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Cutler, Marshall surprised by Allen hit

Having played against Jared Allen twice a year in the AFC West, Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall agreed that the cheap shot the Vikings defensive end delivered last Sunday was out of character.

On Antoine Winfield’s interception return early in the second half, Allen launched himself into the head of Bears guard Lance Louis, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play. The NFL has reportedly fined Allen $21,000 for the illegal hit.

“He’s not that type of player,” Cutler said. “I was surprised by it, to be honest. He’s not that type of guy. He plays extremely hard. He usually does things the right way. I’ve always respected him. It kind of caught me off guard.

“You look at the play and he hit him in the head. He did all of the things he shouldn’t do. Whether there’s a fine, it’s going to be up to the league office. But I don’t think it’s indicative of the player or person he is.”

As Broncos teammates, Cutler and Marshall played two games a year in 2006-07 against Allen, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs before being traded to the Vikings in 2008.

“He has always been a competitor and a good sport, so that shocked me seeing that play,” Marshall said. “I know he plays aggressive and he plays physical, so I wasn’t surprised by him cracking back. But to launch at Lance’s head, that was a little shocking.”

On Monday, coach Lovie Smith and defensive end Israel Idonije called the block “unnecessary.”

Cutler misses practice due to concussion

Jay Cutler’s status for Monday night’s game in San Francisco remains uncertain after he was held out of practice Thursday due to the concussion he sustained in last Sunday night’s loss to the Texans.

“I know you have a lot of Jay Cutler questions, but there’s not a whole lot I can say except for—as I said yesterday—he’s getting better,” said coach Lovie Smith. “I don’t know if he’ll be able to go this week or not. He did not practice today and that’s about all I can really tell you.”

Cutler, who must be cleared by Bears doctors and an independent neurological consultant before he can participate in practice or a game, has improved each day this week.

“He’s feeling better and it normally goes like that,” Smith said. “You get better each day with an injury, with just how you’re feeling. That’s why you’re optimistic and you have to take it each day, and we’re hopeful tomorrow he’ll be better than he is today.”

Like Cutler, defensive end Shea McClellin did not practice Thursday after suffering a concussion against the Texans. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (calf) also sat out. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand) was limited and defensive tackle Henry Melton (back) practiced without restrictions.

The Bears are hoping that Jeffery will be able to play after missing the last four games.

“He’s a good football player,” Smith said. “He was really playing good football for us when he went down. I know we can’t wait to get him out there. As you look at the timetable that we kind of had in mind when he went down, this is getting about close to that time, so we’re hopeful. We could use him.”

Marshall says Cutler has ‘clutch gene’

Receiver Brandon Marshall solicited nicknames from the Chicago media Wednesday to describe Jay Cutler’s ability to perform at a high level late in games.

The Bears quarterback leads the NFL with a fourth-quarter passer rating of 132.0, ahead of the Broncos’ Peyton Manning (119.6) and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (110.6).

“A couple weeks ago I was trying to figure out a name,” Marshall said. “I texted him over a few nicknames like ‘The Closer’ and ‘Ace.’ I’m trying to figure out a nickname for him, so if you guys can help me out, I’d appreciate it. Jay’s one of those guys where he has that clutch gene. You hear guys talk about it and some believe in it, some don’t. But Jay has it.”

Cutler demonstrated that gene last Sunday when he led the Bears to a 23-22 comeback win over the Carolina Panthers. Trailing 19-7 midway through the fourth quarter, he threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis and then set up Robbie Gould’s game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired by engineering a nine-play, 55-yard drive.

In the first three quarters, Cutler completed only 7 of 14 passes for 80 yards with one interception, two lost fumbles and six sacks. In the fourth period, he connected on 12 of 14 passes for 106 yards with one touchdown and a 122.0 rating.

“We know what [Cutler] can do,” said center Roberto Garza. “If you give him time, he can connect with those big-time receivers that we have out there. We’ve been practicing that [two-minute drill] since we started training camp, getting the work in, and it obviously paid off.”

Part of Cutler’s success in the fourth quarter this season can be attributed to the Bears protecting leads against defenses that are stacking the box to try to stop the run.

“Our defense is putting us in positions where we’re leading games and [opponents] are trying to get the ball back, [playing] a lot of single high [safety], which makes it a lot easier on the outside throwing the ball,” Cutler said. “We’ve hit some big plays out there. The way our defense is playing and carrying leads into the fourth quarter makes my job easier.”

Cutler appreciates fan support

Bears fans no doubt will be happy to hear that quarterback Jay Cutler practiced without restrictions Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers.

Cutler suffered bruised ribs on a vicious but legal sack by Ndamukong Suh in Monday night’s win over the Lions. The quarterback appreciated the ovations he received from Bears fans when he jogged off the field and later when he returned to the game after missing only one play.

Asked about his fan support, Cutler said: “That was good to hear. It hasn’t always been great around here. But they’re coming around slowly but surely.”

Cutler has been hosting a weekly one-hour radio show on ESPN this season. Asked if he feels whether fans are warming up to him because of the show, Cutler said: “Winning helps too. Anytime you win, that’s going to be a cure-all. After the Packers week, we were back at DEFCON 5.

“The radio show doesn’t hurt, though, by any means. It’s a fun hour. The guys I’m working with (Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman) are doing a good job and the fans seem to like it as well.”

Cutler not concerned with sore ribs

The bruised ribs he suffered in Monday night’s win over the Lions are still sore, but Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is confident that he won’t be limited Sunday against the Panthers.

“I’m not concerned at all,” said Cutler, who will continue to use the same rib pads he wears in every game. “I think by Sunday it’ll all be cleared up. I’ll be fine.”

Because they played Monday night, the Bears won’t practice for the first time this week until Thursday. Had they worked out Wednesday, Cutler would have been limited.

The Bears quarterback was injured midway through the second quarter on a vicious but legal sack by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. After being evaluated in the locker room, Cutler returned to the game and played the entire second half.

“I’m very proud of our quarterback, Jay Cutler, a tough SOB,” said offensive coordinator Mike Tice. “He takes the bad hit. In football, they finish the plays and they take you to the ground. That’s part of the game. For him to come back and suck it up, he probably was a little sore but I’m very proud of him. I feel he played well.”

While he had to alter his play-calling in the second half against the Lions because Cutler was hindered by the injury, Tice doesn’t anticipate any restrictions on Sunday.

“He’s sore, but we’re going to go,” Tice said. “I was a little cautious once he got hurt and didn’t want to expose him and really throw down the field except for when we were getting pressed. But he’s ready to go. I’m very, very pleased with Jay.”

Cutler making plays out of pocket

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler learned how to throw accurately on the run out of necessity.

“In college we really didn’t block that well,” said Cutler, who played for Vanderbilt in the rugged SEC. “I was always on the run, so I got a lot of practice.”

That practice is paying off in the NFL. Since Cutler was sacked seven times in a loss to the Packers, he has excelled at executing some designed rollouts called by first-year coordinator Mike Tice.

“He can throw the ball on the run with the best of them,” Tice said. “Changing that launch point for us is really good because having a guy sitting back there as a sitting target, i.e. the Green Bay game, is not a great thing against real good pass rush teams.

“Moving him around is really good for the pocket and changing the launch point. It’s also good for your run game too because it slows down that backside pursuit.”

How often Tice calls those types of plays in the future depends on how defenses play the Bears.

“It’s just game-by-game,” Cutler said. “It depends if the ends are getting up field. Mike’s definitely aware of that and wants to get out more and more. It helps the offensive line getting that passing target off me and kind of moving the pocket. It’s a point of emphasis. We’ll see how it goes.”

Players pleased officials will return

Like the rest of the football world, Bears players are happy that the NFL’s regular officials will be back on the field this weekend after agreeing to a new labor deal with the league late Wednesday.

“Getting those guys back, I think it’s just going to clean up the game,” said quarterback Jay Cutler. “Games are going to move along. The indecision is going to go away, which I think is the biggest thing you’ve seen across the league is just the indecisiveness.”

“It’s good to have those guys out there,” added center Roberto Garza. “They know what’s going on. They are up to speed with the game and the way things are called and as quick as everything happens now. So they will have that taken care of.”

While receiver Brandon Marshall is pleased that the regular officials are returning, he sympathizes with the replacements and the slew of criticism they’ve taken.

“I’m just happy it’s over,” Marshall said. “We get some of those guys back that we’re familiar with and hopefully the game is a little cleaner.

“But when I look at it I have a lot of compassion for those [replacement] refs. When you take those guys and throw them in the fire so quickly, everyone’s dogging them and that’s tough, man. So I’m glad that it’s over, but at the same time those guys did the best that they can do and I appreciate that.”

Cutler keeping the faith in Webb, line

Although J’Marcus Webb has struggled at times, Jay Cutler still has faith in the Bears left tackle.

“Have to,” Cutler said. “For me to be successful in my job, I’ve got to have faith in him and I’ve got to believe each week he is going to do his part and it’s going to allow me to do mine.”

Cutler has enough of his own responsibilities in games to worry about the offensive line.

“You’ve got to play the game as if you have complete faith,” said the Bears quarterback. “You can’t be watching the line, you can’t be guessing ‘maybe they’ll block this play’ because you are not going to be very successful doing that. Each play you’ve got to believe in them, you’ve got to trust them and you’ve got to do your job.”

The Bears made one change on their starting offensive line this week, replacing Chris Spencer with Chilo Rachal at left guard. They could soon make another one if Webb doesn’t perform up to expectations.

“We have seven players who suit up every week and those seven players all get reps with the ones,” said offensive coordinator Mike Tice. “We’re going to try to make sure and make the proper decision of the five guys we’re going to put in there who can protect our quarterback and help us run the ball.”

Cutler sees room for improvement

Jay Cutler is pleased with the progress the offense is making in its first season under coordinator Mike Tice. But the veteran quarterback knows that there’s always room for improvement.

“I don’t think anybody’s really where they want to be,” Cutler said Monday. “You always want to get better. We’re making mistakes out here. I’m making mistakes out here. There are things we’ve got to clean up.

“Once we get into that third preseason game and really start game-planning and really start hammering home what we want to do offensively against every defensive look, then we’ll really get a gauge of where we’re at.”

Cutler and the rest of the No. 1 offense probably won’t play much in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field. But he’s excited about finally facing another NFL team.

“It feels like we’ve been here [at training camp] for a long time, going against the same guys every day, the same defense,” Cutler said. “It’s going to be fun to go out there and see some different looks and just see exactly what we have offensively and defensively.”

Asked what he hopes the offense will accomplish Thursday night, Cutler said: “You want to be crisp and in and out of the huddles, limit penalties, just guys doing their jobs and trying to execute the plays. I’m not sure how much we’re going to carry or how much we’re going to game-plan for it.”

Bears offense finishes with a flurry

Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears’ No. 1 offense ended Monday’s practice with a flourish, engineering an impressive two-minute drill that resulted in a touchdown.

Starting at his own 35-yard line with no timeouts, Cutler completed passes to Earl Bennett, Devin Hester, Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall before spiking the ball to kill the clock at the 9. After an eight-yard pass to Kyle Adams, Cutler snapped the ball and plowed into the end zone behind his offensive line for a TD.

“We’ve been trying to finish practice in that last period a little bit better,” said offensive coordinator Mike Tice. “I felt like in the first two weeks we only had one practice where we finished the last period good. It felt like the two-minute drill today, we finished practice better than we have.”

The well-executed two-minute drill came after Cutler had thrown three interceptions in a lengthy red-zone drill. He was picked off by linebackers Lance Briggs and Nick Roach and nickel back D.J. Moore.

Asked later about the Bears defense, Cutler said: “They’re good. They’re very sound. They’re well coached. They’re in the right spot all the time and they make plays on the ball. For the three years that I’ve gone against them, there’s no let-up in this crew. It makes us better and I think some of the things that we’re doing offensively challenges them a little bit as well.”

The No. 2 offense also scored a touchdown in its two-minute drill as quarterback Jason Campbell connected on passes to Armando Allen, Joe Anderson, Brittan Golden and Chris Summers.

After Craig Steltz broke up a pass intended for Evan Rodriguez near the goal line, Campbell completed a 12-yard pass to Anderson on fourth-and-five from the 17. Three plays later Campbell rifled a 5-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Allen.