National Football League

Bears expert: QB Jay Cutler will be more than just a game manager

Published May. 21, 2015 9:40 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Chicago Bears are ushering in a new scheme under head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, and their primary objective is to improve Jay Cutler's quarterbacking.

Does that mean the new coaching staff has plans to turn him into a game manager?

Absolutely not, Bears analyst Hub Arkush answered when a fan asked him that question.

"Clearly they will place an emphasis on cutting down the turnovers," Arkush wrote at ChicagoFootball.com, "but 'game manager' portends a scaled back West Coast scheme in which you run the ball 50 percent of the time and passes rarely go more than 5-to-10 yards down the field. That is not the best way to use Cutler’s strengths and it's not Gase’s background."

Arkush also mentioned that pulling back the reins on Cutler wouldn't make for the best use of 2015 first-round pick Kevin White, a speedy receiver who can stretch the field.

Never mind the fact that Cutler threw a career-high 28 touchdowns last season. Those scores were overshadowed by his ball-security issues in 2014 (18 interceptions, 12 fumbles). As Arkush mentions, the turnovers must be cleaned up before Cutler can thrive in the new offense.

(h/t Chicago Football)

Photo Credit: Rob Grabowski/USA TODAY Sports