Chicago Bears Cardinals

Chicago Bears Cardinals

Bears Woes Extend Beyond The Red Zone

Only seven months ago Bears fans were announcing their return to the Super Bowl with their newly-acquired quarterback Jay Cutler. Despite the apparent step-up from Kyle Orton, the celebration seemed premature to everyone outside of Chicago due to the Bears lack of a number one wide receiver.

Now nine games into the season, the wide receiver position is only the beginning of the team's problems. With every play, Cutler's career appears to be on the brink of extinction with the offensive line providing almost no protection. Cutler seems to get touched on nearly every play having been sacked, hurried and knocked down more times than I can count.

Ron Turner doesn't use Cutler effectively. There's no creativity in the play calling, some calls are just plain dumb, and Cutler's stuck in the pocket, which collapses repeatedly.

The Bears rank 28th in rushing as Matt Forte fails to live up to expectations following a stellar rookie season in 2008. Thursday night's game proved to be one of his better this season. However, he excelled in the air with 8 receptions for 120 years while the running game was once again dismal with only 41 yards on 20 carries.

The Bears defense has been so plagued by injuries and stupid mistakes (yeah, that means you Tommie Harris), that they can't be relied upon to carry the team as in years past. Although they miraculously found a way to keep Chicago in the game, giving the offense a chance to win on the final drive.

But the blame can't fall solely on the supporting cast. Confidence in a quarterback is essential, but he tries to make plays that aren't there. Granted three of tonight's five interceptions against the 49er's were not his fault. Devin Hester slipped and fell, the referee got in the way on another, and a possible interference went uncalled against San Francisco safety Mark Roman.

The other two interceptions occurred where they count the most as the red zone proves to be a dangerous area for Cutler who has thrown five interceptions inside the 20 this season.

The only real bright spot on the team is third-year tight end Greg Olsen who raked in three touchdowns in a lopsided loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week. Olsen leads the team in touchdowns with six, and is fourth in receiving yards.

And for reasons unknown to any sane person, Turner sat Olsen on a pivotal play in the first half. On third and 1 offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer was made eligible in an effort to trick the 49er's. But the only person tricked by this play was Cutler who was led to believe that San Francisco's Aubrayo Franklin had switched teams as he threw the ball straight into the defensive tackle's hands.

Cutler has the ability to lead this team, but he needs help. The Bears should already be thinking about how they can build around him in the off-season. Of course, they could have tried to get Cutler some help in the 2010 draft, but they gave that first round pick to Denver back in April.

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