McGenius or McDumbass? Josh McDaniels’ Controversial Start in Denver

The 2009 offseason has been tumultuous for the Denver Broncos. Josh McDaniels has replaced Mike Shanahan as Head Coach and the litany of moves and decisions that have followed have been met with much criticism by Denver Broncos fans and NFL pundits alike.  Everyone is trying to figure out what it is that Coach McDaniels is doing?

We honestly don’t know terribly much about Coach McDaniels. His reputation and experience, up until now, in the National Football League are completely tied to the success of the New England Patriots.  

Given the track record of other coaches that have emerged out of the Bill Belichick coaching tree, the prospect of McDaniels success is questionable at best.  The evidence up to this point seems to support that the magic behind the Patriots’ success has been because of Belicheck’s knowledge and expertise, not his coordinators.  

Add to this the fact that McDaniels has never been a head coach of a football team at any level of competition and is only 32 years old. Then there is enough evidence to cast reasonable doubt on McDaniels ability to be a successful NFL head coach.

But before we make too quick of a judgement about coach McD, lets take a look at his body of work.  Being that his NFL career history before this off season has been with the Patriots, doubt can be cast upon his influence and actions being in the shadow of Belichick. 

Therefore, I suggest that we focus on what he has done with the Denver Broncos thus far.

There has been a lot of criticism about the decisions that McDaniels has made since taking over the team, but lets take a look at those decisions from a different perspective.

In order to do this we need to take an honest look at what the Denver Broncos did last year.  Objectively viewing the team’s results on the field and putting aside the fan glasses that we so often choose to view our team through. 

Offense

The facts don’t lie. The Denver Broncos had the second most prolific offense in 2008. Denver fans love this statistic. But despite gaining more yards than their opponents in 2008 the Broncos were outscored by their opponents by an average margin of 5 points per game. 

It is a wonderful thing to move the ball down the field and amass great yardage statistics, but if the team is not getting in the end zone, if they are not scoring points, if they are not winning games than all you have is a bunch of stats with nothing to show for it.

This fact is not lost on Coach McDaniels, he knows that the Broncos offense needs to score more points to be successful in this league. 

Having coordinated a team that broke records for scoring touchdowns just two years ago, Coach McDaniels has installed his offensive system in Denver to make his mark on the team and give the team a chance to put more points on the board. 

Changing the offensive scheme alone will not produce dividends without quality players to execute them.  The Broncos offense was full of great players at every position except one, running back. 

Denver went through eight different running backs last year due to injuries.  None of these players were anything to write home about either. Many of them were one trick ponies who did not excel at blocking or catching the ball out of the backfield, but were serviceable as one cut running backs.

So McDaniels went out and reloaded their backfield with versatile running backs who can run, block, and catch. K.Moreno, C.Buckhalter, J.J.Arrington, and L.Jordan among others.

Having a solid, reliable running game is important in the NFL.  Running the ball helps open up opportunities in the passing game, and can help extend drives.  That is something that the Broncos didn’t have last year.  Which is evident when you look at the Denver Broncos Time of Possession statistics verses their opponents.

The Broncos average time of possession was 28:43, while their opponents averaged 31:16.  This minute difference may not sound like a lot, but over the course of 16 games with the up and down season the Broncos had that extra minute could have been the difference between a win and a loss. 

The bottom line is that the Broncos didn’t have the ball more than they did.  You can’t score points without possession of it. 

Healthy and consistent running backs in McDaniels spread offense will help us to keep the ball and manage the clock.  Control the game with ball possession makes any team dangerous because it wears down the defense, making it easier to drive the ball down the field and score points.  

Developing a strategy to put the offense in a better position to succeed would be key as well, and that is where the defense comes in.

Defense

It is no secret to anyone, the Broncos defense was terrible last year.  Shanahan’s inability to fix it over the past few years is most likely why Bowlen decided to give him his walking papers after 14 years of service.

Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams being the only legitimate starters on the defense, the problem is not just scheme, it is skilled players.

McDaniels focused on the secondary in the off season and because one specific defensive statistic stood out above the rest, Turnover Ratio.  The Broncos turnover ratio last year was -17. 

The secondary was so porous that they had a tough time even stopping the opposing team from scoring on every play.  Asking them to try to pick off the ball was simply out of the question. 

So the Broncos brought in some players to rebuild the defense with who know how to create turnovers for the defense: B.Dawkins, A.Goodman, R.Hill, A.Smith, D.McBath, D.Bruton. These are guys who have a nose for the ball, creating interceptions and hitting players hard to help force some fumbles. 

These players bring experience and new life are a great start in rebuiding the Broncos defense.  They already make the defense so much better than they were last year. If they can level the playing field by getting that turnover ratio back to around even it will go a long way to help the Broncos be more successful this season.

Fixing everything that is wrong with the defense is too big of a job to complete in one off season alone, but by focusing on the creating turnovers McDaniels has at least begun to point them in the right direction. The Broncos revamped secondary should at minimum keep them from getting beat through the air too often.

Bringing in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who has a history of success in this league, to re-scheme the Broncos defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is another big part of McDaniels plan to restore Denver’s defense to being respectable once again.

Improving the offense and defense was only one of the ways that McDaniels knew he needed to improve the Denver Broncos though.

Special Teams

Offense wins games, Defense wins Championships, but Special Teams is what makes it all possible. More than great offensive or defensive schemes or players, special teams is where the game of football can be won or lost.

Football is a game of field position plain and simple.  And nothing impacts field position more than special teams. 

If you can limit your opponents starting field position on kickoffs and punts with smothering coverage, than they have farther to move the ball down the field increasing the chances that their drive will stall.  

Likewise, with good special teams blocking and returning you can shorten the field for your offense, increasing the likelyhood of scoring points through touchdowns or the kicking game.  

The Broncos Average Starting Field Position over the past five years has been among the worst in the league.   (Espn.com)

Broncos’ average starting field position, 2004-08 Year Average NFL rank 2008 24.6 30th 2007 24.0 32nd 2006 23.5 31st 2005 25.7 28th 2004 26.8 T-28th

McDaniels has made moves to correct this by acquiring players who are special teams aces. 

Darrel Reid, Nick Griesen, David Bruton, J.J.Arrington, Darcel McBath, and Alphonso Smith all bring with them great special teams ability in coverage and returning to help the Broncos start with better field position, which should transition into more scoring with a shorter field to work with.

Special teams can make up for a bad defense, and can put your offense in a position to score. Coach McDaniels made it a priority to focus on this most crucial aspect of the game, and it should hopefully pay dividends in the form of more defensive stops and more scoring.

McDaniels’ focus on these key area of the game (time of possession, turnover ratio, and average field position) that the Broncos really struggled with last season should set the team up to have a much better all around game on Sundays. 

Being better in these areas could allow the Broncos to steal a win or two in games that they “shouldn’t” win on paper.

Whether you agree with any or all of the decisions that Coach McDaniels has made, he is making the team better.  It may take some time before the Broncos can once again be leaders in their division, but a new day is dawning for the Denver Broncos and the prospects for the future are bright.

What Should Broncos Fans Expect From B-Dawk?

Brian Dawkins: No. 20 S

Height: 6’0″  

Weight: 210  

Age: 35

Born: Oct. 13, 1973 Jacksonville, Fla.

College: Clemson

Experience: 14th season

High School: William M. Raines HS [Jacksonville, FL]

Over the course of Brian Dawkins’ career (all of which he has spent in Philly until now) he has been given several nicknames. The majority of Philly fans simply refered to him as B-Dawk, but Dawkins has also been called “The Beast,” “Weapon-X,” and “Wolverine.”

Wolverine, the low-key leader of the X-Men, is known for his animal-keen senses that allow him to track his adversaries with great ease, very much like Brian Dawkins hunts down opposing ball carriers and receivers delivering earth shattering train-wreck hits.

Dawkins senses are sharp, too. With 34 interceptions and 21 sacks over the course of his career, B-Dawk is one of four players in the history of the NFL to post at least 32 interceptions and 18 sacks, joining the company of Leroy Butler (38 INTs, 20.5 sacks), Rodney Harrison (34, 30.5) and Ronde Barber (37, 23).

One thing that can always be said about Dawkins is that he comes to play. While a mild-mannered, calm, and confident person off the field, when Dawkins steps out onto the field, he transforms into a beast.  He becomes a loud, pumped up, vocal leader.

“Weapon-X,” a man possessed, who cannot wait to get out there and make receivers pay for trying to go across the middle, to make running backs think twice before deciding to run to his side of the field, and get into a quarterback’s head knowing that he could be coming for him at any point in time.

After making a big play, B-Dawk will often celebrate (as defensive players sometimes do) with a bit of a pose, as he seemingly draws energy from the crowd as they show their appreciation for his fine play. 

Dawkins, being unabashed and unashamed about his faith, will also be heard shouting “Hallelujah!” and pointing his index finger skyward at INVESCO field in thanks and recognition to the Lord for blessing him with the ability to play the great game of football. 

While the Eagles organization may not realize just how great of a player that they let slip through their fingers, the Eagles fans sure do. When the news broke back in February that Dawkins had signed with the Denver Broncos, the fans in Philly were in complete and total disbelief. 

You had people crying on the news they were so distraught. That is the kind of impact that Dawkins is capable of having on a city.

Eagles fans will tell you, Dawkins in no joke.

A seven time Pro Bowler, including an appearance in 2008, Dawkins has proven that he can still play at an elite level.

Despite being a defensive back in his mid-30’s, there has not been a dip in Dawkins production on the field.  In fact, over the past five seasons, he has averaged 70 tackles (58 solo) 2.1 sacks, and 2.6 interceptions.  

Dawkins shows no signs of slowing down either.  If anything his resolve has been strengthened by his change of scenery, and looks forward to the opportunity to prove himself to his new coaches and new teammates.

B-Dawk also has a small chip on his shoulder, and looks to prove wrong those who doubted his ability.     

I expect Coach Nolan to utilize “Weapon-X” in ways that play to his strengths, which should mean big plays in the form of sacks, turnovers, and big hits.

In a denverbroncos.com article, Ronnie Fields had this to say about the defense that Mike Nolan is installing in Denver: “It’s not really the usual 3-4, it’s an attack 3-4, it’s like an offensive mindset. Some people play the 3-4 different; they’re more like ‘sit back and wait.’ But as far as us, we attack.”

With that in mind I expect Nolan to use B-Dawk to Blitz the quarterback, move around, and confuse the offense. Maybe place Dawkins in some robber coverage where he can use his instincts to pick off the ball in a very Ed Reed kind of way.

Dawkins will also be asked to be a teacher and a mentor to the young defensive backs who the Broncos recently acquired, a task he is more than qualified to accomplish. 

If I was Darcell McBath, David Bruton, Josh Barrett, Alphonso Smith, Josh Bell, Jack Williams, D.J. Johnson, or Tony Carter, I would be thrilled to be able to learn from Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.  I would watch them incessantly, pick their brains, ask for advice, and soak up as much as I could. 

If even a little bit of Champ and B-Dawk rub off on any of these young guys, the future of the Denver Broncos secondary will look pretty bright.    

In the shorter term, though, Dawkins joins a secondary that has been reloaded with experienced players who know how to play in the National Football League.

In Nolan’s attacking style defense, they will have a mandate to create turnovers and limit the ground they give up. As the strong safety, Dawkins ability to read the play and attack the run will play a huge role in making that happen.

Regardless of all the change and scheme and age, I think that Denver can expect B-Dawk to be B-Dawk.  He is going to prepare, play explosively, and create havoc for the opposing team.  “Weapon-X” is going to live up to his name as the X-Factor of the defense.

He brings leadership, experience, poise, intensity, big play ability, and character.  On the field he will play like a beast, giving it his all. Off the field he will conduct himself as an upstanding member of the community.        

Denver can expect big things from B-Dawk in 2009.

Who Is Running the Show in Denver?

Much has been said about the turnover in the Denver Broncos organization this offseason.  Unless you are living under a rock, you know that owner Pat Bowlen made the decisions to fire head coach Mike Shanahan, replace him with Josh McDaniels, fire Jim and Jeff Goodman, promote Brian Xanders to general manager, and trade Jay Cutler. 

Or did he?

Earlier this month, I read an article by Woody Paige in the Denver Post entitled: “Bowlen unshaken on vision for Broncos”, which can be viewed here. Paige spoke with Bowlen about the recent changes made in the Broncos front office in the off-season.

Among the many quotes from Bowlen in Paige’s article, one garnered significant media attention.

“I have short-term memory loss. I know that some of the memories of the Superbowl Championships are fading.”

This has led many to speculate as to how much Bowlen is in charge of his own faculties and how much his “memory loss” may have contributed to his decision-making.

Bowlen is the owner, president and chief executive of the Denver Broncos, but when it comes down to it, who is really making the decisions?  Is Bowlen his own counsel in his decision-making, or does he have people advising him on such big decisions?

These are important questions to ask when a person starts to forget certain things.  And we are not talking about grandma forgetting to take her pills here—there is an NFL franchise at stake.

Woody’s article provided insight into these questions as well.

“Bowlen said that while he is involved in every facet of the organization, [Joe] Ellis, [the team’s chief operating officer], his confidant, has been given more power in the restructuring since Shanahan was fired. “Joe is handling all the things I’m not particularly interested in, making more major decisions,” he said.

“Ellis, who was director of marketing when Bowlen bought the majority ownership of the Broncos in 1984, has served in several executive capacities. He was named COO last year. Ellis, several sources say, was instrumental in getting Bowlen to agree to fire Shanahan, hire McDaniels (Ellis alone met with the new coach for a second interview) and trade Cutler.”

This portion of Paige’s article did not receive the same media attention as Bowlen’s memory loss, yet it holds the answers as to who may be really making the decisions for the Denver Broncos organization.

Ellis has Bowlen’s ear, and like Jaffar to the Sultan or Wormtongue to King Theodon, the chief adviser holds sway over the old man and may be the power behind the throne.

Woody pretty much said that: Ellis convinced Bowlen to fire Mike Shanahan, Ellis convinced Bowlen to hire Josh McDaniels, and in the end, Ellis convinced Bowlen to trade Jay Cutler.

Working his way up from director of marketing to chief operating officer over the past fifteen years, Ellis is now the man in power.  Ellis is the one who is making the decisions regarding the fate of the Denver Broncos.

Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio noticed this as well, saying:

“One thing that has become abundantly clear in the wake of the termination of Mike Shanahan and the hiring of Josh McDaniels is that COO Joe Ellis (who?) has become one of the most powerful figures in the Broncos organization.

“And so Ellis is the latest in a line of (front office executives) who used a mastery of the intricate rules of the salary cap to position themselves to have significant influence over the football operation while having no accountability for on-field failure because, after all, they’re not football guys.”  (full article can be viewed here)

Ellis’ rise to power has been at the expense of many notable people within the Bronocs organization including: Ted Sundquist, Shanahan, Jim Goodman, Jeff Goodman, Cutler, Andrew Mason (denverbroncos.com media guide).

Whether you agree with the changes that have been made or not, it is important to know who makes the calls and who pulls the strings.  As fans who pour their hearts and souls in to their team, we need and deserve to know who is in charge.

And based on my read of what Woody Paige and Mike Florio have reported, Pat Bowlen makes the calls, but it is Joe Ellis pulling the strings.

 

One Of The NFL’s Best Kept Secrets: Genos Derwin Williams, Jr.

Some players gain notoriety for their consistent play on the field, others for their showboating after they make a big play, and some for their off the field “personality” quirks.  Some players seek out the spotlight, while others are just coming to work.

Players who work hard and excel at what they do, often get overlooked amongst the attention seekers in the NFL.  These players don’t seek out recognition, but they are often the backbone of what makes their team successful.

One such player resides on the Denver Broncos.  He is not known for being the best at his position in the NFL, nor is he the poster child for the franchise.  He just quietly leads his team with poise, and his superb play.

This players name is, Genos Derwin Williams, Jr., but you may know him as:

D.J. Williams #55  LB

Height: 6-1   Weight: 242   Age: 26

Born: 7/20/1982 Sacramento Co. , CA

College: Miami (Fla.)

Experience: 6th season

High School: De La Salle HS [Concord, CA]

 

D.J was destined for football greatness from the start.  As a Junior in high school D.J. was named 1998 Rivals High School Junior of the Year and ESPN RISE National High School Junior Player of the Year.

D.J.’s Senior season at De La Salle he played both Running back and Linebacker.  His senior year he rushed for almost 2,000 yards and 42 touchdowns, and amassed 130 tackles (87 solo).  Due to his outstanding play as a senior, D.J. was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year and was largely regarded as the top defensive player nationally.

Williams elected to play his college football at the University of Miami, where he was part of a National Championship winning team in 2001.  D.J. actually played Fullback his first year at Miami, but with a crowded backfield in Miami that included Clinton Ports, Frank Gore, and Willis McGahee D.J. decided to focus on playing the Linebacker position.  D.J. worked hard and his abilities and talents showed as he excelled at the college level, and was named as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award both his junior and senior seasons at The U.

D.J. Williams was then selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (17th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. 

D.J. started 14 of 16 games his rookie year.  He made an immediate impact on the Broncos and led the team with 114 tackles (82 solo).  He also recorded two sacks, had one interception and one forced fumble.  D.J. came in third in the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

In 2005, Williams was moved from the weak side linebacker position to strong side linebacker position after the Broncos signed Ian Gold for his second tour of duty with the Broncos after spending a year in Tampa. Williams graciously and quietly made the move, showing his versatility and willingness to do whatever was going to be best for the team.

D.J. helped lead the Broncos to the playoffs, finishing the season with 55 tackles (39 solo) while adding three pass deflections and one forced fumble as the Sam linebacker.

Still playing on the strong side in 2006, D.J. amassed 76 tackles (59 solo), a sack, one forced fumble, two pass deflections despite playing outside of his natural position on the weak side.

Near the end of the ’06 season Al Wilson (another great, yet very underrated player) suffered a severe neck injury.  Though he was cleared by team doctors to play the very next week and came back to finish the season on the field, he wasn’t quite the same.  Wilson’s condition was reassessed during the off-season and it led to his release from the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos coaching staff also experienced turnover in the off-season as Larry Coyer was replaced as defensive coordinator by Jim Bates.  And once again the Broncos coaching staff asked D.J. to switch positions for the 2007 season. 

Williams stepped up once again to attempt to fill the void left by Wilson, by moving to the inside and playing the Mike or middle linebacker position.  D.J. finished the season 2nd in the NFL with 141 tackles (106 solo) along with one sack and one interception.

The Denver Broncos, unsatisfied with the direction the Defense was headed following Denver’s first losing season since 1999, replaced defensive coordinator Jim Bates with Bob Slowik in 2008.  And with this change of direction the Broncos decided to move D.J. back to his more natural position, playing the Will or weak side linebacker.  D.J. thrived on a lackluster defense and though he only played eleven games, due to injury, he still managed to make 98 tackles (63 solo) along with 2.5 sacks and 2 pass deflections.

D.J. Williams is a great linebacker who has put up great numbers throughout his Career.  In his five seasons in the NFL, despite missing 10 games due to injury, D.J. has averaged 96 tackles a year (71 solo).

Williams has not only played at a very high level worthy of respect, but he has stepped up and done whatever the coaches have asked him to do including playing every linebacker position in the 4-3 defense, calling the defensive plays and making the defensive adjustments.

D.J. has done all of this without wining or complaining, without demanding or drawing attention to himself, but through a quiet and sedated leadership by example.  D.J.’s fellow teammates respected and recognized his leadership by making a team captain for the 2008 season.

Having fully recovered from the right knee injury (MCL), that sidelined him for five games last year, D.J. is looking forward to the 2009 season where he will once again switch positions as the Broncos move form a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.

Williams is slotted to start as the weak inside linebacker in the 3-4 and will need to draw on his experiences playing both the middle linebacker position and his weak side linebacker spot while learning a new style of play under his forth defensive coordinator in four years, Mike Nolan.

Look for Williams to quickly adjust to his new position and continue to make an impact for the Broncos in 2009.  Coach Nolan is implementing an attack-hybrid style defense which will situationally adapt formation based on what the opposing team’s offense is doing and attack them to achieve success.  Nolan does not want his defense to simply read and react, he has designed a defense that will attack the run and pass in the backfield.

Since playing in the NFL, D.J. has not garnered national attention or acclaim.  You won’t find his picture on NFL.com or ESPN’s front pages.  Williams hasn’t gotten in trouble with the law, no dui’s or domestic disputes or gun charges. 

Williams just plays the game, and does it with an understated style and class.  He has a confidence which does not require flashbulbs and spotlights to highlight his accolades, he just wants to play and win.

D.J. is easily one of my favorite players in th NFL because of the way he goes about handling his business, on and off the field.  Number 55 is an amazing talent who has time and again shown his team first attitude and displayed his versatility as a player on the field.  He has shown himself to be a leader of men, and a person of outstanding character.  I can’t wait to see him play this year, and continue his quiet dominance in the NFL.

 

Ryan Clady: Pro Bowl Left Tackle in 2009

Left tackle is regarded as one of the most important positions in the National football league.  Come draft time the saying goes that you don’t pass up a franchise quarterback, a shutdown corner, or a premium left tackle if there is one left on the board. 

The left tackle position is so important that the Miami Dolphins selected Jake Long No. 1 overall in 2007. And in recent years and in years to come quality left tackles will always be top ten picks.  

The left tackle protects the (right handed quarterback’s) blind side.  He needs to be an excellent pass protector, with good feet and quickness to thwart the attempts of the pass rushing specialists who come from the blind side.

Ryan Clady proved last year that he was up to the task last year. Clady only gave up 0.5 a sack on 616 passing attempts. Clady was just a rookie, but he played like a probowler against the likes of John Abraham (16.5), Joey Porter (17.5), Julius Peppers (14.5), and Richard Seymor (8) to name a few.

(#) – number of sacks in 2008

These statistics prove that Clady has already become a dominant force in the league, and is a force to be recognized. 

Despite Clady’s amazing performance he was snubbed by Probowl voters in 2008.  Granted it was his rookie year, and there are many talented LT’s in the AFC, and the Probowl is voted on way to early in the year to really find out who the best players are;

But rookie Jake Long was invited as an injury replacement over Clady and that just does not seem right. 

I think that as long as Clady continues to perform at the high level he did last year he should be an shoe in Probowl left tackle.    

Brandon Marshall: Is No News Good News?

There are some players in the NFL that are just difficult to figure out; players that have amazing talent and yet seem to find ways to jeopardize their potential with injuries and off-field issues.  Some of these guys get into messes because they are immature, others because they are thugs, some seek attention, and some people are just unlucky.

The Denver Broncos have a player who perfect exemplifies a player who, for whatever reason, cannot keep his name out of the headlines and himself out of trouble.  His name is Brandon Marshall.   

When we look at B-Marsh’s history in the league, it is one that is plagued with injury and with controversy.

2006

In 2006, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. This injury only sidelined Brandon for a couple of weeks. He was able to return and play in 15 games during the regular season in his rookie year.  Despite his injury and only starting one game, he caught 20 balls for 309 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season.

2007

In 2007, Marshall again sustained injuries before the start of the 2007 season. He suffered a groin strain that kept him out of Broncos’ preseason camps during May and June. Then Brandon also pulled his quad during a mini-camp that left him out for nearly all of training camp.

In March 2007, Marshall was also arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after his girlfriend reported that following a domestic dispute, he prevented a taxi she was in from leaving his house. Charges from the incident were later dismissed after Marshall completed anger management counseling.

Then in October 2007, Marshall was arrested for DUI. Marshall pled down to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired. He was sentenced to one-year probation and 24 hours of community service.

Marshall had a breakout year in his sophomore season, catching 102 passes for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns.

2008

In 2008, Marshall again got himself injured.  This time he slipped on an empty McDonald’s bag while wrestling with family members, and subsequently fell through a television set at his home in Orlando, Florida, cutting his right forearm.

According to Broncos head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, Marshall “sustained right forearm lacerations to one artery, one vein, one nerve, two tendons, and three muscles.”

He was treated at a local hospital and later released after needing a cast and several stitches. In early April, Marshall had the cast removed from his surgically repaired right forearm and was in a sling until May.  He was cleared in late June to practice with the Broncos. 

He later revealed that his right hand was numb during the entire 2008 season.

In June 2008, Marshall was also ticketed for an illegal lane change, then found to be without his license and proof of insurance. The case was eventually dropped as part of a plea bargain.

In September 2008, Marshall had misdemeanor battery charges filed against him by a County in Georgia for an alleged incident in March 2008 in Atlanta. Marshall was booked, then released the next day after posting a $1,000 cash bond.

As a result of Marshall’s continued off-field issues, he officially received a three-game suspension from the NFL, which was later reduced to a one-game suspension and a fine.

It seemed that Marshall was getting the picture after sitting down with Commissioner Roger Goodell and that these off-field issues were going to be a thing of the past.

Marshall had an another amazing season, catching 104 balls for 1265 yards and six touchdowns (in only 15 games, due to suspension).  Marshall had established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the game, earning himself his first Pro Bowl appearance.

2009

Brandon Marshall was named a starter in the Pro Bowl, and while in Hawaii he proposed to his now fiancé, Michi Nogami-Campbell. Many people saw this as a good sign that their relationship had moved beyond the issues that led Marshall to have altercations with the police.

Then in March of 2009, out of nowhere, Brandon Marshall had hip surgery to repair an aggravated hip that bothered him during the 2008 season. His recovery time is expected to last until training camp in late July.

Also in March, Marshall was arrested in Atlanta for disorderly conduct after allegedly being involved in a fight with his fiancé. Marshall was released on a $300 bond.  The charges were dropped the following day. He may still be disciplined by the NFL for repeated violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Brandon Marshall has had an impressive professional career.  In just three years, he has caught 226 balls for 2,899 yards and 15 touchdowns, has started in a Pro Bowl, and has established himself as a top-tier receiver in the NFL. 

I both take pause at the fact that he seems to get himself injured every year and I admire the way he is able to play through his injuries, still being able to compete at such a high level.

The big question right now with Brandon is, how many games is he going to play in 2009?  It is expected that Commissioner Goodell will issue him another suspension, given that he was involved in another situation that led to the police being called. But he has yet to do so.

This could be good news.

Given the fact that the charges for which he was arrested were dropped the following day means that there was not enough evidence for the police themselves to press charges and that nobody else wanted charges to be pressed.  

It is my understanding that someone called the police to report a domestic dispute.  When this, happens the cops are bringing the parties at that address in no matter what the circumstances are that they find at that scene. 

The people in that residence could be laughing and watching TV, but authorities will still bring you in because they cannot take a chance that things were not violent before and a victim is too scared to tell the truth of what happened for fear of repercussions.

Therefore, this recent situation that Brandon was in could have been a huge misunderstanding.  Sometimes people fight (verbally) and sometimes people have loud arguments, but that does not necessarily mean that abuse occurred.  The fact that no charges were filed tells me that this was probably just a misunderstanding.  

Either way, Marshall and/or his fiancé probably have communication issues they need to work out.

All this being said, the commissioner could let this one slide (if he so chooses) without suspension. The fact that he has not addressed this situation publicly yet may mean that it is not going to be addressed at all.  Given the circumstances (since there were no charges filed), it may not warrant suspension.

Many speculated that if a suspension was going to occur that Goodell would do it before the draft to give the Broncos a chance to account for his absence in their draft plans.  Goodell’s silence, even now, could mean Brandon got lucky this time.

I hope that there is no suspension in Marshall’s future.  Some pundits have speculated that Marshall could be facing up to an eight game suspension.  If that were to occur, it would be a devastating blow to the Broncos’ offense.  

When Brandon’s on the field, you need to account for him; you need to recognize his ability.  He opens up the field for other players to get open and make plays.  Without his presence, it makes things that much more difficult for Denver’s offense.

Brandon Marshall is a great football player, but he needs to find a way to keep himself injury-free and keep himself away from situations that could end with him having to talk to the police.  

I hope to see Marshall on the field all season long.  I hope that the commissioner does not penalize Brandon with a suspension because of a misunderstanding where police found no crime being committed. 

I hope Marshall recovers from his hip surgery and comes back to the Broncos even better physically than he was last year.  I hope he can develop a chemistry with Kyle Orton so they can hoop up with each other on the field to score some points. 

It’s up to the commissioner, and ultimately up to Brandon.  He has had success as an athlete, but now he needs to take that success with him off the field to his personal life to make him a better person and allow him to continue to do the latter.

MiniCamp: Time to Step it up and Win Your Roster Spot

The Broncos second mini-camp starts Friday and runs through the weekend.  Camp provides players the opportunity to show how valuable they are to the team, and some players have more to prove than others.  

This camp allows coaches get their first look at the incoming rookies in their own team specific drills.  It will allow coaches to compare players abilities as they work out alongside the veteran players who have been competing and learning this new system for the past month. 

Everyone is trying to make the team, from established veterans to undrafted free-agent rookies. Everyone needs to up their game. 

This is especially true for players who are holdovers from last year who were Mike Shanahan’s choices to be on the team, not Coach McDaniels.  Players like J.Moss, T. Crowder, and R. Torain need to prove right now that they can contribute or they may soon be looking for work elsewhere.

Selvin Young is the latest player to find he no longer has a home with the orange and blue, and he certainly won’t be the last.  Young’s situation was a different one, with multiple injuries playing a role, but nonetheless his services are no longer required. 

So, Who will be next?

Career backups like LB-L.Green, CB-R.Moulton, LB-M.Haggan, S-H.D.Jones and S-V.Fox will have to fight hard to stay with the team, given the influx of rookies and the change in scheme.

And there are many undrafted free agents who will also find it difficult to stay in Denver for very long either.

It is time for all the players to take their destiny in their own hands and use this weekend’s mini-camp to make a statement loud and clear that they deserve to wear the Broncos uniform. 

This is only the beginning, with a long summer of work ahead, but if the Broncos truly desire to win games, then there is no time to waste.  It starts right now.

How Did the Broncos Do in This Year’s NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft is now over.  Whether you like the outcome or not, there is no going back.  Many Broncos fans feel like they are taking crazy pills while others are looking at the silver lining.  Opinions will be abounding, but only time will tell.

 

With the 12th pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia 5’11” 217

All of Broncos Nation was hoping for Denver to come out of the gate and select a player to help fix an anemic defense that was one of the worst in the league last year. Unfortunately fate would make this a difficult feat to accomplish.

T.Jackson (the best five technique defensive lineman in the draft) came of the board early to our divison rivals in Kansas City.  Then, as was expected, B.J. Raji (the best defensive tackle in the draft) was drafted by Green Bay.

This left the Broncos in a tough situation. Who do you pick now that Raji and Jackson were no Longer available?

I would have picked M.Jenkins or B. Orakpo.  They are quality players who were worthy of being selected with the 12th overall pick, and by my estimation would have filled a position of need.  Jenkins could compete for the nickle corner spot or safety of the future.  Orakpo, by all indications could be the hybrid DE/OLB that Denver could have used. 

The Broncos instead went with the best runningback in the draft, K.Moreno. 

This doesn’t make sense to me because Denver just invested a lot of contract money (33.5 mill) into C. Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, and L.Jordan.  Plus the Broncos also have R.Torain and S.Young on their roster (probably not for long though).

Though Moreno does not necessarily meet an imediate need in Denver, he was worthy of the selection at 12, and could be the next L.T. or Adrian Peterson (knocking on wood while typing)

After hearing Knowshon’s press conference, It is clear that he is a very high character guy.  He’s a “No sir, yes sir” kind of guy.  He is looking forward to coming in and competing and he will do whatever he is asked to do.  He can block, he can catch, he can run, he can hurdle defensive players, and he is a team first kind of guy.

When McDaniels was announced as Denver’s new head coach, I was not happy because I knew he was going to turn the Broncos into the “Patriots West”.  I have since warmed up to the idea a little bit, but one of the things the Pats always do well is draft high character, team first-guys and I am happy that McDaniels has brought that tradition along with him to the Broncos.

The Denver braintrust must have either not seen Orkpo or Jenkins as one of those players, or they really just valued Moreno (who is one of those guys more). 

I agree with taking talent over need, especially if “your guy” isn’t there, so I am O.K. with this pick.

ESPN’s analysts said that right now Moreno is probably the front runner to win the rookie of the year award in the ’09 season.

 

With the 18th pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Robert (not Ryan) Ayers, DL/LB Tennessee 6’3″ 272

This too was a tough pick in the eyes of many Broncos fans.

B. Cushing was gone, but many people would have rather seen Denver pick up R. Maualuga or C. Matthews, but R.Ayers was projected to go in the first round between 10-20, so he was definitely a valuable player worthy of his selection at 18th overall. 

But Ayers has also been termed a possible one year wonder, given that he only started for one year in college. 

The good news is he is another character guy.  Watch his press conference and you find out he is a humble guy who had some issues and has dealt with them and has grown up from those experiences and you can see he has a Hughe upside. 

He is willing to do whatever the coaches ask him to do, and he is a player who does have a lot of versatility.  Denver will probably try him out at a few positions, as either a hybrid DE/OLB or (as he hinted in his presser) at the five technique defensive end.

Given that he was worthy of the pick, that he grew up in college into a man of high character, and his production in his senior year, I really believe now that this also was a great pick. 

Mike Mayock of the NFL Network has gone on record saying that three years from now we could look back at this draft and find out that R. Ayers is the best player taken in the entire draft.  Now, that is saying something!

Head Coach Josh McDaniels explained during his draft wrap-up press conference that he, GM Brian Xanders and the scouting team had a very narrow group of players that they were targeting during the draft.  Roughly 100 players both offense and defense.  Again only high character guys were being considered. 

McDaniels said that they were looking for players who would come in and compete and would have the ability to impact the team this year.  He didn’t want to take a player at a position of need just to drop him later.  He wanted guys who could contribute.  

McDaniels had one player one their draft board who they had rated very highly, and they did not think that he would remain around until Denver picked in round two at 48th overall.  Therefore Denver “rolled the dice” as McDaniels stated it and traded Denver’s first round pick in 2010 to Seattle for their second round, pick 37th overall.  

 

With the 37th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Alphonso Smith, CB Wake Forest 5’9″ 193

I am not sure anybody thought that trading away next years number one pick was a wise decision. I know I don’t, and it has nothing to do with the player we got, I just think that McDaniels was wrong. I cannot be sure because it didn’t happen this way, but I think they could have gotten A.Smith at 48.

Regardless of whether this decision was a wise one or not Denver got tht 37th overall pick.  Many Broncos fans were absolutely certain that the Broncos were going to pick up R.Maualuga, R.Brace, E.Brown, C. Barwin or J. Gilbert.  But that didn’t happen.

The Broncos picked up Alphonso Smith a 5’9″ cornerback.  

Smith is a dynamic player he would have easily been a first round pick, maybe even the best corner in the draft if not for his height.  He is an absolute ball hawk.  He will likely come in and play the Nickle right away from day one, and contribute on a defense that ranked last, yes 32 of 32, in the NFL in takeaways last year.

Make no mistake, A.Smith is a valuable pick and steal for where the Broncos picked him. I have no doubt in my mind that A.Smith will be an excellent player in the NFL for a lot of years.  My opinion is that we got an elite player with this pick. 

The only reason this pick is suspect is because of what Denver gave up to acquire the pick.

 

With the 48th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Darcel McBath, S Texas Tech 6’0″ 198

I don’t really know a lot about this player other than what analysts have said about him.  He apparently is a converted corner who has good instincts for the football. 

McDaniels looks for him to learn from the Broncos current secondary and add value to the Broncos on special teams.  He is apparently a very good kickoff return guy (as is A.Smith).

I was hoping again here that the Broncos would draft J.Gilbert, the next best five technique in the draft after T.Jackson. 

I also thought there were a lot of other prime safety prospects that Denver could have gone with, (W.Moore, R. Johnson to name a few) but Denver’s draft team apparently really liked this guy and if he can come in and contribute than perhaps it was a good pick.  Time will tell.

As the first day of the draft was winding down the Broncos board had one more guy that they had very highly rated on their board, and they felt that they did not want to chance waiting until the second day and hoping that he was still available when they would next be on the clock in the third round at pick number 79 overall.

Therefore McDaniels felt it necessary to trade the Broncos two third round picks 79 & 84 overall to the Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for the final pick in the second round 64th overall and the Steelers fourth round pick 132 overall.

And so it was that…

 

With the 64th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Richard Quinn, TE North Carolina 6’4″ 264

Trading away our two third round selections was completely unnecessary in my opinion.  I cannot see Quinn being that hot of a commodity among the other NFL teams that Denver could not have been able to pick him up at 79 overall.  

Maybe I am wrong though.  He is in fact the second best plocking tight end in the draft.  And though he was under utilized at North Carolina in the passing game, he does have good hands.

McDaniels offensive schemes utilizes two and three tight end formations at times.  D. Graham, and J. Putzier are good blocking tight ends who have decent hands, but A. Scheffler and A. Bergen are not so good blockers. 

So I think McD felt that he needed Quinn in order to do the things he wanted to do offensivly and didn’t want to chance missing out on the perfect guy to fill this need.

Again I think it was a rash and unnecessary trade, at a position I think we have adequate depth in, but like it or not we are running McDaniels offense and he felt R. Quinn would allow him to do things that he would be unable to do schematically without him.  So he made the call, made the pick, and the rest is history.

 

On Day Two, Denver continued to ignore the glaring need of picking up D-lineman.  I guess the chips just didn’t fall out way.  The character guys, the type of players that McDaniels wanted just weren’t on the board when Denver drafted, and he didn’t feel strongly enough about any one of them to make a trade to ensure that he got them(like he did for Alphonso Smith).

So after missing out on Vaughn Martin…

 

With the 114th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

David Bruton, S Notre Dame 6’2″ 219

Again the Broncos choose a very intelligent, high character guy at a position that Denver needs quality depth.  Denver’s safeties were empty jersey’s last year with the exception of J. Barrett.

You have to be a smart to go to Notre Dame, D. Bruton showed he has speed at the combine (for a safety), and he was a team captain in college.  He has a great opportunity to learn from B-Dawk and contribute right away on special teams. 

I really would have liked to see Denver pick up a defensive lineman here.  I think Sammie Lee-Hill would have been a great pick, and is a player that could have contributed in Denver’s nose tackle/defensive tackle rotation. Alas, he must not have been on McDaniels narrow list of Players he wanted. 

Despite not getting a D-lineman I really like this pick, D.Bruton was one of the guys I really thought Denver should target, so I was very happy with this pick. 

 

With the 132nd overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Seth Olsen, G Iowa 6’5″ 306

Now this pick I don’t get at all.  We had a very good, possibly one of the Best O-Line units in the NFL last year.  And we added depth throughout the line during the off-season. 

Seth Olsen wasn’t even the highest rated guard available at this point in the draft.

I think this shows a bit of a vote of no confidence in Ben Hamilton or Chris Kuper.  Hamilton is getting older (31), and depth is not a bad thing, but I thought this was more of a luxury pick than any other pick Denver made in the draft.  I could maybe understand it if Olsen played Center at some point in his football career, but he didn’t.

 

With the 141st overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Kenny McKinley, WR South Carolina 6’0″ 189

It was understood that one of Denver’s draft needs in the later rounds was to add another wide receiver to the roster.  McDaniels likes to spread the field with multiple receiver sets, and depth is a good thing if you are consistently putting three or four wide outs on the field at once.

McDaniels said in the press conference that McKinley was a versatile player who has lined up at all the wide receiver positions in the football career.  Steve Spurier made the statement that McKinley was the best wide receiver he ever had the pleasure of coaching.

I hope that both these things are true.  Wide receivers who have played for Steve Spurrier do not have a great track record of transitioning to the NFL with success.

Again I hope this works out, we did need a wide out, we shall see.

 

With the 174th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Tom (Brady… I mean)Bradstater, QB Fresno State 6’5″ 220

Denver drafts a guy that McDaniels admitted is a long way off, this is a guy who needs a lot of work.  McDaniels does like his size and height though.

Bradstater also was not the best prospect available here.  Curtis Painter, and Brian Hoyer were still available.  But apparently there is something Tom Brady, I mean Bradstater has something that McDaniels really liked as a project kind of guy.  I can’t quite place my finger on it, but his name reminds me of somebody…. I just can’t place it.

I think the fact that they picked a hugh project guy like Bradstater is an enormous vote of confidence in the quarterbacks already on Denver’s roster being able to run McDaniels intricate offense.  Kyle Orton and Chris Simms will be able to battle this one out in camp.  May the best man win.

 

With the 225th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select:

Blake Schlueter, C TCU 6’2″ 290    

Blake is a very agile guy, speedy for an O-lineman, and he had a great workout at his pro-day. 

McDaniels will require the offensive line to be able to do a lot of pulling for counters, traps and screens, so an agile center is a good pick.

Denver needed a center of the future, and adding depth at this position is definitely a good move.  Many have speculated that Kory Lichtensteiger is better suited to play guard, so this pick makes sense in many ways.

 

Overall I still have trouble understanding why Denver ignored their greatest need by not selecting anyone to help out the defensive line (unless Ayers plays the five technique).

Denver has added some very talented players.  But not in areas of immediate need.

I had hoped that Denver would be able to draft guys who would be able to come in and make our defense better right away.  Alas, things did not fall in our favor. 

I hope there are some undrafted free agents that will be able to compete for a roster spot on defense. Maybe we find another Wesley Woodyard or Spencer Larson.

I had wished that through the draft, Denver would have acquired some difference making players that would get me excited about the upcoming season, filling out the team and making us stronger in areas we needed strengthening.

It is more clear to me now that the Broncos are not one season or one draft away from reclaiming dominance in the division and making a playoff run.  It is gonna take some time. 

Hopefully the team gets better with the players McDaniels drafted, and hopefully next years draft has a greater quality of depth at the defensive line position with character guys that McDaniels will be willing to draft. 

I wish I was more excited and energized coming off of the draft, but who knows we may look back on this draft three years from now and find that Denver Broncos got the two best players in the draft with Moreno and Ayers. 

All will be revealed in time. It will certainly be an interesting season.   

Tony Gonzalez Out: AFC West Relieved

 

After 12 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Tony Gonzalez has been traded to the Atlanta Falcons. Last year Gonzalez caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In a dozen NFL seasons, Gonzalez has caught 916 career passes for 10,940 yards and 76 touchdowns, and holds almost every major NFL record for tight ends. He is arguably the best to ever play the tight end position.

And the best part is: the Denver Broncos don’t have to play against him anymore.

When a guy is that good, you have to account for him on the field, you have to cover him closely or double team him.  Tony was probably KC’s biggest offensive weapon over the past few years and now we don’t need to worry about him.

With empty-jerseys safeties on the field and back-up LB’s attempting to cover Tony, he had eight catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns in two games against Denver last year with Tyler Thigpen throwing to him. 

The Denver Broncos will likely never have to compete against Tony Gonzalez again since he will probably only play one or two more seasons, and Denver just played the NFC South last year, so they will not come up in the rotation for a while.

Gonzo is an amazing player and well respected, and he will be missed by Kansas City Chiefs’ fans everywhere, but the fans of the rest of the teams in the AFC West are breathing a sigh of relief.  We no longer have to play against Tony Gonzalez twice a year.   

Round One Mock To Rule Them All…

The thing I love about the Draft is that there are endless scenarios that could play out.

Here is one that I think would be interesting for a lot of teams, especially the Denver Broncos.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	DET	M. Stafford	QB	Georgia
2	STL	J. Smith	OT	Baylor
3	KC	E. Monroe	OT	Virginia
4	SEA	M. Crabtree	WR	Texas Tech
5	CLE	A. Curry	OLB/DE	Wake Forest
6	CIN	A. Smith	OT	Alabama
7	OAK	D. Heyward-Bey	WR	Maryland
8	JAX	M. Sanchez	QB	USC
9	GB	B. Orakpo	DE/OLB	Texas
10	SF	J. Maclin	WR	Missouri
11	BUF	E. Brown	DE	FSU
12	DEN	B. J. Raji	DT	BC
13	WAS	B. Cushing	OLB/DE	USC
14	NO	M. Jenkins	CB/S	Ohio State
15	HOU	C.Matthews	DE/OLB	USC
16	SD	R. Maualuga	ILB	USC
17	NYJ	J. Freeman	QB	Kansas St.
18	DEN	T. Jackson	DE	LSU
19	TB	P.Jerry	DT	Ole Miss
20	DET	M. Oher	OT	Ole Miss
21	PHI	E. Britton	OT	Arizona
22	MIN	R. Ayers	DE	Tennessee
23	NE	J. Laurinaitis	ILB	Ohio State
24	ATL	A. Maybin	DE/OLB	Penn State
25	MIA	D. Butler	CB	Connecticut
26	BAL	P.Harvin	WR	Florida
27	IND	E. Hood	DT	Missouri
28	PHI	C. Wells	RB	Ohio State
29	NYG	K. Britt	WR	Rutgers
30	TEN	H. Nicks	WR	UNC
31	ARI	K.Moreno	RB	Georgia
32	PIT	M. Unger	C/G	Oregon

 

I might be wrong but I don’t think there is a team that doesn’t get a great player in a position they need to fill.

That being said I doubt that all these teams keep their picks.  I think this years draft we will see trades flying all over the place including current players and future picks.  Teams with High picks trading down (KC, SEA, CLE, JAX,) and teams trading up to get the player they might want (MIN, NYJ, WAS, JAX).

It’s certainly gonna be interesting.   

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