RockRaines

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:22 AM) I agree he's the safer bet and I agree he's a much better QB. I just don't think the 12-14 million he's going to cost is going to get you THAT much more, especially if you don't take care of the defense. IMO they'll need one if not two safeties, at least one linebacker, and at least two if not three defensive lineman. Even if you strike gold and get two draft picks that can start and fill those needs, you'll still need to sign guys. And that's not even counting back ups for depth. I think its a safe bet the Bears arent going out and buying themselves defensive fill ins. You have a young MLB and OLB with Briggs filling in and that core is about done. Im betting Major Wright is still the starting safety and you arent buying DT's in the offseason. Draft 1-3 players that can contribute, and you are about where I expect the Bears to be.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:21 AM) Honestly I think that under Trestman McCown and Cutler likely put up similar Qb ratings. I cant fathom any scenario where Cutler puts up 2x better stats than McCown, which is what would be necessary to justify a salary 5x greater than McCowns. Its less risky to pay Cutler since his average is better and his ceiling is higher. Its a no brainer IMO.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:19 AM) Seven games is a very small sample. It's a complete crapshoot to believe that McCown will continue to put up 100+ QB ratings for the rest of this season and then into next year. Statistically speaking its almost guaranteed he returns to the mean. This is a guy that was so bad at QB that detroit made him a WR. I think our offensive staff and our weapons have made him flourish, but its a MUCH safer bet to think Cutler will be more consistently good with a higher ceiling.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:18 AM) Ok? But they won those games, and we're talking about whether McCown is 'smarter' with the ball, because that's one of his big selling points. Yeah, he's limited the turnovers pretty well, but you can't overlook things like his bad, should-have-been-picked throws last night. Obviously Cutler has those as well, but McCown's gotten lucky a few times on bad throws. His numbers wouldn't look as hot without that. We need to temper enthusiasm about the results last night, the Cowboys defense is worse than ours.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:15 AM) They could have easily lost a couple more games earlier in the season when Cutler was starting. They had a couple of nail-biter, come from behind victories with him under center. Cutler in his first go round in this offense had some really really good games. I want to see him with this offense in year 2, badly.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:14 AM) Ok great, we have the same QB but 12-14 million less money to spend on the defense that needs to replace approximately 50% of the starters. We have a QB who is a safer bet with a higher upside and possibly one of the best offensive teams in the league while developing/drafting defensive players. Are you under the impression we are buying defensive fill ins in the offseason? I see that a a huge gamble and waste of money.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:10 AM) A ton? Come on. I don't think the offense can get much better than it is right now. They're the 2nd highest scoring team in the league. They have weapons all over the field. I think at best Cutler can be as good as McCown these last 7 games. Maybe slightly better, but at what point is that just a waste of resources? The offense can be the best in the league. Cutler could become the next Manning. If the defense still sucks, it's all for naught. You said how much better can Cutler get, and I think he can improve a ton over his career numbers in Chicago a TON. He's a safer bet with a higher ceiling. Those two combined is a no brainer to keep.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:09 AM) Under Trestman he's probably in the 90 range if he keeps playing. As a lifelong Raiders fan I saw what he did with the journeyman Rich Gannon. And I think Cutler is a 100+ QB rating guy with Trestman and this line.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:06 AM) I ask again, how much better can Cutler play than McCown right now? Do you think Josh McCown is a 100+QB rating type of guy or is he the 77 he's shown in his career?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 10:46 AM) How much better could Cutler play? And is that upgrade more important than upgrading the defense? A TON. His time in Chicago has been behind a patchwork line and a few inept coordinators. We finally have a competent offensive mind running the team and he's only had half a season on the field to show his worth. The blocking schemes from last night are night and day compared to when he went out.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 10:18 AM) Maybe the learning the offense has some merit, but it is funny McCown can come in right away and hit the ground running. If you had to choose between the 2, there is no question Cutler is better, but if you determine this offense makes a journeyman like McCown this efficient, and his performance isn't a fluke, the question is how much of your cap do you want to commit to Cutler when you have half the roster as free agents after the season. But it's not like you dont know what McCown is, he's been around a long time and was just recently out of the league. The difference with him is this staff and I want to see the much more talented Cutler play in this system when healthy.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 10:02 AM) All I know is I think Josh uses the weapons in this offense better than Jay, primarily because he doesn't focus on Marshall so much. In Jay's defense, he had to rely on Marshall so much in the past that it's probably just habit to focus on him on almost every passing route. I'd like to see Jay get a chance to exploit defenses with his new toys a bit more before I really feel like we will know what we have here. Isnt it possible that everyone on the offense has a better understanding of the scheme since Jay went out? It is year 1 with this system. Jeffrey's routes are 100% better than game 1.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:52 AM) I think number 1 has a lot of variance depending on how Cutler is signed. If he signs a franchise deal, then it will be minimal improvements. What if Cutler signs a team friendly deal? I know Cutler has a lot of detractors because of cutlerface, but i think the guy is smart enough to realize that Chicago is one of the best situations for him. The Free agent options have a lot of things that dont look good for him, new coordinators, players, systems. If he wants to just get paid like Flacco/Stafford, I think the Bears let him walk. I think the guy knows this is ideal and he's in the city he wants to be in. He has weapons and finally an O-line and is being coached by a guy who "gets" QB's.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:48 AM) McCown could be a stop gap for a year as they groom the next QB from the draft. Here are your choices next year: (1) Resign Cutler and make minimal improvements to the defense. (2) Let Cutler walk and make moderate improvements to the defense. If your goal is to win in the next 2 years, you choose option 2. This is their window. Right now before all of their aging defensive stars are too old to play. I think Tillman (resign him) and Briggs have another year or two left in them. Sign at least one decent safety and draft another along with some pass rushers. Then hope that Bostic develops after an offseason and Briggs is still at his pro-bowl form. IMO if they resign Cutler you're looking at the same team as this year - around .500, no serious threat to make the playoffs or make any noise once you get there because the defense will still be terrible. And you can't be confident that Cutler would actually play the whole year. He's injury prone. I think its better to have an amazing offense and an improving young defense than have both units be average. The defense this year is incredibly injured, what are the odds that we lose that many players next year? Plus the LB core will actually have some experience and we can fill with draft picks.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Dec 9, 2013 -> 10:45 PM) I think Whole Foods may be buying the Dominick's in the West Loop. It won't be Mariano's, unless they want 2 stores within 200 feet of each other. Correct they are. That dominicks has been dying for over 5 years. Marianos has really gone to s*** right there anyway.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 5, 2013 -> 10:24 AM) That sucks. Shotgun season just opened back up in Illinois today. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it this year. There are some monster bucks where we hunt. So true. But every so often, you get lucky. One of the biggest mistakes a hunter can make is hurry to find a deer that they have just shot. If you didn't drop it right on the spot, it's going to run. If it's not dead yet and you walk up on it, it'll get up and run for days, meaning you will never find it. Thankfully I've never had that issue, nor ever seen it happen to any of the hunters I know. I've never had a deer run more than 40 yards from where I shot it. Why do you hunt with a gun? Seems to take the sport out of it.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:38 AM) The question is, does Cutler fit in this system? Josh McCown is not the answer to the future but it is a barometer as to whether Jay is or not in this system. I think so, why not? He's clearly involved in the entire process and I think would elevate this offense just that much more. Its a testament to our staff that they can get a lame-duck like McCown to perform this well.

Wow. Pushing all the right buttons.

Excellent play calling and blocking.

McCown dropping his elbow.

It helps this is the best o line in 15 years.

A bit higher and that's a td

Well there ya go.

Jeffrey had a Td there.

Lol. Bad reads everywhere.