Plummer gets the details

[PatsWin2002]

Plummer gets the details
Broncos QB hopes to reduce mistakes

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
September 1, 2005

When all was said and done in the 2004 season, even as he strolled to the team bus after a playoff loss in the RCA Dome, Jake Plummer just knew how he would spend much of his summer vacation.

Looking at his feet. Or his arm angle. Or where, when and how he had thrown the ball that season.

The Denver Broncos laid it out for the quarterback. Every play. In every way.

"We looked at it all," Plummer said. "There are just some things we want to do better. Man, we broke it down. Every little thing."

In the months before the Broncos started training camp this summer, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Pat Mc- Pherson disassembled Plummer's 2004 season piece by piece.

They loved the franchise-record 4,089 yards passing, had a fondness for the record-tying 27 touchdowns. But the 58.2 percent passing? Those 20 interceptions? Not so much.

"We have to be better with the ball," Kubiak said. "We don't want his production to go away - his production was tremendous - but we want the mistakes to go away, and we'd like the throwing percentage to go up.

"So everything he did, we broke it down. We tried to figure out why we were lacking in some areas and why we were making some of the mistakes with the ball we were making. . . . We talked coverages, where we want to go with the ball, everything, just step by step."

And if Plummer's performances in the preseason can be a measure of what may come, the message got through.

The rest:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_4046518,00.html

[SoCalBronco]

you beat me out there, PatsWin. Thanks for that article.

I am really encouraged by that one. The staff really did very detailed work it seems and so far in the preseason at least it looks really good.

[TheManeMan]

I really hope he can stay away from mistakes...That one play against Indy where the tuck rule was enforced seems like he's likely to make a mistake here and there...All we can do is wait...Jake or bust!

[Kaylore]

No one has even really brought up how amazing Jake has looked this preseason (including me). I think the emergence of BVP has taken much of the attention off of Jake, and I think that's actually a good thing. With the way Ash has looked, and our outstanding rushing attack, there is no reason for Jake not to have a career season this year.

[Ninjafied]

No one has even really brought up how amazing Jake has looked this preseason (including me). I think the emergence of BVP has taken much of the attention off of Jake, and I think that's actually a good thing. With the way Ash has looked, and our outstanding rushing attack, there is no reason for Jake not to have a career season this year.

Barring any significant injuries, I agree that Jake’s destiny is entirely in his own hands this year.
And I’m not sure what his contract looks like next year, but IF (and that's a really big if) BVP can also emerge as a potential starter in this league I’d say that, yeah, Jake’s also in the hot seat this year.
Once again, his destiny is entirely in his own hands and there is no reason he should not have a career year.

[fontaine]

If Plummer doesn't improve this season then I could realisically see us posting no more than 8 wins.

Our schedule this year is brutal and the most crucial thing away from home is going to be turnovers. If Plummer has another season where he throws around 20 ints then forget about it.

Can anyone honestly say we'll go better than 1-2 in our division away from home?

These teams could beat us away from home:
JAX,
OAK,
KC,
BUFF

Given that we play NE, Philly, NYJ, and Baltimore at home it wouldn't be surprised if we go 1-3 in those games. That's 7 realistic losses right there given that 6 of those teams are great at generating turnovers.

There would be less pressure if our defense didn't collectively have stone hands smothered in butter but facts are facts. This defense hasn't looked like getting more than the token 12 ints it usually lucks into and we have a QB that is great at making CBs look like ballhawks. That's a recipe for disaster. I'm not being pessimistic, just saying that if our D doesn't dramatically improve in turnovers and Plummer doesnt grow up then it could be slim pickings this year given how tough the AFC West and our schedule is.

Anyone who thinks this defense will start generating picks needs to remember that NONE of our starters has yet to get a pick and the only int we have through 12 quarters of football is by some benchwarmer who's on the trade block.

Walls hasn't had a pick since 2003,
QBs are reluctant to throw at Champ,
Our nickel CB is a rookie who'll get picked on,
Fergy has ONE career int in five seasons,
Lynch is a step slower and had one int last year.

Those are the Facts.

[x123z]

This is a make or break year for Jake.

[Atlas]

If Plummer doesn't improve this season then I could realisically see us posting no more than 8 wins.

Our schedule this year is brutal and the most crucial thing away from home is going to be turnovers. If Plummer has another season where he throws around 20 ints then forget about it.

Can anyone honestly say we'll go better than 1-2 in our division away from home?

These teams could beat us away from home:
JAX,
OAK,
KC,
BUFF

Given that we play NE, Philly, NYJ, and Baltimore at home it wouldn't be surprised if we go 1-3 in those games. That's 7 realistic losses right there given that 6 of those teams are great at generating turnovers.

There would be less pressure if our defense didn't collectively have stone hands smothered in butter but facts are facts. This defense hasn't looked like getting more than the token 12 ints it usually lucks into and we have a QB that is great at making CBs look like ballhawks. That's a recipe for disaster. I'm not being pessimistic, just saying that if our D doesn't dramatically improve in turnovers and Plummer doesnt grow up then it could be slim pickings this year given how tough the AFC West and our schedule is.

Anyone who thinks this defense will start generating picks needs to remember that NONE of our starters has yet to get a pick and the only int we have through 12 quarters of football is by some benchwarmer who's on the trade block.

Walls hasn't had a pick since 2003,
QBs are reluctant to throw at Champ,
Our nickel CB is a rookie who'll get picked on,
Fergy has ONE career int in five seasons,
Lynch is a step slower and had one int last year.

Those are the Facts.

Denver will get 14-18 picks thsi year mainly due to the improved pass rush. Not great but it will be better.

[OrangeShadow]

nice thread thanks pats

[gunns]

There are two articles on NFL. com that show people are noticing the improvements Plummer has made.

http://nfl.com/news/story/8783218

http://nfl.com/news/story/8787315

[SpringStein]

Walls hasn't had a pick since 2003,
QBs are reluctant to throw at Champ,
Our nickel CB is a rookie who'll get picked on,
Fergy has ONE career int in five seasons,
Lynch is a step slower and had one int last year.

Those are the Facts.

1. Walls hasn't played since 2003, so it would be tough to have a pick. :)
2. Unfortunately, it didn't appear that Cincy or Oakland were too afraid to throw at Champ last year.
3. Our rookie nickel has looked unbelievably good, and he does have great hands.
4. Fergy has also not played a lot in 5 years.
5. Have you timed Lynch to know that? Early in the preseason I thought he looked faster than last year. Unlike players whose games are built around speed, Lynch never has been a blazer. His game has been built around knowing where to be at the right time.

You have your opinion, I have mine. Mine is that we will see improvement at CB this year and that S is the only question mark on this D team.

[bloodsunday]

Plummer has looked good in preseason, no doubt. Its a good sign. Nonetheless it is still just preaseason. We haven't really played any great defenses in preseason either. Let's see what he does when the games count. He is a major factor in the direction of our season.

[fontaine]

1. Walls hasn't played since 2003, so it would be tough to have a pick. :)
2. Unfortunately, it didn't appear that Cincy or Oakland were too afraid to throw at Champ last year.
3. Our rookie nickel has looked unbelievably good, and he does have great hands.
4. Fergy has also not played a lot in 5 years.
5. Have you timed Lynch to know that? Early in the preseason I thought he looked faster than last year. Unlike players whose games are built around speed, Lynch never has been a blazer. His game has been built around knowing where to be at the right time.

You have your opinion, I have mine. Mine is that we will see improvement at CB this year and that S is the only question mark on this D team.

Good post. I'm not necessarily saying that we won't see an improvement from our secondary, I just don't expect a lot of ints to come.

Honestly, can you see Lynch/Fergy collecting 5-6 ints between them? Champ has never really gotten more than 5 since his 2nd year in the league and Walls simply isn't a ballhawk, and how realistic is it to expect a 5-8 rookie CB to grab more than one or two ints?

I'm just being realistic. The LBs will have to get more ints since we all know that these guys excel at coverage and we play a lot of teams that specialize in throwing to TEs/RBs, so maybe we get turnovers from there.

[bloodsunday]

Good post. I'm not necessarily saying that we won't see an improvement from our secondary, I just don't expect a lot of ints to come.

Honestly, can you see Lynch/Fergy collecting 5-6 ints between them? Champ has never really gotten more than 5 since his 2nd year in the league and Walls simply isn't a ballhawk, and how realistic is it to expect a 5-8 rookie CB to grab more than one or two ints?

I'm just being realistic. The LBs will have to get more ints since we all know that these guys excel at coverage and we play a lot of teams that specialize in throwing to TEs/RBs, so maybe we get turnovers from there.
I think fontaine is looking at it from the perspective of "ball hawking" -- a term I think he coined. ;D -- and in that I agree with him. Our DBs are not not known as the type that play deceptive coverages and make plays under otherwise ordinary circumstances. Where I think we all hope they can improve is with poor QB decisions as a result of pressure. I could see a guy like Williams or even Bailey playing a gambling style to entice the QB to throw it if our D-line is as good as we hope.

[Ballhawk]

Ya'll are high with this make or break stuff rofl

Even playing at the same level he played at last year we are still a 10-12 win team. BVP is no where close to challenging Jake, he will be lucky to get an extention to back up Jake for the next three years. After ,and only after, his 4th year here will BVP get a shot at being a starter (ala Billy Volek) if then.

Make no mistake that Shanny is going with BVP because Kanell was outright sucking. Keep working on that accuracy Brad!

[epicSocialism4tw]

This should be Plummer's year. He looks great right now and seems to be making better decisions.

There will be some mistakes. Those mistakes will be blown out of proportion. If he can stop the left-handed interceptions, he should be fine.

Does anyone else remember Jake's first season here? He was great. I know that he had Sharpe to throw to and that helped, but he looked like a great pick-up after the '03 season. My opinion has not changed that much. I think that he will do a good job this season.

[broncosteven]

I really hope he can stay away from mistakes...That one play against Indy where the tuck rule was enforced seems like he's likely to make a mistake here and there...All we can do is wait...Jake or bust!


Everyone makes mistakes. Even the Godlike Bret Farvereerer & Joe Maryanna or what ever his name was. If he plays within his abilities he should be able to keep the picks down to around 10 & TDs up into the 30's & this team will go far.

Having a Defense that can get stops, I am concerned about the D vs the run, & controlling the TOP with MA power rushing will make Jake even better.

When we won in 96 & 97 it was with TD controlling the clock, I will never forget the game vs Tampa where TD put the game away by running the ball.

[fontaine]

Ya'll are high with this make or break stuff rofl

Even playing at the same level he played at last year we are still a 10-12 win team.

No way. Our schedule is tougher this year and so is the AFC West. If Plummer has another 20 int season then it's my opinion that we won't even sniff the playoffs.

Injuries and strength of schedule are the two biggest factors for any team. It can turn a 13-3 KC paper giant to a non-playoff runner in one season.

[Ballhawk]

No way. Our schedule is tougher this year and so is the AFC West. If Plummer has another 20 int season then it's my opinion that we won't even sniff the playoffs.

Injuries and strength of schedule are the two biggest factors for any team. It can turn a 13-3 KC paper giant to a non-playoff runner in one season.

I happen to think we are a much better team around Jake. RB, TE, WR, DL, LB, DB all are better this year IMO and healthier to start the year.

We had a -9 turnovers by seasons end and still won 10 (which is amazing) and could have been 12 (could have been 8). If we go out and grab 9 more turnovers, then Jake can play the same and we will still be capable of 12 wins.

On top of that we need to really improve ST play to get shorter fields, making Jake go 80+ yards all the time is not helping him keep the TOs down.

[Rock Chalk]

No way. Our schedule is tougher this year and so is the AFC West. If Plummer has another 20 int season then it's my opinion that we won't even sniff the playoffs.

Injuries and strength of schedule are the two biggest factors for any team. It can turn a 13-3 KC paper giant to a non-playoff runner in one season.
I dont think the schedule is as tough as you people make it out to be. At least 2 of the teams you all think are going to be tough are not going to be and two more are going to be better than advertised.

I expect this year's schedule to be pretty much the same as every other year. About average.

[Garcia Bronco]

Re Plummer:

Don't tell me about the labor pains...show me the baby.

[fontaine]

I dont think the schedule is as tough as you people make it out to be.



At least 2 of the teams you all think are going to be tough are not going to be and two more are going to be better than advertised.

Those two statements together make no sense whatsoever.

[QuickSlant]

I happen to think we are a much better team around Jake. RB, TE, WR, DL, LB, DB all are better this year IMO and healthier to start the year.


Yep we improved everywhere and have depth in all those places except OL which imo will be the make or break for are season. Jake and the offensive weapons he has to play with can take us to the SB but can we give him decent protection till then is my concern.c :juggle:

[broncosteven]

Those two statements together make no sense whatsoever.


For once I agree with Alec. The schedule looks tough now but there will be a team Possibly both Philly & Patsy's that have a down year & a team like Giants & Dallas that COULD come out of no where. I want to see how we play the 1st couple of games. The homer in me says we should again sweep the 1st quarter of the season & be 6-2 at 1/2 way 12-4 Division title would be nice but all I want is a record good enough to get into the playoffs with a chance to make some noise.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

For once I agree with Alec. The schedule looks tough now but there will be a team Possibly both Philly & Patsy's that have a down year & a team like Giants & Dallas that COULD come out of no where. I want to see how we play the 1st couple of games. The homer in me says we should again sweep the 1st quarter of the season & be 6-2 at 1/2 way 12-4 Division title would be nice but all I want is a record good enough to get into the playoffs with a chance to make some noise.

6-2 at the halfway...headed to 9-7....this IS the Donks we're talking about. :giggle:

[Mile High Shack]

No one has even really brought up how amazing Jake has looked this preseason (including me). I think the emergence of BVP has taken much of the attention off of Jake, and I think that's actually a good thing. With the way Ash has looked, and our outstanding rushing attack, there is no reason for Jake not to have a career season this year.

I don't think we want to jinx him

the way I figure it, the less we talk about Jake, the better he'll do

b/c quite simply, he has looked like a real NFL QB this offseason, no stupid left hand throws or forcing anything.

man I hate the offseason, I get entirely too homeristic

[fontaine]

I don't think we want to jinx him

the way I figure it, the less we talk about Jake, the better he'll do

b/c quite simply, he has looked like a real NFL QB this offseason, no stupid left hand throws or forcing anything.


I think he's realized that his time could be short. With two 1sts next draft and possibly one of them being in the top 12, Plummer knows that he has to think twice before forcing things.

Personally, I'm more excited about our TEs than Plummer. Having Putz, Alexander there will allow this team an extra dimension in gameplanning against slower LBs, since Lelie will draw Safety help. I hope Nate Jackson can put in a good showing against 'zona. It says a LOT when this guy hasn't really practiced at all at TE when he was switched over only a few weeks ago and he's made it past initial cuts at the expense of Hape, when we already have Putz/Alexander there.

Maybe Brewster sees something in Jackson, but I'm hoping the kid can be ready to go in the 2nd half of the season because from all reports it seems he's got great hands and runs like a WR.

[minibronco]

Plummer gets the details
Broncos QB hopes to reduce mistakes

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
September 1, 2005

When all was said and done in the 2004 season, even as he strolled to the team bus after a playoff loss in the RCA Dome, Jake Plummer just knew how he would spend much of his summer vacation.

Looking at his feet. Or his arm angle. Or where, when and how he had thrown the ball that season.

Or growing a beard.

[watermock]

Gee Fontaine, you should be come an east coast media hack. Talk about peeing on the parade.

I'm all for being realistic, but I dunno if you got up on the wrong side of the bed or what...but so far, things look pretty good with some nice surprises. Pryce, Darrent Williams, Warren, BVP, Plummer has yet to cough the ball up, we are 3-0. Yes, preseason means nothing, but you still want to get a winning attitude in the lockerroom. Engleberger has 5 sacks, Saurbraun hasn't gone out and gotten a DUI, yet, and is doing fine IMO, Coyer has the staff and players he wants lined up, Gold looks pretty good...Alltogether, you seem quite pessimistic.

Alot of us are kinda down about this disaster, there are major forces arriving in N.O., convoys are arriving. We they late? Yes, but I said yesterday that it was a critical day. I feel that we are turning the tide there. It's off topic, but don't let the struggles cloud how good the team has looked. I'm as critical as anyone about deficiencies in the team, but I have seen 80 percent positive.

Obviously, we would of liked to see Tatum Bell step up, but Anderson has, Lynch looks old, Hell, Jake even shaved. Now if we can just get BVP cleaned up. He looks like a bouncer at a BTO revival concert in Kansas City. We have our own Freezer in the name of Warren at FB. C. Brown will play this week, even tho he's been out with a bad elbow, his foot is another month healed as well. I haven't heard of any setbacks, and I'm not concerned about the DL with or without Brown honestly. He's just added to the mix. Yes, the schedule is rough. That's why I'm sticking with 10-6, maybe 11-5, but it's along way from doom and gloom. Your starting to see a few hacks re-evaluating Denver's chances...while most seem to still be regurgitating crap from May.

Let's not pee on the parade while it's still forming.

[BRONCO-COUG]

I really hope he can stay away from mistakes...That one play against Indy where the tuck rule was enforced seems like he's likely to make a mistake here and there...All we can do is wait...Jake or bust!

here's the thing though.
EVERY qb makes mistakes.
everyone wants plummer to LIMIT the mistakes, but no one
should expect them to be ELIMINATED.

remember brady against miami last year?
that was as dumb a play as you'll ever see, but because his mistakes
were limited all year, everyone forgot about it while people are STILL talking
about plummers lefty toss.

also, people seem to forget that in '03 plummer already showed his that
he can play RELATIVELY mistake free football.
part of the problem a year ago was that we were throwing the ball ALOT more than we wanted, and that too contributed to the turnovers.

anyway, the offense seems to be running on all cylinders, and that makes this an exciting season. we'll make mistakes, but my guess is alot less than a year ago.

jake

[fontaine]

Let's not pee on the parade while it's still forming.

While it's still forming?

Most of us Bronco fans were already on the bandwagon long before you were rooting for the Vikings.

[BRONCO-COUG]

No one has even really brought up how amazing Jake has looked this preseason (including me). I think the emergence of BVP has taken much of the attention off of Jake, and I think that's actually a good thing. With the way Ash has looked, and our outstanding rushing attack, there is no reason for Jake not to have a career season this year.

ashley lelie is maybe the player im most excited about this year.

sitting where i do at the stadium allows me to see what most others dont, and thats what happens away from the ball.
i can tell you that lelie has been open in the short and medium routes, but
we just didnt utilize him.
this year, with everyone focussing on him as a deep threat, he will have all kinds of open space on the shorter patters, and last week we saw the jake and co. take advantage.
a 20 yard out? we havent seen that since elway retired.

as for plummer, its no surprise that no one's talking about him.
when he plays poorly, people talk....alot.
when he plays well, people just be quiet.
it would be nice if he got some credit, but too many people are
busy watching and cheering as a raw venpelt throws another one 5 YARDS
over the receivers head.
no matter.
regular season is near, and plummer will make alot of people eat a big serving of orange and blue humble pie.

jake

[BRONCO-COUG]

oooops!!!

i just realized that when i signed on my computer this morning it was on my buddies account.
anyway, those last two were me.....and this one too.
ill fix it.

jake

[orange 4 life]

okay,

back with the right log in.
sorry.

[orange 4 life]

Ya'll are high with this make or break stuff rofl

Even playing at the same level he played at last year we are still a 10-12 win team. BVP is no where close to challenging Jake, he will be lucky to get an extention to back up Jake for the next three years. After ,and only after, his 4th year here will BVP get a shot at being a starter (ala Billy Volek) if then.

Make no mistake that Shanny is going with BVP because Kanell was outright sucking. Keep working on that accuracy Brad!

how nice to see.
someone that see's the reality.

hey, van pelt is a bronco, and that means i root for him, but its getting old
hearing people worship the guy because of one long run through a gaping hole.
fact is, the kid throws one out of every 2 or 3 balls SO FAR off target its frightening.
he has a similar style to plummer which makes him valuable, but if jake gets hurt this year (knock on wood) for any significant time we're done.

[orange 4 life]

I dont think the schedule is as tough as you people make it out to be. At least 2 of the teams you all think are going to be tough are not going to be and two more are going to be better than advertised.

I expect this year's schedule to be pretty much the same as every other year. About average.

exactly.
this same talk has happened every year for the last five years or so.
the nice thing this year is that the toughest games are at home. big advantage, considering its the lousy teams that give us a hard time at home!!

[Clockwork Orange]

6-2 at the halfway...headed to 9-7....this IS the Donks we're talking about. :giggle:

As opposed to the Chefs who'll start out 3-8, finish 7-9 and we get to hear their fans tell us how they're "improving." ::)

I'm sure your boys will look like world beaters again this year once their eliminated from playoff contention in week 10. rofl

[Popps]

Plummer has taken better care of the ball very well in the pre-season. I suspect it'll carry over.

[orange 4 life]

Plummer has taken better care of the ball very well in the pre-season. I suspect it'll carry over.

amen popps.

he ALSO did a good job taking care of the ball in '03, and if you look at him game by game in '04 its easy to see why the turnovers were higher.

he's shown us that when we ask him to just run the offense and make a big play here and there he is more than capable.
when we ask him to BE the offense is when things get dicey.

with ash looking as good as he does, rod still being rod, alexander at TE along with putz, and anderson and bell taking the carries, i think he wont be asked to do too much very often.

jake

[Bob's your Information Minister]

As opposed to the Chefs who'll start out 3-8, finish 7-9 and we get to hear their fans tell us how they're "improving." ::)

I'm sure your boys will look like world beaters again this year once their eliminated from playoff contention in week 10. rofl

It's an even year. We're due for a first round playoff exit. Screw you!

[Ballhawk]

Not to jinx it but Plummer looks about 200% more comfortable this preseason than last. It is a complicated system to learn and I think so much time was being used to digest it the last couple years, that this year is the first he had to dedicate time to the small things like checkoffs, footworks and fine tuning some mechanics.

I like Jake as our QB. I liked him even when he was blowing up last year. He should be ready to give us three years of quality play.

[orange 4 life]

Not to jinx it but Plummer looks about 200% more comfortable this preseason than last. It is a complicated system to learn and I think so much time was being used to digest it the last couple years, that this year is the first he had to dedicate time to the small things like checkoffs, footworks and fine tuning some mechanics.

I like Jake as our QB. I liked him even when he was blowing up last year. He should be ready to give us three years of quality play.

its a very complex offense.
ive said this many times before, but even Elway said it took him until his 3rd year to feel completely comfortable.
jake DOES look comfy back there (he also only rolled out TWICE against indy and we were very successful moving the ball), and its unlikely we'll throw as much as last year or have 11 tipped ball int's.
he'll make mistakes because...well, because he's a human being.
im sure he'll also get crucified for every one and a few people with IQ'S under 80 will scream for vanpelt.
still, his mistakes should be less without sacrificing any of the playmaking ability.

jake

ps- just knock on wood. that always avoids the curse!!

[DB-Freak]

I just hope he can step up in his throws and plant his foot.

He threw off his backfoot too much when it wasnt necessary. That diminishes the power and accuracy too much.

[DBroncos4life]

I predict the best year ever by Plummer. He's primed and ready for a huge year.