Loggains eager to build on success of Chicago Bears' offense

The Bears' offense under Dowell Loggains won't deviate much from when Adam Gase was calling the shots last year, and the new offensive coordinator is eager to continue his successful work with quarterback Jay Cutler.

"The shell of the offense will stay the same," said Loggains, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach after Gase left to become the Miami Dolphins' head coach. "It's been the same since coach (John) Fox has been a head coach. The language and everything will be the same, but it will evolve like it would have if Adam would have been here."

Loggains looks forward to a second year of working with Cutler and having wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White on the field together - a luxury Gase never enjoyed. White, the seventh overall draft pick in 2015, missed his entire rookie season after having surgery for stress fractures in his left shin.

"We're excited about those two," Loggains said on the first day of this weekend's rookie minicamp. "I can't wait to get them both on the field at the same time. Both of those guys are working their tails off to get out there together."

Even though the Bears are four weeks into their off-season program, and White appears to be fully recovered, the projected top two wide receivers haven't been together at Halas Hall. Jeffery, a Pro Bowl pick in 2014, has skipped the voluntary portion of the program, which Loggains says isn't a big problem.

"The effect is that someone else is getting an opportunity to get some reps, and that's a good thing," Loggains said. "We all wish Alshon was here. We're in constant communication with him. He knows how we feel about the situation and him. But it is an opportunity for some of these different receivers that we like to get opportunities, and we'll find out more about them."

Jeffery signed his franchise tag tender, which guarantees him $14.6 million this season, although the Bears say both sides are continuing to talk about a long-term deal.

"I'm not concerned about that," Loggains said of Jeffery's absence. "We're excited to get him back when he shows up."

Though it's early in the off-season, Loggains is encouraged by everything he has seen from White. Coaches can be on the field with players at this stage of the program but the offense and defense aren't permitted to face off.

"I can tell you about (White's) character, and he's everything that we expected," Loggains said. "He's a hard worker. His attitude is contagious because he's very positive; he doesn't have bad days."

The most important common denominator with last season and next season is Cutler, and Loggains' relationship with the quarterback made him a logical choice to succeed Gase.

"I thought he did a tremendous job," Fox said of Loggains' work with Cutler. "Most offenses come through the quarterback, so that relationship is important. I saw tremendous growth in Jay, and that was with a pretty depleted group of receivers."

Jeffery and Eddie Royal both missed seven games in 2015, and Marquess Wilson and tight end Martellus Bennett both missed five games.

"Hopefully we developed a little bit with the supporting cast, which is important for any quarterback," Fox said.

Statistically, last year was the best of Cutler's 10 NFL seasons.

"I'm looking forward to coaching him every day and continuing the process we've made," Loggains said. "But we definitely could be better. I think it's a mutual respect. I respect him, and he respects me. Whatever I say to him, he knows where it's coming from and vice versa."

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