It’s August, and everyone in the NFL is undefeated. That equals optimism, sometimes warranted and sometimes not.
That’s why it was interesting to see Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase being rather equivocal when asked if he was going to be the guy to tap into all that talent we’ve been hearing that quarterback Jay Cutler possesses.
“Right now, time will tell,” Gase said, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “If I knew what was going to happen, I’d play the lottery. Right now I don’t know.”
OK, then.
This came after a day of collapsing pockets and batted passes for Cutler, so perhaps it wasn’t the best time to judge. And with first-round wide receiver Kevin White still not out there practicing, it’s hard to get a full idea of what the offense might look like. Still, you sort of expect more than a shrug when a new coach is asked about an expensive quarterback.
Cutler has said he feels like he can communicate well with Gase, which seems natural given there’s only five years difference in their ages. And Gase was complimentary of Cutler’s athleticism and ability to make plays while rolling out, suggesting that was something they’d do more of.
“We all know that his athletic ability for a guy his size is pretty unique,” Gase said. “There are not a lot of guys like him. . . . With his ability to move outside the pocket, we really like what he has done so far and we will keep growing that package.”
And hopefully, they can build some confidence along the way.