Quarterback Jay Cutler spent part of his Tuesday afternoon going over nearly every change and new face that will be part of the Bears’ offense.
He highlighted his close connection with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, praised receiver Kevin White, expressed faith in an offensive line that will feature three new starters and commended the signing of veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer.
But Cutler’s best — and perhaps most telling — comments were about the defensive players he’s facing at Halas Hall.
“Just going against these guys, it’s a different group, it’s a much different group,” Cutler said after the first day of minicamp. “They’re faster. They’re quicker. They have a confidence about them. Just going against them, from my perspective, it seems like night and day from last year.”
Consider Cutler’s praise proof that the defense can be as good as it looks on paper. It has become a noticeably fast, brash bunch that will loudly bark at offensive players during and after plays.
And that’s without fiery outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who has been sidelined during the offseason program after undergoing knee surgery.
Last year, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio fielded a surprisingly capable group that improved from 30th in total defense in 2014 to 14th in 2015, marking the third-best turnaround in team history.
Now Fangio has better pieces, and the offense, which has its own changes to work out, has taken notice.
“They’re definitely a bunch of good football players,” right guard Kyle Long said. “They’ve been making plays. Vic’s got his guys ready to roll.”
“The defense has gotten so much better just by the additions that we’ve made,” veteran receiver Eddie Royal added.
Royal is talking about the arrivals of inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman and defensive end Akiem Hicks. It also helps having outside linebackers Willie Young and Lamarr Houston healthy and second-year defensive tackle Eddie Goldman in better shape.
Trevathan and Freeman, in particular, have added an element that wasn’t present last year when Shea McClellin and Christian Jones took over as the starting inside linebackers at this point last year. Not only are they more experienced, but they’ve changed the defense’s demeanor.
“There’s a little more swagger that they’re bringing,” veteran cornerback Tracy Porter said. “Those guys bring in a little more savvy as well. Overall, the competition they bring to pick up the defense is outstanding. I like having those guys in the front seven.”
What does that mean for Cutler and the offense?
“They’re going to help us out — get some short fields, get some turnovers [and] put some pressure on us to do our job on offense,” Cutler said.
Complementary football remains the goal under coach John Fox. Cutler is vital, but his individual play, won’t be as critical as it was under for former coach Marc Trestman.
In 2015, the offense didn’t complement the defense well enough. The offense — despite Cutler having his most efficient season — settled for 33 field goals from Robbie Gould, which was a new franchise record.
“We’ve got to be better than last year, that’s for sure,” Cutler said. “That’s what we tell the guys even though we are in Year 2, and we’ve got some new pieces out here. We didn’t turn this offense over. We have the same terminology, same stuff. We’ve got to improve in the direction we want to go.”
The defense seems to be.
