| 24 July 2010
Early in April last year, Bears’ fans had a hard time believing the news: their franchise had real, legitimate NFL quarterback. A few early draft picks brought Jay Cutler from Denver to Chicago, hopefully signaling the end of the Bears long line of misery behind center.
Cutler was coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2008, throwing for 4,526 yards and 25 TDs. But 2009 was a different kind of year for Cutler. He put up 3,666 yards and 27 TDs, but was plagued by a league-high 26 interceptions. Not only was the sheer volume of Cutler’s turnovers staggering, it was also the location of those turnovers that crippled the Bears’ offense. He threw a league-high six red zone interceptions in 2010, and has thrown more red zone INTs than any other QB in the past two seasons.
Above all the other issues facing Cutler in 2010, ball security is the primary focus. He simply cannot throw that many interceptions again if the Bears expect to compete in the talented NFC North. An improved offensive line aided by the arrival of new offensive line coach Mike Tice would boost Cutler’s chances at improving those numbers next season, but another addition to the coaching staff figures to make an even larger impact.
On Feb. 1, the Bears hired offensive mastermind Mike Martz to work with Cutler as Chicago’s new offensive coordinator. Martz’s résumé includes a Super Bowl ring, earned while he was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense.
Now, Martz brings that high-octane passing attack to Chicago, in hopes of turning around a franchise that has always struggled to move the ball through the air consistently.
The biggest conflict presented by Martz’s hiring deals with his offensive philosophy. Throughout his career, Martz has demanded that his quarterbacks throw the ball to an area, often before a receiver has made his cut. Cutler’s preferences, reportedly, are to see the receiver break open before making a throw. That’s one of many adjustments No. 6 will have to make entering the 2010 campaign.
Regardless of the team’s final record this season, Cutler’s performance figures to benefit from Martz’s arrival. Remember that this is the same Martz that helped Jon Kitna post back-to-back 4,000 yard passing seasons in his two-year stint with the Detroit Lions. And Cutler’s abilities far exceed that of Kitna.
But Martz’s offense is not easy to digest, and it takes a lot of work to master all the terminology and reads of his complicated schemes. Cutler and his receivers must be on the same page at all times to make this offense work—something that Martz has had trouble getting his players to do since leaving the Rams.
It was a high-risk, high-reward move for the Bears to pair Cutler with Martz. If the transition is smooth, Chicago fans could be treated to an aerial attack unlike anything they’ve seen at Soldier Field. A bumpy road could be ahead, though, if the two don’t see eye-to-eye come September. Both men have been saying the right things since February, but if Cutler throws four interceptions in one game again, a rather nasty storm could develop on the Chicago sidelines.
Rumors circulated in the offseason that the Bears were going to pursue a veteran backup QB in the offseason, but they elected to stick with last year’s No. 2 quarterback, Caleb Hanie. Appearing twice at the end of blowouts last season, Hanie completed three of seven passes for 11 yards and one interception in 2010.
The only extended look Bears fans have had of the Colorado State product in this third year has come from preseason action. The 2008 preseason saw Hanie go 29-for-49 for 321 yards, three TDs, and two INTs. Last year’s exhibition schedule saw Hanie continue to perform adequately against the opposing second and third-string defenses, helping the Bears assemble a 3-1 preseason record. His longest appearance was in the finale against Cleveland. Hanie’s lack of arm strength was apparent on an early interception, as he badly underthrew Johnny Knox, who appeared to have a step on his defender. But Hanie rebounded nicely, finishing with 113 yards and a touchdown in 9-for-13 passing. His accuracy is far from perfect, but he did show flashes of potential. Perhaps Hanie’s biggest attribute is his mobility within the pocket, as he displayed the ability to sidestep the pass rush.
Behind Hanie, 2010 draft pick Dan LeFevour and recent free agent pickup Mike Teel will battle for the third QB spot, which figures to be relegated to the practice squad. Teel has the advantage on experience, but you’d have to figure LeFevour’s status as a draft pick heightens his chances to win that battle.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
