jason

Yes, factoring in the OL play is difficult. BTW - I thought many were saying the OL has gotten worse in the past several games? If anything, that would be a positive for McCown. I hate the "experts" inside dig, considering the Bears are currently sitting at .500 and one of those experts thought SMC was a great first round pick (even though 95% of this board disagreed). The experts involved with player selection and advancement with the Bears have been average at best over the recent past. Having said all that, I am with you, and still take Cutler because of the various things you mentioned and the potential. If Cutler's potential is ever tapped, and all things gel within the offense, we could be looking at a 4500-5000yd passing year considering the weapons around him.

For the most part I agree with the points, but playing devil's advocate I thought I'd look at a quick bit of stats. Sure, there are a million things to throw into a calculation like this, but I looked at D/ST scoring (disadvantage to QB's numbers) and turnovers forced by the Bears D/ST (advantage to QB's numbers). Games Cutler - 7, McCown - 5 **Cutler played most of the Lions game, and McCown played most of the Redskins game. Scoring Average Cutler - 27.2, McCown - 26.4 Scoring Average - D/ST Scoring Cutler - 24.2, McCown - 23.6 Scoring Average - D/ST Scoring - Turnovers forced Assume you just subtracted the number of turnovers from the score, indicating the advantage given to the Bears' offense when the Bears' defense gets a turnover. Even though we know the turnovers leads to more than a 1:1 scoring difference. For instance, in the first game Cutler's offense produced 24 points, and the defense got three turnovers. That's 24-3=21. Cutler - 21.7, McCown - 22.6 Scoring Average - D/ST Scoring - Turnovers forced adjusted scoring Since we all know that turnovers result in points, I think it's fair to say we expect on average 3 points per turnover. Some are TDs, some are FGs, and some are nothing. But if the Bears get 3 turnovers, I'd expect something around 10 points from that. So, rounded down it's a FG per possession. (I realize this is debatable) So, ignore the previous category and the subtraction of the number of turnovers, and just calculate 3*(# of turnovers). For instance, in the first game Cutler's offense produced 24 points, and the defense got three turnovers. That's 24-(3*3)=15. Cutler - 16.5, McCown - 20.6 Long story short, Cutler has a much better arm, deep ball, mobility, toughness, and aggressiveness than McCown, but in terms of how they have led the offense to points based purely on the offenses contribution (again, debatable), I'd say McCown has done a slightly better job. When Cutler played he had the advantage of a better defense and more forced turnovers, yet McCown's numbers are very comparable, if not better.

If you're talking about the thing from Breer, that's retarded. I would bet my life savings that Bridgewater goes ahead of McCarron.

Notice he didn't say "transcends schemes well."

Agreed. The "team scored x with QB 1"-type of statement is flawed.

I haven't seen that at all. And there is NO WAY IN HELL he's the #1 QB taken. That's ridiculous. In a year with Bridgewater, Marriotta, Manziel, Hundley, Derek Carr, Mettenburger, and Tajh Boyd, the concept of McCarron being the #1 guy is an impossibility on potential alone, much less collegiate production.

From what I've seen, that label is unfair. He's been on a stacked team, but to me he reeks of Brady in many ways. He's got the arm, the size, the poise, the timing, the accuracy, everything you need to be a successful NFL QB. On top of that, there's his girlfriend. Tell me that doesn't scream "superstar QB."

I think that draft is too defense heavy. I agree that one of the two DBs are probably going to FA, but I see no reason why Melton can't return with a team-friendly deal. My idea draft starts with defense, but fills in a few more gaps as well: HaHa Clinton-Dix FS Alabama Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St AJ McCarron QB Alabama Bryan Stork C Florida State

Sadly, I think the Bears probably lose three of the next four. Cleveland is the win. That puts them at 7-9, which is Chicago's traditional "middle of the pack"-draft pick, which I hate. I'm guessing the Bears draft around 12-13 range. And that, my friends, would have me laughing. Because the obvious pick is HaHa Clinton-Dix from the University of Alabama. He's

Agreed. Injuries have decimated this team, and there is no replacing three pro-bowlers, particularly when the defense is predicated upon quick pressure from Melton.

Absolutely nobody outside of McCown's immediate family would pay more for him than Cutler. But considering his production compared to Cutler, the prospect of paying a ton less for McCown is worth discussion.

Exactly. And when you factor in the amount of money a franchised QB costs versus a journeyman backup, it's no surprise Bears' fans are talking about the possibility of spending a WHOLE LOT LESS money and getting slightly less productive play. Put it another way, in terms of what might be best for the overall team... Cutler for above average $ > McCown for vet minimum > Cutler for franchise $ Having said all that, I've been a Cutler supporter since day 1, but when a virtual nobody can step in and produce like McCown has, I wonder if the Bears really need to spend franchise money on a QB.

It's an assumption to be sure, but based on his play thus far, it's not illogical. He has been very careful with the offense. He's progressed through reads and taken the smart choice far more often than Jay Cutler has in his time in Chicago. It's obviously a smaller sample size, but if you were to try to put a generic percentage to it, McCown takes the smart throw more often than Cutler does. That doesn't mean he's a better QB, but it does back up the assertion that he might have been aware of the circumstances of that play.

Memories of Garrett Wolfe...the good ol' days. How do you not try at least ONE misdirection play in that situation? Run middle, get stopped. Same formation, fake run middle, toss or QB rollout with dump pass to FB/TE. It works nearly every time.

I understand your skepticism towards the statement, but no matter how one feels about the situation, it's nearly impossible to disagree with the fact that McCown is more heady in this offense than Cutler. Where Cutler reads and the relies on his arm strength, McCown reads, then reads again, making a safer throw more often than not. So it's not completely ridiculous to think that McCown did, in fact, realize he had a free play, and decided to wing it.

That game was a three hour orgasm. I don't care if the Packers are playing the Devil's selected squad with Hitler as the QB; I want the Packers to lose.

Pretty sure I hated the Evan Rodriguez pick as well.

Agreed. I honestly think the Bears should consider moving him to LB.

Since they all want Chicago Bear jerseys, I say you fill all the Christmas wishlist items for Tyson, Sydni, and Ian. Give Austin coal in his stocking.

I don't think he's the second-coming. Far from it. But I'm talking about value here. Cutler is a 7 talent that plays like a 7.5 (from what we've seen) in this offense and will most likely get paid like a 9 (or 10 if he's franchised). McCown is a 4 talent that plays like a 6.5 (from what we've seen) in this offense and will most likely get paid like a 5 (or 6 if their generous). I'd rather pay for a 5 who overperforms and spend the surplus on the various other holes.

It's not just that he bit on the inside, it's that he literally jumped towards the inside. With his speed, though not nearly as fast as Tavon Austin's, he could have stretched the play towards the sideline. That lateral movement allows the other players time to pursue, to condense the area in which Austin can maneuver. And it limits the blocking angles. Not to mention the number of blockers, which is really the key. Once he screwed the pooch inside, it took the numbers out of the Bears hands and gave the numerical advantage to the Rams. With him not being a bonehead, there are three tacklers for two blockers. Without it's two on two.

Excellent post. Good summary of what I also think will happen.

But what would you say if McCown continues to produce, the Bears leverage that against Cutler and he ends up walking, then next year the Bears start McCown and have a mid-round (3-5) QB that Trestman loves as the project for 2015? If that allows the Bears to get one or two marquee FA's on defense - and considering McCown's performance this year - I don't think it's a terrible idea to use McCown as a stop-gap for one year. Hell, maybe McCown really is Rich Gannon 2.0?!

I'd have to squeegee the screen if the Bears selected Nix in the first. While I think the DT position is better than the DE position, I think that would go a long way towards shoring up the defense. It would improve Melton, the young LBs, and the DEs.

I think the Bears front office needs to look long and hard at yesterday's film and think about next year. Sure, injuries killed the Bears, but the players in the game were pretty bad. That got me to thinking about a fix... What players could be traded, and what would the Bears get in return? I'd love to see multiple trades to stock up on draft picks so the Bears can try to get a playmaking DE and Safety in this year's draft. Does anyone have a good idea about who could be traded and what the Bears could get? Realistically?