PSYCHIARTRY 101: Inside Jake's Head, Inside Jay's Head

[BroncoBuff]

Personally, I don't think Cutler is ready. He needs a year to learn NFL defenses, and I've been saying that since draft day. But think about Jake Plummer for a minute ... who is Jake? Has Jake ever had a "young turk" at his back? Has he ever even had another QB challenge him?!

Short answer: No. Not until now.

PRO: Kent Graham was hurt in Week 6 of Jake's rookie year, and from that week until 2003, Jake was the home-grown starter.
COLLEGE: 40+ total starts including a then-record 40 in a row. Plus, he was #3 in Heisman voting.
HIGH SCHOOL: Started all three years ... was first-team All-Idaho twice, and was even an All-American once.

With the dubious exception of Kent Graham during the first 6 weeks of his rookie year, and whomever he beat out as a freshman at Arizona State ... JAKE PLUMMER HAS NEVER FACED COMPETITION for his job. Ever.

We all know he is possessed of a fragile mentality:

1) Allegedly intentionally hit a car on an on-ramp recently and cussed the other guy
2) Flipped off a fan in his home stadium (like we wouldn't see?)
3) Called a newpaper columnist he'd never met and reamed her out
4) Said Denver fans were "not all that great"
5) Claimed he grew the beard "for Pat," but kept it afterward

And he did all that stuff before Jay Cutler showed up. Then yesterday:

1) Threw three picks, nearly half of last year's 16-game total
2) Flipped a falling down crazy backwards throw near his end zone (you forgot about that, didn't you?)

Long story short: Jake Plummer might not have the psychological makeup for a QB battle ... he has a hard enough time acting right when the job is his.

NOW ... let's examine Jay.

Usually teams don't want to play rookie QBs, at least not until the NFL game "slows down" for them. Largely because these rookies can be emotionally traumatized by the expectations and their failures.

But in this case, I'm not sure that's a big problem. If he played now, Cutler sure - would throw PLENTY of interceptions. Like the one he threw against Arizona's third stringers two weeks ago. But think about it: Whatever mistakes (doozies, prolly) he made as an 18/19 year old starter for lowly Vanderbilt four years ago against Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn, obviously did nothing to stunt his "emotional growth," as it were. He is one cocky SOB.

I'm still NOT for starting Cutler, but based on Jake's mental fragility and Jay's teflon psyche, I won't cry if it happens.


Taco John's idea ... my artwork

[Kaylore]

The only thing I care about is turnovers. Four in one game is terrible. I guarantee that Cutler starts that game and we win it because at least Cutler would throw it away and can put the ball downfield with accuracy rather than toss lob passes to Todd Devoe.

[ludo21]

Jake is our guy unless he proves he can not shoulder the team in the next few weeks.

Look at tonight for example. The Fade's OL WAS AWFUL!!!!

Did Brooks throw 3 picks? NO! He took the sacks (like he had a choice) and didnt force some ill advised throws.

I love that Jake wants to "make a play" but our D is good enough, take a sack.

[SureShot]

6n06

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by ludo21

Jake is our guy unless he proves he can not shoulder the team in the next few weeks.

Look at tonight for example. The Fade's OL WAS AWFUL!!!!

Did Brooks throw 3 picks? NO! He took the sacks (like he had a choice) and didnt force some ill advised throws.

I love that Jake wants to "make a play" but our D is good enough, take a sack.

No Ludo. This was different. This wasn't like the past where ints were glancing off of receivers hands into safety's grasp.

Those ints weren't him throwing under duress, they were Jake playing like crap. And half those sacks were Plummer confused and holding onto the ball too long. He looked lost.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

PRO: Kent Graham was hurt in Week 6 of Jake's rookie year, and from that week until 2003, Jake was the home-grown starter.

Which may have adversely affected Jake's development as a young pro quarterback.

Don't start Cutler, dammit.

[BroncoBuff]

Fess up, guys ... how many forgot about Jake's "behind-the-back flip" near his goalline yesterday?

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

And half those sacks were Plummer confused and holding onto the ball too long. He looked lost.

My point exactly. Deer in the headlights maybe?

He has never faced competition before.

[DBroncos4life]

Todd Devoe can suck my balls, we should pick up Charles "broken" Rogers, I think even he could have tipped that ball away from the DB before his shoulder gave out.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

No Ludo. This was different. This wasn't like the past where ints were glancing off of receivers hands into safety's grasp.

Those ints weren't him throwing under duress, they were Jake playing like crap. And half those sacks were Plummer confused and holding onto the ball too long. He looked lost.

I agree, completely.

I fault EVERY TO he had on Plummer himself. Is that how my post comes off tho?

Even the fumble i fault him for, 2 HANDS ON THE BALL!! And its not like the play broke behind him, it was RIGHT IN HIS FACE!! ugh!

[24champ]

You know I was just thinking to myself that this board is missing a Jake vs Jay thread...good job Buff!

[SureShot]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Which may have adversely affected Jake's development as a young pro quarterback.

Don't start Cutler, dammit.

I don't buy into that theory. I believe young talented QBs fail because they are on crappy teams to begin with.

If Shanny can reel in Flummer and bring him along slowly, I have no doubt he can do it with Cutler.

Have no fear Bronco fans JC saves.

[BroncoBuff]

But I added the PSYCHIATRIC angle, Champ!

And I'm serious about that ... had we drafted somebody else, not a QB ... Jake wouldda played much better yesterday, and we'd be 1-0.





I actually believe that.

[ludo21]

im not sure what was going thru Jakes head. it sure wasnt football 101.

[watermock]

Great post. I agree that Rocket Man has been tried by fire at Vandy. He was knocked down but always got back up. One time he just popped a dislocated finger back in while in the huddle. Don't let his boyish good looks and awe shucks demeanor fool ya...he's a different animal completely on the field. He's cocky, but a good cocky.

I want Jake to have his best year ever, but he did look panicky dating back to Pitt. I don't want to start Cutler either. That was the universal consensus. But when you drop turds two games in a row, it gets you thinking. Remember...QB's have come out of the gate full throttle, best example would be Marino. People say that Cutler's throwing motion and release are very similar to Dan's.

We won't pull out the rug...yet. Jay is getting more reps all the time, every week in practice. If Jake puts up three more dogs, if we are 0-4 I say make the change. I agree there is danger but I'm not worried whatsoever about a fragile ego. It's more about, as you said, the game slowing down.

[watermock]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

No Ludo. This was different. This wasn't like the past where ints were glancing off of receivers hands into safety's grasp.

Those ints weren't him throwing under duress, they were Jake playing like crap. And half those sacks were Plummer confused and holding onto the ball too long. He looked lost.

Want to know what Jake looked like? A deer in the headlights rook.

And yes, Shanahan did make a veiled threat that he's not scared to pull out the carpet. See sig below. It's out of context, but it was fun...It started out, (paraphrased) something like "If you have enough (poor) games like that, your not going to last long. I don't think that's even a veiled threat. It's out in the open, something Shanny usually doesn't do. Dayne and Watts were not bad mouthed at all but went out the back door.

[24champ]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

But I added the PSYCHIATRIC angle, Champ!

And I'm serious about that ... had we drafted somebody else, not a QB ... Jake wouldda played much better yesterday, and we'd be 1-0.





I actually believe that.

No offense Buff, but that is about the looniest thing I have heard regarding Jake's poor performance yesterday. He had no reason before the Rams game to be worried about Jay. He needs to be worried about leading this team to victory!

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by SureShot7

I don't buy into that theory. I believe young talented QBs fail because they are on crappy teams to begin with.

And you want to put Cutler in if we're losing a bunch of games? Forgive me for suggesting it, but wouldn't losing a bunch of games make us a crappy team?

I'll tell you what. If you want to really test your theory, why don't you wait until we're in the Super Bowl, then bench the veteran and start the rookie? Then he could never be accused of being ruined by starting for a crappy team.

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

Todd Devoe can suck my balls, we should pick up Charles "broken" Rogers, I think even he could have tipped that ball away from the DB before his shoulder gave out.

It never should have been a jump ball to begin with.

[watermock]

Originally Posted by SureShot7

I don't buy into that theory. I believe young talented QBs fail because they are on crappy teams to begin with.

If Shanny can reel in Flummer and bring him along slowly, I have no doubt he can do it with Cutler.

Have no fear Bronco fans JC saves.

Another excellent point. Look at Carr in Houston...Harrington, Couch...all went to crap teams. I'm still amazed we got Jay who IMO, was the best QB in the draft once I read about him.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Rascal

It never should have been a jump ball to begin with.

exactly. wide open!!!!

Safety did a good job of getting back, but come on Jake, that had TD all over it.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

No offense Buff, but that is about the looniest thing I have heard regarding Jake's poor performance yesterday. He had no reason before the Rams game to be worried about Jay. He needs to be worried about leading this team to victory!

No, I don't think Jake was worried he would be benched yesterday, per se......... I just think his mindset, his confidence at being "cock-of-the-walk" has been shaken by the Cutler pick, and it's showing. He's rattled inside his head - he's not cracking yet, but he is stressed.

Last year he was super-confident, a definite leader, etc.... BVP was no challenge. But yesterday he looked shaky, unsure of himself. The body language .... I know that sounds 'artsy-new age BS", but that's what I think.

We'll see as the weeks go by. He might play well, he might crack under pressure .... but his best days as a Bronco are over.

[BroncoBuff]

His best days as a Bronco are OVER.


Anybody want to dispute this?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

How will Plummer fare this week? He's never seen the defense he's about to face. We've got more new wrinkles than Vermeil.

[24champ]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

No, I don't think Jake was worried he would be benched yesterday, per se......... I just think his mindset, his confidence at being "cock-of-the-walk" has been shaken by the Cutler pick, and it's showing. He's rattled inside his head - he's not cracking yet, but he is stressed.

Last year he was super-confident, a definite leader, etc.... BVP was no challenge. But yesterday he looked shaky, unsure of himself. The body language .... I know that sounds 'artsy-new age BS", but that's what I think.

We'll see as the weeks go by. He might play well, he might crack under pressure .... but his best days as a Bronco are over.

thats precisely how I see your point. Plain BS, and that is proof that we beating yesterday's game to death.