Cutler's improvement more than just numbers for Chicago Bears

It's not just the numbers that say Jay Cutler is having the best season of his career.

It's also the intangibles.

"Probably decision-making," offensive coordinator Adam Gase says when asked where the Chicago Bears' quarterback has made the biggest gains in his 10th year in the league.

"I just see the way that he's decisive. He knows exactly where he's supposed to go with the ball."

While Cutler admittedly has benefited from the association with Gase and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, it's his ability to take charge in situations where he's on his own.

"The thing that's been most impressive," Gase said, "has been how he's controlled the line of scrimmage in the no-huddle setting. He's (put) his little twist on the way he wants to operate, his personality of what this offense is. His ability to get us out of bad plays has really improved."

Cutler's 92.3 passer rating is the highest of his career, and his interception rate of 1.8 percent also is his best. Factor in that Cutler has been operating with a diminished array of targets for most of the season and his numbers are more impressive.

Go-to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery already has missed five games and is doubtful Sunday. The other starter, Eddie Royal, has missed six. No. 3 wideout Marquess Wilson is on injured reserve and will miss the final five games.

Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett also is on I.R. and will wind up missing five of the last six games.

But Cutler was noncommital when asked if he considers this his best season.

"It's a combination of a lot of things," he said. "Adam and Dowell have done a good job with this offense and play-calling and putting us in good positions. Even though we've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, when they're in the lineup, guys are doing the right things."

Cutler's history suggests he has little patience for what he considers dumb mistakes, but he says that hasn't been an issue this year, despite the revolving door of players at key positions.

"There's accountability across the offense, and that makes my job easier," he said. "Any time you've got 10 guys doing the right thing, it's a lot easier on the quarterback to do his job."

Among the knocks on Cutler over the years, poor mechanics always have been near the top. While Gase doesn't share those criticisms, he still believes that some fine-tuning has occurred.

"I guess I never had a problem with his mechanics," Gase said. "I think you grow as a football player the longer you do this. You take things from other people.

"I'm sure he had a list of things he wanted to tweak going into the season. He and Dowell sat down and had a small list of things they wanted to work on, and I think they've accomplished that."

More important than mechanical adjustments was the issue of turnovers. Last year Cutler had a league-worst 24 - 18 interceptions and 6 lost fumbles.

This season he has lost 5 fumbles and allowed 8 interceptions, leaving the Bears tied for seventh in lowest interception percentage. Gase credits Cutler's work with Loggains for the improvement.

"The main focus for us coming into the season was to make sure that we could cut back on the turnovers," Gase said. "I know (Cutler) wanted to make some strides in (avoiding fumbles), and they've done a great job working together, doing a good job of protecting the ball."

Cutler says he will wait until the season's over before assessing his own improvement.

"I think that's a question for a couple weeks after the season," he said. "Right now, I'm worried about Tampa Bay and finding things to beat them."

After that, Gase might be moving to bigger and better things as an NFL head coach, leading to questions about how well Cutler will work with what would be his sixth Bears offensive coordinator in eight years.

Gase isn't ready to answer those questions yet.

"I know I've got two games left in this regular season," he said. "So we'll worry about those two games right now."

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