Bears’ Cutler big fan of Shanahan
Quarterback Jay Cutler enjoyed his first three years in the NFL playing in Denver and the close relationship he had with then-Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, who is now coach of the Washington Redskins.
“It’s huge, any time you can go to an organization like that with a coach and an offensive leader like a Mike Shanahan, and the way he’s been successful in the past in developing quarterbacks,” Cutler said. “It was a lot of fun my first year there and then obviously the next two.
“He was hands on with me when I first got there. He was in our meeting room; he was always checking in. He did his utmost to make sure I was learning at the right pace, and they weren’t trying to overwhelm me.”
Under Shanahan, Cutler posted passer ratings of 88.5, 88.1 and 86.0 with 54 TD passes and 37 interceptions. Last year he threw 27 TDs and 26 interceptions with a passer rating of 76.8.
So far this year he has a 93.2 passer rating with 6 TD passes and 3 picks.
Good old days:
Wide receiver Rashied Davis doesn’t buy the argument that the game has become more violent.
“Go back and look at the tapes,” Davis said. “Jack Tatum, rest in peace, was a good friend of mine, but the guy’s nickname was ‘The Assassin.’
“I know they had more illegal hits back then. Guys were clothes-lining people and doing all sorts of crazy things. You’ll get fined $7 million if you try to clothes line a guy now.
“Deacon Jones used to club guys across the head with a head slap, and he probably had a cast on his hand when he did it. Gene Upshaw, those guys wore big pads on their hands for a reason.
“They’re just more publicized now, so everybody sees them more often and you can replay them and slow them down and play them in super-slow motion. Everything looks worse in slow motion.”
The league has threatened to suspend players, in addition to fining them, for unnecessarily violent contact, especially to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
Looks are deceiving:
The Redskins have allowed more points than any team in the NFL, but Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice says that statistic is misleading.
“They’re one of those defenses where statistics don’t always tell the truth,” Tice said. “Look at their scoring defense (21st). They’re not giving up a lot of points, and they’re doing a good job on third downs (No. 9).”
The Bears’ offense is the worst in the NFL at converting third downs. They have a 17.6 percent success rate and have converted just three of their last 43 third-down opportunities.
Sack man:
Rookie offensive right tackle J’Marcus Webb may have the toughest matchup of any Bear on Sunday when he goes against Redskins outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, who had 11 sacks as a rookie last year and already has 5 this year.
“He is a special athlete,” said Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice of the Redskins’ Pro Bowler. “He brings it every play.”
In a slump:
Tight end Greg Olsen hasn’t caught a pass since Oct. 3, but quarterback Jay Cutler said that’s just the way the offense operates.
“It’s game by game. If they’re going to take away guys, other guys have to step up,” Cutler said. “We’re doing everything possible to get Greg involved. Some games he’s going to be more involved than others.”
Olsen had 15 catches in the first four games for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Catching up:
As the Redskins’ backup quarterback behind durable Donovan McNabb, ex-Bear Rex Grossman probably won’t get any playing time Sunday, but some former teammates are looking forward to seeing him before the game.
“It’s good to see him in the league still,” Brian Urlacher said. “Everyone kind of wrote him off when he left here, but I’m glad he’s still hanging around.
“I liked Rex when he was here; I still like him now. He was a good teammate, and he took us to the Super Bowl, so I have good memories with Rex.”