Teddy KGB
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Just see a lot of opinions, and since I am being a dick to some people, figured I'd share my own take - its only fair, so that some people can comment, and others I've pissed off I can say
Anyway, I think most people in Chicago don't know offense from a hole in the wall. Defense, yes. We've seen defense, we know defense.
But offense, a real NFL offense? Well damn if not only do most fans not know what to look for other than results in offense, I don't think for the longest damn time the McCaskeys or anyone in their employ knew or knows either. I think Phil Emery DOES know offense though, and has done an admirable job in rebuilding some of the talent loss on the offense with Campbell, Bush, and drafting Alshon Jeffrey. However, I think Emery is a man on an island in terms of this understanding - I don't think Anyone else really gets it, inside or outside the organization.
One of the things I was afraid of going into this offseason was the conversion of Martz's offense to the new one. Yes, they decided to keep martz's terminology in the hopes that this would allow for a smooth transition. That was the explanation, and it made sense at the time - it gave you hope that the offense would come together quick.
However, hopes are one thing, reality is another. And from what I saw, it looks like the offense is still a work in progress (and yes, at this point, those of you who said they should just bring in a new OC rather than promoting Tice have a strong case, because it looks like it wouldn't have mattered either way - lesson learned, a new offense is a new offense, regardless of the terms used). To me, this offense is probably going to be very staccato - starting and stopping in leaps and fits all year long.
I'd say that like the defense in 2004, perhaps the offense would gel and start playing at their peak and running smooth by the end of the year, but one thing is painfully obvious - I don't think they can actually successfully do that because of the offensive line, and Jay Cutler's Achilles Heel.
To me, the reason Jay Cutler is such a dividing force among fans is that he really is a Franchise level QB a LOT of the time. However, he has a real fatal flaw that keeps him from truly being that - when Cutler gets knocked around, he starts fearing for his life and gets happy feet - mechanics break down worse, he lets balls go too early, over or underthrows people, and on and on. It seems like when he takes a particular beating, he tries to play hero in that game and tosses too many interceptions, and then in the next game even if he is getting decent protection, he's jittery like he's expecting to be levelled at any second. Conversely - if in a game he is jittery in he is well protected, then he seems to be back to his normal Franchise self by the next game.
Cutler hasn't been allowed to settle in behind the line because he's always running for his life, and it takes a toll. It affects his options, who he can toss to, etc. Priority 1 should be fixing this line in the offseason. Get Jay comfortable. And realize who he is. Cutler isn't Brady, or Manning (either). He's not Rex Grossman either or on that end of the spectrum.
Cutler is Brett Favre. A gunslinger. Think about it. Think about how Favre played and also who he had around him. Then also think about how the Bears when Lovie got here used to play and really get after him, and how Bears "knew" Favre would give them chances to get the ball - hmm, sound familiar?
The only real difference is that early on, Favre was blessed to have a TON of talent around him, and made 2 Superbowl appearances with 1 victory. When you do that, media stop criticizing you and start making excuses for you. There was even an article someone posted in these forums that said the same thing, and that author hit the nail on the head.
He's never going to be the Super-accurate technician. Cutler is going to be the wild Gunslinger, and if you get him protection, he'll repeat the same feats you saw him pull off in Denver when he had a stellar offensive line. Cutler is someone you can win a Superbowl with. You're just Special person if you think he can do it all by himself. And that isn't making excuses for him - if he took what defenses gave him he'd be a far better QB. But as it is, he is who he is. And he can win you a superbowl like that - just got to keep the man on his feet and stop making him fear for his damn life...
My take anyway...
Anyway, I think most people in Chicago don't know offense from a hole in the wall. Defense, yes. We've seen defense, we know defense.
But offense, a real NFL offense? Well damn if not only do most fans not know what to look for other than results in offense, I don't think for the longest damn time the McCaskeys or anyone in their employ knew or knows either. I think Phil Emery DOES know offense though, and has done an admirable job in rebuilding some of the talent loss on the offense with Campbell, Bush, and drafting Alshon Jeffrey. However, I think Emery is a man on an island in terms of this understanding - I don't think Anyone else really gets it, inside or outside the organization.
One of the things I was afraid of going into this offseason was the conversion of Martz's offense to the new one. Yes, they decided to keep martz's terminology in the hopes that this would allow for a smooth transition. That was the explanation, and it made sense at the time - it gave you hope that the offense would come together quick.
However, hopes are one thing, reality is another. And from what I saw, it looks like the offense is still a work in progress (and yes, at this point, those of you who said they should just bring in a new OC rather than promoting Tice have a strong case, because it looks like it wouldn't have mattered either way - lesson learned, a new offense is a new offense, regardless of the terms used). To me, this offense is probably going to be very staccato - starting and stopping in leaps and fits all year long.
I'd say that like the defense in 2004, perhaps the offense would gel and start playing at their peak and running smooth by the end of the year, but one thing is painfully obvious - I don't think they can actually successfully do that because of the offensive line, and Jay Cutler's Achilles Heel.
To me, the reason Jay Cutler is such a dividing force among fans is that he really is a Franchise level QB a LOT of the time. However, he has a real fatal flaw that keeps him from truly being that - when Cutler gets knocked around, he starts fearing for his life and gets happy feet - mechanics break down worse, he lets balls go too early, over or underthrows people, and on and on. It seems like when he takes a particular beating, he tries to play hero in that game and tosses too many interceptions, and then in the next game even if he is getting decent protection, he's jittery like he's expecting to be levelled at any second. Conversely - if in a game he is jittery in he is well protected, then he seems to be back to his normal Franchise self by the next game.
Cutler hasn't been allowed to settle in behind the line because he's always running for his life, and it takes a toll. It affects his options, who he can toss to, etc. Priority 1 should be fixing this line in the offseason. Get Jay comfortable. And realize who he is. Cutler isn't Brady, or Manning (either). He's not Rex Grossman either or on that end of the spectrum.
Cutler is Brett Favre. A gunslinger. Think about it. Think about how Favre played and also who he had around him. Then also think about how the Bears when Lovie got here used to play and really get after him, and how Bears "knew" Favre would give them chances to get the ball - hmm, sound familiar?
The only real difference is that early on, Favre was blessed to have a TON of talent around him, and made 2 Superbowl appearances with 1 victory. When you do that, media stop criticizing you and start making excuses for you. There was even an article someone posted in these forums that said the same thing, and that author hit the nail on the head.
He's never going to be the Super-accurate technician. Cutler is going to be the wild Gunslinger, and if you get him protection, he'll repeat the same feats you saw him pull off in Denver when he had a stellar offensive line. Cutler is someone you can win a Superbowl with. You're just Special person if you think he can do it all by himself. And that isn't making excuses for him - if he took what defenses gave him he'd be a far better QB. But as it is, he is who he is. And he can win you a superbowl like that - just got to keep the man on his feet and stop making him fear for his damn life...
My take anyway...
