Cutler knows Broncos offense needs to start producing

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 26, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

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Photo by Jae S. Lee / The (Nashville) Tennessean

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday to see his former team, Vanderbilt, play Duke. Cutler was the 2005 Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year with the Commodores. Vanderbilt lost its third in a row and has mirrored the Broncos' season: a fast start but struggles of late.

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On a crisp, clear autumn Saturday fit for a travel brochure, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler spent part of his bye week time watching an offense he once guided to some of its greatest heights struggle to score a single touchdown.

Cutler, the 2005 Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was one of many former Vanderbilt players in the stadium as the Commodores limped to a 10-3 loss to Duke.

And starting today, Cutler and the Broncos have to figure a way to keep their Sunday drives from ending up the same way.

"We're just not sure what we're going to get," Cutler said. "We're not sure how teams are going to play us here on out.

"Are they going to just sit back and play zone? Make us run, keep it in front of them, as some of these teams in the past have done?

"Or are they going to come after us? Make us protect? Make us throw hot?"

The Broncos return from a four-day hiatus to hit the practice field at their Dove Valley complex facing nine games and at least that many questions about an offense that led the league in scoring in a 3-0 start but finds itself averaging 14.8 points during a 1-3 stretch.

Then there are the injuries on defense, including linebacker Boss Bailey, who will miss the remainder of the season, and cornerback Champ Bailey, who will miss at least a month and likely more because of a groin injury Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has termed "severe."

That might force the Broncos offense to fuel whatever the team can do during the final nine weeks of the regular season.

"We know it's going to be important for us to produce," tight end Daniel Graham said.

"Whether it's offense or defense, you have to pick the team up when you have the chance or when it's needed."

Cutler, even as the Broncos were roaring down the fast lane to start the season, predicted defenses would adjust some, offering, "We're going to get game planned pretty hard," even before the team's rough stretch began.

OPPONENTS BACK OFF

For the most part, defenses have gone to an approach that puts more players in coverage, backing away from the line of scrimmage.

It has forced Cutler to be patient, the kind of challenge most defensive coordinators like to give a young quarterback as the short, underneath routes are what have been most available.

Those defenses also have formed a crowd around receiver Brandon Marshall, Cutler's favorite target, and with injuries to receiver Brandon Stokley (concussion) and tight end Tony Scheffler (groin), those defenses have had little reasons to change their tactics.

"(Marshall) is our playmaker," Stokley said. "We have to get him the ball as much as we can.

"But we also have to be able to move it around some, too, so (defenses) have to play us honest. They're not always playing us honest right now."

Scheffler has not played the past two games, and Stokley left the game against Jacksonville in the second quarter and did not play last week in New England.

As a result, Marshall doesn't have a touchdown catch in the past three games and has not had a third-down reception in the slightly more than six quarters since Stokley was injured.

The Broncos also have turned over the ball 13 times in the past four games, with eight lost fumbles and five interceptions from Cutler.

"It's just a challenge each week," Cutler said. "We go in with a lot of things, a lot of plays, a lot of different situations each week so we can try to adjust in a hurry if we have to.

"We know we have to get the points every time we have a chance, especially early in games; our mistakes are hurting us."

COPYCAT DEFENSES?

There is some thought around the league that the Patriots' ability to put pressure on Cutler and Patrick Ramsey - the backup was hit hard twice in a six-play stint - might be copied some in the second half of the season unless the Broncos can run the ball well enough to slow the rush.

The Broncos have run the ball more than 26 times in only one game this season, the regular-season opener in Oakland, and do not have a rushing touchdown in the past four games.

Selvin Young has missed a game because of a groin injury, Michael Pittman has rib and neck injuries and rookie Ryan Torain has only started practicing again after suffering a fracture just above his left elbow during training camp.

Torain figures to play Sunday against Miami and likely will get increasingly more carries as the second half of the season progresses.

"We have to run the ball better no matter how we line up," Pittman said. "You run the ball, they can't come after your quarterback and they can't drop everybody in coverage. So no matter how we do it, we have to run it."

Added Cutler: "I feel good about the adjustments we can make once we see what we're going to get. (Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates) has done a great job with that. We can do the things we need to, it's just about seeing how they line up against us and dealing with it without making mistakes. We have to be more sound, me included. The points are there. We have to just go get them."

ETC.: As of Sunday night, the Broncos had yet to move defensive tackle Josh Shaw off reserve/suspended. And with Ramsey and Boss Bailey on injured reserve and tackle Erik Pears moved to reserve/nonfootball illness, the team still technically has four roster spots open to begin the week. Shaw was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team" for at least the Patriots game after what was believed to be an argument with a teammate. When Shaw is moved back, as expected, he will take one of those spots. One of the other roster spots, according to Shanahan last week, will be taken by quarterback Darrell Hackney, who will be moved up from the practice squad. The Broncos were poised to sign receiver Chad Jackson as the week closed but wanted Shanahan and others to meet with him. . . . The Broncos did not report any player workouts at their complex through Saturday during the bye week.

• October 26, 2008

  7:21 p.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  So Chad Jackson wants to 1st talk with Shanahan and others to meet with him, eh? Why? I sure hope he doesn't feel that he has room to talk big money? NE doesn't want him anymore so he needs to be happy to be able to play ball. I wonder if other teams are putting in a bid for him? We need Stokley and Scheffler back in the lineup. Torain will be a work in progress. I doubt if he'll come out of the gate, slicing up defenses, although I wouldn't complain if he did.

• October 27, 2008

  6:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Rutabaga writes:

  Wow, Jay Cutler really looks like a secret agent guy. Cool. I bet he was sneaking around his old school trying not to be noticed by newspaper people from Denver who want to ask him more about how hard he throws and other John Elway type stuff that got everybody mad. If you ask me, I think Jay can throw harder than John Elway because John Elway is old now. But when John was young and still playing he could throw way harder than Jay. No offense Jay, but when John was young and playing you were in like 2nd grade, John could throw much harder than a second grade dude anyday. Not even close...

• October 27, 2008

  8:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  maverick7 writes:

  You know the thing that bugs is Cutler says they are not sure what the opposing D are going to do to us. Remember (First couple of games and way back in Elway era) when the Offense told the opposing D what to do and react to it. Instead Cutler and Shanny are waiting to see what the other team will give them???? What? Are you kidding me. Be agressive like the first couple of games, change it up, get crazy on them. It looks like to me that Denvers O will have to score a ton of points because the D isn't stopping anything. My two cents

• October 27, 2008

  8:50 a.m.

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  Littleboyblue writes:

  Josh Shaw needs to be activated, in a hurry. So he had an argument with a teammate...probably told the truth about how they were playing and it must have stared an agrument. I believe he is the best D tackle we have and he is a force out there. He beats his one on one assignment most, if not all of the time, and he's got a nasty streak in him. The only conduct dertimental to this team is the poor play on defense, missed assignments, getting blown off of the line of scrimmage, etc. I'm not saying the scheme is bad, but the players don't appear to be very aggressive out there...too soft to win anything. Does anyone remember the year we showed up with Warren Powers, Carracker, and that group? They were a nice surprise...we need some stud D linemen, bad!

• October 27, 2008

  8:59 a.m.

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  MTBroncofan writes:

  I doubt the Broncos will win another game this year unless they can show some big time toughness. The offense needs to attack and play smart - and not turn the ball over. The defense needs to dig deep and find another gear... especially with Champ gone for a while. Wouldn't it be nice to watch the defense walk off the field after third down?

  The last few games have been painful to watch... and the rest of the AFC West has handed the division title to the Broncos by not winning... but can the Broncos capitalize? Honestly, who would have thought the Chargers would be 3-5 right now????? and the Broncos 4-3 - albeit an incredibly weak 4-3 that doesn't inspire much confidence.

  The Bills have been kickin butt and taking names. Unless something dramatic happens, there is a good chance of another butt kickin happening on Sunday. I never thought I'd say this, but I am afraid that this team may need a new change in philosophy. Bowlen needs to take the blinders off and see that his team has lacked toughness for several years... and the only one that can shoulder the responsibility for their lack of toughness is Shanahan. Shanahan is a great coach, but maybe it's time for a change of scenery - for both coach and team.

  I would love to see someone like Bill Cowher take this team over... a tough "defense first" coach and leave the offense to Bates.

• October 27, 2008

  9:22 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ndbroncofan writes:

  I agree Maverick7. Used to be, we dictated what the opposing defense had to do. I just think without a stronger defense, this team isn't going to be very good this year. They spend a lot of time on the field with the turnovers we've had recently as well. Hopefully, they can be a little more competitive that that NE game.

• October 27, 2008

  10:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  koloradokaos writes:

  With such a weak defense and now the injured Boss Bro's....the only hope for the Denver Broncos and all the faithful is to Run the Rock! That's it...just keep the so called defense off the field. Pittman and Torain are the perfect back to do so, along with a much improved O-line they have the ability to control the clock and punish their opponents. I keep waiting for Jay to win a game, take the team on his back like he did in college and will his team to victory. That's what makes a great QB, not arm strength.

• October 27, 2008

  11:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  hellevaman writes:

  Also doesn't sound as Jay has any confidence in his offense, as he is not "sure" on how teams will play against them, or what they will do.. Kind of sounds like John Madden...

• October 27, 2008

  1:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Sapience1022 writes:

  *sigh*

  Gotta love people that are ready to throw Cutler under the bus. I guess everyone forgets that their almighty God, John "Donkeyface" Elway wasn't exactly the most patient QB in his first 3-5 years. I mean, John didn't have the talent around him (supposedly) like Jay does, but I digress.

  People mad at Jay for having fun on the sidelines? Are these the same people that PREACH about how a STAR QB should have a short term memory? What would you have him do? What would make a difference? Maybe he should have went and punched Andre Hall in the face for fumbling twice...or maybe Calvin Lowry in the kidney for missing all of those tackles?

  Maybe he should go throw a big 'ol fit.
  Cuss people out, throw his helmet
  ..thats LEADERSHIP.

• October 27, 2008

  3:04 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  esarem writes:

  Checked online for tickets for upcoming home games. Clowns holding them still think they are worth WAAAY more than they are.
  Decent seats $500 per unit. HaHaHaHaHa.

• October 27, 2008

  5:47 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  tonyfromjersey writes:

  Its true, Jay. With this defense youre going to have to put up some serious points. The sorry-@ss 14-17 points youve been doing is going to get you a 6-10 season. Where is the attacking offense? Why are you throwing to BMarshall when hes completely double-covered? Wheres the playmaking? When Johnny was around, I knew he would carry the team on his back. Youre good, but we need to see some consistent 30 point results.

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