21-Nov-2009 05:19am
 
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Jay Cutler says Bears' problems go beyond O-line

By ANDREW SELIGMAN - AP Sports Writer
    2009-11-05 03:49

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -Jay Cutler was sore and a bit black and blue.

He ran five times for 32 yards but absorbed four sacks and spent plenty of time also running for cover in the Chicago Bears' 30-6 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. One hit caused him to bite his tongue, leaving him with a bloody mouth.

The Bears certainly took a beating during the win, particularly the guy behind center who also happens to carry the franchise's long-term hopes in his right arm. Cutler's been on the move all season, and the guy he hands off to, Matt Forte, has looked more like a tackling dummy than someone who ran for more than 1,200 yards as a rookie last year.

This wasn't what Chicago envisioned after retooling the offensive line in the offseason, but Cutler wasn't about to lash out at the guys who are paid to protect him. The Bears' offense ranks 20th heading into this week's game against Arizona, and the problems go beyond the line.

``It's a mixed bag,'' Cutler said Wednesday. ``I've got to get rid of the ball. We've got to throw our hot (routes). It takes more than just the offensive line blocking. It's all 11 guys. We're in it together.''

At the moment, there's plenty of room to improve even if the Bears' line is nowhere near the bottom statistically.

Twenty-one teams have allowed more sacks than Chicago (11) and the 30 quarterback hits ranks 15th. They reshuffled their rotation last week with Josh Beekman starting at left guard over Frank Omiyale, yet the results weren't promising.

An ugly win did nothing to ease concerns brought on by back-to-back losses, including a 45-10 thumping at Cincinnati the previous week. There were problems in the red zone, where Chicago converted just two of seven trips inside the 20 into touchdowns, and problems keeping the quarterback on his feet.

The Bears allowed four sacks against a Browns team that ranked dead last defensively entering the game and, a few flashes aside, they didn't get much from the running game, either. How much Cutler and Forte are to blame for that is open to debate, but the line is certainly receiving its share of attention.

``I think it's sometimes blown out of proportion,'' offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. ``We give up four sacks and everyone says the line gave up four sacks. The line did not necessarily give up four sacks. When you get a sack, it can be the quarterback, the receiver, the tight end. It can be the running back. There are a lot of people who can be responsible for that.''

One problem for the Bears is they didn't have young players ready to step in when the line was at its best a few years ago. They've drafted just two linemen in the first five rounds over the past seven years, taking Beekman in the fourth round in 2007 and going with Chris Williams in the first round in 2008.

That's forced them to fill in the gaps through free agency or trades, a formula that worked in the past but has yet to pay dividends this season.

They thought they found solutions in the offseason when they acquired Omiyale and likely Hall of Famer Orlando Pace, but that also knocked players out of their comfort zones.

With Pace at left tackle, Williams is biding time on the right side. Omiyale, a more natural tackle, had to move to guard, and the line hasn't responded.

Cutler, meanwhile, sees teams using more blitzes and more gimmick defenses that have turned him into a quarterback on the run.

Not exactly what the Bears need if they want their franchise player to remain healthy.


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