Best Denver Sports Media Old School Personalities

The Prelude

A few weeks back I was asked along with other writers in the area to tackle the subject of the best and worst Denver media personalities. I couldn’t help but think about the days of old when I couldn’t wait to see the next sports cast, read the sports page, or listen to the radio. I’d revel in the video clips from the Broncos training camp in the heat of a late Colorado summer. I always cherished the numerous game reports and highlights. It’s that spark, that vital flame of fire and passion that made the local reports something special in those days.

The Chicago Bears’ Playbook: 2009 Edition

With the arrival of Jay Cutler and friends via free agency and the NFL Draft, the team playbook will now expand by a few inches.  

On the offensive side of the ball, I fully expect Ron Turner to review the last three years of Jay Cutler tape.

What worked and what didn’t?

What types of personnel packages did the Denver Broncos use?

Jay Cutler is an extremely mobile quarterback. His accuracy is not comprised when throwing on the run or throwing across his body.

In 2008, his Pro-Bowl year, he was sack only 11 times in 616 pass attempts. As TE Tony Scheffler was invaluable to Cutler in Denver, look for Chicago tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark to see increased playing time this year.

What about the Devin Hester project?

The two years spent on transforming Hester into a No. 1 receiver must continue. Although Hester may not end up being the “guy,” his flashy style could make him an effective No. 2 or slot receiver.

Do the words Eddie Royal ring a bell?

It remains to be seen whether Davis, Bennett, or draftees Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias can step into the Brandon Marshall role—one that stretches the third level of the defense.  

One thing that is for certain is the workhorse behind the newly acquired Cutler, running back Matt Forte. Forte, now in his second year will only add to his production in the West Coast offense.

As for the defensive side of the ball, the presence of Ron Marinelli instantly brings back the swagger that is the Bears’ D.

Now reunited with Lovie Smith, the defensive line coach will bring pressure through various forms of stunts and formations. The addition of Jarron Gilbert should also add depth to an already formidable D-line.

It was noted in this offseason that Lovie Smith will be more involved in the defense.

Defensive coordinator Bob Babich was effective; however, in 2008, the Bears only had 28 sacks—13 less than in 2007.

Marinelli, in addition to Smith, will right the Tampa Two defense and get better production from their players and disrupt opposing offenses.

With OTAs now in full swing, two questions must be answered.

Can Rod Turner create an offensive scheme that will cater to Jay Cutler’s strengths, and how fast can Rod Marinelli reshape the “Monsters of the Midway” defense?

Stay tuned. Preseason mini-camps and the answers lie just around the corner.

King: Denver Broncos As Bad As They Were Before

In today’s Monday Morning Quarterback on Sports Illustrated’s web site, King takes a shot at regime change in Denver, ala Pat Bowlen, by ranking the Broncos 20th amongst 32 NFL franchises. 

“For years,” writes King in his capsule that justifies Denver’s low ranking, “Broncos fans had to sit back and just trust Mike Shanahan, because some of those weird Maurice Clarett-ish decisions he made were so counter-intuitive. So now Pat Bowlen hires boy wonder Josh McDaniels, and the Broncos fans have to think the same thing all over again.”

Yes, there’s some truth in what Kings says.   

But the bigger truth is that Denver fans have a lot of patience. 

The honeymoon with McDaniels will last longer than King thinks.

It’ll probably just make it past the 3:32 mark in the third quarter of the third preseason game.   

 

Denver Broncos: Profiles in Coaching

One message has been clear since Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen opted to rebuild the franchise following last year’s 8-8 season: he believes that coaching matters more than any other factor in winning football games.

So today we’re taking a closer look at the guys who will calls the plays, coach the players, and have final say on the Denver Broncos roster and try to bring a winning team back to Denver.  

Head Coach Josh McDaniels

If new Denver Broncos boss Josh McDaniels comes across as a natural head coach, it’s not surprising. After all, his father, Thom McDaniels has spent 25 years as a high school head coach, amassing a 206-74 record at three schools in football-mad Ohio.

“I always lean on my father for any advice that he can give me,” Josh McDaniels said in a 2008 article in the New York Times. “He is obviously the person I molded myself after, and that hasn’t [changed].

The elder McDaniels coached the younger at Canton McKinley High School where Josh played quarterback from 1991 to 1994. Canton McKinley boasts a 22,500-seat stadium appropriate for Stark County, OH, home to the NFL’s Hall of Fame.

After high school, McDaniels attended Cleveland’s John Carroll University, where he switched positions to wide receiver after failing to win the starter’s job at quarterback.

After graduating from John Carroll with a Bachelor’s in mathematics, McDaniels worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University under Nick Saban. He joined the New England Patriots’ staff in 2001 as a personnel assistant.

But McDaniels’ big break came after Charlie Weis left the Patriots for Notre Dame. In 2005, at age 28 he went from being quarterbacks’ coach to de facto offensive coordinator, although the move wasn’t made official until the 2007 season.

“When he got the job, he really took the reins,” center Dan Koppen said in the New York Times piece. “It’s not about age. It’s about respect, and the guys have that for him. He feels the game out for what it is and does what’s working.”

What’s worked for McDaniels in the past has been a football philosophy impressed on him by working with Bill Belichick. And just like the influence his father has had upon him, McDaniel plans to stick with what he knows.

“My demeanor, the way I am with people, how I go about my daily business? That’s all totally me,” said McDaniels recently on ESPN.com. “And my philosophy on how to win? Why would I want to change from what I learned and was taught? It was so successful.”

Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan

If McDaniels’ football pedigree is a purebred, then new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s is a champion’s.

The son of former San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints coach Dick Nolan, Nolan was hired in 2005 by the 49ers to coach the team his father once ran. He said at the time, “I realized that growing up around these guys and the way they played the game, that was the reason I loved it.”

Nolan played safety at the University of Oregon as a three-year starter.

After college he joined the football staff at Stanford in 1982 and served as linebackers coach at Rice and LSU before moving on to the NFL in 1987 as linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos.

After five seasons with the Broncos he served at defensive coordinator with the Giants, Redskins, Jets, and Ravens. He’s well-known for coaching high-intensity defenses that put a premium on takeaways.

Nolan also proved he had a knack of improving defenses quickly, helping turn around defenses in his first year with San Francisco and the Jets and helping the Giants post 12.8-points-allowed-per-game mark in 1993, his first year as defensive coordinator.

“It’s been proven again and again in this league that you can turn around programs very fast,” Nolan said in 2005 when hired by the 49ers. “It’s reasonable to think we can turn things around very quickly.”   

 

Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy

McCoy’s background is at the quarterback position.

He played quarterback under George Allen at Long Beach State and for two years at the University of Utah, where he says, “the most physically and emotionally draining game I’ve been involved in,” was the 1994 victory of Utah against Colorado State.

After a journeyman career in the NFL and Canadian league, including stops with the Denver Broncos (where he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1995) and the Amsterdam Admirals, McCoy joined the staff of the Carolina Panthers in 2000.

In 2001 he worked as wide receivers’ coach for the Panthers before moving back to quarterbacks’ coach in 2002.

McCoy tries to improve touch and accuracy by having his quarterbacks “drop their passes into a stack of tires, or sometimes a barrel.”   

Under McCoy, Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme has been sometimes criticized for throwing too many interceptions and lacking touch on his passes.    

 

20 Questions for Denver Broncos QB Kyle Orton

In the wake of numerous changes; including firings, releasings, and trades, the Denver Broncos are a new team from top to bottom in 2009.

From a coaching standpoint, long-timer Mike Shanahan was fired in favor of young gun Josh McDaniels. From a player standpoint, the defense has undergone an overhaul, while the offense’s best player, QB Jay Cutler, is long gone in a trade to Chicago.

The trade brought two first-round draft picks, and QB Kyle Orton, a veteran gun slinger who played through many changes himself in the Bear’s blue and orange.

Now, Orton is the likely starter for another team of orange and blue, the Broncos of the Mile High city.

Entering the ’09 season, many questionmarks surround Orton, the most pressing of which I will ask here in a mock feature interview I would have with the QB if I got the chance of the NFL correspondent job through CBSsports and bleacherreport.com respectively. 

 

1. What was it like to learn you had been traded away from Chicago, your original and only NFL team, to the Denver Broncos?

2. What is the most memorable play of your career?

3. How did the Bears’ 2007 Super Bowl appearance help you as a player? What did you learn from coach Lovie Smith?

4. What do you think of Denver as a sports city, and Invesco Field at Mile High?

5. How will Broncos’ Country and the sell-out crowds help you win games?

6. What did Josh McDaniels tell you to welcome you to Denver?

7. What did you think of Josh McDaniels before he was your head coach?

8. Coach McDaniels has said the starting quarterback position is, as of now, up in the air. What do you think of Chris Simms as a quarterback and will you be the Broncos’ starting QB when the season starts September 13th at Cincinatti?

9. How will Josh McDaniels’ offense help you become a better quarterback?

10. What are you most excited about being in a Broncos’ uniform?

11. What are your thoughts on the ’09 Broncos as a team?

12. What do you think about playing with the potential playmakers on this Broncos’ team? Between Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Knoshawn Moreno, you have many to choose from, who will be your favorite target?

13. Do you consider yourself a leader and if so, how will you lead this young, inexperienced team?

14. You have started 31 games and currently have a 21-10 record as a starter, how will you bring your winning ways to Denver?

15. 2008 was your best statistical performance with 2,972 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. How will you continue to improve, starting with the 2009 season, and advance the Broncos’ QB position from 2008?

16. You went 1-11 on passes over 30 yards, including three interceptions in 2008. With Josh McDaniels’ offense including deep passes, what will you do to improve this stat?

17. Inside the opponent’s red zone you are borderline prolific with 21 touchdowns compared to only two interceptions. How will you continue these great performances, and how can you translate that success to other parts of the field as well?

18. You started off games strong in 2008, having a 116 rating and six touchdowns compared to zero picks in the first quarter, but your rating steadily decreases throughout games. Will the Mile High altitude affect you as a player and how will you combat this tiredness from slowing you down?

19. You also play well in the final two minutes of halves, having a 102 rating and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. How good of a fourth-quarter QB are you, and can you win games in the clutch like Broncos’ great John Elway?

20. Finally, what record do you expect the Denver Broncos to finish with this year?

 

I believe this is a solid set of questions, from a fan or a sportswriter’s standpoint. Background knowledge on a player lets fans know what the man as a person stands for and is about.

Asking him about Denver and his new head coach allows the newly acquired player room to get into the Broncos fan’s good graces.

As jelling with key players is a concern, asking him about some seems like a good idea. Also, knowing if he considers himself a leader like Elway, or just another guy along for the ride like Griese, is important as well.

Lastly, going into Orton’s stats was a good way at pinning down what he excels/lacks at, so I would ask him some stat-specific questions.

Overall, I hope Orton can jell with McDaniels and Co. and he has been considered a solid locker room guy throughout his career.

Hopefully Orton can continue his success in his new orange and blue.

Who Will Start for the Broncos in 2009?? (Part One)

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With all of the surprising changes and moves that highlighted this year’s offseason reports, the Broncos’ training camps look to be quite exciting. 

There are a bunch of new names on Denver’s roster this year.  For some new players, training camp symbolizes the start of a new career. For others. it’s just another long day under the Colorado sun.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the current and possible starters for each position for the 2009 campaign.  Part one of this two part series, will focus on the offensive side of the team.

 

Quarterback

The leader of the pack.  The brains behind the brawn.  The “Big Cheese” as they would say in Green Bay.  The quarterback is the most important position in football.  No other player touches the ball as much as the quarterback and who ever has the ball, has the power. 

For the Denver Broncos, there are three new faces at quarterback; Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, and rookie Tom Brandstater. 

As of now Kyle Orton is the front runner to be this year’s starter.  Orton is a good game manager and positive locker room personality.  As long as he stays level headed and follows the coach’s plan, he should do just fine as the starter this year. 

Chris Simms is definitely a dark horse in this competition.  He has an NFL pedigree and played very well in his first years at Tampa Bay.  However, Simms suffered a season-ending injury in game three of the 2006 season, in the form of a ruptured spleen.  Simms hasn’t been the same since.  Could a change in scenery restart his career?

Tom Brandstater was a sixth round pick in this year’s draft.  He has a lot of upside and will look to compete for the second string spot in this year’s Bronco offense.  However, it’s more likely that he will become the third string quarterback and walk the sidelines with a clipboard this year. 

If he doesn’t show any potential, the Broncos will send him to the practice squad and give him another chance to show up next year.

 

Offensive Line

Offensive line has always been a source of constant production for the Broncos.  Their zone blocking scheme has become the scourge of the NFL, with many challengers and champions.  Regardless the perception is of this scheme, it works.  McDaniels looks to capitalize off of the success of the zone blocking scheme and infuse it into his own spread offense scheme. 

 

There won’t be any changes to the starting five of the offensive line for Denver this year.  The changes in the depth chart will likely be in the second and third string spots, which lay out the offensive line of the future.  Ben Hamilton and Casey Wiegmann are getting up there in years.  This leaves two future starting spots open in the next coming years. 

Most likely Wiegmann will retire next year, which would move Ben Hamilton to center and leave the left guard spot open for young players like: Corey Lichtensteiger, Seth Olsen, and Pat Murray.  Blake Schlueter will slide into the second string center spot and be groomed to start within a couple of years.

 

Tight End

The Broncos have three returning players in Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, and Jeb Putzier, and one rookie in Richard Quinn. 

Daniel Graham looks to start again on the strong side.   I see Richard Quinn as being a better fit at weak side tight end in two tight end sets for running downs.  Tony Scheffler would be the better choice at weak side tight end, or lining up in the slot, in passing downs. 

At this point I see this being a 2A/2B situation for Richard Quinn and Tony Scheffler.  Both provide a service for what the offense needs in certain game situations.  Unfortunately, I think that Jeb Putzier will be relegated strictly to special teams, or cut before the season starts.

 

Running Back/Fullback

The Broncos start this year’s mini camp with seven tailbacks on their roster.  They are as follows:  J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, Peyton Hillis, LaMont Jordan, Knowshon Moreno, Ryan Torain, and Darius Walker. 

The starting running back has to be Knowshon Moreno;  hands down.  If he isn’t the starter, Bronco Nation will HAVE to question McDaniel’s choice to pick Moreno at No. 12 in this year’s draft.  That being said, I think he’s good enough to win the starting spot easily and he should solidify the Broncos’ running attack. 

Correll Buckhalter should be the second string running back without any problems.  Lamont Jordan and Ryan Torain will battle to be used as the third string running back and in short yardage situations. 

J.J. Arrington and Darius Walker will challenge each other for the “speed back” position in this offense and be returners on special teams. 

Peyton Hillis is the obvious starter at fullback and should be considered the premier line pounder and short yardage back in the Broncos’ running attack. 

Depending on how McDaniels’ offense is setup, all of these players could make the squad, because they offer distinct abilities for certain game type situations. 

However, I also see the following players on the bubble if McDaniels feels he doesn’t need as many specialists in the back field:  Lamont Jordan, Ryan Torain, J.J. Arrington, and Darius Walker.  In my opinion, Ryan Torain has a mountain of upside and should make the squad this year and possibly challenge Correll Buckhalter for the second string spot next year.

 

Wide Receiver

The Broncos have a solid receiver squad returning this year in Brandon Marshal, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokley.  Hopefully, the league’s silence on Brandon Marshall’s possible suspension means he will be safe for this year.  If not, then Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson will have the chance to start along side Eddie Royal for a couple of games. 

Brandon Stokley is still a premier slot receiver in the NFL, but has been hampered with injuries as of late.  The slot receiver position is Stokley’s to lose at this point, but look for newly acquired rookie Kenny McKinley to put a lot of pressure on the veteran for the starting slot position.

With so many new faces at camp this year, the offensive competition looks to heat up at the tailback position.  McDaniels has enough talented personnel to put out the best team he can this year.  The Broncos offense should be exciting to watch this year.

 

Here are my current predictions for the 2009 Denver Broncos starting offense:

 

Quarter Back       Kyle Orton
Left Tackle           Ryan Clady
Left Guard            Ben Hamilton
Center                  Casey Wiegmann
Right Guard          Chris Kuper
Right Tackle          Ryan Harris
Tight End 1            Daniel Graham
Tight End 2            Richard Quinn
Running Back         Knowshon Moreno
Full Back               Peyton Hillis
Wide Receiver 1    Brandon Marshall
Wide Receiver 2    Eddie Royal
Slot Reciever         Brandon Stokley

 

2005 Denver Broncos: Snake Bitten

The Broncos lived by “The Snake” and died by “The Snake” during the 2005-06 season.

That snake was quarterback Jake Plummer.

When Plummer signed before the 2003 season as a free agent, many fans, including myself, were worried and confused. Plummer was always known as a guy who could make an amazing play but also be a complete bonehead the next one.

All Bronco fans remember the right-handed quarterback trying to throw with his left hand.

The Broncos made the playoffs in each of Plummer’s first two seasons. The results in the playoffs were not good as both resulted in blowouts at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.

2005, on the other hand, was a different year for Plummer (not just because of his new “Unabomber” look) and the Denver Broncos as a whole.

The Broncos rode into the 2005 season with not a lot of exceptions. The Chargers, as they have been for a while now, were the picked to win the division. The Chiefs and even the Raiders were also getting picked.

The Broncos were heading towards a 7-9 season many critics thought.

The team looked to be proving the critics right after getting beat in Miami 34-10. This team became a favorite for what happened the next 15 games.

Led by Plummer, a balanced running attack with Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, the savvy leadership of wide receiver Rod Smith, and a ball-hawking cornerback in Champ Bailey, the Broncos won 13 of the last 15 games.

The two losses were by a combined five points.

Plummer was a different player. He become controlled, smart, and a leader on the team. Coach Mike Shanahan seemed to have corralled “The Snake.”

“The Snake” completed almost 61 percent of his passes, threw 18 touchdowns, and only had seven interceptions.

The offense was good through the air and on the ground. Plummer threw for 3,366 yards, Anderson ran for 1,014, and Bell had 921.

The defense was pretty tough as well.

Bailey showed why he was worth trading away All-Pro running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins. He had eight interceptions and 60 tackles. The corner was all over the field and returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns.

The team had only 27 sacks but they pressured the quarterback. Safety John Lynch was one of three players with four sacks.

This great regular season resulted in a 13-3 record, the No. 2 seed in the AFC behind the Colts, a first-round bye, and a home playoff game.

But all that led to a divisional round matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, who had not lost a playoff game with Tom Brady as their quarterback.

That Saturday night in January, the Broncos put a one in the loss column of Tom Brady’s playoff record.

Plummer was controlled and efficient in the 27-13 win. He threw for 197 yards and a touchdown, but Plummer did not make the play of the game.

With the Broncos clinging to a 10-6 lead, Bailey picked off a pass in the end zone as the Patriots were looking for the go-ahead score. He returned it 100 yards to the Patriots one yard line.

Anderson scored on the next play to make it 17-6 and the Broncos never trailed in the victory.

The next day the Steelers stunned the No. 1 seed Colts in Indianapolis, setting up the AFC Championship between Pittsburgh and Denver at Invesco Field.

Bronco fans had an easy win and a trip to the Super Bowl on their mind.

But we were snake bitten.

Plummer fumbled once and threw two picks in a Steelers’ 34-17 win. The quarterback seemed to revert back to his old unreliable self.

Although Plummer took a lot of the blame, he was not the only one at fault. There was no running game and the defense could not get Ben Roesthlisberger off the field.

The Steelers controlled the whole game.

Plummer went on to play one more season with the Broncos but was replaced 11 games in by now departed rookie Jay Cutler.

That season was a complete roller-coaster ride. It did not end the way fans wanted it to but it was still one of the best Denver Broncos teams.

From their quarterback’s “Unabomber” beard to their star cornerback picking off passes effortlessly, this Bronco team should be remembered as a fan favorite.

Denver Strikes Gold Again: Recapping Three Lucky Calls in Denver Sports

After watching the Nuggets—Mavericks game yesterday, and seeing the call that shouldn’t have been, I had to do a write up.

This will be an article in chronological order of the three controversial calls that Denver sports fans have received in the last two and a half years.  Each covering the three “main” sports, except for hockey.

10/01/07, Colorado Rockies—If you live in Denver, you know the significance of this date. The first date in Rocktober for Rockies’ fans, and the first NL Wild Card Tiebreaker since 1999.

The Rockies, who at the time had won 13 of their last 14 games, would be up against the 2007 Cy Young winner Jake Peavy. On the mound for the Rockies was the “Dragon Slayer” Josh Fogg.  

How would Fogg earn such a nickname?  

When you beat the likes of Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Brandon Webb, Mike Mussina, and Roy Oswalt all in one year, that’s how you get such a nickname.  

The game, which was held in Denver by way of a coin toss, was the greatest game ever played at Coors Field, hands down. The Rockies would score three runs in the first and second innings, only to have the Padres explode in the third, with an Adrian Gonzalez grand slam.  

The Padres scored five runs in the third. The Rockies would go on scoring runs in every inning through the sixth, excluding the fourth inning.  

With the Rockies up 6-5 going into the eighth inning, Matt Holliday misjudged a linedrive to left, and with the ball soaring over his head, Brian Giles would drive in a run.

The game would go into the 13th inning.  

Thanks to a Scott Hairston two-run home run, the Padres were up by two, and Rockies’ fans were disheartened. With one of baseball’s best closers Trevor Hoffman on the mound for the Padres, the season looked to be over as the future Hall of Famer would look to end the Rockies’ season.

However, the Rockies didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to lose.  

Stringing off three consecutive extra base hits by Kaz Matsui, Troy Tulowitzki, and a triple by Matt Holliday, the Rockies had tied the game up. With no outs, the Padres intentionally walked slugger Todd Helton.  

It was up to Jamey Carroll.

Striking a line drive to right fielder Brian Giles, the Rockies’ Holliday looked to tag up. Hustling as fast as he could to home plate, there was a play at the plate which would decide the season for the Rockies. After hesitation, umpire Tim McClelland slowly ruled Holliday safe.  

The Rockies instantly gathered around Carroll as the game’s hero, but Holliday was on the ground, with a nasty road rash on his chin. Hoffman would earn his fifth loss of the season, and the Rockies would be playing more games in October.

However, this call didn’t come without controversy. Coming into home, did Holliday touch the plate?  

Sliding to the right of the plate, Holliday extended his left hand and appeared to swipe the plate. However, no cameras could clearly overturn the call, and still today it remains a mystery as to whether or not Holliday touched home plate or not. As a Rockies’ fan, I obviously believe McClelland made the right call, but to anyone who’s a Padres’ fan, it would be tough to base a decision around such disputable evidence that could go either way.

 

9/14/08, Denver Broncos—It’s time for the Broncos’ turn.

The infamous Ed Hochuli call.

Coming off a division win against the Oakland Raiders, the Chargers headed into Denver to play their week two game.  

Scoring 31 points in the first half, and 24 in the second quarter, the Broncos looked well into starting the season off 2-0. However, the Chargers would surge, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.

Down by seven points, the Broncos capped off an, at the time, 79 yard drive. With 1:17 left in the game, quarterback Jay Cutler looked to have fumbled the ball. Chargers linebacker Tim Dobbins recovered the fumble, and it looked as if the Bronco’s would lose the game.  

However, referee Ed Hochuli blew the whistle dead as the ball came out of Cutler’s grasp. Hochuli thought Cutler’s fumble was an incompletion. The game, which should’ve been over, due to San Diego’s recovered fumble, would still be in reach for the Broncos as they received their luckiest break of the season. After a third down draw play, Jay Cutler threw a strike to wide receiver Eddie Royal, to put the Broncos down by one on fourth down.

Not satisfied with the call either, Broncos’ coach Mike Shanahan went for a two-point conversion. He felt like if the Broncos were to get such a call, they should deserve the win by going for two, instead of taking it into a potential overtime.  

With the same call that the Broncos used to score the touchdown, Denver used that same play on the conversion. An exact replica, Eddie Royal caught the ball in the end zone, and the Broncos would take the game, 39-38. As you can imagine, San Diego Chargers’ head coach Norv Turner was unhappy.

“Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection – I failed miserably,” Ed Hochuli said.

Official Ed Hochuli admitted his wrong doing on the play, but couldn’t turn possession over to San Diego, since he blew the play dead. Hochuli received criticism from everyone around the league, and Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones was fined $25 thousand dollars for criticism given to Hochuli.

 

5/09/09, Denver Nuggets—This is the most recent of the calls. The Denver Nuggets were up 2-0 in their series against the Dallas Mavericks.

Game 3 was a tough, physical game where 61 fouls were called against both of the teams. There were more free throws made than field goals. There was an average of 1.5 free throws made per minute.

So, it was a non-call that would make this list.

Fast forward to five seconds left in the fourth quarter. Up by two, the Mavericks had a foul to give. They knew what was going to come if they didn’t foul, a three pointer. Carmelo Anthony, who was being guarded by Antoine Wright, received the inbound pass. Wright appeared to bump Anthony twice, but no foul was called. Anthony pulled up a three pointer, and sunk it with one second left in the game.  

Down by one the Mavericks had a desperation three by Dirk Nowitzki that fell short, and the Nuggets’ bench would storm the court as if they had won the NBA Championship.

The Mavericks, who fell to 0-7 against the Nuggets this season, were displeased. Owner Mark Cuban was instantly on the court, whining to the officials about how there should’ve been an intentional foul, which would’ve sent Anthony to the free throw line for two shots.

Dirk Nowitzki said it was one of the toughest losses he’s ever played in in his entire 11 year NBA career.

Antoine Wright made comments toward the officiating that would normally get him either fined, or suspended, but the NBA agreed with him.

Just two hours after the game ended, the NBA issued a statement that said that there should’ve been an intentional foul called on Wright on the second to last play of the game.

Jason Kidd was quoted saying, “The game didn’t come down to the last play, you’ve got to make plays down the stretch, and we just didn’t do that.”

The Nuggets, who have won two games on the road in the playoffs this year, had won just two games on the road in the playoffs in the last five years before this, a very encouraging stat. 

The ALMOST All Time Denver Broncos Offense

This series lauds players who aren’t, or maybe never will be, inducted into Canton.

QUARTERBACK : Frank Tripuka

The Broncos, other than John Elway, have had a revolving door at this position. Craig Morton deserves mention, but I’m picking the first QB in Broncos history.

Tripuka was drafted in the first round of the 1949 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, but was traded to the Detroit Lions before the season commenced. He started four games wth Detroit, and threw 9 touchdowns versus 14 interceptions. He also punted the ball 28 times that year.

Frank traded to the Chicago Cardinals in 1950. He played in 19 games, starting five, before being traded to the expansion Dallas Texans mid season in 1952.

He started the last six games for the Texans, and helped the 1-11 Texans win their only game by scoring on a one yard plunge late in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears.

Tripuka threw three touchdown passes that year, and was victimized for 17 interceptions, and also had four punts blocked on a career best 35 attempts. The Texans then folded after their one year in the NFL.

Tripuka found himself in the Canadian Football League in 1954. He joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and started for them until 1958. He was traded to the Ottawa Rough Riders, but was released into the 1959 year.

He rejoined Saskatchewan, but as an assistant coach because Saskatchewan could not put him on the roster. The CFL had a rule then where only twelve non-Canadians could play on each team.

Saskatchewan lost all of their quaterbacks with two more games on the schedule. The team decided to play Tripuka and forfeited the last two games because of this move.

The American Football League was formed in 1960, and the Broncos were one of the teams starting out under it. Tripuka was initially tabbed to be an assistant coach, but the quarterbacks the Broncos had in camp were not acceptable.

Frank was asked to suit up, and started for the Broncos the next three seasons. He led the AFL in 1960 with passing attempts, completions, yards gained passing per game, and passing yards.

He also led the AFL with a career high 34 interceptions thrown and had a career best 24 touchdowns thrown as well.

Tripuka led the AFL again in passing attempts, completions, yards gained passing per game, and passing yards in 1962. He was named to his only All Pro Team that year.

Tripuka saw mop up duty in two games during the 1964 season, then retired.

He is still ranked fifth overall in Broncos history on the passing chart, and his number was the first retired by the Broncos.

Some may know Frank is the father of former NBA All Star Kelly Tripuka too.

Frank Tripuka is a member of the Broncos Ring Of Fame, and helped the Broncos get its franchise off the ground.

HALFBACK : Terrell Davis

Floyd Littleis a future CCC profilee, so I’m going with Davis.

Though some are pushing for Terrell’s induction into Canton, I just do not see that happening.

Otis Armstrong definitely deserves mention as well.

Davis was a sixth round draft pick by the Broncos in the 1995 draft. He quickly won the starters job in his rookie year, and gained 1,117 yards at a 4.7 yards per carry average. He also caught a career high 49 passes, and scored 8 touchdowns total.

Davis gained 1,538 yards the next year, at and scored 15 touchdowns total. He was named to his first All Pro Team, and was named the AP Offensive Player Of The Year.

Terrell led the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns in 1997, and gained 1,750 yards. The Broncos would go on to win Super Bowl XXXII , as Davis was named the games MVP for gaining 157 yards on 30 carries. He also scored 3 of the Broncos 4 touchdowns, including the winning score in the 4th quarter.

1998 was the best season Davis had in the NFL. He set career highs with 2,008 yards, 21 rushing TD’s, a 5.1 yards per carry, and an average of 125.5 yards rushing per game. He led the NFL in those categories as well. He even found the end zone 2 more times on 25 receptions.

He was named to his 3rd straight, and last, All Pro Team. Davis was named Player Of The Year by the AP and the Pro Football Writers of America, as well as the AP Offensive Player Of The Year. The Broncos repeated as champions by winning Super Bowl XXXIII.

Davis was hurt early in 1999, and was never quite the same again. He carried the ball 145 times for 493 yards and 4 TD’s in 1999 and 2000 combined.

In 2001, Davis carried the ball 167 times for 701 yards, but failed the score for the first time in his career. He retired after that year.

For a few years, there was few better in the NFL at Running Back than Terrell. He was fast and strong, with sure hands. In fact, he only fumbled twice on a whopping 397 carries in 1998.

He is a member of the Broncos Ring Of Fame, and is one of the finest to ever have suited up in the Mile High.

FULLBACK: Jon Keyworth

This choice was made on longevity, because the Broncos have had many players at this position for brief times.

Cookie Gilchrist is the first All Pro in the team’s history at this position.

Armstrong was the second, when he played alongside Little in 1974.

Howard Griffith deserves mention too, due to his blocking abilities.

I chose Keyworth, an undervalued man in the teams history.

Keyworth was a sixth round draft choice of the Washington Redskins in the 1974 draft, but did not make the team.

The Broncos quickly picked up the former Colorado University star, and made Jon their short yardage specialist.

Though he ended up starting 5 games as a rookie as well, he ended up scoring a career high 10 touchdowns for Denver on 81 carries.

When starting Fullback Otis Armstrong went down early in 1975, Keyworth took over. He gained 725 yards on 182 carries, and had 42 receptions, all of which led the team.

These are his career highs for one season, and he also scored 4 times.

With Armstrong healthy in 1976 and now playing Halfback, Keyworth spent most of the rest of his time blocking for Denver.

In 1977, the Broncos played in Super Bowl XII.

Though Keyworth missed 3 games that year due to injury, his highlight was scoring a TD in the AFC Championship win over the defending champion Oakland Raiders.

Jon retired after the 1980 season with 699 carries for 2,653 yards and 22 rushing TD’s. He also caught 141 passes for 3 more scores, and even tossed his only pass for a 32 yard score in 1979.

Though guys like Little and Armstrong were considered the stars on the backfield in Keyworth’s time with Denver, he may be the best Fullback in Broncos history.

WIDE RECEIVER : Haven Moses

Lionel Taylor will be hopefully be inducted into Canton one day, so I’m picking Haven.

Moses was a first round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 1968 AFL Draft. He caught 42 balls for 633 yards and 2 scores in his rookie year. Haven then caught 39 balls in each of the two following years, and averaged 19 yards per catch to go with 7 scores.

He made the All Pro Team in 1969. 

Haven then snared 23 balls at a 20.4 yard average in 1971. He also scored twice. Haven only caught three balls for 60 yards and a touchdown for the Bills in the first five games of 1972.

He was then traded to the Broncos and caught 15 passes for 5 scores in eight games. One score was off a career long 76 yards pass, and he even scored another touchdown on a 22 yard run.

Haven caught 28 balls for 518 yards and had a career best 8 TD’s the following season. He was named to his last All Pro Team that year.

Moses then caught 34 balls for 2 TD’s the next year, and 29 passes and 2 scores in 1975. He had 7 touchdowns on 25 catches the following year.

The Broncos reached Super Bowl XII in 1977, and Haven was a big part of the reason. He averaged 20 yards on 27 receptions, to go with 4 TD’s. Haven averaged 20 yards on 37 receptions the next year, and scored 5 times. 

The 1979 season was his best, as Haven set career highs with 54 receptions for 943 yards. He also scored 6 times. Haven snagged 38 passes and 4 scores in 1980.

Moses started just 6 games in 1982, and had 15 catches and his last touchdown. He retired after that season with 448 receptions for 8,091 yards and 56 touchdowns.

His career average of 18.1 yards per catch is very impressive in any era.

Haven Moses is in the Broncos Ring Of Honor, and is certainly one of the best Wide Receivers in the franchises history.

WIDE RECEIVER : Rod Smith

Rod was a free agent rookie signed by the Broncos before the 1995 season. He did start one game and had 6 catches for 154 yards and a score. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 54 yards.

Rod started one game again the next season, and had 16 catches for 237 yards and two TD’s. He also had a career high 23 punt returns for 283 yards, and a 29 yard kickoff return.

Rod really broke out in 1997, when he had 70 receptions for 1,180 yards and a career best 12 touchdowns, which helped the Broncos go on to win Super Bowl XXXII.

Smith then had 86 receptions for 1,222 yards and 6 scores the following year, as the Broncos repeated as NFL Champions. He also threw a 14 yard pass completion.

He had 79 catches for 1,020 yards and four scores the next season.

Rod earned his first Pro Bowl honor, when he had 100 receptions for a career best 1,602 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2000. He also rushed 6 times for 99 yards, including a 50 yard touchdown run.

The 2001 season was where Rod set a franchise record of 113 catches, which led the NFL. He had 1,343 yards and 11 scores as well, and made his second All Pro Team.

He had 89 catches for 1,027 yards and 5 TD’s the next year. 2003 was the first time Rod did not gain 1,000 yards receiving since 1996. He had 74 catches for 845 yards and three TD’s. He also tossed a 72 yard pass that year, and returned a punt for a score on six attempts.

In 2004, he had 79 balls for 1,144 yards and 7 scores, to go with 22 punt returns for 223 yards.

Rod made his final All Pro Team in 2005, when he had 85 catches for 1,105 yards and 6 scores.

Rod was hurt in 2006, but managed 52 receptions for 512 yards and 3 scores. He tried to come back healthy, but ultimately decided to retire with team records of 849 receptions for 11,389 yards and 68 touchdowns. He also had 53 punt returns for 647 yards and a score.

Though Rod made get some consideration for Canton, his only having played 3 All Pro games will work against his cause.

Still, he most definitely will be put in the Broncos Ring Of Honor soon, and is one of the best Wide Receivers the Broncos have ever had.

Al Denson and Steve Watson are just a few other excellent Broncos WR’s that deserve mention.

TIGHT END : Riley Odoms

Riley was the Broncos first round draft pick in 1972. He was put to use immediately. Riley caught 21 balls for 320 yards and a touchdown.

Denver also liked to hand the ball off to Odoms, and he carried the ball five times for 72 yards.

Odoms snagged 43 balls for 629 yards and a career high 7 TD’s on 1973. He also carried the ball five times for 53 yards, and was named to his first All Pro Team.

Odoms followed that up in 1974 with another All Pro season. He caught 42 passes for 639 yards and 6 scores. He also carried the ball four times for 25 yards.

Riley had 40 catches for 544 yards and 3 touchdowns in 1975. He also had five rushing attempts for 27 yards, and was named to his 3rd All Pro Team.

Riley caught 67 passes for 908 yards and 6 TD’s over the next two years. He also ran 3 times for 36 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Broncos would go to Super Bowl XII in 1977.

Riley had the best season of his career in 1978. He set career highs with 54 receptions for 829 yards. He also scored six times, and was named to his final All Pro Team.

From 1979 to 1981, Odoms had 117 receptions for 1,744 yards and 12 scores.

Riley was known as a ferocious blocker, and began to help the Broncos offensive line in 1982, seeing time as a Tackle. He only caught eight balls that year.

The 1983 season would be his last in the NFL, and he caught four passes in the two games he played.

Riley retired with 396 receptions for 5,755 yards and 41 touchdowns receiving. He also carried the ball 25 times for 211 yards and 2 more scores.

Odoms was an excellent blocker, and a threat downfield with an average of 14.5 yards per reception in his career. He was consistent and dependable.

How many TE’s can you think of that had 25 rushing attempts?

For some reason, he has yet to be put in the Broncos Ring Of Honor, but Riley Odoms is the most complete Tight End in Broncos history.

TACKLE : Eldon Danenhauer

Eldon joined the expansion Broncos in 1960 as a 25 year old free agent rookie. He started right away at Right Tackle, and would do so until he retired after the 1965 season.

He even got to play four games with his older brother Bill in his rookie year.

Though the Broncos were not an AFL powerhouse, they did have a fairly prolific offense during Eldon’s tenure.

In 1962, he was named to his first All Pro Team, and even got to return the only kickoff of his career for 11 yards.

Eldon made his final All Pro Team in 1965, then retired.

Though the Broncos have had many fine blockers in their history, Danenhauer’s two Pro Bowls rank second behind Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman’s three in Broncos history.

Though he may get lost in the shuffle by some due to the teams lack of success, Eldon Danenhauer is certainly one of the best offensive tackles in Broncos history.

TACKLE : Mike Current

Mike was drafted by the Broncos in the 3rd round of the 1967 AFL Draft. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins for one game, then was then traded back to the Broncos and played three games for them.

Mike was named a starter before the 1968 season, and would remain firmly entrenched as one for the rest of his career.

In 1969, Current was named to his only All Pro Team.

After playing just seven games in 1975 due to injury, the Broncos left Mike exposed to the veterans allocation expansion draft for the fledgling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He played just one year for Tampa Bay in 1976, a year most noted for the team going winless.

Current then rejoined the Dolphins in 1977, and started for them until he retired after the 1979 season.

The Broncos got lucky that the Dolphins traded Mike back to them in his rookie year. He was a dependable stalwart on a line that opened holes for Floyd Little and Otis Armstrong.

Though Claudie Minor and Matt Lepsis surely deserve mention as well, Mike Current is certainly one of the best blockers in Broncos history.

GUARD : Keith Bishop

Keith was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1980 draft. He spent his first two seasons as a reserve, before earning a starting job in 1983.

Bishop made the Pro Bowl twice in his career in 1986 and 1987.

He retired after 1989 to become a DEA agent in Washington D.C.

Noted for his toughness and extraordinary trap blocking skills, Keith Bishop is one of the finest Guards to have ever played for the Denver Broncos.

GUARD : Jerry Sturm

Jerry was signed as a free agent rookie by the Broncos in 1961. His rookie season saw him carry the ball 8 times for 31 yards, and catch a pass.

He played as an offensive tackle the next year, and moved to center the next two years.

Jerry made his first AFL All Star Team in 1962 at this position. He was then moved to guard the next year for the remainder of his time with the Broncos.

He made his final All Star Team in 1966.

Jerry went on to the New Orleans Saints the next year, and played tackle for them for 2 seasons until being moved to center in 1969.

He was then playing for the Houston Oilers as a center in 1971, and joined the Pittsburgh Steelers the next year, suiting up for one game. He retired after that year.

Though Jerry Sturm was a versatile lineman who played all positions, he is certainly one of the better blockers in Denver Broncos history.

George Goeddeke and Mark Schlereth deserve mention as well.

CENTER : Tom Nalen

Tom was a seventh round pick of the Broncos in 1994. He spent his first year as a reserve and suited up for seven games, though he did start one.

He was named a starter the next year, and would start every game he played in for the Broncos until he retired in 2007.

He made his first All Pro Team in 1997, and even made his only pass reception that year.

He continued to be an All Pro until 2000. He was a key member of the excellent offensive line that helped lead the Broncos to back to back championships in 1997 and 1998.

Nalen got hurt in 2002, and started just seven games.

He returned strong the next year, and made his final All Pro Team.

Tom suffered another injury in 2007, and played just five games. He tried to rehabilitate the injury, but then decided to retire.

Tom Nalen will most likely find his way into the Broncos Ring Of Honor soon, because he is probably the greatest Center in Broncos history.

KICKER : Jason Elam

There are other Broncos kickers who deserve mention.

Gene Mingo was a two time AFL All Pro who led the league in scoring twice, and is the first black place kicker in pro football history. He also returned the first punt for a touchdown in AFL history, and holds the franchise record for the longest rushing touchdown of 82 yards.

Jim Turner was a long time kicker who is in the Broncos Ring Of Honor.

David Treadaway had a Pro Bowl season for Denver as well.

Still, Elam has to be considered the best in Denver Broncos history. Elam is mostly known for tying the NFL record of a 63 year yard field goal by casual fans, but he meant more to the team than that.

No player in NFL history has scored more points for one team than Elam has with the Denver Broncos. Elam was drafted in the third round of the 1993 draft by the Broncos.

He has NFL records for most consecutive extra points made, best extra point conversion percentage, most consecutive seasons with at least 100 points, most seasons with at least 100 points, fastest to 300 successful field goals, fastest to 1,600 points and fastest to 1,700 points.

Elam was the first player in NFL history to score at least 200 points against three or more teams as well.

He may actually get into Canton one day, but we have seen several great kickers and punters get neglected before him.

Players like Ray Guy, and many more, await their call. I have long stated the under appreciation of specialists by some voters.

Jason Elam deserves the call, and is easily the best Kicker in Broncos history. You can factor in his two Super Bowl rings with Denver as well.

He still is going strong as a member of the Atlanta Falcons currently.

RETURN SPECIALIST : Rick Upchurch

Rick was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 1975 draft. He was used as a return specialist immediately.

He had 1,084 yards on 40 kickoff returns for an impressive 27.1 average. He also had an 11.6 yard per punt return average on 27 attempts.

Upchurch exploded onto the NFL scene the next year, and was named to his first All Pro team. He scored 4 times on punt returns that season, which tied an NFL record.

He also led the league with a 13.7 average, and a career best 92 yard return. Rick led the NFL in 1977 with 653 punt return yards.

He also scored on a 87 yard return, helping the Broncos capture the AFC Championship.

Upchurch, now primarily a punt returner and wide receiver, went back to the Pro Bowl in 1977. He led the NFL with a 13.7 punt return average, while scoring on a 75 yard return.

1979 was Rick’s best year as a pass catcher. He had career bests with 64 receptions for 937 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also averaged 10.1 yards on punt returns, as he was honored as an All Pro.

Upchurch spent his last few years as a wide receiver mainly.

In 1982, Rick returned 15 punts and scored the last 2 touchdowns of his career via special teams. He also led the NFL with a career best 16.1 yards per return.

His leading the NFL in punt return average three times is tied for an NFL record.

Rick Upchurch retired after the 1983 season with 267 receptions and 24 touchdowns.

He also rushed for 349 yards on 49 attempts, and scored three times.

Rick had a 24.8 average on 95 kick returns, and a 12.1 average on 248 punt returns.

His 8 punt return touchdowns are tied for the third most in NFL history.

 

 

The Broncos Are Banking on Mile-High Value for Incoming Veterans

Amidst the signing of multiple running backs, the trading away of Jay Cutler, and more offensive help than defensive in the 2009 draft, some of the Broncos signings have much more value than talent alone.

December 29, 2008.  The Broncos gear up for the regular season finale with rival San Diego Chargers, with everything on the line.  Winner gets a trip to the playoffs, loser goes home. 

Depleted by injuries, The Broncos have little to no depth at certain positions, and many backups starting.  A once promising and passionate Denver Broncos team in September, had no drive, determination, and real desire to keep playing football.  So called leader, Jay Cutler, showed no emotion, and Mike Shannahan’s offense went from playing organized efficient football to less organized than backyard football 

The end result, longtime coach Mike Shannahan fired, and Josh McDaniels is hired to rebuild the Denver Broncos project. 

Many questioned Pat Bowlen’s move to hire an offensive guy, with the so-called second best offense.  However, the Broncos are not the second ranked offense, yards do not win games, The Broncos were 16th in points, and that is simply average.  McDaniels led the highest scoring offense with the best red zone efficiency in the NFL. 

He also knows what players are required to win games at a high level.

Many Broncos fans were excited for the 2009 free agency, hoping to land defensive lineman like Chris Canty, Albert Haynesworth, or Igor Olshansky.  All three, young and very talented, however all have questionable motors, and character flaws. 

Most people don’t see that, most broncos fans see only disappointment when guys like Andra Davis, and “washed up” Brian Dawkins comes to Denver.  Both are team captains, love football, and are great mentors to young kids.  Both have desires to win, and fill in any role McDaniels assigns them. 

“Any time you’ve got a leader like him(Davis) on the team, that’s always good for the defense,” Woodyard said.

This was said after the two spent hours studying film, working hard, and discussing how to become better football players.  And go ahead, you can ask any Philly fan their opinion on Brian Dawkins, I bet not one questions his ability, and drive to help people and win football games. 

Renaldo Hill and Andre Goodman, both starters in the secondary for Miami last year, bring high praise from former teammates, and high IQ football, which Josh McDaniels searches long and hard for in a football player.  Correll Buckhalter should also have an immediate impact off the field in Denver, mentoring a future all star in Knowshown Moreno.

So when you’re watching Wesley Woodyard make a great tackle, or Knowshown make a great cutback with his vision, or even Darcel McBath have a pick six,  don’t question why we needed to sign those guys if we have these up and coming studs.  These veterans will aid in the molding of these young kids into men, and real football players, who bring heart and tenacity to a team meeting on Tuesday and the game on Sunday.

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