Broncos will turn the page on playbook

[dragondawg]

Broncos will turn the page on playbook
Broncos revisit Elway playbook with Plummer out, Cutler in
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer

This week, as his former Broncos were preparing to start their quarterback camp, Jake Plummer packed up his favorite T-shirts and knapsack and moved back home to Idaho.

He left behind some impressive team records for Jay Cutler to shoot for, none more so than Plummer's 4,089 passing yards in 2004 and four- year, regular-season mark of 39-15.

As for the Broncos' playbook, Plummer could have buried it in the Sawtooth Mountains for all it matters. The book used by the nimble- footed, arm-challenged Plummer was loaded with bootleg diagrams, but the deeper pass patterns were all but sealed.

The strong-armed Cutler not only will cause coach Mike Shanahan and offensive assistant Mike Heimer- dinger to dust off the long-throw, big-play pages, but move them closer to the jacket cover


"I heard someone saying the other day that they feel like they're going to be able to do things they haven't done since No. 7 was around," Broncos safety John Lynch said. "Every time someone says that I cringe. It is just not fair to Jay. But I think Jay has some special qualities that will allow us to do some special things in terms of pocket passing and the concepts you can do within that."

No. 7, for those who just now became old enough to read, will forever belong to John Elway in Broncos lore. Cutler is five Super Bowl appearances, more than 50,000 passing yards, innumerable scrambles and one helicopter spin shy of matching Elway's career. But that roll to the left, pass 40 yards downfield to the right is one of the Duke's signature plays Cutler can duplicate.

"I don't want to take anything away from Jake Plummer, because he won 70 percent of our games and he did a lot of great things when he was here," Shanahan said. "But it's a new era, and we have a quarterback with different skills."

More than the deep ball, Cutler will encourage Shanahan and Heimerdinger to call more passing plays on third downs. Too many times with Plummer last season, the calls coming in from the Broncos' sideline dripped with timidity.

On third-and-3 or longer, the Broncos ran the ball an alarming 32 times in 127 such plays with Plummer, or 25.2 percent. Even Travis Henry, the Broncos' new running back with three seasons of at least 1,200 yards, would have trouble picking up 3 yards on third down against today's NFL defenses.

When the rookie Cutler was taking snaps last season, the Broncos rushed only six of 50 plays on third-and-3 or longer, or 12 percent.

With Javon Walker available for a full offseason at No. 1 receiver, the blossoming potential of second-year targets Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall, and the skill-position additions of Henry and tight end Daniel Graham, the Broncos seemingly have enough offensive weapons to never throw caution into Cutler's helmet speaker.

But nothing quite opens up a playbook like confidence in the quarterback.

"I'm sure we'll take some shots down the field a little bit more, but we have Travis back there so we're still going to pound it," Cutler said. "I think we're just trying to clean up some stuff from last year, simplify some stuff. Get a lot of the gray area out of there. We get all that cleaned up, get everyone on the same page, we'll be fine."

As Plummer and the Broncos scuffled through the first six games last season, averaging a mere 13.2 points, a disconnect between the quarterback and play-callers became apparent. At least it became obvious to those watching Plummer and Shanahan scream at each other on the sideline. It was usually a conservative play call that set Plummer off.

This led many to conclude Plummer missed his old offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, who left the Broncos before last season to become head coach of the Houston Texans.

If it's true Kubiak's departure affected Plummer, there is no fear such a problem will exist this year. Cutler and Heimer -dinger, Kubiak's replacement, broke in together last year.

"The work ethic he has and the way he sees things, it's hard to not like the guy," Heimer- dinger said. "We met even before he started playing last year, and then when he started playing, we had a lot of 6 in the morning meetings before anybody got in here. Since we've started together, it's been pretty good."

It may not make for good television, but a more harmonious relationship between the quarterback and the people transmitting the play calls may bring less pause and more gumption to the next play call.

"Me and Dinger, we kind of think alike," Cutler said. "I think we have the same goals and concepts of where we want this offense to go, so it's been fun working with him so far."



Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is likely to air out his throws even more this season. Here are some prominent QBs who received significant playing time as a rookie, then passed for more yards per attempt in their second season:
Quarterback 1st 2nd
John Elway 6.42 6.84
Ben Roethlisberger 8.88 8.90
Peyton Manning 6.50 7.76
Eli Manning 5.29 6.75
Donovan McNabb 4.39 5.91
Steve McNair 7.11 8.37
Alex Smith 5.30 6.54
Troy Aikman 5.97 6.47
Dan Marino 7.47 9.01 Jay Cutler 7.31 -

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5913257

[dbfan21]

Great article! It's exciting to hear that the playbook will be opened up for Jay to execute. Plus, the weapons that are on offense are downright scary for opposing defenses! Thanks for posting, DD.

Go Broncos!!

[Paladin]

I read that piece this morning and I deeply hope that Cutler makes three quarters of the plays that other fellow did. If so, I think he can be very good. I hold reservations about "greatness" until something is proven, but I give him all my support.

Much has been said as to his "style". Some want him to be a Palmer clone, a Favre clone, a Brady clone, a Manning clone or whatever. I hope he will be the original Cutler. A lot of people seem to want VY or ML to be "better" QBs than Cutler, but I don't think that's going to happen. I honestly believe Young will fade like Cunningham in three or four years, and I think Matt L. will be a solid contributor, maybe get to a couple of Bowls. But Cutler will be the "perennial contender" type of player, especially with a Shanahan Offense around him.

I am greatly excited to see what the near future holds for this young man. Should be an existing ten to fifteen years......

[dbfan4life]

Offense, with the exception of o-line, was the least of my concerns going into the offseason, which is why I was so baffled when we were trying to move into the #2 spot in the draft. I'm glad things fell in place they way it did. We finally addressed our needs on the d and o - lines and added a couple of quality players on offense. This has been one of our best offseaons in a while. I pumped for this season to start.

[jonny1]

Interesting fact that Jay has the third highest yards-per-attempt rating as a rookie on that list . . .

[bronco militia]

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[bronco militia]

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[Arkansas Bronco]

What I still think is funny is that so many people who only loosely keep track (which most people are) actualy ask that since we traded Plummer who will be our QB. It seems if you arnt heavy into the NFL no one knows who the kid is or thinks he isnt going to make it. He gets no respect and I will love it when I get to make everyone around here eat there words.

[alkemical]

LOL @ the pics militia

[FantomForce]

Sweet open it up and watch the points pile up!:thumbs:

[alkemical]

"Me and Dinger, we kind of think alike," Cutler said. "I think we have the same goals and concepts of where we want this offense to go, so it's been fun working with him so far."

[Jason in LA]

I may be getting ahead of things a bit, but the more I read about Cutler and the playbook being opened up, the more it makes me think about the Super Bowl offenses. If the Broncos can have anything like those offenses, it's going to be tough to stop them.

[PLOWHORSE]

"Me and Dinger, we kind of think alike," Cutler said. "I think we have the same goals and concepts of where we want this offense to go, so it's been fun working with him so far."

Exactly Clav! Best sentence in the whole piece.

[alkemical]

The AFCW will soon learn to.... F E A R C U T L E R

[Popps]

Cutler will be fine. I expect great things from him.

He's not the issue, of course. The issue is the DL and the OL. Their performances will directly decide the outcome of this season.

If our lines step up, we'll go deep into the playoffs.

If they don't, then you'll see a team like SF befuddle us again.

Cutler will do his job.... don't worry about that.

[Crushaholic]

Good luck, Cutler. We'll be watching your progress with great interest...

[Paladin]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

My point its that I think the D needs to be at least a bit above average. With the secondary they have, and with even a bit of an improvement on the Dline - which Bates and Johnson can probably squeeze out - then this team is a contender for the Conference title. Not just Division, Conference.

I believe we will be pleasantly surprised this year!

[NW Bolt Fan]

You lost two games because of scoring less than 20. I understand wanting the offense to be more proficient, but I really think focusing on the defense would be the best strategy.

I think picking up another vet. D-lineman, and another experienced safety would have gone a looooooong ways.

Cutting Al Wilson hurts. Lackluster year by the Brown linemen hurt. If your D isn't substantially improved, you can write off next year too- regardless of an improving offense.

[Beantown Bronco]

You lost two games because of scoring less than 20. I understand wanting the offense to be more proficient, but I really think focusing on the defense would be the best strategy.

I think picking up another vet. D-lineman, and another experienced safety would have gone a looooooong ways.

Cutting Al Wilson hurts. Lackluster year by the Brown linemen hurt. If your D isn't substantially improved, you can write off next year too- regardless of an improving offense.

Huh? You just made the argument for the offensive improvements and didn't even realize it. A two game improvement by the Broncos would've meant a trip to the playoffs where anything can happen.

[cmhargrove]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

My point its that I think the D needs to be at least a bit above average. With the secondary they have, and with even a bit of an improvement on the Dline - which Bates and Johnson can probably squeeze out - then this team is a contender for the Conference title. Not just Division, Conference.

I believe we will be pleasantly surprised this year!

In accordance with your theory, wasn't Indy dead last in run defense going into the playoffs? Somehow the Indy O always keeps them in the game. Although, everyone desires balance, I hope we have a couple new defensive terrors on third and long. And, I would piss orange and blue if I could watch Jarvis Moss block a couple field goals from the line this year. Especially if one of those kicks was in Indy against Viniateri (sp?).

[epicSocialism4tw]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

My point its that I think the D needs to be at least a bit above average. With the secondary they have, and with even a bit of an improvement on the Dline - which Bates and Johnson can probably squeeze out - then this team is a contender for the Conference title. Not just Division, Conference.

I believe we will be pleasantly surprised this year!


The SB defenses were good. Don't be deceived by the media hype.

Those defenses competed for dominance on the line of scrimmage. They were able to execute their system enough to make winning contributions consistently.

We have to have a defensive line that competes for four quarters all season long to be able to win a SB. They dont have to dominate, but they cannot let the opposing offense control the game down the stretch. That has been the downfall of this defense since Elway left town.

Superbowls are won at the LOS. You can have a team like Indy that dominates on one side of the ball and disrupts on the other. You can have a team like the Steelers that are able to execute their system well on both sides. You can have one like Denver that dominates the run game like no one else, and disrupts on the other side of the ball.

You have to be able to consistently execute at the LOS at every point in the season at one area of strength to be able to put yourself in position to win it all.

We just havent seen that type of performance in Denver in a long time.

[ton80]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

My point its that I think the D needs to be at least a bit above average. With the secondary they have, and with even a bit of an improvement on the Dline - which Bates and Johnson can probably squeeze out - then this team is a contender for the Conference title. Not just Division, Conference.

I believe we will be pleasantly surprised this year!

Agree entirely. And with defenses having to fear the passing attack for the first time since Elway retired, our running game and o-line improve by default. I can't wait to see a real offense again that isn't limited by an inconsistent passer with judgement problems. I envision Shanny with needles and voodoo dolls.

[Rock Chalk]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

My point its that I think the D needs to be at least a bit above average. With the secondary they have, and with even a bit of an improvement on the Dline - which Bates and Johnson can probably squeeze out - then this team is a contender for the Conference title. Not just Division, Conference.

I believe we will be pleasantly surprised this year!

Assuming of course our offense is even remotely as potent as that, you'd be right.

But we dont have TD or Sharpe, or a young Rod Smith or the greatest Denver O-line or John Elway OK. The offense may be good, and I stress may because there are lots of new pieces and none of us knows. What I do know for a fact is that it will not be SB good, so our defense will HAVE to be top notch for us to have any chance this year.

[RunSilentRunDeep]

Popps, the SB Ds that Denver had were just about average in the league, I believe. Seems to me the Packers were favored because the Denver D was thought to be too soft, and that Favre was going to shred the D. Well, the O kept that game in hand. The D did a good but not great job except on the last Packer series. The FAlcons were no match against the Denver O. ANd their O was not too flashy. It was the O that won those Bowls, and the D was just adequate.

UNBELIEVABLY WRONG! Denver had one of the top-rated defenses in the NFL. The 98 team was the first since the old steelers of the 70s to be tops in the AFC in both offense and defense.

The 97 defense gave up 17 vs. the Jags, 10 on the road at KC (complete domination). 21 on the road at Pit (forcing mutliple turnovers; offense didn't do **** in second half) and 24 to the Packers track team (forced multiple turnovers).

The 98 defense was even better, giving up 3 to the Dolphins, 10 the Jets (truly 3 since the TD came after a blocked punt, starting the drive on the 1) and 12 to the Falcons (KR for TD gave the Falcons 19)

[REB]

Great article. I just keep getting more and more pumped for the season! Is it Sep. yet?

[elsid13]

It will come down to the ability of the oline to keep the kid clean and execute in the short yardage running plays. If that happen it set up a lot successful for this team

[HEAV]

Got some new faces that need to find their role in the offense. Not to mention the line needs to gel, Lepsis needs to show his knee is ready.

As said before, Jay isn't the concern, the Oline and Dliine need to hold their own and success will come.

I think the guy with all the pressure on him is Travis Henry. He's a decent back coming into a system known for 1500 yard backs. It's going to be expect for him to have 150 yard games.

Still It's a long time until August camp. Just have to wait and see.

[NW Bolt Fan]

Huh? You just made the argument for the offensive improvements and didn't even realize it. A two game improvement by the Broncos would've meant a trip to the playoffs where anything can happen.
Nice spin. You actually won 4 more games that you scored less than 20. My point was, and you already know this- offense wasn't your problem last year, and it won't be your problem this year.

IF your defense comes together, you'll have a solid ball club, be in the playoffs, and from there, who knows. IF your defense doesn't pan out, outscoring everyone will more than likely net a similar year to last year.

FTR, I like 3/4 of your draft, and the addition of Bly. How it, Coyer, and everything else comes together will be interesting.

[Paladin]

It isn't Coyer, anymore. It's Bates....

[BroncoMan4ever]

Great article! It's exciting to hear that the playbook will be opened up for Jay to execute. Plus, the weapons that are on offense are downright scary for opposing defenses! Thanks for posting, DD.

Go Broncos!!

i am glad to hear the long ball is coming back. it has been to long since we last saw Elway's rollout to the right and rifle the ball down the right side of the field hitting a receiver in stride.

1 play i would like to see used more would be the old pitch play that TD used to get all the time. That needs to be dusted off, considering we now have a RB with strength and good enough hands to make the play work.

[Taco John]

Cutler is already such a breath of fresh air.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Cutler is already such a breath of fresh air.

Until he messed things up.

I cant wait to see the "start Patrick Ramsey" threads.

Broncos fans are cannibals. They dont wait long.

[BroncoBuff]

The strong-armed Cutler will cause coach Mike Shanahan and offensive assistant Mike Heimer- dinger to dust off the long-throw, big-play pages in their playbook
That columns nothing great ... Klis has just been reading my posts. I've written the phrase "Shanahan and Dinger are dusting off the old #7 playbook" on several occassions the last couple months:

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1506168&highlight=dusting+playbook+cutler#post1506168
http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1513306&highlight=dusting+playbook+cutler#post1513306

You're welcome, Mike. ;D

[BroncoBuff]

Et tu, Milo?


Shanahan can call the plays he wants
By MILO F. BRYANT
Colorado Springs Gazette

ENGLEWOOD - Time to dust off the old playbook. The new era has begun. The Denver Broncos belong to Jay Cutler, a quarterback Mike Shanahan believes has the knack to run a complex offense. Shanahan can get out the playbook that’s been stored away the past few years. He can go back to calling the plays he once loved.

I guess Milo's been reading me too ... ;D

[bronco militia]

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4749/samplesl1.jpg

[55CrushEm]

That columns nothing great ... Klis has just been reading my posts. I've written the phrase "Shanahan and Dinger are dusting off the old #7 playbook" on several occassions the last couple months:

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1506168&highlight=dusting+playbook+cutler#post1506168
http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1513306&highlight=dusting+playbook+cutler#post1513306

You're welcome, Mike. ;D

Don't worry, Buff.....you can have credit for the "big salad".....;)