How quick is the release of Broncos QB Jay Cutler? Tune in Thursday night.

[cutlerfan]

Jim on demand: NFL Network measuring releases
By Jim Armstrong
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 12/11/2007 09:43:23 PM MST

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7696190?source=rss

How quick is the release of Broncos QB Jay Cutler? Tune in Thursday night.

If there's a golden rule for NFL quarterbacks, it's this: Get them before they get you.

As in, before a quarterback can complete a pass, he has to get rid of the ball before the pressure arrives. Because in the NFL, the pressure is always there.

That makes quick decision-making and a quick release mandatory for NFL QBs. Which brings us to Thursday night's Broncos-Texans game. The NFL Network, following in the footsteps of other networks and their in-game gadgets, has started measuring the quickest releases in the league.

The network has broken down video of several big-name quarterbacks' releases, and will show the results during Thursday night's telecast. Just to drop a couple familiar names, Jay Cutler's release will be compared to John Elway's. Dan Marino also was timed, along with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre.

According to NFL network producer Mark Loomis, analyst Cris Collinsworth provided the inspiration for measuring the various QBs' releases.

"We were talking the first game of the year about quarterbacks' releases - who was quick and how important that was," Loomis said. "Then it occurred to us that we could find out a way to measure them by using video tape."

The results?

"What we've found so far is that the top quarterbacks in the league - the Mannings, Bradys and Favres - all seem to have that consistently quick release, and Jay Cutler certainly falls in that range."

According to Loomis, the best quarterbacks typically take three-tenths to fourth-tenths of a second to throw the ball after their opposite hand leaves the ball. Other quarterbacks may take twice as long, a seemingly minimal difference, but one that could change the outcome of a play.

Said Loomis, "When you see how many balls are tipped and how fast everybody is in this league, it really does make a difference."

Follow Jim Armstrong's daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at denverpost.com/jimmy.

He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.

[backup qb]

pretty cool

[Beantown Bronco]

This is the kind of inside info I really appreciate. A lot of times you get caught up watching the games and just tune out the announcers, because 90% of it is garbage. But that other 10%, including segments like this, really show that these guys actually do quite a bit of research and work during the week that often goes unnoticed.

[Paladin]

For pocket passers, that would be all the difference in the world. But Cutler's other strength is the ability to throw out side the pocket. That may be less of a timing deal than the coordination to pull the play off.

Also, in the mullets game, did anyone else notice that his passes for 30 yards looked like just flips his wrists? It seems to me that he just has to flip the ball with his wrists with a short arm movement to get the ball downfield 30 or so yards. The throw back to Graham was clearly an Elway lookalike pass play. Fun to watch.....

[CoBear23]

In the words of Butters "neat-o"

[bronco militia]

I bet Marino is the fastest......elways was very fast considering his windup and ball 'pat' or tap before every throw.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Cutler has the tools to be an excellent NFL QB.

There really isnt a weakness I can think of.

[broncosteven]

How long before the "Collingsworth" Metric is added to the Columbine QB Drills?

[go_broncos]

Cutler has the tools to be an excellent NFL QB.

There really isnt a weakness I can think of.

He throws in tight spots..

The problem with this is

a) Receiver will be hit hard hit by the defender
(Remember Marshall TD, Tony TD in Chicago..)

b) he will get intercepted once the defense gets used to the velocity

That being said...he played great for a QB that started less than 20 games.

[Man-Goblin]

He throws in tight spots..

The problem with this is

a) Receiver will be hit hard hit by the defender
(Remember Marshall TD, Tony TD in Chicago..)

b) he will get intercepted once the defense gets used to the velocity

That being said...he played great for a QB that started less than 20 games.

You may say that he throws into tight spots, but I've noticed he more regularly takes those chances on 3rd down. In essence, he's making plays that aren't available to most, if any, other QBs in the league. That is a huge advantage and is probably why he has been the most effective 3rd down QB in the league.

[Arkansas Bronco]

I bet bobs release is faster when it comes to self gratification.

[go_broncos]

You may say that he throws into tight spots, but I've noticed he more regularly takes those chances on 3rd down. In essence, he's making plays that aren't available to most, if any, other QBs in the league. That is a huge advantage and is probably why he has been the most effective 3rd down QB in the league.

The point i am making is a QB should make sure that his receiver is not hurt in this process.

By throwing the ball into those coverages, the defenders will have great chance to hit the receiver.

I started noticing it after SD game(at SD) last year.

I hope he realizes this.

[Dudeskey]

Just Have the whole game on mute... Wait, nevermind- Gumbel will be out w/ a sore thoat (thank god).

[Beantown Bronco]

Just Have the whole game on mute... Wait, nevermind- Gumbel will be out w/ a sore thoat (thank god).

If there was a way to mute the announcers but allow the crowd noise, I'd be all over that. I just can't watch a game without the noise.

[Paladin]

If there was a way to mute the announcers but allow the crowd noise, I'd be all over that. I just can't watch a game without the noise.

Have your family sit behind you, and hsve them cheer at apporpriate times.....:sunshine:

[Beantown Bronco]

Have your family sit behind you, and hsve them cheer at apporpriate times.....:sunshine:

Good idea, but I tend to eat some form of loaded nachos or something even worse during games. The last place my family wants to sit is behind me.

[cutlerfan]

For pocket passers, that would be all the difference in the world. But Cutler's other strength is the ability to throw out side the pocket. That may be less of a timing deal than the coordination to pull the play off.

Also, in the mullets game, did anyone else notice that his passes for 30 yards looked like just flips his wrists? It seems to me that he just has to flip the ball with his wrists with a short arm movement to get the ball downfield 30 or so yards. The throw back to Graham was clearly an Elway lookalike pass play. Fun to watch.....

I like this Quote

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7624725?source=rss

Every game that I watch, you hear an announcer say that this QB has the strongest arm in the league. I've heard that Jay Cutler has the strongest arm, or John Elway, or Brett Favre, or JaMarcus Russell. Who really does and how would you know?
-- Reid, Hawaii

Reid - I don't think anyone will ever top the arm strength of John Elway. Earlier this year, I sought the opinion of Javon Walker, who caught passes for Brett Favre in Green Bay and now Cutler. I asked Walker: If Favre throws 100 mph, how hard does Cutler throw? Walker said 95 mph. From where I sit in the press box, I think Walker might have been selling Cutler short a mph or two.
Using the same baseball-speedgun analogy, Elway probably clocked in at 108 mph. When it came to throwing fastballs, Elway was the Nolan Ryan of football quarterbacks.

The arms attached to the other guys you mentioned, though, are plenty strong. Cutler didn't have his best game Sunday at Oakland but he almost rallied his team back on those two, long, third-quarter, bee-bees to Brandon Stokley. I've seen 15-yard button hooks before. Maybe a 20-yard curl every now and then. But a 33-yard hook pattern into the receiver's gut? I don't think I had ever seen it.

[dsmoot]

I bet Marino is the fastest......elways was very fast considering his windup and ball 'pat' or tap before every throw.

Joe Namath and Dan Fouts also had quick releases on par with Marino

[RhymesayersDU]

I bet bobs release is faster when it comes to self gratification.

There was really no need for this, but I chuckled. Good work.