Cutler-Bates reunion could be a concern

My alarms go off every time Bears quarterback Jay Cutler praises new QBs coach Jeremy Bates.

He did it again Monday on ESPN 1000’s “The Waddle and Silvy Show.”

“Very happy, very happy,” Cutler said of his feelings toward the Bates hire.

The marriage does seem perfect. Actually it’s their second marriage to each other after Bates was Cutler’s quarterback coach in 2008.

“I’ve been a fan of him since I left Denver (in 2009),”Cutler said, “and when I left Denver I told him, ‘Somewhere down the line, I hope we get to work together again.’”

Again arrived earlier this month when Bates was brought in to work under Mike Tice, who was promoted from offensive-line coach to offensive coordinator.

“This is a good situation for both of us,” Cutler said, meaning Bates and him.

So what’s my concern? Well, it’s whether the situation will turn out to be as good for Tice.

Pretty much everything the Bears do is a concern because very little fits in this franchise. Too often this coach doesn’t fit with that coach and that coach doesn’t fit with this player.

So far Cutler has been respectful of Tice, his third coordinator since the Bears acquired him from Denver three seasons ago, though not as vocally enthusiastic as he is about Bates.

The fear — mine and apparently nobody else’s at this early stage of their alliance — is that Tice becomes isolated.

Cutler and Bates are strong-minded guys, which is a mere snarl and grunt this side of hardheaded.

Bates is a relatively young coach but also relatively experienced. His most recent NFL job was as offensive coordinator for the Seahawks.

That lasted one season, and not a particularly successful one for Seattle’s offense, before Bates was dismissed.

Certainly, though, Bates must believe he knows something about the offensive side of the ball.

Then there’s Cutler, who chafed at times under the control of previous Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Then there’s Tice, a former tight end who appreciates the running game and will be calling plays for the first time in the NFL.

Remember, Tice was the Bears’ offensive-line coach for two seasons, and offensive linemen love to strap it on, kick the dirt and run block the snot out of opponents.

Tice has said that he will design the offense to accommodate his talented quarterback. However, it’s unreasonable to think that he will have the art of playcalling mastered from the start.

It likely will take awhile for Tice to get a feel for the job, awhile for the offense to get into a rhythm and not long for Cutler/Bates to grow impatient.

What’s to say that Cutler and Bates don’t privately roll their eyes at some of the plays that Tice is partial to?

Heck, what’s to say that they won’t publicly express their own preferences when they conflict with Tice’s?

Taking it to an extreme, what’s to say that Cutler and Bates won’t attempt to execute a Halas Palace coup for more control of the offense?

Maybe if that doesn’t even cross the minds of Cutler and Bates, well, maybe Tice will wonder whether it has.

All this is wild speculation on my part, but that’s what happens when a franchise hasn’t done enough in recent years to inspire much faith.

To be fair, as of now let’s assume the Tice-Cutler-Bates partnership will balance out into a love triangle.

To be honest, however, it’ll be interesting to see how it evolves.

mimrem@dailyherald.com