Shanahan likes Cutler’s direction

[dragondawg]

Winning big games is next step for young QB

By Brian Howell
Longmont Times-Call

ENGLEWOOD — After his first full season as a starting quarterback in the National Football League, Jay Cutler looks like a player with a lot of talent. But he’s yet to prove he can win.

Sound familiar? It does to Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.

“I just remember John (Elway) in his fourth year, because nobody believed in John Elway, and John had to prove himself in a playoff situation,” Shanahan said. “The only thing you heard about John when he got here for the first four years was that he never played in a bowl game in college and had not taken the Broncos to a playoff (win).”

Like Elway, Cutler never played in a bowl game during his career at Vanderbilt University. In fact, the Commodores were 11-35 in his four seasons under center.

As a starter, Cutler is now 9-12 in the NFL.

Shanahan, who coached Elway for 11 seasons, is far from worried about Cutler, though.

“I was in the same situation with Steve Young following Joe Montana (in San Francisco),” Shanahan said. “He got booed off the field a couple of times in championship games because he didn’t win the big one. He finally did get the monkey off his back.”

Elway wound up winning two Super Bowls and retiring with a then-NFL-record 148 wins as a starter. Young also won a Super Bowl.

While Shanahan isn’t ready to label Cutler in the same class, he sees the ability to get there.

“I don’t know if you say a guy is great until he proves himself he’s great,” Shanahan said. “What made everybody excited about John Elway when he first came in? I think everybody saw a great arm, they saw a great competitor, they saw a guy that would compete. I think that’s what they see in a guy like Cutler. Now he’s got to go out there and do it, just like John did.”

Despite the Broncos finishing 7-9 and failing to reach the playoffs, Cutler had a pretty good season in 2007. He threw for 3,497 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was picked off 14 times but completed 64 percent of his passes.

At 24 years old (he’ll be 25 in April) and with just 21 NFL games under his belt, Cutler is far from polished, however.

“There’s a million things (Cutler can work on),” Shanahan said. “He’s got to work on ball position; he’s got to work on footwork; consistency with his throws — his short throws as well as the medium-range throws; blitzes and how to react to them; footwork when there’s pressure; different things that all quarterbacks go through.”

Shanahan has seen from a distance as several young quarterbacks throughout the league have made the same improvements.

“You take a look at (Tom) Brady or (Peyton) Manning or (Ben) Roethlisberger,” he said. “You take a look at their first 16 games or their first 24 games, and look at the growth — it's night and day.

“When the game slows down for (young quarterbacks) a little bit because they understand defenses and they understand where people are, they play at the level that a couple of these quarterbacks are playing right now.”

Cutler is heading into his second offseason as a starting quarterback, and Shanahan is expecting — or at least hoping — Cutler will come back in 2008 as a better player.

“I think it’ll be a lot easier for him (next season),” Shanahan said. “Anytime you go for a full season as a starter, it’s a great learning experience.

“Everything slows down for you a little bit; it’s another offseason to study film. But you’ve still got to grow. You’ve still got to study; you’ve still got to get better. It just doesn’t happen; you’ve got to work to make it happen.”

http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=5811

[Cito Pelon]

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

[maher_tyler]

I already can't wait for next season!!

[brncs_fan]

All of this can be aided greatly with 2 good OT's.

[MileHighMagic]

My only knock on QB1 is his footwork. His ridiculously strong arm has made him develop some bad habits. He throws off balance when he doesn't have to and forces **** falling backwards. I mean... he rolls out and has all day to square up, yet still throws off one leg, falling off to the side.

I wish we could get a wily vet like Trent Dilfer to back up Jay. A coach on the field type, to connect with him on a level Shanahan can't. Kinda like Mike was with John, under Reeves.

[backup qb]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

Plummer with velocity? Come on. The guy has more talent in his leg then Jake had in his whole body. He will improve. I can't believe how people forget that for the most part it takes a couple of years for young qbs to "get it."

[FrontRowSeat1]

Be best if Shanny came back next year much improved. But...

[bpc]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

This is a silly post. Whenever Cutler could keep us in games, he did. Whenever the protection couldn't keep the pass rush off of him, he had a bad game... Detroit, at Oakland, SD twice among other games.

Now there are certain things that Cutler can grow into that will help him in these situation and I think Shanahan hit the nail on the head. "“He’s got to work on ball position; he’s got to work on footwork; consistency with his throws — his short throws as well as the medium-range throws; blitzes and how to react to them; footwork when there’s pressure; different things that all quarterbacks go through.”

[NYBronco]

Who is this Plummer dude? Cutler is a great competitor like Elway with a sense of urgency. Get him an improved and consistent O line and lets see what he can really do.

Great article from the paper of the city of my youth.

[Drek]

Get Cutler some good OTs and watch his footwork improve instantly before our eyes as we becomes and upper echelon QB.

[Ironlung]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

Dude, you are a industrial size bag of douche.

[Jesterhole]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

Worst post I've seen in a long time. If you can't tell the difference between Jake and Jay, you are too stupid to argue with.

[Dedhed]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Cutler has a lot more work to do. He's a long, long way from being a game-changing QB. Next year without a big makeover on his delivery and footwork, he'll be 20-14 again. The Dude is Plummer with velocity.

This is just no thought drivel. Of course the kid has work to do, but he's not at all a long way from being a game-changing QB in this league. And saying he needs a big makeover in his delivery is just day 1 stupid.

There's a difference between having to rely on good footwork and just wanting it for pretty's sake. Guys like Plummer, Brees, Brady, and Eli Manning need immaculate footwork because they don't have the arm to deliver the ball on time with accuracy. That is all that matters from a QB. Cutler, much like Brett Favre and Elway, has the ability to get the ball to the receiver accurately and on time regardless of where his feet are or which direction he's moving. Favre to this day has awkward footwork and throws a high percentage of balls off the back foot, and I guarantee his coach would be the first to tell you that he could care less if the ball gets to the receiver. Elway developed better footwork after he had any kind of protection in front of him, and I would bet the same will hold true for Cutler.

I saw very few, and I mean like 5 all year, balls that went awry or lacked pace due to poor footwork or delivery.

[HEAV]

He needs a real QB qoach. Some one that played the position and can devote time to Jay 100%, not son of an assitant or a head coach wearing multiple hats and stretched thin by wearing all the hats.

[Northman]

Originally Posted by bpc

This is a silly post. Whenever Cutler could keep us in games, he did. Whenever the protection couldn't keep the pass rush off of him, he had a bad game... Detroit, at Oakland, SD twice among other games.

Now there are certain things that Cutler can grow into that will help him in these situation and I think Shanahan hit the nail on the head. "“He’s got to work on ball position; he’s got to work on footwork; consistency with his throws — his short throws as well as the medium-range throws; blitzes and how to react to them; footwork when there’s pressure; different things that all quarterbacks go through.”

Not only that but i didnt realize that Plummer was a second year Qb.

[Pontius Pirate]

Plummer took the Cardinals (the Cardinals for chrissakes!) to their only playoff berth ever in AZ in his 2nd full year as QB, let alone all the playoffs he took the Broncos to. And it's fair to say those Cards were not nearly as talented as these Broncs.

Let's see Cutler take the Broncs to the playoffs next year and then maybe we can compare Cutler to Plummer.

Plummer in college and NFL = winner/winner.
Cutler in college and NFL = loser/

[MileHighMagic]

Originally Posted by Dedhed

I saw very few, and I mean like 5 all year, balls that went awry or lacked pace due to poor footwork or delivery.

I remember quite a few passes that nose dived at wr's feet or were inaccurate due to poor fundamentals. Some passes in the redzone when he had plenty of time to set his feet but still threw the ball off balance and on the run, consequently was almost picked off or the ball was deflected.

I don't mind him throwing off balance when he has to... but if you can square your shoulders to make an even more accurate pass that gets to the wr sooner, giving him a chance to get more YAC yards, or not taking as big of a hit, and giving the defense less time to react... it just makes everyone better.

Don't get me wrong... I love Jay and I truly believe he is gonna be right there with Manning and Brady in the near future but at this point in his career, his footwork is not good and it is holding him back. I understand the line was in shambles. I understand he is still very young. I understand he has to throw on the run and off balance more often because of the bootleg... but even "happy feet" Plummer set his feet when he could.

I just think he has always been able to get away with poor footwork because his arm is so strong and was never coached out of it because he produced. Then, he is forced even more into it... running for his life at Vandy. Now, at this level... every little detail and every split second matters. I believe improved footwork will put him in the upper echelon of qb's by improving his vision, accuracy, timing, strain on his arm, and ability to avoid pressure.

[Natedog24]

Originally Posted by Pontius Pirate

Plummer took the Cardinals (the Cardinals for chrissakes!) to their only playoff berth ever in AZ in his 2nd full year as QB, let alone all the playoffs he took the Broncos to. And it's fair to say those Cards were not nearly as talented as these Broncs.

Let's see Cutler take the Broncs to the playoffs next year and then maybe we can compare Cutler to Plummer.

Plummer in college and NFL = winner/winner.
Cutler in college and NFL = loser/

What exactly did Plummer win in the NFL, 1 playoff game?? If that qualifies him as a winner in the NFL then there will be a lot of guys with the same tag.

[Pontius Pirate]

Originally Posted by Natedog24

What exactly did Plummer win in the NFL, 1 playoff game?? If that qualifies him as a winner in the NFL then there will be a lot of guys with the same tag.

A career winning record (over a long career)....and I believe he's won two playoff games (1 with Denver, 1 with AZ).

[ward63]

Originally Posted by Drek

Get Cutler some good OTs and watch his footwork improve instantly before our eyes as we becomes and upper echelon QB.

Totally AGREE!!! Protect HIM and he won't be running for his life.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by bpc

This is a silly post. Whenever Cutler could keep us in games, he did. Whenever the protection couldn't keep the pass rush off of him, he had a bad game... Detroit, at Oakland, SD twice among other games.

Now there are certain things that Cutler can grow into that will help him in these situation and I think Shanahan hit the nail on the head. "“He’s got to work on ball position; he’s got to work on footwork; consistency with his throws — his short throws as well as the medium-range throws; blitzes and how to react to them; footwork when there’s pressure; different things that all quarterbacks go through.”

You dope. First you say "silly", then you say the same thing I did.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by AtH2O-27

Dude, you are a industrial size bag of douche.

You know a lot about douches?

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Jesterhole

Worst post I've seen in a long time. If you can't tell the difference between Jake and Jay, you are too stupid to argue with.

Criminy joe, you guys are too much. I can tell the difference between Jake and Jay, and I stated it - Jay has velocity.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Dedhed

This is just no thought drivel. Of course the kid has work to do, but he's not at all a long way from being a game-changing QB in this league. And saying he needs a big makeover in his delivery is just day 1 stupid.

There's a difference between having to rely on good footwork and just wanting it for pretty's sake. Guys like Plummer, Brees, Brady, and Eli Manning need immaculate footwork because they don't have the arm to deliver the ball on time with accuracy. That is all that matters from a QB. Cutler, much like Brett Favre and Elway, has the ability to get the ball to the receiver accurately and on time regardless of where his feet are or which direction he's moving. Favre to this day has awkward footwork and throws a high percentage of balls off the back foot, and I guarantee his coach would be the first to tell you that he could care less if the ball gets to the receiver. Elway developed better footwork after he had any kind of protection in front of him, and I would bet the same will hold true for Cutler.

I saw very few, and I mean like 5 all year, balls that went awry or lacked pace due to poor footwork or delivery.

Jeez, talk about drivel. You're really reaching in your defense of Cutler's poor mechanics.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by HEAV

He needs a real QB qoach. Some one that played the position and can devote time to Jay 100%, not son of an assitant or a head coach wearing multiple hats and stretched thin by wearing all the hats.

Obviously Shanny recognizes Cutler has a lot of work to do on the basics, so maybe we'll see that happen.