The preseason numbers are modest, and the initial impressions of the Bears' new offense are largely unexceptional.But to hear quarterback Jay Cutler tell it, the Bears have placed a governor on their much-ballyhooed offense.
''It's very vanilla stuff,'' Cutler told the Sun-Times on Tuesday. ''We're kind of running things at inopportune times -- we're not dialing stuff up when we could dial stuff up. So it's kind of a cloak-and-dagger thing right now."
Like his coaches and teammates, Cutler isn't thrilled about the Bears' 0-3 preseason record.
''We want to go out there and obviously be successful,'' he said. ''But we're not going to go out there and try to put 50 on anybody.''
The Bears have only scored 36 points this preseason, and the production of the starting offense has left much to be desired: two touchdowns, five three-and-outs, two interceptions and 10 sacks in 16 drives. Not what many projected from new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the conductor of the aptly named ''Greatest Show on Turf'' in St. Louis. But Cutler insisted the Bears aren't going to reveal much of their offense before the games count.
''I've said it casually, but we're just kind of calling plays to call plays and get them out there,'' he said. ''We're not really out there game-planning and making adjustments. 'Hey, they're running cover-3, let's run this and do that.' We're all about ourselves right now.''
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