Alaskan Grizzly

Yep

Or not...

I'm actually relieved that Ola will be playing in Mills' place. Mills has resembled J'Marcus Webb far too often this year. Let's see; future HOF QB with winning record at home and other elements weighing heavy in NE favor... Should be a blowout. But for some reason I actually think the Bears will win. Similar odds have been faced with unfamiliar results. Oh... And the Bears are 3-0 on the road.

Ouch good one.

In a random span of 1996-2006 Shannahan was able to get his Denver Broncos to the playoffs seven times. Twice winning the Super Bowl in that timeframe. For the three years to include years 2006-08 including Cutler...mediocrity. (2006: 9-7 *Cutler was officially named the starter in November of this year by the way, 2007: 7-9, 2008: 8-8). Would you look at that, a perfect .500! How interesting. Hmmmmmmmm... Turner was OC for the Bears from 93-96 and again 05-09. In that timeframe he coached both Eric Kramer and Rex Grossman. Both players set respective team records in yards passed during his tenure* (Source: Wikipedia). And one made a Super Bowl appearance. hmmmm.... Wow, you are ok with totally discounting his overall record of 53-32 and the fact he too made two Super Bowl appearances while with the Rams? And to answer your question where he is currently? Broadcasting just like Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Steve Mariucci, Mike Ditka, Jay Gruden, Brian Billick, etc, etc, etc.... (Quiz: besides broadcasting, what's common between all these guys?) Not much I can offer in recourse on this one other than to say his overall HC record was 32-33 (to include a few 8-8 and 9-7 records). Let's see, who does that remind me of??? Hmmmmm..... Oh there's the answer I was looking for. He "landed in Chicago with the WORST PERSONNEL ON ANY ROSTER"? What? Unless I was mistaken, Cutler was there when he arrived, as was Marshall and Jeffery (both arrived in 2012) and uhmmmmm, who was it? Forte. Oh yeah those guys are Horrible...well at least most of them. As usual you prove yourself to be nothing more than a blowhard.

PLEASE NOONE SUGGEST WE THROW THE REST OF THE GAMES TO GET A BETTER DRAFT PICK!!! x 1,000,0000

I second your thoughts. I recently read an article that mentioned what you did above (bolded). Obviously I have a bias for Lovie but that aside some of the others mentioned; Shannahan, Turner and Martz were/are revered for the respective specialties. Mostly offense in nature. Each have had a hand in successful teams and some (Martz/Shannahan) have been to Super Bowls to prove it. At any rate, I also agree with Mad that it is unfortunate that the critics have been slowly proven right about Cutler. I admittedly have been one of them but deep down inside I wanted to be wrong. (Call it a form of reverse psychology). When Cutler came to Chicago in 09 I was beside myself with anticipation. I bought in full time. But slowly lost my trust in each game killing interception and turnover. I still look at him and wish he could just 'figure it out' but fear that won't happen. I'm convinced he's a newer version of Rex Grossman where he doesn't have the field vision needed to perform consistently at the elite level. As far as Trestman. I have faith if given the right QB for his system, he could prove successful. I think he also thought Cutler could be taught but is finding it challenging beyond his own expectations. Maybe something will click in the remaining 9 weeks of play, we can only hope.

So to measure them in only their time with the Bears and considering McCown's "lightning in a bottle", where has Cutler shown a spark of an ability to lead the team to where he should? In his 6 years (?) with the team he has shown he is mediocre at best. I know he has a 'winning record' and is better than good on most days but where has that gotten us? I've made the same arguments for Lovie in years past and was rebutted that mediocre isn't what people wanted in Chicago. They wanted playoff and more importantly Super Bowl wins. Has Cutler provided any of these opportunities? All of what you said before could be true but what I see in the highlighted sections are excuses. How do you explain having an OC/Head Coach tailor made to help Cutler? An oline built to protect Cutler, talent bought and drafted to supplement Cutler (Bennett, Jeffery, BM and Forte) yet the same mistakes keep cropping up? You say he's "developed" bad habits as a result of these excuses? Explain to me exactly how it is a QB stares down a receiver, in a clean pocket or not, to allow the defense to cover the play? Maybe the gunslinger mentality is a result of his having to improvise sure, but hasn't he been called that almost all of his career? To include the one year he made the Pro Bowl in Denver? I'm not sure that Clausen is the answer. In fact, if you read previous posts of mine, I'm not as sold on him as I was McCown based on his pre-season play. But sitting for a game or two with an "unspecified injury" could send a message to Cutler that he could spend the remainder of his 2.5 years on the bench if he doesn't fix what ills him. The problem with Cutler is he has good days followed by equal and sometimes more devastatingly bad days. He makes bad choices at bad times. And not just once or twice (like "other QB's do) but consistently. This is Cutler, ala Jeff George. Cutler may very well pull off a win against New England. He's been close before. But how will he do two weeks later against GB...in GB? As soon as he strings together 2-3-4-5 good games in row, I will consider apologizing for my doubt.

Or conversely they could play like they did against the veteran Matt Ryan who is 38-11 at home.

The problem is we all saw how well a journeyman (McCown) was able to effectively run this offense. And now our "franchise" QB cannot do it week in and week out. It makes one wonder, could Jimmy do any worse?

Kinda what we figured. I remember during the game watching a highlight of one of Miami's TD's them showing Tanehill doing an effective progression read. His eyes stayed to the left for a long time, probably knowing he would eventually go right, but at the last minute going right. I was pretty impressed in watching this where apparently a second year guy gets it and a 9 year pro does not.

It's interesting because not all that long ago, either when Martz or Tice were OC, many of us were wishing they'd let Cutler call audibles. Myself included . Now that he's had the chance, it's being revoked. I think this is a very valid "coaching moment" where the player obviously doesn't have the wherewithall to see the field and make good adjustments. (probably because he isn't looking at the iPad or surface or whatever ). So instead the coaches are re-taking control and making the appropriate adjustments. I think there is something to be said about his inability to effectively communicate the audible and his tendancy to appear to have tunnel vision when under pressure. And one other thing. Whatever happened to this innate ability of his to throw on the run? That used to be one of his calling cards. He used to do pretty well with throwing out of the pocket but that doesn't seem to happen on purpose like it did in Denver. (granted it's been a number of years ago) but they could still design plays similar to how Steve Young used to play in SF. Oh by the way was a West Coast offense and at one point coached by Trestman .

So when do you start or at least try out Clausen? Considering that Cutler doesn't appear to be a system QB perhaps Clausen would be a little better? I don't recall feeling as warm and fuzzy from his preseason play as I did with McCowns last year. But didn't Trestman work out Clausen when he was in college? Part of the reason he wanted him in Chicago? Must be something he sees / saw in him. If for nothing else having Cutler sit and stew on the sideline for a bit might do him good. Just sayin. Discuss.

Yeah he already had his hand wrapped when the hip injury hit. He tried to stick it out.

Good question. In watching the game on TV he had both Bennett underneath and Holmes on a Fly/Go route up the left side. Bennett was covered but behind his coverage ever so slight. The ball looked to fall just between the two. I think the safety jumped the route. Perhaps Cutler was staring down Holmes and or Bennett? In watching it he either underthrew Holmes (which is where he should have gone) or tried forcing it to Bennett. Cutler sorta admitted to making the wrong call. http://m.chicagofootball.com/2014/10/19/an...eption/aegnrxz/

You think so? The only week he'll look good in the coming weeks is week 9.

Nor is he learning much under Trestman. About those Midols?

How "womanly" of you! Take a Midol!!! Lol

As Greg Gumbel pointed out the largest gain in that series was a 39 yard penalty. Ouch.

Sure glad we got rid of Lovie to potentially go .500 in two seasons! Oh...and sign Jay to a huge contract!

0-4 at home! And after two turnovers by Jay!

Trying to figure why Greene hasn't been playing more. He's been all over the place and done well.

Now THAT is how you do it Jay! That last play he beautifully looked through his progressions and hit a wide open Forte in the left flat. Much better! Now D needs to stop them.

In other news how bout them Rams? 21-3 up on the world champion Seachokes?!

Make it 3.5 for Ratliff. At least he came to play.