Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Chung

Interview Questions for Jay Cutler

Andrew Chung — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:16:39 -0400

If you could choose any receiver in the NFL, who would it be and why do you feel you will be most successful with him.

What changes work as an advantage/disadvantage from playing in Denver compared with Chicago especially with Marshall and Royal vs Hester and Bennett

How do you feel you will be successful with your experience with Bennett in the NFL?

How do you feel you can be an improvement to the Chicago Bears passing game?

What schemes or plans do you have to offset Pro Bowl secondaries such as Woodson, Harris, and Winfield in the NFC north with your current receivers?

Do you feel if you were quarterbacking the '05-'06 Bears in the Superbowl, the outcome would have been different? Remember you have Berrian at the time.

What improvements do you feel need to be addressed to the Bears offense and/or defense to be a true Superbowl Contender.

How have the offensive ideas and planning progressed in the relationship with Lovie Smith and Ron Turner. Do you agree or disagree with there ideas?

Considering your passion as a Bears fan from childhood, do you see yourself retiring as a Bear through the thick and thin the seasons may bring?

Jay Cutler Brings West Coast to Chicago

Andrew Chung — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:13:36 -0400

With the addition of Cutler and a solidified line in Pace, Kruetz, and Williams, we can anticipate an increase in their passing game because Cutler is able to thread the ball on slants, ins, and hooks but also has the arm to throw deep.

The concern remains with their in-experienced receivers but Cutler and his line should be a threat enough to prevent some blitzes. If we do see a respectable passing game come out of Cutler early, expect to see a lot of draw plays that will open up for Forte when the defense in playing a pass coverage.

Chicago has always been a running team and will stick with it in favorable situations. With successful rushes, the opposing defense can be vulnerable for play action passes where Cutler is more than capable of throwing a deep ball.

If Chicago can be successful with the rush to open up their games, they will stick with rushing over passing with an occasionally early down deep post. With the lack of a receiving core, I am still not convinced we will see a west coast offense out of Chicago.

Much of that remains with the possible success of their receivers but with the season Forte had last year, they already know what works. Devin Hester is as fast as lightning but his hands are made of stones. In routine kick offs and punts, he has fumbled countless balls that put doubt in the minds of many.

There have been a few occasions where he has been wide open on a deep pass that slips through his arms which is why I am skeptical with him as a No. 1 receiver. Still a threat with the ball in an open field and any pass he catches with a full step over the last defender is a guaranteed touchdown with his Florida speed.

Rasheed Davis has been successful coming out of the XFL, he has made big catches and should be entirely comfortable with the transition of playing in the NFL by now. He lacks in size and speed of a dominate receiver but he is strong and can be successful if he is able to run routes well. A very good choice for your No. 3 receiver.

Earl Bennett is trying out as the No. 2 receiver and has experience playing with Cutler at Vanderbilt but he is also playing against NFL secondaries now where is has yet to catch a single pass.

Skeptical Secondary: A Concern For Chicago

Andrew Chung — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:51:51 -0400

In addition with the lack of receivers, their in ability to stop the pass on defense has been a huge problem last season.

Charles Tillman is a good corner who tackles well but more importantly, has the intangibles to make big plays happen when needed. As essential as he is to the defense, he does get beat for big yards. Nathan Vasher was injured the majority of last year but never reflected his form of the 2005-06 where he was a pro bowler and had eight picks on the year. Bottom line is the Bears are short of a true shutdown corner and they have been getting beat through the air all last season landing them a twenty ninth ranking.

Teams have succeeded, such as the Steelers, with similar corner backs but they had a good set of safeties to back them up as well. The Bears currently do not have Mike Brown any longer, but picked up Josh Bollocks, a veteran safety from New Orleans to replace him. Teams will explore their weakness in coverage just as they did last year. Newcomers such as Matt Stafford and the promising Calvin Johnson in the NFC north will only add to those challenges.

Aaron Rogers is even more comfortable with his team, his coordinator, and the game films from last year will only reveal their weakness to teams they have yet played. The Bears have not given any indication to address their needs in the defensive back department. They did sign free agents and selected a few picks, but no true indication to addressing their shortage. A change on the defensive personal can be the only answer that I see, in the tradition of dominate defenses such as the Steelers and Ravens, the Bears should convert to a 3-4 personal on the field. By doing this, the Bears have the additional support needed on pass coverages.

Urlacher, who's name speaks for itself, may still have back problems but is still very effective on coverages. Lance Briggs was Chicago's only Pro Bowler last year and is considered to be one of the fastest linebackers in the league.

In addition, the front line on defense is developing well for a solid rotation of guys varying strengths on both pass and rush defense. If our first draft pick in Jarron Gilbert turns out to be all he is supposed to be, then he can only strengthen this scheme up front.

Can Cutler cut it as the Bears QB?

Andrew Chung — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:59:52 -0400

The 2009 season is the most pivotal year of Chicago Bears football and it all remains on the right shoulder of Jay Cutler.

For countless seasons, the Chicago Bears were easily recognized for their defensive strengths and rushing abilities. This year looks a little different, in response to their consistent criticism regarding a quarterback the Chicago Bears have traded for a rocket-armed, 3-year veteran.

Problem solved right?

Growing up in the Bay Area, my experience with the west coast offense taught me that it always goes through a marquee receiver. Along with the arm, you must have a good set of hands to throw to.

As Montana made Rice, Rice made Montana, Peyton had Marvin, as Jordan had Pippen. And all in all, Cutler had Brandon Marshall and a blooming Eddie Royal.

Now he has a veteran former XFLer, a lightning-fast Hester with no experience as a No. 1 receiver, and a rookie receiver selected with the 99th overall pick in Juaquin Iglesias.

To be fair, I don't really follow college football which is probably why I never heard of him, but I have heard of Michael Crabtree. Furthermore, the winter in Chicago is un-BEAR-able, with temperatures below zero it is also the windiest city in the nation.

In three games with intense wind, Cutler’s QB rating drops to a 74.2 from an 87.1 career average, it even drops to a lower 72.4 in games under 21 degrees. Cutler must perform in skin-blistering cold with a strong wind factor.

Cutler will face a proven secondary in Green Bay and Minnesota. The Chiefs ranked 28th and the Chargers ranked 31st in pass defense last season while the Packers ranked 12th and the Vikings in 18th. He played two games against the 10th ranked pass defense of Oakland where his completions were limited to a 52.5 percent.

Now imagine you are in one of many 30-below zero with gusty wind days at Soldier Field. You already have one interception in the game and you fear being branded the second coming of Grossman. Your face feels like ice demons are ripping you apart and the bruises all over your body reminds you of a full days work.

Ahead you see Charles Woodson and Al Harris eyeing your moves. You realize most 25 years old don’t do this and you find the hopes of a city on your shoulders. Would you really be able to do this following the transitional differences required in relocating to a new franchise with only four months of history?

History tells us we need time to develop team chemistry and by game day, Jay’s existence as a Bear would be four months deep. Short of a No. 1 receiver and experienced linemen in their prime, it really is left all to him.

But in the mist of all his challenges and obstacles, on that given Sunday where the game is on the line, can he do it? Is he able to find that glimpse of daylight and do what his God-given arm does best, in a game of inches, the mindset matters the most. And if he is able to do this, you can forget about everything I said.