Martz likes Cutler and QB development

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz says he doesn't lose sleep over quarterback Jay Cutler facing an intense pass rush - or anything else.

"I never worry about him under pressure, or his ability to scramble," Martz said. "There's nothing about Jay that I worry about. I promise you. I just wish all of you could know him like I know him right now. Each day that I know him, and I know that this sounds syrupy and sappy and all that, but every day that I get to know him as a man and as a player, he's pretty unusual. He's got great character and class and dignity with the players."

There were concerns early on that Martz and Cutler would clash since both have strong personalities and opinions on how an offense should be run. So far there don't appear to be any problems with the arrangement. It's become a mutual admiration society.

"Professionally, he's trying to do everything just exactly the way we ask him to do it," Martz said. "He's brilliant. He's not smart; he's brilliant.

"He just gets it like that," Martz said, snapping his fingers. "I couldn't be more pleased with him. It's so much fun to come into work and work with him at putting this stuff in. We just need to smooth it out, get everyone consistent and we should be all right."

Martz has also been impressed with the play of 24-year-old backup Caleb Hanie. But Hanie's sprained right shoulder and the resultant signing of veteran backup Todd Collins has thrown the pecking order behind Cutler into question. Last season the Bears got by with Cutler and Hanie as the only quarterbacks active on game day. But Hanie may or may not be ready for the season opener, and the 38-year-old Collins may or may not have digested enough of the offense to play effectively.

"We'll face that week to week, one day at a time," Martz said. "Caleb was making such good progress, (but) we don't know where he is. (The injury) has interrupted it. Had he stayed healthy, I was pretty confident that he'd be a real good backup. But that kind of put a stick in the spokes. There are so many things that he has to get into a game and work through. That's what the preseason is for. So missing that is hard.

"That doesn't mean he can't do it and won't do it, but there are some things that you just need to be in a game and pick up. A veteran (already) has that exposure. But just like anything else, you can't have enough good quarterbacks. It's such a pivotal position for what we do and for what everybody does, really."

Rookie Dan LeFevour and fourth-year player Matt Gutierrez are also in the mix, although neither is expected to be on the final roster. But both are eligible for the practice squad.

Cutler said when the Bears initially went on a veteran quarterback search, after the first preseason game, that he didn't pay any attention to it and that he didn't need anyone other than Martz as a sounding board. But he's OK with the addition of Collins, a 16-year veteran.

"It's an interesting dynamic there, bringing him in, a guy that's been in the league a long time, has a great perspective on game weeks and how to prepare and stuff," Cutler said. "It's going to be a good addition for myself and for Caleb, helping him along in preparing for each game."