Is Cutler-Gase the duo the Bears have been waiting for?

BOURBONNAIS - Stop me if you've heard this one before: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has finally been paired with an offensive coordinator who can fully tap into his vast potential.

That was the buzz under coordinators Ron Turner, Mike Martz, Mike Tice and Aaron Kromer.

This time around it's Adam Gase, who will try to do what none of his predecessors could - get Cutler to play at a level commensurate with his draft status, No. 11 overall in 2006.

Cutler has compiled the two highest passer ratings of his nine-year career the past two seasons, 89.2 in 2013 and 88.6 last year. But his play always seems to leave fans, coaches and teammates wanting more.

As John Fox's offensive coordinator in Denver, Gase masterminded an offense that led the NFL with 34.0 points per game, 430.1 total yards per game and 315.8 passing yards per game over the previous two seasons. In 2013, the Broncos set an NFL record with 606 points - but that was with Peyton Manning at the controls.

Although the Gase-Cutler collaboration is in its early stages, the 37-year old coordinator already has been impressed by the 32-year-old quarterback's smarts.

"His intelligence (is) way better than what I thought," Gase said after Wednesday's practice, his first and only training camp meeting with the media. "His ability to communicate with his teammates (is possible) because he's further ahead (in learning the playbook) than everybody else. He's able to get our wideouts on the same page."

Though Cutler's skill set is completely different from Manning's, the Bears' QB believes Gase's system is universally beneficial to any pro-style passer.

"Any quarterback is going to be happy with him," Cutler said. "He does a really good job putting you in the right position, keeping the defense off balance and mixing up the play calls. That makes it easier on the quarterback."

Cutler has had notable communication breakdowns and malfunctions with past coordinators.

There was Cutler cursing out Mike Martz loud enough for it to be picked up on the television broadcast. Then there was the quarterback turning his back on and walking away from Mike Tice along the sideline. And, of course, there was Kromer ripping Cutler to a member of the national media and then tearfully apologizing.

Cutler says Gase has taken great care to keep the lines of communication open.

"He does an exceptional job making sure the quarterbacks are comfortable, making sure him, (quarterbacks coach) Dowell (Loggains) and myself are all on the same page when we go on the field," Cutler said. "He doesn't want to call a play and have me not know why he's called that play. We have a lot of dialogue in making sure we're all on the same page."

The Bears averaged 594 passes the previous two seasons and 379.5 runs, and a more balanced attack is expected this year.

That pass-happy attack of the past two seasons didn't work out well for the Bears or Cutler, who led the NFL with 24 turnovers last year and tied for the most interceptions with 18.

Fox and Gase have vowed to run more and run more effectively, and Cutler's on board.

"It (would) help every quarterback across the league," Cutler said in regards to a more balanced attack. "Everyone wants to have some sort of balance. It gives you friendlier coverages. You see less blitzes. It's going to make your life a little bit easier. Adam's aware of that. I know coach Fox preaches it as well."

Keeping Cutler clean in the pocket is another priority this season, after he was sacked 38 times last season, tied for the second most in his nine-year career. One way to achieve that is to make the pocket more difficult for pass rushers to locate. Moving the pocket is another tactic that's been paid lip service to over the years but has never been a significant part of the passing game.

"It's something we need to do more," Cutler said. "I know Adam likes moving the pocket. If you're able to do it, it makes calling plays a little bit easier because you're able to move that launch point from time to time."

Maybe, finally, Gase can help launch Cutler's career on the trajectory that's been expected but rarely fulfilled in six previous seasons in Chicago.

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