Bears' Cutler, new offensive coordinator on same page so far
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler seems to have found a younger offensive coordinator to his liking.
Adam Gase is the fifth, and youngest, offensive coordinator to work in Chicago with Cutler. The other four didn't work out. However, Cutler and the 37-year-old former Denver Broncos coordinator are in lockstep under new coach John Fox.
''Adam's younger than some of the guys I've been around, that's about it,'' Cutler said Wednesday. ''He does an exceptional job of communication, making sure the quarterbacks are comfortable, making sure he, (quarterbacks coach) Dowell (Loggains) and myself are all on the same page when we go on the field.
''He doesn't want to call a play and me not know why he's called that play.''
Gase spent the last six seasons on Denver's staff, including the last two as offensive coordinator. Denver led the NFL in scoring and total offense the last two years.
Of course, Gase's offense did this with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Now he has Cutler.
Ron Turner, Mike Martz, Mike Tice and Aaron Kromer preceded Gase in Chicago, with Martz having the most success in getting Cutler to realize his potential.
Gase said he's already been able to tap into a few of Cutler's strengths in order to get the new offense working.
''His intelligence - way better than what I thought,'' Gase said. ''His ability to communicate with his teammates. Because he's further ahead than everybody else, he's able to get our wideouts on the same page.''
It's apparent intends to use Cutler's ability to move out of the pocket and throw.
''Adam's put a big asterisk on it this offseason and going into training camp,'' Cutler said. ''It's something we need to do more. I know Adam likes moving the pocket. He's been with quarterbacks than can do it and quarterbacks that can't do it.
''It's something that if you are able to do it, it makes calling plays a little bit easier because you are able to move that launch point from time to time.''
Scrimmages have included an assortment of bootleg passes and moving pockets.
''I think we all know that his athletic ability for a guy his size is pretty unique; there's not a lot of guys like him,'' Gase said. ''We'll try to do what we need to do within a game. How the defense is playing -- is that cause for five (bootlegs) a game, great. If it's two ... you never know how a game is going to play out, you never know how they're playing. So you have to kind of play off the defense, how are they playing the run game?
''But his ability to move outside the pocket ... we really like what he's done so far and we'll keep growing that package.''
Gase said the running game is taking shape behind Matt Forte, a group of young backups and an offensive line with four returning starters and former Broncos center Will Montgomery.
''Right now I'm feeling pretty good about it,'' Gase said. ''We didn't have a great day today. Our defense really took it to us, which is good. Now we can go back, correct the things we need to correct, find out a way to get positive yards. But right now as far as what our offensive line's done, I feel really good about it.''
Gase also likes Alshon Jeffery's chances to step up into the No. 1 receiver's role formerly held by Brandon Marshall.
''I see a dominant guy,'' Gase said. ''I really have enjoyed watching him come along since the spring.''
Ultimately, it all comes back to Cutler and how quickly he picks up the offense. If Cutler can make a fast switch, it can help a rebuilding defense out greatly.
''If I knew what was going to happen, I'd play the lottery,'' Gase said. ''Right now I don't know. Every day we're getting a little bit better. He's doing a good job of staying with it and getting better.''
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