by Michael Fox

Created on: September 19, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

Jay Cutler is probably the most talented quarterback that the Chicago Bears have had in a long time. The problem though is that while he is talented he will not be likely to become successful as the new quarterback for the Chicago Bears. This is simply because of how Cutler does not have enough offensive support around him.

First it helps to look into the receiving options that Cutler has. The top option that he has is Devin Hester, a receiver who has made a name for himself as a dominant special teams player. He is good after the catch but just getting him to catch the ball can be a real challenge. Not only has Hester been inconsistent with ball handling but he has had a propensity to fumble the ball many times. He has fumbled the ball twelve times in 2007 and 2008 in a variety of conditions.

Cutler may end up being overworked in many cases. This could be the case due to the lack of a strong running game for the Bears. Every team needs a good running game so that the quarterback will have more time to be ready for his work. Bears running back Matt Forte generally gets only seventy yards a game on average. This is something that make it harder for the Bears to be able to live off of running and as a result it will force the passing game to be dominant.

The lack of offensive line support is another problem. Every quarterback needs the protection of a good offensive line in order to be successful. However the Bears' offensive line has been suspect over the years. In 2007 the Bears o-line gave up 43 sacks and in 2008 the Bears gave up 29 sacks. The added pressure on the quarterback due to a lack of protection may be harmful to Cutler.

Finally there is Cutler himself. While Cutler is more accurate than former Bears quarterback Kyle Orton he has a poor touchdown to interception ratio. In 2008 Cutler threw 25 touchdowns and eighteen interceptions. Cutler will also be playing in a division that is known for having tougher defenses in the NFC North. Whereas the only real competition the Broncos have had in the AFC West in recent years is the San Diego Chargers the Bears have to deal with challenges from Green Bay and Minnesota, two teams who are in the middle of the NFL in pass defenses.

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