Jay Cutler has great size for the QB position. He’s
tall and very strong, using both to his advantage.
He really does have a cannon for an arm and arguably
the best arm in this year’s draft. Surprisingly,
he’s actually quite mobile for his size. Cutler is
very good at feeling the pressure, or seeing a
pocket collapse and making a play when it looks as
if there isn’t one to make. His mechanics and his
release are to be commended as well, keeping his
elbows up and feet planted. He’s had some
respectable completion percentage numbers in the
past. Cutler has shown he possesses that attitude
and on field presence you like to see in a
quarterback.
Negatives:
Cutler’s most glaring negative is his vision. Some
might argue otherwise and point to his completion
percentage numbers, but from watching him practice
and play in person, this was one thing that troubled
me. Whether or not Jay sees the whole field, his
focus doesn’t seem consistent and with even a small
number of suspect decisions at the next level,
throwing into coverage, and Cutler could struggle
rather than excel. Saying that Cutler has a
tendency to force the ball into double and triple
coverage might be overstating it, but he could stand
to learn when to tuck it and take the sack, or get
rid of it. Although he does have considerable arm
strength, he tends to let his deep balls float, and
on his short to intermediate passes, at times
doesn’t get enough air under the ball, causing balls
to end up behind the receiver.
Overall:
Jay Cutler seems to
have already written his own ticket to the top of
the first round. Most of it is media based, with
some of the most incredible hype I’ve seen in a long
time for a QB coming from a school with a losing
record, and average production at best (makes you
wonder what he’d have done playing for the Temple
Owls…compare the numbers for yourself). Not to say
that Jay doesn’t have the talent to play in the NFL,
I truly believe he does, with the potential to have
a long and successful career at the next level, but
I’m just not sold on the fact that in this draft
he's an early first round pick. Plenty of prospects
that weren't so can’t miss, accomplished more with
less to this point in Cutler’s football career.
Final Word:
PROOF
–
If you listen to the commentary coming through the
media, be it from scouts, former players or any
other talking head, half of them are drinking the
Cutler Kool-Aid, the other half just aren’t touching
the stuff. Jay needs to come out and shut the
doubters up, and prove to people that he belongs. Proof, through excellent play and
development are the best way to make those who
doubt fill up the bandwagon. It’s hard to latch on
to a QB that came from a very mediocre program, and
believe that he can be a can’t miss savior for any
team. If he couldn’t succeed with simple
surroundings at the college level, how’s he going to
succeed at the highest level if drafted by a team
with the same simple surroundings? Just ask David
Carr how hard it is to succeed in simple
surroundings at the next level. Prove the doubters
wrong Jay, and we’ll all shut up.
