Matt Spiegel From 670 The Score In Chicago: 'Bears Unlikeable, Medicore At Best'
BOSTON (CBS) - The Patriots' next opponent have way too much talent to be just 3-4.
It's gotten so bad they have yet to win a game in front of the home crowd, who haven't been quiet in voicing their displeasure -- especially after Sunday's lackluster loss to Miami, when boos rained down from the Chicago fans upon their team.
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall called out his teammates in the locker room following the loss, and the locker room has been described as being in turmoil.
Windy city radio host Matt Spiegel from our sister station 670 The Score spoke with Toucher & Rich Wednesday morning about the upcoming Patriots-Bears game from the Chicago perspective.
"It has not been a pleasure to watch these Bears or listen to these Bears," said Spiegel. "This has quickly become a very unlikeable, mediocre at best team at this point in the year."
Stemming from a discussion Toucher & Rich had earlier, the guys were curious to hear Spiegel's opinion of the Bears' play calling.
The Cowboys, 6-1, have finally realized that Tony Romo can't do it all by himself. The reason for their turnaround, Toucher & Rich believe, is the emergence of the running game behind Demarco Murray, and the team putting Romo in situations where, for lack of a better phrase, he can't screw it up.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is similar to Romo in that regard. Big playmaking capability, but always the penchant for making that big error in a critical moment. The Bears have not followed that Cowboys formula, and at times have completely ignored star running back Matt Forte in favor of the passing game and their two stud receivers.
Still, Spiegel is more upset with Cutler than head coach Marc Trestman, the play caller.
"Trestman has certainly had his issues. It's funny that you call him an offensive coordinator, because as a head coach we are all wondering how he is being a leader of men. I think we're starting to see some of the reasons it took him decades to get a head coaching job in the NFL," said Spiegel.
"But Cutler is the guy I'm most upset with. He's somebody we've debated for years here. 'Can he get better?' 'Can he improve?' At what point are you are what you are? He showed so much promise last year with Trestman. Now here we are in the middle of year two with the quarterback whisperer, and Cutler is enabled with two gigantic monsters at wide receiver, a really good tight end in Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte, an offensive line, and everything you could want -- including a quarterback friendly system -- and he continues to put the ball in harm's way. He's always going to give you three-to-seven throws that have the potential to be disastrous."
In last week's Miami game, Matt Forte carried the ball just twice in the first half for the Bears. He would have had more touches on the ground, but according to Spiegel, they later found out that Cutler audibled at least twice into pass plays.
The Bears stripped Cutler off his right to audible in the second half, and Forte was the beneficiary of getting more carries.
Spiegel expects the Bears to pound the ball with Forte against New England, not surprising given how badly the Patriots defense has struggled in that department this season.
Listen below for the full discussion!
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