I’m not even going to bother with a link-everyone who’s reading this already knows Jay Cutler will start for the Broncos Sunday against Seattle. What you don’t know is whether it’s a good move, and that’s where I come in. Here are some arguments for and against the change that I’ve either heard or made up:
Pro No. 1: A young quarterback can revitalize an offense. Look at the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo this year. (Yes, I know I already used that quarterback change as an example of what NOT to do. Shut up.) Once Bledsoe came out, the team was reborn-the offense especially.
Yes, Bledsoe’s ceiling was more established than Plummer’s. But we know what Jake can and can’t do. While Cutler’s not any more mobile than Plummer, he’s got a better arm.
Or so I’m told-I didn’t really watch the preseason. But two things jump out at anyone watching the Broncos try to move the ball this year:
1. Wow, Javon Walker is good; and,
2. Why don’t they throw to him on every play?
Plummer can throw deep-it was a huge mark in his favor when he replaced Braindead Brian-but the coaching staff clearly doesn’t trust him to air it out every play. If Cutler can gain that trust...look out. I know Walker's going to hold up his end.
Con No. 1: Why wait until now? Naturally, the team didn’t bench Jake the Snake because they got off to a great start at 7-2. Now they’ve lost two in a row, and it makes some sense to reevaluate things, though Plummer’s played at the same low level the whole season. Why do it now? Is this a panic move destined to fail, or have the Broncos considered this all a long? The Broncos are still right in the postseason hunt-they'd be in the playoffs, in fact, if the season ended today-and that makes the timing really odd.
If the Broncos really thought Cutler was a cut above (I’m sorry), he would have been starting the whole time. Don’t believe me? In 1999 Mike Shanahan happily benched veteran Bubby Brister for unproven second-year man Brian Griese right before the season began. That didn’t really work out, but the coach wasn’t afraid to try. Perhaps the whole Griese experience has made the Broncos’ head coach gun-shy. I doubt it, though, because he still plays who he wants to play, regardless of what fans and media believe. That suggests that this move isn’t borne of desperation.
Pro No. 2: There’s still time to turn it around. So the timing of the switch-eleven games into the season-is peculiar. On the flip side of that coin, the Broncos still have five games left to play. While you’d expect Cutler, a rookie, to have at least one bad game in that stretch, playing him now gives him enough time to relax a little by the time the playoffs roll around (assuming we're in).
Con No. 2: Turn what around? Yes, Jake Plummer’s had a bad year-and we’re getting to that-but the Broncos’ offensive struggles are hardly limited to the quarterback. The running game is solid, though, once again, neither runner has really claimed the job as his own. The passing game has exactly one effective target-yes, that’s partly Plummer’s fault, but the aerial attack is clearly an afterthought personnel-wise.
Worst of all is the play of the offensive line. The run game is very good statistically, though it feels inconsistent. And the pass protection has been uneven all year long. It’s not that our line has been truly awful, but the offensive line is absolutely crucial to the success of any offense.
Pro No. 3: Jake Plummer’s having a bad year. Boy howdy. The Snake’s 28th in passer rating this year, has thrown more picks than Andrew Walter, and has fewer touchdown passes than Jon Kitna. Can I spin that? Nope, though the playcalling has gotten away from Plummer’s strengths. When was the last time we ran the famous bootleg? Instead, the coaches have asked him to be a risk-free, drop-back passer-which, contrary to popular opinion, he wasn’t last year-and Plummer has, predictably, failed in that role.
Con No. 3: But Plummer’s been pretty good before. Until the last two weeks, the Broncos had an outstanding record despite never scoring. Jake had bad numbers...except for the wins, though, and isn’t that the only thing that matters?
But Jake was bad eleven weeks in a row this year, right? Believe it or not, that’s not a very long time. Brian Griese was good ten weeks in a row once-so good, in fact, that the Broncos gave him a $12.6 million signing bonus after the season. How’d that turn out?
Anyway, enough beating around the bush. What do I think of the move? Yes, I’ve defended Plummer the whole year and it’s unfair to make him the fall guy. But since when has the NFL been about fairness? The Broncos aren’t going anywhere if the offense doesn’t improve, and it’s clear they needed to shake things up. I can’t wait to see what happens Sunday.
Pro No. 1: A young quarterback can revitalize an offense. Look at the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo this year. (Yes, I know I already used that quarterback change as an example of what NOT to do. Shut up.) Once Bledsoe came out, the team was reborn-the offense especially.
Yes, Bledsoe’s ceiling was more established than Plummer’s. But we know what Jake can and can’t do. While Cutler’s not any more mobile than Plummer, he’s got a better arm.
Or so I’m told-I didn’t really watch the preseason. But two things jump out at anyone watching the Broncos try to move the ball this year:
1. Wow, Javon Walker is good; and,
2. Why don’t they throw to him on every play?
Plummer can throw deep-it was a huge mark in his favor when he replaced Braindead Brian-but the coaching staff clearly doesn’t trust him to air it out every play. If Cutler can gain that trust...look out. I know Walker's going to hold up his end.
Con No. 1: Why wait until now? Naturally, the team didn’t bench Jake the Snake because they got off to a great start at 7-2. Now they’ve lost two in a row, and it makes some sense to reevaluate things, though Plummer’s played at the same low level the whole season. Why do it now? Is this a panic move destined to fail, or have the Broncos considered this all a long? The Broncos are still right in the postseason hunt-they'd be in the playoffs, in fact, if the season ended today-and that makes the timing really odd.
If the Broncos really thought Cutler was a cut above (I’m sorry), he would have been starting the whole time. Don’t believe me? In 1999 Mike Shanahan happily benched veteran Bubby Brister for unproven second-year man Brian Griese right before the season began. That didn’t really work out, but the coach wasn’t afraid to try. Perhaps the whole Griese experience has made the Broncos’ head coach gun-shy. I doubt it, though, because he still plays who he wants to play, regardless of what fans and media believe. That suggests that this move isn’t borne of desperation.
Pro No. 2: There’s still time to turn it around. So the timing of the switch-eleven games into the season-is peculiar. On the flip side of that coin, the Broncos still have five games left to play. While you’d expect Cutler, a rookie, to have at least one bad game in that stretch, playing him now gives him enough time to relax a little by the time the playoffs roll around (assuming we're in).
Con No. 2: Turn what around? Yes, Jake Plummer’s had a bad year-and we’re getting to that-but the Broncos’ offensive struggles are hardly limited to the quarterback. The running game is solid, though, once again, neither runner has really claimed the job as his own. The passing game has exactly one effective target-yes, that’s partly Plummer’s fault, but the aerial attack is clearly an afterthought personnel-wise.
Worst of all is the play of the offensive line. The run game is very good statistically, though it feels inconsistent. And the pass protection has been uneven all year long. It’s not that our line has been truly awful, but the offensive line is absolutely crucial to the success of any offense.
Pro No. 3: Jake Plummer’s having a bad year. Boy howdy. The Snake’s 28th in passer rating this year, has thrown more picks than Andrew Walter, and has fewer touchdown passes than Jon Kitna. Can I spin that? Nope, though the playcalling has gotten away from Plummer’s strengths. When was the last time we ran the famous bootleg? Instead, the coaches have asked him to be a risk-free, drop-back passer-which, contrary to popular opinion, he wasn’t last year-and Plummer has, predictably, failed in that role.
Con No. 3: But Plummer’s been pretty good before. Until the last two weeks, the Broncos had an outstanding record despite never scoring. Jake had bad numbers...except for the wins, though, and isn’t that the only thing that matters?
But Jake was bad eleven weeks in a row this year, right? Believe it or not, that’s not a very long time. Brian Griese was good ten weeks in a row once-so good, in fact, that the Broncos gave him a $12.6 million signing bonus after the season. How’d that turn out?
Anyway, enough beating around the bush. What do I think of the move? Yes, I’ve defended Plummer the whole year and it’s unfair to make him the fall guy. But since when has the NFL been about fairness? The Broncos aren’t going anywhere if the offense doesn’t improve, and it’s clear they needed to shake things up. I can’t wait to see what happens Sunday.
Comments
i, like everyone has been really impressed with walker, and wondered like you, "why don't they pass to him more often." sadly, it's because they've had so many three & outs they haven't had a chance. secondly, plummer has been throwing bad balls all year long.
i almost always root for young qb's (with one exception, eli), so i'm excited to be pulling for the kid.
if he can rejuvinate the passing game, that will open up our running game and our offense can become somewhat potent. it's been hopelessly flacid all season.
speaking of which, i really hate the way they've structured the running game. i want one rb, not a brood of marginal runners. i wish shanahand would drop the whole committee idea and just stick with one guy.
finally, i feel bad for jake. i really do like the guy, it's hard not to like him, what with that sheepish mustache pic all over the place? c'mon. one thing i've always liked and respected about him, is that his teammates liked him. i think that is really important. no one liked griese, but they all liked jake.
did i tell you i once sized up brian griese? he came to my work when i used to work in down town denver. he had a meeting with one of our partners. he looked like a weakling... like a stiff wind could've knocked him over. a thoroughly unimpressive physical specimen. now cutler... i think has got it where it counts.
fin
I'm bored of the Bell brothers, but at least it upsets fantasy players nationwide.
The thing I like most about Cutler, and the thing that you've alluded to with Plummer, is that he seems like a real football player-tough, talented, and not scared of taking a hit. Unlike Griese.
David II, I used to agree with you on the Portis-Bailey trade, but Bailey has been so amazing this year that I have to take back all the mean things I said when he was struggling. One announcer said recently he might be the best defensive player in the league this year...and I agree that he at least deserves consideration for the award.
I don't know about any serious locker-room discord. The players I've seen quoted in the Post and such (Al Wilson and Ebenezer Ekuban being the two coming to mind) mostly said they don't care who plays-that's up to the coach. Not a vote of confidence, but that's not really telling, especially considering Ekuban and maybe even Wilson would have been benched weeks ago for playing at Plummer's level.
Why doesn't Vince Young get the proper respect? I think it's because people go too much off appearances. He gets compared to similiarly mobile (and black) quarterbacks like Mike Vick or Randall Cunningham, who, we're often reminded, never won a Super Bowl. Yeah, well, no white guy ever led an offense as high-scoring as the one Cunningham led in Minnesota in '98. It's not as though Cunningham was a failure as a player. It's like saying a white pocket-passer can't win a Super Bowl because, after all, Marino, Manning, and Kelly couldn't.
Another problem for Vince is that he's right-handed. Remember what a big hubbub was made when Vick worked with Steve Young on the West Coast offense? Hey, they're both lefty and both run. But isn't Steve more like Vince than he is like Vick? Both were amazing young runners who progressed into amazingly efficient passers, in college at least. (I think Vick's a fine player, by the way, with a fine arm; he's just not a high-QB-rating type of guy, and neither was Elway.) But the only thing Vince has in common with Steve is the same thing he shares with Brigham, so it's not a comparison that comes to mind.