Jay Cutler has plenty of talent. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL and has thrown for 19 or more touchdowns in six of his eight NFL seasons. Cutler has only one playoff appearance in his career though with that coming in 2010 when the Chicago Bears captured the NFC North title.
Cutler advanced to the NFC Conference Championship game but left early with an injury with many people questioning his heart and determination to win.
The Vanderbilt University product has been hampered by injuries in the past four seasons, missing 12 starts. Despite missing five games last season, Cutler was on pace to put up career high numbers under first-year head coach Marc Trestman. In year two under Trestman, Cutler should take off with a bevy of options at his disposal as the Bears try to wrestle for control of the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers.
Cutler has had an up-and-down career, spending his first three seasons with the Denver Broncos before being traded to the Chicago Bears after the 2008 season. He threw for over 4500 yards in 2008 and reached his first Pro Bowl, but following the season he asked to be traded.
In his first season in the WindyCity, he threw for a career-high 27 touchdowns but also threw 26 interceptions, something that has plagued him over the years. He has undeniable arm talent, but is a gunslinger and can take too many risks leading to critical turnovers.
Cutler not only makes headlines on the field, but also off the field. He has a well-publicized celebrity marriage to reality television star Kristin Cavallari that sometimes irks Bears fans who want their franchise quarterback completely focused on football with their private life away from the front page of the newspaper.
Last season, former Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman was hired after longtime coach Lovie Smith was fired. Trestman is known as a quarterback guru and for his excellent offensive system. In year one, Jay Cutler threw for 19 touchdowns but that was only in 10 starts. He was injured and missed four games, allowing career backup Josh McCown to fill in. McCown thrived in Trestman’s system and many questioned who should be the starter when Cutler returned. Cutler returned from injury and regained his starting role, but the Bears failed to make the playoffs.
Despite being injury prone, Cutler is quarterback of the future in Chicago as he signed a long-term extension this offseason and McCown departed for TampaBay.
Jay Cutler needs to stay healthy. Injuries have plagued him the past few seasons and held Chicago back from their full potential. They have arguably the top wide receiver duo in the NFL with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. They have one of the top all-around running backs in Matt Forte. In year two under Trestman, Cutler should have a better understanding of the offensive system.
This should allow him to continue the success he had last season before he was injured. Jay Cutler has many of the Bears’ quarterback records already and should add to those this season as him and Trestman aim to take down three-time defending NFC North Division champion, Green Bay.
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