Give us the rookie; give him a chance

William Bryan, Special to the News

Published December 5, 2006 at midnight

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After spending the past two months as a voice among the cacophony demanding the end of the Jake Plummer era, I have no idea what to say here.

You wanted the rookie, you got the rookie. Jay Cutler, robed in his 23 years of life experience and armed with the knowledge gleaned from four years at the helm of the mighty Vanderbilt Commodores' passing attack, took the field against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks and looked simply dreadful.

Cutler's first career interception was vintage Plummer, a desperate heave while being pulled over backward, apparently intended for right tackle George Foster but never a real danger to reach him. Funny thing about those throws — the only guys who have a play on them are the ones facing the quarterback so that they can see the ball flop purposelessly into the air. These are normally defensive players, you know.

Although Cutler's second pick was tipped at the line of scrimmage, Seattle had two defensive backs in position to make that play regardless of how perfect the delivery might have been.

Even Cutler's first career completion had to wait until the second quarter and was then a 1-yard pass on third-and-6.

But our hero's worst moment came on the second play of the fourth quarter. He took a three-step drop so sloppily that it was actually a short 6½-step drop and then stood straddling his own goal line and held onto the ball as though he were waiting for something to develop downfield. I wasn't there, but I would bet that play looked different in practice.

And, Jay, one more thing: The fact that you throw it to him does not necessarily mean that Javon Walker is open. You seem to be suffering from a cause/effect inversion there.

It might be tempting to suppose that when I describe Cutler's profound God-awfulness that I am equivocating, back-pedaling, even trying to return my "Anybody But Jake" lapel pin. But no. Everybody should have understood going into this game that Cutler was a rookie and therefore not an immediate upgrade over the redoubtable Plummer.

More troubling than Cutler's performance was that he ran the same Fisher Price My First Offense as Plummer. If these next four weeks are a learning experience for our young quarterback, perhaps he should learn Mike Shanahan's offense rather than George Halas'. There is nothing at risk. Making the playoffs for the purpose of losing in the first round again is hardly a moral imperative.

Next week, Shanahan should announce Cutler's presence with authority. The first play from scrimmage should be a play-action pass. Let Brandon Marshall, with whom Cutler is clearly more comfortable than he is with Walker, get loose downfield and try to make a play. Complete, incomplete or even picked, let the Chargers fear what we the Broncos might do with their shiny new toy under center.

Cutler is a rookie. Let him be a rookie. But give us the good with the bad.