INDIANAPOLIS – After an average preseason debut, Jay Cutler led the Chicago Bears offense on three scoring drives but failed to punch the ball into the end zone because of penalties Saturday. On defense, the Bears harassed Andrew Luck, a vast improvement over last week's brutal performance against Miami. Here are some quick thoughts on the Bears’ 23-11 victory over the Colts.
QB depth chart: Consider it a successful outing for Cutler. The embattled Bears quarterback completed 8 of 9 pass attempts for 69 yards, but had his best two plays erased by penalties. After Cutler lost out on a 42-yard completion because of a holding call, the quarterback took off on a 13-yard scramble and lowered the boom on Colts defender Greg Toler on the goal line for an apparent touchdown. However, Kyle Long killed that play with a holding call. Cutler left the game later in the second quarter with plenty of momentum heading into next Saturday's third preseason game at Cincinnati.
Maybe that dude could start: Sherrick McManis started at nickel on Saturday, a clear sign the coaching staff has noticed the outstanding camp McManis has enjoyed. No longer just a special-teams ace, McManis has a real shot to play consistent, meaningful snaps on defense for the first time in his career. McManis did surrender a two-point conversion score to Andre Johnson, but overall, McManis is having about the best preseason of any Bears player. Return man Marc Mariani also merits recognition. The sure-handed returner set up the Bears with nice field position after averaging 18 yards on three punt returns.
Who got hurt: Already thin at wide receiver, Marquess Wilson suffered a hamstring injury running for a deep ball in the first quarter. Wilson got stretched out on the sidelines by the training staff and tried to return, but lasted only one play before coming out for good. Safety Ryan Mundy and defensive lineman Cornelius Washington did not dress for the game.
A surprise performer who looks amazing: Cornerback Terrance Mitchell keeps making positive plays. Mitchell made a beautiful interception on a Matt Hasselbeck deep ball down the middle of the field late in the second quarter. Mitchell went up and fought the defender for possession. Mitchell won the battle. Mitchell is definitely in the conversation for one of the final cornerback spots on the 53-man roster.
Rookie watch: Making his first preseason start, fifth-round pick Adrian Amos was credited with three tackles. That might be a tad misleading. Amos didn’t particularly stand out on Saturday. There seemed to be gaps in coverage that, for whatever reason, the Colts failed to expose. Second-round choice Eddie Goldman entered the game in the second quarter and recovered a fumble caused by Sam Acho. Tailback Jeremy Langford had a 46-yard run after halftime, then scored a nifty touchdown on a 2-yard run that required him to bounce to the outside after initially being stopped at the line of scrimmage.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Bears looked...: Respectable. If it weren’t for penalties, the Bears would likely have punched the ball into the end zone a couple times. Pernell McPhee brought serious heat on Luck early in the game. That’s encouraging. Jared Allen also had a quarterback hit. Although most have low expectations for the Bears, head coach John Fox must be pleased with how the group fared against a perennial AFC playoff team.
One reason to freak out: Right tackle Charles Leno struggled in place of Jordan Mills. This is not a good situation for the Bears. If Leno and Mills prove unworthy of winning the job, when do the Bears turn to Long? It’s a delicate situation because Long is such a dominant right guard, but protecting the quarterback is vital for any team. Leno isn’t the only culprit. The first-team offensive line looked out of sorts for most of the first half.
Mr. Automatic: Despite a rash of uncharacteristic misses at practice, Robbie Gould remains clutch when it matters. Gould is now a perfect 7-for-7 kicking field goals in the preseason; he booted three in the first half vs. the Colts. Gould showed off the leg by nailing a 50-yarder in the first quarter. Much has changed inside the Bears organization, but Gould is one of the few constants.
Sophomore slump: Cornerback Kyle Fuller has been a disappointment this summer. Routinely beaten by Alshon Jeffery in Bourbonnais, Fuller surrendered a 45-yard completion to T.Y. Hilton in the first half. To make matters worse, Fuller was flagged 15 yards for taunting -- an odd call considering Fuller got smoked on the play. NFL players tend to make tremendous growth in their second season. We are waiting on Fuller.