Jay Cutler's Attitude Under Fire and More NFC North News and Notes

There's a lot of discussion about Jay Cutler and whether he has the leadership ability and poise to carry this team to the Championship. It got discussed in our video preview of the Bears' next game against the St Louis Rams, Chicago Tribune writer Matt Bowen, who thinks Cutler lacks accountability, and even his teammates, according to the Tribune's David Haugh.

So what is the issue with Cutler and can it be fixed? Is it even really a problem?

You can bet that the teams they face—starting with the Niners in Week 3—are going to pressure him as much as they can to make him crack.

It's like having a fumbling issue—if another team knows you have problems hanging onto the ball, it will grab at it and try to make you fumble it.

If you crack under pressure behind a questionable offensive line, then teams are going to get in your face and see if you fall apart.

Cutler is a passionate player despite the vague expressions he wears on the sideline. He can get fiery. That can all be good—under control.

Cutler needs to keep his cool with his own teammates as well as within his own game. The offensive line is what it is. The only thing he can control is his reaction to pressure, his reads and his throws.

Of course, Jay Cutler is Jay Cutler—he is, as a man once said about the Bears, who we thought he was.

Maybe fixing him isn't something that needs to happen, as Bill Barnwell pointed out at Grantland.

All of which fell apart against the Packers and will be fully tested by a tougher than expected Rams team this week.

On to the only thing I can control—the rest of the NFC North news links.

Chicago Bears

Vaughn McClure of the Tribune says two linemen—defensive, unfortunately—are playing very well for the Bears.

The Sun-Times' Sean Jensen says that the Micheal Bush Insurance purchased this offseason is about to pay off.

Detroit Lions

Mitch Albom of the Free Press says that the idea of running the ball to victory was also their doom.

The Detroit News' Chris McCosky says for all the chest thumping that the team was ready and not respected, it turns out the Lions weren't as good as they thought. 

Green Bay Packers

CHTV's Max Ginsberg wonders if the Packers' offensive woes are a sign they miss Joe Philbin.

Tom Silverstein of the Journal-Sentinel says some defensive adjustments by Dom Capers paid off.

Minnesota Vikings

ESPN 1500's Tom Pelissero writes that while the Vikings mixed things up on their defense, all it really did was add some new ways to get beat.

Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press says that if Percy Harvin wanted to be involved more, he's got it as the Vikes are asking him to shoulder a big load.

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