BRONCOS REPORT: Bates' focus shifts to helping Cutler
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published February 23, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
Photo by Doug Pensinger / Getty Images
Javon Walker was unhappy about having to share passes with Brandon Marshall.
It has been said that pressure makes diamonds, and it might be apropos to Jeremy Bates' new job description.
Bates has been put in charg with overseeing Jay Cutler's development at a critical stage of the quarterback's career. At age 31 but already with his third NFL team, Bates will switch his emphasis from receivers to the QB spot as position coach after Mike Heimerdinger's offseason departure to Tennessee.
"The thing that I focus on is how much talent this kid has and that the sky's the limit for him," Bates said Friday. "There's pressure in this profession, yes, but you go to work to coach Jay Cutler, you're pretty excited. This guy can do it all. He can throw. He can run. He can make off-schedule plays. He's smart. To me, that's exciting."
Bates already forged a relationship with Cutler last offseason before the assistant turned his emphasis to pass catchers.
The approach with Cutler, Bates said, will be similar this offseason.
The two will sit down next week and begin studying cutups of Cutler's 2007 performances and those of other top quarterbacks. Their tutoring sessions will start by focusing on fundamentals and mechanics, then evolve to defensive schemes and check-down progressions.
"I think we have a good foundation and he's comfortable with what we're doing offensively and you don't want to change too much, because it was his first year (starting) and he does feel comfortable with it. Now, let's build on that."
Bates will continue to spend game days on the sideline, preferring to go over in-game snapshots face to face and be able to more readily gauge Cutler's emotions.
With offensive coordinator/ offensive line coach Rick Dennison also near the bench, Denver eventually will be tweaking somewhat how the play-calling gets to Cutler, since Heimerdinger started the process up top the past two seasons.
Another adjustment for Bates: not seeing his father, Jim, on a daily basis at Dove Valley.
The Broncos fired the assistant head coach/defense last month.
The younger Bates maintained that those circumstances are a nonissue moving forward.
"You can't let your personal feelings get involved in a business matter," he said. "And this is a business. That happened, and I moved on. He moved on. And I think everyone gets better from it."
Growing up a coach's son might have steeled Bates for such circumstances, since he moved "every two years" as a youth.
He began his coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, winning a Super Bowl ring, then went to the New York Jets, working with quarterbacks and receivers at both spots before joining Denver last season.
Now, Cutler will have his undivided attention.
"I think he had a good year, but he can improve," Bates said. "And I think he'd say that, also."
We can work it out?
A Friday night dinner meeting between Broncos front-office folks and Javon Walker's representative was aimed at determining the receiver's future with the team.
"The goal is to see what we need to do to bring an end to the situation," agent Kennard McGuire said during a break in players-association meetings Friday afternoon.
Walker at times has expressed his unhappiness witha Broncos offense that continues to featuring emerging target Brandon Marshall and is perhaps too run-oriented to satiate his desire to catch passes.
Denver has a hefty investment in a player that can't seem to be happy, and it is trying to move him before two bonuses become due March 4.
Walker also is a candidate to be released.
There's only a slim chance that he'll stay, and virtually no shot of an agreement to restructure his contract.
There's also the issue of Walker's surgically repaired right knee to consider.
McGuire did admit that part of his role in Indianapolis, though he won't confirm or deny any trade talks or say that Walker's told him outright he wants out of Denver, is "to put to rest any level of concern that anybody would have about his ability to play football."
It's clear reading between the lines that is meantfor other teams, because no club would have a better read on Walker's health than Denver.
Etc.
* Indications are safety John Lynch is leaning toward returning for a 16th season, but his coming back is far from a done deal. He's due a $1.12 million roster bonus March 4, and that payout is being weighed against his declining participation, both from a team and player standpoint. Lynch played fewer than 60 percent of the snaps last season and isn't ready to be hoisted into primarily a leadership role just yet. Talks are ongoing.
* The Broncos are expected to pick up the $1.75 million roster bonus owed backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey played in two games last season, completing 29-of-48 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Through Your Lens
Submit your photos or see the Editor's Choice slide show here.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.
-
Broncos Video
Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.
-
Calendar wallpaper
Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman
February 22, 2008
12:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
R8R_H8R writes:
J-Walker is an unwelcome jerk. He COULD learn from watching Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. What an offense can be with two very capable receivers. He is not a team player, he's a ME player, and that's the last thing the Denver BRoncos need. DUMP HIM. He's not concerned with wins, he's concerned with "HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK AT ME, I'M THE NUMBER ONE RECEIVER, LOOK AT ME EVERYBODY, LOOK AT ME". Eddie Mac and Rod Smith both had 100 catch seasons working together, oh, and winning superbowls, there's that. But Javon is selfish, he just wants the whole world to look at him. HUGE disappointment, I was thrilled when he was picked up, instead of B.O., ooooops, I mean, T.O., the ultimate ME player.
February 22, 2008
1:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
dirkle writes:
Dump the prima-donna, cap hit or no cap hit. Walker's not a team guy, obvious from all the whining and negativity he fed the press before talking to his coach.
See ya! It's all about YOU, Javon. Maybe next season you'll end up playing on the same team as Todd Sauerbrun and Clinton Portis (hee hee).
February 22, 2008
1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cutler6 writes:
I say trade Jevon, one of Denver's fourth round picks and possibly Ian Gold for Johnathan Vilma of the JETS.
February 22, 2008
2:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
Cutler6 I'm not up on the current status of J. Vilma of the NYJ, is he even available as a FA? I would say that if the Broncos have a legitimate shot at landing Vilma, rather than even contemplate the interview and measuing of D. Morgan of the Panthers, then by all means, package a deal for Jevon along with some of the 4th round picks and go for it. I don't blame Ian Gold for all that occured at the LB spot last year. He may have contributed to the poor play and could be penciled as the problem, but he wasn't the entire problem on defense last year. Still, in order to even have a shot at Vilma, he would have to be a part of a trade package in order to acquire the skill set of a Johnathan Vilma.
February 22, 2008
2:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
cj1030lee writes:
wow. I like that trade. Walker and Gold and #4 for Vilma. I don't know about cap impacts, but that seems like a good trade on both side.
February 22, 2008
3:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
dadinlittleton writes:
No. Keep Gold. Most of the problems last year was the DC now gone. there are other Receivers out there. If Walker wants to get paid for not playing cut him and move on.
February 22, 2008
4:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Broncos4Life writes:
How about that we trade Shanahan and his predictable playcalling to the Jets for Vilma?
February 22, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
Spidey writes:
SHOW WALKER and his #84 OUTTA DOOR!!!!!!!!!!
February 23, 2008
7:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
I_am_not_fooled writes:
I agree Spidey, show Javon the door as well.....and while you're at it show Broncos4Life the door. Only a Raider-lover would suggest getting rid of Shanahan.
February 23, 2008
8:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
jaybird777 writes:
Walker is a disgrace to be wearing #84 in orange and blue! Wipe our hands clean of OBVIOUSLY THE GREATEST WIDE RECEIVER OF ALL TIME! (Your sarcasm monitor should be beeping right now...)
February 23, 2008
8:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
crushon77 writes:
i'm not sure walker and gold and a #4 would net vilma, but pursuing vilma, who is a poor fit for the jets' 3-4, is intriguing. particularly since he and dj williams played together at miami. in fact, they both came out the same year. getting them back together would be incredible!
walker needs to go. even if he does get his attitude together, he is too big an injury risk. bernard berrian and bryant johnson, in that order, look good to me.
February 23, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Spider writes:
I think that dadinlittleton makes a good point. Gold's play last year could have been an effect of the stupid scheme they were running. I bet if you look at a lot of the game film, fatman Adams probably blocked Gold out of a lot plays that he would have normally made.
February 23, 2008
4:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
Please say this Bates won't be like his dad!!!
As for Javon Walker, he's a great receiver when he isn't crying like a little girl or injured. I say we drop him and go after Bernard Berrian. He has proved to be a team player and Javon has not. I guess being around Rod Smith doesn't instantly make you a better person, but Javon should have been paying attention from day one and he would have learned how to not only be a better receiver, but a better PERSON as well.
If he would have been healthy all year and actually been a staple in the offense he could cry for a little more money, but the fact is he was injured and didn't perform when he was in the lineup. (He almost killed my fantasy team until i let him go)
PS... John Lynch! ONe more year!!!!!!
February 25, 2008
12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Patriot writes:
Ian Gold couldn't tackle my fifth grade daughter, he's washed up and
should be dumped along with Javon. We need D players who can tackle!
Anyone notice how far down we have fallen since the departure of Kubiak? Time for some wholesale changes at Dove Valley, but won't happen until the stands are empty, cause old Pat loves his butt buddy Shanny!