Chicago Bears Predictions: 10 Reasons Why Jay Cutler Is Even Better in 2011

After a disappointing end of the season, in which the Chicago Bears lost in the NFC Championship, Jay Cutler is ready to bounce back. A solid year for Cutler can re-establish him as a premier quarterback in the NFL.

Last season, Cutler threw for 3,274 yards and 23 touchdowns. A promising sign of Cutler's maturation at the quarterback position was his number of interceptions dropping from 26 in 2009 to 16 last season.

The Bears need more from Cutler if they want to continue to contend in the strong NFC. Cutler was a quality quarterback last season, but here are 10 reasons why he will be even better in 2011:

10. He's in Great Shape

One of the most intriguing aspects of Cutler's game is his ability to use his feet to lengthen plays. He's no Michael Vick, but Cutler is one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league.

Coming into training camp this season, Cutler looks very thin and is in possibly the best shape of his career. He has lost a few pounds and looks like he has the bounce back in his step.

Whether it is running for first downs or scrambling around in the pocket to extend plays, Cutler is very crafty when the ball is in his hands.

A healthy Cutler can help bring a dimension to the Bears' offense that was not seen all last season. Watch for Cutler to be using his feet a lot more, making just as many plays with his feet as his arm.

9. No More Kristin Cavallari

For those that don't know, Jay Cutler is single. After a short engagement with reality TV star Kristin Cavallari, Cutler and Cavallari went separate ways and now the Bears quarterback has only football on his mind.

Whether Cavallari was a distraction is unknown, but the fact that Cutler is not dating a high-profile girl like Cavallari will make his off the field life less distracting.

For the upcoming months, Cutler will be playing football and building relationships with his teammates—which is exactly the life that fans want out of their quarterback.

8. More Complete Running Game

Having an effective running game instantly elevates the quality and opportunities of a team's passing game. With the Bears' new combination of Matt Forte and Marion Barber, Cutler should have a two-headed running attack that will take the pressure off of him.

Last season, the Bears lacked a running back that could convert in short yardage situations, which caused the Bears to rely more on the passing game and more on Jay Cutler. The addition of Marion Barber should take some pressure off of Cutler and not force him to make risky plays on third downs and goal-line opportunities.

The Bears had a great season from Matt Forte last year, and Bears fans can expect another great year from Forte this year. He is one of the best receiving backs in the league and gives Cutler one more option in the passing game.

Last season, Forte tied Johnny Knox for the team lead in receptions with 51. When Cutler struggles to find chemistry with his receivers, he'll always be able to find safe hands from Forte in the backfield.

7. Another Year of Solid Defense on His Side

One advantage that Cutler has going for him but he has nothing to do with: his teammates on defense.

The Bears will contend this year due to the fact that they have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Football is all about field position, and the Bears defense will allow Cutler to start most drives from a good position on the field.

With Julius Peppers anchoring a lethal defensive unit and a veteran line-backing crew, the Bears defense can be one of the better defenses in the league.

In addition to a great defense, Cutler will also be on the positive side of the field position battle due to stellar return man Devin Hester.

Whether teams are kicking the ball out of bounds to avoid Hester or he is making ridiculous returns, Hester will get the ball into Cutler's hand in good spots on the field.

6. Time to Silence His Critics

When Jay Cutler got inured in the NFC Championship game and was taken out of the game, he instantly became a target of criticism around the NFL. Maurice Jones-Drew publically criticised Cutler via Twitter, and he wasn't the only one.

Whether or not the criticism effects Cutler, we don't know. But there's no doubt that he wouldn't love to prove them all wrong.

A fire has been lit in Cutler's chest, and we can expect him to be ready to play football at a very high level. After recovering from a very painful MCL sprain, Cutler will show his critics around the league that he is indeed a tough football player.

5. Leadership

To be a quarterback in the NFL, you must be extremely skillful and very intelligent. But maybe more than anything, you have to be a leader. Jay Cutler is starting to embrace the role of leader for the Bears and is a guy that is looked up to in the locker room.

Cutler showed his dedication to his teammates and the Bears when he was the first person to walk in the door for training camp after the lockout was lifted. He did not want to waste any time and was ready to get back to work.

The quarterback of a team can lead by example through his play and through his work ethic, and Cutler looks like he is ready to do both. He looks like a player that has been working hard all season and cannot wait for the season opener in September.

4. Timing

Much of being a quality quarterback in the NFL comes from having excellent timing with his receivers. Another year of work with speedsters Johnny Knox and Devin Hester will definitely help Cutler hit his receivers in full stride.

Numerous times last season, we saw Cutler overthrowing receivers, receivers cutting routes short and the offense simply not looking like everyone was on the same page.

One more year together can make an offense a lot more effective and a lot more productive. If Cutler and his receivers continue to build on the relationships that they started to make, the Bears can have an offense that is clicking a lot more often than last season.

3. He's Got a Chip on His Shoulder

Even though Cutler may want to prove his critics wrong, there is no doubt that the one thing that will make him better is the pain that he went through from losing in the NFC Championship game last season.

If losing one game before the Super Bowl isn't bad enough, the Bears lost to their rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

Cutler remembers getting beaten up that game and wants to erase it from his memory. Athletes do not forgot the pain from losses, and the pain from that loss has to be a driving force for Cutler this year.

Every game is critical in Cutler's success this year, but when the Bears and Packers play twice this season, expect some fireworks and some fire from the Bears quarterback.

2. Footwork

One of the biggest developments from Bears training Camp has been the incredible maturation that has been seen in the footwork of Jay Cutler.

For someone to improve their footwork as dramatically as Cutler has in that quick of a time period, is nothing short of incredible. Cutler's ability to do three-, five- and seven-step drops is vital for a productive and balanced passing attack.

Quarterbacks in the NFL must have great footwork, and Cutler has taken all of the right steps to get to this point. Watch for Cutler to take smarter steps, step into throws and make more accurate passes this season.

1. Another Year with Mike Martz

The second year of the Mike Martz era is upon us in Chicago, and we should expect the second year to be more productive than the first.

As the relationship between Martz and Cutler improves, the Bears offense will go with it. A Martz-led offense is one that requires a great deal of repetition and timing.

When Mike Martz is on his game, he has proven that he can lead some of the best offenses in the NFL.

Not only will Cutler be more familiar with the offense, but hopefully his receivers will be as well. Martz has all the confidence in the world in Cutler, and hopefully, with one more year of understanding the intricacies of his offense, Cutler will show us where this confidence is coming from.