Things I want to get off my mind..... Part Deux

 “Franchise QBs”

Setting the Broncos back 10 years

The hard schedule ensuring a losing season

I think one of the most over used phrases I have seen this off season is the tag "franchise player"  I mean it has become ridiculous and its one that no one even wants to qualify anymore.  For example the media has crowned Sanchez and Stafford both as "franchise" QBs.  This is, of course, absurd.  Neither one of them has played a down in the NFL yet.  They have a long way to go before they are worthy of that label.   Do they have potential?  Of course they do.  So did Ryan Leaf and many others before him.  But they are not, as of today, "franchise" players.  And neither is Jay Cutler

I guess I should start by defining what I mean by franchise player.  Like I said, I think the term is overused and abused by the MSM and others these days.  To me, a franchise player is one that is so good, they bring absolute stability to a position of importance to a team in such a way that they raise the level of play of that team, make the rest of the team better around them and provide a solid stable foundation that allows a team to be developed and built around them. 

Is Cutler better than the other QBs selected in the first round with him?  Yes, to date that is not even arguable.  Does Cutler possess all the tools and talent to be a franchise player in this league.  Without a doubt, he does.  I was looking forward to watching him grow into that role someday.  Is he there right now?  No, he isn't and I see no evidence that supports the claims that he is, or was.

Statistics are a record of individual accomplishment.  Results are a record of success.  Cutler has shown he can provide statistics, in at least one system.  So far, his results have been luke warm at best. Two franchise QBs that we are all familiar with, John Elway and Dan Marino.  Of the two Marino had the better statistics in most categories.  Elway had more championships and wins.   Later in his career Elway even produced some of the stats in a better system.

But did Cutler's year last year do anything to earn the tag of franchise player?  I don't think so.  Let's look at what he accomplished in comparison to some others in the league last year.  Cutler started 16 games, threw for over 4500 yards and led a team that scored 370 points.  Sounds impressive doesn't it?  It must since the MSM keeps repeating those numbers like they say all there is to say.  Chicago fans think he is going to bring those numbers with him to Chicago, so they keep repeating them as well.

But when you look at all the numbers, I don' know.  They just don't look that special to me.  I think he still has a long way to go before his presence commands the franchise tag.  Compare if you will the Broncos number 2 rated offense for yards gained with the number 3 rated offense for yards gained, the Houston Texans. I find it very interesting that Kubiak's version of the Shanahan system netted results this close.  And just for fun, I am throwing in Denver's statistics from the 2000 season when we were quarterbacked by Brian Griese (10 games) and Gus Ferrotte (6 games).

Team Stats:    Rank    yards   plays    yds/play           Points NFL rank for points scored

Denver  2008    2          6333    1019    6.2                   370                  16

 Houston 08     3          6113    1019    6.0                   366                  17

Denver 2000   2          6554    1115    5.8                   485                  2

Now ask someone to make the case that we had a franchise QB and we will be forever screwed until we run out and over pay for yet another media defined franchise QB with a number one draft pick.

If you are still not convinced, look at the numbers for the individual QBs  for each team those years. 

Player              Yds      comp%            TD%    int%     ANY/A

Cutler 08         4526    62.3                 4.1       2.9       6.2

Schaub 08       3043    66.1                 3.9       2.6       6.4

Griese 2000    2688    64.3                 5.7       1.2       7.2

Griese was a 25 year old Pro Bowl QB after that 2000 season.

And I don't remember the media bemoaning the release of a "Pro Bowl Quarterback" When Griese left town.

Now none of this denigrates the tremendous up side and skills of Cutler.  He is, obviously, strong armed and accurate down field.  He moves well and throws exceptionally well on the run.  He can create plays and he sees the whole field, when he looks at least. 

He does not however, always make good decisions with the ball.  He often does not check down or look for other receivers.  This was evidenced by the repeated throws he threw to Marshall into double and even triple coverage when Marshall was having difficulty gaining any separation.  He looks for his favorites sometimes to the detriment of finding open receivers or those that have one on one coverage. 

His results do not yet reflect his ability and his potential.  In Chicago, we will see how he handles being in a run first offense with a weak line and average receivers at best.  He will come to appreciate what Elway had here for all those years when he was winning games with a weak supporting cast and a coach who insisted on putting him in 3rd and long situations on a regular basis.  If he develops the ability to actually win and produce in that system, then he might finally be worthy of this franchise tag everyone has hung on him.

Well I have talked long enough.  Looks like I will need a part 3.  Sorry guys.