Durkin: 'It Starts With Me,' Cutler Says
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) While he didn't spell out R-E-L-A-X to the Bears' shaken fan base, quarterback Jay Cutler did show some contrition while addressing the media during Thursday's press conference.
"I'm sure Krome (offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer) touched on it, I'm sure Trest (head coach Marc Trestman) touched on it, we've been over it all in meetings, we just have to get better, and it starts with me," Cutler said.
That's an accurate understatement from Cutler, considering the offense hasn't scored a single first-quarter point in four straight games or run a play in their opponent's territory until the second quarter in three straight games.
"We have to get better, I have to get better," Cutler said. "That's just kind of the focus right now, finding every little thing that I can get better at to try to win a ballgame."
Specifically, Cutler needs to be smarter with the football, as his 15 turnovers lead the league and have directly led to 65 points for Bears' opponents. Given the fact that the defense is giving up nearly 31 points a game, giving extra possessions to opposing offenses is a losing proposition.
Given their struggles to move the ball -- particularly early in games -- the Bears are dealing with a crisis of confidence in what they do and the plays that are called. Do they resort back to their default setting to get back on track, or is it time to open up pages of the playbook they've yet to show in games?
That's the dilemma Cutler and Co. are discussing in meeting rooms.
"Trest said, 'We're not going to change just for change,'" Cutler said. "There are times where you say, 'Hey, we need some new plays, we've got to find some new stuff, let's get try to get some guys open different ways.' There's some stuff we would watch on film and even when we're struggling, we're still getting guys open, we're still doing good things. I think it's a little bit of both. You try to sprinkle some new things in there to freshen it up. Some of the stuff we've been running since Trest got here, it still works, we've just got to run it better."
What keeps Cutler going through the tough times is the bond he shares with the teammates he goes to battle with every week, he said.
"I love playing with the guys in my huddle, so that's what gets me through it," Cutler said. "Not letting those guys down and each day coming to work and knowing that they're doing everything possible for us trying to win a ballgame, so I need to do the same."
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
