Jay Cutler knows that a local newspaper is charting his practice interceptions as a running gag. He also knows that he’s going to have a hard time reducing his interceptions in a Mike Martz offense.
“I’m going to throw some this year. I’m not going to lie about that. There are going to be some balls that are picked off. It’s part of the game. But we can’t worry about it,” Cutler said on ESPN Radio in Chicago, probably with one of his shrugs that drives sportswriters crazy.
Martz’s quarterbacks get sacked and they throw picks. Cutting down on interceptions is an important goal, but it’s easy to forget Kurt Warner once threw 40 in a two-year, 27-game span under Martz while playing on “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Martz’s timing offense is different than most.
“The guys are going to get knocked off routes, something is going to happen, the defender is going to get in the way, and the ball’s going to be gone,” Cutler said. “That’s part of this offense. It’s not a read and see what happens and let it fly, it’s a read and let it fly. So balls are going to be in the air.”
Bears fans may not love the attitude, but the key for Cutler is throwing more completions, more yards--per-attempt, and more touchdowns.
That usually happens in a Martz offense too.