Bowen: Protect The Quarterback Or Else...
(WSCR) Few things went right during the Bears 24-13 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Jay Cutler was pressured and knocked around, the defense gave up almost 400 yards and poor coaching decisions continued to sink the Bears. Matt Bowen of The National Football Post and Chicago Tribune joined The Boers and Bernstein Show on Tuesday to discuss what's ailing the Bears.
Bowen said the Bears need to protect Cutler or they are going to be stuck with a second-rate quarterback.
"You can't continually see a quarterback's head bouncing off the turf," Bowen said. "He's going to get knocked out one of these games, I mean out cold from hitting the turf. All it takes for a quarterback (is) a rib shot or for him to fall awkwardly on his shoulder, and he's done for the season. You have to protect him because Caleb Hanie is not going to win games for you. I'm sorry, he's not. That's why he's No. 2 and not the No. 1.
"All the Pro Bowl tackles are starting for good football teams right now. S0 you have to make do with what you have. It goes back to adapting the play calling, trying to get something generated on offense. If not, your quarterback is not going to last."
LISTEN: Matt Bowen on The Boers and Bernstein Show
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While many have criticized the Bears Cover-2 defense scheme for the nearly 1,000 yards given up in the last two games combined, Bowen is cautious to blame the scheme. He said it's not the Cover-2's fault that wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught five passes for 130 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown catch.
"It's not X's and O's with this defense right now," Bowen said. "It's the veteran guys that aren't making plays, aren't doing the right things. … Charles Tillman allowed Calvin Johnson to walk off the line of scrimmage like he was going to get a sandwich down the street. You cannot do that against a player like this. You have to get hands on him, jam him."
