Jay Cutler’s 30 Total TDs in 2014
2-10-NE 10 (Q4, 5:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 17-A.Jeffery for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The Patriots get pressure instantly and Cutler makes a very good throw off of his back foot. Out routes are the most difficult passes to throw in football because they require a lot of arm strength and have a small window. Jeffery gets good separation, but making a throw like this off of your back foot is very impressive.
3-7-GB 45 (Q3, 7:57) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 15-B.Marshall for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Marshall makes a very nice double move to get separation on Sam Shields, who is in man coverage. The Packers blitz and Cutler has to throw off of his back foot once again. The throw is not as impressive as the last throw, and requires Marshall to pull up short. This actually helps create the TD, however, as Marshall adjusted very well to the pass and then stiff armed Shields and was able to dive into the endzone before being tackled.
2-6-MIN 27 (Q2, 13:15) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 17-A.Jeffery for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cutler’s pre-snap read indicated he should be looking to his left, which caused him to miss Alshon Jeffery initially, as he beat Josh Robinson on a slant. This is not a negative on the play by Cutler, because he did make the correct pre-snap read. Harrison Smith was positioned like he was in zone coverage at the snap, and if he was (he was actually in man coverage on Bennett) he would have easily picked Jeffery’s slant. Marshall, running a go route on the other side, failed to get separation, so Cutler’s first read wasn’t there. The Vikings also got pressure on Cutler, so he had to move out of the pocket. Jeffery turned up field after initially beating Josh Robinson, and Robinson was not able to catch up with him. Because Robinson was turned around, Cutler was able to throw to Jeffery and the CB couldn’t make an adjustment on the ball to prevent the TD.
1-10-MIN 44 (Q2, 2:58) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The Vikings theoretically did a very good job of covering the two deep routes on this play, as both Marshall and Jeffery should be covered by two players. The problem is that Robert Blanton, the deep safety, got drawn towards the line of scrimmage and let Marshall blow by him. The Vikings also did a good job of getting pressure on Cutler on the play, but it was for naught as Cutler was able to complete the deep pass to Marshall, who used his size to win against Josh Robinson.
3-4-MIN 4 (Q4, 8:56) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 15-B.Marshall for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This is a curl route, but it serves the same purpose as a goal line fade. Cutler just throws the ball up and Marshall uses his size to catch it.
3-2-TB 2 (Q3, 10:38) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 17-A.Jeffery for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Jeffery is running some sort of weird mutant slant curl thing here. Really, I believe the intention of his route is just to find and open spot in the Bucs’ zone. He does, and Cutler finds him for the TD.
2-10-DET 10 (Q1, 10:39) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 17-A.Jeffery for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The reason the Bears have Marshall and Jeffery stacked here is because it forces Detroit’s corners to play off, lest they get “rubbed” by the receivers’ routes. Levy’s bite on the play fake and the off coverage sets up the screen pass, and Jeffery breaks a tackle to score.
2-6-DET 6 (Q1, 3:42) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 17-A.Jeffery for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Here Jeffery just runs by safety Glover Quin on the crossing route and is open for the TD. Cutler, under pressure, throws the ball a bit high, but high is better than low in this scenario. Jeffery elevates for the TD.
2-7-DAL 12 (Q2, 6:18) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 83-M.Bennett for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Bennett’s route attacks the “seam” in the Cowboys’ defense on this play and he ends up in between a bunch of zones, open for the TD.
1-10-DAL 27 (Q4, 15:00) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 17-A.Jeffery for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
On this pass Cutler just has to trust his receiver to make a play. Jeffery does a good job of making the corner think the ball is going to be caught around the goal line, but then he sneaks around the CB and catches it a couple of yards deep in the end zone.
2-1-NO 1 (Q4, 12:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 10-M.Wilson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
The run fake gets the Saints’ defense to bite and there are multiple receivers who come open. Terrence Frederick, who is covering Wilson, just lets the receiver outrun him on a crossing route. Wilson is the first open guy Cutler sees and he gets the TD pass.
1-7-NO 7 (Q4, :36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 17-A.Jeffery for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Another simple goal line fade. Jeffery does a good job of not extending his arms until late so as to not tip off the CB that the ball is coming.
3-7-CAR 10 (Q1, 2:23) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler scrambles right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The Panthers do a good job of covering the downfield routes but the right DE lets himself get pushed too far up field. This gives Cutler a space to run through and he has a sizable amount of green field in front of him. He does a good job with a head fake right before the end zone that paralyzes the last defender with a chance to stop him.
1-10-DAL 10 (Q4, 6:16) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler scrambles right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Once again, Cutler is able to find running room when the right DE gets too far up field. Jay’s not the fastest guy in the world but he definitely has the ability to pick up yards on the ground. He gets hit right before the goal line but falls into the end zone successfully.
Jay Cutler can be a very streaky player, and these are some of his best plays. It’s no secret that the Bears had a pair of big WRs in 2014 (they’ll have a different pair in 2015, with 1st round pick Kevin White replacing Marshall, but White is a big guy too), and Cutler knows how to use big targets. He trusts them to make difficult catches, and on these plays it worked out. Now, it didn’t always work, and the Bears offense definitely got predictable in 2014. With a coaching change this past offseason, hopefully the Bears can get more variety in their offense and bigger contributions from complementary players.
