Jay Cutler: Why His Injury Could Mean a Super Bowl For Chicago Bears
Any time fans see their team's franchise quarterback go do with an injury, the reaction is always one of paranoia, shock, and disbelief.
From the moment that player hits the turf and grasps his head, arm, or leg, the stadium falls silent except for a few profanity-laced tirades interspersed here and there.
This week, it's Chicago and Philadelphia fans that are holding their breaths, wondering what awaits the team now that their star quarterbacks might not take the field this Sunday.
But lost in the utter disappointment is the possibility that these injuries may in fact be a blessing in disguise.
Bears fans, who have Todd Collins as the team's backup, may be wondering how I could think such a thing. Well, hear me out.
I'm going to give you 10 reasons why Jay Cutler's injury could provide the fuel to the fire that is a Chicago Bears Super Bowl run.
10. Look To Drew Brees For Inspiration
1 of 10
Plenty of quarterbacks have returned from injuries to lead their teams to the playoffs.
Take for example, Drew Brees.
In 2006, fresh off serious shoulder surgery, Brees had his best season up to that point in his professional career, and he led a struggling Saints franchise to the NFC Championship game.
Now, a concussion isn't a shoulder injury and it doesn't require surgery, but an injury is an injury. No matter what the injury is, the player will have to overcome the mental blocks that come along with it.
During every run, every throw, every broken pass play, that player will wonder whether he's one hit away from getting hurt again.
Like Brees, some rise well above the occasion. Could Cutler do the same?
9. Cutler Will Be More Focused Than Ever
2 of 10
Nothing makes a quarterback hungrier for a championship than having the thought of winning one taken away.
When Cutler left the field with his head spinning and mind in a daze Sunday night against the Giants, he had no idea about the severity of his injury.
Though concussions happen so frequently in the NFL that people hardly think of them as serious injuries, the fact is that Cutler could have been out for an extended period of time.
Any time a quarterback has the possibility of leading his team to a Super Bowl slip through his fingers, he tends to come back more focused and driven than ever before.
Cutler just might be one of those guys.
8. The Emergence Of Matt Forte
3 of 10
If Jay Cutler misses any games or if he plays when not 100 percent ready, Chicago will have to turn to Plan B: Matt Forte.
Let's take a look back in history for a second. Remember who played quarterback for the Bears the last time the team made it to the Super Bowl?
Rex Grossman. Rex Grossman!
When Cutler returns from his concussion, he needs to realize that he does'n have to be Tom Brady slinging 50 touchdowns this season.
During the Bears last Super Bowl run, the team relied heavily on the running game with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.
With Cutler out or not full healthy, it's Matt Forte time in Chicago. And the Bears will contend in the NFC if Forte returns to his 2008 form.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. An Improved Offensive Line
4 of 10
Allowing 10 sacks in three or four games isn't very good. Allowing 10 sacks in one game is absolutely pathetic.
I'm sure Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice has mad respect for Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, but I'm also sure that every Chicago offensive lineman will be getting an earful from Tice this week.
Let's take into perspective just how bad of a performance allowing that many sacks in one game actually is.
In 2008, the Saints offensive line allowed 13 sacks the entire season.
I think Tice will get the Bears offensive line turned around quickly for two reasons. One, he doesn't want to see Cutler get destroyed again. Two, he doesn't want to lose his job.
6. Cutler Will Earn The Respect Of His Teammates
5 of 10
In the NFL, respect is earned on the field.
Imagine if Cutler returns from the concussion and leads the Bears to an impressive winning streak.
He would instantly have the support of the entire Bears organization, and that can catapult a team to new heights.
5. Defense, Defense, Defense
6 of 10
When Chicago is good, the Bears are feared for their defense more than anything else.
But Chicago’s defense has been a mixed bag so far in 2010, ranking in the top 10 in rushing yards and points allowed, but in the bottom half in terms of passing yards and total yards allowed.
Chicago has three of the most talented players in the league on defense in Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, and Julius Peppers. That unit has to step up and force some turnovers to get the ball into Cutler’s hands.
After all, the Bears aren’t winning any games if Cutler can’t get on the field.
4. It Can Only Get Better
7 of 10
I'm not typically an optimist, but let's look at it this way.
When Jay Cutler returns, he won't be facing the Giants every week and he won't get sacked nine times in one game again. I'll buy everyone who reads this a steak dinner if that happens this season.
The Bears have now allowed 18 sacks through four games, but have still managed to get off to a 3-1 start.
Chicago may not have the talent on the offensive line to hold its opponents to just one or two sacks per game, but even if the team limits its opponents to three sacks, it's better than what they were doing before.
Plus, the number of sacks allowed doesn't necessarily translate to postseason success.
Just ask San Diego. The Chargers allowed the fifth fewest sacks from 2006-2009, but how many championships has that gotten them?
3. Study Time
8 of 10
After the first two weeks of the season, the Jay Cutler bandwagon was pretty packed.
Cutler seemed to be grasping the offensive system of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz without much difficulty. But just two weeks later, Bears fan are questioning whether that system is working so well after all.
Cutler can have all the ability in the world on the field, but he needs to put his time in to learn the offense inside and out. Perhaps sitting on the sidelines this week and having extra time in the film room will benefit the Bears down the road.
2. The Receivers Will Get Open Quicker
9 of 10
On eight of the nine Giants sacks, Jay Cutler held the ball for at least 3.2 seconds.
As you will see in the next slide, that is a recipe for the disaster in the NFL. But Cutler shares the blame for that with his receivers.
Chicago's receiving corp isn't one that gives defensive coordinators any headaches, but it isn't terrible either. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, and company have no choice but to get open quicker.
Cutler can't hold onto the ball forever.
1. 2.7 Seconds!
10 of 10
Could the Bears have stuck five fifth-graders on the offensive line against the Giants, and protected Cutler a bit better? Maybe.
But lost in the terrible performance of the O-line was Cutler's role in sealing his own fate.
The average time it takes for a defender to sack the quarterback in the NFL is 2.7 seconds. When Cutler got rid of the ball in less than 2.7 seconds against the Giants, he completed five of six passes and was sacked three times.
When Cutler held onto the ball for more than 2.7 seconds, he completed zero passes on six plays, threw one interception, and was sacked five times.
Something tells me he'll get rid of the ball a little quicker the rest of the season.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
