Bears’ Hanie not trying to be Cutler

Caleb Hanie doesn’t have to be Jay Cutler.

Hanie became the Bears’ starting quarterback when Cutler suffered a fractured thumb Sunday, and he’s clear on his role.

“I’ve just got to do the things that the quarterback’s asked to do,” said Hanie, a 25-year-old, four-year veteran who has never started an NFL game.

“Jay does some special things with the ball. Not to say I’d make the same plays that he does, but I feel real confident in the way I play in this offense.

“As long as I stay within myself and the offense, I think we’ll be successful and keep the explosiveness (in the passing game) that we need to offset the running game.”

Cutler’s surgery Wednesday morning in Vail, Colo., was termed a success by the Bears, but he’s still expected to be out at least six weeks.

The last time Hanie played in a game that mattered was when he was tossed into last season’s NFC championship game after Cutler suffered a sprained knee and No. 2 QB Todd Collins was ineffective.

This time he will have a week to think about it, which may or may not be an advantage.

“Sometimes it’s better to be shocked and then, boom, you’re in the game and you don’t even have to think about it,” Hanie said. “(I) have the whole week to think about it now, so you get a little more nervous. But, if you prepare the right way, I feel like I’ll be very confident going into the game.”

Since Cutler became the Bears’ starter in 2009, he has grown into a leadership role, but it didn’t happen overnight. Hanie won’t be asked to assume that role immediately.

“We don’t need for him to be a leader,” wide receiver Roy Williams said. “We just need him to be a quarterback, and just guide this team to victory.

“We don’t need him to be the rah-rah guy. We don’t need any speeches. We just need him to go out there and hand the ball off and throw it. That’s all we need.”

For now, Hanie’s job is to be the caretaker for an offense that has scored 30 or more points in each of the past three games and six times this season and usually relies more heavily on running back Matt Forte than anyone else.

“I’m just going to try to be myself,” Hanie said. “I feel like I take control of the huddle, and I’m a vocal guy when I need to be. That’s my approach. Jay is a strong leader, and he’s grown into that role more this season.

“We expect him to be back. I’m just filling his shoes.”

Those are big shoes. Cutler played some of the best football of his six-year career in the previous six weeks, compiling passer ratings above 96.0 four times, while throwing 8 TD passes and just 3 interceptions and guiding the Bears on a five-game winning streak.

While Hanie has thrown just 14 regular-season passes in his career, he has been around long enough to learn offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system and give teammates confidence that he can fill in while Cutler’s away.

“We’ve seen what Caleb can do,” center Roberto Garza said. “We know he’s a talented player. He’s going to go out there and fill that role. We feel confident he’ll get it done this Sunday.

“He’s a competitor. We saw how competitive he was in that (NFC title) game. He brings a lot of energy to the huddle.”

Often when quarterbacks are thrust into the role Hanie’s being asked to play, they’re thought of as “game managers.” But that’s a term Hanie rejects because it implies a player who can only handle basic duties and lacks an ability to make plays.

“I definitely don’t want to be known as a game manager around the league,” Hanie said. “I feel like that just cements you in a backup role or a fill-in role for the rest of your career.

“I’m going to try to make plays. I’m not going to play scared, and I’m not going to play ultraconservative. On the flip side, I’m not going to play dumb. It’s a fine line between being conservative and making the plays that need to be made within the offense, and I’m going to try to find that.”

Despite Hanie’s lack of game experience, Bears coach Lovie Smith says he doesn’t feel the need to lead him by the hand every step of the way.

“I talked to Caleb (Wednesday) morning,” Smith said. “I (told) him, ‘I’m not going to have you in here every morning and talk, and see how you’re feeling and all this stuff.’ He’ll do a good job with what we ask him to do.”

Still, with his lack of game experience, there are questions about how Hanie will react Sunday.

“The biggest issue with him is being decisive and getting the ball out quick,” Martz said. “He’s worked hard at that, and that familiarity with what we’re doing takes time.

“Being in it now and watching games and being on the sideline and practicing and going through today’s practice, the ball came out very quickly.

“The things that we’re a little concerned about, he’s being able to resolve. He’s ready. I’m very excited and anxious to see him play. I think it’s going to be fun.”

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