Monday, December 4, 2006

Cutler Comes of Age

Jay Cutler's first start of his NFL career came last night in 16 degree weather at Mile High. While he did throw for 2 touchdowns, he also made some costly mistakes. It was inauspicious at best, but to hear the Denver Post's Woody Paige tell it, the Commie rookie looked "awful." Well, we don't put much stock in pundits and talking heads on this site, so tell us what you think about the play of our Darling Denver 'Dore.


Stanimal said...

All feelings and remarks aside regarding Woody Paige, I don't think Cutler did terribly in his first start as a rookie NFL QB. He did make a couple of very poor decisions, for instance trying to throw to the sideline as he was going down on a sack, which turned into an interception for a touchdown. But aside from that, he managed the game well, and certainly as good as Jake Plummer would have done. Seattle's getting back into the swing of things, and Denver played them tight the whole way. The kid isn't going to step onto the field and be John Elway re-incarnated in his first start. If he starts hitting Joey Harrington numbers during the Detroit era, that's when the worrying should be done. Plus, that was a clutch kick by Josh Brown. Isn't that how games are supposed to be played?

Bobby O'Shea said...

I think Stanimal hit the nail on the head. There really is not a bad decision that Jay Cutler made last night that anyone who has watched Plummer play this year could reasonably say "Plummer would definitely have not made that mistake."

Cutler pased for 143 yards and had 2 TDs and 3 turnovers. Was he spectacular? Certainly not; he was certainly better than Rex Grossman thought. Denver committed 5 turnovers last night and the defense allowed 16 points in the 4th quarter. And, with all that, Josh Brown still had to kick a 50 yard field goal to win the game.

Rookie quarterbacks come with growing pains, if this is the worst Denver has to endure, the Broncos will be just fine.

Woody said...

Go Cutler is all I have to say. I'm behind him all the way. He's not going to jump into the pocket and win them a Superbowl on his first four throws. He made mistakes, but he'll learn, just like last night. Instead of trying to throw the ball away in the second half when pressured, he took the sack. Not glamorous, but you don't give the defense an oppurtunity for a pick-6.

I'd be curious, and it might make for good discussion, what his first game line was like compared to other highly-touted rookie QBs such as: The Mannings, P. Rivers, V. Young, etc, etc.

Bobby O'Shea said...

These 4 Quarterbacks provide good foils for Cutler sicne they were all Rookies who were inserted mid-season and with much fanfare. Here is how they did in their first starts:

1. Vince Young (3rd Pick, 2006)
14/29, 155 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints (Team Lost)

2. E. Mannings (1st Pick, 2004)
17/37, 162 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints (Team Lost)

3. Alex Smith (1st Pick, 2005)
9/22, 74 yds, 0 TD, 4 Ints (Team Lost)

4. Matt Leinart (10th Pick, 2006)
22/35, 253 yds, 2 TD, 0 Ints (Team Lost)

Woody said...

Thanks for the stats Bob-bo. Based on those, it seems to me that Cutler's debut was arguably the 2nd best performance. While the past performance of different athletes aren't the best indicators (it any at all) for future play, seems Cutler is right no track and shouldn't be discouraged by his play.

Anonymous said...

Cutler may prove he has what it takes to cut in the NFL. But for the Bronocos, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. And to think the Broncos still had a great chance to make a playoff run when they threw my man Jake on the bench.

Hate to say I told you so,

Dr. MZ

Anonymous said...

Dr. MZ appears to have a problem with his typing skills today. He thinks it's a good thing he doesn't write for a living,

Dr. MZ