By Fred Mitchell
Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is a fan of new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but he has concerns about quarterback Jay Cutler and his relationship with the offensive linemen who are paid to protect him.
"You try to fit a system with a quarterback, and the thing with Jay is he is not scared to try to force the ball. I think sometimes it gets him in trouble," Kelly told the Tribune on Wednesday.
"I think he has all of the tools to make it there. Martz's system ... I love. I mean, I like the wide-open, go-get-'em offense. I remember just watching the Rams (where Martz made his reputation with the "Greatest Show On Turf") in so many games. I don't like the typical fullback, halfback ... you know, running up the middle and play-action passes. I like the no-huddle and quick-paced offense. I know that's not exactly what they run, but Cutler ... I think the key to him is to get him off to a quick start and get some confidence behind him.
Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is a fan of new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but he has concerns about quarterback Jay Cutler and his relationship with the offensive linemen who are paid to protect him.
"You try to fit a system with a quarterback, and the thing with Jay is he is not scared to try to force the ball. I think sometimes it gets him in trouble," Kelly told the Tribune on Wednesday.
"I think he has all of the tools to make it there. Martz's system ... I love. I mean, I like the wide-open, go-get-'em offense. I remember just watching the Rams (where Martz made his reputation with the "Greatest Show On Turf") in so many games. I don't like the typical fullback, halfback ... you know, running up the middle and play-action passes. I like the no-huddle and quick-paced offense. I know that's not exactly what they run, but Cutler ... I think the key to him is to get him off to a quick start and get some confidence behind him.
"I know that he threw a lot of interceptions (26) last year. The
thing with him is that he will make the big play, but he will take that
chance and try to force that ball in sometimes and it backfires on you.
Gotta get the fans behind you. Once you start throwing too many picks,
you're not going to be around very much longer, especially in Chicago."
Cutler was sacked 10 times during his brief preseason appearances, and that is a concern going into Sunday's season opener against the Lions at Soldier Field. Kelly knows that pass protection is fundamental for a quarterback to be successful.
"Especially for a guy who is coming over to a new system," said Kelly. "He has to have some time to recognize some of the things that the defense is doing, because it is a new offense. There are different things that you have to look at. I don't care, you can be Dan Marino or Jim Kelly or Boomer Esiason or John Elway ... if you don't have a good offensive line, you're not going to be a very good quarterback, because you need time to read a defense and go through your progressions.
"As you well know, in order for a quarterback to be great, he has got to have time to go through those progressions. You don't want to have a quarterback that goes back, and his first receiver is covered, and all of a sudden he's dumping the ball off. You cannot win or make progressions when you do that. You have to have the time. That's why you take care of the offensive linemen. Take them out to dinner. That's why you give them Christmas gifts. You keep those guys happy because those are the guys who determine your future."
Much has been made about Cutler's pouting demeanor on the sideline after he throws an interception or a drive fails to materialize after he is sacked on third down.
"If you don't have an offensive line understanding exactly how a play is designed, then you're not going to succeed," said Kelly. "There's no doubt, the quarterback has got to be the guy who makes sure everybody is on the same page. He has not only got to be the quarterback, but he has to be the leader to make sure that people, No. 1, respect him and, No. 2, they follow after his example. When you need to talk to the guys on the sideline, do it. Don't stand by yourself. Get over there. Make sure, when you get out there on the football field, that everyone is on the same page."
Of course Kelly had the benefit of a solid running attack with Thurman Thomas to balance the Buffalo Bills' offense.
"I loved having a guy like Thurman in the backfield. It takes the pressure off the passing game," Kelly said. "I mean, at any given time we could have a screen or a draw play coming out of the backfield. It's always nice to have a safety valve. It doesn't always have to be a shoot-out. In order for quarterbacks to be great, most of them have to have that running back there to try to get that balanced offense. I think we ran the ball 51 percent of the time and threw it 49 (percent). We were blessed, because we had not only Thurman, but we had Kenny Davis...we had two running backs. So when Thurman got tired, he was able to come out and Kenny Davis came in. I was blessed, to be honest with you."
Kelly, who turned 50 this year, is now a spokesman for Depend and ZERO -- The Project to End Prostate Cancer to encourage all men to be proactive about their prostate health.
Kelly holds the all-time NFL record for most yards gained per completion in a single game (44), established on Sept.10, 1995 in the Bills' game against the Carolina Panthers. He recorded an NFL best 101.2 passer rating in 1990, led the league with 33 touchdowns passes in 1991, and made the Pro Bowl four times (1987, 1990, 1991, and 1992).
Cutler was sacked 10 times during his brief preseason appearances, and that is a concern going into Sunday's season opener against the Lions at Soldier Field. Kelly knows that pass protection is fundamental for a quarterback to be successful.
"Especially for a guy who is coming over to a new system," said Kelly. "He has to have some time to recognize some of the things that the defense is doing, because it is a new offense. There are different things that you have to look at. I don't care, you can be Dan Marino or Jim Kelly or Boomer Esiason or John Elway ... if you don't have a good offensive line, you're not going to be a very good quarterback, because you need time to read a defense and go through your progressions.
"As you well know, in order for a quarterback to be great, he has got to have time to go through those progressions. You don't want to have a quarterback that goes back, and his first receiver is covered, and all of a sudden he's dumping the ball off. You cannot win or make progressions when you do that. You have to have the time. That's why you take care of the offensive linemen. Take them out to dinner. That's why you give them Christmas gifts. You keep those guys happy because those are the guys who determine your future."
Much has been made about Cutler's pouting demeanor on the sideline after he throws an interception or a drive fails to materialize after he is sacked on third down.
"If you don't have an offensive line understanding exactly how a play is designed, then you're not going to succeed," said Kelly. "There's no doubt, the quarterback has got to be the guy who makes sure everybody is on the same page. He has not only got to be the quarterback, but he has to be the leader to make sure that people, No. 1, respect him and, No. 2, they follow after his example. When you need to talk to the guys on the sideline, do it. Don't stand by yourself. Get over there. Make sure, when you get out there on the football field, that everyone is on the same page."
Of course Kelly had the benefit of a solid running attack with Thurman Thomas to balance the Buffalo Bills' offense.
"I loved having a guy like Thurman in the backfield. It takes the pressure off the passing game," Kelly said. "I mean, at any given time we could have a screen or a draw play coming out of the backfield. It's always nice to have a safety valve. It doesn't always have to be a shoot-out. In order for quarterbacks to be great, most of them have to have that running back there to try to get that balanced offense. I think we ran the ball 51 percent of the time and threw it 49 (percent). We were blessed, because we had not only Thurman, but we had Kenny Davis...we had two running backs. So when Thurman got tired, he was able to come out and Kenny Davis came in. I was blessed, to be honest with you."
Kelly, who turned 50 this year, is now a spokesman for Depend and ZERO -- The Project to End Prostate Cancer to encourage all men to be proactive about their prostate health.
Kelly holds the all-time NFL record for most yards gained per completion in a single game (44), established on Sept.10, 1995 in the Bills' game against the Carolina Panthers. He recorded an NFL best 101.2 passer rating in 1990, led the league with 33 touchdowns passes in 1991, and made the Pro Bowl four times (1987, 1990, 1991, and 1992).
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