Broncos' Cutler Knows Cardinals Will Be Different

[kve820]

Broncos' Cutler Knows Cardinals Will Be Different
By Andrew Mason, DenverBroncos.com
(CBS4/DenverBroncos.com) ENGLEWOOD, Colo. For most of the Broncos' first-teamers, there's little they can pilfer from the team's preseason duel with the Arizona Cardinals that they can apply to Sunday; the vast majority of players on the No. 1 unit didn't even don pads for pregame warmups, ceding the night to the backups.

But at the time, however, those backups included quarterback Jay Cutler, who promptly singed the Big Red's defense for an 84-yard touchdown pass to David Kircus. It was his most exemplary performance of a sterling preseason; he finished that night with two touchdown passes, 201 yards through the air and a 116.3 passer rating. He also proved his resilience by rebounding from an interception returned for a touchdown to immediately direct a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown march inside the final two minutes of the first half.

It was a night that built his confidence.

But not one from which he feels he can extract much in regards to preparing for what Arizona will toss his way this coming Sunday afternoon.

"No," Cutler said. "They're a much-improved team. They're playing well right now, especially defensively. They fly around. They're extremely active, so it's going to be tough."

Injuries have exacted a toll upon the Cardinals since that day; they've lost former Broncos defensive end Bertrand Berry to injured reserve and have seen defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, cornerback Eric Green and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald all miss time with injuries.

What defensive coordinator Larry Coyer will face is markedly different than what he saw in the preseason finale. That night's starting quarterback, Kurt Warner, was out of the Cardinals' starting 11 by Week 5, to be replaced by first-round pick Matt Leinart.

The Cardinals changed their offensive line around; of the Week 1 starting quintet up front, only Leonard Davis remains at the same position. Chris Liwienski moved from right tackle to left guard, over to right guard and then back to left guard before leaving the starting lineup entirely in Week 11. Alex Stepanovich also moved out of the starting lineup at center in place of Nick Leckey. Milford Brown moved from left guard to right guard, while Reggie Wells shifted from left guard to right tackle.

Still, Coyer can look back at the preseason and cobble together a few usable nuggets for Sunday.

"I think there's always something you can garner," Coyer said. "I always think they have a plan and they've got a way to go. Now they've changed their plan some, with the change in their philosophy offensively, but overall they're basically the same; they've got three great receivers (Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson) and sometimes a fourth guy in there (Troy Walters)."

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[Crossbones]

Cutler is getting his "baptism by fire"...maybe in retrospect this is a good idea by the RAT...as they were going nowhere in the playoffs with Plummer at the helm. The kid is getting valuable experience. Plus the Raiders will have to put up with the punk for the next 10 years.

 

[Angel]

Cutler is getting his "baptism by fire"...maybe in retrospect this is a good idea by the RAT...as they were going nowhere in the playoffs with Plummer at the helm. The kid is getting valuable experience. Plus the Raiders will have to put up with the punk for the next 10 years.

Ahaha Bones....Jake to the Raiders I think this is a game the Broncos have a chance to win...

 

[kve820]

Cutler is getting his "baptism by fire"...maybe in retrospect this is a good idea by the RAT...as they were going nowhere in the playoffs with Plummer at the helm. The kid is getting valuable experience. Plus the Raiders will have to put up with the punk for the next 10 years.

I have been impressed with the guy myself, Shanny has opened the playbook and now spreads the field with 4 or 5 WR's and empty backfield and the shotgun formation, days of old for us long time donkey fans lol