Bears' Turner impressed with Cutler's leadership

It's already obvious that Jay Cutler brings to the Bears better physical skills than any quarterback in recent memory, but there's more to his skill-set than reading defenses, escaping the rush and throwing the deep ball.

He also has the intangibles that can make everyone around him better, according to offensive coordinator Ron Turner.

"If you get a quarterback in that huddle who's got confidence and is a tremendous leader and stays calm and all that, no question it's going to have a huge impact on everybody else," Turner said. "I believe you can be a good leader without great talent. Fortunately, he's got both. He's a very good leader and he's got the talent, so when he gets in the huddle, I think everybody immediately knows, 'Hey, if I do my job, if I get open, if I block my guy, he can make any throw there is to make and he can make plays.' And even if we don't do it, he can still do it."

Us against them: It seems no football coach can resist the opportunity to play the "disrespect," card to motivate his team, not even Lovie Smith.

Asked what he thought of the national publications that have predicted super things for the Bears, Smith demurred.

"That's not what I've seen," Smith said. "I know a couple people have picked us to go far. But the consensus that I've seen is the complete opposite. We're not the defending champion in our division. I've heard an awful lot about Green Bay. We're an afterthought right now, except for in Chicago. And we like it that way.

"I will use some of those (perceived slights), but not to really motivate us. I kind of go over what everybody is thinking about our club. But all of those publications and people's opinions don't really matter a lot. Now we get a chance to at least get a start on (finding out) who is the (best) team in the division and league coming up Sunday."

When Zack's back: Cornerback Zack Bowman had a better off-season and early training camp than almost any player. He was on the verge of winning a starting job, but then he missed about three weeks with a hamstring injury.

So what happens now that he's 100 percent?

"He's definitely in the mix," coach Lovie Smith said. "Just go back to everything that's been said about Zack and how he's performed since the off-season began. He's a good football player and we have great options right now. This is as deep as we've been in a while."

Trumaine McBride and Nate Vasher are still listed as the starters, but that will change, maybe as soon as Sunday, when Bowman could move into the starting lineup.

Mr. Versatility: All the injuries in the secondary have forced Corey Graham into a utility role.

Last year he started nine games at cornerback when Nate Vasher was injured. In the off-season he was initially moved to safety, but then was switched back to corner when Charles Tillman had back surgery in mid-June.

When Danieal Manning missed three weeks with a hamstring injury in the preseason, Graham took over his role as the nickel back in passing situations.

"Corey's in a position where he can play a lot of positions," coach Lovie Smith said. "Of course he's going to be a core special-teams player. He can play safety, he can play corner, he's played nickel, and he can play the dime (when the Bears go with six defensive backs)."

Graham has a team-best 34 special-teams tackles over the past two seasons.

Injury report: Cornerback Charles Tillman and wide receiver Devin Aromashodu were listed as questionable Friday, meaning there is a 50-50 chance they'll play. Defensive end Israel Idonije is probable (75 percent chance he'll play).

"It's a doctor's decision first," coach Lovie Smith said when asked about Tillman's' situation. "If the doctor says everything is a go, then we'll make sure the player feels comfortable with it, too."

Tillman said the biggest difference at Friday's practice is that he wasn't sore, as he was earlier in the week.

"It's really not about me pushing them to make me play," said Tillman, who had back surgery in mid-June and only returned to practice this week. "The doctor is going to make his decision regardless of what I say or what I do."