eddie mac
04-18-2007, 09:43 PM
http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/broncos/archives/2007/04/will_sauerbrun.html
Just picked this up from Legwold's blog about Preston Parsons.
Q: Can you give us some insight on (the Broncos) backup quarterback situation. It is rare that a starting NFL quarterback makes it through a full season without an injury. One of Jake Plummer's best qualities was his durability. I feel that Jay Cutler may share that quality with Jake. However if he is injured, how well do you think Patrick Ramsey fits our offense? How about Preston Parsons? And will we keep three quarterbacks this year or continue with just two?
A: That is one of the things they are working on with Cutler this offseason. He is so big and strong, he has always felt he can stand in the pocket as long as he has to -- sometimes longer than he should -- to make a play.
Last year, even in his limited schedule as a starter, he took some shots, especially against the 49ers in the season finale, because of that belief. They want him to be aware of that and try to get rid of the ball more quickly at times to avoid taking the unnecessary hits that could put him on the sideline.
Every quarterback needs to be able to get himself out of trouble. Whether they are able to avoid the rushers with a subtle slide or two in the pocket, like Tom Brady, or get rid of the ball almost the instant the trouble starts heading his way, like Peyton Manning, or they scramble at an elite level like Vince Young, it doesn't matter how it gets done, it just has to get done for a player to stay relatively injury free over the long haul behind center.
The ones who don't do it consistently get hurt. It's that simple. Doesn't matter how big or strong they are, the defensive linemen hitting them will almost always be bigger and stronger, and that doesn't even include the hits they don't see coming from their blind side.
So Cutler will need that awareness as well as he develops to maximize his playing time. He will learn where his line is to get rid of the ball or hang in a little more to try to make a play.
Ramsey, because of his arm strength and experience, is a quality option in the No. 2 spot. With Cutler's arm strength, Ramsey presents the kind of option that would keep the Broncos from having to deviate from anything in the playbook if Cutler got injured.
One of the reasons Plummer was eventually benched last season was the Broncos coaches were frustrated with the drop-back passing game. They want their quarterback to be mobile enough for the rollout game when they want to use it, but in the end they want consistency in the pocket the most.
That's why the offense took on a more down-field approach when Cutler was throwing the ball, and the Broncos coaches believe that's why their scoring average went up as well with Cutler in the lineup.
It's why Cutler was the starter ahead of schedule in '06 and why Ramsey is their backup for '07.
They also like Parsons, who would have to be added to the roster this season since he is out of practice squad eligibility. Unless they need the roster spot for another specialist, like a returner, extra defensive back or something else, they would like to keep three quarterbacks if they can.
Parsons is big, strong and works hard. When they have kept just two quarterbacks on the roster in the past, it was because they believed they had a more compelling need at another position than keeping a third quarterback.
Just picked this up from Legwold's blog about Preston Parsons.
Q: Can you give us some insight on (the Broncos) backup quarterback situation. It is rare that a starting NFL quarterback makes it through a full season without an injury. One of Jake Plummer's best qualities was his durability. I feel that Jay Cutler may share that quality with Jake. However if he is injured, how well do you think Patrick Ramsey fits our offense? How about Preston Parsons? And will we keep three quarterbacks this year or continue with just two?
A: That is one of the things they are working on with Cutler this offseason. He is so big and strong, he has always felt he can stand in the pocket as long as he has to -- sometimes longer than he should -- to make a play.
Last year, even in his limited schedule as a starter, he took some shots, especially against the 49ers in the season finale, because of that belief. They want him to be aware of that and try to get rid of the ball more quickly at times to avoid taking the unnecessary hits that could put him on the sideline.
Every quarterback needs to be able to get himself out of trouble. Whether they are able to avoid the rushers with a subtle slide or two in the pocket, like Tom Brady, or get rid of the ball almost the instant the trouble starts heading his way, like Peyton Manning, or they scramble at an elite level like Vince Young, it doesn't matter how it gets done, it just has to get done for a player to stay relatively injury free over the long haul behind center.
The ones who don't do it consistently get hurt. It's that simple. Doesn't matter how big or strong they are, the defensive linemen hitting them will almost always be bigger and stronger, and that doesn't even include the hits they don't see coming from their blind side.
So Cutler will need that awareness as well as he develops to maximize his playing time. He will learn where his line is to get rid of the ball or hang in a little more to try to make a play.
Ramsey, because of his arm strength and experience, is a quality option in the No. 2 spot. With Cutler's arm strength, Ramsey presents the kind of option that would keep the Broncos from having to deviate from anything in the playbook if Cutler got injured.
One of the reasons Plummer was eventually benched last season was the Broncos coaches were frustrated with the drop-back passing game. They want their quarterback to be mobile enough for the rollout game when they want to use it, but in the end they want consistency in the pocket the most.
That's why the offense took on a more down-field approach when Cutler was throwing the ball, and the Broncos coaches believe that's why their scoring average went up as well with Cutler in the lineup.
It's why Cutler was the starter ahead of schedule in '06 and why Ramsey is their backup for '07.
They also like Parsons, who would have to be added to the roster this season since he is out of practice squad eligibility. Unless they need the roster spot for another specialist, like a returner, extra defensive back or something else, they would like to keep three quarterbacks if they can.
Parsons is big, strong and works hard. When they have kept just two quarterbacks on the roster in the past, it was because they believed they had a more compelling need at another position than keeping a third quarterback.