| 13 February 2010
Obviously the best way and the most fair way to analyze Jay Cutler's season is to include analysis and video of his 27 touchdown passes. I would be doing a great disservice to the fans and obviously to Cutler. I say this because in addition to the high number of INTs Cutler threw this year he also threw one of the highest totals of touchdown passes in Bears team history. So while he was awfully bad with those 26 INTs, he was equally as good with those 27 TDs.
Considering the lack of talent Cutler had around him 27 TDs is a pretty high number. The Bears lacked a 1,000-yard receiver, didn't have one player amongst their top receivers that have started a full 16 consecutive games as a receiver, nor did they have a true big target to throw to. Of the four receivers only Devin Hester had any real time as a starting receiver in the NFL, and receiver wasn't even his real position when he was drafted.
From there the Bears essentially had two rookies in Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, players that had yet to take a snap in the NFL as a wide receiver. Then late in the season there was the break out by Devin Aromashodu who is a practice squad journeyman at the receiver spot, not even a real journeyman in that he's never consistently played through a 16 game season. Prior to the 2009 season Aromashodu had only four games of NFL experience when he played in four games in 2007.
Needless to say that's not a lot to work with when you're a quarterback like Jay Cutler no experienced veteran to take the heat off of Cutler or his young group of receivers.
Further complicating things was the three new starters on the offensive line, coupled with the lack of a consistent rushing attack throughout the season.
But I digress, that's not completely what I'm here to analyze it's what Cutler did on his own. It's where he did succeed, because as we all know Cutler is just as responsible for his own success as he is his own failure.
The first touchdown of the season for Cutler truly shows what we had all expected to see from Cutler, a nice strong arm with some touch on the deep ball. Although in this video you can't see the pre-snap read, I can tell you from my access to the Gamerewind.NFL.com video pass that Cutler recognizes the single coverage on Hester. He recognizes the two deep safeties, and Charles Woodson playing about 10-yards off of Hester. Cutler taps his hip pocket numerous times while looking over at Earl Bennett, which to me is him playing a bit of a trick on the Packers defense. He's eyeing Earl Bennett as he's calling out his cadence as if he's telling Bennett what to do based on the pre-snap read that he (Cutler) has made.
From there the Packers get lazy on their coverage, Hester screams off the line on a nine route, blows right by Charles Woodson who is sitting in a two-deep zone package. Woodson let's Hester go and the ball is thrown too deep for the safety to have any sort of a good angle on the pass. The ball easily floats into Hester's hands for the touchdown This first down throw comes immediately after a fourth and inches and puts the Bears squarely in the game early in the third quarter. The Bears are down 10-9 after struggling to find any rhythm in the first half, Cutler found his groove on this drive.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this touchdown pass to Kellen Davis is that i's third down and goal at the Steelers' six yard line, an obvious passing situation, with the Steelers lining up in a short zone package to defend the obvious pass in the red-zone and the Bears coming out with two TEs, Olsen split wide the Bears are showing an obvious passing package.
The pre-snap read shows the Steelers with six defenders all about six to eight yards deep lined up nearly parallel to each other across the field. Cutler makes an extremely smart play on this touchdown pass. He looks hard left and when he does that he forces the Steelers' coverage towards that side of the field. That hard look over to the left and then coming back to fire the ball to Davis between two defenders is the gun slinger move. He has to make that throw to Davis NOW with absolutely no hesitation because if he does then the defense can make a play on the ball and the Bears likely only come away with a field goal and lose the game. Because Cutler forced the defense with his stare down he's able to come back to his second option. Great play to force the action.
TD #3 3-7-PIT 7 (6:25) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 13-J.Knox for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Again the Bears are faced with a third down and goal, this time from the seven yard line meaning another obvious passing situation, and another must have touchdown to have a chance to win. This time the Steelers play it completely different, they come up with six players within three yards of the ball, showing a blitz front, but leaving themselves enough room to drop back into coverage if they want. It's a classic zone-blitz set up that's not only designed to confuse Cutler but to confuse the Bears' blocking scheme. It's almost guess work here for the offense but they're up to the task.
Cutler's one bit of saving grace is that he's in the shot gun and is able to get a read on what the Steelers are doing after the snap. He needs to get the ball out fast and when the snap comes he is scrambling backwards to make the throw. The Steelers bring far more rushers than Cutler has blockers so the ball has to come out now. Cutler has no chance to plant his feet, no chance to get set with zero protection in the back field to pick up the blitzers.
The Steelers blitz and Cutler gets the ball out quickly to Johnny Knox on a slant for the touchdown.
Also to add to this game you have to add that Cutler led the Bears on a 98-yard touchdown drive. The longest drive the Steelers defense had given up since early 2007, a great way to build momentum towards a great victory against the defending Super Bowl champs. There is little doubt just how important this victory was at the time, it was a game that maybe 20-percent of fans had the Bears winning. The Bears were the clear under dog and this was arguably Cutler's best game of the season.
TD #4 Seattle game 4-1-SEA 1 (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 82-G.Olsen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN
Cutler's third must have touchdown of the season, third in a row in a third and goal or in this case a fourth and goal situation. These have to be clutch throws on the part of Cutler to keep the Bears in a game and keep them close. These are touchdowns in games that the Bears have to win and because of Cutler's clutch confidence the Bears wind up winning two games (to this point) on these goal line situations.
The Bears come out in a jumbo package showing that they're going to run the ball, they go play action but the Seahawks only slightly bite on the play. Enough that Olsen gets a release to the back of the end-zone and is wide open for the touchdown. Cutler gets drilled in the chest as he's releasing this pass to Olsen, he clearly pays the price but it's still another clutch touchdown for the Bears.
TD #5 3-4-SEA 7 (11:36) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 13-J.Knox for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cutler from the shot gun again, empty backfield another clutch third down touch down pass from the Seahawks' seven yard line. Bears need to get either a first down or the touch down and Cutler hits Knox on a crossing route that allows him to at a minimum get the first down. Knox does better than that and avoids a tackle, breaks a tackle and lunges into the end-zone just breaking the plane of the goal-line. Another tremendously clutch play to put the Bears in position to win a game.
TD #6 2-7-SEA 36 (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 23-D.Hester for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Cutler again in the face of pressure with the Seahawks blitzing hard, pressure comes from the back side. Hester makes a great move to beat the jam coverage, but also runs a great route. He launches off his plant foot and into the slant route and gets the ball quick from Cutler. Seahawks defenders collide with each other and Hester springs free for the game winning touchdown.
TD #7 Detroit game 3-5-DET 5 (8:59) 6-J.Cutler scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This isn't a touchdown pass but it is a Jay Cutler touchdown, easily the most exciting play of the season. Cutler drops back, gets flushed to the left, scrambles away from two Lions defenders and makes a B-Line for the end-zone. A Lions defender comes up and Cutler proceeds to take a flying leap towards the end-zone as he's hit in mid-air and helicoptered in for the touchdown.
None of the acrobatics matters all that much, that's just adds to the excitement of the play. What matters is the fact that Cutler puts another six on the board yet again on a third down and goal situation. The Bears are down 7-0 to the Lions when this play happens and it helps to build momentum for the team as a whole. This play is easily the reason why Cutler was named captain of the team for a play like this, yet another clutch performance by number six. There really doesn't need to be anything else added, four clutch touchdowns on third and goal or fourth and goal situations and Cutler makes it happen.
Obviously I for one should give him more credit for those clutch touchdowns given I've been one of his biggest critics. As tends to happen when you're emotionally involved in a football game or even a football season you forget the postives and remember way too much of the negatives. These plays are some big clutch positives that Cutler should have been given a lot more credit for.
TD #8 2-2-DET 2 (14:19) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 87-K.Davis for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Another red-zone touchdown for Cutler here off of a second down and two. He play fakes to Forte and then finds Kellen Davis wide open for the touchdown. Great play fake and Cutler drops back and scans the field and easily finds Davis. Solid play design the way they have the TEs cross each other it throws off the defense and opens it up for the score.
TD #9 4-1-DET 1 (10:59) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 82-G.Olsen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
There's a theme developing here for the Bears and it's a positive theme and a negative theme at the same time.
The positive theme, Jay Cutler is clutch and just added another touchdown to his resume off of a fourth and goal situation, meaning another valuable six points on the board.
The negative theme, Matt Forte and the offensive line aren't doing enough to punch it into the end-zone on first down or second down, thus putting a lot of pressure on Cutler to come up with big plays. When people argue that Cutler didn't get any help this season, this is precisely what they should be pointing to. When you're forcing your QB to make a play on third and goal or fourth and goal it says your offensive line and running backs aren't getting the job done. That obviously needs to change for the Bears to be successful in 2010, they need to avoid putting themselves in these must have a touchdown situations.
The Bears line up here with another jumbo package play fake it to Forte and roll Cutler out. Greg Olsen gets a free release to run across the end-zone and is wide open for Cutler to hit for the touchdown. Near flawless execution on this play.
TD #10 Atlanta game 1-10-ATL 23 (15:00) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 13-J.Knox for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
I have to be honest here, I hate these types of touchdown passes I mean it's great and all that Cutler makes this throw for a touchdown. However the thing that irritates me is that he's throwing off of his back foot and using all arm on the touchdown pass. Cutler is under pressure and he doesn't really have time to plant and throw back across his body, he has to use all hips on this play. This is the type of throw where Mike Mayock would talk about how Cutler has more hip torque than any QB he's seen since John Elway. Which is probably true and this play illustrates just how Cutler can get away with throwing off of his back foot and using arm and hip to get the ball to Knox for the touchdown.
Knox runs a nice route because he gives the defender just enough of a hitch to streak past him and into the end-zone for the touchdown. The Bears did quite well this year beating press coverage all year and this is yet another example of how they did it so well.
TD #11 3-2-ATL 2 (6:18) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 82-G.Olsen for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Yet again, the theme is overwhelming now, the Bears way too often put Cutler in an extremely difficult position, third and goal or fourth and goal and in desperate need of a touchdown. Here we are again, third and goal in a must have goal line touchdown situation and Cutler delivers. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't pick up on this throughout the season and that I didn't make this type of observation until now. This is why I do the reviews though to pick up on these little aspects that so often get lost in the heat of the moment.
But the evidence now is undeniable and I'd be willing to bet that Cutler led the league in red-zone touchdowns that came off of third down and fourth down and goal situations. I find it more than remarkable that not only did I miss this, but so has the majority of the major media and NFL analysts throughout the league. I'm not quite sure if I'll take the time to analyze all 31 other starting QBs and whether or not they were put into this situation as often as Cutler was, but rest assured all signs point to Cutler being the leader of touchdowns in this type of situation. A situation most all of us would prefer to avoid from here on out. Not only for the risk of continued red-zone turnovers, but just out of sheer lack of ineptitude by the offensive unit as a whole.
Here Cutler looks hard left to force the defense's hand before coming back to the middle to Greg Olsen for the touchdown. A good way to force the action of the defense yet again so that they think you're doing one thing while you come back to someone that's open on the play for the easy score.
TD #12 3-2-CIN 5 (11:54) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 23-D.Hester for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Yet another third down situation deep down in the red-zone a third and two from the five yard line. The Bears empty the back field and Hester works his defender well to get open. He cuts one way, peels back the other and then cuts back to his original spot to get open for the easy touchdown. Unfortunately this is the only touchdown of the game for the Bears in their major blow out loss to the Bengals.
***NOTE Cutler did not throw a touchdown or score a touchdown in the Browns game
This throw is arguably Cutler's best touchdown throw to this point of the season, it's one of those jaw dropper throws that makes you sit up and out loud say DAMN. Olsen is covered the entire way down the field by Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and Cutler throws it to a point where Olsen only has to make a slight adjustment to make the catch. It's a hell of a throw on Cutler's part, the defense is dead in the water and defenseless to stop it. Cutler throws it to the spot where it will either fall incomplete or Olsen will snatch it for a touchdown, no chance for the defense BOOM touchdown.
Cutler again to Greg Olsen up against Adrian Wilson in one on one coverage for the touchdown. Cutler again looks off the defender this time with a pump fake to Earl Bennett, the defender reacts and Olsen is wide open. Touchdown, Touchdown Bears, Bennett runs off the defender when he fakes a slant and then runs an out which opens up the lane for Olsen.
TD #15 3-2-ARI 20 (9:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-G.Olsen for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Cutler again to Olsen for the third time in the game, Olsen runs a skinny post right down the heart of the Cardinals' zone defense. Again a throw where only Olsen can make the play touchdown for the Bears. This touchdown puts the Bears back in the game causing the Cardinals to put Warner back in and put the game on ice. The Cardinals chose to simply man up on Olsen and not bracket with double coverage. The Bears exploited this with Olsen and he responded with the three touchdowns.
Adrian Wilson is a big physical athletic safety, multi-year Pro Bowl player who should be fully capable of covering Olsen in one on one situations, but Olsen and the Bears burned. Cutler was on fire, perfectly on target and the Cardinals paid the price. Unfortunately the defense let the Bears down in this game, but Cutler and Olsen couldn't be denied.
***NOTE Cutler did not throw or score any touchdowns in the 49ers game
TD #16 1-10-PHI 15 (2:57) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 87-K.Davis for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Play action fake, Cutler to Kellen Davis against one on one LB coverage on another skinny post for the touchdown. Cutler under immediate pressure from the blitzing DB who gets a shot on him as he releases the ball on first down in the red-zone. Another big time throw here by Cutler that just leaves you in awe in how he gets it out. Nice perfect spot for Davis to easily make the play.
TD #17 2-10-MIN 24 (12:17) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 13-J.Knox for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Cutler to Knox on another fly route for the touchdown. The impressive thing about this play is how even with the DB opening up early to keep up with Knox, Knox still blows by him to settle underneath Cutler's pass for the touchdown. It's another one of those passes that only Knox can get to, no way the defender is going to get even a finger on the ball. If Knox doesn't catch it, it will fall harmlessly to the turf. As it is there's nice air under the ball and it settles in over Knox's shoulder even in the face of immense pressure. Cutler only has time to make one read and that's the read on the throw to Knox. Again Knox beats press cover proving yet again just how well coached Darryl Drake had these smallish receivers to beat the press.
TD #18 Rams Game 3-3-STL 3 (1:26) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 80-E.Bennett for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Back to the third and goal situations for the Bears, consistently unable to get the ball into the end-zone on first or second down down inside the 10-yard line. Bennett runs a quick route and sits in the soft spot of the coverage. Cutler delivers a laser to Bennett for the touchdown, short simple and sweet. First option, touchdown Bears.
TD #19 3-12-GB 19 (1:54) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 13-J.Knox for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Another red-zone touchdown off of a third down play, again to Johnny Knox who is quietly becoming Cutler's favorite target. Knox with a fake to the inside and an immediate jump to the outside on the nine route. Receiver has no chance and this has become routine for Cutler at this point in the season. Just enough air under the ball for Knox to haul it in over his shoulder...touchdown Bears. *YAWN*
TD #20 1-10-GB 10 (9:41) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 19-D.Aromashodu for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN
This time instead of going over the defender the Bears go behind the defender. With less room to work with between the LOS and the back of the end-zone and decent coverage by Woodson, Cutler throws it behind Aromashodu who has to make the adjustment. Aromashodu makes the perfect adjustment coming back to the ball behind the defender and makes the catch for the touchdown. Yet another pass where only the receiver can make the play as Cutler read the safety coming over the top on the play and put the ball where D.A. had to make the play.
***NOTE Cutler did not throw or score a touchdown in the Baltimore game
TD #21 1-7-MIN 7 (6:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 82-G.Olsen for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This game was easily Cutler's best game of the season as he blows the Vikings out of the water for four touchdown passes. Only defensive lapses allowed the Vikings to crawl back into the game, but overall Cutler was in control throughout most of the game. Cutler lasers this pass into Olsen between defenders, seven yards and a touchdown. One thing I've noticed is most of Cutler's passes come on the first read he sees rather than from him going through progressions. Not that there is anything wrong with it, a touchdown is a touchdown. Sometimes though the sign of a truly great QB is one who is able to go through and find his second or third option. Cutler does do this and has done so in amongst these touchdown throws. More often than not though it is the first read and first throw that gets the Bears the touchdown.
TD #22 2-2-MIN 2 (6:34) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 88-D.Clark for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Play action fake here on second and two, and Cutler finds Desmond Clark wide open in the back of the end-zone for the touchdown. Simple pass and catch here, almost like throwing it around in the backyard. These throws are sometimes the hardest ones to make because your receiver is so wide open and your QB can get excitable and end up throwing it too hard or too soft and costing the team. Cutler has just the right amount of touch on this pass and it makes it infinitely easy for Clark to haul in the touchdown.
TD #23 2-9-MIN 20 (5:00) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 80-E.Bennett for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Another dynamite throw this time to Earl Bennett under pressure he zips one right into Bennett's hands over the top of the defender. Another one of those throws that he makes where you're glad the Bears made the trade. A throw that you haven't consistenly seen in Chicago since Erik Kramer was here, but even then you know that Cutler is far more talented. When Cutler is on like he was in this game against the Vikings there's just no denying him, he can take over a game, carry a team on his back and win a big game. This was a big game win for the Bears even if it didn't matter at this point in the season, the fact remains the Bears needed a big one, a big one against a playoff bound division rival and Cutler delivered his best effort of the season.
TD #24 1-10-MIN 39 (9:21) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 19-D.Aromashodu for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Sorry for the cheesy/shitty video link on this high light. For some reason it wasn't up on the NFL.com/videos official site so I had to find it some other way.
Anyway Cutler just takes a straight drop and hits Aromashodu in single coverage on the outside for the game winner. This has easily been the Bears' most effective pass all season, the simple streak to the receivers and Cutler nails them in stride. This goes to show the speed of the receiving core from top to bottom. Couple it with Cutler's strong arm and touch on the deep ball and it was nearly unstoppable all season long.
This throw is what they call in the military, ONE SHOT, ONE KILL....BOOM BEARS WIN!
#25 3-6-DET 7 (:15) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 82-G.Olsen for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Nice quick progressions with plenty of time here for Cutler as he hits Olsen again for a touchdown. Olsen settles in directly in front of the defender just across the goal line for the touchdown. Another third down play inside the 10-yard line for the Bears, another must have clutch touchdown pass by Cutler. These plays easily defined Cutler's season time and time again he was faced with third or fourth down, inside the ten-yard-line and more often than not, Cutler delivered a touchdown.
#26 1-9-DET 9 (10:09) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 19-D.Aromashodu for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cutler laces it in between two receivers for Devin Aromashodu who emergeed late in the season. D.A has plenty of speed and good size and if he progresses from this year to the next could end up being a good receiver for the Bears. Another bullet of a throw for a touchdown, Cutler closes out the year with eight touchdowns and only one INT.
#27 1-1-DET 1 (7:25) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 88-D.Clark for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
A quick one yard touchdown pass to Desmond Clark for the touchdown. Play-action fake eats the Lions up both Kellen Davis and Clark were wide open it was pick and choose for Cutler, complete blown coverage by the Lions. Like shooting fish in a barrel here, the Lions are just clueless no matter who their coach is and no matter how much better they think they are, allowing a QB to have his choice between two wide open receivers is suicide. Cutler makes them pay and the Bears continue to roll.
#28 3-5-DET 12 (3:02) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 19-D.Aromashodu for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cutler off of play action to Devin Aromashodu for the touchdown on the roll out for the touchdown. Aromashodu gets loose on the skinny post and Cutler nails him in the end-zone for the easy six.
To wrap it all up here after for the season review of Jay Cutler, 12 of Cutler's 27 touchdown passes came in a third down or fourth down and goal situation for the Bears. An additional two touchdown passes came on third down plays inside the red-zone. This shows you how clutch Cutler was this season, how pathetic the offensive line and running game was, and how much pressure Cutler was under to make plays to put the Bears in position to win, or out right win the game, essentially by himself. The majority of the time this season Cutler was able to do just that, make the big play when it counted.
We know all the negatives about Cutler's season that have been hammered on and beaten to death like a dead horse by every one, fans, media, analysts, and other coaches.
What we haven't heard about though ANYWHERE, were about these clutch touchdown throws that Cutler made at such critical points in the game this season. These were times in which the Bears needed to finish drives and they needed to finish these drives more often than not with touchdowns to be competitive and 14 times this season Cutler threw touchdowns inside the red-zone on a critical third or fourth down.
That type of clutch performance shows the signs of a clutch quarterback a quarterback who is learning, who is developing who with the right coaching will likely be well over the 30 touchdown plateau in 2010.
This much we know, Mike Martz is going to do a lot to fix Cutler's mistakes, but we also know can say without question that Cutler needs less fixing than originally thought.
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