Two weeks ago we wrote about Bears quarterback Jay Cutler getting sacked nine times in the first half by the Giants on Sunday Night Football. Cutler left that game with a concussion and missed the team’s following game, a win over the Panthers. He returned on Sunday in week six and found himself in a familiar position — knocked on his butt because of the crappy offensive line and poor protection schemes.
Cutler was sacked six times in a 23-20 loss at home to the Seahawks. He went 17/39 for 290 yards but the team was 0-for-12 on 3rd down conversions, an indication of the pressure Seattle brought. Cutler was brought down three times in the 3rd quarter alone. The first sack resulted in a safety, while the second and third took them out of field goal range. Lawyer Milloy had the third sack of the third quarter and said the team was “licking its chops” after seeing what the Giants did to Cutler.
So how can this be explained? We’ve said all along that Mike Martz’s offensive system leaves the quarterback unprotected, but Jay Cutler is sharing some of the blame: “It’s on me,” Cutler said. “It’s on the offensive line, it’s on the receivers. … I’ve got to get the ball out quicker.”
The Bears have allowed 27 sacks on the season (Cutler’s taken 23 of them), and they lead the NFL in that department. Part of it may be on Jay, but a lot has to do with the offensive line and the scheme. They may have the worst line in the league; they can’t protect Cutler and they’re not running it well either. Yet somehow this team is 4-2 while the Chargers are 2-4.
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