Very cool Scheffler Read...

[Memento]

http://www.mlive.com/sports/aanews/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1173796986274210.xml&coll=2

[Dudeskey]

For those of us (like myself) that are too ****in' lazy to click the link:

An NFL experience Life as rookie was a challenge for ex-Chelsea star Scheffler


Tuesday, March 13, 2007 BY JOHN HEUSER
News Sports Reporter


Tony Scheffler went from unheralded college player to second-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos last year thanks to an impressive showing at the NFL scouting combine.
What followed for Scheffler was a rookie season that alternated between highs and lows.
A Chelsea High School and Western Michigan University graduate, Scheffler had a promising preseason. But after a slow start to the regular campaign, he was deactivated for three games before re-emerging when the Broncos switched quarterbacks, benching Jake Plummer in favor of rookie Jay Cutler. Teaming with his close friend Cutler, a first-round draft choice, Scheffler finished the year with 18 catches and four touchdowns.

Back in Michigan for the winter, Scheffler sat down for a conversation over dinner at the Common Grill in Chelsea, where he talked about his NFL experiences.

The News: What's the biggest difference between the NFL and college football?
Scheffler: "The amount of preparation that goes into it. People don't realize, they look at it, it's such a glamorous job, you get paid so much money, this and that. The amount of work that goes into it is unbelievable. On a daily basis, you're there from 7 o'clock 'til 5:30 at night, and basically your mind is spinning a thousand miles an hour the whole time. It's really stressful. I lost 20 pounds the first couple days I was out there (in training camp), and I never got it back until now. I was playing at 235, and I hadn't been that since my sophomore year in college.''

Tell me more about the preparation.
"I'm not kidding you, one of our game plans is probably five or six games at Western Michigan. You're in meetings for like four hours, and then you're right out on the practice field. You have to soak everything in that meeting and know proper technique, everything.
"That's part of the reason I wasn't so successful early in the year. In the preseason we kind of have limited game plans. I was good at that because that's what I did in college. When we got into the regular season, it's like, man. I kind of struggled with it, maybe I didn't study enough, take it home. When I was a rookie, the last thing you wanted to do is go 7 (a.m.) to 6 (p.m.), then you get home and be in the book for two more hours. But that's what needed to be done.''

Did you have a welcome-to-the-NFL moment?
"The first pass of the first regular-season game, Plummer threw it a little differently than he had been in practice all week. I was used to it being on a line. I was looking over one shoulder, and he kind of threw it over the other shoulder and lobbed it. So I'm looking over here for the ball and didn't find it, so I'm like OK, he didn't throw it to me. I could hear the crowd and I'm like, what's going on? And I look up at the last second and the ball hits me in the head. I'm like, not good. Of course, it was all the reporters wanted to talk about after the game.''

How are NFL players different than those you faced in college?
"The size of these guys is unreal, unreal. I'm not small by any means, and I look small out there. In the preseason I'm going up against (Houston Texans' defensive end) Mario Williams. I walked up to the line and here's this mountain of a man standing in front of you and you're just supposed to run him over. It's like, OK. Just the size of these people. It's not so much the speed, I don't think it's that big of a difference. It's the size of these guys. Just unbelievable.''
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SPC/@StoryAd"></SCRIPT><!-- MICHIGANLIVE/TACODA_REMNANT_MI03 -->
How did you handle being deactivated?
"It was tough, obviously. You go into the game not knowing. You practice all week, then they have someone come up to you like two hours before the game and tap you on the shoulder and tell you you're down. That's tough. Because they teach you that you have to prepare like you're playing. You gotta be right there. The hard part is sticking with it, knowing you're probably not gonna play. You're just on the sideline, hanging out in sweatpants.''

How did you get back onto the field?
"It's pretty obvious when I went back in, it was when Jay was starting. I went from deactivated to starting. They pretty much said: 'Here's your shot, don't blow it.' It was a lot of pressure, especially when I hadn't played in three or four weeks. I'd been studying more, I started taking it a little more seriously. I realized that this isn't a joke, I can be out of here just as fast as I came in. You have to be on top of it 24 hours a day or you fall behind.''

What are your Broncos' teammates like?
"I wasn't as close with near as many guys in college as I am in the NFL. It's kind of weird, you wouldn't think about it that way. You think about when you get to the NFL, there would be all these big egos and crazy personalities. Pretty much, it's the opposite. I hung out with probably a handful of guys at Western Michigan, and I get to the NFL and I can hang out with any guy on the team. Everyone's cool, it's a really close team.''

What was it like to have two teammates (cornerback Darrent Williams, who was murdered, and running back Damien Nash, who suffered a heart attack) die in recent months?
"It was crazy. That was really tough. As close as we were, that made it even worse. Damien, his locker was next to mine in training camp. And D. Will, he was everybody's friend, just the coolest dude. His locker was right in front of where you walk into the practice space. He was right there, never mad, always a smile on his face.''

What's the media attention like at the NFL level?
"It's different, because they're in the locker room every day. The media can't go in the training room, so some guys will hide out, play cards until we have to go out to practice. But it's not bad. I think you kind of develop your go-to answers. It almost becomes like riding a bike after a while. Getting good stuff from guys is kind of hard. I don't throw out the crazy quotes like I did in high school.'' <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SPC/@StoryAd"></SCRIPT>

How has life changed, now that you're in the NFL?
"I don't think I've changed at all. But you get people that were a small part of your life - that I haven't talked to in 10 years - all of a sudden (they're) your best friend. Even family members. There's a fine line in finding what you should do and shouldn't do. You have people ask for money, you have people ask for favors. Everyone wants a jersey, everyone wants a football. You can't please everyone, but everyone wants to be pleased. No matter what happens, at the end of the day you're gonna be a jerk in somebody's eyes.''

What's it like going from being a broke college student to having NFL money?
"I still find myself with the same habits. I find myself looking for sales, looking through the discount clothes at the mall. I haven't changed that much in terms of money. I bought a house (on Michigan's Houghton Lake). I try to put it into things that are going to appreciate, not depreciate. I bought the car (a Hummer H2). Obviously, that's going to depreciate. That's the one thing I kind of splurged on.''

Are you relatively anonymous in Denver, away from the football field?
"In Colorado, I can pretty much do what I want. I'm not real recognizable there yet. When I'm with Jay, it's a different story. We spent so much time together, living together (during mini-camps and training camp), we were out to dinner every night. I almost found my second job as a cameraman, taking pictures of people and Jay. It's fun, but I really feel for guys like him and (cornerback) Champ (Bailey) and Jake. I can still go out and have a peaceful dinner and not really be bothered.''

What's new in your personal life?
"I could never imagine myself being 24 years old and being in the spot I'm in. I kind of look back at it and say what's going on? I'm married now (to college sweetheart, Richelle), having a kid (due in late March). It's a lot. That's another part of the adjustment I had to get used to. In the NFL, you still have to be consistent and do your job at the same time you have all this new stuff going on. It was a lot to handle. You grow up pretty fast.''

What do you expect from your second season?
"The way we left off with me and Jay and the offense all together, things look bright. We have high expectations. Jay is going to be, before all is said and done, a Brett Favre kind of player. He's not afraid to make any throw. Me and Jay have developed a good relationship; he knows where I'm going to be. I'm looking forward to keeping that going. I'd like to be there with him for 10 years, but being a complete player, keep working on the blocking.''

[Jens1893]

Thanks for that.

[thumpc]

They're closer than they are in college, pretty cool.

[ludo21]

great stuff..

Thanks Urinal, caz i am the lazy person who always doesnt click the links ;D

I cant wait to see Sheff and Jay mature together. Having Graham will benefit Sheffler as well, cant wait to see what he learns from one of the elite TE's.

[BigPlayShay]

I absolutely cannot wait for Double Tight End formations with Scheff and Graham. The Broncos are going to own the middle of the field.

[wolf754life]

Did you have a welcome-to-the-NFL moment?
"The first pass of the first regular-season game, Plummer threw it a little differently than he had been in practice all week. I was used to it being on a line. I was looking over one shoulder, and he kind of threw it over the other shoulder and lobbed it. So I'm looking over here for the ball and didn't find it, so I'm like OK, he didn't throw it to me. I could hear the crowd and I'm like, what's going on? And I look up at the last second and the ball hits me in the head. I'm like, not good. Of course, it was all the reporters wanted to talk about after the game.''

Nice throw jake!

[Stormontheplains]

Great find and great read.

[Ratboy]

Did you have a welcome-to-the-NFL moment?
"The first pass of the first regular-season game, Plummer threw it a little differently than he had been in practice all week. I was used to it being on a line. I was looking over one shoulder, and he kind of threw it over the other shoulder and lobbed it. So I'm looking over here for the ball and didn't find it, so I'm like OK, he didn't throw it to me. I could hear the crowd and I'm like, what's going on? And I look up at the last second and the ball hits me in the head. I'm like, not good. Of course, it was all the reporters wanted to talk about after the game.''

Nice throw jake!


Tony threw Plummer under the bus

[Dudeskey]

I absolutely cannot wait for Double Tight End formations with Scheff and Graham. The Broncos are going to own the middle of the field.

Man I was thinking the same thing... We ran a lot of those formations when we had Portis & Sharpe (I think Hape was lining up opposite of Sharpe). I'd love to see both Sheff & Graham get involved in the passing game

[WoodMan]

Thanks. Nice read. But 235?? I sure thought he was carrying more weight than that. Makes it tough to be blocking a 280-300 pound DE.

[Garcia Bronco]

I can't wait to see some TE sets that kick arse

[thumpc]

Thanks. Nice read. But 235?? I sure thought he was carrying more weight than that. Makes it tough to be blocking a 280-300 pound DE.

That makes sense now. He took an end around in the Indy game where he looked pretty slim and quick. I had never seen that play called for a TE.

[Los Broncos]

Nice read, thanks.

[Los Broncos]

Tony threw Plummer under the bus

Wow, that wont happen anymore with Jay at the helm.

[Dr.5280]

Tony threw Plummer under the bus

plummer threw plummer under the bus.

[Paladin]

I thought he looked good at the end of the season at the lower weight. Maybe he needs to stay at that weight...

I am going freaking bananas thinking about the possibilities of the Denver O next year. If the D can stop someone, they could actually be a serious contender.....

[bombquixote]

"Back in Michigan for the winter..."

Dude, you just got paid NFL money, and you spent the winter in MICHIGAN? I know it's home and everything, but man.

[broncosteven]

Did you have a welcome-to-the-NFL moment?
"The first pass of the first regular-season game, Plummer threw it a little differently than he had been in practice all week. I was used to it being on a line. I was looking over one shoulder, and he kind of threw it over the other shoulder and lobbed it. So I'm looking over here for the ball and didn't find it, so I'm like OK, he didn't throw it to me. I could hear the crowd and I'm like, what's going on? And I look up at the last second and the ball hits me in the head. I'm like, not good. Of course, it was all the reporters wanted to talk about after the game.''

Nice throw jake!

LOL!

[broncosteven]

What do you expect from your second season?
"The way we left off with me and Jay and the offense all together, things look bright. We have high expectations. Jay is going to be, before all is said and done, a Brett Favre kind of player. He's not afraid to make any throw. Me and Jay have developed a good relationship; he knows where I'm going to be. I'm looking forward to keeping that going. I'd like to be there with him for 10 years, but being a complete player, keep working on the blocking.''


Good Stuff! I know it is off season fluff but I can read the above all day.

[Dendave]

Good thing he bought the Hummer H2
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6395 (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6395)

from Nate Jackson's Journal


Just today I learned what a snow drift is. Congatulations to the drifting snow for finding a sweet little place to die on my driveway. This drift was far too menacing to be hacked at this morning by some dude, empty of stomach and lacking meteorological forsight.
Luckily, fellow tight end and Hummer owner Tony Scheffler (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=5908) picked me up for work. Yet even for the almighty Hummer, the streets of my unplowed neighborhood were too much to handle, so I walked to the edge of the glacier to meet him. The snow was up to my knees, but the air was crisp and quiet as dream. I took a moment to appreciate it, then helped Tony dig the Hummer out of a ditch.</font]
[/COLOR]

[BroncoBuff]

Great article... thanks, new guy.

[Odysseus]

I really liked the Tony Scheffler pickup since day one. It just gets better.

[watermock]

"I feel like a camera man" Ha! Small price to pay for a buddy that will probably put you in the pro bowl. Then someone else can hold the camera...make it a goal Tony!

You think about when you get to the NFL, there would be all these big egos and crazy personalities. Pretty much, it's the opposite. I hung out with probably a handful of guys at Western Michigan, and I get to the NFL and I can hang out with any guy on the team. Everyone's cool, it's a really close team.''

On being beaten down to 235: We were taking off baby fat...put on 20 pounds of muscle! Honey, I got a hummer! good for him but what will his wife think? Great article. I am expecting our bookend TE's to kick some ass.

[chaz]

great stuff..

Thanks Urinal, caz i am the lazy person who always doesnt click the links ;D



LOL i dont ever click links either...god i'm lazy.

[Kaylore]

That's pretty cool. Good article and he answered the questions we all want to know.

I like how people think Scheffler was throwing Jake under the bus when it was just a different stlye of QB. Cutler and Scheffler worked together almost all of the preseason and Plummer lobs balls and isn't as accurate as Cutler. That's just the truth of it. It's hard to change gears like that especially in the opener.

[backup qb]

plummer threw plummer under the bus.

AMEN!!!

[OrangeShadow]

good read, thanks man

[-Slap-]

Tony threw Plummer under the bus

Impossible. You can only throw a teammate under the bus, not some handball playing choad.

[Clockwork Orange]

That's pretty cool. Good article and he answered the questions we all want to know.

I like how people think Scheffler was throwing Jake under the bus when it was just a different stlye of QB. Cutler and Scheffler worked together almost all of the preseason and Plummer lobs balls and isn't as accurate as Cutler. That's just the truth of it. It's hard to change gears like that especially in the opener.

It wasn't just Scheffler, Brandon Marshall suddenly became a part of the offense once Cutler was starting, too.

[Cito Pelon]

That makes sense now. He took an end around in the Indy game where he looked pretty slim and quick. I had never seen that play called for a TE.

Well, the staff wanted to do some things with the Scheff, but in his own words he was not prepared for the 6 page playbook. Shanahan has this idea in his head about a superb O, but the reality on gameday is a whole different matter.

[NYBronco]

Did you have a welcome-to-the-NFL moment?
"The first pass of the first regular-season game, Plummer threw it a little differently than he had been in practice all week. I was used to it being on a line. I was looking over one shoulder, and he kind of threw it over the other shoulder and lobbed it. So I'm looking over here for the ball and didn't find it, so I'm like OK, he didn't throw it to me. I could hear the crowd and I'm like, what's going on? And I look up at the last second and the ball hits me in the head. I'm like, not good. Of course, it was all the reporters wanted to talk about after the game.''

Nice throw jake!


Plummer trying to throw Scheff under the bus knowing he would thrive under Cutler, watching them connect in practice.

[Cito Pelon]

"Back in Michigan for the winter..."

Dude, you just got paid NFL money, and you spent the winter in MICHIGAN? I know it's home and everything, but man.

WTF the dude gonna do all winter here, take pictures of Jay and babes hanging on him? Dude's married to his college sweetie. Come on.

[Kaylore]

I have no doubt that with his salary you can buy a pretty nice house - even in Michigan.

[BlaK-Argentina]

What's so bad about Michigan?

[Cito Pelon]

It wasn't just Scheffler, Brandon Marshall suddenly became a part of the offense once Cutler was starting, too.

Pretty exciting, eh? Keep Cutler upright and good stuff happens.

[Cito Pelon]

What's so bad about Michigan?

No sun in the winter.

[watermock]

Plenty of sun when it's below zero.

[SoCalBronco]

Go Tony!

He's going to be a beast here for a long time, what a great athlete for a TE.

Man, him and Jay are just warming up. A great combo.

http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/images/scheffler_tony_shoot_060430.jpg

http://web1.denverbroncos.com/resources/custom/Images/Top%

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/MNMassacre/Scheffler.jpg

[watermock]

It wasn't just Scheffler, Brandon Marshall suddenly became a part of the offense once Cutler was starting, too.

This is painfully true, sspecially for Rod. I'm amazed they got a rookie TE out of the garage once Jake was benched. Not. Isn't the real point is Jake kept locking onto a WR with a bad hip?

[Clockwork Orange]

Pretty exciting, eh? Keep Cutler upright and good stuff happens.

That's accurate. It's pretty astounding when you look at the difference in Marshall's production with each QB.

In 10 games with Plummer (he missed the opener due to injury) he caught 6 passes for 76 yards and 1 TD.

In 5 games with Cutler he caught 14 passes for 233 yards and 1 TD.

[Pendejo]

What's so bad about Michigan?

The Detroit Red Wings.

[Pendejo]

That's accurate. It's pretty astounding when you look at the difference in Marshall's production with each QB.

In 10 games with Plummer (he missed the opener due to injury) he caught 6 passes for 76 yards and 1 TD.

In 5 games with Cutler he caught 14 passes for 233 yards and 1 TD.

Not only did Scheffler, and Marshall start to come on when Cutler got promoted, but the offense as a whole seemed to play better. They averaged 7 points per game more with Cutler under center. (17.7ppg to 24.8ppg)

That's a significant difference.

[DB-Freak]

Wow Scheff and Culter seem like real close friends...


They seemed to have pretty good chemistry when they play together too.

They seem like they'll be quite the duo in the future.

[broncosteven]

What's so bad about Michigan?

Have you ever been to Flint?

Worse place I ever lived was LaPeer Mich, 20 miles from Flint but that was 25 years ago.

2nd best place I ever lived was Coldwater Mich, but they are like 4 hours apart. Coldwater had a lot of small lakes, lots of fun for a kid that at one time liked to fish.