LeGere: Cutler learning new offense again

Quarterback Jay Cutler is just two months into the relationship with his fifth offensive coordinator since coming to the Bears in 2009, so it's too soon to tell if the current collaboration will succeed where others have failed.

Cutler fell short of expectations under previous Bears offensive coordinators Ron Turner, Mike Martz, Mike Tice and Aaron Kromer. Now it's Adam Gase's turn.

"Obviously I feel good about Adam Gase's ability," coach John Fox said. "We hired him. He's an outstanding coach. I've seen him operate before, as a coach and a play caller on game day. I think he'll help Jay, but you've still got to perform."

Cutler's performance as a Bear has been a disappointing mixed bag of inconsistency for the most part.

Last year was no different. His 88.6 passer rating was the second best of his career, but his 24 turnovers were the most in the NFL, and his 18 interceptions tied him with Philip Rivers for the most in the league.

Learning a fifth offense in his seventh season in Chicago won't help Cutler get off to a quick start, but he's had plenty of experience picking up new systems.

"You've got to try to forget the last one as quickly as possible and just wipe the slate clean," Cutler said. "Maybe I've gotten better at that over the years, maybe not.

"But I feel great about the offense we're in right now. I know the guys like it. I know the receivers like it. Marty (Bennett) is going to love it when he gets involved in it.

"We just have to keep heading in the direction we are going and keep studying. We're not where we want to be yet."

According to Fox, the early results on Cutler are encouraging, but no conclusions can be drawn this early in the process.

"What you ask guys is that they give you their best every day," Fox said. "That's in the meeting room, the conditioning room, on the field when you hit the grass.

"We're in a performance-based business, and you have to perform. But leading up to that, there's a lot that goes into it, and he's done everything we've asked."

The 32-year-old Cutler is just five years younger than Gase, and their paths crossed briefly in Denver just after Gase was hired as the Broncos' wide receivers coach and just before Cutler was traded to the Bears.

Wide receivers coach Mike Groh will be back for his third season with the Bears after he was retained from Marc Trestman's staff. And Cutler has been close with quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains for several years.

"I'm comfortable with these guys," Cutler said. "I've known some of these coaches throughout my career. They've had a lot of success in this league and they're trying to bring it here. I feel good about it.

"We have a great group of players on the field right now offensively, guys that mesh together. We're just trying to put it together."

Cutler's yearslong working relationship with wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Marquess Wilson, tight end Bennett and running back Matt Forte will ease the growing pains of learning a new system.

The most significant skill-position addition, wide receiver Eddie Royal, had the most productive season of his seven-year career when he was a rookie with the Broncos and Cutler was his quarterback.

"I don't have to worry about getting to know certain guys, how they like the ball, what they're good at and what they're not," Cutler said. "So we can concentrate on (learning) the offense and getting the terminology down and get going."

With Thursday's final minicamp practice concluding the off-season program, the learning process is temporarily on hold until July 29, when the Bears report for training camp.

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