There is no on-ramp for Jay Cutler to ease his way into action. He didn’t play the occasional series like Tennessee’s Vince Young, or work his way gradually into more playing time like a vast array of players at other positions; he’ll make his first start, take his first snap and throw his first pass in quick succession, perhaps even on the same play if the Broncos call for a game-opening pass.
To at least one Bronco who’s been there, advancing through those opening moments is crucial.
“(My) first feeling as a rookie (was) getting that first play out of the way,” defensive end Kenard Lang said.
After Lang did that nine years ago, though, he settled down. He expects Cutler to do likewise.
“The main thing is that I look at every individual as an equal — or that I’m better than him,” Lang said. “They put their pants on just like me, so that shouldn’t make them any better. That way you don’t have no doubt in your mind; you go in there with the utmost ability, that you know you can beat them, and go from there.”
Cutler waited three months for his first start. Tight end Tony Scheffler — who roomed with Cutler during training camp — didn’t have to wait at all, opening the Sept. 10 game at St. Louis in a two-tight end formation.
“It’s kind of a surreal moment,” Scheffler said. “I think it’ll hit him the first series or so, and then hopefully he’ll settle down.”
Fullback Kyle Johnson, meanwhile, waited over two years through multiple practice-squad stints before his shot arrived in 2004 with his first substantial offensive action against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 10, and then his first actual start 15 days later at Cincinnati.
“The first start is the one where I was a nervous wreck the night before,” Johnson remembered. “I might as well just walked around the hotel room all night because (sleeping) really wasn’t that useful. But you get that first play out of the way, you get that second play out of the way and you start to remember that this is the same game you’ve been playing all your life.”
Added Lang: “Most likely (with) Jay, knowing him (and) knowing how confident he is, he’ll have no doubt in his mind that he knows he’ll do a good job.”
And what does Cutler himself see?
“My pregame’s going to be a little bit different, and I’ll be a little bit more excited,” he said. “But once I get on the field, I think (adrenaline) is just going to take over and I’ll be fine.”
Tags: Jay Cutler, Kenard Lang, Kyle Johnson, Seattle Seahawks, Tony Scheffler
It feels like week one again. I have not been this excited to see a game since August
I agree, it does kind of feel like week one. The only thing I dont like and worries me is that it is almost playoff time, not week one! Lets just hope that Cutler is as good as everyone is saying he is.
Hey guys, no need to worry, Jay is not as good as everyone says he is. Don’t you remember Todd Marinovich, or how about Ryan Leaf? Well, everyone thought they we’re going to be AMAZING QB’s, mind you Indy actually contemplated taking Leaf over Manning, and San Diego was not dissapointed when Indy took Manning, because hey, THEY GOT LEAF! The funniest, most ironic thing is….Leaf and Marinovich we’re about 10 times better than Cutler in college and they still couldn’t cut it in the NFL! Denvers problem this year had more to do with Shanahans Running Back BINGO, Shannahans inability to call plays without Kubiak and a defense that STILL SHUTTERS and SHAKES AT THE KNEES whey they have to try and stop Payton Manning…Ever since Manning picked them apart like school children, that defense has never been the same…And just as they got back up, Ladanian Tomlinson knocked them right back down….So poor Jake, it certainly was not his fault.
WAH WAH.
I think it feels like a weak one. All those people who think that changing Jake for Jay is going to change anything are just dreaming. I don’t care if you get the best quarterback in the world, if you still have a weak line, receivers that don’t catch, and a defence of 1 or 2 that can actually tackle and run, you are still not going anywhere.
I think everybody’s expecting too much from him. Everyone thinks he is going to come out trowing the ball…i just dont want him to get Humiliated and throw pics.., if our running is okay, i think Shanahan will let him throw 1 or 2 pics and not be to worried…welp good luck Denver with tomarrow.
I think LetPlummerPlay is underestimating what Cutler did in College with a Vanderbuilt team that was in a division with some of the best teams in the nation. He was better than his stats when you take into consideration the teams that he played against. He will do just fine. I also don’t think anyone truely believes that it was all plummer’s fault the way the team has played as of late. I also know that our offense has failed to produce many drives in the second half of games, which in turn has caused our defense to get tired and allow teams back into games in which we have controlled the first half. Cutler will do just fine and may give the rest of a team a sence of urgency and my help them come up with that one extra play and maybe just maybe move the chains in the second half and give the defence ( which I belive is underated due to spending too much time on the field) a chance to come up big. You may be suprised at Cutler he is actually a great QB he just needs our support now. The change has been made and now we have to support him and be the best fans in the NFL like we have always been. Go Denver!!!! and good luck Jay.