Can Cutler Stand the Pressure?

The Jay Cutler Era has begun in Denver… and that sentence alone perfectly illustrates the high expectations of the fans at Mile High. If you surf the net like I do, you’ll see comments on message boards saying things like, “This is the most excited I’ve been about a Broncos season since 1998!” Whenever there is a story on Cutler on ESPN, SI, or the NFL Network, the words “John Elway” are undoubtedly mentioned as well. I’ve seen stat comparisons of Cutler compared to John’s early years… I’ve read about “opening up the playbook” in multiple articles… I’ve heard all the comparisons to the greats, including Brandon Stokley‘s recent comparison of Cutler to Peyton Manning. I’m starting to feel like John Lynch, in this mini-camp statement:

I heard someone saying the other day that they feel like they’re going to be able to do things they haven’t done since No. 7 was around. Every time someone says that I cringe. It is just not fair to Jay.

Thank you, John – I tend to agree. I’ve been guilty of it myself – virtually every time I mentioned Cutler, I too mention John. And it’s not fair… not matter how promising the kid looks. But the real question is – can Cutler handle all the pressure Denver fans, and the entire NFL media for that matter, are putting on him?

Jay Cutler is getting more than defensive pressure this year.

Work Ethic

Pressure has always been a part of the job description for “Denver Broncos quarterback.” A big part of handling that pressure is work ethic – and Jay Cutler seems to have that. Just consider recent Broncos quarterbacks Brian Griese and Jake Plummer – both had talent and ability, and both had success on the field (both earning a Pro Bowl each). But neither had the drive to be great – they didn’t put in the EXTRA work.

Good news for Broncos fans is that, by all accounts, Cutler seems to be the consumate worker. From the same article, this time quoting Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdiner:

The work ethic [Jay] has and the way he sees things, it’s hard to not like the guy. We met even before he started playing last year, and then when he started playing, we had a lot of 6 in the morning meetings before anybody got in here. …

There are quotes like this everywhere, giving Broncos fans reason to be optimistic. Cutler will work hard, something every team needs in its quarterback.

Leadership

Being a quarterback means being a face of a franchise – and Cutler has filled in that role to date well. He has even already formed his own charity! The Jay Cutler Foundation is up and running in his second year, showing his willingness to put in the extra effort off the field. And he doesn’t seem to shy away from the leadership role – a sharp contrast to fellow young QB Eli Manning, for example, who always seems to be among the “marching ants” in New York, a boy among men like Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan last year. He’s smart (Vanderbilt), headstrong, and committed. He’ll be the leader of this offense, despite the fact that he’s among the youngest on the

Talent and Ability

I will spend two sentences on this one… Jay Cutler is hugely talented, and has the potential to be listed among the greats. All one has to look at is this play, from the Arizona Cardinals game (in which I was attending):

Dealing with Adversity

All this said, it remains to be seen how Cutler will deal with adversity – like a 4-game losing streak, or an injured receiver or runningback. Will he step up to media criticisms – will he get up after two sacks in a row (something I am a bit concerned about after the 49er’s game)? Putting it into perspective, a fellow blogger over at MHR:

While his physical tools are enough to excite me, it’s the non-physical aspect of Cutler that really has me pumped. The Broncos have had physically gifted quarterbacks under center since the retirement of John Elway. Brian Griese and Jake Plummer both had the physical ability to be solid NFL quarterbacks. What they lacked, and John Elway had in gallons, is that fire to be great, that desire to be the best, to do whatever it takes to win. You got the feeling that Griese and Plummer were football players but didn’t enjoy playing football. Jay Cutler loves football. He wants to be great, wants to win, and is willing to do whatever it takes. What made John Elway great was how he handled adversity, how he handled the bad times. Griese and Plummer couldn’t handle the bad times. It remains to be seen how Cutler responds when things get tough…

This post goes on to say that he believes Cutler will step up. I think he will too… but no one is sure.

The Bottom Line

Has there been this much pressure EVER placed on such a young quarterback? The formula is there for a HUGE AND TOTAL MELTDOWN… storied, championship franchise, yearning for the success of yesteryear… several “saviors” coming in and ultimately failing to bring us back… comparisons to the great one of years past already brewing in his second year… and a wonderfully talented team who disappointed the year before, with enough infusion of talent to potentially bring them over the top. HOLY HELL, THERE IS NO WAY I COULD DEAL WITH THAT!!

Seriously, put yourself in Cutler’s shoes. Just like John Lynch felt sorry for him, I feel similarly – just give the kid a break! Let him flourish! Yeah our team is talented, but are fans so impatient for a championship that they’re going to roast Cutler for a few bad games? He had ’em last year, but we should all know that he has more to come. And one might even happen during the playoffs, just like Philip Rivers seemed to crumble at the end of last year.

I think Cutler will be good. I think he’ll be great. I think, with this team, we definitely have the chance to win a Super Bowl this year. If Cutler can step up and play like so many think he can, we have the opportunity to be spectacular this year. And if not, our team won’t succeed as much, but Cutler will grow, and the experience can only help him in the long run.

It’s the best quarterback situation the Denver Broncos have had since Elway, that’s for sure, but he’s not #7 yet, and the crowning needs to slow down already. Of course I want him to excel and make the Pro Bowl and lead us to a third ring. And I think and believe he can, as soon as this year.

But no pressure.