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Bates 'doing a heck of a job' in calling plays for Broncos

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 15, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.

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Jay Cutler gets set to complete the decisive two-point conversion pass to Eddie Royal late in the fourth quarter that gave the Broncos a 39-38 victory against San Diego and a two-game lead on the favored Chargers in the AFC West.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Jay Cutler gets set to complete the decisive two-point conversion pass to Eddie Royal late in the fourth quarter that gave the Broncos a 39-38 victory against San Diego and a two-game lead on the favored Chargers in the AFC West.

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Mike Shanahan consistently has said 32-year-old quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates was "ahead of the curve."

Monday, Shanahan admitted just how far he thinks that is.

Shanahan said it is Bates who has called the team's plays on game day this season, the first year he has spent full time with the team's quarterbacks. Bates spent most of his time with the receivers last year but was moved into his current position when Mike Heimerdinger left to be the Titans' offensive coordinator.

"Jeremy's doing a heck of a job with the play-calling, changing things up, great relationship with the quarterbacks, studying, growing," Shanahan said. "Fun to see a guy work with the quarterbacks like that.

"Reminds of me of when I was a little younger, (when you) get a chance to spend the time that you do with guys like (John) Elway, (Steve) Young, (Joe) Montana for a short time, Steve Beuerlein, (the) Kubiaks, it's exciting."

After two games, the Broncos lead the NFL in scoring, total yards and passing yards.

Quarterback Jay Cutler also leads the league in passing yards and is tied for the lead in touchdowns (six), and receiver Brandon Marshall leads the NFL in receptions despite having played in only one game.

"Jeremy's doing a great job," Cutler said. "I like what we're doing on offense - we've got a lot of stuff we can do, and it's not even all out there yet."

Longtime offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak waited longer to have some play- calling duties, though it was earlier in Shanahan's career as a coach.

Heimerdinger, who had served as offensive coordinator with the Titans and Jets before returning to the Broncos for the 2007 season, called plays in about five of the 16 games last season.

On Bates, Shanahan said: "When guys show they can take responsibility, then I give them more responsibility."

The Broncos script plays to start the game and the second half, and that can be a collaborative effort through the week with all the offensive staff, including offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who handles the team's running game.

Dennison, who holds a master's degree in engineering, also coaches the team's offensive line, which has surrendered one sack this season.

Bates is the coach on the headset on game day, speaking into the earpiece in Cutler's helmet, and the one who spends the most time during the week with the team's quarterbacks in the meeting room.

Shanahan has said the progression of Cutler, now in his third season, also has enabled the Broncos to try more things on offense.

"Jeremy is a very bright guy, he does a great job with the quarterbacks and the passing game," Shanahan said. "Same thing with Rick Dennison - there's no brighter guy than Rick Dennison. I just can't understand why he's a coach when you're an engineer and have all these degrees - kind of lucky to get a guy that smart.

"That's why we do the things we do. We've got a heck of an offensive staff right now."

Comments

  • September 16, 2008

    7:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    elgin99 writes:

    For the most part Shanahan calls the plays, Jeremy
    forwords the play to the Q.B. on the headset. Little bit of a headline stretch there Jeff, wouldn't you say?

  • September 16, 2008

    9:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Andy writes:

    Um, no, Bates is calling the plays.

  • September 16, 2008

    11:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jugdish writes:

    elgin99
    Bates IS calling the plays. Bates, Shanny and Dennison work in unison to script the game plan. Of course, Shanny will veto if he chooses. No doubt he runs the show. We all know that.
    Now, Shanny needs to do something about the defense. They are getting gashed on the ground.
    And the special teams coverage units just reek. I thought O'Brien was the special teams equivalent of sliced bread?
    But it sure will be fun watching the shootouts. Jugdish fantasy teams have Cutler and Marshall.

  • September 16, 2008

    11:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    GBBarry writes:

    Not complaining 40pt/game is great but I wonder whether having the quarterbacks coach call the plays is the reason we are emphasising the pass rather than the run this year, just asking?

  • September 16, 2008

    12:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jubei writes:

    "The Broncos script plays to start the game and the second half..."

    I wasn't aware that Shanny & Co. scripted the plays to start the second half.

    Is it possible that the 3rd quarter script might be the culprit for the Broncs usual post-halftime doldrums? Maybe instead of trying to grind it out with the lead after halftime, they should keep chucking it until the opposing defense proves they can take that phase of the game away. I'd like to think that things may have been a bit different last Sunday if they would have kept their boot on the Discharger's throat. Even Jay seemed a little perplexed as to why they went away from the pass.

    Just a thought...

  • September 16, 2008

    1:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Yeah, Shanahan deviated from what was working, but realized the error and went back to the air. We have the weapons and I see no reason to change it this Sunday against the Saints. I looked at the power rankings. Such a joke. Yes, Denver moved up to #11 and the Saints fell to 12 from #4, but they still have the Colts ranked ahead of Denver even though they lost a game. Funny the way a team can carry itself off of past accomplishments, rather then recent. Oh well, Cutler leads the league in passing yards and Marshall in receptions at 18. Royal is listed as 6th with 14 receptions, but is 1 reception from being tied with the rest of the pack at 15. I'm loving this offense. Keep going Eddie and soon, we could have the #1 and #2 receivers in receptions in the NFL.