It is common knowledge that Vanderbilt alumnus Jay Cutler is the quarterback of the future for the Denver Broncos. After the team sputtered to open a season with high expectations, the future may arrive earlier than expected for everyone’s favorite ex-Commodore.
Jake Plummer, the current starter for the Broncos, has had one good season in his unspectacular and monotonous NFL career. He was kicked out of Arizona after being hailed as a savior. Plummer sauntered into Denver, drove out the receiving talent with his renegade attitude and rode an always-impressive running attack to the AFC Championship game. The Broncos’ revamped defense and tough offensive line allowed Plummer to pick apart opponents that left eight defenders in the box and played to stop the run.
Other highly touted rookie quarterbacks in situations similar to Cutler’s have been thrust into the starting role earlier than planned, and many have succeeded. Ben Roethlisberger led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl championship in just his second season in the league. Roethlisberger was thrust into the starting role because of an injury, and his job was simply to use the weapons around him, manage the clock and not make mistakes. He was never asked to win games on his own.
Big Ben was a great college quarterback from a little-known school with good size and a strong arm. Does that remind you of anyone we know'
The Broncos have enough talent on their team to allow for Cutler’s potential misgivings. He can assume the role as starter, and ease into the system without having the pressure of carrying a franchise on his shoulders like Alex Smith or David Carr. Regardless of how Cutler performs, it most certainly will be a step-up from Plummer, who looked discombobulated and uncomfortable on the field in two starts this season.
Denver head coach Mike Shanahan admitted after week two that the Broncos’ offensive game plan was “dumbed down” in order to accommodate Plummer’s inconsistent play. They removed options from the playbook that involved complex reads of defenders, bootleg passes, and seven-step drops. If Plummer is forcing the Broncos to sacrifice offensive potential based on his play, then is it not time for Cutler to assume the role of started and embark on his entry into the exclusive fraternity of starting NFL quarterbacks'
Yes, the Broncos will have to accommodate Cutler’s inexperience at the professional level, and perhaps even cut out some plays from their game plan. But, he is a rookie and the only place he can go is up. This will help him improve and jump-start his campaign, rather than lead him into the twilight of an otherwise sub-par career like Plummer’s.
Jay Cutler may be raw and unproven, but the Broncos are close to throwing away their season on the back of an erratic, untalented journeyman who has won just two playoff games in his 10-year career. The San Diego Chargers are running away with the AFC West, and the Broncos need to make a change before Jake Plummer ruins an otherwise promising season.
