After the story broke earlier this week that the Denver Broncos were going to trade QB Jay Cutler many suitors lined up to present an offer. It did not take long for the Broncos to find the offer they liked. Chicago is the new home of Jay Cutler. The Bears needed to pony up two first round picks (2009 & 2010), a third rounder in 2009 and their starting QB from last season Kyle Orton to land Cutler and revive the Bears in a competitive NFC.
The Chicago Bears have been a franchise without a Pro Bowl quaterback since Jim McMahon led them to the Super Bowl in 1985. The acquisition of Cutler gives their fan base hope that they are moving in the right direction. Is it the right direction though?
Kyle Orton was the starting QB for two seasons in Chicago and leaves with a career 21-12 record. During his tenure he didn’t receive much help from playmakers on offence, as exemplified by his two leading receivers in 2008 being his rookie running back Matt Forte and tight end Gregg Olson. He was never given a big name receiver to work with, someone who could make the difficult catch in traffic or the big play in a crucial situation. Jay Cutler is walking into the same situation.
The Bears are still without a big play receiver for Cutler to get the ball to. Without someone to catch for him, it will be difficult to put up the kind of lofty numbers he did last season in Denver (4500+ yds and 25 td passes). By not making a play for a receiver during free agency and trading away their first round selection (where they were in line to pick a WR), the Bears offense will be limited in their play calling. Unless a young receiver like Rashied Davis can develop or Devin Hester can turn from a specialist to a full time receiver and not a gimmick playmaker, Cutler is likely to get frustrated with the system. Cutler will soon feel Orton’s pain, and Orton gets to reap the rewards of a new situation.
Kyle Orton walks into a situation in Denver with a QB genius for a coach, some young and talented offensive weapons (Marshall, Royal, Tatum Bell and Mike Bell) and a team with two high draft picks that will most likely be used to upgrade the defensive side of the ball, which had failed to deliver during Cutler’s tenure (Cutler was 13-1 in games where the Broncos surrendered 21 points or less). Although, Orton hasn’t filled the stat pages during his time in Chicago, he is being given a much better opportunity to do so in Denver.
While the Bears may reap the rewards of this trade long term as Cutler seems to be a better weapon, the Broncos will not struggle with Orton behind center and two high draft picks in the weaker AFC West.
The Chicago Bears have been a franchise without a Pro Bowl quaterback since Jim McMahon led them to the Super Bowl in 1985. The acquisition of Cutler gives their fan base hope that they are moving in the right direction. Is it the right direction though?
Kyle Orton was the starting QB for two seasons in Chicago and leaves with a career 21-12 record. During his tenure he didn’t receive much help from playmakers on offence, as exemplified by his two leading receivers in 2008 being his rookie running back Matt Forte and tight end Gregg Olson. He was never given a big name receiver to work with, someone who could make the difficult catch in traffic or the big play in a crucial situation. Jay Cutler is walking into the same situation.
The Bears are still without a big play receiver for Cutler to get the ball to. Without someone to catch for him, it will be difficult to put up the kind of lofty numbers he did last season in Denver (4500+ yds and 25 td passes). By not making a play for a receiver during free agency and trading away their first round selection (where they were in line to pick a WR), the Bears offense will be limited in their play calling. Unless a young receiver like Rashied Davis can develop or Devin Hester can turn from a specialist to a full time receiver and not a gimmick playmaker, Cutler is likely to get frustrated with the system. Cutler will soon feel Orton’s pain, and Orton gets to reap the rewards of a new situation.
Kyle Orton walks into a situation in Denver with a QB genius for a coach, some young and talented offensive weapons (Marshall, Royal, Tatum Bell and Mike Bell) and a team with two high draft picks that will most likely be used to upgrade the defensive side of the ball, which had failed to deliver during Cutler’s tenure (Cutler was 13-1 in games where the Broncos surrendered 21 points or less). Although, Orton hasn’t filled the stat pages during his time in Chicago, he is being given a much better opportunity to do so in Denver.
While the Bears may reap the rewards of this trade long term as Cutler seems to be a better weapon, the Broncos will not struggle with Orton behind center and two high draft picks in the weaker AFC West.
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