Cutler's task: Move mountains

[spdirty]

mark kiszla
Cutler's task: Move mountains
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
Updated: 12/09/2008 01:26:50 AM MST

Nobody mentions Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler in the same breath as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

All Denver asks from Cutler is to do more for his team than the top quarterbacks of this NFL generation.

So, as balloting by fans, players and coaches for the Pro Bowl concludes this week, here is all I ask voters to consider:

In the history of the Broncos, has the team been more reliant on a single player than the burden coach Mike Shanahan now puts on Cutler?

The answer is no.

(Sorry, Mr. Elway.)

Has Manning ever been required to throw 600 passes in a season, as it appears Cutler must do for the Broncos to make the playoffs?

The answer is no.

(Sorry, Mr. Cut That Meat.)

While winning any of his three Super Bowl rings, was Brady ever forced to produce a staggering 75 percent of his team's total yardage, as Cutler has done for Denver?

The answer is no.

(Sorry, Mr. Gisele Bundchen.)

Not to suggest Cutler deserves to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl more than Philip Rivers of the mighty 5-8 San Diego Chargers, but without Cutler, these Broncos are going nowhere.

For example: On the second snap of a dozen-play, 95-yard drive that ended in the winning touchdown against Kansas City, Cutler dropped back to his own end zone and found himself dead in the crosshairs of the Chiefs' pass rush. Sidestepping a sack that could have resulted in a safety, Cutler fired the football for a 17-yard completion to tight end Tony Scheffler.

When the replay was shown throughout the stadium, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards was caught craning his neck at the giant video monitor, which caused him to shake his head in utter disbelief at Cutler's escape act.

Not to suggest that Cutler has overcome instability in his offensive backfield, but there are contestants who last longer on "Jeopardy!" than the string of injured tailbacks who have limped from the Broncos' huddle.

In fact, the next candidate to be Denver's starting tailback
Share Your Analysis

Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla fields your feedback. Look for it in Kickin' It With Kiz every Saturday.
was recruited from a local shopping mall, where Tatum Bell was selling cellphones. In business since 1960, the Broncos have never made do with a leading rusher who ran for fewer than 347 yards in a season. Until now.

While receiver Eddie Royal, offensive tackle Ryan Clady and cornerback Dre Bly have been indispensable to Denver's unlikely playoff run, everybody on this team gets in line behind Cutler.

The lone season in team history that saw such a one-man show was 1985, when it often seemed coach Dan Reeves milked the scoreboard clock until he asked third-year pro John Elway to go win the game. But, in his third pro season, Cutler is on track to throw for more yards and touchdowns.

There were those of us who have anticipated great things for him since the day he was drafted out of Vanderbilt, whether it was predicting a rookie would supplant Jake Plummer at starter or foreseeing the lone way the Broncos could make the playoffs this year is if Cutler played like an MVP candidate.

But the next big step in Cutler's development was when he threw an interception that staked the Chiefs to an early 10-0 lead, and rather than responding with a pout on the sideline, the young Denver quarterback came back with a cool vengeance, threading passes in such tight spots it made you gasp.

Jay-C is growing up right before our eyes.

Shanahan will receive votes for NFL coach of the year.

But let there be no mistaking who has stamped his identity on a Broncos team like nobody since Elway.

It's Cutler.

Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_11172554

[ludo21]

JC is a huge reason we are successful, but when our run game is going, THAT is the reason we can be unstoppable.

[Dedhed]

No one in the league has done more with less than Cutler.

With the old man petering out in Arizona, Cutler should be in any talks about league MVP; particularly if we continue to look strong heading into the playoffs.

No defensive help, no rushing attack, more dropped balls than all but 1 other team in the NFL, has accounted for 75% of the teams offensive production, and he has this team 1 win away from their first division title in years.

I don't think he'll be able to overcome those flaws in the playoffs, but his performance has been nothing short of phenomenal. In only his 3rd year he has carried this team on his back all year.

As this team matures over the next couple of years to offer some support, the Broncos will become the cream of the NFL and Cutler will be THE name leading the list of QBs.

[El Guapo]

Wow, awesome article. Thanks for sharing.

[TheReverend]

Good article from Kiszla.

Someone check the weather report and see if Hell froze over.

[Circle Orange]

Must be a slow sports day for Kizzy. 2pm martini lunch, then off to the wifey.

[socalorado]

In the history of the Broncos, has the team been more reliant on a single player than the burden coach Mike Shanahan now puts on Cutler?

The answer is no.

(Sorry, Mr. Elway.)



“So far in Elway’s career, his offensive linemen and wide receivers have been voted to the Pro Bowl a combined seven times. In Dan Marino’s 15 seasons, Miami Dolphins offensive linemen and wide receivers have been selected to the Pro Bowl 30 times. … Though usually surrounded by a human rummage sale, Elway has won more games as a starter than any other quarterback in NFL history (138) as of the writing of this article. It’s the equivalent of carving Mount Rushmore with a spoon or composing Beethoven’s Ninth on a kazoo.

But Elway’s career has been about more than just winning. It has been about escaping defeat a half page from the end of the novel, leaping over pits of fire with the microdot hidden in his cigarette lighter. On first down Elway was ‘pretty average,’ his Stanford coach Paul Wiggin once said. But when the elementary school kids are being held hostage and the detonator reads 00:03, who would you rather have clipping the wires than Elway? He may be the only quarterback in history who could stand on his own two-yard line, trailing by five with less than two minutes to play, no timeouts left, windchill –5, and cause the opposing coach to mutter, ‘We’re in trouble.’”--Rick Reilly, Sports Illustrated, qtd. in Austin Murphy’s The Super Bowl: Sports Greatest Championship

Sorry, but NO ONE did more with less than Elway early in his career.
I love Cutler as much as the next guy, and yes he is moving mountians, but there just isnt a large enough body of work from Cutler to compare to Elway yet. Give it 5 years.

[colonelbeef]

Originally Posted by socalorado

In the history of the Broncos, has the team been more reliant on a single player than the burden coach Mike Shanahan now puts on Cutler?

The answer is no.

(Sorry, Mr. Elway.)



“So far in Elway’s career, his offensive linemen and wide receivers have been voted to the Pro Bowl a combined seven times. In Dan Marino’s 15 seasons, Miami Dolphins offensive linemen and wide receivers have been selected to the Pro Bowl 30 times. … Though usually surrounded by a human rummage sale, Elway has won more games as a starter than any other quarterback in NFL history (138) as of the writing of this article. It’s the equivalent of carving Mount Rushmore with a spoon or composing Beethoven’s Ninth on a kazoo.

But Elway’s career has been about more than just winning. It has been about escaping defeat a half page from the end of the novel, leaping over pits of fire with the microdot hidden in his cigarette lighter. On first down Elway was ‘pretty average,’ his Stanford coach Paul Wiggin once said. But when the elementary school kids are being held hostage and the detonator reads 00:03, who would you rather have clipping the wires than Elway? He may be the only quarterback in history who could stand on his own two-yard line, trailing by five with less than two minutes to play, no timeouts left, windchill –5, and cause the opposing coach to mutter, ‘We’re in trouble.’”--Rick Reilly, Sports Illustrated, qtd. in Austin Murphy’s The Super Bowl: Sports Greatest Championship

Sorry, but NO ONE did more with less than Elway early in his career.
I love Cutler as much as the next guy, and yes he is moving mountians, but there just isnt a large enough body of work from Cutler to compare to Elway yet. Give it 5 years.

The very same article came to mind when I saw this post. Elway won with nothing around him.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by socalorado

I love Cutler as much as the next guy, and yes he is moving mountians, but there just isnt a large enough body of work from Cutler to compare to Elway yet. Give it 5 years.

But that defeats the purpose of the article. This is about what Cutler is doing RIGHT NOW.....not five years from now.

[BroncoInferno]

In Peter King's Monday Morning Quarter back article, he listed his MVP candidates as follows:

MVP Watch

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis. While the game against Cincinnati was still being contested, Manning was 24-of-29 with three touchdowns and no picks.

2. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. I decided not to demote him. He stays No. 2, barely, because it's still an amazing thing that the Falcons are 8-5 and Ryan, a rookie, has thrown seven interceptions in 366 attempts.

3. Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia. With the Eagles' season on the line at 5-5-1, Westbrook, battered and bruised, handled the ball 64 times in the next two games -- wins over Arizona and the Giants -- and produced 333 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. That's value right there. With his team's season on the line, he was the man most responsible for the Eagles winning two games.

4. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans. As clutch as clutch can be Sunday, particularly on a vital two-minute drill before halftime against Atlanta.

5. Troy Polamalu, S/James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh. I can't decide. They're nearly in a dead heat. Harrison makes three key plays a game. Polamalu leads the league in interceptions and patrols the middle like Jack Tatum.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200.../Week14/2.html

I sent this to his mailbag in response:

"With all due respect, it is frankly absurd that Jay Cutler is not in your top 5 MVP candidates. In fact, he should be running away with the top spot. He has done more with less this season than any other QB. Denver has been ravaged by injuries on defense (a defense that was bad with 11 healthy starters) and six RBs (yes--SIX) falling prey to injury. Yet Cutler had Denver primed to win the AFC West. Do you really think Matt Ryan, your #2 candidate, would have the Falcolns primed for the playoffs under similar circumstances? Peyton Manning is obviously terrific, but he is backed up by a quality defense, unlike Cutler. What a terrible oversight on your part."

Hopefully, I (or someone who sent a similar e-mail) will receive a response to the egregious oversight.

[socalorado]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

But that defeats the purpose of the article. This is about what Cutler is doing RIGHT NOW.....not five years from now.

Good. my work is done here.

[cutlerfan]

Jay you need to read this - Mark 11:22-24

[Spider]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

In Peter King's Monday Morning Quarter back article, he listed his MVP candidates as follows:

MVP Watch

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis. While the game against Cincinnati was still being contested, Manning was 24-of-29 with three touchdowns and no picks.

2. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. I decided not to demote him. He stays No. 2, barely, because it's still an amazing thing that the Falcons are 8-5 and Ryan, a rookie, has thrown seven interceptions in 366 attempts.

3. Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia. With the Eagles' season on the line at 5-5-1, Westbrook, battered and bruised, handled the ball 64 times in the next two games -- wins over Arizona and the Giants -- and produced 333 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. That's value right there. With his team's season on the line, he was the man most responsible for the Eagles winning two games.

4. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans. As clutch as clutch can be Sunday, particularly on a vital two-minute drill before halftime against Atlanta.

5. Troy Polamalu, S/James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh. I can't decide. They're nearly in a dead heat. Harrison makes three key plays a game. Polamalu leads the league in interceptions and patrols the middle like Jack Tatum.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200.../Week14/2.html

I sent this to his mailbag in response:

"With all due respect, it is frankly absurd that Jay Cutler is not in your top 5 MVP candidates. In fact, he should be running away with the top spot. He has done more with less this season than any other QB. Denver has been ravaged by injuries on defense (a defense that was bad with 11 healthy starters) and six RBs (yes--SIX) falling prey to injury. Yet Cutler had Denver primed to win the AFC West. Do you really think Matt Ryan, your #2 candidate, would have the Falcolns primed for the playoffs under similar circumstances? Peyton Manning is obviously terrific, but he is backed up by a quality defense, unlike Cutler. What a terrible oversight on your part."

Hopefully, I (or someone who sent a similar e-mail) will receive a response to the egregious oversight.

[Willynowei]

Great way to give credit to the best pass protecting O-line I have seen in the NFL since the Chiefs in the early 2000's. Who have given up the least sacks in the league with the most pass attempts in the league.

Nice to know we have no rushing attack, albeit that usually that means the QB's running for his life, where as Cutler is not.. So.. it doesn't really matter - its up to the QB to execute with all that time in the world and a set of literally uncoverable receiving options.

The fact is he's second in the league in interceptions thrown and a good majority of them have come when he is not under pressure. Often when he makes an improbable touchdown throw, there's someone wide open for a first down under his nose.

Cutler can throw a football as accurate, as deep as any QB in the NFL, and he could probably thread it better than anyone in the NFL because he throws the tightest spiral I've ever seen. And his footwork may already be the NFL's best (in the absence of a healthy Brady), combined with athleticism makes Cutler highly elusive and a great running threat at 6-3 230. This combination of raw ability and impressive football fundamentals means that if he eliminates those stupid freakin mistakes that make us scratch our heads and learns when to take chances and when not to, he can be as good as anyone who's ever played quarterback.

That said, its a big if, and lets not "Crown his ass", as he's lost nearly as many games with poor turnovers as he's stolen in the fourth quarter.

[Garcia Bronco]

Moving a mountain is like trying to get Clady ahead in the fan voting with an hour to go.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Great way to give credit to the best pass protecting O-line I have seen in the NFL since the Chiefs in the early 2000's. Who have given up the least sacks in the league with the most pass attempts in the league.

Nice to know we have no rushing attack, albeit that usually that means the QB's running for his life, where as Cutler is not.. So.. it doesn't really matter - its up to the QB to execute with all that time in the world and a set of literally uncoverable receiving options.

The fact is he's second in the league in interceptions thrown and a good majority of them have come when he is not under pressure. Often when he makes an improbable touchdown throw, there's someone wide open for a first down under his nose.

No NFL quarterback can throw a more accurate football deeper down the field than Jay Cutler. And his footwork (in the absence of a healthy Brady), combined with athleticism makes Cutler highly elusive and a great running threat at 6-3 230. This combination of raw ability and impressive football fundamentals means that if he eliminates those stupid freakin mistakes that make us scratch our heads and learns when to take chances and when not to, he can be as good as anyone who's ever played quarterback.

That said, its a big if, and lets not "Crown his ass", as he's lost nearly as many games with poor turnovers as he's stolen in the fourth quarter.

What you don't get is that Cutler HAS to take more chances than other QBs because, with our defense, every scoreless drive could be critical. Plus, with teams not giving much respect to the running game, that makes those passing lanes much narrower. That is not say that he doesn't need to improve his decision making, but given the circumstances I don't know many other QBs who wouldn't be making similar mistakes too. Even Peyton would probably have a similar number of INTs in those circumstances. I mean, he played with bad defenses for awhile, but he has almost always been backed up by a great running game.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

What you don't get is that Cutler HAS to take more chances than other QBs because, with our defense, every scoreless drive could be critical. Plus, with teams not giving much respect to the running game, that makes those passing lanes much narrower. That is not say that he doesn't need to improve his decision making, but given the circumstances I don't many other QBs who wouldn't be making similar mistakes too.

Are you kidding me? with 90% of his INTs, on the replay you can see a wideopen guy running underneath. He has a very obvious tendency to throw it deep and often to Marshall when he reads man coverage and that is how defenses bait him into those bad throws. Cutler doesn't have to score on every drive and he'd probably score a lot more if he learned to take the first downs instead of going deep all the time.

Its one thing to extend the play with your feet on a critical third down and see if you can steal a conversion when the defense plays it right. Its a whole other thing to carelessly toss the ball up for grabs on second and short when you've got a tightend wideopen across the middle of the field.

No quarterback gets more praised on his throws and more maligned on his decision making than Jay Cutler. He's getting better, but he's got a long ways to go. He lacks consistency, and although there aren't many guys if any that could explode like him, there are plenty of guys that are more consistent under center on a week to week basis and probably would've swept the Chiefs, Oakland and likely won against both Jacksonville and Miami simply by avoiding mistakes and taking what the defense gives.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Are you kidding me? with 90% of his INTs, on the replay you can see a wideopen guy running underneath.

90%? Hyperbole much? Perhaps you can demonstrate this 90% number with a chart or graph. I have seen what you describe on a couple of occasions, but I suspect you'll find with every QB INTs they have tossed where there were guys open elsewhere. It happens.

He has a very obvious tendency to throw it deep and often to Marshall when he reads man coverage and that is how defenses bait him into those bad throws. Cutler doesn't have to score on every drive and he'd probably score a lot more if he learned to take the first downs instead of going deep all the time.

Its one thing to extend the play with your feet on a critical third down and see if you can steal a conversion when the defense plays it right. Its a whole other thing to carelessly toss the ball up for grabs on second and short when you've got a tightend wideopen across the middle of the field.

No quarterback gets more praised on his throws and more maligned on his decision making than Jay Cutler. He's getting better, but he's got a long ways to go. He lacks consistency, and although there aren't many guys if any that could explode like him, there are plenty of guys that are more consistent under center on a week to week basis and probably would've swept the Chiefs, Oakland and likely won against both Jacksonville and Miami simply by avoiding mistakes and taking what the defense gives.

Dude, it's like I said, he has made some dumb throws, but he HAS to take more chance because we can't get it done consistently enough with the running game and because the defense is so bad. Put any QB in those circumstances, and the vast majority would not have this team at 8-5. And even the ones capable of doing so (maybe two or three in the entire league) would very probably have a similar number of INTs. If Cutler had, say, Joseph Addai and a solid defense backing him up, I guaren-goddamn-tee you he would have fewer INTs on his docket.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

90%? Hyperbole much? Perhaps you can demonstrate this 90% number with a chart or graph. I have seen what you describe on a couple of occasions, but I suspect you'll find with every QB INTs they have tossed where there were guys open elsewhere. It happens.



Dude, it's like I said, he has made some dumb throws, but he HAS to take more chance because we can't get it done consistently enough with the running game and because the defense is so bad. Put any QB in those circumstances, and the vast majority would not have this team at 8-5. And even the ones capable of doing so (maybe two or three in the entire league) would very probably have a similar number of INTs. If Cutler had, say, Joseph Addai and a solid defense backing him up, I guaren-goddamn-tee you he would have fewer INTs on his docket.

To add to this, while his gunslinger mentality has hurt us at times, it has also lead to a lot of big plays that would not have occurred had he not been willing to throw a ball that generally would not be advisable. It is really easy to point it out when things go bad, but how critical has it been to our success this season the chances that Cutler has taken that have paid off?

[Spider]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

probably would've swept the Chiefs, Oakland and likely won against both Jacksonville and Miami simply by avoiding mistakes and taking what the defense gives.

perhaps , then again maybe not , who knows for sure , but what was everyone expecting when Cutler came in ? He is a gun slinger , vintage Elway and Farve , shades of marino , the Kid wants to win the game on every snap , some times it is there , some times it isnt , only time will teach Cutler when to go for it when not to .........

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

there are plenty of guys that are more consistent under center on a week to week basis and probably would've swept the Chiefs, Oakland and likely won against both Jacksonville and Miami simply by avoiding mistakes and taking what the defense gives.

Have you ever seen our defense? Our RB situation? You really think we would have a better record with a less talented but "more consistent" QB under center? You think we would be 8-5 with Pennington, for example? With our D and RB situation, you are nuts if you think so. With the set of circumstances Cutler has been given this season, he HAS to be a gunslinger in order for us to have a chance.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

"With all due respect, it is frankly absurd that Jay Cutler is not in your top 5 MVP candidates. In fact, he should be running away with the top spot. He has done more with less this season than any other QB. Denver has been ravaged by injuries on defense (a defense that was bad with 11 healthy starters) and six RBs (yes--SIX) falling prey to injury. Yet Cutler had Denver primed to win the AFC West. Do you really think Matt Ryan, your #2 candidate, would have the Falcolns primed for the playoffs under similar circumstances? Peyton Manning is obviously terrific, but he is backed up by a quality defense, unlike Cutler. What a terrible oversight on your part."

Hopefully, I (or someone who sent a similar e-mail) will receive a response to the egregious oversight.

...but Peter King is due no respect.

[orange 4 life]

Cutler has been amazing this year.
unfortunately, its been amazingly awful at times, but the bottom line is its only his third year and the good FAR outweighs the bad.

as for the int's, many (most) come when he DOESNT need to force the pass.
that said (and as was mentioned earlier in this thread), he ALSO makes ALOT of plays by making those same ill advised throws.
once again, the good outweighs the bad. the more time that passes, the more i see him embracing a leadership role (vital to the long term success of the team) and the more i see him begin to understand that he doesnt need to go downfield every play. he'll always take chances, but he'll learn WHEN to take those chances, and when not to.

bottom line is we could still have jake plummer here, and if that was the case, i actually believe the teams record would be about the same.......but here's the important next step to that statement.
with plummer (who RARELY threw an int when we were ahead or down by only one score) we may have beaten kc, jacksonville, and oakland.
we would NOT (not even close) have beaten the jets or the falcons.
cutler plays up to the competition, and he has played stellar on the road. he beats the teams he's NOT supposed to beat, and that of course makes us a threat IN the playoffs, unlike those teams of '03 and '04 ('05 team shouldve gone all the way, but lets not relive that defensive collapse against pitt) who won most all the games they were supposed to win, but couldnt match up against the league's best.

be patient folks. if this young man fully embraces his role as the leader of this team, he'll be very very special for many years.

[SureShot]

Originally Posted by orange 4 life

bottom line is we could still have jake plummer here, and if that was the case, i actually believe the teams record would be about the same.......

You have got to be ****ing kidding me

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by orange 4 life

bottom line is we could still have jake plummer here, and if that was the case, i actually believe the teams record would be about the same.

Jake, I was with you in giving Plummer more credit here than most were, but you can't be serious? In fact, I submit that this season is VERY similar to the 2006 season. Injury plagued team with a bad defense. Cutler has been able to take this similar team to a place that Plummer was not able to take the 2006 team. I really don't mean that as a knock on Plummer...only a couple of QBs could have us in this position given the circumstances. But, seriously, you cannot possibly think that Plummer would have an injury ravaged team with no defense and six RBs gone to the shelf at 8-5 and in position to win the division, can you? A great deal of our success has been Cutler making big throws in spots that not many QBs could make, certainly not Plummer who didn't have a big enough arm. Take the 50 plus yard TD to Royal that Cutler made against the Jets, for instance. That was a critical play in the win. You think Plummer could have made that throw? He simply didn't have the arm for it. It would have been going six the other way if he even tried it.