Jay Cutler’s 24 Total Turnovers in 2014
Interceptions
1-10-CHI 43 (Q2, 5:50) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 83-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 20-C.Graham at BUF 40. 20-C.Graham to CHI 15 for 45 yards (67-J.Mills). PENALTY on CHI-17-A.Jeffery, Illegal Use of Hands, 8 yards, enforced at CHI 15.
On this play, the Bills are in a Cover 3 defense, and the Bears run three vertical routes. Bennett is running the seam at the top of the screen with a WR running up the sideline. What this is supposed to do is stretch the corner to that side into trying to cover two routes, leaving one of the receivers open. This is possible because Cutler is throwing to the side of the field away from the deep safety, so he wouldn’t have been able get there in time. Theoretically, you would assume the corner to that side would be more concerned with the WR than the TE, so throwing to Bennett theoretically makes sense, but it doesn’t in practice here. Graham reads Cutler and jumps the throw for the interception. Cutler shouldn’t have made this throw because of Graham’s positioning. Additionally, the throw appears to be behind Bennett. So it was a bad throw and bad decision by Cutler. Something that’s worth noting is that Bennett doesn’t turn around until the ball was almost caught by the defender, so clearly he wasn’t expecting the pass. It could actually have been Bennett’s responsibility to turn around on time and catch this, but without knowing the play call I can’t tell. Either way it was definitely a miscommunication.
3-1-BUF 34 (Q4, 8:01) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 83-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 95-K.Williams at BUF 31. 95-K.Williams to BUF 33 for 2 yards (15-B.Marshall). PENALTY on CHI-15-B.Marshall, Horse Collar Tackle, 15 yards, enforced at BUF 33. Penalty on CHI-14-S.Holmes, Offensive Pass Interference, declined.
On this play the Bears run a bootleg and it’s well defended by the Bills. Bennett is initially assigned to block Mario Williams, but when the play continues on he releases the block and lets Williams chase Cutler, popping open. Cutler takes too long to realize Bennett has released his block, and takes long enough to throw the ball that Kyle Williams is able to get in the way and intercept the pass.
1-10-GB 24 (Q3, 7:39) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-J.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Matthews (38-T.Williams) at GB 25. 52-C.Matthews pushed ob at CHI 35 for 40 yards (22-M.Forte).
This slant/flat route combo is intended to get Morgan open, but he doesn’t do a good job of getting to his landmark. The throw is predetermined when Cutler recognizes man coverage so it’s the correct decision, the receiver just doesn’t win position. The spot Cutler is throwing to is predetermined, it’s Morgan’s job to get to that area. That being said, Cutler needs to realize that Williams is jumping the route and his receiver isn’t on time. This should be just a batted pass but an unfortunate bounce allows Matthews to get the interception.
1-10-GB 45 (Q3, 1:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 15-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 37-S.Shields at GB 27. 37-S.Shields pushed ob at CHI 11 for 62 yards (6-J.Cutler).
On this route, there’s a miscommunication between Cutler and Marshall. It’s like that Marshall has an option route on the double move and the QB and WR read the play differently. The route that should be run is based on the coverage. It appears that Cutler is throwing an out, which doesn’t make sense to me because Shields is playing with outside leverage on Marshall. Marshall runs vertical after the double move, and I believe that was the correct read. So I believe Cutler’s at fault here for misreading the play, although it’s really impossible to know without the pla ycall.
3-12-CAR 31 (Q1, 6:32) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle intended for 15-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Harper at CAR 7. 41-R.Harper to CAR 8 for 1 yard (15-B.Marshall).
Here we have a LB lined up on Brandon Marshall, who’s running a seam route. With the mismatch of a LB (who also isn’t looking at the ball) on a WR, this isn’t a bad football decision, but it’s not one that’s going to make your receiver like you. Marshall is going to get blown up regardless on this play because Cutler has to throw the ball over the head of the LB but just in front of the safeties, who will get a hit on Marshall. The problem is Cutler’s throw isn’t great and Marshall has to reach back over the LB. He can’t catch the pass and it bounces into Harper’s hands. So, on this play, Cutler got Marshall hit hard and also threw a pick. Not great.
2-11-CHI 46 (Q4, 6:08) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle intended for 14-S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by 21-T.DeCoud at CAR 33. 21-T.DeCoud to CHI 32 for 35 yards (75-K.Long).
Santonio Holmes had so little impact for the Bears last year that I honestly forgot he played for them. Here, he does actually win and has a step on a slant route, but Cutler overthrows him and DeCoud, the deep safety, is able to make the interception.
3-2-MIA 37 (Q2, 7:13) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left intended for 83-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Jones at MIA 21. 20-R.Jones to CHI 29 for 50 yards (15-B.Marshall). FUMBLES (15-B.Marshall), recovered by MIA-55-K.Misi at CHI 23. 55-K.Misi to CHI 23 for no gain (75-K.Long).
Martellus Bennett is running an out route from the slot, but he’s not open at all, with two defenders bracketing him. I don’t know why Cutler decides to throw this pass. In addition to that, it’s a bad throw and the pass is high. The only possible reason I can think of for this pass is that maybe the receiver at the top of the screen was supposed to run a post, but that doesn’t make sense either. I think the blame is squarely on Cutler here.
1-10-CHI 47 (Q2, :10) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 15-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 24-D.Revis at NE 5. 24-D.Revis to NE 5 for no gain (15-B.Marshall).
This ends the half so it’s essentially a Hail Mary. I called this a desperation throw because of that. Cutler didn’t quite have the arm behind this one to get it to the endzone, but this interception doesn’t matter.
2-10-CHI 20 (Q1, 6:02) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 83-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 33-M.Hyde (56-J.Peppers) at CHI 32. 33-M.Hyde to CHI 23 for 9 yards (22-M.Forte).
On this play Bennett is running an out route and gets a step on Hyde. Cutler correctly identifies that he’s open and lets the throw go. However, Jordan Mills has failed on his block and allowed Julius Peppers to get into the throwing lane. Peppers gets a hand up and just barely grazes the pass. It doesn’t do much, but it slows the pass down just enough to allow Hyde to get in front of Bennett and make the interception. Unlucky for Cutler.
3-5-GB 18 (Q4, 10:56) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 22-M.Forte INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Hayward at GB 18. 29-C.Hayward for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
You can’t tell from this angle but Cutler’s pass on this play actually deflected off of Kyle Long’s helmet (75). On one hand, if you’re an offensive lineman, you probably shouldn’t be just standing there doing nothing in the way of your QB’s target. On the other hand, if you’re the QB, you shouldn’t be hitting your offensive lineman with the pass regardless of the situation. For a fluky play, I give Cutler partial fault.
1-10-CHI 48 (Q2, :15) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left intended for 17-A.Jeffery INTERCEPTED by 29-X.Rhodes at MIN 33. 29-X.Rhodes to MIN 33 for no gain (17-A.Jeffery).
This interception by Cutler doesn’t really matter, because it’s at the end of the first half, but if this is a completion it puts the Bears in FG range. There’s enough time left on the clock that I don’t classify it as a desperation throw. The route is a 20 yard deep out. I don’t think it’s a bad decision, because although Rhodes might have been able to recover if the throw was on target, I think Jeffery would have made the catch. The problem is the throw. I’m pretty sure the pass is tipped by Brian Robison, even though it wasn’t scored that way. The pass is obviously short, and Cutler definitely has the arm strength to make this throw, so I don’t think it was an underthrow due to lack of strength. I can’t verify 100% that this is a tipped pass because they don’t show it in a replay on the broadcast angle and the endzone angle is a bit blurry, but it looks like the ball is wobbling. If that’s the case, this interception really isn’t Cutler’s fault because Mills messed up. Since I can’t verify I gave him partial fault.
3-9-MIN 34 (Q3, 3:10) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 15-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 22-H.Smith at MIN 21. 22-H.Smith to CHI 27 for 52 yards (74-J.Bushrod).
The Bears’ OL gets totally destroyed by a zone blitz by the Vikings. No one knows who they’re supposed to block and multiple pass rushers get a free shot at Cutler, who has no chance. Therefore, whoever called the protections is really at fault. Cutler tried to throw the ball to Bennett and not get killed, but I don’t think he really had a chance to read Smith due to the imminent pressure, and Bennett ran a post route while Cutler threw for a curl. This was an easy interception for Smith that was caused by the confusion picking up the blitz. Still a bad decision by Cutler, but he was forced into it.
2-3-CHI 10 (Q4, 9:38) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 15-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 27-G.Quin (23-D.Slay) at CHI 42. 27-G.Quin ran ob at CHI 42 for no gain.
Terrible mechanics by Cutler cause this ball to be underthrown, tipped by Slay, and subsequently picked. He double clutches and isn’t properly set before he releases which means he can’t get enough arm strength behind the pass. It floats in the air and is late to get to Marshall, so Slay is in the way. Good play by Quin to catch the tipped ball.
1-10-DET 14 (Q4, :00) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle intended for 10-M.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 32-J.Ihedigbo (52-D.Tapp) at DET 0. Touchback. Untimed down.
This was a free play for the Bears after the clock ran out because of a penalty on the Lions. This play was entirely pointless because even if the Bears had scored a TD they still would have lost. So, I don’t entirely see the point in running a play. The throw is high and away from any WR but I don’t really care because I think it’s stupid to run a play here and risk a potential injury when you’ve already lost.
1-10-DAL 10 (Q4, 1:35) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-J.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 32-O.Scandrick at DAL -3. Touchback.
This is a garbage time play. Morgan is running a vertical route and Cutler doesn’t throw the ball high enough, so Scandrick is able to make the interception. It’s a really impressive vertical jump by Scandrick. Cutler needs to throw it a bit higher to avoid this.
3-8-CHI 9 (Q1, 14:08) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left intended for 83-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 21-P.Robinson at CHI 26. 21-P.Robinson pushed ob at CHI 24 for 2 yards (19-J.Morgan).
Bennett does a good job of finding a hole in the zone and sitting there, but Cutler just missed the throw. It’s too wide for Bennett to handle, and the ball gets tipped, which allows Patrick Robinson to make the diving interception. Cutler is at fault here for the bad throw.
1-10-CHI 49 (Q2, :12) (Shotgun) 62-E.Britton reported in as eligible. 6-J.Cutler pass deep left intended for 10-M.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 42-P.Warren at NO 13. 42-P.Warren ran ob at NO 45 for 32 yards.
This appears to be a miscommunication between Cutler and Wilson, on the broadcast you can see Cutler talking to Wilson about it after the play. Cutler wanted Wilson to run a corner route based on the coverage but Wilson ran vertical. This is also a desperation throw as the clock is running out on the 2nd Quarter.
3-3-CHI 39 (Q3, 3:32) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 17-A.Jeffery INTERCEPTED by 42-P.Warren at NO 23. 42-P.Warren ran ob at NO 44 for 21 yards.
Cutler just overthrows Jeffery here, who beat his man and would have had a big gain on this play if Cutler’s throw was on target.
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Chicago Bears, Film Breakdowns, Football Breakdowns, Fumbles, INTs, Jay Cutler, NFL Breakdowns, QB, Turnovers
