Detroit – Having thrown more than 4,000 passes in his NFL career, Jake Plummer is secure enough not to be offended by a quarterback who has attempted none.
Plummer understands, and accepts, that for the Broncos’ first preseason game tonight against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, folks back home will want him to hurry up and get out so they can see the kid play.
It may be Plummer who is entering his 10th season as a starter, but there is far greater interest in his backup, Jay Cutler, the rookie quarterback the Broncos selected during the offseason with the 11th pick of the draft.
“I think everyone on this team, me included, is excited to see Jay out there,” Plummer said. “I’m excited to see Bradlee (Van Pelt) play, too, because from where he was last year to now, he’s made big strides. It will be fun to watch both those guys.”
Van Pelt, a former Colorado State star, was the backup quarterback who became the darling of the Broncos’ 2005 preseason. This year, Van Pelt may be improved, but he has been knocked back to the No. 3 spot by the strong performance of Cutler in training camp.
Against the Lions tonight, Plummer will play one or two series, then Cutler will take control for one or two quarters. Van Pelt will mop up the rest. Broncos fans, though, probably already have formed their opinions on Plummer and Van Pelt. Cutler is the unknown.
“I’m just going to go out there and hopefully not mess up too much and see what happens,” Cutler said. “I’m excited. I’m nervous. First NFL-type game, so it’s going to be fun.”
So begins perhaps the most intriguing quarterback watch in Denver since John Elway was acquired from the Baltimore Colts in 1983. The difference this time is Plummer is no Steve DeBerg. Before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, coach Bill Walsh once described DeBerg as “just good enough to get you beat.”
Plummer’s record, 32-11 since he joined the Broncos before the 2003 season, suggests he’s simply good enough. Among quarterbacks, only Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, who figure to one day join Walsh in Canton, have won more than Plummer during that time.
Yet, for Broncos fans, it’s only natural to wonder if Cutler can do better.
“For me, it will be one of those years,” Plummer said. “I’m going to try to play the best I can and give no reason to want Jay out there. But you know how fans are: They’re excited for change anytime there’s a chance. Until that time comes, they’re going to have to put up with me.”
Preseason games often are characterized as unnecessary evils – Manning’s Colts were 0-5 last preseason, then won their first 13 regular-season games – but that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be discounted as meaningless.
Plummer, for instance, approached brilliance while posting a 123.6 quarterback rating in his three preseason games last year. His exhibition performance transferred into an efficient regular season, as he went eight consecutive games without an interception and guided the Broncos to a 13-3 mark before beating New England in a playoff game.
But then the AFC championship game didn’t work out, Cutler was drafted in the first round and suddenly Plummer begins the 2006 preseason as an afterthought. Cutler should keep the TV ratings strong well into the second half.
Yet, anyone expecting him to perform as well in the preseason of 2006 as Plummer did in the preseason of 2005 may be expecting too much.
“I wouldn’t even say it’s a test because it’s a process for him,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of Cutler. “It’s going to take time. There’s going to be mistakes when a first-year quarterback plays with the second unit. But it’s an experience that he needs.”
Something else that can’t help the three Denver quarterbacks tonight: Neither of the team’s top two wide receivers, Rod Smith (hamstring) and Javon Walker (knee), will play.
Plummer will be aiming for the next line of wide receivers, Darius Watts and rookie Brandon Marshall. Cutler may be throwing to the likes of David Kircus and Todd Devoe. Van Pelt, who in camp has been throwing downfield more and scrambling less, will be targeting David Terrell, Charlie Adams and Brian Clark.
“That’s good, though,” Plummer said. “There’s a possibility something like this could happen during the year and those young guys will have to step up.”
This could be true at wide receiver, and it could be true at quarterback. As Plummer runs the first-team offense, Broncos fans may have one common thought: Is Cutler warming up yet?
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
