Here Come Hard Knocks: HBO Series Reveals Challenges for Broncos’ Opener

I love HBO. Year after year, their shows remain just a bit juicier than the stuff found on network television. Maybe it’s because they can get away with more. Maybe the swear words, violence, and adult situations are the key to superior entertainment in America today.

That is certainly the case with Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals. One thing’s for sure, if the Denver Broncos aren’t using this show as a means to study their first regular season opponent, they definitely should be.

Now, I realize Hard Knocks doesn’t give away everything. The Bengals’ leadership is smart enough to keep all their real secrets to themselves. However, there’s no denying that teams who participate in this series year after year also reveal their mentality, their attitude, and most importantly, the frustrations with which they are dealing.

Similar to the way that some investment analysts look past fundamentals (the “numbers” behind a stock), much, if not more, can be predicted by things other than systems, playbooks and former stats. Hard Knocks is a great examination of the humanistic, emotional side of the team.

The first thing to look at is the way the Bengals are attempting to soothe the sting of last year’s dismal 4-11-1 season. “Everybody knows how excited we are. We can’t wait to get to work and get that bad taste out of our mouth from last season,” stated head coach Marvin Lewis during the team’s training camp kickoff party.

The slogans “Fight Back!!” and “Sacrifice!!” are constantly repeated and even printed on t-shirts handed out to the players at the start of camp. The point is to never underestimate the recently humiliated, which can be said for both the Bengals and Broncos.

The personalities of the players and the relationships they’ve created with each other can also be very telling. Let’s look at two of the most important players, Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco.

You’ll notice there’s a world of difference between their effect on the franchise and that of wide receiver Brandon Marshall and ex-Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. While the petulance, selfishness and greed of Marshall and Cutler have dominated Denver headlines this offseason, Palmer and Ochocinco have brought more positive attributes to their preseason environment.

Both are extremely funny, which helps a great deal in keeping the team relaxed and unified. Although Ochocinco’s antics have been a little distracting in the past, there’s no denying his work ethic. The show does a good job of showing how he is, for the most part, able to balance both lightheartedness and seriousness. The things that come out of Palmer’s mouth are hilarious.

At the same time, his skills as a mentor and communicator, even while injured, are helping him manage an offense that is anything but a circus. Numerous other coaches and veteran players are doing their part to create a relatively healthy locker room atmosphere. Anyone with a decent amount of football knowledge can tell you the huge importance of this.

Like any other team, things aren’t perfect for the Bengals. As I said before, players like Ochocinco are a double edged sword. As much as a talented player’s high energy, celebrations and all around mojo can make a team gel, too much of the same can create interruption and overconfidence. Cincinnati’s time in the spotlight on HBO has shown several possible deterrents to a successful opener against the Broncos.

With the likely possibility of Brandon Marshall playing in the opener, an interesting matchup of big headed wide receivers is in the cards. The balance between good showmanship and a good old fashion sideshow could very well wind up tipping in the direction of the bearded woman.

The only difference is that this bearded woman is an NFL receiver who likes to twitter, run his mouth, and pout when the chips are down. If Ochocinco gets in a groove, Broncos beware; but if Denver’s eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey comes out strong like he should, 85’s energy, in the form of frustration, will work just as effectively against the Bengals.

If you think Ochocinco is Cincinnati’s biggest bad boy, then I would have to say “Child Please!” Enter Chris Henry. This guy makes B-Marsh look like an upstanding young gentleman.

His rap sheet includes marijuana possession, driving without a valid driver’s license or insurance (2005), concealment and aggravated assault with a firearm, reported connection to an alleged sex crime, a DUI in Ohio (2006), providing alcohol to minors, allegedly failing a court-mandated drug test, allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old boy with teammate Reggie McNeal, allegedly assaulting a valet attendant, violating his probation (2007), and finally, allegedly punching a man and throwing a beer bottle through the window of his car (2008).

On the show, Henry is less than convincing while explaining how he’s going to stay out of trouble. In a preseason game, Coach Lewis has to scold him for celebrating in front of the opposing team’s sideline. Needless to say, Henry might just be a source of negativity for a team that is trying to “fight back.”

While he won’t directly affect Denver in the upcoming matchup, Andre Smith is yet another piece of evidence that points towards the Bengals tendency towards a chaotic franchise and locker room. Smith was suspended from the Sugar Bowl for allegedly dealing with an agent other than his own.

He then proceeded to show up to the NFL Combine and Alabama Pro Day overweight and otherwise out of shape. After holding out through the first three preseason games, Smith fractured his foot just two days after reporting to practice. This whole situation reflects badly on both parties.

Shame on the Bengals for once again drafting a player with a checkered past. Shame on Smith for being more focused on money than on the actual game of football.

Vegas bookies are keeping a close line on this one, with the favor slightly on the side of Cincinnati. My guess is that those same professional score predictors have used HBO’s Hard Knocks as at least one piece of evidence.

That said, when the word “allegedly” shows up too many times in the bios of your players, it’s safe to say that the season will be a gamble. Denver has shown slow but constant improvement. Will it be enough to eclipse the tacky, yet unrefined talent amassed on the Bengal’s sideline?

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Here We Go: A Final Look at The Denver Broncos Running Backs

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The Mile High backfield is deep, but lacks a proven star. It also remains to be seen how coach Josh McDaniels’ stable of running backs will function behind an offensive line that will employ far less zone blocking than during the Mike Shanahan era.

 

Knowshon Moreno

A plethora of injuries/soap operas hit the Broncos this preseason, but no player’s absence hurt Denver’s development more than that of rookie running back Knowshon Moreno. While he may not be the key to this offense’s success, he has the most breakout potential and his absence due to an MCL sprain surely hindered his maturation process.

He looked solid in short action during the team’s first preseason game, but has barely even taken the practice field since the knee injury.

Moreno could very well be Pro Bowl caliber running back by this time next year, especially considering he already possesses the blocking and receiving skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.

He has ideal size and speed with a knack for hitting the correct hole and hitting it hard. He will be used often as a receiving back, but will get plenty of carries as the year progresses.

Moreno’s fellow backs are capable veterans, but he will need to succeed if the Denver running game expects to.

 

Correll Buckhalter

With Moreno missing much of the preseason, Buckhalter looks to be the starter for week one.  However, he will only hold the spot as long as Moreno allows it.

An extremely diverse back with excellent receiving skills, Buckhalter seems to be a perfect fit in the Broncos offense and would have fit right in during McDaniels’ days in New England.

Even if Moreno does take Buckhalter’s role atop the depth chart, he will serve as a quality back all season as a Kevin Faulk type.

 

Peyton Hillis

Well, he’s not going to lead the team in rushing as he did in 2008 for an injury-ravaged Denver backfield, however, Peyton Hillis will serve an integral role in Denver’s new system due to his ability to line up all over the field.

Expect McDaniels to use him in much the same way he used Heath Evans with the Patriots. Hillis will serve as a fullback/halfback combo and be given small essential assignments in McDaniels’ complex packages.

His numbers won’t be too impressive, but expect a few juicy goal line carries that could result in some scores.

 

Lamont Jordan

Lamont Jordan struggled with a calf injury for much of his 2008 season with the Patriots, and has continued to spend plenty of time on the sidelines this preseason with injuries.

After McDaniels signed him to a 2-year, $2.5 million deal, Jordan promptly underperformed at camp and nearly lost his roster spot to Notre Dame product Darius Walker (who found a home on the Denver practice squad).

While his experience in the offense makes him a valuable guy to have around for a team still learning the system, don’t expect Jordan to stick around long or get many carries this season.

 

GRADE: B

It all comes down to Moreno.

If he can capitalize on his wealth of potential, then the Denver backs should each find their roles in an offense that calls for RB’s aplenty and the backfield will flourish. If he struggles to adapt to the pro game, then the Broncos are looking at a stable of also-rans that isn’t going to impress anyone.

 

Check out this last look at the QB’s

 

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A Final Look at the Denver Broncos’ Quarterbacks

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The Broncos’ quarterback position has constantly been referred to by pundits as the point guard of Josh McDaniels’ spread offense. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, it does reflect the QB’s role as a distributor who is not asked to be a playmaker on his own.

 

Kyle Orton

Starter Kyle Orton will be expected to serve as the “game manager” (a term used ad nauseum these days) in the Broncos’ new dink-and-dunk offense.

He will rarely be asked to create plays all by himself, but rather will be expected to quickly and efficiently dish the ball out to Denver’s many offensive weapons on a plethora of screens, crossing patters, short hitches and so on.

There are several quality indicators that point to Orton flourishing in the Broncos’ new offensive scheme:

-Dating back to his years at Purdue, Orton has always been considered a safety-first type of quarterback (despite any left-handed goal-line interceptions Denver fans may have seen during the preseason). This is exactly the type of field captain McDaniels is looking for.

-He flourished in a shotgun-based offense while at Purdue and is well-versed in the basic sets of the scheme. While the Broncos’ system is far more intricate and complex than the simple spread he ran with the Boilermakers, Orton’s well ahead of the game considering his college experience with multi-receiver sets and the shotgun.

-Orton has seemingly solved many of the mechanics issues (loose footwork, awkward arm motion on the deep ball) that plagued him early on in his NFL career and his numbers have improved accordingly. He posted career-highs in nearly every category last season (79.6 QB rating) despite struggling mightily with a high ankle sprain for much of the second half.

That said, it remains to be seen how a quarterback with a career 55.3 completion percentage can be the efficient game manager McDaniels needs to run his offense. Orton did complete a career-high 58.5 percent of his passes last season, but that number still ranked 25th in the league.

Many Orton supporters point to his 21-12 record as an NFL starter, but it has always seemed a bit irrational to give much weight to this number in the ultimate team sport (and that’s coming from a hardcore John Elway fan – the ultimate winning record example). While it proves Orton is capable of winning, his record as a starter in no way proves he is a legitimate starting QB in this league.

Denver fans and much of the national media have been awfully critical of Orton thus far, but the already-beleaguered QB may be on a longer leash than one might think. He has been the unquestioned starter since arriving and his position atop the depth chart becomes even stronger after a taking a look at the Broncos opening schedule.

Assuming he is healthy enough to start Week One following his finger injury, Orton will open against Cincinnati, Oakland, and Kansas City before the Broncos enter one of the toughest stretches for any team this season (Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers). While the schedule as a whole is daunting, a 3-0 record to start the season would only further cement Orton as the Broncos’ starter and secure him at least four or five more starts behind center.

Orton was up-and-down during the preseason before missing the final game-and-a-half with a grotesque dislocated finger injury. He is expected back to start in Week One.

 

Chris Simms

The best possible scenario for this 2009 squad would be if Chris Simms does not take a single meaningful snap.

This is less a knock on Simms’ ability as it is a nod to the situation Denver would have to be in for Simms to take the field. If Simms were to find himself as the team’s starting QB, it means one of two things – either Orton has been seriously injured or he (and most likely the team as a whole) has performed so poorly that he has been pulled in favor of Simms.

The Texas alum has not seen extended action since 2006 while with the Bucs. A high ankle sprain that caused him to miss most of the preseason hasn’t helped his reputation as an injury risk.

Simms has yet to prove he is a legitimate NFL quarterback and may slide into the journeyman backup mold if not given a chance to start this season.

He has solid arm strength and is capable of making most throws on the field, but tended to randomly float throws at times in Tampa. His major weakness is an absolute inability to handle pressure – both in the pocket and in big games.

Regardless of Simms’ capabilities, Orton represents the best option for the Broncos this season if for no other reason than the fact that he has participated in far more reps with the first team offense.

While neither QB is a long-term solution or even an ideal solution at this point, Orton has been pegged as the starter and abandoning him at any point during the season would signal a major failure for both the offense and McDaniels.

 

Tom Brandstater

Before anyone gets carried away following Tom Brandstater’s rather impressive performance to close out the preseason, let’s get one thing straight – he is not the quarterback of the future.

The Fresno State product was 24-of-42 for 297 yards and an interception in Denver’s final two preseason games while leading the team on a 77-yard touchdown drive against the Arizona Cardinals. It was an inspiring bounce-back from his embarrassing performance to finish out the second preseason game in Seattle, when he looked absolutely lost.

The Broncos love his size (6’5”, 220 pounds) and his numbers as a junior and senior were solid at Fresno State (33 TD, 17 INT).

As a WAC quarterback, however, he’s still a second class citizen and he’s got a long, long way to go before he’s anywhere near starting in the NFL.

 

GRADE: C

The quarterback position cannot help but be considered a weakness until Kyle Orton proves he is capable of taking the next step. He showed signs before the ankle injury in 2008 and has way more talent in Denver, but he remains a wildcard.

Regardless, the Broncos are better with him than without him, so he better be back from his preseason finger injury by Week One.

 

Check out this last look at the RB’s.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

2009 Denver Broncos: Team Captains Announced

 

The title of captain is reserved for a person who is at the head of or is in authority over others. A captain is a person of great power and influence who leads or commands others.

A captain is the chief officer in command in a naval vessel, on an airplane, or on the field of battle.

An Army captain is the leader of a company of troops that usually consists of 130-150 soldiers. This field commander is charged with both the safety of his men and the successful execution of the company’s mission.

A captain is a leader of men, a person of good repute and authority whom others look to for direction.

In the realm of sports, much like the field of battle, a captain is a field commander.  A captain provides inspiration to his fellow teammates.  He makes sure they know their jobs and are ready to complete them. A captain leads by example both in preparation and performance on the field.     

As the Denver Broncos prepare to open up the 2009 season this Sunday in Cincinnati there was one order of business needed to be finalized. The players took care of this yesterday as the voted to name their 2009 team captains.

 

Casey Wiegmann

A veteran center in his 14th year playing in the NFL coming off a Pro-Bowl season, Casey knows a thing or two about how to play the game of football. He is an invaluable leader on Denver’s offensive line; communicating with the rest of the lineman and making the changes in protection at the line protect the quarterback.

 

Kyle Orton

A fifth year player in the NFL, this will be the second team that Orton has been voted to captain, having been charged with the duty in Chicago last year as well. The quarterback position lends itself to leadership on the field. The quarterback calls the plays, knows everyone’s job, lines the players up, reads the defense, and makes the necessary adjustments.   

 

Daniel Graham

An eight year veteran tight end, this will be Graham’s second year as a captain for the Denver Broncos. One of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL, Graham leads by example on the field with his play and in the locker room as he promotes a team first attitude.

 

Champ Bailey

Champ is regarded as the best at what he does. Aside from a Raider named Nnamdi, there is not another corner back in the NFL who even enters the conversation. This is the third year Champ will represent the team as a captain as he leads by example with his play and work ethic both in practice and on game day.      

 

Brian Dawkins

B-Dawk has been playing NFL football for fourteen years.  All of them, up until this year, were spent with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Dawkins was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles for the the past decade leading his team on and off the field with passion and intensity.  He knows no other way to play the game. 

This seven time Pro-Bowler doesn’t know how not to be a leader, it is written in his DNA. B-Dawk was an obvious choice to be a team captain for the Denver Broncos and all gathered in Mile High this year will hear his leadership from the stands as he guides our team to victory.

 

Mario Haggan 

It has taken Haggan  seven years in the NFL to finally find his niche. Playing mostly on special teams in Buffalo for most of his career Haggan finally found a home in Denver after being challenged to switch positions from inside to outside linebacker.  Haggen knows what it means to work hard and fight for your job and this attitude coupled with his years of experience have impressed his teammates so much that he was appointed a captain on defense.

 

Wesley Woodyard 

Second year inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard was no doubt voted special teams captain for his consistent play, nose for the ball, and leadership abilities on a young Broncos team.

Seven captains in all: Three on offense, three on defense and one on special teams, these men were voted to be captains by their fellow teammates because they recognize these individuals as being leaders among them. They are the people they would go to if they needed help, advice or had a concern. These men serve proudly as stewards of the team both on and off the field and Denver’s success will be directly as a result of their ability to lead their team.

Much like their military counterparts these seven captains will be charged with helping to keep their team safe both on and off the field while making sure that they complete their mission of winning football games. They are a fine group and worthy of their positions as 2009 Denver Broncos team captains.

[ Writers Note: I know Sayre beat me to the punch  in posting this article, but I already had it written and I have a little bit of a different angle and style on it I think.  Hopefully you enjoy both articles]

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Name Seven Team Captains For 2009 Season

Seven new players will don the captain’s “C” on their right chest plate for the 2009 Denver Broncos.

Head coach Josh McDaniels announced prior to the team’s practice session on Wednesday afternoon who these players would be, and elected by their teammates were:

Offense

1. QB Kyle Orton
2. C Casey Wiegmann
3. TE Daniel Graham

Defense

1. CB Champ Bailey
2. S Brian Dawkins
3. LB Mario Haggan

Special Teams

1. Wesley Woodyard

This is a very respectable group of players for the Broncos.

Quarterback Kyle Orton is in his first year with the team, and has already won them over enough to warrant the status of captain.  It is not out of the ordinary for Orton to be a captain, though.

In 2008, Orton was an offensive captain for the Bears as well, and veteran linebacker Brian Urlacher, one of the best defensive players this league has ever known, had only great things to say about Orton upon his departure.

“He’s a real solid quarterback,” Urlacher said. “He does what he needs to do to win the game. You look at his career record as a starter—he wins games. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you win.”

Say what you want, Bears fans, but that statement is coming from the best player you have had since Walter Payton.  He must know a little something about the game, and his teammates.

This is also a testament to veteran center Casey Wiegmann, one of three Broncos represented in the Pro Bowl in 2008.

Wiegmann, like fellow Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall, had a dispute over his contract this offseason.  He stated publicly that he would retire if not given more financial security before training camp started, but unlike Marshall, Wiegmann attended every mandatory workout this offseason.

He never missed practice and never put up a fuss.  He proved to management and his teammates that despite the fact that he wanted more money, he was not going to risk getting better over it.

While Wiegmann and Orton are both first time captains for the Broncos, tight end Daniel Graham is on his second go-round with these duties.

Graham has been a force in the locker room since coming to Denver.  He is never afraid to voice his opinion (i.e. Brandon Marshall situation) and his actions on the field speak louder than his words.

Graham is widely considered one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL, although quietly so.  He was signed to a very lucrative deal by Denver in 2007, and has maintained his status as an elite blocking tight end while also improving greatly in his pass receiving skills.

Champ Bailey is the most seasoned of the Denver team captains.  He is in his third year of duty in this role with the Broncos, and the reasons do not need an explanation.

Bailey is not the most vocal leader on the team, but he certainly leads by example.  He is considered an elite cornerback in this league today, and is also projected by many to be in the Hall of Fame someday.  A well deserved recognition for the ten year veteran.

Joining Bailey as a captain in Denver’s defensive backfield is safety Brian Dawkins, whose choice as a captain comes as no surprise whatsoever.

Dawkins is a vocal and spiritual leader who also leads by example with his play on the field.  He has been a captain for the Eagles since many can remember, and his mental and physical toughness make him a prime candidate for this spot in Denver.

The third defensive captain is a first time captain for the Broncos in linebacker Mario Haggan. 

Haggan is beginning his second season in Denver and his first as a starter.  Throughout his career, he has been primarily a special teams star, but the Broncos saw enough in the veteran to offer him a contract extension.  It has to be a huge honor for him to have been voted as captain by his peers.

On special teams, the Broncos voted second year linebacker Wesley Woodyard as the captain.

Woodyard earned a spot on last year’s roster because of his special teams prowess, and continues to be a star contributor in that area for Denver.

A very worthy group of players, indeed will represent the Broncos as captains this season.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Mario Haggan Extended By Broncos, Brandon Marshall Next?

The Denver Broncos made a couple of very surprising moves on Wednesday.

They started by re-signing outside linebacker Mario Haggan to a two year, $3.5 million deal with $1.25 million in guaranteed cash, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Haggan was brought on last year to fill in as an injury replacement, and has been considered one of the better special teams players in the league over the last couple of years.

He won a starting job in Denver this offseason, and has impressed the team to the point where they deemed it necessary to lock him up for the next two seasons.

In addition to re-signing Haggan, the Broncos reportedly are talking new contract with wide receiver Brandon Marshall. 

Marshall has twice requested a trade this offseason, many feeling the reason being his desire for more cash.

After it appeared as though the Broncos were skeptical, they apparently have changed their stance with Marshall’s recent progress.  Apparently his head is back on straight.

Per the report, there is “optimism” a deal could get done to keep Marshall a Bronco for a long time. 

Which is what he initially said he wanted. 

Marshall may get his wish indeed, and maybe a little pro-bono time off was just what this kid needed.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

What If… Josh McDaniels Is a Genius?!?

What if Josh McDaniels is a genius? I’ll admit “genius” may be a little bit of an overstatement.  More realistically, what if it all works out for McDaniels?

What if Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears struggle in 2009 and fail to make the playoffs.  The Denver Broncos benefit with a first round pick in the top 18 of the 2010 NFL Draft?

What if the New York Jets bite on a Brandon Marshall trade and send their first round pick for 2010 to the Broncos?

In the 2010 draft the Broncos select both Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant.  With his remaining picks McDaniels trades down, in typical New England form, to gather a dearth of picks.

In a few years an offensive nucleus of Bradford, Knowshon Moreno, and Dez Bryant thrives in Denver, Come the start of the 2012 season, the Denver Broncos are favorites to win the AFC West and push deep into the playoffs.

What if a scenario similar to this plays out for the Broncos?  Would Josh McDaniels be regarded as the next great architect in the NFL?

Think about it.

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Denver Broncos: Sizing Up the AFC West

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The NFL has a unique ebb and flow that is not found in other professional sports leagues. With few exceptions, teams that dominate the league rarely stay among the elite for more than five seasons.

Perhaps no division has been hit harder by this reality than the AFC West of the last few years. As the Denver Broncos enter the 2009-2010 season, they will face division opponents surrounded by several uncertainties and weaknesses.

 

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are the one team in the AFC West that has not changed its personnel much in the offseason.

With LaDainian Tomlinson’s recent injuries and decrease in production, the passing game has become San Diego’s main offensive threat. In 2008, Philip Rivers posted career highs in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating.

The Charger passing attack is built primarily on hitch routes and screens, simple passes that most defenses are willing to concede. Once the opposition commits to these short passes, San Diego can open them up by throwing downfield.

By switching to a 3-4 defense, the Broncos will have more speed and more coverage options against the pass, and Denver has signed several veteran defenders who match up better with the Chargers than last year’s defense.

San Diego’s defense is quick and athletic, intimidating opponents with frequent blitzing and hard hits. This could easily disrupt the timing of an already inconsistent quarterback like Kyle Orton, and neutralize the open field skills of Knowshon Moreno. Denver will benefit from the spread offense, designed to neutralize aggressive defenses and force them to account for several offensive options.

With Denver’s offense slightly less talented and defense slightly more talented than last season, look for lower scoring games against San Diego. Also keep an eye out for the Chargers and fourth quarter comebacks; they have a knack for turning certain defeat into thrilling victory in the last fifteen minutes.

 

Kansas City Chiefs

Like Josh McDaniels, new Kansas City head coach Todd Haley has worked with talented offenses such as Dallas and Arizona in his recent career. Haley takes over a team that finished 31st in total offense in 2007 and 24th in total offense in 2008. With the addition of Matt Cassel, the Chiefs should have more success in the passing game, opening up the ground attack for Larry Johnson, who frequently victimizes the Broncos.

In 2008, Kansas City’s defense finished 28th or worse in sacks, pass defense, rush defense, and points per game. This is the sort of problem that will take at least two seasons to improve upon. Against the Chiefs, Denver will be able to test all aspects of the spread offense, as Kansas City is one of the worst defensive teams the Broncos face all season.

The Chiefs are one of the youngest teams in the league, with 12 of 22 starters having four years of experience or less. The Broncos have only six starters in that category, and should benefit from veteran leadership against the Chiefs in 2009.

This seems to be one matchup that throughout the years has always produced close, competitive contests. Since the 2000 season, the road team in the Denver and Kansas City rivalry has won only three games. Look for one blowout win and one close game between the Broncos and Chiefs in 2009, with the home team winning each time.

 

Oakland Raiders

Unless Tom Cable makes drastic changes in his first full year as head coach, Oakland will continue to be a below average team. The Raiders have not won more than five games in a season since 2002, and have not improved much in this time period.

There is no question about the talent and speed of the Raider offense featuring JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, Javon Walker, and Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Raiders, however, do not have a solid game plan that maximizes the potential of these skill players. Look for most of the Raider points against Denver in 2009 to be set up by big plays, not sustained drives.

The addition of Richard Seymour will help round out a defense that gave up 192 rushing yards per game in 2008, good for last in the NFL. Against Denver’s spread offense, the Raiders will have matchup issues with the depth of Bronco wide receivers. This will allow Denver to run the ball with ease, something they should be able to do regardless of success in the passing game.

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Denver and Oakland will likely play low-scoring games in 2009, as neither team has the firepower to put up high scores. Denver matches up more evenly with Oakland than Kansas City or San Diego, so these will likely be the closest contests of any two division rivals in 2009.

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Denver Broncos Practice Notes, Sept. 8, 2009: Brandon Marshall Back in Action

Well, Brandon Marshall is back at practice, and he does not appear to be wearing pajama pants.

In all seriousness, this is a huge boost for the Denver Broncos, who also welcomed quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, running back Knowshon Moreno, and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney back to practice on Tuesday.

Head coach Josh McDaniels offered only a single word when asked about the attitude of Marshall—”Great.”

He also offered a one-word response when asked if Marshall would be ready to contribute on Sunday, saying, “Absolutely.”

It would appear as though Marshall and the Broncos have put their situation behind them for the time being. McDaniels seems to think so anyway.

“I have talked to him more than once,” McDaniels said. “We are looking forward to moving past this, and he’s out there practicing hard. That’s what we’re looking for.”

This is a huge boost for the Broncos. 

If Marshall is physically ready, he is an imposer of fear on the football field. He has been called “The Beast” and a “Whirling Dervish” for a reason. The dude can play some ball, and the Broncos realize that they have a much better chance of winning with him on the field.

“I think he is a good football player. If he is ready to go and we go through this week of practice and we feel like that’s the direction we should play on Sunday, then certainly we all know what he can do as a football player,” said McDaniels. “It is a matter of getting acclimated to enough of the game plan and him understanding what’s going on, but we’ll see as we go through the week.”

Marshall’s presence on the field will surely be a boost for whichever quarterback lines up under center for the Broncos on Sunday. The team is not guaranteeing Orton will be ready, but all systems appear to be “go” for the quarterback who suffered a very disturbing injury two weeks ago to his pointer finger.

“Obviously, there is a little bit of restriction for a quarterback when you’ve got something on your hand,” McDaniels said, “but for the most part, everything was clean. Hopefully, everybody that was out there today will be ready to go on Sunday.”

Virtually the same response was given by McDaniels when asked if rookie tailback Moreno would be available for the Cincinnati game.

“He is getting better every day, doing everything he can do to be ready to go on Sunday. He was in there today and worked in and out of the drills today and some of the team periods, too. He is not totally there yet, but he is getting better every day. Hopefully, we will have him ready to go on Sunday.”

It will be a huge development for Denver if they can begin the season with the roster we all anticipated at the outset of training camp, and Moreno is certainly part of that group.

It was also nice to see wide receiver Gaffney at practice despite his broken thumb. If you are unable to believe that someone could return to catching passes after suffering a broken thumb this quickly, here is proof.

The team is also very excited about Vonnie Holliday, a veteran defensive lineman who was brought in for a visit back in March.

According to McDaniels, “Vonnie has got some familiarity with the system that we run. We had him in earlier in the year. He was coming off of a little bit of a cleanup in terms of a little procedure and wasn’t quite ready to do a workout and all that kind of stuff.

“We brought him back in, stayed in touch, and I think it worked out for the best for everybody. He is excited to be here. We are excited to have him. I think he can help improve our depth on the defensive line. He has obviously played that position. He has got some knowledge about how to play it, and I think that is helpful for some of our younger players, too.”

Check back tomorrow evening for my preview of the Broncos-Bengals game.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Practice Notes 9/8/09: Brandon Marshall Back in Action

Well, Brandon Marshall is back at practice, and he does not appear to be wearing pajama pants.

In all seriousness, this is a huge boost for the Denver Broncos, who also welcomed quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, running back Knowshon Moreno, and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney back to practice on Tuesday.

Head coach Josh McDaniels offered only a single word when asked about the attitude of Marshall—”Great.”

He also offered a one word response when asked if Marshall would be ready to contribute on Sunday, saying “Absolutely.”

It would appear as though Marshall and the Broncos have put their situation behind them for the time being.  McDaniels seems to think so anyway.

“I have talked to him more than once,” McDaniels said, “We are looking forward to moving past this, and he’s out there practicing hard. That’s what we’re looking for.”

This is a huge boost for the Broncos. 

If Marshall is physically ready, he is an imposer of fear on the football field.  He has been called “The Beast” and a “Whirling Dervish” for a reason.  The dude can play some ball, and the Broncos realize that they have a much better chance of winning with him on the field.

“I think he is a good football player. If he is ready to go and we go through this week of practice and we feel like that’s the direction we should play on Sunday, then certainly we all know what he can do as a football player. It is a matter of getting acclimated to enough of the game plan and him understanding what’s going on, but we’ll see as we go through the week.”

Marshall’s presence on the field will surely be a boost for whichever quarterback lines up under center for the Broncos on Sunday.  The team is not guaranteeing Orton will be ready, but all systems appear to be “go” for the quarterback who suffered a very disturbing injury two weeks ago to his pointer finger.

“Obviously, there is a little bit of restriction for a quarterback when you’ve got something on your hand,” McDaniels said, “but for the most part, everything was clean. Hopefully, everybody that was out there today will be ready to go on Sunday.”

Virtually the same response was given by McDaniels when asked if rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno would be available for the Cincinnati game.

“He is getting better every day, doing everything he can do to be ready to go on Sunday. He was in there today and worked in and out of the drills today and some of the team periods, too. He is not totally there yet, but he is getting better every day. Hopefully, we will have him ready to go on Sunday.”

It will be a huge development for Denver if they can begin the season with the roster we all anticipated at the outset of training camp, and Moreno is certainly part of that group.

It was also nice to see wide receiver Jabar Gaffney at practice despite his broken thumb.  If you are unable to believe that someone could return to catching passes after suffering a broken thumb this quickly, here is proof.

The team is also very excited about Vonnie Holliday, a veteran defensive lineman who was brought in for a visit back in March.

“Vonnie has got some familiarity with the system that we run. We had him in earlier in the year. He was coming off of a little bit of a cleanup in terms of a little procedure and wasn’t quite ready to do a workout and all that kind of stuff.”

“We brought him back in, stayed in touch and I think it worked out for the best for everybody. He is excited to be here. We are excited to have him. I think he can help improve our depth on the defensive line. He has obviously played that position. He has got some knowledge about how to play it, and I think that is helpful for some of our younger players, too.”

Check back tomorrow evening for my preview of the Broncos-Bengals game.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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