Thread: Marshall-Cutler reunion a hit for Bears

Former Broncos teammates hook up for 9 passes, 119 yards, touchdown

By Fred Mitchell, Chicago Tribune reporter

6:21 p.m. CDT, September 9, 2012
The Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall aerial show was promoted heavily entering the season and Bears coach Lovie Smith acknowledged Sunday that it was "as good as advertised."

Marshall caught nine passes for 119 yards and one touchdown, reminiscent of the combo's prolific numbers together in Denver.

"We're trying to build a new thing here in Chicago," Marshall said of his debut with the Bears. "It's going to take a lot of hard work."

The Bears offense stumbled at the start of Sunday's 41-21 rout of the Colts at Soldier Field.

Cutler completed just one of his first 10 passes, including one that was intercepted by linebacker Jerrell Freeman and returned 4 yards for a score.

"It wasn't the start we wanted, but it was a great start to the season," Marshall said.

While Marshall was targeted 15 times, Cutler completed passes to six different receivers. Rookie wideout Alshon Jeffery caught three passes, including his first career touchdown, a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter.

"(Marshall) opens up the field a lot," Jeffery said. "All of us open the field for each other. ... They're going to defend who has the hot hand."

Earl Bennett, Matt Forte, Devin Hester and Kyle Adams also were on the receiving end of Cutler passes.

"It's going to be one guy one week, the next guy another week," said Hester, who had two catches for 27 yards.

"I get a lot of excitement when I see those guys going because I have seen a lot of double coverage," Marshall said. "And it's really hard to do that when you've got guys like Hester, Alshon and Earl on your side. I look forward to a lot of one-on-ones this year because it is impossible for (defenses) to do that with other guys on the other side of the ball."

Cutler, who completed 21 of 35 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, says he feels comfortable with multiple offensive weapons.

"I think Indy wasn't really scared of (Marshall)," Cutler said. "They were going to let him make plays and he was capable of making plays. They wanted to stop the run and they were going to play a little bit of man (defense) against us and try to beat us outside. The offensive line did a great job and held up."

The Bears wound up with 428 total yards as Forte rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown and Michael Bush ran for 42 and had a pair of short-yardage TDs.

"We have the pieces to be a great offense," Marshall said.




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