Travis Shelton: The Next Great Kick Returner?

Born in Florida, Travis Shelton was born fast. He is the cousin of the infamous Devin Hester, who holds several NFL records for kick returning.

He is also the cousin of Broncos linebacker, Andra Davis. Being an NFL player is in his blood.

At high school in South Florida, he was both a football player and a track runner. He placed in the top ten in almost every running category for the state.

He also returned four kicks/punts back for touchdowns in his great high school career.

His 40 speed is 4.27, an amazing time for any position. 

After Travis’ high school career, he decided to enroll at Temple as his college choice. In his freshman year, he scored one touchdown, and ran in the 100m for Temple.

He was redshirted his sophomore year.

As a third-year sophomore, he set the record for longest kick return in the Owls’ modern era. He also had 311 all purpose yards vs. Northern Illinois.

He finished the year with 778 return yards and a touchdown; he was breaking out.

In 2007, his junior year, he did not have a touchdown despite his great return numbers. He also tied his career high in receptions that year, but again, did not have a touchdown.

His senior year was arguably his best. He led the NCAA in average yards per kick return, and again, tied his career reception record, 20.

Finished his career at Temple with the most career return yards in school history.

Travis was undrafted, but signed by the Broncos. After minicamp, the Broncos dropped him, only to pick him up again.

In the Broncos’ first preseason game, Shelton did not play, but was suited, as I saw No. 13 on the sidelines. He hopes to play in a couple of preseason games so he can show off his speed. 

In fact, he is so fast that he even beats his cousin, Hester, at the annual family picnic. They race in the 100m, and more often than not, Travis Shelton takes all the marbles.

So, the question for everyone is: Will Travis Shelton get a chance to show off his speed as a returner in Denver?

The Broncos have a great returner already, in Eddie Royal, so what will happen to Travis?

First of all, Travis Shelton is a class act. He is one of the nicest NFL players I have known. He’s not like so many other athletes who just blow you off.

I believe that he will get his shot, and show everyone that he is one of the fastest guys around, and can return kicks. Even if it’s not with the Broncos, who knows, he may help someone with his all-purpose ability.

He did not play in the Broncos first preseason game against the 49ers, but we are hopeful he will get his chance.

In the second preseason game, he got in on five plays. He did not get the ball, but he did go in motion once (ooooo).

If you don’t believe me, believe this video.

He is number 22 on Temple in the highlight video, if you didn’t see him because he was moving so fast. 😉

As of Monday, August 24, Travis has been cut by the Broncos in order to make room for another cornerback. 

Broncos-Seahawks Preview: Keys For Denver in Seattle

Tonight, the Denver Broncos will travel to Seattle to face off against the Seahawks, and this may be the most critical preseason game in Denver history (until Jay Cutler comes to town next week).

Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton are under heavy scrutiny. No matter what they say or do, their time in Denver will be remembered by what they do together with the Broncos. 

Orton had a terrible first game with the Broncos. His three interceptions in the first half definitely did not set Denver fans at ease from the Cutler trade, even though it was only the first preseason game.

Will McDaniels back off on the passing to take pressure off of Orton?

My guess would be not at all. I fully expect the Broncos to come out firing tonight, especially with the absence of Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter due to injury.

Here are some keys for the Broncos in tonight’s game.

1. Orton and the Offense must put points on the board—Last week, the first team offense was able to effectively move the ball down the field a couple of times, but three straight drives were ended by interceptions. This type of performance is certainly not expected, but is also not too far fetched given the fact Denver’s players all had to learn a brand new offense. The rust was expected, and the Broncos certainly looked rusty. It is imperative that Orton’s unit scores a touchdown, not just puts points on the board.
2. Peyton Hillis—With Moreno and Buckhalter out of the game with injuries, it is expected that third string back Peyton Hillis will resume much of the running duties. Hillis was solid in the first preseason game, and he could have a big game tonight.
3. Pass Rush—The Broncos’ defense was able to get four sacks last week against the 49ers. They need a repeat performance tonight to prove that this unit is for real. This is also a critical game potentially for Jarvis Moss, who is on the fringe of making the team.

This is an important game for the Broncos. I will not classify it as a “must win,” but it is certainly crucial for the first team offense to play well. Not to avoid scrutiny, but to show that progress has been made. 

Take Your Pick: Brandon Marshall or Eddie Royal

Broncomaniacs are at each other’s throats about what Denver should do with disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Should Denver try to trade him? It’s unlikely they would get a first and third (what Dallas essentially sent to Detroit for Roy E. Williams last year; Dallas also gave up a sixth and got back a seventh). Marshall’s history of legal troubles, his recent hip surgery, and his request for a huge payday likely reduced his trade value. Then again, some think Denver might be smart to get whatever they can right now for Marshall, if for no reason other than to end the distractions and jettison the only remaining vocal “me-first” guy on the roster.

Everyone agrees that the Broncos hold all the cards, and it would certainly be in Marshall’s best interest to shut up, learn the playbook, and show everyone around the NFL why he deserves a contract similar to the one Roddy White just signed, which is for six years and $50 million, with $18.6 million guaranteed. That is a lot of dough, though, and as an organization you better be very confident in the individual you sign to that kind of deal. They’re the kind of deals that, if they don’t pan out,  severely handicap teams for several years afterward.

I don’t think the Broncos brass has it in their plans to give Marshall that kind of cash, and a big reason why is Eddie Royal. Marshall hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a trustworthy person. And with the NFL salary cap there is only so much money to spread around on any particular team. Eddie Royal, by contrast, has demonstrated nothing but class and professionalism, and he’s arguably a better football player to boot. If you have to choose one of them to sign to a long-term, big-money deal and send the other one packing, who would you pick?

Royal signed a four-year deal as a rookie. We all know the kind of numbers he put up his rookie year. He’s fast (4.39 forty), elusive (did you see that 90-degree cut at full speed on the screen pass in the San Francisco preseason game?), and strong (he led all WR in his draft class for bench press reps, despite his somewhat small(ish) size).

Champ Bailey was recently asked if Royal reminds him of Wes Welker. Bailey replied that Royal reminds him more of Steve Smith. Steve Smith of the Panthers, not the Steve Smith of the Giants. The former is the second highest paid WR in the league, and we all know what he’s capable of after the whooping he put on the Broncos last year.

Royal appears to be a centerpiece of McDaniels’ offensive plans this year. I think he’s going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. If he has a huge year this year, the Broncos will want to re-sign him sometime during or right after the 2010 season.

They likely wouldn’t have the cash to do so if they give Marshall a multi-year, big-money contract right now.

To me it’s a no-brainer for the Broncos management: you go with Royal. I think they’re thinking like Champ and believe Royal can be a Steve Smith type of player, while Brandon Marshall could end up being a giant waste of talent.

If you had to pick one, who would you take?

The Slot Machine: Eddie Casino Royal

While Brandon Marshall whines about a contract extension even though he is an injured criminal, the Broncos’ Eddie Royal, No. 19 is slowly creeping into the number one receiver spot in the Mile High City.

Royal, the second year player out of Virginia Tech is a special player, combining a 4.39 forty time, 24 reps on the bench press, and a 36 inch vertical.  He has excellent hands, is a crisp route runner and makes excellent decisions.

In his rookie debut against the Raiders last season, Royal caught nine balls for 146 yards and a touchdown. This won him rookie of the week honors, however I was most impressed by his decision making.

During the game, Royal ran an end around which turned out to be a trick pass play.  He was under heavy pressure and instead of throwing into coverage or taking a sack, the rookie threw the ball out of bounds…and he is a receiver! Some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL can’t make the right decision in that situation, but a rookie receiver did.

Now good decisions will only get you so far.  He is also an explosive player.  In his rookie year he caught 91 passes (second all-time for a rookie) for 980 yards and five scores.  His numbers would show that he narrowly missed the Pro Bowl considering he was seventh in the league in receptions and sixth in total yards.

Despite great rookie numbers, Royal is one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL, partly due to Brandon Marshall, partly because he is more of a slot-man than a wide-out. Fantasy owners, look for Royal as a solid second receiver in your draft.

In Denver’s first preseason game this year against the 49ers, Royal looked good catching four balls for 46 yards and was wide open in the in-zone but Orton threw a horrible ball which was picked off.  Royal was taken out soon there after, but in the time he played, he looked as polished as ever.

Look for Royal to have another great season this year, regardless of who is under center.  Who knows, if Marshall can’t/won’t play this season, Royals’ numbers may explode.  Thank you for reading, and come draft day, don’t forget about this diamond in the rough.

Broncos’ Film Study: Offense Spreads and Self-Destructs in San Fran

Against the San Francisco 49’ers in last Friday’s preseason opener, the Broncos started four wide receivers and came out, lining up in the shotgun formation for their first possession.  The New England offense has now officially arrived in Denver. 

First Series

The Broncos abruptly hit Eddie Royal in the slot for a seven-yard hitch, and then Correll Buckhalter ran for the Broncos’ first down.  A short hook up with Brandon Stokley and two more short runs from Buckhalter, and the Broncos had another first down.

Following a penalty, Kyle Orton hooked up on an outside hitch with Lamont Jordan.  Herein lies some of the genius of the New England attack implemented in Denver.  Jordan being in the game forces a linebacker to remain in the game; this forced Takeo Spikes to lineup outside like a cornerback playing off the receiver, and forcing a cushion of space to exist for Jordan to run a hook route and run for the first down. 

The goal is all about creating mismatches on the field through creative play calling. On the field, the players create and find the mismatches they want given the play and situation. The offensive advantage here is two-fold: One, the players beat the players across the line of scrimmage.  Two, the offense cracks the defensive scheme they are running against. 

What this does is force a myriad of zone defenses in an effort to minimize the damage being done by the offense. Meanwhile, the offense continues to move the ball down the field. Barring turnovers, it’s the perfect offensive philosophy to have on every play.

Regardless of what the defense does, they are wrong.

The very next play the Broncos stay in step. The play is originally called as a double tight end set on the left with two receivers to the right.  Eddie Royal is in the slot as Orton signals for Tony Scheffler to go in motion (waggle) to the other side of the line. As Scheffler reaches the end of the line, Orton calls the signal and the ball is snapped.

The tight end Scheffler now runs a quick out route forcing a change up in the coverage, which frees up Eddie Royal to gash the defense for a larger piece of real estate down the field. Royal being in the slot with all of his speed is in the middle of the pass coverage now as he runs a deep option hitch in space for about a 13-yard gain and a first down.

The first real error from quarterback Kyle Orton follows when the Broncos line up with split backs and one receiver wide on each side.  San Francisco, by this point, is catching onto the Broncos, and starts to force Orton to make the right read.

The 49’ers line up in a base 4-3 but quickly morph out of it at the snap of the ball on the right side to take away the short flat with three defenders covering one receiver as the ball is knocked down by Takeo Spikes 

The problem here is on the left side, though he was a little slow in getting open, Lamont Jordan is able to creep out of the backfield into open space on an out route.  Kyle Orton chose to force the ball instead of checking down due to the coverage.

The next play Orton hits Chad Jackson for a nine-yard gain on an out route.  On 3rd-and-1, Orton finds Eddie Royal on a seven-yard hitch that he turns up field to the four-yard line for a 1st-and-goal.

Lamont Jordan then takes the ball down to the three-yard line on a middle run.

On 2nd-and-goal from the three, the straw that broke the Broncos’ back.  The 49’ers correctly anticipate another short throw to the right side of the field.  The Broncos have two receivers on that side pre-snap with TE Daniel Graham and Eddie Royal on the outside.  At the snap, Royal starts back towards the line in motion as the snap occurs.  Peyton Hills slips out to the flat from the fullback position and Dan Graham is running a TE option in space in the middle of the end zone. 

Kyle Orton gets locked on Dan Graham, but fails to see the cornerback drifting over.  This is an error that really falls on both Orton and Dan Graham.  As the tight end runs the option route, he has to recognize the outside presence enough to stay tighter to the middle of the field, away from coverage.  Orton, however, leads Graham, and that is the fatal error as the interception is thrown.  Orton needs to be smart and throw the ball to the opposite shoulder, away from coverage to give his tight end a chance at the ball.

All three receivers are open briefly, Orton could have made a better throw to give Graham a chance and not throw the interception.

The net result is a minus seven points off the scoreboard and a turnover to the 49’ers.

Second Series

The Broncos decided to initially setup the left side as the strong side with one receiver wide.  Peyton Hillis came from the power position left to catch a play-fake pass as he ran across the line of scrimmage. The result was a 14-yard gain down the right side for a first down near midfield.

Orton misses the connection with Brandon Stokley, who lined up in the slot, then ran a three-yard out.  Stokley dropped the ball that was slightly behind him.

Then Broncos’ Country got the first glimpses of Knowshon Moreno.

The Broncos lined up with three receivers, sending the tight end Graham in motion into the power position as Orton handed the ball to Moreno out of the gun.   The play worked for a gain of eight as he cut up the middle of the defense.

The Broncos had a two-tight end set, then Moreno slashed again over the right side for a gain of five and a first down.  This may have been the play where Moreno was injured, as he got up limping.

The next play was similar to Moreno’s first with two receivers on the left, Dan Graham in motion from the left to right.  Knowshon gained four while churning his legs against a stiff defensive surge.

On the next play, Orton tried to force the ball into Brandon Stokley on a middle cross route as it was knocked down with a strip by the DB.

The very next play Orton was intercepted by Dre Bly, as he was on Stokley in man coverage.  Another forced ball by Kyle Orton.

The net result is yet another turnover after moving the ball well on offense.

Third Series

With 7:12 remaining in the first half, the score was still only 3-0 in favor of the 49’ers as the Broncos started from their own 10, the Broncos started on offense.

Lamont Jordan bashed on first and second down to put the Broncos into a 3rd-and-4 situation.  A penalty made it 3rd-and-9.

Out of trips left, the middle receiver waggles to a stack behind the nearest receiver.  Orton again tries to force the ball, this time into middle zone coverage; his eyes gave him away from the snap of the ball.

San Francisco now has a short field to work with to put the first touchdown on the board.

The net result is interception number three that sets up the first touchdown of the game, and a 9-0 San Francisco lead, after the failed PAT.

Chris Simms Showed Promise

In the second half, Chris Simms threw two touchdown passes and set up a field goal.  The first TD was a short out route to Jeb Putzier, after a long drive fueled primarily by the ground game. 

Simms later hit Brandon Lloyd on a flag route to setup a field goal.

Late in the game Chris Simms connected on a third down 52-yard bomb with Kenny McKinley the rookie sensation out of South Carolina.  This made the score 16-17 in favor of San Francisco.  The Broncos decided to go for two, since it’s preseason, and Simms threw a pick in the back of the end zone.

The Conclusion of the Matter

The Broncos’ offense can move the ball, that’s both first and second-teamers. The unsung heroes (again) were the offensive line.  Pass protection was not an issue.  Running the ball well was not an issue.  Passing the ball became an issue only due to the four interceptions on the night. 

Kyle Orton showed he can be a good game manager; however, he threw three forced interception balls as well.  Chris Simms showed a great deal of promise with a valiant effort to put the Broncos back in the game.  He could have synched a quarterback controversy with a completed two-pointer instead of the interception.

Overall grade on the night:  F = Four Costly Turnovers

Top 10 Greatest Denver Broncos of All Time

Once a great franchise, now a wasteland for disgruntled players and knucklehead coaches. Perhaps it is the lack of oxygen in the Mile High City that is causing the Broncos to self destruct.

With Cutler traded, Marshall hurt/jailed/whatever and Shanahan, a Hall of Fame coach fired I think Denver fans need to reflect on a better time… A time of joy and laughter and umm… wins.

I feel like most of the Broncos of this list come from the same era… that 90’s run that Denver had. I wish I could have sprinkled in a few more oldies, however most of the Broncos best players played for the team in the 90’s.

So, let us take a look back at the top 10 Broncos of all time and try to find strength in the fact that we, at least used to be good.

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Brandon Marshall Loses Trust in Team: Anyone Else Tired of Broncos Sagas?

Just in from the AP, Brandon Marshall has reportedly lost trust with the Denver Broncos, apparently because of how the front office has handled his new acquittal from domestic abuse charges.

Someone in the public relations department told Marshall’s Broncos teammates not to gloat over the acquittal, but instead to say that they are “happy to have it all behind them so the team can move on”—something that has obviously upset the young disgruntled receiver.

Brandon “Baby TO” Marshall is saying in turn, that he believes this move to hush teammates has come from higher up in the organization, and has “fostered distrust between him and the team.”

Does this sound familiar?

Who does this Marshall think he is, Jay Cutler?

As day after day of this saga continues, it bears more and more resemblance to what Cutler did, as a way to leverage his way out of Denver.

Cutler demanded a trade, before Josh McDaniels was hired and Jeremy Bates was fired, then backed down. Then he demanded another trade, lost communication with the team, and continued a long, drawn out media circus that has national media members looking at the Broncos with black and silver tinted glasses.

And here we go again, or have gone again I suppose. As we pass a month of day-in, day-out coverage of everything Marshall, there is nothing to report, besides how he feels mentally from day-to-day.

Marshall now “distrusts” the team, just as Cutler said he did, but “Baby TO’s” distrust is unfounded, illogical, and yet another scheme he’s trying to use to vacate the mile high city.

First he demanded a trade, which was turned down by the Broncos, because “he doesn’t feel comfortable with the medical staff.” Then, after not showing for voluntary workouts, Marshall did show when it was mandatory, only to “injure” his hamstring. I say “injure” because I believe he was faking the injury as a way to legally sit out of practice without hurting his image more.

Now, when someone in the FO tells teammates not to gloat about his acquittal, Marshall loses trust with Denver? Why?

Think about it Brandon, you have been in trouble over a dozen times since 2006, and if you were found guilty you would have lost playing time this year. So, it’s a good move from the franchise’s standpoint to not have lots of their players joking around about a serious situation in domestic abuse.

But that’s the problem with “Baby TO,” he won’t, at this point I’d even venture can’t think about anyone else but himself. He is completely selfish, and it shows again here.

He doesn’t care about the women he’s beaten, doesn’t care what the Broncos want because he wants to be traded, and he doesn’t care if he’s a liability as a player and citizen with all these arrests, Marshall just wants to get paid.

Well, guess what Brandon? You don’t get to get paid. You don’t get to leave Denver, unless this deal the Jets are proposing is tempting enough. You don’t get to gloat after physically and verbally assaulting women.

Are these notions really that hard to understand?

All this makes me think of something I learned in Rhetoric and Civility, a college class I took; Brandon Marshall needs to read Civility, by Stephen L. Carter.

Carter says, “To be civil in our society is to imagine we are a passenger on a train, not in our own car.” When we’re on a train, we must stand for others, move, and squeeze in for them, and we must be let off at stops, which may not be exactly where we want to go.

So, my advice to Brandon Marshall is this: Either get on the train, or the Broncos will send you packing on a plane. By the way, did you see where Cutler is now? Denver did that on purpose, and they could find a team without a QB relatively easily.

Brandon Marshall Drawing Interest from Jets: Can They Pry Broncos Receiver Away?

Disgruntled Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall has made it known that he wants out of town. With his off-field issues and injury history, is any team willing to take “Baby T.O.” for a one-year test run for a king’s ransom?

This morning, news broke out of New York that the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets were “exploring the wide receiver market” and that Marshall is the biggest name they are targeting.

The Broncos have made it clear that they are not interested in trading away their Pro Bowl receiver and appear ready to make him play out the final year of his rookie contract.

Marshall has demanded a trade from the Broncos because he is not even in the top 50 of highest paid wide receivers, and his roughly $2.2 million haul in 2009 is apparently embarrassing. 

Some fans feel Marshall has good reason to be upset. Only New England’s Wes Welker has caught more passes than Marshall’s 206 over the last two seasons, and last year he made his first career Pro Bowl appearance.

So, on the Madden video game, it would appear Marshall is more than overdue for a contract renewal.

Too bad this is real life. Marshall has also been a bonehead off the gridiron, to say the very least.

He has been arrested more than a dozen times since arriving in Denver, and he has had at least one injury per season since 2006. He has not proven that he can stay out of jail or off the injury list for a full NFL season, so the Broncos refuse to renegotiate his contract until he does such.

Marshall would likely have agreed to play this season out had the Broncos not traded quarterback Jay Cutler, the Pro Bowl quarterback Denver traded to Chicago early in March.

Why would he have been willing to wait if the Broncos still had their former gunslinger?

Well, when Cutler was in Denver, no quarterback threw the football to his receiver more times than Cutler did to Marshall. In fact, it was not even really close.

If you are wondering why Marshall has been among the league leaders in dropped passes over the last couple of years, it is because he has been thrown to roughly 275 times in that time frame.

So now, with Kyle Orton under center, Marshall is sure to get the ball thrown his way fewer times; thus his numbers will take a drop.

The Broncos appear to be happy with their core of receivers (seen pictured) even if Marshall does decide to hold out, which is probably why the former fourth round pick out of UCF is willing to let his play do the talking.

The Broncos hold all of the “cards” in this situation. Marshall has no leverage. He is coming off of a serious hip injury/surgery and has yet to fully grasp the offense that has been implemented by head coach Josh McDaniels.

Also, a quick disclaimer to those who think this Marshall situation is the fault of McDaniels: You could not be more wrong.

In fact, if anyone is to blame here, it is Marshall and Marshall alone. 

Marshall recently reiterated his desire to be traded after the Broncos refused to give him a new contract, despite the fact that Marshall was acquitted of his final legal issue.

He figured that the Broncos were waiting to give him an extension until he got out of trouble with the law, but that is not the case in the least.

Marshall is so far behind in learning the offense that he is practicing with the second unit on offense. While one should not read too much into that situation, it is worth noting heading into the second preseason game.

The Broncos also recently felt obligated to apologize to Marshall when a public relations employee told players not to congratulate Marshall for his acquittal, but to say they are happy the team can finally move on from it.

So why would the New York Jets want this headache on their hands?

For one, outside of Jerricho Cotchery, their wide receiver situation is spotty at best. They lost Laveranues Coles this offseason, and their No. 2 receiver has been a “flavor of the day” all offseason long.

They also have to think about the development of their young quarterback Mark Sanchez, who could use a big target like Marshall in the passing game.

If the Jets are serious about Marshall, then they had better be prepared to blow the Broncos away with a trade offer, because Denver is not going to give him up for nothing.

It would likely take the Jets giving up not only one of their better players, but a high draft pick as well—something along the lines of wide receiver Cotchery and a first round pick. 

A prize like that leads many including this writer to believe that Brandon Marshall is staying put.

For now.

Brandon Marshall to Become Poker Dealer

Analyzing Brandon Marshall Trade Rumors

Could the Denver Broncos be trading Brandon Marshall. Recently the reciever reiterated the fact that he wished to be traded, likely after seeing the performance of Kyle Orton in the Broncos preseason loss. In response the Broncos have stated they will not trade him and they will not re-work his contract this year he is set to recieve 2.2 million from the Broncos.

Do you really believe that Marshall won’t be traded just because he is expected to start practicing with the team? Well, if so you probably believed that Cutler wouldn’t and you probably believed Brett Favre the last three times he told us he was retiring.

For those of us who believe Marshall will be gone heres a look at some trade rumors and why they are or aren’t likely. I listed the from least likely to most likely.

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