Chicago Bears News: Jay Cutler, Kyle Long and Much More
Good morning, and welcome to the July 23rd edition of Bear Dawn; the latest Chicago Bears news and notes from around the web. Now officially less than one week until the team reports to training camp in Bourbonnais, news surrounding the Bears is about to heat up. Hang in there, this dead period is almost over. Overreactions, both good and bad, to camp performances will be here before you know it.
FEATURED POST ON BGO: Top Ten Questions Facing the Bears in 2015
Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune primes us for Training Camp with a look at the quarterback position. The first interesting part of the piece that caught my attention was Campbell claiming that, “the group of skill-position players around Cutler may be stronger than it ever has been.”
While that may seem a bit odd with Brandon Marshall no longer running routes for the team, the Bears’ combination of Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Kevin White will combine for the strongest three-man WR set that we have seen in a long time. Campbell also had some interesting takes on quarterback Jay Cutler and his relationship with offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
"“Adam Gase is a proven game planner and play-caller. Having worked with quarterback Peyton Manning and a loaded Broncos receiving corps the last two seasons, he understands how to manipulate defenses and exploit favorable matchups. Gase came to Chicago in January determined to elevate Cutler’s game. Their relationship evolved and strengthened during the offseason as they dug into the new offense.Gase is open to analyzing what Cutler does well and maximizing those concepts. Plus, the Bears want to run the ball, an approach they abandoned in 2014 to Cutler’s detriment.”"
That last note there is the most promising part in my eyes. Gase and head coach John Fox seem committed to running the ball to keep the pressure off of Cutler. Marc Trestman refused to run the ball with any sort of consistency last season, and Cutler’s play suffered because of it.
With an impressive set of receivers, a commitment to running the ball and a proven offensive system coming in, it will be up to Cutler to get better this season. Everything is in place for him to succeed.
Rick Morrissey of the Sun-Times refuses to be fooled by a new Cutler this season. “The Bears report to training camp next Wednesday,” Morrissey wrote. “The world will stop, time will stand still and Jay Cutler will attempt a smile, signaling 18 more days of camp. He will then return to his burrow.”
"“I am making a plea to writers, broadcasters and anyone else who comes to Bourbonnais to do a story on Cutler: Please do not tell us that he is a new man. Please do not tell us that he is more mature, that he has a new outlook, that fatherhood has changed him or that he lives in a new place called Serenity. Please do not tell us what you’ve been trying to tell us every camp the past six years.” “Even if the changed-man angle had been accurate in the past, it certainly didn’t help his performance on the football field. The New Jay always seems to give the ball away like the Old Jay. So who cares if he now likes long walks on the beach?”"
A bit of a cynical look from Morrissey here, but he is right. With a new system in place, stories of Cutler being happier than ever before will certainly pop up, and they will be annoying per usual. I am with Morrissey, after being burned many times in the past, I am not buying the happiness of Cutler this season.
More from Chicago Bears News
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com continues his ranking of the best players on the Bears’ roster, with offensive lineman Kyle Long checking in at number three. Dickerson’s 2015 outlook on Long:
“The Bears experimented with Long at right and left tackle near the end of the offseason program, but did not reveal whether the move is permanent. Long is likely to move to tackle at some point in his career, but Chicago is probably better off keeping Long inside at guard this upcoming fall,” Dickerson wrote.
“The fear is that if Chicago places Long at tackle before he’s ready the team could end up weakening two positions. But no matter where Long plays, he is expected to be the best offensive lineman on the club’s 2015 roster. Long should also assume a larger leadership role on the line after the team cut ties in the offseason with veteran center Roberto Garza.”
If the Bears do move Long to tackle this season, something that I am a firm believer in, who covers for him at right guard? Bleacher Report’s Matt Eurich looks at the primary candidates.
Luis Tirado Jr. questions whether 2015 will be Matt Forte‘s last season with the Bears for NFL Spin Zone. I lean towards the camp that believes Forte will not return next season, but I could certainly see the team coming to an agreement with him on a very short-term deal.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. of Windy City Gridiron does an overall look at the tight end position.
The ChicagoFootball.com Bear Necessities countdown continues, with defensive lineman Jay Ratliff checking in as the third most important player on the Bears’ roster. Arthur Arkush has the profile on Ratliff.
Next: Who Makes the Bears All-Decade Team for the 2000s?