Posted on 11/24/2006 5:37:16 PM PST by ajolympian2004
Will the Broncos get an early Christmas present from Santa Claus Indiana?, QB Jay Cutler
You can imagine what the sports media storm is like here in Colorado right now after the lackluster performance by the Denver Broncos offense last night in their 19 - 10 loss vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. An interesting fact about the Broncos first round draft choice from earlier this year, QB Jay Cutler is from Santa Claus, Indiana.
6 Jay Cutler, Quarterback
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 233 lbs. College: Vanderbilt Born: in Santa Claus, Ind. Acquired: Draft #1 (11th overall), 2006 Pro Year: R Year with Broncos: R
Career notes: http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=5907
PERSONAL: Cutler completed his degree in Human and Organizational Development in December 2005. In strength tests leading up to the NFL Combine, he bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times and had a maximum press of 400 pounds. Cutler crew up in a subdivision called Christmas Village in the Southern Indiana town of Santa Claus. His father, Jack, works for the Indiana state police and his mother, Sandy, is a part-time teacher. Jay Cutler was born on April 29, 1983, in Santa Claus, Ind.
Denver lost to a very good KC team in KC's home stadium, not the easiest place to come out with a win. You'd think Denver lost at home to a lousy team.
Cutler is a good QB and probably the Bronco's long term solution to replacing Elway.
Is he better than Plummer? Not today. The question is how fast you want to groom him and whether you've given up on the season.
This is Denver's second straight loss, and both came from divisional opponents.
These were extremely critical games.
So what? What do you think will happen when this kid has to go against a good defensive coordinator who will blitz him into next year? The schemes they run in college are nothing when compared to the NFL. He thought Florida, Georgia and LSU were fast? Wait until he plays every week against defenses where just about everyone can run.
The AFC West has 3 playoff caliber teams in it who are all really good.
Ask Coach Kevlar, not me.
Denver is still in the playoff hunt. I know what's being reported. My question is: Does Denver want to throw away their season by putting in Cutler?
Putting Cutler in is NOT throwing away the season. Quite the opposite.
With Plummer they are 7-4 and more than likely a playoff team. Shanahan could not possibly go to someone who has never taken an NFL snap this late in the year.
With Plummer the team puts itself in a position to choke if it's behind at some point in the game, as shown Thursday night.
So Plummer makes the whole team choke?
The rest of the team can't do much if Plummer can't get the ball out of his hands.
See: Peyton Manning in a playoff game.
Well in the game the other day, one of the interceptions it was tipped. So that doesn't really count.
Indeed. The point is that Plummer has a history of failing when the team needs him the most. Considering that Denver used to have Mister Fourth Quarter himself, John Elway, that isn't exactly endearing to Plummer's status as starter.
Furthermore, saying that the team's record is proof that Plummer shouldn't be benched, then saying that the team is making Plummer look bad, makes no sense. It's one or the other--either the team is doing well because of Plummer, or it's doing well in spite of Plummer. It can't be both. At this point, it's the latter: Denver's winning games when Plummer isn't being asked to carry the team. Those 7 wins are largely the result of the defense being excellent at preventing opposing touchdowns.
I can't believe you are comparng Plummer to Elway. Give me a break.
I did not compare Plummer to Elway. Quite the opposite: I contrasted them in the most minimal of ways by discussing their relative abilities to carry their teams.
If the rest of the team can win games, but Plummer can't, that is a major problem. The QB is supposed to be responsible for winning games.
Even with Elway they lost Superbowls.
Correct, because the rest of the pieces weren't in place. Dan Marino took the 1984 Dolphins to the Super Bowl and lost, because the team consisted of Dan Marino and... well, no one else who mattered enough to change the outcome. Elway won two Super Bowls when Denver finally installed a competent running game.
Denver's current situation is that they have all of the pieces in place except for a gaping hole at the QB position. Jay Cutler was drafted to fill that hole, and now it seems they're going to stick that piece in.
Denver is in fifth place in their conference. One spot behind all the division leaders. In my opinion, that ain't too shabby at all.
Any guy that voluntarily drives a Honda Element is no NFL quarterback.
Absolutely not!
Sincerely,
Drew Bledsoe
Denver has a winning record.
Thing is, prior to the San Diego game, they WERE leading the division. And now they've dropped two in a row to divisional opponents. With the wild card race finally getting interesting, Denver can't afford to take their position for granted. It's entirely possible that they can slide out of the wild card race altogether with another two losses.
I don't know their schedule. Do you think Jacksonville or Pittsburg can catch them?
Not for long. But don't get me wrong, it's not all Plummer's fault. Their undersized defense has been spending way too long on the field because they don't have enough weapons on offense. Rod Smith has lost a step, so defenses can roll coverage over to Javon Walker. They miss Jeb Putzier and a credible receiving threat out of the backfield.
Sure, it's tough being in the same division with the two best backs in football, but the Broncos need to find a way to win those.
And you all think Cutler can fix that?
I think it's worth a shot. Plummer is a streaky quarterback with a penchant for making bonehead plays at the worst possible point in the game. He's not going to be back next year, and Kevlar's got 10 days to get Cutler the first team snaps. Plus they have a home game against the Seahawks, who can't stop anybody.
Denver's remaining schedule: Seattle, at San Diego, at Arizona, Cincinnati, San Francisco. None of those games are gimmes, even the Arizona game. Seattle is struggling, but Hasselbeck and Alexander are coming back. San Diego will have home field advantage and has already beaten Denver once. Arizona is due one more win. Cincy's turning it around. San Francisco is at .500.
Jacksonville's problem is that their team is inconsistent. They have a great defense... but only when at home. On the road, they can't get the intensity going. It's possible they can get the wild card Denver's currently sitting on, especially if Denver buckles in the next few games.
And Pittsburgh... stick a fork in 'em, they're done. Maybe next year.
I'm thinking one wild card will come out of the AFC East--and it just might be the friggin' Jets.
A shot for what? Denver is already in the hunt for a wildcard.
So they are looking at maybe one or two more loses. Their in great shape.
Okay, maybe they should stand pat then and not do anything. Hopefully, the Jags and Chiefs will cooperate.
You think with a record of 10-6 the Broncos won't make a wildcard?
I think they'll need help. The Jest have a soft schedule and could win out. Right now the Chiefs own the tie breaker. The Jags have four road games plus the Pats and Colts.
I really don't think a switch to Cutler is giving up on this season. It seems like the rest of the team have given up on Plummer.
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