Cutler Unable to Hit Open Targets

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Monday, November 23rd

Bears Still In Hunt for Playoffs at 4-6, What, Am I Missing Something?

This is not a wide open lay up like Jay Cutler missed tonight. Technically, the Bears are still in the hunt for postseason play, but they would need some serious help like every NFC team contracting H1N1. At the very least, every team on the Bears remaining schedule to have an outside shot. When you look back on the season so far, realistically, the Bears should be 7-3 or 6-4 at worst. It is unfortunate because the Bears and Jay Cutler are much better than they have displayed on the field.

Make the Play

There are no do overs in the National Football League. It is a results oriented business where giving it the Old College Try does not cut it. Just ask former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Dick Jauron. Jauron tried to win football games, just like Jay Cutler tried to complete passes to wide open receivers. When your opportunity is there to make a play, you have to come through. No one can blame Offensive Coordinator, Ron Turner, tonight for this outcome. He dialed up three sure TD calls that Jay has to complete.

Who knows, maybe Philly folds if Jay finds pay dirt along with boosting his confidence in the process. Think of how the game would have changed. The Bears would have been playing with a lead which dramatically changes play calling on both sidelines.

Footwork

I think I have harped on this enough, but Im sure you clearly witnessed what I have been talking about tonight. If Jay sets his feet and throws on balance, he is going to the podium with a 3 TD night. It would have restored faith, but more importantly, deflected criticism from a player who could use a breather. Tonights performance only raises the level of concern to defcon 4. Jays bad habits have to be corrected if he is to succeed in this town or any other NFL city. QB coach Pep Hamilton has to incorporate a series of drills to clean up Jays game from the waist down. His lively hood depends on it in relation to GM Jerry Angelos year end evaluations.

Decisions

Jay had a one on one meeting with Ron Turner early this week as predicted. It must have went over like a lead balloon because the decision making was lacking again tonight. Jay was forcing the football again and was lucky not to walk away with another 4 interception performance. The play that I find most unsettling was the first overthrow to Greg Olsen in the first half. The play is Zero Strong Slot, K-2 Y Bow. A play action pass where Greg runs a corner route and the FB eludes the end man on the line of scrimmage looking for the ball quick in the flat. The Eagles blitzed the TE side and technically the ball should have been thrown hot to FB Jason McKie. It is the easier throw and he might have turned up the sideline for a score. Jay decided to ignore the first read and although Greg was open, he has to hit it because he chose to go against the integrity of the play. Again, Jay must learn to weigh the risk and rewards of his decision making. He was fading away on the throw trying to negotiate the blitzer when he could have set up and delivered the ball on balance to the FB before the blitzer was ever an issue. If you make the riskier decision, you better make the play! They know the rules of the play as well and will now just see a replay repeatedly of a ball going incomplete over the outreached hands of Greg Olsen. Situational play and footwork cannot be emphasized enough with Jay.

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