Urlacher Speaks Out, But No One Wants to Hear the Truth

Bears’ linebacker Brian Urlacher has been getting a great deal of flak since speaking out about QB Jay Cutler and the team’s poor play this season. Everyone’s getting upset that Urlacher, who has been out since the season opener with an injury, is picking on Cutler. But anyone who reads his comments more closely will realize that Urlacher wasn’t taking pot shots at Cutler; he was criticizing the Bears organization, coaches and staff.

Urlacher was right about several things. Kyle Orton is not a flashy player, but he still has the ability to win games. He is also correct that the team’s cutlure has changed with the addition of Cutler. In the past, you could always count on the Bears’ running game and defense to win games. That’s how they won Super Bowl XX in 1986. But not anymore. With Cutler at the helm, the running game has all but disappeared, and the Bears' offense is predicated on throwing the ball three-fourths of the time.

The problem is the Bears didn’t bother to provide Cutler with the tools to succeed with this team: good coaching, an effective game plan, a dependable offensive line and receivers. They simply inserted him into the huddle and told him to run the team. When the game plan is predicated on passing three-fourths of the time without the talent to throw to and an offensive line to protect him, you can expect mistakes, especially as opposing defenses know what to expect. And then we all wonder why Cutler has thrown a league-leading 19 interceptions so far this season.

I don’t think this is Cutler’s fault entirely, although certainly he has to take some responsibility. The problem is the system does not work. It hasn’t worked for a long time, not with Orton, not with Rex Grossman, not with Jim Miller, Erik Kramer, Jim Harbaugh or any other quarterback the Bears have put out on the field over the last few decades. And I think the Bears’ organization knows this on some level, but may not know how to fix it.

To contend next season, the Bears will need to clean house, beginning with head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner. Both have had their opportunities to turn this team around, but the fact is, their coaching system does not work. Changing their quarterback coach Pep Hamilton (yes, the Bears do have a QB coach, contrary to some reports) wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Sadly, with so many changes the Bears need to make and with the quality of talent in the division with the Packers and Vikings, it’s going to take a while before the Bears contend for another division title.

Orton's Success Should Come as No Surprise

Bears fans who watched the Denver Broncos’ overtime victory over New England yesterday are probably wondering, “Why couldn’t Kyle Orton have played this way when he was with the Bears?”

While I’m as surprised as everyone else that the Broncos are unbeaten at 5-0, I’m not as surprised to see Orton perform as well as he has. In my blog last April after the Orton-Cutler trade, I wondered if Orton would have enjoyed better success in Chicago if he had better receivers to throw to, a younger, quicker offensive line to protect him, and a game plan that featured his strengths as a quarterback.

During his three years in Chicago, Orton was much maligned and underrated. Yet, for all his flaws, he posted a 21-12 career record with the Bears and had a .667 regular season winning percentage, the fourth highest among Bears quarterbacks since 1961. Being traded to Denver in the offseason provided the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his career. Now he has a chance to play every week with many of the players and offensive schemes that helped Cutler be so successful last season.

While it’s still early in the 2009 football campaign, it appears that this trade has worked out well so far for all parties. Cutler’s talents and leadership on the field is forcing the rest of the Bears team, especially the receivers, to raise their game to his level. Meanwhile, Orton, who went to a team with many offensive weapons already in place, has raised his game to match theirs.

If Orton’s performance so far this season proves anything, it’s this: Football is still a team sport. Winning depends on having a balanced attack: offense, defense, special teams and coaching. When all these elements are in place, you don’t need to be the most talented quarterback on the block to win in the National Football League. You just have to be a smart one.

Impressive Bears’ Victory Bodes Well for 2009 Season

I realize it’s only the third game of the pre-season, but if last night’s victory over the Denver Broncos’ is any indication, the Bears should perform well once the NFL season officially begins.

What impressed me the most about last night’s effort was that the Bears’ offense, defense and special teams all contributed to the victory. It was a well-balanced effort and one that bodes well for the rest of the season, regardless how Brett Favre and the Vikings play.

Jay Cutler also proved that he is worthy of the franchise quarterback tag that many have put on him. The five-minute, 98-yard drive to end the first half was particularly impressive and showcased his leadership skills. He may have put to rest any lingering doubts people had about the Bears trading for him. Cutler also faced a hostile crowd, but managed well despite hearing a chorus of boos. If he can handle the pressure of playing in front of an angry crowd in his former home stadium, then Cutler can handle anything that comes his way.

That said, let’s not overlook the fact that the Bears did play the Denver Broncos, which proved to be a team that’s not quite ready for the regular season. Kyle Orton, the Broncos’ starting QB, left the game in the second quarter with an injured finger on his throwing hand which could affect his play down the road.

However, the Bears still have some issues in the secondary. Denver marched down the field in the third quarter to for a quick touchdown, burning a couple of Bears’ safeties in the process. And while the offensive line is much improved over last season, will it hold up after 17 weeks? Injuries are another question mark. As long as players stay healthy, the Bears could return to the playoffs as the NFC North champs.

Can Cutler Make the Cut?

I'm probably one of the few people in Chicago who did not jump for joy when the Bears traded for Jay Cutler last week. In the trade, the Bears gave up an awful lot -- perhaps too much --including QB Kyle Orton, two first round draft picks and a third round draft pick.

Sure, Cutler is a Pro Bowl quarterback with a career 87.0 rating, higher than any other quarterback in Bears' history. But I'm not convinced that he will have the immediate impact on the team that fans expect. He's coming from a more offensively focused AFC team, the Denver Broncos, with a better corps of receivers and a better offensive game plan. The Bears have always been, and always will be, a defensive team that depends on the running game. It makes me wonder how Cutler will fit in to the Bears' offensive scheme. The Bears' offense has been rather suspect in recent years, and that is not a knock on Kyle Orton, who probably would have performed better if he had better receivers and a younger, healthier offensive line in front of him.

Sow while Cutler is a definite upgrade at the QB position, I think it's unfair to expect him to perform with the same success as he had in Denver. The Bears must also upgrade the offensive line and the receivers. And the addition of offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who was acquired on the same day as the Cutler trade, should help. Still there's work to do for the Bears, and they know it.

Cutler's stats are wonderful, there's no doubt about that. But let's not expect miracles just yet. It may take two or three seasons for the remaining pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.