49ers 17, Broncos 16: Denver Falls Short In a Defensive Battle

You take the good, and you take the bad.

There is no way to sugarcoat this one Broncos fans; new quarterback Kyle Orton had a very rocky Denver debut.

Despite marching the troops directly to San Francisco’s four-yard line in his opening drive, Orton tried to force the ball to tight end Daniel Graham in the back of the end zone. While Graham appeared to be wide open when the ball was thrown, veteran cornerback Nate Clements broke from his receiver to make an incredible interception to end Denver’s impressive drive.

On the following Denver drive, Orton was able to drive the Broncos into enemy territory again, only to be picked off a second time by Dre’ Bly. This particular throw appeared to be intended for Brandon Stokley, who was well covered.

On the fourth play of the next Denver possession, Orton fired a pass to a wide open Jabar Gaffney, and San Francisco safety Reggie Smith skied in the air to grab the Orton pass.

Orton’s debut as a Denver Bronco lasted two quarters, but you can bet the fifth-year quarterback wanted to stay on the field after throwing three picks to prove he was not as bad as his game indicated.

Although Denver’s new signal caller had a rough start, it should be dually noted that the Broncos defense was absolutely dominant throughout the course of this game.

In fact, the Mike Nolan-led unit surrendered only six points on Orton’s three turnovers, and that was with a three-yard field to work with.

So, Broncos fans, hidden beneath a poor performance by our new quarterback was a spectacular performance by our new defense.

The Broncos’ aggressive attack was led by the front seven, who throughout the course of the game compiled four sacks.

Here are some of the highlights and low-lights of Denver’s pre-season opener against the 49ers:

 

Low-Lights

1. Kyle Orton—Orton was very shaky in his Broncos debut. He consistently moved the ball down the field, but three interceptions in one half is never acceptable. I expect him to come out firing once again when the Broncos travel to Seattle next week. He displayed a very strong arm, stronger than it was in camp, and let’s face it: This was his first game in a brand new system with a brand new team.  Like I said, there is no way to sugar coat it, but this performance will be good motivation for the new Denver quarterback, and remember Broncos fans—this is the preseason.
2. LaMont Jordan—Jordan was, to me, the biggest disappointment of the night. He was slow, went down very easily, and rarely kept his legs churning. Before a carry of eight yards (his longest of the game), he was averaging only two yards per carry. Jordan did have a nine-yard reception on the opening drive, but he needs to utilize his great size by running harder.

 

Highlights

1. Defensive Front Seven—I am proud to declare that the best part of Denver’s game tonight was the performance by the front seven.  Rookie nose tackle Chris Baker, defensive end Ryan McBean, and outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Mario Haggan each had a sack in Denver’s defensive effort. This unit allowed only 278 yards and appeared much more aggressive than year’s past. For the first time in two years, I am impressed with Denver’s defensive unit.
2. Chris Simms—Simms entered the game in the second half and put on quite a show for Broncos fans. He finished the game completing 11 of his 17 pass attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns.  Simms displayed a rocket for an arm and brought the Broncos back into the game with three scoring drives in the second half.
3. Peyton Hillis—Hillis needs no explanation to Bronco fans. He proved once and for all why he is so valuable to this team, rushing 10 times for 49 yards, catching two passes for 18 yards, and blocking very well. This kid is the real deal.
4. Knowshon Moreno—The rookie running back came in on the second drive of the night and ran the ball three times for 18 yards. The numbers are not gawdy, but he averaged six yards per carry, displayed great toughness (he appeared to play injured after his first carry), and showed he had great quickness to the hole.
5. Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd—Rookie wide receiver Kenny McKinley had a pretty marginal game until making the biggest play of the game for Denver when he snagged a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Simms. He finished with 71 yards on three receptions, and saw time as both the kick returner and punt returner. Veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd snagged two passes from Simms, and both are likely to be on someone’s highlight reel. He finished with two receptions for 42 yards.
6. Did I mention the front seven?  Along with the four players who recorded sacks, the rest of the Broncos’ new look 3-4 was quite impressive as well. Second-year linebacker Spencer Larsen led the team with five tackles, including a stop on third down that led to a punt that was followed by a Denver touchdown late in the fourth quarter. New linebacker Andra Davis found himself making plays in the backfield multiple times, and Kenny Peterson had four stops of his own. What an opening performance by these guys.
7. Head Coach Josh McDaniels—McDaniels put together a wonderful offensive game plan and also appears to have done a nice job of putting together a defensive unit that can rush the quarterback and stop the run. The rookie also had his team go for two when they could have tied the game late in the fourth at 17 apiece, and the pass by Simms was intercepted in the end zone. I like what I am seeing out of him so far.

This performance by Kyle Orton is sure to receive all the negative press in the world, but quite frankly the Broncos controlled the rest of the game. Give credit to San Francisco for playing a great game, because they did. They shut the Broncos’ offense down in the first half, and Mike Singletary did a great job of coaching.

Take it with a grain of salt, Broncos fans. It’s only the preseason.

49ers 17, Broncos 16: Denver Falls Short In a Defensive Battle

You take the good, and you take the bad.

There is no way to sugarcoat this one Broncos fans; new quarterback Kyle Orton had a very rocky Denver debut.

Despite marching the troops directly to San Francisco’s four-yard line in his opening drive, Orton tried to force the ball to tight end Daniel Graham in the back of the end zone. While Graham appeared to be wide open when the ball was thrown, veteran cornerback Nate Clements broke from his receiver to make an incredible interception to end Denver’s impressive drive.

On the following Denver drive, Orton was able to drive the Broncos into enemy territory again, only to be picked off a second time by Dre’ Bly. This particular throw appeared to be intended for Brandon Stokley, who was well covered.

On the fourth play of the next Denver possession, Orton fired a pass to a wide open Jabar Gaffney, and San Francisco safety Reggie Smith skied in the air to grab the Orton pass.

Orton’s debut as a Denver Bronco lasted two quarters, but you can bet the fifth-year quarterback wanted to stay on the field after throwing three picks to prove he was not as bad as his game indicated.

Although Denver’s new signal caller had a rough start, it should be dually noted that the Broncos defense was absolutely dominant throughout the course of this game.

In fact, the Mike Nolan-led unit surrendered only six points on Orton’s three turnovers, and that was with a three-yard field to work with.

So, Broncos fans, hidden beneath a poor performance by our new quarterback was a spectacular performance by our new defense.

The Broncos’ aggressive attack was led by the front seven, who throughout the course of the game compiled four sacks.

Here are some of the highlights and low-lights of Denver’s pre-season opener against the 49ers:

 

Low-Lights

1. Kyle Orton—Orton was very shaky in his Broncos debut. He consistently moved the ball down the field, but three interceptions in one half is never acceptable. I expect him to come out firing once again when the Broncos travel to Seattle next week. He displayed a very strong arm, stronger than it was in camp, and let’s face it: This was his first game in a brand new system with a brand new team.  Like I said, there is no way to sugar coat it, but this performance will be good motivation for the new Denver quarterback, and remember Broncos fans—this is the preseason.
2. LaMont Jordan—Jordan was, to me, the biggest disappointment of the night. He was slow, went down very easily, and rarely kept his legs churning. Before a carry of eight yards (his longest of the game), he was averaging only two yards per carry. Jordan did have a nine-yard reception on the opening drive, but he needs to utilize his great size by running harder.

 

Highlights

1. Defensive Front Seven—I am proud to declare that the best part of Denver’s game tonight was the performance by the front seven.  Rookie nose tackle Chris Baker, defensive end Ryan McBean, and outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Mario Haggan each had a sack in Denver’s defensive effort. This unit allowed only 278 yards and appeared much more aggressive than year’s past. For the first time in two years, I am impressed with Denver’s defensive unit.
2. Chris Simms—Simms entered the game in the second half and put on quite a show for Broncos fans. He finished the game completing 11 of his 17 pass attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns.  Simms displayed a rocket for an arm and brought the Broncos back into the game with three scoring drives in the second half.
3. Peyton Hillis—Hillis needs no explanation to Bronco fans. He proved once and for all why he is so valuable to this team, rushing 10 times for 49 yards, catching two passes for 18 yards, and blocking very well. This kid is the real deal.
4. Knowshon Moreno—The rookie running back came in on the second drive of the night and ran the ball three times for 18 yards. The numbers are not gawdy, but he averaged six yards per carry, displayed great toughness (he appeared to play injured after his first carry), and showed he had great quickness to the hole.
5. Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd—Rookie wide receiver Kenny McKinley had a pretty marginal game until making the biggest play of the game for Denver when he snagged a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Simms. He finished with 71 yards on three receptions, and saw time as both the kick returner and punt returner. Veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd snagged two passes from Simms, and both are likely to be on someone’s highlight reel. He finished with two receptions for 42 yards.
6. Did I mention the front seven?  Along with the four players who recorded sacks, the rest of the Broncos’ new look 3-4 was quite impressive as well. Second-year linebacker Spencer Larsen led the team with five tackles, including a stop on third down that led to a punt that was followed by a Denver touchdown late in the fourth quarter. New linebacker Andra Davis found himself making plays in the backfield multiple times, and Kenny Peterson had four stops of his own. What an opening performance by these guys.
7. Head Coach Josh McDaniels—McDaniels put together a wonderful offensive game plan and also appears to have done a nice job of putting together a defensive unit that can rush the quarterback and stop the run. The rookie also had his team go for two when they could have tied the game late in the fourth at 17 apiece, and the pass by Simms was intercepted in the end zone. I like what I am seeing out of him so far.

This performance by Kyle Orton is sure to receive all the negative press in the world, but quite frankly the Broncos controlled the rest of the game. Give credit to San Francisco for playing a great game, because they did. They shut the Broncos’ offense down in the first half, and Mike Singletary did a great job of coaching.

Take it with a grain of salt, Broncos fans. It’s only the preseason.

Broncos Sign RB Marcus Thomas As Ryan Torain Goes Down Again

Bill Williamson of ESPN.com is reporting that Denver Broncos second year running back Ryan Torain has suffered yet another injury.

Torain, who injured his elbow and tore ligaments in his knee in 2008, suffered a strained knee ligament in practice on Wednesday.

Per Williamson, Torain is expected to miss the preseason, a time that would have been very valuable for his chances of making the Broncos’ final roster.

The Denver Post’s website is reporting that Torain is “done with Denver,” but the team has not issued a statement or made any roster move concerning Torain directly.

The Broncos did announce the signing of former Chargers running back Marcus Thomas, who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2008 out of UTEP.

Thomas was at practice on Wednesday.

Torain’s tenure in Denver, if it comes to a close, will be remembered for the potential he brought to the table for being dubbed the next Terrell Davis by former head coach Mike Shanahan.

The second-year player out of Arizona State has showed flashes of greatness with the Broncos, completely dominating the Browns’ defense for one half and having a solid training camp. Unfortunately, it may not work out the way he wanted it to.

In other injury news, running back LaMont Jordan returned to the practice field after suffering a leg injury.

 

Broncos Sign RB Marcus Thomas As Ryan Torain Goes Down Again

Bill Williamson of ESPN.com is reporting that Denver Broncos second year running back Ryan Torain has suffered yet another injury.

Torain, who injured his elbow and tore ligaments in his knee in 2008, suffered a strained knee ligament in practice on Wednesday.

Per Williamson, Torain is expected to miss the preseason, a time that would have been very valuable for his chances of making the Broncos’ final roster.

The Denver Post’s website is reporting that Torain is “done with Denver,” but the team has not issued a statement or made any roster move concerning Torain directly.

The Broncos did announce the signing of former Chargers running back Marcus Thomas, who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2008 out of UTEP.

Thomas was at practice on Wednesday.

Torain’s tenure in Denver, if it comes to a close, will be remembered for the potential he brought to the table for being dubbed the next Terrell Davis by former head coach Mike Shanahan.

The second-year player out of Arizona State has showed flashes of greatness with the Broncos, completely dominating the Browns’ defense for one half and having a solid training camp. Unfortunately, it may not work out the way he wanted it to.

In other injury news, running back LaMont Jordan returned to the practice field after suffering a leg injury.

 

Denver Broncos Training Camp Notes: Moss Not Going down without Fight

As the Denver Broncos prepare for the first game in the Josh McDaniels era, it appears that former first round pick Jarvis Moss is finally finding a niche as an outside linebacker.

Since I am not in Denver, I am only reporting what was offered on the Denver Broncos’ official training camp blog, but it appears as though No. 94 is one of the team’s most improved players in camp. 

The site reports that before practice last night, Moss was working diligently with defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely on his hand technique (pictured) with the focus of the session being fending off blockers.

Per Gray Caldwell, Moss was “all over” the practice field, making plays left and right.  During 11-on-11 drills, Moss quickly made his way to the backfield to wrap up running back Darius Walker for a loss, and during a two-minute drill, the linebacker blitzed and sacked quarterback Kyle Orton.  He also had multiple sacks during one-on-one drills.

Many analysts, namely Bill Williamson of ESPN.com feel Moss’ days with the team are numbered, but due to the high praise he has received the last week or so I think this team will be hard pressed to not find a roster spot for him.

In addition to Moss, rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno continues to prove why the Broncos picked him up with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

The Georgia product showed great speed when he broke through the defensive backfield and sprinted past everyone for a touchdown, and later in the practice, he hurdled wide receiver Brandon Stokley after the wide receiver scored a touchdown during two-minute drills.

I do not know that I would want him doing too much of the latter though.

Moreno also sported for the first time his “rookie hairdo.”  Have a look.

It should also be noted that with the release of the Broncos’ first depth chart, head coach Josh McDaniels was not lying when he said “That is not our depth chart.”  Seeing time with the first unit last night that were not listed were Robert Ayers, Wesley Woodyard, Darrell Reid, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and Jack Williams.

Woodyard also played the role of Patrick Willis at times during practice, sporting a sleeveless, red, No. 52 practice jersey.  Other players posing as 49ers were Ryan Torain (Frank Gore, No. 21) and Marquez Branson (Vernon Davis, No. 85).

“We started talking about San Francisco last night,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “We put some specific players in jerseys today to kind of simulate some of the things that (San Francisco) does. This is like a game week for (the team).”

McDaniels also had some profound words for the team’s current starting running back, former Philadelphia Eagle Correll Buckhalter.

“Buck, he is kind of like the rest of our backs. He has got a lot of versatility. He can, certainly, run the ball. He has got a great, great burst. (He) may be our fastest back. He probably is. We aren’t ever going to time them and run them out here, but he is probably our fastest back. He is very good in pass protection, catches the ball very well (and) comes from a program where they don’t accept anything other than winning. A lot of those things are very positive. Buck has been a great influence on some of our younger players. There is really nothing that disappoints you about Correll. He shows up every day ready to work.”

More from Broncos camp including a preview of Friday night’s game to come.

 

Denver Broncos Training Camp Notes: Moss Not Going down without Fight

As the Denver Broncos prepare for the first game in the Josh McDaniels era, it appears that former first round pick Jarvis Moss is finally finding a niche as an outside linebacker.

Since I am not in Denver, I am only reporting what was offered on the Denver Broncos’ official training camp blog, but it appears as though No. 94 is one of the team’s most improved players in camp. 

The site reports that before practice last night, Moss was working diligently with defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely on his hand technique (pictured) with the focus of the session being fending off blockers.

Per Gray Caldwell, Moss was “all over” the practice field, making plays left and right.  During 11-on-11 drills, Moss quickly made his way to the backfield to wrap up running back Darius Walker for a loss, and during a two-minute drill, the linebacker blitzed and sacked quarterback Kyle Orton.  He also had multiple sacks during one-on-one drills.

Many analysts, namely Bill Williamson of ESPN.com feel Moss’ days with the team are numbered, but due to the high praise he has received the last week or so I think this team will be hard pressed to not find a roster spot for him.

In addition to Moss, rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno continues to prove why the Broncos picked him up with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

The Georgia product showed great speed when he broke through the defensive backfield and sprinted past everyone for a touchdown, and later in the practice, he hurdled wide receiver Brandon Stokley after the wide receiver scored a touchdown during two-minute drills.

I do not know that I would want him doing too much of the latter though.

Moreno also sported for the first time his “rookie hairdo.”  Have a look.

It should also be noted that with the release of the Broncos’ first depth chart, head coach Josh McDaniels was not lying when he said “That is not our depth chart.”  Seeing time with the first unit last night that were not listed were Robert Ayers, Wesley Woodyard, Darrell Reid, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and Jack Williams.

Woodyard also played the role of Patrick Willis at times during practice, sporting a sleeveless, red, No. 52 practice jersey.  Other players posing as 49ers were Ryan Torain (Frank Gore, No. 21) and Marquez Branson (Vernon Davis, No. 85).

“We started talking about San Francisco last night,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “We put some specific players in jerseys today to kind of simulate some of the things that (San Francisco) does. This is like a game week for (the team).”

McDaniels also had some profound words for the team’s current starting running back, former Philadelphia Eagle Correll Buckhalter.

“Buck, he is kind of like the rest of our backs. He has got a lot of versatility. He can, certainly, run the ball. He has got a great, great burst. (He) may be our fastest back. He probably is. We aren’t ever going to time them and run them out here, but he is probably our fastest back. He is very good in pass protection, catches the ball very well (and) comes from a program where they don’t accept anything other than winning. A lot of those things are very positive. Buck has been a great influence on some of our younger players. There is really nothing that disappoints you about Correll. He shows up every day ready to work.”

More from Broncos camp including a preview of Friday night’s game to come.

 

Big Surprises Fill Denver Broncos’ First Depth Chart

When the Denver Broncos travel to San Francisco for their first preseason game, their starting lineup will feature a few surprises.

The biggest shocker is wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who has been demoted to the second-team offense for missing all of the offseason workouts and a good majority of training camp due to an injury and holdout.

This move is sure to stir the pot with Marshall, but as a professional, one would expect him to use it as motivation to prove the coaching staff that he is worthy. Josh McDaniels may be hard-nosed, but he is not stupid. Brandon Marshall will play.

The Broncos’ starting running back situation is sure to heat up as the preseason rolls along. For now, the first string back will be Correll Buckhalter, who was acquired earlier this offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rookie Knowshon Moreno is currently fourth on the Broncos depth chart, but McDaniels and company have hopes for him to be the every-down back in Denver.

Jabar Gaffney, who quietly has had one of the best camps of any player on the team, was rewarded with his hard work and superior knowledge of the offense by being named the starting wide receiver opposite Eddie Royal. Brandon Stokley is the third starting receiver for the Broncos, who opted not to use a fullback in the starting lineup.

The starting defensive line has not changed since OTA’s, as Ryan McBean, Kenny Peterson, and Ronald Fields will anchor the front for Denver.

The starting linebacker group has a surprise on the outside with veteran special-teams ace Mario Haggan getting the nod opposite Elvis Dumervil.

Haggan has great size at 6’3″ and 265 pounds. The fact that he is a special teams ace indicates he has exceptional speed. He will be hard pressed to keep this job for long though, as rookie Robert Ayers is right on his heels.

The Broncos’ starting defensive backfield is, as expected, one of the best in the NFL with Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, and training camp MVP Andre’ Goodman.

Here is a look at the official depth chart as it stands right now.

Broncos Offense

WR	19 E. Royal	84 B. Lloyd	11 K. McKinley	12 M. Willis
LT	78 R. Clady	76 T. Polumbus	68 S. Bryant
LG	50 B. Hamilton	70. S. Olsen	60 M. McChesney
C	62 C. Wiegmann	67 K. Lichtensteiger	63 B. Schlueter
RG	73 C. Kuper	61 M. Erickson	72 P. Murray
RT	74 R. Harris	77 B. Gorin	71 C. Oldenburg
TE	89 D. Graham	88 T. Scheffler	81 R. Quinn	87 J. Putzier
				85 M. Branson
WR	14 B. Stokley	83 N. Swift	13 T. Shelton
WR	19 J. Gaffney	15 B. Marshall	16 C. Jackson	17 C.J. Jones
QB	8 K.Orton	2 C. Simms	3 T. Brandstater
RB	28 C. Buckhalter	32 L. Jordan	22 P. Hillis	27 K. Moreno
				42 R. Torain
				34 D. Walker

 

Broncos Defense

DE	98 R. McBean	79 M. Thomas
NT	91 R. Fields	75 C. Baker	97 C. Powell
DE	90 K. Peterson	99 M. Askew	64 E. Pedescleaux	93 N. Clemons
				65 R. Davis
OLB	57 M. Haggan	95 D. Reid	96 T. Crowder
ILB	55 D.J. Williams	59 W. Woodyard	51 L. Robinson
ILB	54 A. Davis	46 S. Larsen	48 B. Kelley
OLB	92 E. Dumervil	56 R. Ayers	94 J. Moss
LCB	24 C. Bailey	33 A. Smith	35 D.J. Johnson	40 R. Moulton
RCB	21 A. Goodman	26 J. Williams	25 J. Bell	37 T. Carter
SS	23 R. Hill	30 D. Bruton	36 J. Barrett
FS	20 B. Dawkins	31 D. McBath	39 V. Fox

 

Broncos Specialists

P	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt
K	5 M. Prater
KO	5 M. Prater	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt
PR	33 A. Smith	12 M. Willis	13 T. Shelton
KR	33 A. Smith	12 M. Willis	13 T. Shelton
PC	66 L. Paxton	73 C. Kuper	88 T. Scheffler
KC	66 L. Paxton	73 C. Kuper	88 T. Scheffler
H	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt	8 K. Orton

Why Can’t We Be Friends?: QB Swap Aside, There Is No Bears-Broncos Rift

Since when can you not have a reasonable conversation between Bears and Broncos fans?

Unless you have been living under a rock, the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears struck a deal early in April when the Broncos traded their Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler and a fifth-round pick to the Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round picks, and a third-round pick.

Ever since that day, the two franchises’ fanbases have been at each other’s throats, almost like Broncos and Raiders fans.

It makes sense why Broncos fans have a bit of animosity. Their supposed “franchise” quarterback demanded a trade from their beloved home team and has dissed the team, fans, and city on numerous occasions.

But that does not mean Broncos fans give a rat’s behind about the rest of the Bears’ team.

So why do Bears fans keep bludgeoning Orton with criticism?

Are they insecure?

Did Orton demand a trade?

Did the Bears win more games than the Broncos will with him at the helm?

I do not like to generalize, but many Bears fans seem to believe that Orton is destined for failure in the Mile High City, but on what premise?

Brandon Marshall, begrudgingly or not, returns to Denver in 2009 as the team’s leading receiver over the last two seasons. Only Wes Welker has more receptions than Marshall since the beginning of the 2007 season, and he is one of the better receivers in the NFL at getting yards after the catch.

Second-year receiver Eddie Royal led the Broncos in all-purpose yardage last season, compiling 91 receptions for 981 yards, 109 rushing yards, 600 kick return yards, and 140 punt return yards. 

Fourth-year tight end Tony Scheffler led the NFL in yards per reception among tight ends last year at 16.1.

Brandon Stokley is widely considered to be one of the top slot receivers of all time and has been Orton’s favorite target in training camp.

Jabar Gaffney was a red zone star for the Patriots, catching seven of his eight touchdown passes inside the opponent’s 20-yard line for them.

Peyton Hillis is a power back who can run, catch, and block as well as any fullback/tight end/H-back in the league. If you do not believe me, just check out his YouTube credentials.

First-round pick Knowshon Moreno is also an electric option on offense, and the Broncos feel he can be an every-down back at this level because of his power, receiving skills, and blocking skills.

The Broncos also had an offensive line that allowed Cutler to be sacked 11 times in 2008 on 616 pass attempts, better than any other team in the NFL.

So what is it, Bears fans? Why will you not leave Denver alone here? 

Do you all want to see Orton fail, or are you simply bitter that while you inherited the better quarterback physically, you also still have a meager excuse for offensive supporting talent while Denver’s offensive group is world-class?

Ultimately, there is no connection between Bears fans and Broncos fans. Broncos fans have reason to be connected to Bears fans, as their dim-witted quarterback demanded a trade from the clear better situation.

But why do Bears fans care about Orton anymore if he is so bad?

What is the need to raise sand with Broncos fans over a quarterback who was happy to be in Chicago?

Since the trade, Cutler has made more negative news than any other player in the NFL that does not include legal issues.

He was recently quoted as saying Broncos fans are a “six” compared to Chicago’s fans, which are a “nine.”

While the Bears did get a greater turnout for their training camp session, the Broncos and their fans have sold out every home game since the 1970s. There was no reason for Cutler to call out Denver fans the way he did, although nobody really cares what he says anymore.

There is no denying Cutler is the superior athlete to Orton. He has a stronger arm, is faster, and is willing to take more risks.

In other words, Cutler is the better video game quarterback.

For the Broncos, Orton will be a game manager and a leader of the offense. He struggles throwing the deep ball, but he is more than capable of making any and every NFL throw.

On paper, it seems each team has what the other needs. Aside from the quarterback position, the Broncos have a superior secondary, but the Bears have the better front seven. The Broncos have a stellar offensive line, and the Bears’ offensive line is comprised of aging players and castoffs. 

Due to the fact that neither team will play each other for a couple of years, unless they meet in the Super Bowl, why is there animosity between fanbases?

It certainly is not because of Kyle Orton.

Denver Broncos Training Camp Notes Day Eight: Moreno Agrees to Terms

After the longest rookie holdout Denver Broncos fans of this generation have known, Knowshon Moreno has finally agreed to terms with the team on a contract.

The rookie out of Georgia, selected 12th overall in April’s draft, has agreed to a deal worth $23 million over five years with $13 million guaranteed.

As luck would have it for Moreno, his first day on the job will be the day off, as the Broncos will not hold any training camp sessions on Saturday.  His first practice will be on Sunday afternoon.

The return of Moreno finally gives the Broncos the full dream offensive weaponry they have been hoping for since they took him with their first of two first-round selections in the draft.

The Broncos feel that an offensive combination of Moreno, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, and Peyton Hillis on the field at one time will be so threatening to opposing defenses, the Broncos will have their way.

And why should they feel otherwise?

Moreno is expected by many to be the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.  Brandon Marshall is a top ten receiver in this league, and made the Pro Bowl in 2008.  Eddie Royal had 91 receptions as a rookie, and led the team in all-purpose yardage. 

Tony Scheffler is one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, averaging over 16 yards per catch last season.  Peyton Hillis emerged late last season as one of the most punishing running backs in the NFL, and has better hands than most wide receivers.

And that is not even the half of it.

I did not even mention Daniel Graham, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Chad Jackson, or rookies Richard Quinn and Kenny McKinley.

How about key reserve runners Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and Ryan Torain?

With this arsenal, how can Kyle Orton not succeed?

Did I mention the Broncos have an offensive line that only surrendered 11.5 sacks on 620 pass attempts in 2008?

Maybe this is an overly optimistic view, but the signing of Moreno makes the Broncos a better team, all over the place.

Despite the media’s view that the Broncos are a horrible team with the loss of Jay Cutler at quarterback, when you say it out loud, this team screams potential, and it screams character.

Now that every Bronco is on board, this team can focus on doing what it has done more than any other NFL franchise the last 25 years: win football games.

Is it Sunday yet?

Denver Broncos Training Camp Notes Day Seven: Orton Gets Booed

It was quite an eventful day seven for the Denver Broncos despite an afternoon practice where no starter was seen wearing pads of any sort.

After what appeared to be a pregame practice early in the day, the Denver Broncos arrived to Invesco Field at Mile High to the eyes of 13,400-plus fans, the most of any practice in franchise history.

While the practice was full of surprises, there is some other breaking news that must be shared prior to recapping the festivities.

Bronco fans received a bit of bad news when they learned that newly acquired safety Brian Dawkins had broken his hand.

The Denver Post is reporting that the broken bone in Dawkins’ hand will not keep him out of the season opener against Cincinnati, but that there is a good chance he will be held out of the whole preseason.

On the brighter side of things, rookie running back Knowshon Moreno is reportedly close to signing a five-year deal with the Broncos worth roughly $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

Unfortunately for Moreno, his seven-day holdout ends with him as the fifth or sixth running back on Denver’s depth chart. He will need to get back on head coach Josh McDaniels’ good graces, and fast, if he wants playing time, and I believe he will.

On to the practice notes.

As many may have heard by now, quarterback Kyle Orton was “booed” during practice.  The reports of his being booed because of interceptions thrown to Andre Goodman are completely false. 

Orton was trying to hook up with Jabar Gaffney on a deep out route, and overthrew him.  On the following play, Orton hit Gaffney, who dropped the pass.  A couple of plays after that, Eddie Royal dropped a perfect pass from Orton across the middle.

Both receivers were also booed.

Matt Prater was also booed after missing his first two field goal attempts, but he proceeded to make three in a row after that.

Let me address the Orton picks by saying this: The interceptions should not be attributed to poor play on the part of our new quarterback, but excellent plays by the defensive unit. 

The first pick was a jumped route by Goodman who came out of nowhere to steal a sure touchdown from Jabar Gaffney. Goodman turned the pick into a touchdown of his own.

The second pick was the result of the Broncos’ pass rush, which got to Orton and hit his arm as he threw. The hobbling pass fell straight into Goodman’s arms.

Other than that, Orton found the open receiver roughly seven times out of 10.  His favorite targets appeared to be Brandon Stokley and Tony Scheffler, but Eddie Royal had his share of touches as well.

Chris Simms and Orton continued to give the fans a good look at new receiver Brandon Lloyd, who has made a significant impact in training camp and possibly has earned a roster spot.

There were also reports that safety Josh Barrett was lining up as a middle linebacker in practice, and it appeared that those reports were true tonight. On multiple occasions, Barrett was identified by Simms as the “mike”, or mike linebacker.

The Broncos’ pass rush was in full form tonight as Ronald Fields. Andra Davis, and Darrell Reid all found their way to either Kyle Orton or Chris Simms for a sack.

One area where Broncos fans seemed to be very impressed was in special teams, particularly when Alphonso Smith and Kenny McKinley took reps as kick returners and both showed their great speed with some long run backs.

The team was without Brandon Marshall, Dawkins, and Rulon Davis for tonight’s practice session, but all figure to be back for the regular season, if not sooner.

Either way, Denver fans who complain about the assessments of Jamie Dukes and other mainstream media outlets for “bashing” the Broncos should realize that they are adding fuel to the fire by booing their quarterback during practice.

While it is the only measurement we have at the moment, take these practices for what they are—practice. The poor passes Orton made tonight came at a time when the defense knew he was passing, and the offense was without its top receiver.

There is no excuse for poor play, but if Orton is already being written off after getting booed for missing a couple of passes during practice, we better throw every other NFL quarterback under the bus.

Broncos fans were just having a good time at practice, booing for what they did not like, and giving a thunderous applause for what they did like.

What I am trying to convey here is that there is no need to worry about this one practice.  Orton has looked fine in the other sessions, and we have not even played a preseason game yet.

 

 

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