Horse Tracks 5/12/09

Thanks NYC!

Bring on the Season.

But take a look at the seasons both were having before Orton injured his ankle in week nine. Through eight games, Cutler had found the end zone 15 times through the air, but he’d also found an opponent on 10 occasions. Orton was looking like his team’s MVP with an efficiently productive 10-4 ratio. The Broncos were 4-4, having just dropped three straight contests. The Bears were 5-3 coming off of back-to-back victories.

And before you tell me the Bears defense was light years ahead of Denver’s, I’ll remind you that a mere 40 yards per game separated the two statistically. Is it just me, or is Orton’s facial hair looking a little less unkempt and a little more chic?

Thanks NYC

Could Kyle Orton really be better than Cutler? I’m certain that he’s a better fit for the system, and a better fit for the personality and character of the team.

If the Broncos could have kept Cutler, and if he would have allowed himself to be coached by one of the top QB minds of the next generation [/hyperbole], he could have learned to use his immense physical talent more wisely.

Cutler remains a quarterback defined primarily by his potential. One day, something might click and send him on a ballistic trajectory to Canton. On the other hand, something else might click and he’ll just go ballistic.

It comes down to known quantities vs. unknown variables. We know that Orton will be adequate, take care of the ball, and conform to the ethos of the team. Cutler is in a theoretical Schrodinger state of John Elway/ Jeff George, and it will be a couple of years until the box is opened.

Fun read, that Q&A with KM, from Mike Rice.
Not to pick on Rice because it was great, but this made me chuckle a bit, when he asked Moreno about that now famous leap move in the Central Mich game.
“Is that something that just happens on the field when you’re able to make a move like that?”

(The sarcastic response that popped in my head:) Nooooooo! That takes a whole week planning - ‘for that CM game I’m going to leap over someone in the 3rd quarter and make the highlight reels. Better get to work on my leaping!" ;) Just struck me as odd, but I knew what he meant… Heh.

Anyway, thanks as always nyc!

I liked that article. Two nebbishes – he was right that the scheme in Chicago didn’t fit Orton, but it wasn’t a vertical passing scheme. It was a running game variant on the West Coast Offense. It’s also true that Chicago has poor receivers: they ran sloppy routes, didn’t get separation and had trouble adjusting their routes.

However – both Denver and Chi had two excellent receiving TEs – former Bronco Desmond Clark who had the temerity to actually want a reasonable paycheck and #1 TE Greg Olsen. Orton will be right at home with Graham and Quinn, as well as Tony Scheffler.