The Chicago Bears spent this off-season addressing some major problem areas on the offensive side of the ball, all of which is why you find Jay Cutler on the fantasy football sleeper list for 2013.
Newly appointed Bears quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh recently told the Chicago Tribune that after just four offseason workouts overseeing Cutler, he not only likes what he sees, but more importantly what he hears.
"Very impressed with Jay,” Cavanaugh said. “Very impressed. He’s borderline football brilliant. I think he gets it. I think he knows the game. I think he knows offensive schemes. I think he knows defenses.”
This high praise comes after watching hours of film and coming from a guy who has worked with the likes of Randall Cunningham, Joe Flacco and Phil Simms. With "quarterback guru" Marc Trestman now calling the shots, I expect Cutty to finally take that next step in 2013 based upon the coaching changes alone. The key additions of Martellus Bennett and what looks to be a much improved offensive line with Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson and Kyle Long is only making Cutler's expectations that much greater.
Cutler finally has say in what the offense will look like. Impressed with Cutler's football knowledge, Cavanaugh says Cutler's arm is one of the best he's ever been around. "I think he's embracing how we want to approach things," Cavanaugh said. "There has been a lot of give and take. We didn't come in here with a mandate that this is exactly how we're doing it and there is no leeway. We wanted his feedback. He's been willing to do that. It's a good working relationship now. ... We're trying to impress on him, Marc [Trestman] too, that our job is to protect you and allow you to finish the throwing motion. If that's our sole focus for you, you have to hold up your end and hitch into throws and follow through and throw a bunch of completions."
Entering his fifth season as a Bear, this will mark the first in which the coaching staff understands that they need to build an offense around him and not the other way around. Combined with the best assortment of offensive talent during his tenure in Chicago, the staff will look to implement an offense which gets the ball out of Jay's hands -- and into the likes of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Bennett -- quickly.
The good thing here, you will not have to waste an early round pick on Cutler. Most will remain reluctant to draft Jay and you should have no problem scooping him up as a solid No. 2 fantasy quarterback late in drafts. Jay has the talent, now the question is can he finally put it all together.
