Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Keith Kidd

After diving into preseason game film over the last few days, one of the most impressive players I've seen is Broncos QB Jay Cutler. You've heard it before: Don't get caught up in glorified exhibition performances, especially those at quarterback.

	Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
	Denver's Jay Cutler has looked impressive during preseason action.

But I believe Cutler is poised for a monster year, despite a questionable supporting cast and even without early contributions from go-to WR Brandon Marshall (three-game suspension).

One of the most difficult tasks in our business is evaluating and projecting the pro potential of college quarterbacks. The casual fan may see only subtle variations, but offensive systems in college are completely different from those in the NFL.

It's very difficult to implement a detailed system in college, where the amount of time a coach can spend with a player is restricted. In any given week, an NFL offensive game plan contains volumes of information and diagrams that can expand into subsets of more info.

On a single play, a quarterback is asked to process and repeat in the huddle 10-25 words of verbiage. Maybe more, depending on the play selection. And don't forget protection schemes, which a quarterback also must know and understand. There are reasons it takes so much time for quarterbacks to develop in the pros.

With a big-time arm and the ability to attack all levels of a defense, Cutler's physical tools are exactly what NFL coaches want in a quarterback. He processes quickly at the line of scrimmage, is natural in his drops and delivers with good rhythm and timing -- a critical element in coach Mike Shanahan's attack.

Cutler shows very good poise, with the instincts and ability to both move around in the pocket and attack the edges of a defense. He has a very live arm and creates excellent spin on the ball when throwing on the move. He can find receivers off their landmarks when protection breaks down. Bottom line: The combination of Cutler's mobility and arm puts tremendous pressure on the back end of a defense.

And now, headed into his third NFL season, Cutler seems to be getting a handle on the mental aspects of his position. He's ready to take the next step, from managing games to lifting the Broncos on his shoulders and winning games himself.

Again, it's the preseason, but what I've seen on tape suggests tremendous growth. Cutler is making better, quicker reads. He's looking off coverage, avoiding telegraphing throws, recognizing and attacking the blitz. Young quarterbacks typically make strides in these areas through film work: analyzing past performances, studying similar offenses and other greats at the position, and researching coverage concepts of upcoming opponents. Cutler's offseason work habits are paying dividends.

And I spotted something else: the return of Denver's drop-back passing attack. By drafting LT Ryan Clady in the first round, Shanahan seems to be reinventing the John Elway-Gary Zimmerman formula that worked so well for him in the past. Protection issues forced the Broncos to keep Cutler on the move a lot in his first two seasons, but Shanahan's offense typically is built on five- and seven-step passing drops, deep routes and play-action. In Cutler and Clady, the Broncos finally have the players to pull it off.

Denver still has, in my opinion, some concerns on defense and at certain offensive skill positions. But for the first time since Elway retired, the one thing Broncos fans can count on is a franchise quarterback to build around. And in the NFL, it doesn't get much better than that.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.