Anyone else enjoy seeing the real Jay Cutler? (2 Viewers)

[SSOG]

Honestly, I think having unproven WRs has helped Cutler this year. With Marshall and Royal, it was almost like Cutler not only had so much confidence in his arm, but in his receivers, so he felt like he could force the ball at times, and that resulted in INTs. Now, he knows he has to be a bit more careful with the ball, and that is resulting in a lot less turnovers (only 2 INTs in the last 3 1/2 games since that terrible first half against GB). Not having any stellar WRs seems to be making him a better all-around QB.

More likely, in my opinion, is that it's just a natural function of age and experience. Remember, Peyton Manning threw 20 INTs a season in his first 5 years and has averaged 11 INTs a season in the 6 years since. It's really not that surprising for an ultra talented guy with a penchant for picks to stop becoming a turnover machine as he ages. It probably helps that he's playing with a better defense, too, since the huge majority of Cutler's INTs last year came in big-time catch up mode.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Honestly, I think having unproven WRs has helped Cutler this year. With Marshall and Royal, it was almost like Cutler not only had so much confidence in his arm, but in his receivers, so he felt like he could force the ball at times, and that resulted in INTs. Now, he knows he has to be a bit more careful with the ball, and that is resulting in a lot less turnovers (only 2 INTs in the last 3 1/2 games since that terrible first half against GB). Not having any stellar WRs seems to be making him a better all-around QB.

More likely, in my opinion, is that it's just a natural function of age and experience. Remember, Peyton Manning threw 20 INTs a season in his first 5 years and has averaged 11 INTs a season in the 6 years since. It's really not that surprising for an ultra talented guy with a penchant for picks to stop becoming a turnover machine as he ages. It probably helps that he's playing with a better defense, too, since the huge majority of Cutler's INTs last year came in big-time catch up mode.

All good points. And you can never underestimate how your teams' defense can affect your mentality and how you play the QB position? If your team has a terrible defense, you go out thinking you have to score 40 points to win, so you make throws and take chances you maybe shouldn't. On the flip side, if your team has a good defense, you can play more conservative and be more careful with the ball because you know all of the pressure of winning isn't squarely on you.