Sept. 11--Go ahead and call it curiosity if you like. The Bears offense certainly feels it, interested in measuring its progress Sunday when the Packers come to Soldier Field. After a preseason in which they battled injuries and unveiled only the basic chapters within the playbook, there's no telling how the offense will fare when the stakes heighten.
But with that curiosity there's also the inevitable dash of concern.
"There are concerns across the board. Myself included," quarterback Jay Cutler admitted after Thursday's practice at Halas Hall. "It's a new offense, new verbiage. So we're going to have growing pains as we go."
As expected, this Bears offense is a long way from being a finished product. But this week, suddenly, there are signs that things may be pointing back in the right direction. Alshon Jeffery has practiced some each of the last two days, seemingly past the calf injury that put him out of action between Aug. 11 and Wednesday. Eddie Royal also appears healthier after battling a hip problem for much of the preseason.
With Jeffery and Royal figuring to be in the huddle Sunday, Cutler's comfort should heighten. And with that, coordinator Adam Gase should have greater opportunity to showcase his wit and versatility as a play-caller.
On Thursday, both Cutler and Gase again expressed appreciation for their growing rapport.
Said Cutler: "He has done an excellent job with all the quarterbacks just making sure we have answers and not putting us in bad positions. Each and every day of going through the game plan -- on first down, second down, third down, red zone -- (he's) making sure we're clean with everything and making sure we know the reasons he calls plays."
Gase, meanwhile, left the preseason hopeful after Cutler, without his full complement of offensive weapons, went turnover free while showing a contagious composure within the system.
"He was comfortable," Gase said. "He did a great job communicating. He ran what we were doing -- whether we were in the huddle, no-huddle, up-tempo -- and never seemed to be bothered by anything."
Naturally, Gase said, Cutler is further along with his understanding of the offense than anyone else. So now comes the important catch-up process for the supporting cast.
Over the last two days, tight end Martellus Bennett has felt encouraged by the offense's development, even as he keeps the mid-week results in proper perspective.
"Practice has looked good," Bennett said. "But practice is scripted to go well. So with this game, there are going to be a lot of un-scouted looks. Both sides are able to do some things that the other side has not seen. And we have to handle their un-scouted looks."
The Bears also face the challenge of developing chemistry on the fly, realizing their progress was impeded in August and September with the extended absences of Jeffery and Royal.
"Learning the offense and getting familiar with the guys around you is a little different," Royal acknowledged. "But that's what training camp is for. We had a great training camp learning the plays. And learning how to play with the guys around you has been good (too)."
Now the Bears must take that learning process onto a meaningful stage, eager to see how their first major progress report turns out.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
