Bears Blitz

Published by Benjamin Mott on September 14, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler is one of the most loved and hated quarterbacks in the NFL. Hated by most, loved by few, at this point.

Some believe he still has the potential to be a solid quarterback. Others question his work ethic, dedication and even his mental state.

I’ve supported Jay Cutler since he’s been in the league. He’s had great games in the past, but he never really has seemed to play consistently well week in and week out.

I always felt that he would be a solid starting quarterback. Now, it’s time for him to prove it.

Cutler apparently was caught on camera cursing out his left tackle J’Marcus Webb, saying “Get your f—ing head in the game.” That’s a huge issue to me. This game of “when in doubt, blame the offensive line” has to stop.

As the leader of this offense, Cutler needs to take more accountability.

The offensive line is not making Cutler throw bad passes off of his back foot. The offensive line is not making him force the ball into coverage. The offensive line is not making him throw the ball without setting his feet. At the end of the day, that’s all on Cutler.

Cutler can blame the offensive line as much as he pleases, especially considering the fact that he was sacked seven times, but when you complete only 11-of-27 passes and throw four interceptions, your offensive line being bad is no longer an excuse.

Other quarterbacks around the league, like Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick, still have been able to have success throwing the football (although not so much in Vick’s case this season so far) with bad offensive lines that give up bunches of sacks.

I’m not taking anything away from the Packers defense, which finally played up to its potential last night, but this is a recurring trend for the Vanderbilt product.

He played flustered and scared for most of the game last night and never seemed to set his feet before throwing.

He wasn’t even able to find his best target, Brandon Marshall, until the fourth quarter.

The Packers got into his face early and often, which, once again, speaks volumes of how good their defense can be yet still is a detriment to Cutler.

Cutler certainly has the weapons to be a solid quarterback for the Bears. He has arguably the best all-around running back in the league in Matt Forte, who left the game last night with a high ankle sprain; a top-10 wide receiver in Brandon Marshal; and solid receivers behind Marshall in the explosive Devin Hester and the up-and-coming Alshon Jeffrey.

The Bears have a great defense, and again, they have great offensive players.

The only way that this team truly will contend is if Cutler can not only stay healthy but stay focused and play better, too.

Time is running out for him to prove himself. Many of his supporters, like me, are starting to doubt him. Hopefully, for his sake, that motivates him to play at the level at which his supporters have always believed he can play.

Forget that NFC Championship Game in 2011 in which he went down with a knee injury. Trust and believe, Jay Cutler is one of the hardest-working quarterbacks in the league.

He just has to bring his hard work into fruition.

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