Tight end Greg Olsen

Let's first establish that Cutler didn't have a bad day. During one stretch, Cutler completed seven passes in a row, including two to Johnny Knox and one to tight end Greg Olsen.

But that was in seven-on-seven drills, which means it doesn't include the defensive line.

When lines were on the field, the offense's unit certainly had some positive moments, giving Cutler time to complete passes. But there were a handful of clear sacks, as well, with defensive tackle Tommie Harris once swatting the ball out of Cutler's hands as he ran by in front of him.

Cutler showed the first sign of frustration, picking the ball up and tossing at Harris' feet about five feet away.

Later, though, the offensive line had two bad plays in a row in a full squad situation. Julius Peppers blew by Frank Omiyale. Then, the entire defensive line collapsed the pocket, and Mark Anderson appeared in position to get a sack of Cutler.

The quarterback responded by chucking the ball toward the right sideline, at the top of a large, white tent.

Asked if his quarterback was frustrated, Bears coach Lovie Smith said, "I don't know about frustrated.

"We have scholarship players on the other side of the ball too. Jay's a good player. I'm really pleased with what he's done. But it's good competition."

Peppers, meanwhile, downplayed any frustration the quarterback should have.

"I don't know if we frustrated him because he's not getting hit so he can't really feel it," Peppers said. "Yet. He wasn't taking any punishment."

Other notable things from today's practice:

* LB Brian Iwuh injured his knee during practice, and he was carted off.

* LB Hunter Hillenmeyer didn't practice because of a groin injury, Smith said.

* Cutler's best pass was in the middle of the field, to Rashied Davis. It appeared to be a forced pass, since Brian Urlacher and a safety were in the vicinity. But Davis ran right onto the ball, and he brought it in for about 20 yards.

* One of the more comical sights was seeing James Marten (6 foot 8) lined up at left guard. He's three inches taller than the left tackle on that play, Kevin Shaffer.

Tight end Greg Olsen, who led the Bears with 60 catches last season, has not made much of an impact as a receiver so far, which was a concern the minute Mike Martz was hired as offensive coordinator because he doesn't have a history of utilizing that position in the passing game.

Greg Olsen isn't panicking, although he is understandably tired of hearing the questions about his role.

"We've addressed this a ridiculous amount, said Olsen who caught 114 passes for 1,186 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons. "It is what it is. The past has nothing to do with the guys that we have here. Coach Martz has said all along that the guys who show that they can help the team and make plays and do the thing they're asked to do, are going to play."

Coach Lovie Smith was asked about this year's "light practices," by an uninformed TV reporter, even though practice times have been 15-20 minutes longer than in the recent past. Monday's noon session was the most spirited practice this year, with an abundance of full-speed contact in pass-rush drills.

"I don't know where you got the 'take it light in practice,' " Smith chided the talking head. "We're not taking it light at all."

As for the lengthened practice times, which have been running about 2 hours and 15 minutes, Smith said: "We've added some plays, and we've added a period here and there. Especially early on, we just want to get some things done."

Monday's practice ran a few minutes past 2 hours, which was the average practice time the past couple years.