So Bears finish the 3rd quarter of the season with a 3-9 record leaving us with no believable shot at the playoffs, a long list of names on IR and waiting to see what high draft pick were gonna get next year.
Recapping last 4 games, coming off the bye getting key players back going with confidence after beating the a strong Viking defense, the Bears looked poised to begin a playoff push and I felt the Bucs stole that from us and became that team after beating the crap out of us. I didn’t expect to get beat like that but what I couldn’t believe was the way the team looked on the second half of that game which was still winnable but they couldn't find the way to get back to it, they looked unprepared. Cutler still looks like a man with a curse going to the 4th qtr against the Giants down by 6 with plenty of time and Loggains or himself putting everything on his shoulders trying to get the first down on every play even if it’s more than 10 yards away because of constant penalties while not even trying a screen, an option or a draw play giving no sign of trying to game manage the clock, just Cutler forcing the ball with what we would later find out was an injured throwing shoulder that didn’t put enough on the ball falling to a defender and getting the ending interception. After this game, I thought that Loggains had to go just because he consistently refuses to continue with the run game that is supposed to be Fox´s playstyle.
Now we enter the QB carousel again and in comes Matt Barkley but this time with more reps and time to grasp the playbook better or that's what i believe because although he has won the same number of games as Cutler and Hoyer, he looks better that Hoyer as of now. Although he threw two interception against the Titans which both where mental mistakes, one was just bad placement not really giving the receiver a chance to make the catch instead of just throwing it away and the other he didn't see the defender or tried to squeeze it in on a well placed ball to the receiver which Barkley showed almost in every throw, he has accuracy and would have given the Bears a win if not by a plethora of drops by the receivers, he showed poise and control in that last drive, something Hoyer did not show. Against San Francisco the game was played as it had to be played especially because of the weather giving the ball to Howard and Barkley moving the chains when necessary not turning the ball over to the defense. I'm very intrigued to see the last four games with Barkley at QB, if he does well i believe that Hoyer will not return to the team and Cutler should be retained one more year to compete for the position because i still remember that, although it was the preseason, Connor Shaw played well and should get a shot as well. This would be a great scenario which doesn't necessarily erase the idea of not picking a QB with the first pick next year if they see one they really like, and i don't think he would start anyway because i don't believe any of them are ready to play yet, but it gives the Bears options and depth in the position to see who wants it more and be the QB of this team that is getting better at the defensive side of the ball and if Cutler accepts the challenge, as a GM, you gotta love having him as possible trade bait. Then again this could have a setback if the OC is changed once again, so maybe getting rid of Loggains right now isn't the way to go.
But this only has a chance to happen if Barkley keeps it going and if he plays a good game against Green Bay, like Hoyer had his shot to “cement” himself as THE QB for the Bears in week 7, we would have something to look forward to at the final quarter of the season and what's to come.
Didn't post this in time before the Lions game where Barkley played good but didn't get enough support by his teammates, doesn't matter really because BARKLEY PLAYED GOOD so are some of the rookies so next is Green Bay and every Bears fan wants to see them give us a good performance especially against the Packers so we can get something to cheer about these last three games and have a better feeling for next year.
