elsid13
02-23-2008, 08:10 AM
BRONCOS REPORT: Bates' focus shifts to helping Cutler
By Lee Rasizer
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/23/broncos-walker-will-be-dinner-topic/
Saturday, February 23, 2008
It has been said that pressure makes diamonds, and it might be apropos to Jeremy Bates' new job description.
Bates has been put in charg with overseeing Jay Cutler's development at a critical stage of the quarterback's career. At age 31 but already with his third NFL team, Bates will switch his emphasis from receivers to the QB spot as position coach after Mike Heimerdinger's offseason departure to Tennessee.
"The thing that I focus on is how much talent this kid has and that the sky's the limit for him," Bates said Friday. "There's pressure in this profession, yes, but you go to work to coach Jay Cutler, you're pretty excited. This guy can do it all. He can throw. He can run. He can make off-schedule plays. He's smart. To me, that's exciting."
Bates already forged a relationship with Cutler last offseason before the assistant turned his emphasis to pass catchers.
The approach with Cutler, Bates said, will be similar this offseason.
The two will sit down next week and begin studying cutups of Cutler's 2007 performances and those of other top quarterbacks. Their tutoring sessions will start by focusing on fundamentals and mechanics, then evolve to defensive schemes and check-down progressions.
"I think we have a good foundation and he's comfortable with what we're doing offensively and you don't want to change too much, because it was his first year (starting) and he does feel comfortable with it. Now, let's build on that."
Bates will continue to spend game days on the sideline, preferring to go over in-game snapshots face to face and be able to more readily gauge Cutler's emotions.
With offensive coordinator/ offensive line coach Rick Dennison also near the bench, Denver eventually will be tweaking somewhat how the play-calling gets to Cutler, since Heimerdinger started the process up top the past two seasons.
Another adjustment for Bates: not seeing his father, Jim, on a daily basis at Dove Valley.
The Broncos fired the assistant head coach/defense last month.
The younger Bates maintained that those circumstances are a nonissue moving forward.
"You can't let your personal feelings get involved in a business matter," he said. "And this is a business. That happened, and I moved on. He moved on. And I think everyone gets better from it."
Growing up a coach's son might have steeled Bates for such circumstances, since he moved "every two years" as a youth.
He began his coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, winning a Super Bowl ring, then went to the New York Jets, working with quarterbacks and receivers at both spots before joining Denver last season.
Now, Cutler will have his undivided attention.
"I think he had a good year, but he can improve," Bates said. "And I think he'd say that, also."
We can work it out?
A Friday night dinner meeting between Broncos front-office folks and Javon Walker's representative was aimed at determining the receiver's future with the team.
"The goal is to see what we need to do to bring an end to the situation," agent Kennard McGuire said during a break in players-association meetings Friday afternoon.
Walker at times has expressed his unhappiness witha Broncos offense that continues to featuring emerging target Brandon Marshall and is perhaps too run-oriented to satiate his desire to catch passes.
Denver has a hefty investment in a player that can't seem to be happy, and it is trying to move him before two bonuses become due March 4.
Walker also is a candidate to be released.
There's only a slim chance that he'll stay, and virtually no shot of an agreement to restructure his contract.
There's also the issue of Walker's surgically repaired right knee to consider.
McGuire did admit that part of his role in Indianapolis, though he won't confirm or deny any trade talks or say that Walker's told him outright he wants out of Denver, is "to put to rest any level of concern that anybody would have about his ability to play football."
It's clear reading between the lines that is meantfor other teams, because no club would have a better read on Walker's health than Denver.
Etc.
* Indications are safety John Lynch is leaning toward returning for a 16th season, but his coming back is far from a done deal. He's due a $1.12 million roster bonus March 4, and that payout is being weighed against his declining participation, both from a team and player standpoint. Lynch played fewer than 60 percent of the snaps last season and isn't ready to be hoisted into primarily a leadership role just yet. Talks are ongoing.
* The Broncos are expected to pick up the $1.75 million roster bonus owed backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey played in two games last season, completing 29-of-48 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
© Rocky Mountain News
By Lee Rasizer
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/23/broncos-walker-will-be-dinner-topic/
Saturday, February 23, 2008
It has been said that pressure makes diamonds, and it might be apropos to Jeremy Bates' new job description.
Bates has been put in charg with overseeing Jay Cutler's development at a critical stage of the quarterback's career. At age 31 but already with his third NFL team, Bates will switch his emphasis from receivers to the QB spot as position coach after Mike Heimerdinger's offseason departure to Tennessee.
"The thing that I focus on is how much talent this kid has and that the sky's the limit for him," Bates said Friday. "There's pressure in this profession, yes, but you go to work to coach Jay Cutler, you're pretty excited. This guy can do it all. He can throw. He can run. He can make off-schedule plays. He's smart. To me, that's exciting."
Bates already forged a relationship with Cutler last offseason before the assistant turned his emphasis to pass catchers.
The approach with Cutler, Bates said, will be similar this offseason.
The two will sit down next week and begin studying cutups of Cutler's 2007 performances and those of other top quarterbacks. Their tutoring sessions will start by focusing on fundamentals and mechanics, then evolve to defensive schemes and check-down progressions.
"I think we have a good foundation and he's comfortable with what we're doing offensively and you don't want to change too much, because it was his first year (starting) and he does feel comfortable with it. Now, let's build on that."
Bates will continue to spend game days on the sideline, preferring to go over in-game snapshots face to face and be able to more readily gauge Cutler's emotions.
With offensive coordinator/ offensive line coach Rick Dennison also near the bench, Denver eventually will be tweaking somewhat how the play-calling gets to Cutler, since Heimerdinger started the process up top the past two seasons.
Another adjustment for Bates: not seeing his father, Jim, on a daily basis at Dove Valley.
The Broncos fired the assistant head coach/defense last month.
The younger Bates maintained that those circumstances are a nonissue moving forward.
"You can't let your personal feelings get involved in a business matter," he said. "And this is a business. That happened, and I moved on. He moved on. And I think everyone gets better from it."
Growing up a coach's son might have steeled Bates for such circumstances, since he moved "every two years" as a youth.
He began his coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, winning a Super Bowl ring, then went to the New York Jets, working with quarterbacks and receivers at both spots before joining Denver last season.
Now, Cutler will have his undivided attention.
"I think he had a good year, but he can improve," Bates said. "And I think he'd say that, also."
We can work it out?
A Friday night dinner meeting between Broncos front-office folks and Javon Walker's representative was aimed at determining the receiver's future with the team.
"The goal is to see what we need to do to bring an end to the situation," agent Kennard McGuire said during a break in players-association meetings Friday afternoon.
Walker at times has expressed his unhappiness witha Broncos offense that continues to featuring emerging target Brandon Marshall and is perhaps too run-oriented to satiate his desire to catch passes.
Denver has a hefty investment in a player that can't seem to be happy, and it is trying to move him before two bonuses become due March 4.
Walker also is a candidate to be released.
There's only a slim chance that he'll stay, and virtually no shot of an agreement to restructure his contract.
There's also the issue of Walker's surgically repaired right knee to consider.
McGuire did admit that part of his role in Indianapolis, though he won't confirm or deny any trade talks or say that Walker's told him outright he wants out of Denver, is "to put to rest any level of concern that anybody would have about his ability to play football."
It's clear reading between the lines that is meantfor other teams, because no club would have a better read on Walker's health than Denver.
Etc.
* Indications are safety John Lynch is leaning toward returning for a 16th season, but his coming back is far from a done deal. He's due a $1.12 million roster bonus March 4, and that payout is being weighed against his declining participation, both from a team and player standpoint. Lynch played fewer than 60 percent of the snaps last season and isn't ready to be hoisted into primarily a leadership role just yet. Talks are ongoing.
* The Broncos are expected to pick up the $1.75 million roster bonus owed backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey played in two games last season, completing 29-of-48 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
© Rocky Mountain News