Riddle me this then: how did Cutler put up such mediocre numbers this season when he had arguably the best running game and offensive line in the league.? If he were such a great QB with so much support of the fans, you would think that he could at least make the pro bowl playing with such a great supporting cast. Just watch him play and you'll see how terribly inconsistent he is; me makes a lot of mistakes. At this point in his career he's like half Brett Favre, half Rex Grossman.
You'd be hard pressed to argue the bolded part. Denver ended the season on their 5th or so starting RB. They also lost half their front seven before or in the beginning of the seson. They were hurtin' for certain and most of it was completely out of Cutler's hands.
That's just it though. The Broncos averaged almost 5 ypc in the running game regardless of who took the ball. Coming into the season their line was a question mark, definitely, but they turned out to be exceptional. Ask any Broncos fan. No unit in the league allowed fewer sacks and only the Giants' had a better rushing average.
The big thing you guys are missing is that the Broncos had the 5th least rushing attempts in the league. No one feared there running game. No one ever expected them to run which is why their average was so high. Hillis, their best runner, was never a threat to get big gainers. As I have stated a number of times, I have watched nearly ever Bronco since Cutler arrived (except when they conflicted with the Jets) as my wife is die-hard and lived the last three years in Colorado. The reason they had the fewest sacks is that Cutler got the ball out fast. Granted some of his decisions were poor, but they mostly came from his confidence that he could fit the ball into anywhere he wanted. This past season, the pressure on Cutler to score every time out was immense due to the poor defense. Add on top of that the fact that no one respected the running game and his #1 target (Sheffler...yes over Marshall) was banged up all year. Overall, it was hard for Cutler to succeed. He basically had to play a perfect game every time out. Could Cutler's attitude be better...sure, but I think he is one of the Top 10 QBs in the league right now.
In what world is 4500 passing yards a mediocre season?! He carried the team on his back classic-favre style, you guys are too focused on QB rating.
Obviously Cutler does not think that he is one of the top QB's in the league & he blows his team off, big time: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/133222-cutler-pissed-his-broncos-blew-chance-to-get-matt-cassel
Jon Kitna has thrown for over 4000 yard for two consecutive years; does that mean he's a great quarterback? I'm not 'focused on QB rating'. I've seen him miss far too many throws to open receivers when there wasn't any pressure on him and throw the ball between a DB's numbers to be convinced he's among the NFLs elite. Yes, his receiving and running corps was depleted, but that doesn't excuse those kinds of mistakes or prove he shouldn't take some of that blame. The point isn't that he's a bad or even average, because I agree he's good and probably in the top 10. The point is that he's overrated and you can't fairly say he's 'one of the best' at this point in his career with what he's done and with his inconsistencies.
Cutler is pretty mediocre, sure he has the physical ability to be a great qb, but he makes terrible decisions with the ball, and his accuracy is pretty middle of the pack. He's had a 1.4 to 1 TD to INT ratio each of his 2 full seasons playing behind pretty good O-Lines. Honestly last season he was awful similar to Matt Cassel, he threw for more yards because of more attempts, but the average per attempt was almost exactly the same, but he threw for a lower percentage, and had a much worse TD/INT ratio while playing behind a much better line. Another good comparison is Shaun Hill, hill had better comp % by a little where Cutler had a better YPA, and Hill had a better TD/INT. Sure Cutler could eventually really break out, but for now he has no reason to think he should be untouchable, If i were a coach trying to institute the patriots offense I'd probably rather have Cassel too, sure he doesn't have the big arm Cutler does, but he makes better decisions with the ball, Cutler is the kind of guy who loses as many games as he wins. Could they make the playoffs with him if they fix the run D, sure, but they could do just as well with any of a dozen or so other Qbs as well. He's a slightly more accurate Jake Delhomme for his career so far, completes about 2.5 % more passes throws a few more INTs, exact same YPA.
I think if you watched him plan and didn't rely on stats you'd see that he should be untouchable based on ability, performance and age.
That's the wrong argument because a +17 TD to INT number after only 3 years for any young QB is a fantastic number. Most are negative or close to even. Elway was -5.
I see him play quite a bit 5 or 6 games a year, and he really isn't spectacular, there have been tons of guys with great physical tools who never put it together. I think he's good sure, but if you can get enough for him he shouldn't be untouchable, honestly I would trade him straight up for any of these Qbs: Brady, Manning, manning, brees, Rivers, Cassel, Roethlisberger, Warner, Ryan, McNabb. Can you honestly say that you wouldn't even consider a Cassel for Cutler trade if you are the broncos? Cassel showed me more last year than Cutler ever has, add in that the guy who called the plays for him last year is the coach in Denver, and it makes a ton of Sense
No way would I even consider a trade of Cassel for Cutler. No one is calling Cutler the next Scott Mitchell. I am pretty sure that the Eagles, Chiefs and Eagles would trade QBs with the Broncos in a heartbeat. If I were to rank the QBs based on who I want to lead my team next year, I'd rank Cutler behind Manning A, Manning B, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Brees, Brady and Warner. And probably equal to McNabb and Romo. We just have a different opinion, I guess.
