NFL Team Previews: Denver Broncos

Pigskin Heaven’s Sascha Bartels is breaking down every single team in the NFL, prior to the season. Here is his analysis and forecast for the Denver Broncos. Click on a team to read its preview.

AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ

AFC North: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT

AFC South: IND | HOU | JAX | TEN

AFC West: DEN | KAN | OAK | SDG

NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS

NFC North: CHI | DET | GBA | MIN

NFC South: ATL | CAR | NOL | TBA

NFC West: ARI | STL | SFO | SEA

 

What’s New?

Well, I would say that the entire locker room is running around in “Hello, my name is ______” stickers, but then again, half the locker room were New England Patriots last year, so there is at least some familiarity.

The Broncos’ offseason started and for the first time in well over a decade, it wasn’t going to be run by Mike Shanahan. The Broncos instead tabbed, from the Patriots, Josh McDaniels.Then in February, the Broncos released Dre Bly, and later signed Brian Dawkins.

There were way too many free agent acquisitions to name, but some of the more notable ones include: running backs Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and J.J Arrington, as well as a ton of defensive help. Linebacker Andra Davis, corner Andre Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill, to name a few.

Then the mess began in Denver.

After rumors of shopping quarterback Jay Cutler were spread, Cutler became upset and, eventually, requested a trade. After several failed attempts to contact Cutler, the team honored his request by moving him to Chicago in exchange for Kyle Orton and draft picks.

That allowed the team to focus on the draft. While the bulk of the draft focused on defense, Denver did select running back Knowshon Moreno with the 12th pick, then used Chicago’s choice on end Robert Ayers.

Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and David Bruton were all added later in an attempt to bolster the secondary. And the Broncos ignored draft pundits who kept insisting they trade up for Mark Sanchez or at least select Josh Freeman, and took their signal caller in the sixth round, Tom Brandstater.

Now, with summer here, the headaches in Denver feature mostly Brandon Marshall, and his export from the team could be rather brisk.

Three Burning Questions

 

Can Orton Come Close To Equaling Cutler’s Production?

Kyle Orton earned a lot of praise for his play in Chicago last year, but to compare that with Cutler’s play in Denver is just not happening.

If Orton has Marshall to throw it to, then the talent he’s playing with this year dwarfs what he had in Chicago. If Marshall gets shipped out, then the talent edge has drastically dwindled.

I think Orton has never been a great quarterback, and he could succumb to the pressure now laid on him in Denver. I don’t expect many good things from him this year.

 

Is the Defense Actually Improved?

Denver really focused on making its defense better, so the question is, did they succeed?

Yes, I think they have. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not going to be making a bunch of headlines in 2009, but with Dumervil harassing other team’s quarterbacks and Dawkins joining Bailey in the secondary, plus a good array of linebackers between them, by the end of the season, Denver may have a defense further along than the offense.

Tabbing Mike Nolan to run the defense may be one of McDaniels’ best decisions of the offseason.

 

Will Eddie Royal, Peyton Hillis, and Tony Scheffler Continue Their Development?

It’s quite possible that this is a trio that shone thanks to Cutler at quarterback. Will they be the same weapons now that Orton is running the show?

My initial thought is no. Royal may be the most impacted, since Hillis and Scheffler at least play positions that quarterbacks like to check down to. It could be a long year for the passing game.

 

Fantasy Forecast

Good play: There aren’t too many Broncos I’d hitch my trailer to this season. If Brandon Marshall plays, he’ll get his stats, but that’s about it. Perhaps you can try to pick a workhorse RB and get lucky, but there’s not much else.

Avoid: Avoid Orton and Royal, as well as the defense. Orton has never been a viable fantasy player, and even if he has his full array of talent at his disposal, he’s still only at best, an emergency backup.

Sleeper: I think the sleeper will be Hillis. He’ll get in on many short yardage situations, and he can run and catch, plus he could easily account for about eight TD’s by the time the season’s over.

 

Prognosis

For the prognosis and final record, read the originally posted article here.

 

This is an original article by Pigskin Heaven Staffer, Sascha Bartels. You can read it, more of Sascha’s articles, and more from the Pigskin Heaven staff here.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Sign DL Vonnie Holliday, Final Roster Cuts No Surprise

The Denver Post is reporting that the Broncos have agreed to a contract with free agent defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday amidst their massive roster cuts.

Holliday is a 33-year-old veteran who at 6’5″ 288 pounds is a solid defensive lineman who started for the Dolphins last year.

In the wake of recently acquired DE Le Kevin Smith’s knee injury, Holliday’s signing became somewhat of a priority.

Holliday visited the Broncos back in March as well, but left town without signing a deal.

The Broncos have been busy making roster moves today, much like the rest of the league, and here is a list of players who did not make the final cut:

• DL Matthias Askew
• OL Kory Lichtensteiger
• QB Ingle Martin
• CB Rashod Moulton
• OT Clint Oldenburg
• DL Carlton Powell
• LB Lee Robinson
• WR Nate Swift
• RB Marcus Thomas
• WR Matt Willis
• CB Joshua Bell
• CB Tony Carter
• DE Everette Pedescleaux
• G Mitch Erickson
• DE/OLB Tim Crowder
• DE Nic Clemons
• RB Darius Walker
• OL Matt McChesney

There are a couple of surprising names on that list, especially for Broncos fans.

Tim Crowder was a second round pick in 2007, and after a solid rookie campaign, there were high hopes for him. 

Darius Walker was a guy that I thought had an excellent camp and preseason, and who proved worthy of a roster spot above veteran LaMont Jordan.

Kory Lichtensteiger was a fourth round pick last season, but the drafting of Seth Olsen and trading for Russ Hochstein made him expendable.

Fans were also really high on Nate Swift, and he is a strong candidate for the practice squad.

The real story of today, oddly enough, is that Jarvis Moss made the final cut.  Many thought he was on the bubble, and he was, but the Broncos saw enough in him this offseason to give him one more shot.  This will be the last go for Moss.  He needs to make an impact in 2009 or he will most certainly be let go by the 2010 season.

Keep an eye on any Patriots who are released today, or possibly quarterback Kevin O’Connell to be on the Broncos’ radar.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos ’09: Who Are These Guys And What Did They Do To My Team?

Ask any Bronco fan who the best coach in Bronco history was and they will answer with no hesitation, Mike Shanahan. No one casts a bigger shadow.

After the Broncos second Super Bowl, Shanahan became Broncos football. Somehow every year was going to be a Super Bowl year. That was the Shanahan promise.

Every year we started with a bright shiny offense that ran like clockwork and if something went wrong that was okay because next year we would just adjust this or that.

There is little doubt that Shanahan needed Elway as much as Elway needed Shanahan.  Most of Shanahan’s career after Elway was a search for a new Elway. No one ever looked more like Elway than Jay Cutler.

Cutler was going to be Shanahan’s salvation, the second coming. Shanahan was betting everything on the development of the young quarterback and the fans believed in Shanahan.

At the end of Cutler’s second year as a starter people began to doubt, the team was getting worse. Then Shanahan was fired and for some Broncos fans the world had been completely transformed. The certainty that seemed to exist with Shanahan was gone.

Suddenly the star quarterback was questioning the team owner. Demands flew, ultimatums were given.  The owner hired a young prodigy named Josh McDaniels and the star wouldn’t talk to him.

The drama kept on, the star traded, another star complaining. None of this happened with Shanahan so it must be the new guys fault. The witch hunt was on.

Through all of this the team was rebuilt, the preseason played and with the season about to begin few people really know who the Denver Broncos are anymore.

Last years defense, we are told, was terrible, so this year’s defense will have to be worse. Every small stumble was pointed to as the fatal flaw.

What has happened to the Broncos? Have they been rebuilt? What kind of season will they have? For the first time in 14 years Bronco fans are asking questions.

 

OFFENSE

The new offense has a lot of similarity to the old offense with a couple of notable changes. 

Orton is not Cutler

Cutler has a great arm. There was no throw Cutler couldn’t make. With Cutler on the field the Broncos were dangerous regardless of their field position.

Orton is a lot more of a ball control quarterback. He won’t hold the ball for the deep pattern, instead he’ll take the short pass and work down the field.

Orton’s first preseason game was labeled as disastrous because of three interceptions.  Before the first of those interceptions Orton had led an impressive drive. The second game saw Orton lead the same kinds of drives.

All of the evidence suggests Orton will have a strong year this year.  He progressively did better at controlling turnovers and made good throws. Even in the Chicago game, when he constantly had to overcome holding penalties he went 12-16 with no interceptions.

The question that the preseason left about Orton is whether he only threw short passes by design or because that was all that was available. The fact that the second team used more long throws suggests that Orton was throwing shorter by design because his strength is getting the ball out quickly.

 

Who Will Catch the Ball?

The wide receiver spot has gotten a lot of attention because of the Brandon Marshall hold out. Many pundits assumed that without Marshall the Broncos will struggle in the passing game.

The truly odd thing about Marshall is that he has one of the lowest catch rates among starting wide receivers. Marshall’s catch rate of 57 percent pales in comparison to that of his own teammate Eddie Royal whose catch rate of 71 percent is one of the best in the league.

In fact both Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney have catch rates of 58 percent. The evidence from preseason is that they are more than adequate replacements for Marshall

Add in Tight Ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham at 66 and 64 percent catch rates respectively, along with good pass catching running backs Knowshon Moreno and Peyton Hillis, the Broncos actually have plenty of solid receivers for a variety of situations.

The Offensive Line

One legacy of the Shanahan era is a solid offensive line. The only knock on the offensive line was depth. McDaniels addressed that nicely in the draft with Seth Olson and in free agency and with solid veterans like Russ Hochstein and Brandon Gorin. The Broncos front line will be bigger and deeper.

 

Running the Ball

Perhaps the biggest question mark offensively is the running game. The Broncos steadily progressed in the running game but really only showed up in the final preseason game. 

Moreno’s carries have been very limited due to injury, Buckhalter has been lackluster, and Lamont Jordan has not impressed. Hillis, last year’s surprise starter at running back for a few games, may be the second best running back on the team. A lot depends on Moreno staying healthy in the running game.

 

DEFENSE

The good thing about last year’s defense is that it wasn’t as bad as Detroit’s. The bad thing is that it was almost as bad.

After the Cutler debacle criticism of McDaniels was that if he didn’t devote the draft to the defensive line it would be a failure. When only one draft choice was used on a defensive lineman a new round of criticism began.

Almost unnoticed was a series of quiet free agent pickups that will prove to be very wise over the course of the season.

 

The Defensive Line

The symbol of Denver’s defensive futility in 2008 was its smallish defensive line. Teams simply overpowered in the running game and ignored them in the passing game.

While the critics lambasted McDaniels for not spending draft choices on defensive linemen, McDaniels was quietly importing free agent Ronnie Fields, Ryan McBean and LeKevin Smith.  Along with holdovers Kenny Peterson and Marcus Thomas, both of whom bulked up, the Broncos became much larger on the defensive line with McBean being the smallest at 290 pounds.

The preseason has revealed this squad as being strong enough to control the line and create penetration both against the run and the pass. They have been a large part of a very successful preseason defensive debut as none of their opponents have been able to sustain any significant offense.

They totaled 10 sacks in their four games and against Chicago they registered seven three-and-outs. Moreover they held last year’s Super Bowl contender’s first-string offense scoreless in the first quarter of their last preseason game.

 

Linebackers

This has been the biggest area of concern.  The linebacker corps includes four former defensive linemen who are making the transition to outside linebacker.

Elvis Dumervil, Robert Ayers and Jarvis Moss have shown very good pass rushing skills from their outside linebacker positions but have missed assignments when called on to drop back into coverage.

Darrell Reid has been quieter but his interception against Arizona might have been a sign that he understands the coverage assignments a little better.

In the middle veterans D.J. Williams and Andra Davis are solid anchors while Mario Haggen provides a solid outside linebacker presence as the starter on the left side.

This linebacker corps in the three four defense give the Broncos a great ability to rush from a variety of positions on any given play. Dumervil and Moss, if he makes the team, will prosper in this scheme.

 

The Defensive Backs

One of the biggest free agent moves McDaniels made was the acquisition of Brian Dawkins. Renaldo Hill and Andre Goodman came over from Miami to join with Champ Bailey in forming one of the oldest defensive backfields in the league. Through the preseason they have shown that won’t be a problem.

Dawkins provides the anchor for the safety position that the Broncos have lacked since John Lynch retired. Known as an intense player he has already proved himself a great on field example for the younger players.

Bailey is widely considered one of the top cornerbacks in the game. His reputation alone prevents many quarterbacks from challenging him during games.

Goodman is a solid corner with good coverage skills. He will be the corner most tested this season. So far he looks up to the challenge but Cincinatti will be his toughest test so far.

Hill has had a decent career. Last year in Miami he was beaten out for the starting  safety job by the end of preseason. When Miami’s secondary was burned in week two, Hill was inserted back into the lineup and is credited for solidifying the secondary that year.

Backing them up are a trio of second-round picks including Alphonso Smith, a much criticized pick by McDaniels who traded a first-round pick in next years draft to pick him. Smith has a reputation as a ball hawk. He has looked promising in the preseason at both nickel back and as a punt returner.

Darcel McBath and David Bruton are the two second-round safeties. They have both shown nice coverage skills and a willingness to make the big hit.

 

PREDICTIONS

The defense is going to get a lot of the attention early on. It shows signs of gelling quickly and has the right personnel to control most offenses. 

None of the Broncos preseason contests were against strong running teams. The defense might struggle against power running teams like Pittsburgh and New York.

Teams like New England and San Diego will test the linebackers with passes to tight ends and running backs. The Broncos should work out their linebacker coverage but if they haven’t by the time they meet San Diego they will be in deep trouble.

Defensively the Broncos will end the season ranked somewhere between 12^th and 17^th.  They will be solid against the run but vulnerable over the middle to passes to tight ends and backs out of the backfield.

Offensively, the Broncos have revealed very little in the preseason about how they will play. Will they stay strictly with the short game while Orton is out there? Will Moreno solidify the running game?

Fortunately the Broncos go against two relatively soft defenses in their first two games. Look for McDaniels to open up the playbook a little with a variety of misdirection plays and crossing routes.

The Broncos offense will be erratic for the first couple of games as they continue to absorb the new offense.  They should settle a little for the Oakland game and be pretty decent in time for Dallas.

I do think McDaniels will pull out all the stops for Dallas. That will be a key game as the next four are very tough opponents.

Moreno’s durability will be a key issue in the performance of the Bronco offense. When healthy his skills are enough to make the Bronco running game a real threat. Good running performances by Moreno will go a long way to keeping pass rushers honest and forcing opposing defenses to keep more defenders in the box.

Should Moreno miss significant time to injury, backups Buckhalter and Hillis can provide a serviceable running game but neither will be enough of a threat to force defenses to focus on the running game.

Realistically the Broncos will see 8-8 but if they can split with San Diego, 9-7 while giving San Diego a scare for the division title. More than that is possible but it will depend on how well the offense comes together and on Moreno’s durability.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Happy New Year Football Fans

Football fans rejoice. Your offseason suffering has come to an end.

We have suffered through the grueling months between the Super Bowl and the first day of the new season. We have grasped at every snippet of information we can get our hands on to hold us through the dark times.

We waited patiently as our team tediously vetted potential free agents and settled on the chosen few. The outcome of this process would not to be determined for months. But no more! The results will soon be known to all.

We will know if our team can survive without its mainstays. We will know if that washed up veteran castoff has one more, good year in him.  All of the answers will soon be told, because today is football season!

We were mercilessly pelted with mock draft after mock draft. But like an addict chasing his next fix, after we painstakingly reviewed one, we searched the Internet for more. Hoping some nitwit in cyberspace had some keen insight that we were missing.

After the big day had come and gone the process of grading the draft began. What a moronic process this is. But still, we watched it like it was a train wreck in slow motion.

What I want to know is if every team made the exact pick Pete Prisco predicted in his mock draft, would he still give half the teams a grade of “C” or worse? Would the Patriots still get an “A” for being the Patriots? Go away Pete, leave us alone! You’re not invited to our tailgate party.

We have criticized our team for not doing enough. We have second guessed the decisions, and in most cases, come to defend our team. Our GMs and coaches must know what they are doing. They have made the changes necessary to bring our team back to its former greatness.

Next up on our list of offseason horrors, the “Offseason Power Rankings.”  Power rankings have to be one of the most idiotic things conceived. They are bad enough during the season, but to be insulted by them in the off-season is almost more than I can bear. Still, I hang on every word. Why does ESPN have my team ranked 27 and CBS has them at 25?

Clearly all of these people have to be insane. Don’t they realize the improvements my team made, free agents, the draft, scheme changes, new coaches, fired coaches, addition by subtraction…how can they be so clueless? Anyone can see my team should be at least 21. They aren’t showing my team any respect. That’s alright we’ll show them. And it all starts today.

We have watched our team play four sloppy and meaningless football games in the preseason. We checked the box scores trying to determine how our first team matched up. We sat there while scrubs we will never see again made a mockery of our team’s proud football tradition. We watch because we are fans, pining for the real thing.

The stifling heat of summer two a days has broken. Feel the crisp morning air that signals the start of autumn. The cool northerly breeze that refreshes our soul and ignites our passion blows through the stadium. Soon the bitter cold of winter will be upon us. But that doesn’t matter today. Nothing can ruin today, the first day of football season.

We have talked our trash, berated our rival fans and made our predictions. Some bold, some safe and some just downright absurd. We have cast our lot and our fate will be determined over the next five months.

Fans of the perennial power houses, up and comers and terminal bottom dwellers all stand on equal footing today. We are all undefeated, all in first place, all equals and we all have hope. Nothing can bring us down.

So don your favorite jersey, fire up the grill and pull out the coldest beer. Celebrate! football fans. This is your day. You have suffered enough and your torment has come to an end.

Over the next several months there will be stark realizations and devastating injuries. Our delusions of grandeur will be laid to rest. Those prized free agents will prove to be less than promised. There will be draft busts, coaching errors and bonehead decisions.

But today I won’t hear of it. For today, my friend, is the start of a new year. Today is the first day of football season.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Brandstater Leads Broncos: Game Capsule and Film Study vs Cardinals

Game Capsule:  Broncos off the Schneid in Final Preseason Game

It’s real simple when you think about it. 

To win football games the offense needs to score points and the defense needs to keep the opponent from scoring.  With the Broncos 0-3 on the preseason, no better time than the present to get back to basics.  The Broncos scored multiple times while the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals did not.  The final score Broncos 19 Cardinals 0. 

In the game rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater made his debut as a starter due to injuries plaguing the other top two quarterbacks on the Broncos roster.  What came out of the game was a good showing by number three and a lot of respectability along the way.  He showed he can be a good game manager while still showing he has a little ways to go yet.

The Broncos ground game was sound and the Broncos overall did something they did not do until this point.  They took care of the ball for the most part giving up only one interception while forcing four Cardinals miscues leading to turnovers.

See, it’s that simple.

 

Broncos Film Study: Broncos Showcase Potential

Rookie Alphonso Smith returned the opening kick from five yards deep out to the twenty five yard line.  The potential he shows to be solid, along with his confidence to bring the ball out from five yards deep shows he will be a player to watch this season.

Starting with the good, facing the bad, and ending with the good of the opening drive.  Tom Brandstater had a good night overall. 

On the opening series, the Broncos found themselves in a tight situation on third and seven, Brandstater connected with Chad Jackson for a 43 yard gain on the pitch and catch.  Correll Buckhalter ran well early in creating more opportunity for the offense while feeding off the previous big play to Jackson.  The Broncos drive bogged down shortly after that and they had to settle for three points from the more reliable Matt Prader.

On the opening drive the Broncos defense seemed to have the Cardinals on the ropes when Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald for a big gain of 36 yards.  The Cardinals drive bogged down shortly after that.  With the Cardinals not scoring any points on the night, they appeared to be a team just going through the motions.  The Broncos defense however was playing like a team that wanted to win.

Brandon Lloyd is showing just how acrobatic and athletic he is.  The last two weeks he has caught balls thrown behind him near the end zone that eventually set up a touchdown.

Kenny McKinley would certainly be a great addition to the team, he is up against a numbers game and his route running needs improvement.  Hopefully they keep him around, I look for him on the practice squad if he’s not on the regular roster.

 

Areas of Improvement for Tom Brandstater

While Tom has demonstrated good composure and technique in the pocket, there are a few areas he should work on to improve his game. 

Early in the preseason Tom had a number of mental miscues from fumbled snaps to poor footwork coupled with poor handoff exchanges.  Those are unfortunately expectations of things that happen to rookie quarterbacks in the NFL.  Against Chicago, he showed some improvement, last night against Arizona he still had a snafu or two, but he was clearly in control as the leader of the Denver Broncos.

It is important to say on the surface Brandstater has shown great technique, composure, and accuracy overall.  From the placement of the ball, to his down field vision, you can see he has the potential for very good things sometime in the future. 

Compare that with Jay Cutler who is a coach’s worst nightmare when it comes to his technique, where he holds the ball and how he locks onto receivers.  It seems Tom Brandstater could have a very bright future in Denver.

Probably first and foremost due to the timing routes; Brandstater sets up quickly, however not always square to the line of scrimmage.  When quarterbacks aren’t square to the line of scrimmage it tips off the defense because he is showing that he is committed to his next set of actions. 

This is the key indicator that helps defensive backs key on receivers and routes that eventually lead to interceptions.  The common theme on what Tom needs to work on from the game last night is get squared up to the line of scrimmage first while making a read down field. 

Brandstater did show a weakness early on by telegraphing his short passes, by not looking down field first to freeze the defense.  Early on this resulted in two five yard outs that were knocked down by the Arizona cornerback on the opening drive.  One of the batted down balls led to a third and seven and the other prompted the opening drive to stall out.  This made the Broncos settle for three points instead of finishing the opening drive with a touchdown.  

This happened again after Darrel Reid’s interception of Curt Warner.  The Broncos had a second and nine and again the pass was knocked down to the ground as he tried to connect with Brandon Lloyd. 

This type of telegraphing would later result in Brandstater’s lone interception on the night and in the team going to the well once too often.  Again Tom was working to his right and was not squared up to the line of scrimmage.  His body language gave the defense the indicator it needed to jump the route and make the interception.

Another area that should be looked at is his center of gravity, right now it is very high.  That could be due to inexperience and being nervous in some regard.  So he looked a little stiff in the pocket. 

One of his tendencies however that should be worked on is in creating his physical stability in the pocket.  Quarterbacks that have a low center of gravity in the pocket have greater escape-ability and tend to avoid injuries from being sacked.

Currently there isn’t much bend in Tom’s knees while in his stance in the pocket.  He should have a slightly wider base with knees bent while using the whole body to throw the ball.  Because he has such a strong arm, and because he has naturally good vision of the field, these minor tweaks have probably been overlooked but could go a long way to making him a better quarterback.   

He threw a deep ball to Kenny McKinley that was underthrown and incomplete.  On the play he threw the ball slightly off his back foot with a slight twist to his follow through. 

If he had a lower center of gravity it would force him to step up into his throw and lead to better ball placement.  This is the type of ball however that can become an interception against first team defenses. 

Currently because he stands so high in the pocket, on deep balls his body spins after the throw instead of having a firm follow through.  This leads to taking something off the ball, and under throws are the net result many times. 

Additionally, as strong as his arm is he could have greater velocity on deeper balls and in some instances he will need that to be the case.

Finally, on the good side, besides his strong arm, Brandstater is incredibly accurate on his timing passes.  He also has a unique ability to change speeds by having the right touch on the ball for each variety of pass types. 

He has the tools to become something good and special, but he will have to focus on the adjustments to his technique to become a reliable starter.

For Tom Brandstater and the Broncos, the future might be very bright.

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Projecting The Denver Broncos’ Field of 53

Now that the preseason has come to a conclusion, teams have to make their final roster cuts. 

From now until Saturday, 704 NFL hopefuls will be released, waived, placed on injured reserve, or put on some team’s practice squad.

Who will be standing when the Broncos make the big switch from 75 to 53 players? 

Here is how I see it shaking out:

 

QB: (1) Kyle Orton  (2) Chris Simms  (3) Tom Brandstater

Cut: Ingle Martin

 

RB: (1) Correll Buckhalter  (2) Knowshon Moreno  (3)  Peyton Hillis  (4) Darius Walker

Cut: LaMont Jordan, Marcus Thomas

 

WR: (1) Brandon Marshall  (2) Eddie Royal  (3) Brandon Stokley  (4) Jabar Gaffney  (5) Chad Jackson  (6) Brandon Lloyd  (7) Kenny McKinley

Cut: Matthew Willis, Nate Swift

 

TE: (1) Daniel Graham  (2) Tony Scheffler  (3) Richard Quinn

Cut: Marquez Branson

 

OT: (1) Ryan Clady  (2) Ryan Harris  (3) Tyler Polumbus

Cut: Brandon Gorin, Clint Oldenburg

 

OG: (1) Ben Hamilton  (2) Chris Kuper  (3) Seth Olsen  (4) Russ Hochstein

Cut: Mitch Erickson, Matt McChesney

 

C: (1) Casey Wiegmann  (2) Kory Lichtensteiger

Cut: None

 

DE: (1) Ryan McBean  (2) Kenny Peterson  (3) Marcus Thomas  (4) Le Kevin Smith

Cut: Nic Clemons, Mathias Askew, Everette Pedescleaux

 

DT: (1) Ronald Fields  (2) Chris Baker

Cut: Carlton Powell

 

OLB: (1) Mario Haggan  (2) Elvis Dumervil  (3) Robert Ayers  (4) Darrell Reid  (5) Jarvis Moss

Cut: Tim Crowder

 

MLB: (1) D.J. Williams  (2) Andra Davis  (3) Wesley Woodyard  (4) Spencer Larsen

Cut: Lee Robinson, Braxton Kelley

 

CB: (1) Champ Bailey  (2) Andre Goodman  (3) Alphonso Smith  (4) Jack Williams

Cut: Joshua Bell, Tony Carter, Rashod Moulton, D.J. Johnson, Antwain Spann

 

FS: (1) Brian Dawkins  (2) Darcel McBath

Cut: None

 

SS: (1) Renaldo Hill  (2) David Bruton  (3) Josh Barrett

Cut: Vernon Fox

 

K: (1) Matt Prater

Cut: None

 

P: (1) Brett Kern

Cut: None

 

LS: (1) Lonie Paxton

Cut: None

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Cardinals: Denver Wins First Game of Josh McDaniels Era, 19-0

Denver, CO–The Denver Broncos (1-3) avoided their first winless preseason since 1960 when they shut out the Arizona Cardinals (0-4) at Invesco Field at Mile High 19-0.

 

Game Recap

The Broncos started with the ball and scored the games first points after a drive that included a beautiful throw, catch, and run involving Tom Brandstater and Chad Jackson that went for 43 yards.

After the catch, Correll Buckhalter had two rushes for 21 yards, putting the Broncos in a goal-to-go situation.

Denver was unable to punch the ball in the end zone, and settled for Matt Prater field goal to put them up 3-0.

The Cardinals’ first drive looked promising at times, including a 36 yard strike from quarterback Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald, but two penalties forced them into obvious passing situations, and the Broncos were able to capitalize and force a punt.

Each team forced the other into a three-and-out on their next possessions.

After a Ben Graham punt put the Broncos on their own 23 yard line, Tom Brandstater appeared to say “We’ve got ’em right where we want ’em,” and he orchestrated an impressive drive.

Denver marched 77 yards down the field thanks to a couple of outstanding hook-ups between Brandstater and veteran Brandon Lloyd, and the drive was capped off by a one yard Darius Walker touchdown run.

The following Cardinals drive resulted in the Broncos’ first turnover of the preseason:  An interception of Kurt Warner by reserve hybrid linebacker/defensive end Darrell Reid.

Reid’s interception resulted in a 37 yard Matt Prater field goal, putting the Broncos ahead 13-0.

Another three-and-out by the Cardinals resulted in yet another Broncos drive that ended in a Matt Prater field goal, putting Denver ahead 16-0.

Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was picked off on the following drive by rookie safety David Bruton, and the Broncos were in good position to take a 19-0 lead at the half, but decided to go for a fourth-and-four and were unable to convert.

The following Cardinals drive ended in another turnover, a fumble forced by Denver defensive lineman Nic Clemons that was recovered by Bruton.

The fumble gave the Broncos great field position, but Brandstater tried to force a pass to Chad Jackson near the sideline and he was picked off.

The Cardinals started the second half with the ball, but gave it up fairly quickly.  Tyler Palko threw a pass that almost seemed to be intended for Broncos safety Vernon Fox, and the Broncos were in business once again.

A fairly bland Bronco drive resulted in Matt Prater’s fourth field goal of the game, putting the Broncos ahead for good 19-0.

The rest of the game was filled with three-and-outs, and the defensive battle ended with the home team on top. 

Broncos 19, Cardinals 0

 

Random Game Thoughts

• Josh McDaniels and the Broncos earned their first win of 2009, and it could not come soon enough.
• The Broncos made up for three games without forcing a turnover, forcing four total on Thursday night.
• Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd combined for 10 receptions and 106 yards, and they continue to impress as reserve wide receivers.
• LaMont Jordan’s one run tonight was not impressive.  He may be passed by Darius Walker for the fourth and final running back spot.
• The reserve offensive linemen were impressive for the first time this preseason.
• The Broncos have arguably the best depth in the NFL in the secondary.  David Bruton, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and Jack Williams are all great prospects for the future.
• The Broncos’ defense has been extremely consistent throughout the preseason.  Their run defense only allowed one first down via the ground game, and only 68 yards rushing overall.
• Kurt Warner and the first team offense were absolutely shut down on Thursday night.
• It is going to be tough for the Broncos to keep less than seven wide receivers.

Top Performers

1. David Bruton would get my game ball tonight, and quite honestly, he has been superb all preseason long.  The Broncos drafted the Notre Dame safety in the fourth round to be primarily a gunner on special teams, and throughout the preseason he has been excellent at doing just that.  Thursday night, he picked off a pass and recovered a fumble while recording three tackles.
2. If the Broncos choose to keep 10 defensive backs, I think it is pretty clear that undrafted rookie DJ Johnson has earned the final spot.  He has been making plays throughout the preseason, and tonight led the team with five tackles.
3. Jarvis Moss had his best game I have ever seen.  The third year player was all over the place, and he looked like a former first round pick playing with a bunch of rookies and scrubs.  Moss had a sack, a forced fumble, and three total tackles, one for a loss.  He just made it harder for this team to potentially cut him.
4. Robert Ayers and Tim Crowder each had a sack tonight.  This was big for both of them.  Crowder is fighting for his job, and Ayers has not been very impressive this preseason.
5. Darius Walker has earned a roster spot, in my opinion.  He led the team in rushing this preseason and has had two touchdowns in the last two games.  He runs hard, is quick, and is a good receiver.  LaMont Jordan’s “dud”-like preseason has been less than inspiring.  Walker rushed for 68 yards on 21 carries tonight.
6. Give the game ball to kicker Matt Prater.  Prater was four-for-four in field goal attempts, and the Cardinals only returned two of his six kickoffs.  A phenomenal performance to say the least.
7. Kenny McKinley had a preseason high seven receptions, and he continues to impress.  He leads the Broncos this preseason with 16 receptions and 213 yards.
8. Brandon Lloyd made another highlight-reel catch on Thursday night.  His chemistry with the quarterbacks is going to make it extremely difficult for the Broncos to keep any less than seven wide receivers on their active roster, as crazy as it sounds.

Like I just said, the Broncos are going to have a tough time keeping less than seven wide receivers.  Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Kenny McKinley, Chad Jackson, and Brandon Lloyd should all make the team, based on this preseason and training camp.

With the injured thumb of Jabar Gaffney, I think the Broncos will undoubtedly keep at least six wide receivers.  They also have been no strangers to four and five wide receiver sets, so it would not be surprised if they kept the extra guys around for depth.

The problem is going to be figuring out who to get rid of.  Do they keep six defensive linemen?  Which hybrid linebackers do not make the cut?  Will they keep 10 defensive backs?

Do not get too attached to any one player Broncos fans because come Saturday, 22 will be cut.  The good problem for the Broncos is that they are going to have a tough time deciding which ones.

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Back From The Dead, Don’t Crucify The Broncos Yet

I have taken a long hiatus, but have returned in hopes of silencing the delusional losers who seem hellbent on the Denver Broncos having a terrible season.

When I look at the entire scope of things that have transpired over the past few months, I find it odd that many think the Broncos haven’t improved themselves.

Yes, Jay Cutler is a talent who bewitches fans with his tight spirals and impressive athleticism.

Nevertheless, he is a charlatan and a fraud; a fact that Bears fans will learn soon enough.

Meanwhile, I’m hoping for Kyle Orton to be ready for the Broncos’ season opener at Cincinnati September 13.  If not, perhaps Tom Brandstater will prove to be a quick study, as he’s already impressed with his powerful arm in limited opportunities.

Of course, Brandon Marshall, if he proves penitent, can return any time he’d like to which would greatly enhance our prospects, if he’s focused.

Ultimately, I think he realizes the only way for him to get his jack will be as a Bronco, as he faces continual suspension and benching or amassing Pro Bowl numbers.

I also expect to see Eddie Royal emerge as a Pro Bowler while future Hall of Famer Ryan Clady bolsters the league’s best offensive line.

Brian Dawkins, Andre Goodman, Chris Baker and other new faces on the defense will strengthen us considerably on that side of the ball as well.

To me, Tony Scheffler is the X factor as if he continues to create mismatches in the open field, it gives Orton (yes, he’s the man until proven differently) another weapon to dismantle defenses.

I think we can win 10 games, although 11 is the ceiling as far as I’m concerned.

Of course, in subsequent seasons, we’ll only improve.

Before we crucify coach Josh McDaniels, let’s give him a chance.  The season’s almost on.  GO BRONCOS!!!

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Broncos-Cardinals: Things to Watch For in Denver’s Pre-Season Finale

The Josh McDaniels era continues on Thursday night as the Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals.

Unfortunately for McDaniels, he is still seeking that elusive first victory as an NFL head coach, and despite the fact that week four of the preseason is considered to be the most unimportant football game of the year, this particular matchup is very critical for the Broncos.

The new regime in Denver has not gotten off to the most promising start, and sitting on an 0-3 record this preseason, the starting offense has only scored 17 points in three contests.

With injuries to Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater will be making his first career NFL start, but it remains to be seen if he will be joined by any other first team players.

The Broncos are holding out hope that first round pick Knowshon Moreno will get some playing time tonight although it has been reported that Correll Buckhalter will begin the season as the team’s staring running back.

Here are some things to watch for in tonight’s game:

• Can Brandstater lead the Broncos to victory?  This is a huge game for Tom Brandstater.  He needs this experience in case he is called upon when the Broncos travel to Cincinnati on opening day.  The rookie out of Fresno State was less than impressive in his first appearance against Seattle, but settled in somewhat last week against the Bears, leading the offense to two touchdown drives.  This will be the final test for Brandstater, who likely will start the season on the practice squad, especially if the Broncos make a play for quarterback Kevin O’Connell who is a long-shot to make the Lions’ final roster.
• The Broncos’ wide receiver situation should shape up tonight.  With Brandon Marshall’s situation in question and Jabar Gaffney having broken his thumb, it will be interesting to see which wide receivers are kept on the 53 man roster.  Players on the bubble are veterans Brandon Lloyd and Chad Jackson, and rookie Kenny McKinley.  Jackson has been working with the first unit, but Lloyd and McKinley have been the ones making noise this preseason.  The Broncos easily go seven deep at the receiver position when fully healthy, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will keep seven on the final roster.  It will definitely be hard to lose any one of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, or Kenny McKinley.
• Backup offensive linemen will be seriously tested.  They have been, for the most part this preseason, awful.  Russ Hochstein was acquired for depth, and it is likely the team will make quite a few cuts up front after tonight. 
• The young defensive backs will have their time to shine tonight.  The Broncos are going to be facing Brian St. Pierre for most of the night tonight as Matt Leinart is out with an injury, and the likes of Josh Barrett, David Bruton, Alphonso Smith, Jack Williams, and Darcel McBath will have a chance to prove their worth on this team as backup defensive backs.
• There is a chance we could have our second sighting of Knowshon Moreno.  His production in 2009 is huge.  The Broncos passed on a lot of defensive talent to acquire Moreno in the draft, and he needs to have a big year in this offense.  Likewise, it is going to be important for Robert Ayers to step up in this game.  He has not had an impressive preseason thus far.

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Broncos Must Trade Brandon Marshall To Avoid Future Trouble

Seemingly, the irony of wide receivers is that most are starting to convert into well-behaved heroines, shaking off their moody ethics.

Before imploding into insubordinate wideouts, in New England, Randy Moss has mellowed into a primary target for Tom Brady. Terrell Owens stopped crying and has evolved into an integral superstar in Buffalo, grabbing attention at a local airport when he arrived. And Chad Ocho Cinco is seemingly content in stabilizing Cincinnati.

With unity spreading around most teams, the Mile High City is amid turbulence and surrounded by an unhinged soap opera that has lasted longer than the Days of Our Lives. When a disgruntled Brandon Marshall indicated misery at practice, times became rocky and a ruckus developed.

The Denver Broncos punished arguably their best player with a suspension for his conduct detrimental to the team. Assuming rookie coach Josh McDaniels wants to dismiss any player that plagues fortune in his first season, their primary option is to trade Marshall.

Getting rid of a dispirited player prevents slight problems from escalating into serious problems. The Broncos’ situation is just like a dreadful marriage which will never work out if one individual in the relationship is dissatisfied.

That is exactly what McDaniels, the coaching staff, and executives are experiencing in Denver, a propitious receiver who isn’t satisfied. Because of Marshall’s frustration, insisting that he was upset with the team’s misdiagnosis of a hip injury that required offseason surgery, it has produced enough tension to finally wave good-riddance.

There’s no question Marshall is an elite receiver who had 206 receptions the past two seasons, but his off-the-field misconduct is unnecessary, at a time when Denver is still rebuilding and adapting to newly acquired Kyle Orton.

Having an egregious attitude and unlawful troubles off the field is why Denver refused to give Marshall a new contract. Ever since he asked for a long-term deal, his emotions abruptly reversed into a self-centered and arrogant receiver who still hasn’t realized it’s about the team and not the individual.

If the Broncos trade their top diva, it won’t benefit them this season. Instead it revokes disastrous nuisance from making a season in limbo more fragile than anticipated.

But dealing him isn’t easy, and is seemingly inevitable. Because his reputation comprises of distasteful humor, Marshall’s marketability is devalued from most teams’ standpoints.

He’s the problem-child in the league. He’s the disappointed one. He’s the newest laughingstock.

And with problems like that, he’s obviously a risk. But there’s one team amenable to take on the dispirited receiver, optimistic they can uplift his mentality.

So were the New York Jets tampering with Marshall?

After collapsing a year ago, the Jets weren’t efficient in moving the ball down the field. And with a mobile quarterback as proficient as Mark Sanchez, a speedy receiver blends to construct a lethal quarterback and receiver tandem in the tough AFC East division.

It wouldn’t be difficult to ensure that the Jets would compile more than 31.5 percent of receiving yards. Following reports from ESPN’s insider Adam Schefter, the Jets are interested in the troubled wideout, but unsure if they are willing to deal Harris.

For a moment, there were talks Marshall could reunite with former quarterback Jay Cutler in Chicago. The Bears are another team without a prolific receiver, and the Windy City seems like a perfect location to once again play alongside Cutler. Since Marshall was his favorite target, he’s familiar with his style and approach, and can quickly become a primary receiver and regain stardom.

Whichever team is willing to take on the indecisive Marshall, it is obvious the Broncos must trade him and it’s evident that he has no intentions in repairing a fractured relationship. Bearing with ongoing issues involving Marshall is enough to implode solidity and divide a team. And it even looks bad on McDaniels, if he fails to resolve the matter after trading off a dreary Cutler.

Holding on to a troubled player who walked as the rest of his teammates ran in pre-practice warm-ups, kicked the ball skyward, and knocked down passes instead of catching them are good explanations in trading away Marshall. He’s now the equivalent to an old Moss, Ochio Cinco, and T.O., a superstar who continues to infamously wreck his reputation.

But something has to be done, with McDaniels and the Broncos controlling the leverage. That’s when you wave and say good-riddance.

 

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