I am going to get so hammered for this, but here it goes. In 2004, the Steelers were coming off of a 6-10 season (so were the Jets, ironically). They had the 12th overall pick in that draft and took Big Ben. The scouting report on Big Ben is very similar to Cutler's. They're both big, stong and fairly mobile. They can throw the ball deep and with accuracy, but can both make bad decisons (gunslinger mentality). Both played for not-so-great teams that were in not-so-great conferences. Cutler is projected too last until the 12-15 range, but I think sooner. Maddox was the starter going into week 1 of the 2004 season, but was injured in week 2 (who else gets injured early every season?). Big Ben, who was not expected to perform well, went 13-0! Now granted, the Steelers offense had Ward, Burress, Randel-El, Bettis & Staley, but they played some really tough defenses, including the Pats. He lead that offense like a Pro despite being a rookie, and obviously was rewarded by a SB ring the following year. With the right players drafted and/or signed via FA, and with better coaching on the offensive side of the ball, Cutler can be the Jets' 'Big Ben' of 2006. I say that if the Jets shore up the O-line, involve Cotchery more on offense, and split time between Martin & Houston effectively (not 80/20 Martin like Hackett did), the Jets have a fighting chance. Of course, the defense needs to be strengthened for this to whole theory to work. I believe in 2004, the Steelers defense was, let me think, the BEST IN THE LEAGUE!!! Okay, hammer away :grin:
I won't hammer you with one exception.... Pittsburgh had, and has one of the best O lines in the NFL. That allowed them to rely very heavilly on the running game in Roethlisberger's first year. We have no O line now. Otherwise, I'm with ya.
We would need a very good OLine, a Top 5 defense...Plenty of role players on the offense, which I think the Jets do have in the sense of nobody getting selfish for not getting thrown to and whatnot, just doing their specific job whether or not the ball is thrown or handed off to them. Something I think Mangini will stress during camp...
No need to hammer, I think many of us wish that is true. Unfortunately, as many have already pointed out, Ben did not have to win any games for them his first year. They relied on that running game and awesome defense. When that finally got shut down in the playoffs he barely got by us and then was exposed by the Pats. We need a QB, an O-Line, a RB, and another WR and then we can repeat their performance. Ugh.....
I don't think he ever said Cutler would have the kind of rookie season Big Ben had. All he was saying is that pre draft they are quite similar. I wouldn't want Jay Cutler to see the field until 2007.
I would disagree Rothlesgerger had much more success in college and was a more polished QB. Rothlesberger also has great feet and scrambling abilty which Cutler does not have. Rothlesberger can keep plays alive with his feet. Two of the biggest plays of the SB was Rothlesberger scrambling to buy time to get a 1st down on 3rd down, The shovel pass and the third and long to Ward. Rothlesberger led Miami to 14 straight wins in his last season and a top ten ranking. Absent an openning day loss to Iowa and Miami would have most likely been playing in a BCS game if not the championship game. Cutler was not able to elevate his team like Rothlessberger, show anywhere near close to the composure Rothlesberger had in college and does not have the pocket presence or scrambling ability of Rothlesberger. Big Ben is a rare and elite QB. A QB that can play manage the game offense or a QB that can play in an open air it out offense. To compare Cutler or anyone to him isn't fair. The steelers got very lucky with Ben. Any draft of a high QB is a risk and its very unlikely to pay off like it did for Pitt.
Actually, we had the 12th pick. The Steelers had the 11th. Actually, watching some highlights of Ben when he was declaring, he looked VERY mobile. Well, they can both throw it deep at least.... Except one of them actually had some wins to hang his hat on and the other, welllllll..... Roethlisberger was actually projected to go a bit higher if I remember correctly. And one of the best offensive lines in the league. Don't forget that. And one of the best defenses too. Which means Coyle, I mean Cutler should be no different. Sure. All we need is to do is jack up his accuracy and leadership skills, actually introduce him to a "big game", give him a couple of pro bowl receivers, put one of the best offensive lines in the NFL in front of him (one with three or four pro bowlers), an inproved running game behind him and the best defense in the NFL on the other ball and I'm sure he will be just as good as Roethlisberger as a rookie. That should be no problem. Superbowl bound baby.
Yup I agree with Crickett, Cutler is more like a spitting image of how Rivers soared up and over Rothlisberger during draft day, except that Rivers actually had big games and much better stats than Cutler. All Cutler has is his big arm to hang his hat on, with nothing else, which reminds me of Boller. The only thing in common with the Ben Rothlisberger situation and Cutler is that they are QBs and thats it.
in 2009 we have a very good offensive line, a top 5 defense AND plenty of role players on offense. Get it done TANNY, NYJ Ecko has seen the future and the future is now!!!
Probably not, this board is on a downward spiral at this point anyway. Keep bumping old threads from 2006.
