Urlacher: Cutler is a *****

**egami** · 07-30-2009, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Clonefan94

Agree and I'm not a Bear hater. My issue with my Bear fan friends has always been that you need people to get open before the quarterback can throw it to them. I don't think the bears have that guy consistently. Right now, the only positive they have is their running back. Hopefully Cutler will be able to take some weight off of his shoulders. But if they rely on Forte as much as they did last year. I don't think he'll last long. Or at least be able to play at 100% every day. Without a decent running game, even great quarterbacks can look marginal. With the Bears receiving core, this is going to be all to glaring to them if they aren't running the ball well.

Defensively, the Bears have been in a steady decline the last few years. This could have something to do with their offense not moving the ball, but imo, it's equally the product of an aging team. I guess, it's just that It bothers me that the casual fan, who acts like a diehard is so eager to put his or her team in the Super Bowl based on one person. Granted, the Bears have needed a QB for years, but I saw most of their games last year and it's far from their only issue they need to deal with.

You make another great point I make about the Bears often, both historically and presently. Quick name the last Bears true, solid NFL caliber #1 WR. There aren't any.

I am not sure the QB dynamic of the Bears hasn't also been contingent on the fact that they seen inable, or unwilling, to go after quality solid WR personnel.

I am Steelers fan. No one loves defense and stuffing the the ball down your throat by running more than me, but thank God my organization understands the importance of the QB/WR pieces in the equation.

**dmg89** · 07-30-2009, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by TarHeelHawk

The Bears haven't had a QB for 40 or 50 years now, so it's easy to understand why a hothead like Cutler would get them excited. Ya know, cause he's got so many weapons to throw to.

He's actually got a few guys to throw to; Forte lead all running backs in receptions, they have two quality tight ends, and Hester should be a decent receiver. As for the rest of their receiving core, well...

**egami** · 07-30-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by dmg89

He's actually got a few guys to throw to; Forte lead all running backs in receptions, they have two quality tight ends, and Hester should be a decent receiver. As for the rest of their receiving core, well...

He has zero "elite" (even though I hate that term) targets. There is no true, solid #1 on that team. I think this is a problem.

In reality, he has Hester, who is still unproven as a real WR threat. Greg Olsen, who is arguably their best receiving threat. And beyond that...the only two with any name recognition to speak of are Desmond Clark and Rashied Davis, both are no real threats.

I think Forte's receiving stats are largely a product of a lack of down field play-makers. Not that Forte isn't a good receiver, but he shouldn't have had 63 receptions, probably in that offense.

**dmg89** · 07-30-2009, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by egami

He has zero "elite" (even though I hate that term) targets. There is no true, solid #1 on that team. I think this is a problem.

In reality, he has Hester, who is still unproven as a real WR threat. Greg Olsen, who is arguably their best receiving threat. And beyond that...the only two with any name recognition to speak of are Desmond Clark and Rashied Davis, both are no real threats.

I think Forte's receiving stats are largely a product of a lack of down field play-makers. Not that Forte isn't a good receiver, but he shouldn't have had 63 receptions, probably in that offense.

I can't really disagree with what you said, except that Clark is a better receiver than most people realize, not great by any stretch but solid and even better in the two tight end set. I just think that most people omit the non-wide receiver options that Cutler has and he won't be as screwed because of them.

**egami** · 07-30-2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by dmg89

I can't really disagree with what you said, except that Clark is a better receiver than most people realize, not great by any stretch but solid and even better in the two tight end set. I just think that most people omit the non-wide receiver options that Cutler has and he won't be as screwed because of them.

Ok,but still, the reason they do that is to emphasize that you roll out week one with Clark, Olsen, Hester and Davis as your "receiving" corps. Find me a worse set in the league? There may be, but they are probably in the bottom five? Bottom ten for sure, I'd think.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens...if Cutler is really, truly as much a prodigy as his fan boys make him out to be he'll raise the production all around and the offense will be obviously better. I am a Cutler critic, admittedly. I'll believe it when I see it. Personally, I expect a marginal to moderate improvement at best. Could be wrong though...we'll see.

**dmg89** · 07-30-2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by egami

Ok,but still, the reason they do that is to emphasize that you roll out week one with Clark, Olsen, Hester and Davis as your "receiving" corps. Find me a worse set in the league? There may be, but they are probably in the bottom five? Bottom ten for sure, I'd think.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens...if Cutler is really, truly as much a prodigy as his fan boys make him out to be he'll raise the production all around and the offense will be obviously better. I am a Cutler critic, admittedly. I'll believe it when I see it. Personally, I expect a marginal to moderate improvement at best. Could be wrong though...we'll see.

Bottom five, eh, bottom ten, fair enough. A lot of the optimism that bears fans have isn't just about Cutler, it's that the o-line was upgraded, and the belief that the defense shouldn't be as bad a last year (albeit that may be blind faith).