4 Downs with Mike Ditka: Coach defends Jay Cutler

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Each week throughout the NFL season, the Chicago Sun-Times chats with former Bears coach Mike Ditka on four topics. His thoughts:

1. It’s only one game, but do you see a difference in the Bears’ approach and attitude?

They played one of the top three teams in the league in Green Bay. And they could have beaten them. So, that shows they’re on the right track and doing the right things. I like what I saw.

You never like to lose. I don’t care who you lose to or how you lose, whether it’s by one point or twenty points, it’s never any fun. But I think if you can ever get confidence out of a loss, you can get confidence out of that one.

2. Just when you think Jay Cutler has turned a corner he throws a Cutler-esque interception. Will he ever earn the respect of the media, fans and, more importantly, his coaches and teammates?

[Listen to Ditka’s answer in video]

Share Events on The Cube3. Did you like Vic Fangio’s defense?

I really did. Very impressive. Last year they weren’t good on defense at all. They really weren’t, and I’m being polite. This year, they look like they know what they’re doing.

I look around the league, and I don’t see a lot of good defense being played. Maybe that’s because the offenses are so much better—there are so many different ways to attack people now. With these formations and skill players, it makes it very tough to play. You can’t play any conventional defense anymore. You almost have to play some nickel or dime package.

4. Adrian Peterson had a rough first game. Is he done?

I don’t care how great you were. Greatness is something you might reach, but if you want to sustain it, you have to do that by the way you play the game. I thought the Vikings were better than that, I really did. They just got out-physicaled by the 49ers.