Bernstein's Blog: Giant Step Back

As we feared.

The nonexistent pass protection of the preseason had been covered until last night by Jay Cutler's toughness, elusiveness and quick decisions. Mike Martz and Mike Tice had helped with timely adaptation to circumstance.

The key word, however, is "had." Rhymes with "bad."

Longtime Bears fans will remember a day at Soldier Field in 1984, when a brutal defensive attack knocked out Raiders QB Marc Wilson, quickly ended the day (and career, it turned out) of backup David Humm, and forced a quivering Ray Guy to warm up as emergency replacement only after they discovered the legendary punter hiding behind the bench.

So I'll remember last night's game as the second-worst beating I have seen a team take from a pass rush.

My two favorite postgame quotes? Kevin Shaffer: "I'm not real sure what was happening." And Olin Kreutz: "We have to f---ing block people."

Sure, Jay Cutler could have gotten the ball out quicker. Martz could have hunkered down the play-calling. Greg Olsen didn't have to quit on his route on that interception.

But this was an overwhelming beating, foreshadowed by the summer games that didn't count and the positive outcomes of the ones that did. Some of us continued to worry about the possible systemic implosion from the combination of bad blocking, seven-step drops and cross-purposed stubbornness from both Martz and Cutler.

Now we worry about more, even with the 3-1 record still atop the NFC North.

Some notes: Brandon Manumaleuna appears to be a waste of free-agent money...a team has to be exceptionally bad to surrender sacks out of a max-protect formation with two TEs in bodyguard backfield positions...last week's deactivation only motivated Tommie Harris to be slow, weak and insignificant, apparently...Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers are playing like Pro Bowlers...poor, elderly Todd Collins should have re-retired at halftime...how soon until Kristin Cavallari is partying with Sam Bradford?

All Bears today, with more information available on Cutler's condition, we presume, by the time we hit the air. There will be plenty of time upcoming to look at the Cubs' search for a manager, the 88-win season for the Sox, the start of the MLB playoffs and the injuries to both Brian Campbell and Carlos Boozer.