and a career day by Devin Aromashodu were the story lines to follow on offense. Cutler was good and sorta bad all at the same time in this game...doing enough to win the game for the Bears and doing just enough to lose the game for the Bears. Cutler was maddening, but so was some of the coaching by Lovie Smith and the play-calling by the soon to be departed Ron Turner. The Bears likely could have done a better job of getting Matt Forte more carries since he was averaging a solid 4.3 yards per carry on the day.
But these are just of the small subtle things that most Bears fans noticed today, to really get a clear idea of what happened, I prefer to in depth.
Bears' first offensive possession, shockingly Lovie Smith chooses to open up the game on offense after winning the coin toss.
Cutler out of the shot gun and passes the ball on first down. Not really a surprise here given that the Bears have passed the ball a whopping 65-percent of the time this season. So much for getting off the bus running the Bears have less balance to their offense than any other team in the NFL. The disparity between their rushing attempts and passing attempts leads the NFL.
A quick little hitch to Aromashodu for a gain of eight yards on first down. Three step drop and a zipped pass for the completion should easily put the Bears in position to pick up the first down. Right?
Wrong, on second down Cutler misses the next pass, Turner should easily just plow ahead and run the ball here. There's no excuse not to be running the ball on second and two, because the chances of picking up the first down and giving the offense a bit of momentum is very important in the early stages of this game. Especially for the Bears and the rhythm the offense needs to find here.
The pass on second down is completely uncalled (by Ron Turner) for and mostly off target. Having watched the game I think Cutler wanted to make it a point to throw to Aromashodu as often as he could. Cutler has been on record all season arguing for increased playing time for D.A. I felt like he deliberately threw to him to make a point. Yes D.A responded with a career day, but I'm going to count how many times Cutler threw the ball his way. So with the quick incompletion it's now third and two and Turner makes a god awful play call...he calls a counter to Forte. No one along the Packers' defensive front even lines up in a three point stance. They all stand up and then rush when the ball is snapped. There's a complete break down on the left side of the offensive line from the center down to Chris Williams. Olin Kreutz whiffs on a block, Chris Williams follows suit showing no ability to crack down inside on the man he has to block after Omiyale pulls. Although even if Williams makes his block, Omiyale completely whiffs on blocking the LB on his pull and kick out block so the play would have been dead there.
This is a classic case of who do you blame that has plagued the Bears all season. Do you blame Ron Turner for making the asinine play call here? Perhaps you blame the Bears for completely failing to execute on this play call? It's likely a happy combination of both, Turner made the stupid call, but he is partially bailed out because of the poor blocking up front. Either way not a good way to start the first offensive series of the game.
Bears' second possession down 7-0:
Well if there's one way to keep your defense off the field and keep them rested it's by giving up a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game.
Bears back on offense here, FALSE START ON THE OFFENSE first and 15....the theme of the season continues here.
First and 15 now on the G-power and over half the offensive linemen miss their blocks on this stuffed up run play. Kevin Shaffer to the second level, whiffs on the 'backer, Kreutz misses his block at the POA, and Williams misses his block. Forte goes no where.
Second and 13 Cutler doesn't even have time to go through is progressions because Kevin Shaffer misses his blocking assignment. Shaffer blocks down on a double team on the DE and completely misses the OLB who blitzes. Forte is immediately dropped after shown no ability to get past the CB in coverage.
Third and 11 Cutler drops back and the pocket collapses, Cutler bursts up the middle for a big gainer on the run but the big play is brought back because of a holding penalty on Frank Omiyale. The emerging theme of the day starts with two quick penalties on this drive. A false start and then a holding penalty that completely negates a first down run by Cutler. Was a gain of 22 by Cutler, great run...taken away by Omiyale's second penalty of the drive. Yes that's correct Omiyale is starting again...as if he's so much better at LG than prior to his benching.
Third and 21 and the Bears set up a screen play here, stupid play call by Ron Turner, his second stupid play call of the day. Why? The Packers are in Cover-8 zone rushing only three players....you wanna try to run a screen when a team blitzes that way you throw the ball over the top of all the rushers and then the O-Linemen are at the second and third level immediately taking on a 'backer or a bunch of secondary players. Stupid play call...Forte goes nowhere, fourth down.
Bears' next possession Cutler's first INT of the game here, third time he's thrown to Aromashodu. The question is, is there a miscommunication between D.A and Cutler. Cutler throws short and D.A. runs deep, or does Cutler just flat out under throw the ball? No way to really tell, though Cutler apologists will say D.A. ran the wrong route. Three passes thrown D.A's way, and one completion thus far.
Bears back on offense with 12:58 left in the second quarter now:
Bears run Forte, Garza misses a block on Raji, Shaffer misses his block and Forte is stuffed up quickly as a result gain of two.
Second and eight now Cutler drops back to pass, Jason McKie misses his cut block on the blitzing LB who promptly flushes Cutler from the pocket. McKie is flat worthless and needs to be cut, period the end. Cutler has to throw it away.
Third and eight now for the Bears, Cutler with three wide receivers from the shot gun on this play, he gets pressured from an all-out blitz. There's a pretty good bit of contact on the receiver before ball arrives it should have been PI...instead there is no call and the Bears punt again.
Bears' second possession of the second quarter 8:10 remaining down 13-0
False start immediately puts the Bears back at first and 15
Packers come with a CB blitz and Cutler quick flips it out to D.A. on the play. Complete for a decent gainer...pisses me off because if the defender misses this tackle D.A. is running for a long time. He just barely makes the tackle as it is. This play could have been huge. Great pass protection on this play, second and seven here Cutler with time and he hits Earl Bennett for a gain of seven leaving the Bears with a very manageable third and short.
Bears with an isolation power run up the gut of the Packers defense on this play. Garza misses his block and Forte has to spin off the DT to get any good yards out of it. He does get the first down on this play. Kreutz with a nice combo block with Omiyale and quickly jumps the second level to get the LB that really opens things up for the first down. If Forte didn't have to spin he would have gotten a good seven yards on this play thanks to the blocking by Kreutz.
First and ten for the Bears and the crowd mockingly cheers some small success by the offense.
Cutler back to pass on a quick drop and a big blitz by the Packers, Cutler gets the quick hit to D.A. the fifth time he's been thrown at in this game, his third catch. Nice pass and catch here for some positive yards and yet another first down.
Yet another false start penalty that completely stunts the momentum of this drive. This time it's Kevin Shaffer, f-you very much.
Second and 15 yet another stupid screen call by Ron Turner. Though to most Bears' fans Turner hasn't called enough screens this season. That's a very bad myth, Turner has called plenty of screens, but usually when he makes the call the execution on the screen call is so awful, he buries those plays at the bottom of the play book.
Second and 18 Cutler gets pressured on the miss blitz pick up, up the middle by Forte. Pressure force Cutler to throw it off his back foot and it's no where near accurate or on target to Olsen, third down coming up.
Third and 18, here and this play truly represents why when the Packers rush only three players, there should be NO screen call. Knox gets open, Cutler has a ton of time on this play and fires it for a big first down. This is how big time passing offenses in the NFL look. Even with eight men in coverage the Bears still get a big first down because Cutler has all day to throw and eventually a receiver will get open in the zone coverage. If your QB has an arm like Cutler and he's able to step into and deliver the ball on target, he'll get this completion every time. He can fit the ball into any small opening in the eight man zone coverage. Protection, mechanics, and a proper delivery and Cutler can't miss. First and 10 Bears.
First and ten the Bears with some momentum after that sweet pass by Cutler; Bears take a major shot into the end zone. Cutler just misses Aromashodu, just slightly under throws him and Charles Woodson nearly makes the pick. Cutler probably could have led D.A. just a bit more and he would have hit him for the touchdown. PBU by Woodson, sixth time Cutler has thrown D.A.'s way.
This is another great throw by Cutler as he gets a little pressure, but he sees D.A. open steps up and zings it to him for the completion inside the 20-yard line. Seventh time in the first half D.A. has been targeted by Cutler far more than any other receiver on this team. Bears empty the back field by sending Forte in motion on first down and ten from the 17 yard line here. Cutler is sacked by Clay Mathews his gets a bull rush on Williams and pushes him back into Cutler.
Second and 12 Cutler takes another shot into the end zone with enough time to step into and deliver the football. It's just a SMIDGEN long and incomplete. It's a great throw regardless so I can't knock how this one turned out. All it is is just more affirmation of Cutler's big league arm and accuracy with the big arm.
Unfazed by the last miss on the incompletion Cutler delivers a dart for the touchdown to Johnny Knox. Five big throws on this drive by Cutler, not all of them were complete but five major league throws that no a lot of other QBs in this league can make. If it takes five years for the Bears to build around Cutler so be it, because like Brett Favre, Cutler in five to ten years will still likely be making throws like this so long as he stays healthy and has the proper coaching. These type of plays are why there are so many Cutler apologists, I only wish he had kept this momentum going for the entire game.
First half comes to a close with the Bears taking kneel downs:
Bears take over the ball for the first time in the second half after Rodgers fumbles the ball into the arms of Anthony Adams:
First play is a running play with Matt Forte getting the carry. I can't see exactly how well the blocking goes or the gist of the play because the TV cuts back to the action so late into the play. Chris Williams appears to pull as well as Kreutz on the play. This leaves Clay Mathews chasing the play from behind and he runs down the line and makes the tackle after Forte gets a carry of about four yards. Good long chase down by Mathews on the play, but a nice gain of four yards on first down.
Second and six and the Bears coming out running in the second half with two straight gives to Matt Forte. Forte gets good blocking up front and plows ahead for the first down. Frank Omiyale gets a good block on this play that really springs Forte on this run. Olin Kreutz with an excellent combo block on this play hitting the NT and then firing off into the LB on the second level. This too really springs the play for Forte and represents the best success the Bears had all day in running the football.
The Bears actually had moderate success running the football, they just didn't stick with it long enough to take enough heat off of Cutler.
Cutler again on first down with a pass to Aromashodu for another gain of nine yards. Just a little come back route, the route Cutler and D.A have had most of the day. Eight times Cutler has thrown D.A.'s way today.
Frank Omiyale with another good block in the running game for Forte. This is one of Omiyale's best blocking games of the season, although that's not saying much because he has had so many miserable games this season. Kreutz absolutely buries A.J. Hawk on this run up the middle. Total pancake by Kreutz, you can tell he's playing with a bit of motivation today.
Cutler with a pump fake to freeze the safety to the left as he comes back right and throws a dart that Knox has to come back and get. It's the right placement on the pass though because the coverage is there and there was enough communication between Cutler and Knox for Knox to come back to the ball.
First and goal Bears Cutler throws the ball behind Aromashodu who reaches back and makes a great catch off a great throw for the touchdown.
Stop the presses the Bears HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD 14-13...WOW.
Bears back on offense first and 10 from their own 20 still leading 14-13
Cutler play action fake, roll out quick pass to Desmond Clark for a gain of about eight yards. Pretty simple execution here for nine yards.
Not bad blocking on this run play a hand off to Khalil Bell his first action Bears get the first down. Omiyale specifically made two good blocks on this play...he battled with the first guy, completely boxed him out of the play until the guy was hit from behind and fell to the ground. From there Omiyale took on the next defender and completely walled him off from the play. Omiyale has been horrible this season, but this may be his best game to date for the Bears.
On this next run by Bell, everyone has a good block going except Kevin Shaffer. Shaffer is unable to finish his block and his guy is the player who makes the tackle. Otherwise Bell is still running on this play deep into the second level because the execution was so solid by everyone else on the O-Line. Another quick pass out to D.A. complete pass, but it's such a short pass he doesn't even get the first down on second and eight.
Cutler another quick pass to D.A. this time for a first down. Moderate five yards gained on the play.
Decent blocked play here but the Packers just bring more defenders up into the box than the Bears can block so the play goes for a four yard gain on the run.
Quick pass out to Rashied Davis with D.A. on the side line getting a breather....eight catches on the day for D.A. a career high. Davis is a yard shy of the first down, third and one upcoming.
Run to Bell on this play and the Packers are doing what the Bears have failed to do all season. Win the battle of wills in the trenches on these short yardage situations. Bell unable to get the first down.
Lovie Smith decides to punt on fourth and a very manageable one yard line. Smith should be going for it right here in Packers' territory. A first down here puts the Bears completely in control of this game and eats more time off the clock and that in turn changes the whole mentality of the Packers' game plan from this point on.
Worse yet Brad Maynard bobbles the snap and is unable to get away a clean punt as a result....the ball rolls into the end-zone for a touch back.
Bears defense holds the Packers to a VERY QUICK three and out....the Bears need to put together a scoring drive here to take control of this game. The defense gives the momentum back to the offense on this drive. The offense well....they do nothing with it.
Bears with the ball:
First down and ten Cutler with a quick pass to Matt Forte out of the back field for a three yard gain, it all comes back after the illegal hands to the face by Chris Williams. In a drive the Bears HAVE TO HAVE on offense to take control of and win this football game on first down it starts out with a major penalty. A penalty that drives coaches F-ING NUTS!.
Big hand off run to Forte on first down and 20 yards to go after the penalty....what a push the Bears' offensive line gets on this play. This is where you wish the O-Line had blocked like this all season, you wish that Williams hadn't committed the penalty. This type of play really would swing some major momentum if it had gotten a big chunk of first down yardage.
Quick reception by Olsen on second down, well short of a first down...third down up coming here.
Picked off pass here, corner blitz, way too close to the side line is the route and Cutler is picked off. There wasn't any room for Knox to operate there on the side line. Knox could have shortened his route on the play, but didn't likely because he never saw the CB blitzing in, the CB blitz happened so late.
Bears back on offense with 12:34 left down 21-14....run to Forte up the gut on an Iso...Forte bangs ahead for a couple yards.
Shaffer unable to hold off the rusher on the right side and Cutler is sacked on second and seven here. Momentum clearly back on Green Bay's side here. Thankfully there's a face mask penalty so the Bears get 15-yards and an automatic first down on the play. Cutler guns it across the middle to D.A....who can't hold onto the ball...it's nearly picked off on the bounce off of D.A's hands. Judgement call here, you could argue there was too many defenders near the ball on this play so therefore it's way too risky to make this throw.
But it's a risk reward throw here.
Second and 10 a nice throw and completion to Olsen for a first down. Bears with a bit of momentum on this throw and catch.
Cutler has to dump it off to McKie who gets no yards....Packers came with a CB blitz and it was picked up nicely by Shaffer.
Cutler just slightly overthrows Olsen on this next pass. Bears need a nice third down conversion here to avoid putting themselves in position to lose this game.
Bears' last meaningful possesion
Olsen misses a block on the play Kreutz has to help on the block and that leaves the man free that Kreutz would have had on his pull on the play. Forte dropped after small gain of two.
Screen play goes somewhere but is brought back on a holding call.
Greg Olsen gets hit right in the hands on third down, on a pass that had he held onto it would have been good for a first down. Good throw should have been a catch, but as has been the norm with Olsen this season he fails to hold onto the football. Pathetic....three plays two yards Bears punt.
Offensive Game Wrap Up:
The Bears were unable to get any real consistency or momentum going on offense because of all the mistakes and penalties and because Ron Turner didn't stick to the run well enough. If ever there was a game where the pass could have set up the run, this was it. Forte had some good momentum going when he finally did get some carries, but the penalties killed the Bears.
On meaningful momentum building drives the Bears wound up with penalties that killed those momentum building/possible scoring opportunity games. Yes Cutler threw that bad INT that sealed the deal for the Packers, but too many times when Cutler did have a hot hand, the penalties rolled in and stopped the Bears cold.
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