Jay Cutler Pleased With Chicago Bears Addressing Pass Protection

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Chicago won 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears offense led by Jay Cutler had the 29th ranked passing offense in the league last season in terms of yards per game. Cutler and the Bears averaged a mere 187.4 yards per game through the air in 2012. The Bears gave up 49 sacks last season, which was the 5th highest total in the NFL.

The Bears addressed the issue by signing left tackle Jermon Bushrod and adding guard Matt Slauson. They didn’t stop there, the drafted offensive lineman Kyle Long of Oregon in the first round and tackle Jordan Mills of Louisiana Tech in the second round.

“(The coaching staff is) going to make sure everyone knows their assignments and we are protected,” Cutler said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN Chicago 1000. “Bushrod is a huge addition and we drafted some guys and some of the guys we had last year have to step in and play well. It’s definitely a point of emphasis. We’re not going to let the quarterback get hit. We’re not going to go into games unsure about protections. Everything starts there, and I think (new offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron) Kromer is doing a great job with getting those guys up to speed with exactly how they want these things done.”

With seven lineman coming off the board before the Bears were slated to make their pick, many thought that the Bears wouldn’t address the offensive line at that pick.

“I watched the first round and linemen were going off the board left and right so I wasn’t too sure where we were going to go,” Cutler said. “We have some holes defensively, we have Bushrod through free agency so I wasn’t for sure about the pick. Like any quarterback I’m pretty selfish so anytime they pick somebody on offense it’s going to make me smile.”