Let’s have a replay
Dolphins seeking Cutler duplication of Pennington’s ’08 success
Can quarterback Jay Cutler repeat the success of 2008 turnaround season?
“You don’t have to worry about his arm strength.”
Adam Gase, on Jay Cutler’s throwing Tuesday.
DAVIE — There was an aura to Chad Pennington that was evident in his very first practice with the Miami Dolphins in 2008.
Let go by the New York Jets after eight seasons, Pennington embarked on a career renaissance with the Dolphins, and his journey began with a Sunday practice.
A day after signing with Miami, Pennington majestically carved up the Dolphins’ first-team defense with receivers whose names he didn’t know, and an of- fense he hadn’t played in since his rookie season with the Jets.
I stood inside the Dolphins’ practice bubble a few feet away from defenders who were walking off the field stunned and embarrassed.
They couldn’t figure out how the noodle-armed quarterback was driving the team downfield series after series, and scoring touchdowns with strangers.
From that day Pennington became the Pied Piper, and the Dolphins followed him all the way to the NFL’s biggest one-season turnaround. Pennington led the rise from a 1-15 season, and was the main catalyst behind the Dolphins going 11-5 and winning their last AFC East division title.
I bring that memory up to compare and contrast it with the newest Dolphins quarterback, Jay Cutler, who practiced with his new team for the first time Tues-
day.
Cutler showcased the rifle of an arm he’s possessed his entire career.
Cutler’s 15-yard outs had zip to spare despite the fact a shoulder procedure prematurely ended his 2016 season.
“You don’t have to worry about his arm strength,” head coach Adam Gase said with a smirk after practice.
Cutler then threw a leading pass during 1-on-1 drills that floated into Jakeem Grant’s hands, catching him in stride for a 40-yard touchdown.
“My arm, it doesn’t get sore,” Cutler said as if he were bragging.
Cutler later connected on a back shoulder throw to tight end Julius Thomas, putting the ball in a spot where the defending safety couldn’t knock it down.
It was a throw that good quarterbacks make on the regular in the NFL.
“I think he slung it pretty well,” said receiver Jarvis Landry.
Hands down Cutler’s arm ranks in the top three of Dolphins quarterbacks I’ve seen throw in practice, checking in right behind Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who spent roughly 10 minutes after Tuesday’s practicing sharing words of wisdom with Cutler.
However, to say Cutler’s first practice was impressive would be stretching the truth. It was decent, mainly because he spent most of it looking confused and uncomfortable, which is to be expected even if a player has history with an offense and it’s play-caller.
Pennington’s first practice is a day I’ll never forget. I’ve never seen it duplicated. Therefore, predicting Cutler will be able to duplicate Pennington’s success would be disingenuous.
While it was only one day, one practice with a group of strangers, Pennington showed he had a presence to him. Tuesday’s session showed that Cutler has plenty to learn, and that patience will be required.
It also showed the upside is there. Gase advocated for this move because it strengthened Miami’s chances of returning to the postseason for the second year in a row, and possibly winning the franchise’s first playoff game since the 2000 season.
From Gase’s standpoint, nothing else mattered, and that included possible hurt feelings by Matt Moore, and the fear his decision to bring in another quarterback to replace injured starter Ryan Tannehill would divide the locker room.
From where Gase sits, once the offensive players saw Cutler’s talent level, they would buy in. And once the defensive players felt Cutler’s presence, they’d get on board.
One respected NFL executive told the Sun Sentinel that Cutler’s “emphatically” better than Tannehill.
“He just doesn’t have the same upside,” he added.
However, why worry about tomorrow when your franchise needs to win today?
The signing of Cutler means our expectations for the Dolphins this season shouldn’t change. Despite the nightmarish training camp Miami’s having with all the injures players have suffered, the franchise will continue to shoot for the postseason.
It’s a long season. Good thing Cutler still throws a pretty good long ball.