Josh McCown: Cutler’s QB Whisperer

Wait.  Trestman was supposed to be Cutler’s savior, so what gives?  Well it is becoming quite evident through comments made by Cutler and McCown, that they were good for each other.  Jay has stated they have remained close friends and speak regularly, that Josh was a force in meetings and the both helped each other on the field.  It is also becoming apparent, that Josh might have more influence on Jay’s improvement than Trestman.

Nov 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown (12) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

This all makes sense when you look at where McCown has been in his career and how his relationship with Cutler had more impact than Trestman.  When Trestman arrived he installed the west coast offense. Through Jay’s career he has had little exposure to it. Remember, Cutler had four OC’s in his first eight seasons as a pro. The only exposure to a west coast style offense was when Martz put in his version Air Coryell.  McCown, on the other hand, had been exposed to the west coast style offense through his career. When he was in Arizona with Dennis Green, during the 2004 and 2005 season. McCown started 19 games and finished 9-10 and played reasonably well on a mediocre team.  Then in 2007, Josh was at Oakland and started nine games (2-7) in a west coast offense coached by Greg Knapp, who had cut his teeth with Steve Mariucci in San Francisco.  Finally in 2013, Josh plays in eight games, starting five and going 3-2, in another west coast offense.  In Josh’s career his 33 starts out of 43 were in a west coast offense. Is it any wonder why he played so well when he came in to replace Cutler? It was a system he was comfortable with and knew how to maximize it to his strengths.

So what does this have to do with Cutler?  It is evident now that McCown was truly the one that made Jay a better quarterback in the west coast system.  Jay has admitted that McCown’s experience had helped him greatly. They had developed a strong bond and relied on each other without the threat of job loss.  It was a unique situation (and remember Josh had been on the roster for two years prior with Cutler) and one the Bears organisation misread.  In retrospect, Emery should have ignored the unwarranted cry of QB controversy and signed Josh to a two year deal with the possibility of coaching.

In the end, while the press heralds Trestman as the quarterback whisperer, it is now clear when it came to Cutler, it was really Josh McCown.