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pack4to84
05-14-2009, 10:49 AM
Four Down Territory, May 12: Bears combat emerging 3-4 defenses with Cutler
By
Brad Biggs
on May 12, 2009 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

cutler512.jpg

Let's get right to the mail.

Q: My question concerns the Green Bay Packers' implementation of the 3-4 defense. Under Lovie Smith's tenure, the Chicago Bears' record vs. teams that run the 3-4 is 2-6. Here are the results:

2004: Houston Texans (coached by Dom Capers) 24 v. BEARS 5
2005: Cleveland Browns 20 v. BEARS 10; BEARS 17 v. San Francisco 49ers 9; Pittsburgh Steelers 21 v. BEARS 9
2006: BEARS 41 v. San Francisco 49ers 10; New England Patriots 17 v. BEARS 13
2007: San Diego Chargers 14 v. BEARS 3; Dallas Cowboys 34 v. BEARS 10
2008: no opponents

Dom Capers (an associate of 3-4 students Bill Cowher and Dick LeBeau) has taken three separate basement dwelling defensive units and flipped them into formidable forces in his first year on the job. The 3-4 defense can can prove to be exotic, dynamic and perplexing all within the same possession. What are your thoughts on Capers and his history? Any insights on how the Bears prepare themselves for the Packers new defense?

Jim A., Parts Unknown

A: To take your well made point a step further, the Bears are 0-6 vs. teams that implement the 3-4 defense that are not in San Francisco. I think the 49ers were running more of a hybrid 3-4 there at the time, however, because of some personnel shortages. At any rate, Capers' success has been well documented and Dan Pompei recently put together a nice story in the Tribune about it. There is a lot of work that goes into switching a defense and the key is acquiring the personnel. The Packers believe they are off to a good start after landing tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews in the draft. I don't know what to say about that 2004 game with Houston, though. That meeting came at the end of a disastrous offensive season for the Bears. If you recall, Chad Hutchinson was the quarterback at the time. I think the one thing the Bears have going for themselves in this situation is new quarterback Jay Cutler. He comes from the AFC where the 3-4 has been more prevalent and he's played twice a season against one of the better 3-4 defenses in the league in San Diego.

He's got experience against the scheme and that's going to be useful because the Bears are destined to see the best the 3-4 has to offer this season. They will see it against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland and Arizona. So that's at least six games vs. the defense by our count. Cutler may have a better feel against the defense than Kyle Orton. If the Bears don't feel they have a lot of experience vs. it, they'll be singing a different tune after opening against the Packers and Steelers in the first two weeks. A little tidbit: teams using the 3-4 have won six of the last nine Super Bowls.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/05/four_down_territory_may_12_bea.html#more

HarveyWallbangers
05-14-2009, 10:51 AM
How did Cutler do against 3-4 defenses?

Zool
05-14-2009, 10:54 AM
How did Cutler do against 3-4 defenses?

2008
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CutlJa00_games.htm

pack4to84
05-14-2009, 11:06 AM
W 39-38 SD 36/50 350 4td 1 int 72% 109.6 rate
L 7-41 NE 17/26 168y 1td 2 int 65.5% 64.3 rate
L 17-26 mia 24/46 307y 2 td 3 int 52.2% 60.7 rate
W 34-30 CLE 24/42 447y 3 TD 1 int 57.1% 107.9 rate
W 34-17 JETS 27/43 357y 2 td 1 int 62.8% 94.8 rate
L 21-52 SD 33/49 316y 1 td 2 int 67.3% 74.9 rate

2007
L 3-41 SD 23/36 232 0 td 1 int 63.9% 70.6 rate
W 31-28 Pit 22/29 248 3 td 2 int 75.6% 106.7 rate
L 3-23 SD 14/32 155y 0 td 2 int 43.8% 32.7 rate
2006
L 20-48 SD 17/30 188 2 td 0 int 56.7% 97.6 rate

Won 4 Lost 6 18TD 15INT

Scott Campbell
05-14-2009, 11:21 AM
W 39-38 SD 36/50 350 4td 1 int 72% 109.6 rate
L 7-41 NE 17/26 168y 1td 2 int 65.5% 64.3 rate
L 17-26 mia 24/46 307y 2 td 3 int 52.2% 60.7 rate
W 34-30 CLE 24/42 447y 3 TD 1 int 57.1% 107.9 rate
W 34-17 JETS 27/43 357y 2 td 1 int 62.8% 94.8 rate
L 21-52 SD 33/49 316y 1 td 2 int 67.3% 74.9 rate

2007
L 3-41 SD 23/36 232 0 td 1 int 63.9% 70.6 rate
W 31-28 Pit 22/29 248 3 td 2 int 75.6% 106.7 rate
L 3-23 SD 14/32 155y 0 td 2 int 43.8% 32.7 rate
2006
L 20-48 SD 17/30 188 2 td 0 int 56.7% 97.6 rate

Won 4 Lost 6 18TD 15INT


Buckets full of draft picks sure doesn't get you what it used to.

HarveyWallbangers
05-14-2009, 11:25 AM
To be fair, those are some good teams (except for Cleveland).

Fritz
05-14-2009, 12:30 PM
Man, his QB ratings are up and down like a manic depressive.

Fritz
05-14-2009, 12:31 PM
[quote=pack4to84]W 39-38 SD 36/50 350 4td 1 int 72% 109.6 rate
L 7-41 NE 17/26 168y 1td 2 int 65.5% 64.3 rate
L 17-26 mia 24/46 307y 2 td 3 int 52.2% 60.7 rate
W 34-30 CLE 24/42 447y 3 TD 1 int 57.1% 107.9 rate
W 34-17 JETS 27/43 357y 2 td 1 int 62.8% 94.8 rate
L 21-52 SD 33/49 316y 1 td 2 int 67.3% 74.9 rate

2007
L 3-41 SD 23/36 232 0 td 1 int 63.9% 70.6 rate
W 31-28 Pit 22/29 248 3 td 2 int 75.6% 106.7 rate
L 3-23 SD 14/32 155y 0 td 2 int 43.8% 32.7 rate
2006
L 20-48 SD 17/30 188 2 td 0 int 56.7% 97.6 rate

Won 4 Lost 6 18TD 15INT


Buckets full of draft picks sure doesn't get you what it used to.[/

quote]

Damn straight. I remember when you could mortgage your entire next decade and get a guy like John Hadl...

retailguy
05-14-2009, 12:48 PM
Man, his QB ratings are up and down like a manic depressive.

Well that fits, as Cutler is a tad manic.

Cheesehead Craig
05-14-2009, 01:14 PM
Man, his QB ratings are up and down like a manic depressive.
And those are with good WRs too. He's downgraded in that category big time going to Chicago.

MadScientist
05-14-2009, 01:22 PM
W 39-38 SD 36/50 350 4td 1 int 72% 109.6 rate

Won 4 Lost 6 18TD 15INT
Or 3 wins, 6 losses and 1 game to the ref.

Ref or not, Cutler did play well in that game.

Pacopete4
05-14-2009, 02:50 PM
Cutler is going to be good.. whether or not we want to admit that or not yet, he will be good.

swede
05-14-2009, 03:21 PM
Some say he's the next Favre.

Can we send some reporters down to ask him if he plans on retiring after this season?

pack4to84
05-14-2009, 03:25 PM
Some say he's the next Favre.

Can we send some reporters down to ask him if he plans on retiring after this season?He just might retire have a offense like Denver then going to Chicago. BF retired with WR's like Driver and Jennings. Cutler got who? can anyone name a WR thats any good for Chicago?

mraynrand
05-14-2009, 03:47 PM
Some say he's the next Favre.

Can we send some reporters down to ask him if he plans on retiring after this season?

Wait a few years. Right now you should ask about his desire to win the game on every play, his intestines, his prescription drug use, alcohol use, any TEs he knows of that like to go hot tubbin' with the high school chicks, etc. Retirement talk is for years 9 through infinity.

Packnut
05-14-2009, 03:56 PM
Cutler is going to be good.. whether or not we want to admit that or not yet, he will be good.

Yes he will. What I find hilarious is the "he has no WR's" refrain. The Bears have a very good TE in Olsen. Forte as a rookie is better at receiving than most vets in the NFL. Plus, all the D's including ours knew all the Bears had was the TE and RB and still both aspects of the passing game flourished.

Throw in a burner like Hester and a strong armed QB and I can see the Bears offense being respectable (average) this season.