Thread: Cutler Doing Well So Far.....................

Updated: August 5, 2011, 5:47 PM ET

Cutler looking, talking the part

After facing the worst scrutiny of his career maybe Jay Cutler's burden can be lifted

• Email
• Print
• Comments73

By Jon Greenberg
ESPNChicago.com
Archive

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Training camp is for the true believers.


Why else would anyone trek to Kankakee County, seemingly located in the suburbs on the sun, to watch a glorified practice, if they didn't believe?


ESPNChicago.com Bears blog

Get the latest Bears news from ESPN Chicago.com's Jeff Dickerson and Michael Wright. Blog
• ESPNChicago.com
• ESPN.com: NFC North


The diehards came out en masse for the Chicago Bears' first full practice of the summer session Thursday night, cheering lustily -- "Throw it to Andy Fantuz!!!" -- with at least half the crowd was wearing a jersey of some sort. That's impressive. Even in the cooler evening weather, this was not jersey weather. But they believe, so they dress like football pilgrims.


Jay Cutler's No. 6 was easily the most ubiquitous jersey. All the tumult from the way last season ended seemingly forgotten. Everyone wants to believe this Cutler is the Cutler the Bears traded for two years ago. There has been no shortage of Schadenfreude aimed at Cutler lately, from the NFC Championship Game to his recent public breakup with Kristin Cavallari. A lot of it is fair, a lot of it is not. This is a make-or-break season for Cutler's image, and maybe his career, and there are reasons (line play, general intransigence) to think this year could be every bit as challenging as the last two. But when Cutler drops back, footloose and fancy-free, and fires that $50 million arm, you want to believe in him. The talent is just too enticing.


Going into the real start of camp, we consumed the usual storylines from the first week: Cutler is in the best shape of his life. Cutler is ready to make the leap. Cutler only cares about football now.


This is training camp. Reporters may be tweeting play-by-play nowadays, but the themes remains the same from Sid Luckman's days.


But at the same time, Cutler did look pretty good. He threw lasers, threaded the needle, checked his progressions. There were hiccups too, underthrows, overthrows, what-was-that throws. He had a normal practice, and that was what was so encouraging.


I guess after Cutler's Last Stand against Green Bay, followed by the lockout, any game action was encouraging.


After facing the worst scrutiny of his career -- worse even than his exit from Denver -- maybe the burden of being Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears quarterback, can be lifted. Maybe he can just be.


"It's Year 2 [in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system], it's completely different," he said. "It's night and day. I feel a lot more comfortable with the reads and where I'm going with the ball. So it's just a matter of getting the offensive line worked out and getting me and the receivers' timing. We're kind of playing catch up. We don't really have a lot of time with no OTAs and just getting these guys after six practices. We've got to make it happen pretty quickly."


[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Nam Y. HuhJay Cutler has arrived at training camp in good spirits and good shape.


Because I'm sane, I didn't keep stats during a practice, but I can say Cutler's best throw was probably late in the practice session, a perfectly timed strike to Devin Hester, who ran a deep route in the slot. Cutler hit him just over his inside shoulder in perfect stride.


"He's so much more comfortable in the system," Cutler said of Hester. "He's not thinking. In this system, if you think, you're not going to be very effective."


Cutler could be talking about himself too. Like most NFL quarterbacks, Cutler is seemingly at his worst when he's deliberating in the pocket. The game moves too fast at this level.


Earlier in practice, Cutler was showing Hester how to fix a poorly run route after an incompletion. It wasn't a pat on the butt, but rather expressive, instructional body language. That's what Lovie Smith likes to see.


"He's in the position now where we need a guy like to him to help the receivers come along," Smith said.


Aside from his passing, Cutler looks like he's in great shape, physically. His face is noticeably thinner, and can now apparently break out in a smile. I guess he's not loading up on the post-breakup gelato. What's his secret? Just sushi and eluding paparazzi?


"Just ran a little more, my diet was a lot different," he said. "Just standard stuff. I'm getting a little bit older so I gotta get in a little better shape."


Martz, who has done little but rave about his pupil in the last year, publicly at least, marveled at Cutler's improved footwork this week. In one of his few public critiques of Cutler last season, Martz discussed Cutler's footwork flaws before the NFC Championship Game.


"You can't go through a lifetime with those kinds of habits and fix them in one season," Martz said then.


So how did Cutler improve that aspect of his game without any contact with his coaches during the lockout?


"It's hard, but this system kind of requires it," he said. "If you can't do what he wants, it's going to be hard to be effective in this system. So you just have to think about it, really go back and look at yourself and break it down, step by step. We threw a lot this offseason with the guys, and they did a great job. And I came back in pretty good shape and it's paying off for me."


As for his exact method of improvement, Cutler's keeping it a secret.


"I like kind of keeping him on edge," Cutler said of Martz, with a genuine smile. "I'm not even going to tell him exactly what I did, so I can have that up on him, because he knows pretty much everything else."


Practice was a little rough as the newly-signed players were working for their first time after the CBA was officially approved by the union earlier in the day. Cutler's new target, Roy Williams could be a fan favorite with his blend of rare athleticism, or he could go in the tank, drop every third ball thrown his way, and be Carlos Boozer's successor as town goat.


Cutler is thinking positive.


"He's going to be dynamic for us," he said. "He's going to be good. He's very steady, very dynamic in his routes. You know where he's going to be. He knows the offense, I'm excited about him."


Cutler got some work behind his new offensive line as well, and if Julius Peppers and Co. were allowed to hit the quarterback, it might have gotten ugly. Roberto Garza was Cutler's center, as Olin Kreutz looks for work elsewhere.


For all the talk about footwork and big targets, the play of the line will ultimately decide the direction Cutler's career takes this year.


"We've got four guys who have played a significant amount of football for us," Cutler said. "You add one new guy at right tackle and he's [the] first-round pick, so we're expecting big things out of him. Those guys, I think they might surprise some people."


Like I said, training camp is for the believers.

Jon Greenberg is a columnist for ESPNChicago.com.

Cutler on-target again in Bears' practice

By Mark Potash on August 5, 2011 12:13 AM| 1 Comment| No TrackBacks

You didn't have to wait to see the film to know that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is making progress in training camp.

Cutler completed 14-of-18 passes in the ''team'' portion of practice at training camp Thursday night at Olivet Nazarene University. He completed passes to nine receivers -- Earl Bennett (twice), Roy Williams (twice), Johnny Knox (twice), Devin Hester (twice), Matt Forte, Chester Taylor (twice), Dane Sanzenbacher, Kellen Davis and Eddie Williams. He threw one interception -- a downfield pass that was deflected by wide receiver Sam Hurd and picked off by safety Craig Steltz.

Like many teammates on offense, Cutler said the comfort level in the second season of Mike Martz's offense is making a difference. ''It's Year Two, so it's completely different. It's night and day,'' Cutler said. ''I feel more comfortable with the reads and where I'm going with the ball. It's just a matter of getting the offense line worked out, and giving me and the receivers time.''

Cutler's best play Thursday was a thread-the-needle pass to Devin Hester over the middle that looked like it would have gone for a 46-yard touchdown. Training camp, especially this early, is generally not the place to make judgments. But that dart to Hester was a mid-season-form pass play -- a small, but not insignificant indication of things to come.

''Today was a little bit rough, with the new guys and kind of starting over,'' Cutler said. ''But the last five practices have been extremely sharp. Devin Hester is having an unbelievable - unbelievable - camp. Johnny, Earl. Matt Forte looks great. We have a strong core of guys and we add some of these new guys in there, it should make us better.''

The offensive line will be a big factor in Cutler's success, but he said he was not concerned about the state of flux with the line. Center Olin Kreutz is gone. Roberto Garza currently has moved from right guard to center. And Lance Louis is at right guard. Rookie Gabe Carimi is starting at right tackle.

''Roberto is going to center now. But he's been there. He knows what we want. Lance played a lot for us last year. Gabe has to come along pretty quickly. He's doing really well for us.

''We've got four guys that have been in there and played a significant amount of football for us. We added one new guy at right tackle. But he's a first-round pick, so we're expecting a lot of big things out of him. But those guys, I think they might surprise some people.''

Same old story. Cutler progresses but will his Oline give him time to use those improvements in his game? I underlined the phrase about Hester gathering in that deep pass while playing IN THE SLOT so maybe just maybe Martz has been reading our posts, LOL.

Originally Posted by soulman

Article updated: 8/5/2011 12:44 AM
Bears QB Jay Cutler comfortable with Mike Martz’s system

• Article
• Comments (0)
• Photos (1)

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says he has a newfound comfort level with Mike Martz’s offense.
Associated Press

1 of 1

• http://dailyherald.com/article/20110...rts/708059930/

By Bob LeGere


Can't seem to get these Daily Herald articles to copy completely so I've posted the link to it.

Here it is:

Article updated: 8/5/2011 12:44 AM
Bears QB Jay Cutler comfortable with Mike Martz’s system

• Article
• Comments (0)
• Photos (1)

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says he has a newfound comfort level with Mike Martz’s offense.
Associated Press

1 of 1

View other photograph collections


text size: AAA

• Share Facebook Twitter
• E-mail
• Order reprint
• Print

By Bob LeGere


BOURBONNAIS — After only five training camp practices, and despite no off-season, quarterback Jay Cutler already has noticed a greater familiarity and level of comfort with Mike Martz’s offense in his second year in the system.
“It’s completely different,” Cutler said after Thursday night’s practice under cooler and much less humid conditions than the first four practices. “It’s night and day. You get a lot more comfortable with the reads and where I’m going with the ball. It’s just a matter of getting the offensive line worked out and getting the timing between me and the receivers. We’re kind of playing catch-up, we don’t really have a lot of time with no OTA’s (organized team activities prior to training camp). We’ve got to make it happen pretty quick.”
Advertisement

Cutler says he spent a lot of time in the off-season fine-tuning his footwork because it’s essential for success in Martz’s system, and the Bears’ offensive coordinator noticed the improvement from Day One. But Martz admitted he had no idea how Cutler was able to make the improvement on his own — and Cutler’s not saying.
“I like kind of keeping him on edge,” the QB said. “I’m not going to tell him exactly what I did, just so that I might have that up on him, because he knows pretty much everything else.”
Hits keep coming:
Marion Barber’s violent running style was on display early in Thursday night’s practice.
On the same play, in 9-on-7 inside run drill, Barber initiated and got the better of a pad-popping collision with 292-pound tackle Amobi Okoye, bounced off and was rocked by sixth-round rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas.
“I told Marion he was good,” said Okoye, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft. “When I get my legs back I’ll be ready for him. Next time he’s going to be going backwards.”
That set the tone for a practice that seemed more upbeat with 16 free agents, including Okoye and Barber, on the field for the first time.
“Marion Barber, in the first 9-on-7 drill, showed up,” coach Lovie Smith said. “A guy like Marion Barber stepping in and setting the tempo early, all of that has to help.”
Inside job:
Training camp still isn’t a week old, but already Henry Melton has made his presence felt, flashing quickness and the ability to get to the quarterback from the 3-technique tackle spot.
Melton seemed out of place inside last season because he was listed at just 260 pounds, but in limited snaps he had 2½ sacks, fourth best on the team. This season, Melton is listed at 295 pounds, and he doesn’t appear to have lost any of the quickness that allowed him to play in 25 games at Texas as a running back. He was drafted as a defensive end, where he started 10 games for the Longhorns, but the Bears’ coaching staff quickly identified him as a player who could have a pass-rush presence inside by using his quickness against bigger guards and centers.
“I’m not saying he’s not a fit at end,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “But what you look for inside is movement and speed. He’s filled out, but he’s got tailback speed. I like guys inside a little bit shorter (because) your natural knee bend is a little bit easier. And he’s an athlete who can bend. It’s about the speed and quickness over a guard because you have to win inside. I want to keep him inside.”
One way to go:
In his second season as offensive coordinator Mike Martz “absolutely” expects to see improvement on his side of the ball despite the absence of an off-season.
“There are a lot of things that we learned last year, and resolving the offensive line is an issue, getting that kind of stabilized. There’s a lot of positive things going into the season where we would expect to be much better and become a much better football team on offense than what we were last year.”
The offense was 30th in total yards last season, 28th in passing yards and 32nd in sacks allowed.
Follow Bob’s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.

Originally Posted by soulman

Same old story. Cutler progresses but will his Oline give him time to use those improvements in his game? I underlined the phrase about Hester gathering in that deep pass while playing IN THE SLOT so maybe just maybe Martz has been reading our posts, LOL.

I read the articles, especially the first one, and the part about the offensive line scares me. We did nothing to improve it this season, and I mean nothing aside from drafting Carimi. Carimi has to grow up quickly because a lot is on the line. I don't know how we're going to fair this season because quite frankly, this offensive line looks like it could actually be worse than last year's. If that's the case, then Jerry Angelo needs to be fired for his lack of activity.

If JA has yet to figure it out that the OLine will determine how our offense is going to perform, than he should be escorted out of Bourbonnais. If we can't get Jay time to throw the football and make a hole for Matt or Marion to run through then he didn't do his job. In all honesty I feel like Roberto Garza should go back to guard and Chris Spencer needs to be the starting center or we could really be in trouble.

As much as I wish we had Olin back, there were times last season he didn't look very good. I hope Spencer plays well to win the job as I don't think Garza is meant to snap the football.

The only way we'll know is seeing game action. Here's to Bears football

BEARDOWN

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I read the articles, especially the first one, and the part about the offensive line scares me. We did nothing to improve it this season, and I mean nothing aside from drafting Carimi. Carimi has to grow up quickly because a lot is on the line. I don't know how we're going to fair this season because quite frankly, this offensive line looks like it could actually be worse than last year's. If that's the case, then Jerry Angelo needs to be fired for his lack of activity.

Originally Posted by CNYBearFan54

If JA has yet to figure it out that the OLine will determine how our offense is going to perform, than he should be escorted out of Bourbonnais. If we can't get Jay time to throw the football and make a hole for Matt or Marion to run through then he didn't do his job. In all honesty I feel like Roberto Garza should go back to guard and Chris Spencer needs to be the starting center or we could really be in trouble.

As much as I wish we had Olin back, there were times last season he didn't look very good. I hope Spencer plays well to win the job as I don't think Garza is meant to snap the football.

The only way we'll know is seeing game action. Here's to Bears football

BEARDOWN

Well I won't say that we didn't try to improve the Oline in FA but we went bust doing it. Personally I think JA went about it wrong. If he and Tice were so high on Webb shifting to LT, and owing to the fact that we drafted a LT with out first pick, then why make another LT (Bushrod) you're number one target? We wanted OT's who could play OG and that isn't Bushrod but it is Willie Colon. We offered him more $$$ than the Steelers but where we made our mistake was by not making him our number one target as opposed to Bushrod.

So instead of going about it like we did when we landed Peppers last year we allowed the Steelers the advantage of telling Willie that he was wanted more in Pittsburgh than he was in Chicago and he came back for a reported $3 mil less than the Bears offered. By this time two other OT/OG prospects, Yanda and Clabo, had either re-signed or were committed to their former teams and apparently no one else was of much interest because we pursued no one after that.

Compared to the surety of getting a very good, experienced, vet RT who could easily have been moved to RG we swung for the fences with a younger LT who may well be one of the best in the game by this time next year. I think this is one of those times when JA's arrogance got in his way. Instead of choking up a little bit and hitting a single to move the runner up he swung from the heels for that walk off homer.....................and missed.

With apologies to Ernest Thayer; "There is no joy in Bearsville, hapless Jerry has struck out."

If Spaeth and Carimi play well, + Webb and Williams improve,the Oline will be better. How much better remains to be seen. Like the rest of you yeah I wish JA had found at least 1 more quality lineman. But I'm not as pessimistic cuz i think there will be improvement. I could be wrong, I could be right. These are the cards we have and yeah it looks like a bunch of Jacks; but if a couple turn into Queens, Kings or ( dare I say it ) even Aces they should be good enough. But as usual the D is gonna be what keeps us in games.