Thread: Peyton Manning good to go for Broncos, says QB coach David Cutcliffe -- MERGED

David Cutcliffe has been watching Peyton Manning throw for nearly two decades. And after orchestrating Manning's workouts from the time the quarterback was cleared by doctors to resume throwing and when Manning signed his contract with the Broncos last week, Cutcliffe saw enough to confidently be able to tell Denver fans that Manning will be just fine.

Manning missed all of 2011 while recovering from the three surgeries performed on his neck in the past year.

"He could play a game. We've done it, we've simulated games, and he's done well. He's going to do nothing but get stronger and going to play up to his standards," Cutcliffe said Thursday in a phone interview with The Denver Post. "I know that's his goal, and there isn't any reason, there is no indicator otherwise."

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...-says-qb-coach

The official Broncos pre-season workouts don't begin for some time, but Peyton Manning is working out privately at a local high school with some of his new teammates: Eric Decker, Julius Thomas and J.D. Walton.

He's been working out under the guidance of his former QB coach from Tenn U., David Cutliffe, from the time when he was cleared by doctors to start throwing until the time when he signed with the Broncos. According to the Denver Post, Cutliff remains impressed by Manning's recovery. The practice sessions were fast-paced throwing sessions, "with different timed drills and sessions to mimic the format Manning would soon do with his new NFL team." These sessions are designed to simulate what he would go through in an NFL practice.

The Broncos witnessed one of these sessions when they flew to Tenn. to see Manning work out and were impressed enough to offer him a $96 million contract.

"He could play a game. We've done it, we've simulated games, and he's done well. He's going to do nothing but get stronger and going to play up to his standards," Cutcliffe said Thursday in a phone interview with The Denver Post. "I know that's his goal, and there isn't any reason, there is no indicator otherwise." . . . .

"He can make all the throws, his release times are perfect, and we pay a lot of attention to that. It's arm speed and getting rid of it. His velocity is good. It's just a matter of, like any other NFL football player, you've got to feel good," Cutcliffe said. "He's in great shape. Not good shape, great shape, and that's part of what we did here as well." . . . .

I'm pleased to hear all this good news. If Manning is close to 100% when the season starts the Broncos are going to be hard to stop from winning the AFC West and hosting another playoff game!

It's even better that he's working out with J.D. Walton. Walton needs all the help he can get. He's the line general who's supposed to know all his own assignments and those of his linemates. He is going to have to really improve his play a lot or Manning isn't going to last long, because blitzers are going to try and come right over Walton as the weak-link in the Denver line.