bloodsunday
12-13-2006, 10:43 AM
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5210239,00.html
Opening up offense gives Cutler comfort but has drawbacks
They will weigh production against protection as their prized prospect learns his way behind center.
"We'll look at it," coach Mike Shanahan said. "We know he's comfortable when we spread it out because he can see the rush coming. You can see those blitzes coming. But he's got to get rid of it quickly. If he doesn't, that's a problem; he knows that."
After two starts, the Broncos are at an odd crossroad. They would like to encase Cutler behind as many blockers as possible to keep him out of harm's way.
But since being tossed into the lineup 11 games into the season, Cutler has been most comfortable when the Broncos open up the formation, putting him several yards deep, waiting to take a shotgun snap and looking at a formation with receivers scattered across the field.
So much so that, with the Broncos in catch-up mode for much of the afternoon against the hard-rushing San Diego Chargers, Denver lined up with four receivers on 19 snaps and, on eight other snaps, played with two receivers and two tight ends spread across the field.
That was 44 percent of the offensive plays.
"I felt good when we did it," Cutler said. "I think that once I settled down a little, we opened it up some and things got a little better. We'll see what (the coaches) think, but I felt that way."
The trouble with all of that is, with five blockers up front and everybody else in the pass pattern, defenses, especially ones particularly good at tossing around quarterbacks, often are just as excited. Out of that look, Cutler performed well against the Chargers, who lead the NFL in sacks, but took some hits.
He was sacked four times during the 48-20 loss, but three came when the Broncos were in a four-receiver look. Those three included two hits from Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman that jarred the ball loose.
The first fumble, during the first quarter, was recovered by Broncos running back Tatum Bell; the second, during the fourth quarter, was recovered by the Chargers at the Broncos 7-yard line.
"But he stayed calm in there . . . ," Broncos receiver Rod Smith said. "And that was one of those things I enjoyed seeing."
Cutler said he "knew it was going to be a short edge . . . and they were going to be coming hard trying to slap the ball. I've just got to protect it better."
Standing in the shotgun offers Cutler a longer look at things. Instead of worrying about his footwork and scanning the field as he drops back from center, he can receive the ball, ready to throw.
Also, with Broncos receivers spread out sideline to sideline, it spreads out the defense. That can make it easier for the still-learning- on-the-job Cutler to see where the defense will add an extra player to the pass rush after the snap because that defender must move across more open space to get in position to come after him.
"John (Elway) always liked the shotgun, felt like he could go downfield a little more," Shanahan said. "You get a chance to get a pre-snap read on a blitz. That extra half-second is a big deal.
"The other side if it is, in a shotgun, there are only a few runs you can use, so they have their ears back to get after the quarterback. No question, that's the biggest disadvantage; you're declaring, basically, that it's a passing situation. But there is a lot of things you can do out of it, so we like it in the right situation."
It's not for everybody. Shanahan has joked about the lengths Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young would go to stay out of the spread look when Shana- han was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.
"Steve Young and Joe Montana, I've said, I think they dropped the snaps on purpose in the shotgun so they wouldn't have to do it any more because they liked the timing under center," Shanahan said. "They liked the five-step drop, they just felt comfortable in that look.
"But you're always weighing what you think is going to work and what will keep your quarterback from taking unnecessary hits. You don't want to get your guy killed."
Opening up offense gives Cutler comfort but has drawbacks
They will weigh production against protection as their prized prospect learns his way behind center.
"We'll look at it," coach Mike Shanahan said. "We know he's comfortable when we spread it out because he can see the rush coming. You can see those blitzes coming. But he's got to get rid of it quickly. If he doesn't, that's a problem; he knows that."
After two starts, the Broncos are at an odd crossroad. They would like to encase Cutler behind as many blockers as possible to keep him out of harm's way.
But since being tossed into the lineup 11 games into the season, Cutler has been most comfortable when the Broncos open up the formation, putting him several yards deep, waiting to take a shotgun snap and looking at a formation with receivers scattered across the field.
So much so that, with the Broncos in catch-up mode for much of the afternoon against the hard-rushing San Diego Chargers, Denver lined up with four receivers on 19 snaps and, on eight other snaps, played with two receivers and two tight ends spread across the field.
That was 44 percent of the offensive plays.
"I felt good when we did it," Cutler said. "I think that once I settled down a little, we opened it up some and things got a little better. We'll see what (the coaches) think, but I felt that way."
The trouble with all of that is, with five blockers up front and everybody else in the pass pattern, defenses, especially ones particularly good at tossing around quarterbacks, often are just as excited. Out of that look, Cutler performed well against the Chargers, who lead the NFL in sacks, but took some hits.
He was sacked four times during the 48-20 loss, but three came when the Broncos were in a four-receiver look. Those three included two hits from Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman that jarred the ball loose.
The first fumble, during the first quarter, was recovered by Broncos running back Tatum Bell; the second, during the fourth quarter, was recovered by the Chargers at the Broncos 7-yard line.
"But he stayed calm in there . . . ," Broncos receiver Rod Smith said. "And that was one of those things I enjoyed seeing."
Cutler said he "knew it was going to be a short edge . . . and they were going to be coming hard trying to slap the ball. I've just got to protect it better."
Standing in the shotgun offers Cutler a longer look at things. Instead of worrying about his footwork and scanning the field as he drops back from center, he can receive the ball, ready to throw.
Also, with Broncos receivers spread out sideline to sideline, it spreads out the defense. That can make it easier for the still-learning- on-the-job Cutler to see where the defense will add an extra player to the pass rush after the snap because that defender must move across more open space to get in position to come after him.
"John (Elway) always liked the shotgun, felt like he could go downfield a little more," Shanahan said. "You get a chance to get a pre-snap read on a blitz. That extra half-second is a big deal.
"The other side if it is, in a shotgun, there are only a few runs you can use, so they have their ears back to get after the quarterback. No question, that's the biggest disadvantage; you're declaring, basically, that it's a passing situation. But there is a lot of things you can do out of it, so we like it in the right situation."
It's not for everybody. Shanahan has joked about the lengths Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young would go to stay out of the spread look when Shana- han was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.
"Steve Young and Joe Montana, I've said, I think they dropped the snaps on purpose in the shotgun so they wouldn't have to do it any more because they liked the timing under center," Shanahan said. "They liked the five-step drop, they just felt comfortable in that look.
"But you're always weighing what you think is going to work and what will keep your quarterback from taking unnecessary hits. You don't want to get your guy killed."