Broncos | Shanahan would like Plummer to stay
Published Wed Nov 29 1:27:00 a.m. ET 2006
(KFFL) Lee Rasizer, of the Rocky Mountain News, reports Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan would like QB Jake Plummer to remain with the team as a No. 2 quarterback, although with Plummer's cap number that might not be a possibility. It also could depend on whether Plummer will accept a role as the team's backup. "I think that all depends on him. Would I like him here long term? As long as he'd like to be here. . . . I'd love him in that role - if he wants to be in that role. Time will tell," said Shanahan. Plummer is set to make $8 million in each of the next three years, and that might not be feasible under the salary cap.
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http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/...5174648,00.htmlKeys handed to Cutler
It's rookie's turn to steer offense as Shanahan makes switch official
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
November 28, 2006
ENGLEWOOD - It's something of a mad experiment, promoting Jay Cutler to starting quarterback.
The Denver Broncos remain in the playoff race, have cited widespread problems offensively and are in the midst of a two-game losing streak. And to change their fortunes, they're benching the veteran behind center for a rookie with zero NFL snaps. Sure, that makes sense . . .
"I don't know," Cutler said when asked how inserting him into the equation improves the situation, which involves the demotion of incumbent Jake Plummer. "It might make things worse. We'll find out."
The answers will come beginning Sunday, when the Broncos (7-4) meet the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in a nationally televised prime-time matchup (6:15 p.m., KUSA-Channel 9).
At least Cutler knows how to make an entrance.
"Hopefully, I can give us a little bit of a spark," Cutler said. "We're going to get things turned around. We've got too much talent and character on this team not to."
Cutler, the team's top draft pick, was officially let in Monday morning on the worst-kept secret since the TomKat wedding.
Coach Mike Shanahan delivered the news in his office after rumors about the switch swirled for days.
But when the conversation began first with some small talk, Cutler, who had been getting calls from friends and family all weekend seeking confirmation of his altered playing status, began to question just what was going on.
"I was like, 'What am I doing in here?' " he recalled.
Chances are, Cutler won't be repeating similar lines once he takes the huddle.
Those who have watched him the past several months have described him as self-assured, someone not easily intimidated.
If he was bullied in big situations he'd likely struggle with the weight of the scenario in which he now finds himself rather than embracing it. Then again, this is a player who, while at Vanderbilt University, went into a 100,000-seat stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., and led his team to an improbable win over Tennessee.
"There's pressure," Shanahan admitted about Cutler attempting to lift to greater heights an offense that the coach himself called "average" this season. " . . . I think this kid can handle it."
The move, Shanahan said, is about the present as much as the future.
"He gives us the best chance to win now," Shanahan said.
And, unlike Vince Young and Matt Leinart, the two quarterbacks taken before Cutler in last April's draft, there's little room for the anticipated growing pains Cutler will inevitably have. At minimum, Denver probably needs three wins in its final five games to make the playoffs.
"Well, obviously, with the losing streak we've been on, it doesn't hurt to try," wide receiver Javon Walker said of the timing of the move and the chance Cutler will move the team forward. "If he does, then we'll ride it all the way out. If not, obviously, he's the quarterback of the future."
Teammates have raved about Cutler's arm strength. Walker even compared that particular trait to that of former teammate Brett Favre.
More of a concern is Cutler's decision-making and not trusting that cannon too much in tight quarters.
He knows Seattle will do everything it can to confuse him. The 23-year-old quarterback plans extra hours of study to try to limit the initial confusion.
"I'm going to take chances and try to put some balls in some spots," Cutler admitted. "But for the most part, I've just got to manage the game and help our defense out."
That had been the plan this season with Plummer. But a low completion rate (55.6 percent), poor touchdown-to-interception ratio (11-to-12) and the inability to move the Broncos in the clutch led to his demotion.
Plummer's future up in air
Plummer now moves into a backup role for the first time in his 10-year NFL career, and his status beyond the next five games is in doubt. Plummer has three option years remaining on his contract, with salary-cap figures in excess of $8 million in each.
And even if Denver declines that option, various prorated bonuses on the deal still would count on the payroll and add up to more than $12 million.
Asked whether he envisioned Plummer as a long-term possibility as No. 2, Shanahan said, "I think that all depends on him. Would I like him here long term? As long as he'd like to be here. . . . I'd love him in that role - if he wants to be in that role. Time will tell."
Time also played a factor in the timing of Cutler entering the lineup.
Unlike the preparation for the previous game, a 19-10 defeat in Kansas City on Thursday, Denver has a full week to get ready for Seattle. But the switch was more about shaking things up in a moment when Cutler could best handle the change and Plummer's game was deemed firmly on the downside.
'Complete knowlege'
Shanahan insisted no concessions will be made in the playbook because of the switch.
It actually might put Denver in even more of an attack mode to take advantage of Cutler's down-field strengths.
"For us to make the decision we've made, we feel very comfortable he's got complete knowledge of the offense," Shanahan said, adding the rookie will benefit from all the repetitions he got in offseason training and in summer sessions. "He's got a good feel for the system, which is one of the reasons we made the change."
Cutler completed 40 of 62 passes for 565 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in four preseason games, thrilling the team with his consistency and cool demeanor. But as Cutler stated plainly, "It's a different animal completely."
Since that time, he has worked after practice on going through his progressions and studied Plummer's practice snaps to try to stay sharp mentally. But physically, he has been running the scout team more than the Broncos' game plan each week. So he'll need the time behind center this week to get his timing down.
"It's a greater stage than he's probably ever known," fullback Kyle Johnson said. "And it's not the same as the other (first-round) quarterbacks because they were playing for teams that weren't winning as many games and . . . hadn't been in the playoffs in awhile. We've been in the playoffs the last couple years, so there's an increased amount of pressure on the quarterback. I think he can handle it - in all honesty, I think he'll feel it, too - but I think he can handle it."
rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com
to Adam
At least he is making predictions BEFORE outcomes. That I have respect for, even if his predictions are not good.
for my sake.
As for Dayne, I was strongly opinionated that he just simply is not talented enough to play in the NFL. 100%, well nothing is 100% as some guys get some new diet or training regiment that works great for them and become a better player. I am a Giant fan and never would have thought Tiki would be able to break as many tackles as he has been able to do and hold onto the football as well as he has over th past 3 years (at his age). But Coughlin taught him how to hold onto the ball and Tiki started a workout program that would rival anyone's. In doing so he took it to the next level. So it is never 100% bet that a guy who was not NFL capable could get to the next level and be NFL mediocre and contribute somewhat.
I could be Schefter too
point taken.
