FLOWERY BRANCH – Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has the team off to a 2-3 record this season.
He’s completing 68.1 percent of his passes and has thrown 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
He spoke with the Atlanta media via conference call on Wednesday.
Here’s what Cutler had to say:
Q: How has the Chicago Bears’ offense been performing this season?
A: We've been a little bit up and down. We just have to play with a little more consistency. We've had a lot of turnovers and penalties. That really hurt us in the Carolina game.
Q: What was the turning point in the Carolina game?
A: You just never know how it's going to go. It's usually a four-quarter game. No matter if you're down early or up early. We knew early on that we'd have to finish it out, but we just weren't able to for numerous reasons.
Q: Explain your 2-1 record on the road?
A: At San Francisco and at the Jets, we won the turnover battle. We controlled the ball. We were efficient on third downs and in the red zone. It's pretty consistent throughout the league what wins and what losses.
Q: What makes your wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall so dangerous?
A: Their wide catching radius makes it easy on the quarterback. I think that Matt (Ryan) probably has a pretty good idea down there with Julio (Jones) and Roddy (White) and some of those guys. They make it easy for you because you can put in a wide array of places and they are going to get it. I like the big guys.
Q: How does tight end Martellus Bennett fit into the operation for the Bears?
A: He does a lot of thing for us. He's in a lot of positions. We move him around. He's an excellent blocker in the run game and in pass protection. He can also work against safeties and linebackers in the passing game. We like to use him in a variety of ways.
Q: Has having a great relationship with head coach Marc Trestman help to improve your game?
A: I think we've got better talent around us on offense. Our offensive line is a helluva lot better. So we've got some guys who can play football. Anytime that you've got a lot of talent on one side of the ball it makes things a lot easier. It's easier to scheme. It's easier to get guys open. It's easier to run the ball. But Coach Trestman does a great job of living in the quarterback's head and making sure the protections are right. He makes sure that we have the answers against all of the coverages.
Q: Are you excited to be facing Devin Hester?
A: I wouldn't say that I'm excited. He's a heck of a football player and we want to keep the ball out of his hands. I'd rather not see him fielding kicks and catching Matt Ryan passes.
Q: What do you see from the Falcons young cornerbacks?
A: "They play extremely hard. There are not a lot of big name guys on that defense, but they play extremely hard. They throw a lot of looks at you and they tackle well. When there is an opportunity to make a play, they make a play. It's going to be tough especially in that Dome with that noise and the variety of looks that they show you. We're going to have to be on it."
Q: How has Matt Forte been playing for the Bears?
A: He's a guy that we want to get the ball to. We played against some really good run defenses early in the year. The last couple of weeks we've been trying to make it an emphasis to get him the ball in the run game. He's really productive in our passing game. Anyway that we can get him the ball in space we try to do it.
Q: How is Forte leading the team in catches with 36?
A: We're seeing a lot of zone coverages and they are trying to take away Alshon and B. Marsh. So Matt has been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and get a lot of these balls underneath, he's caught some of these screens and has made the most out of them.
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