What do the Bills think of Cutler Now?

[no-pseudo-fan]

I like to look at the opposing teams papers after a win or loss on Monday. I found this article, and I thought everyone would enjoy this one.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bi...ry/159424.html

Bob DiCesare: When Denver needed something, Cutler did it
By Bob DiCesare
Updated: 09/10/07 8:38 AM


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Which play prompted you to draw the comparison that no one in their right mind is ever supposed to draw? At what point Sunday did you behold the work of Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and blurt out, “You know what. He reminds me a little of John Elway”? Did those words spill from your mouth on Denver’s first possession, when the Broncos gained 33 yards on a Cutler-orchestrated option play that looked like something plucked from the highlights of Elway’s younger days? Or perhaps you bit on the second possession, when Cutler escaped the Alcatraz that was the grasp of Chris Kelsay to complete a 15-yard throw.

Maybe you held your tongue until the thirdquarter drive during which Cutler completed four of five throws, his passes accounting for 56 of the 81 yards on the touchdown march that put the Broncos a field goal from victory. But surely there was no avoiding the comparison during a final two minutes that Denver kicker Jason Elam said might have been more Elway than even Elway could have managed.

The Broncos had their backs to a third-and-23 wall, followed by a third and 13, en route to Elam’s winning kick and a 15-14 victory win at The Ralph. Twice they converted on fourth down, once on a Cutler pass, once on a Cutler run after the backfield was emptied of everyone but him. His poise was astonishing, his accuracy unerring when it absolutely had to be. And to think this was Cutler’s first seasonopening start and only the sixth start of his two-year career.

“That was unbelievable,” said wideout Brandon Stokley, who witnessed a few dozen sublime quarterbacking performances during his days with the Colts. “I’d go to battle with that guy any day. Lot of heart. Just get the job done and that’s what he did. It wasn’t pretty and we got a lot of work to do, but it was a win.”

“I’ve been involved with a lot of comeback victories with John over the years,” Elam said. “I’m not sure anything compares to this.”

It eats at you, doesn’t it? Broncos fans haven’t been waiting for the next Elway nearly as long as you’ve been waiting for the next Jim Kelly, nor have they suffered through seven straight seasons without visiting the playoffs. Certainly they’re not as deserving of quarterback salvation as are Bills fans such as yourself.

How can you be anything but discouraged by what happened in Week One of the NFL season, a day that began with unbridled optimism and deteriorated from there? Cutler, given veteran responsibilities, showed glimpses of the extraordinary while completing 23 of 39 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Bills’ J.P. Losman was exceedingly ordinary in executing a norisk game plan that demonstrated little belief in his abilities. What’s certain, you’d have to admit, is that it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence and belief to

see the Bills steer Losman gingerly while the Broncos tell Cutler it’s his game and he best go win it.

The Broncos are intriguing, a team full of potential as epitomized by the quarterback they moved up to select in the first round of last year’s draft. It says a lot about Cutler’s makeup when he can come into The Ralph and steal a victory in dramatic fashion, overcoming his own colossal blunder in the process.

No, the kid’s not flawless. His ill-advised backward pass nearly cut short the Broncos’ final possession. They lost 10 yards on the play, backtracking deeper into their own territory, setting up a challenge that when met served to elevate Cutler’s status.

“He got a game ball,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “To have that poise on third down and 23 — that’s what you’re looking for in a quarterback. That’s what separates the good ones from the great ones.”

Cutler can sense it’s becoming his team, that teammates are lining up behind him without reservation.

“I think the guys on the team have always believed in me, so I don’t think I had to win them over,” Cutler said. “But there are a lot of veterans on the team, and for me to go out and do what I did puts a little more faith in them and I feel pretty good about it.”

As for Broncos fans, they must be drooling. The kid leads them to an improbable victory in the final two minutes of the season opener, on the road, performing the seemingly impossible in the process. The long wait appears over. The QB of the future has arrived.

“That’s why we get paid the big bucks, to make third downs and make two-minute drives,” Cutler said. “Bronco fans know the situation well from John Elway doing it all those years.”

bdicesare@buffnews.com

[Punisher]

The bills fans was talking trash for like the whole offseason

[ludo21]

awesome man, thanks. That game was intense, we should have won by 20, but stealing that win feels good nonetheless.

[snowtrx]

Thanks for the article, fun read! Because of Cutler, I have never urned for the start of the season more than this year and that does include the SB years. Something about the kid makes me drool in anticipation to see his next pass, which started last year in pre-season. Crazy, that the season is here and this anticipation has even been multiplied. Cant wait for Sunday!

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by Punisher

The bills fans was talking trash for like the whole offseason

Well some of them are still arguing that he sucked in this game, but I think most of them now seem more interested in hatin' on Loseman.

[Kaylore]

Great read. I'll tell you what, though. The Bills aren't screwed. Trent Edwards is going to a very good QB for them. JP is in his fourth season and Cutler is already showing more clutch than him. He (Losman) was drafted by an old regime and once they make the switch, between their young defense and future stars on offense, Buffalo will put it back together.

[BlaK-Argentina]

Awesome article!

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Great read. I'll tell you what, though. The Bills aren't screwed. Trent Edwards is going to a very good QB for them. JP is in his fourth season and Cutler is already showing more clutch than him. He (Losman) was drafted by an old regime and once they make the switch, between their young defense and future stars on offense, Buffalo will put it back together.

Very True give them 2 or 3 years

[NaptownChief]

I watched a good bit of the Donks game yesterday. I am surprised that so many of you are actually fired up by Cutler's performance. I honestly thought I would come in here today and see him taking some heat.

I actually thought he played pretty poor and was a big reason why the game was so close despite Denver dominating the total yards and controlling most of the game. I thought he played like Jake Plummer with talent....which would translate to a young inexperience Brett Favre.

He threw several balls into bad spots and could have easily had 4 picks against him, that toss that S.Young had to swat out of bounds was a brain dead decision almost on par with the Plummer left handed toss out of the end zone a couple years back.

Culter being from Indiana, I have been following him since HS and have been pulling for him long before most of you even knew the kid existed. So despite him being a Bronco I am actually still pulling for him to be something special. I definitely think he will be that but his performance yesterday was well below par for a kid with his talent and head on his shoulders.

[sutoazul]

[QUOTE=no-pseudo-fan;1707549]I
“He got a game ball,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “To have that poise on third down and 23 — that’s what you’re looking for in a quarterback. That’s what separates the good ones from the great ones.”

QUOTE]

Shanny said that?? wow!!

the kid is flying high!!

[Rock Chalk]

Hats off to our receivers as well. Cutler doesnt pull this off with the three amigos ala "The Drive", but it was a fantastic final drive.

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

I watched a good bit of the Donks game yesterday. I am surprised that so many of you are actually fired up by Cutler's performance. I honestly thought I would come in here today and see him taking some heat.

I actually thought he played pretty poor and was a big reason why the game was so close despite Denver dominating the total yards and controlling most of the game. I thought he played like Jake Plummer with talent....which would translate to a young inexperience Brett Favre.

He threw several balls into bad spots and could have easily had 4 picks against him, that toss that S.Young had to swat out of bounds was a brain dead decision almost on par with the Plummer left handed toss out of the end zone a couple years back.

Culter being from Indiana, I have been following him since HS and have been pulling for him long before most of you even knew the kid existed. So despite him being a Bronco I am actually still pulling for him to be something special. I definitely think he will be that but his performance yesterday was well below par for a kid with his talent and head on his shoulders.

Im sure they tell him about that on film he'll pick it up

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

I watched a good bit of the Donks game yesterday. I am surprised that so many of you are actually fired up by Cutler's performance. I honestly thought I would come in here today and see him taking some heat.

I actually thought he played pretty poor and was a big reason why the game was so close despite Denver dominating the total yards and controlling most of the game. I thought he played like Jake Plummer with talent....which would translate to a young inexperience Brett Favre.

He threw several balls into bad spots and could have easily had 4 picks against him, that toss that S.Young had to swat out of bounds was a brain dead decision almost on par with the Plummer left handed toss out of the end zone a couple years back.

Culter being from Indiana, I have been following him since HS and have been pulling for him long before most of you even knew the kid existed. So despite him being a Bronco I am actually still pulling for him to be something special. I definitely think he will be that but his performance yesterday was well below par for a kid with his talent and head on his shoulders.

He had a bad day Nap, but he also had a couple guys fail to make plays for him too. Javon dropped 3 and Marshall dropped 2 passes for first downs or TD's. He could have had 350 yards and 3 TD's easily if they were caught on a BAD DAY. He made more than a few poor decisions with the ball as well, but he also made some plays with his legs and completed timely third and fourth down conversions in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. He had 2 fourth quarter drives that should have produced the winning points back to back, not just the one to win it. Elam screwed the first FG.

They also had ZERO 3 and outs yesterday and allowed the defense to be fresher than I can ever remember. TOP was way back in their favor and all cylinders were firing on offense at points in the game.

I am impressed he made the plays to win the game on two consecutive drives, had good numbers despite making crucial errors, and was able to keep the offense from having a single 3 and out for the first time in 4 years.

[Odysseus]

I think it is interesting way to start a career at the helm of the Broncos with a come from behind win. Cutler is only going to get better as he starts to anticipate and eliminate his mistakes. The fact that he ran the ball at all adds a new wrinkle to this "pocket passer". Poise is making a horrible mistake and having the talent to undo it.

Mike Klis had an interesting Denver Post interview about team chemistry and it's an old truth. Chemistry comes AFTER the tough wins not before. This is why the loss by K.C. is actually devastating and the game against the Raiders a lot more important than it really should be.

[footstepsfrom#27]

You know you've got a good one when your QB makes multiple mistakes and still leads back to back drives in the 4th quarter with the game on the line leading to game winining opprtunities. Elway did the same thing numerous times. In the 4th quarter his stats were forgetable, then suddenly...BANG! He'd just hit that groove and it was over.

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

You know you've got a good one when your QB makes multiple mistakes and still leads back to back drives in the 4th quarter with the game on the line leading to game winining opprtunities. Elway did the same thing numerous times. In the 4th quarter his stats were forgetable, then suddenly...BANG! He'd just hit that groove and it was over.

Great point

[broncofan2438]

nice article, goo Broncos

[Paladin]

Great points, Med.

It really doesn't matter what fans of other teams think of Cutler or his performance. They will always see him in negative lights regardless of what ever he may do.

Over the next decade, barring injury, Cutler should be able to accomplish a great deal for the Broncos, and we can take great satisfaction that a large number of those accomplishments will be against the mullets, faids and sparkies.

His future looks bright. Man, that feels good......

[Jason in LA]

Cutler played far from poor. He wasn't great. He was impressive at times, but I will say that at other times he came up short. What's this, his 6th start? He made some plays that Plummer just doesn't make. He made some throws that Plummer couldn't make. When this kid gets it together and becomes more consistant, he'll be hard to stop.

Look at it this way, even in a game where Cutler wasn't great, he still threw for 300+ yards, which Plummer didn't do at all last year. Plummer had six games where he threw for less than 200 yards. In '05, when Plummer was actually good for most of the season, he only went for 300 yards once.

Cutler needs to finish long drives. Once he does that, the Broncos O will be back to racking up 30 point games.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

I actually thought he played pretty poor and was a big reason why the game was so close despite Denver dominating the total yards and controlling most of the game.

Did he have a couple of bad plays? Yes.

Does that mean he had a poor game? No, absolutely not.

Dude, the biggest reason the game was so close, was the Buffalo punt return for a TD.....and over 200 total return yards, 2 missed FG's, and the fact that Ian Gold can't tackle.

Cutler had a very good game, and one that Jake Plummer could only dream of having. As many other have noted....no chance in hell we win that game with Snake out there.

Yup, one of 4 passers in Week 1 to top 300 yards....."pretty poor" game indeed....

[sirhcyennek81]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

I watched a good bit of the Donks game yesterday. I am surprised that so many of you are actually fired up by Cutler's performance. I honestly thought I would come in here today and see him taking some heat.

I actually thought he played pretty poor and was a big reason why the game was so close despite Denver dominating the total yards and controlling most of the game. I thought he played like Jake Plummer with talent....which would translate to a young inexperience Brett Favre.

He threw several balls into bad spots and could have easily had 4 picks against him, that toss that S.Young had to swat out of bounds was a brain dead decision almost on par with the Plummer left handed toss out of the end zone a couple years back.

Culter being from Indiana, I have been following him since HS and have been pulling for him long before most of you even knew the kid existed. So despite him being a Bronco I am actually still pulling for him to be something special. I definitely think he will be that but his performance yesterday was well below par for a kid with his talent and head on his shoulders.

Hmm...young QB, 6th NFL start, did alot of good things, did some bad which usually are the result of inexperience...thats Cutler's excuse...what was Huards?

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

Cutler played far from poor. He wasn't great. He was impressive at times, but I will say that at other times he came up short. What's this, his 6th start? He made some plays that Plummer just doesn't make. He made some throws that Plummer couldn't make. When this kid gets it together and becomes more consistant, he'll be hard to stop.

Look at it this way, even in a game where Cutler wasn't great, he still threw for 300+ yards, which Plummer didn't do at all last year. Plummer had six games where he threw for less than 200 yards. In '05, when Plummer was actually good for most of the season, he only went for 300 yards once.

Cutler needs to finish long drives. Once he does that, the Broncos O will be back to racking up 30 point games.

I agree. I think people that are excited are pumped up because he won, but also some are excited because they have perspective on where he is in his career.

This is his sixth start, first opener as the starter on the road in windy and rainy Buffalo with an angry stadium and one of the best pass rushers in the league breathing down his neck. He had some screw-ups for sure, but that's part of the process. The main thing is that with the game on the line Cutler made the plays necessary to win the game.

[NYBronco]

I don't want to take anything away from Jay's performance but may add more to the value of his progress.

The Buffalo defense surprised me with their quickness and swarming style. I thought they played a solid game and kept the Bill's believing they could win this game (and almost did). After Elam missed two FG's and nearly a third this was nearly all they needed (along with a good special team showing) to beat the visiting Broncos.

[NaptownChief]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

Yup, one of 4 passers in Week 1 to top 300 yards....."pretty poor" game indeed....

Well you guys should trade for a legend like Josh McCown since throwing for 300 yards in Week 1 is the benchmark for great play.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

Well you guys should trade for a legend like Josh McCown since throwing for 300 yards in Week 1 is the benchmark for great play.

I never said it was the benchmark for "great play".....what I implied was that it refutes your claim of "poor play", that IS what you said isn't it? That he played "poorly"?

Not to mention that the kid led the team on TWO game winning drives, with the first one ending in a missed FG.....