dragondawg
09-19-2007, 03:23 AM
Cutler embracing the legend of No. 7
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
As microphones, cameras, notepads and television audiences awaited the words and expressions of the comeback hero, Jay Cutler nonchalantly dropped the name John Elway.
No media member had dared bring up the Duke, out of fairness to the kid. Then Cutler did it.
Imagine that. Brian Griese and Jake Plummer, the immediate successors to Hall of Famer Elway as the Broncos' quarterback, didn't shy from the legend's shadow so much as they approached it on tiptoes.
After the Broncos' season-opening victory at Buffalo, Cutler greeted the expectations left by Elway with a strong bearhug.
"He didn't go anywhere," Cutler said. "You guys are going to compare us whether we shy away from him or not. Until we win the Super Bowl, people here are going to throw out John Elway's name. So we might as well embrace it. He's the greatest quarterback who ever played. Why not appreciate it?"
This direct approach may well provide a window into why Cutler is so effective when the Broncos are down and the game is late. Elway was the greatest comeback quarterback in NFL history and has the unofficial record to prove it. His 47 fourth-quarter or overtime game- saving or game-winning drives remain the comeback standard.
Brett Favre, who either has, or is within reach of, just about every other career passing record, is well behind, with 37 fourth-quarter comebacks.
Cutler, though, is well ahead of Elway's pace. With three late comebacks in a row - the final game of 2006 against San Francisco (although the Broncos ended up losing that game), the 2007 opener at Buffalo and last weekend against Oakland - Cutler has three through his first seven games. Elway didn't get his third comeback until his 22nd game.
When it comes to fourth-quarter comebacks, perhaps Cutler will be Tiger to Elway's Golden Bear.
As has been communicated, scoring has been a problem for the Broncos this year as it relates to their prolific yardage totals. When a team leads the NFL with 455.5 yards per game, it should average a few more than 19.0 points.
Then again, when a team is 2-0 despite having the lead only 32 percent of the time (41 minutes, 8 seconds of 129 minutes and 12 seconds of play), it speaks to the Broncos' ability to score when absolutely necessarily at game's end.
"That's the way it goes in the National Football League," said Brandon Stokley, a ninth-year receiver who won Super Bowl rings with Baltimore and Indianapolis. "You see those games a lot. The good teams win those games."
It's not like Cutler has single-handedly led these victorious rallies. To the contrary, he reminds those curious about his rare blend of youth and moxie that his early success would not have been possible without his skilled support. In the final drive that beat the Bills, Javon Walker had four receptions for 51 yards.
"I see him playing with a lot more confidence," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of his No. 1 receiver.
In the Broncos' late drives that tied the game in regulation and won it in overtime against Oakland, running back Travis Henry had a combined 11 carries for 49 yards.
Stokley has six catches for six first downs, all while the Broncos were tied or behind. In the overtime against the Raiders, No. 2 receiver Brandon Marshall turned a short pass into a 22-yard gain that set up Jason Elam's lay-up kick.
And the Broncos have yet to unleash their quarterback pet from last year, tight end Tony Scheffler.
"The ability they have to make plays and make catches for me, I want to give them every opportunity I can," Cutler said.
There's a reason win-loss records are attached to quarterbacks, though, and not running backs and receivers. When it comes to rallying late, Cutler gives the Broncos an element they haven't enjoyed since Elway retired with his second consecutive Super Bowl title after the 1998 season.
Last season, Plummer had an efficient 87.7 quarterback rating when his team was ahead, but an ineffective 59.5 rating when the Broncos were behind or tied. Even in Plummer's most successful season of 2005, when he led the Broncos to the AFC championship game, he was better with a lead (95.5 rating) than behind (86.6).
Many quarterbacks produce similar ahead-behind differences. Not Cutler. When the Broncos are behind, his arm takes over. Cutler has but a 62.0 rating when the Broncos are ahead and an 89.0 rating when behind or tied.
It's when his team is a final series away from losing that Cutler seems to be at his best. Didn't the Broncos have another quarterback like that?
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_6931968
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
As microphones, cameras, notepads and television audiences awaited the words and expressions of the comeback hero, Jay Cutler nonchalantly dropped the name John Elway.
No media member had dared bring up the Duke, out of fairness to the kid. Then Cutler did it.
Imagine that. Brian Griese and Jake Plummer, the immediate successors to Hall of Famer Elway as the Broncos' quarterback, didn't shy from the legend's shadow so much as they approached it on tiptoes.
After the Broncos' season-opening victory at Buffalo, Cutler greeted the expectations left by Elway with a strong bearhug.
"He didn't go anywhere," Cutler said. "You guys are going to compare us whether we shy away from him or not. Until we win the Super Bowl, people here are going to throw out John Elway's name. So we might as well embrace it. He's the greatest quarterback who ever played. Why not appreciate it?"
This direct approach may well provide a window into why Cutler is so effective when the Broncos are down and the game is late. Elway was the greatest comeback quarterback in NFL history and has the unofficial record to prove it. His 47 fourth-quarter or overtime game- saving or game-winning drives remain the comeback standard.
Brett Favre, who either has, or is within reach of, just about every other career passing record, is well behind, with 37 fourth-quarter comebacks.
Cutler, though, is well ahead of Elway's pace. With three late comebacks in a row - the final game of 2006 against San Francisco (although the Broncos ended up losing that game), the 2007 opener at Buffalo and last weekend against Oakland - Cutler has three through his first seven games. Elway didn't get his third comeback until his 22nd game.
When it comes to fourth-quarter comebacks, perhaps Cutler will be Tiger to Elway's Golden Bear.
As has been communicated, scoring has been a problem for the Broncos this year as it relates to their prolific yardage totals. When a team leads the NFL with 455.5 yards per game, it should average a few more than 19.0 points.
Then again, when a team is 2-0 despite having the lead only 32 percent of the time (41 minutes, 8 seconds of 129 minutes and 12 seconds of play), it speaks to the Broncos' ability to score when absolutely necessarily at game's end.
"That's the way it goes in the National Football League," said Brandon Stokley, a ninth-year receiver who won Super Bowl rings with Baltimore and Indianapolis. "You see those games a lot. The good teams win those games."
It's not like Cutler has single-handedly led these victorious rallies. To the contrary, he reminds those curious about his rare blend of youth and moxie that his early success would not have been possible without his skilled support. In the final drive that beat the Bills, Javon Walker had four receptions for 51 yards.
"I see him playing with a lot more confidence," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of his No. 1 receiver.
In the Broncos' late drives that tied the game in regulation and won it in overtime against Oakland, running back Travis Henry had a combined 11 carries for 49 yards.
Stokley has six catches for six first downs, all while the Broncos were tied or behind. In the overtime against the Raiders, No. 2 receiver Brandon Marshall turned a short pass into a 22-yard gain that set up Jason Elam's lay-up kick.
And the Broncos have yet to unleash their quarterback pet from last year, tight end Tony Scheffler.
"The ability they have to make plays and make catches for me, I want to give them every opportunity I can," Cutler said.
There's a reason win-loss records are attached to quarterbacks, though, and not running backs and receivers. When it comes to rallying late, Cutler gives the Broncos an element they haven't enjoyed since Elway retired with his second consecutive Super Bowl title after the 1998 season.
Last season, Plummer had an efficient 87.7 quarterback rating when his team was ahead, but an ineffective 59.5 rating when the Broncos were behind or tied. Even in Plummer's most successful season of 2005, when he led the Broncos to the AFC championship game, he was better with a lead (95.5 rating) than behind (86.6).
Many quarterbacks produce similar ahead-behind differences. Not Cutler. When the Broncos are behind, his arm takes over. Cutler has but a 62.0 rating when the Broncos are ahead and an 89.0 rating when behind or tied.
It's when his team is a final series away from losing that Cutler seems to be at his best. Didn't the Broncos have another quarterback like that?
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_6931968