Broncos' Cutler is always on the clock

There are many variables to getting a play, calling it, then executing it

By Lynn DeBruin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 18, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.

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Photo by Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Jay Cutler calls a play. "That's why the quarterback position is more like a dictatorship than a democracy," former quarterback Joe Theismann said. "There's just really no time for anyone to say anything in the huddle but the quarterback."

So you think Jay Cutler gets an earful as quarterback?

Try repeating this three times without tripping over your tongue.

Falcon left shift to weak left tight wide left H2 X bingo wide smash.

And that's just a basic pass play the Broncos used in their 16-13 win against Tampa Bay earlier this season.

"Forget the success of the play," Broncos play-by-play announcer Dave Logan said. "Just getting the play called and to the quarterback and relayed to his teammates and getting to the line of scrimmage . . . there are so many variables involved."

While the "Toro, Toro, Toro" fire drill that set up Jason Elam's winning field goal last year against Buffalo proved every second counts, just getting off the average plays under the deadline of the 40-second clock takes a coordinated effort.

It's why quarterbacks don't celebrate a big gain or help pull up teammates off the ground. They don't have time.

As soon as one play ends, they have to wipe the slate clean and start the clock rolling again - and again - usually 70 times or more a game.

"There's a lot going on. That's why the quarterback position is more like a dictatorship than a democracy," former Washington quarterback Joe Theismann said. "There's just really no time for anyone to say anything in the huddle but the quarterback."

Cutler, who played with a 25-second clock when he was at Vanderbilt and did not have the benefit of coach-to-quarterback headset, said it hasn't been much of an adjustment. He said it's a matter of finding out where the clock is in each stadium, then making sure he's aware of it.

"It's only hard after a long play with having to get the guys lined up downfield or if coach is late getting the play called in," he said. "But you get a feel for those situations as the game goes along."

To keep chaos to a minimum on game day, practice and study are key.

"I don't think people have any idea how much preparation goes into getting ready for games," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates put it another way.

"If I went into a doctor's office and they started talking in medical terms, I would be amazed," Bates said. "But this is what we do. It's our field of study and, yeah, I think anyone who wasn't involved with football over their life would not understand."

That includes the average fan.

"They have no idea what's going on,"

Theismann said. "They're ordering another beer usually when this is all happening."

With the Broncos counting down the games remaining in the regular season, the Rocky stopped the clock briefly to dissect what happens before each offensive snap.

40 seconds

Down and distance.

It's the first thing offensive coaches must know before calling a play from the color-coded, plasticized sheet of paper they don't leave home without.

"You've got to know down and distance, what hash you're on, the rhythm of the game - are we running the ball or throwing the ball," Bates said.

"You kind of have a play or two (in mind) before the (preceding) play is over because they wind the clock right when the whistle blows."

Every team has certain plays depending on whether it's first-and-10, second-and-short, second-and-mid, second-and-long, third-and-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or if they are in the red zone or backed up against their goal line.

Though not a hard-and-fast rule, most plays are relayed in about 10 seconds. Watch closely and Cutler typically can be seen looking to the sideline, then heading to the huddle with about 25 seconds on the clock.

Logan said there also might be a few seconds to "coach up" a quarterback - giving simple reminders to watch out for a backside blitz or a certain coverage - before the communication is cut off at 15 seconds.

"You can in a very short period of time give that quarterback something to think of other than, 'OK, here's the play we're going to run,' " he said.

Personnel decisions

While Bates and Shanahan are deciding on plays, running backs coach Bobby Turner also is on the headset, listening for what personnel group is wanted for a particular play.

If, for example, he hears "Tiger," he makes sure the team has two tight ends on the field.

If it's a "Jumbo" alignment, he makes sure three tight ends and two backs are in the huddle and the others not being used are getting off the field.

When he's yelling "Zebra," he's not looking for Ed Hochuli but calling for three wideouts to be on the field.

"He's hearing through the headset what personnel we're going to use and he's in charge of making sure it's going to happen," Shanahan said of Turner.

At the same time, other assistants are relaying what personnel - nickel, dime, basic - the opposing defense has on the field.

"When you really see a problem with delay of games is normally with substitution packages around the goal line," Theismann said. "You've got a player you're substituting who's got to run basically from the 45-yard line all the way down to the 3. And you really can't call the play till the player gets there."

Falcon left shift . . . smash

Verbiage of the West Coast offense can be quite wordy as even Bates will admit.

But it's up to Cutler to hear it and relay it to players in the huddle quickly and accurately. What slows down things is if a question comes up in the huddle.

"Sometimes it's impressive Jay can remember all the routes and stuff and know where everybody is going to be," guard Ben Hamilton said. "It just goes to show that Jay studies hard and knows his stuff."

Theismann said there really shouldn't be anybody in the huddle other than the quarterback saying anything.

In Tampa Bay, he said, Jon Gruden's play calls can run up to 25 words, symbols and letters.

"You don't get two chances to get it out. I can't all of a sudden get 10 seconds into a play and say, 'Oh, wait, let me start over.' You start over and you're looking at a delay of game," Theismann said.

Steve Beuerlein, a former Broncos quarterback who is an NFL and college analyst, said some teams are shortening things in the passing game by adding one word, such as "burst," that would tell several players what to do when running a variation of a certain play.

And he's seeing a lot more wristbands. Kansas City puts wristbands on its receivers and tight ends. Instead of a coordinator calling in an entire play to the quarterback, then having him repeat it to players in the huddle, the play simply comes in as, say, "15," and the receivers can check their wrists to know their assignments.

Looking for clues

Once Cutler breaks the huddle, he's looking at the defense, picking up clues as to what might be coming at him. It's also a chance to audible to a different play if he doesn't like what he sees after he has everybody lined up.

At this time, center Casey Wiegmann also is making sure everybody is on the same page up front, depending on what front the defense shows.

"Everybody has their own calls, but Casey does a good job of making sure both sides are doing the right thing before he snaps the ball," Hamilton said.

Beuerlein said more teams are going with the double snap count.

"Brett Favre and Peyton Manning do it all the time," he said.

The premise is simple. Get under center and call the play to make the defense show its hand, then back out and call the play for real. It helps draw defenses offsides and can give the offense an advantage, but it also requires more time - making it more important to get the right personnel, the play called and everybody in position in a timely manner.

Glitches

The Broncos have been better than most at getting plays in on time, but if there are glitches, it's usually because the coach-to-quarterback headsets aren't working properly - or so they say.

"Sometimes the headsets go off and you've got to yell it in or call timeout," Shanahan said.

Then he fessed up.

"Sometimes you can't make a decision, so you blame it on the headset so you don't look stupid," Shanahan quipped.

• December 18, 2008

  8:50 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Well, that's why they get payed the "big bucks". A lot of studying and a lot of physical work. They earn it.

• December 19, 2008

  7:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  Now that was a fine article.

  Pretty amazing stuff when you think about the complexity of the initial called play, all of the audibles, protection shifts, option routes, etc. (and crowd noise). Plus the fact that the defense is basically doing the same kind of thing on the other side of the ball.

  THEN you have to actually use your physical skills to get it done once the ball is snapped.

  That's why I love the game. Like a violent chess match where the board changes every play.

  BTW, Dave, I hope your mom is doing well after her procedure.

• December 19, 2008

  8:37 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Rutabaga writes:

  When I play football with my friends I say you go out for a pass, run to the fire hydrant, turn right and then come back this way. Everybody else block. Then I say OK. Then they say OK. Except Charlie. He always wants to go out for the pass. So he says I'll got out too. But I know he can't catch the ball so we argue. But he can't block either. So pretty soon I say you go out deep, real deep, across the street. That's way farther than I can throw but it doesn't matter. I won't throw it to him anyway. Then I say hike. Sometimes I run with the ball because I forgot what I told the other guys to do. Sometimes I just pass it to anyone, even the blockers, cause they didn't block. They all went out for passes too.

  So we don't have a lot of jazzy names for our plays, but they are still pretty complicated, maybe even more than the Broncos cause we never know what's going to happen in them...

• December 19, 2008

  9:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Kslayer writes:

  Rutabaga you crack me up my friend! I look forward to reading your posts! Thanks for putting a smile on my face today!

• December 19, 2008

  9:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, thanks. She's resting and trying to get her stomach to settle. It was somewhat upset. The open heart will occur around the 1st week of January. They wanted to do it right away but she wants to wait till after the Holidays. I may miss the San Diego trip for the game if she's feeling poorly. At least at my Broncos bar, I'm only a phone call way. I need to be on call for her. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Are you popping into Vegas for New Years? I have a friend and her boyfriend, flying in from the 28th till the 3rd. Busy month, December. Sheesh.

  Now, to Broncos. I hear it will be in the teens, up at Denver? Both teams should be used to it. Wear them "pantyhose", ha, ha. Maurice Clarett loved them, but he wore them over his head and face. Didn't want to be ID'd. Important game, to say the least. Need a victory to earn the playoffs. Then SD be d*mned, with their whining and excuses! D and ST need to step up, big. Hell, the whole team needs to play well. They need momentum going in to the playoffs (which I'm confident they will reach). GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• December 19, 2008

  10:56 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  Dave, glad to hear it regarding your mom.

  We'll probably stick around here for NY. But I would still like to maybe catch a playoff game at the bar with all of you crazies! I don't get to sport the old Eddie Mac jersey very often, so hopefully if the Broncos get in, I can change that. Maybe if they win a playoff game I'll treat myself to one of those sweet orange alternative jerseys!

  I wanted to get down sooner, but between working full-time and a full load at school, things have been pretty hectic. Two more finals and it's all behind me (for a couple more weeks anyway)...

  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and enjoy that time with your mom. We're pulling for you guys.

• December 19, 2008

  11:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, thanks. Yeah, I see a lot of the alternate jerseys at the bar. Marshall, Cutler, I even saw a Hillis. A couple of weeks ago, I wore the old Broncos pull over sweater (orange with the old Broncos helmet on it). I have so many different hats and shirts (some I won from the raffles, here at the bar) and other Broncos clothing, it's ridiculous. I sometimes bring in an item that nobody has and donate it to the raffle. Broncos "cracked glass" for drinking, etc. Support the fans, you know? I'm going to talk with the fans about doing a "pot luck" lunch for the Denver/SD game. We used to have them all the time last year but it kind of fell off. One gal and her husband brought in menudo two weeks ago. Good stuff, Maynard.
  This weeks game won't be locally televised so the bar will be packed, I'm sure. A lot riding on this game. I feel more psyched for this game then the Denver/Raiders games. We need to win it, regardless of what SD/TB does. Make a statement, then follow it up the following week with a W over the Dolts. Put that monster to to rest, once and for all.

• December 19, 2008

  12:45 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  TIMMAH writes:

  I still miss John's cadence. RED 98 RED 98

• December 19, 2008

  6:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jersey writes:

  Dynamic: I echo Jubei's regards to your mom. I did not know. I'm sure you are taking good care of her. Best wishes. Rutabaga: Funny stuff. Reminds me of the Robin Williams movie the Best of Times. Drop one pass and they never let you live it down. Poor Charley. I had a guy like him and I used to send him to the next zip code. Even though he knew I wasn't going to throw him the ball I did it with such tact and diplomacy he actually looked forward to the trip!

• December 19, 2008

  7:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jersey, thanks. Appreciate the support. Yeah, Ruttabaga has some great stories. He drank himself into "koolaid hell", last week. He should have a better go of it, this weekend. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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