Quote from Ticktaker:
This is the worst argument I have ever read. You do realize that Matt Forte had a very good year and the offensive line did an above average job at run blocking, correct? Do you also realize that a decent run blocking line, can in fact, be the most awful pass blocking line in the NFL? I think you are not aware of the differences. Let me elaborate so we don't have to cover this again.
Generally good run blockers thrive on their strength. Pass protection, however, is about forming a pocket for the quarterback and being quick on your feet to beat a defensive lineman to a spot.
You do realize how a line can be effective at one aspect of the game and not the other? This is why Cutler's seven step drops were quickly relegated to five, combined with rollouts, due to the ineffectiveness of the offensive lines ability to pass protect.
Rehoboth, let me ask you this. My thread is titled: Jay Cutler "Quit" on his team? You realize this thread is about that topic, si? Go back and look at my posts. Point out one mention of me stating that Cutler had a bigger impact than Peppers or Hester. Really, if you want to respond, quote me on it. And yeah, you are kind of a dolt. Back to the TOPIC, this was a clear point I made regarding the TOPIC.....vvvvvv.....Cutler's toughness and lack of quit. You should take a class or three on formulating an argument before you get back to me. And Rehoboth, take your garbage to saint elsewhere.
"Cutler was sacked 57 times this year and hit hard numerous other times yet never once did he pull himself out of the game, not even when his team was down 30+ points to the Patriots in a snowstorm. You can question his decision making, his attitude, his body language, or his tendency to stray from the fundamentals, but to sit there and question his toughness is just stupid."
That is all.
Forte had a good year AFTER Martz was forced to revise his "West Coast" Offense that had Cutler passing about 80% of the time. When a defense knows that you are going to pass on 4 out of 5 plays, ESPECIALLY when you are in 3rd and longs all the time, it's helluva lot easier to start blitzing and shooting the gaps to get to the QB.
Once the Bears started playing with a more mixed playbook with alot more running plays, the defense's couldn't key in on Cutler and do all out blitzes (i.e. see the Giants, although they were getting it done in the 4 front).
Regardless, there is quite a bit of truth in this thread to counter many of your claims. The Bears have one of the best special teams that the league has ever seen. Their field position, on balance, was probably better than any other team in the league. As a result, even on non scoring drives, they can pin the other teams deep in their own territory, which ALSO played to the strength of their defense (since mediocre teams will not risk alot of trickier pass plays deep in their own territory).
The fact of the matter is this is the first year that Cutler and the offense was somewhat proficient at scoring in the red zone. Last year, Cutler was near the bottom of the league in red zone efficiency and the number of picks he thru in the red zone was abysmal. He improved quite a bit in that regard. Nonetheless, the offense was nothing spectacular, instead it was a great special teams paired with a "bend don't break" defense that more often than not excelled at keeping teams out of the end zone, even if they gave up some bigger plays than a typical rock solid defense.
