Starting Four: A Comparison of Bronco Quarterbacks

Over the course of the summer, I have been surprised at the vast number of articles written against Denver. Of course, the arguments rage around two of the biggest switches in the league this year. The hiring of HC Josh McDaniels and trade of Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton (and some draft picks) have combined to make for a good topic.

However, a lot of the arguments are based on opinion, whether you think the changes help or hurt the team. What do statistical facts tell?

In order to compare the two QBs, I have also added the 2005 Broncos under Jake Plummer and the 1993 Broncos under John Elway.

Both Plummer and Elway led their teams to playoff appearances. Culter and Orton did not. So what makes for a playoff QB?

 

Jake Plummer: Plummer was, by many statistics, the best QB Denver has had. Of the four, he has the highest average at 7.4 yards. He completed 277 passes for 3366 yards. He also threw for 18 touchdowns. Most importantly, he threw only seven interceptions.

Jay Cutler: Cutler was outstanding at some points, but dismal at others. He averaged a very respectable 7.35 yards. His 62.5 percent completion was the best on the list. Jay also threw 25 touchdowns due to the massive 616 attempts.

Kyle Orton: Orton has some poor stats, though he did lack the receiver strength that the other three QBs had. He was lowest in average, managing only 6.39 yards. He completed 272 passes and earned a 58.5 completion percentage. Kyle also had 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

John Elway: The comparison could not be complete without the best QB to play for Denver, using the best season the team had. He had a 7.2 average. He completed 280 passes, but had a mere 55.8 completion percentage. However, he was a scoring machine, throwing 27 touchdowns to only 11 interceptions.

With such a wide range of stats, it can seem difficult to determine advantages amongst the QBs. However, I broke down the stats to determine how each would do if they threw 500 passes.

 

Jake Plummer: Plummer would complete 304 passes, throw 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He would also gather 3,700 yards. He has a TD ratio of 1:25.33 and an INT ratio of 1:65.143.

Jay Cutler: Cutler would complete 312 passes, throw 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He would throw for 3,675 yards. He has a TD ratio of 1:24.64 and an INT ratio of 1:34.22.

Kyle Orton: Orton would complete 293 passes, throw 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He would also get 3,195 yards. He has a TD ratio of 1:25.83 and an INT ratio of 1:38.75.

John Elway: Elway would complete 279 passes, throw 27 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He would gain 3,600 yards. He has a TD ratio of 1:18.593 and an INT ratio of 1:45.63.

 

So now you can each QBs stats. It should seem clear that Cutler is not the best QB Denver had, nor would he be second (behind Elway). His stats show that he belongs third, or in some stats, fourth on the list.

It seems that the best QBs do not throw for huge yardage, nor do they necessarily have high completion percentages. The QBs that led their team to the playoffs capitalized on opportunities, and did not throw interceptions.

Now, I know some people will blame the defense, the coach, the run game, or some other factor of the game that is not the QB. Sure the defense kept Denver out of the playoffs last year. However, it is still clear that the best QBs have certain strong points. Cutler was lacking on several of those.

Orton also is not the best at some of those strengths seen in the playoff QBs, but he has some areas that look good. He throws less interceptions than Cutler. Blame can also be placed on his O-Line, or the average at best receivers he had, but I will not debate those points now.

You’ve seen what makes a strong QB. The stats are there and show what each QB is. They show the players for who they truly are, and not for who they have been said they are.

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.

Sorry, Raider Nation, but Here’s How the Denver Broncos Will Win the AFC West

Last night, while sitting with my roommate, I noticed he had a wallet-sized fold-out Broncos schedule, so I made sure to give it the once over.

This schedule is deceivingly difficult, as it starts and ends with relatively easy opponents, but the meat of the regular season is chock full of perennial contenders in the NFL.

For any team this would be an extremely challenging schedule, but for an organization that has had as much turnover as Denver, this lineup of challengers will be demanding to win against to say the least.

Is Tom Brandstater The Next Tom Brady?

You probably just saw the title to the article and  were thinking “Who the hell is that?” Tom Brandstater was Bronco’s sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. At 6’5″, 215-lbs. Brandstater played his college ball at Fresno State.

Nobody has heard of him in this draft. Everybody’s been talking about Matt Stafford and how he will do with the Lions, whether or not Mark Sanchez will start for the Jets and if Josh Freeman was even worthy of a first-round pick. 
 
Obviously first-round quarterbacks get more recognition than sixth-rounders. Brandstater had even more than three quarterbacks taken instead of him. So did Tom Brady. 
 
In the 2000 NFL draft, six quarterbacks were taken ahead of Brady.  In 2009, seven quarterbacks were taken ahead of Brandstater. I am starting to see a resemblance.  They even have the same initials. 
 
That’s not all they have in common. Both had poor showings at the combine. They both are pocket passers, had/have questions about their arm strength coming out of college, and neither is very mobile. One of them however, has three Super Bowl rings. 
 
When Bill Belichick drafted Brady, it was his first year as the head coach of the Patriots and they drafted Tom to develop him to a possible backup and maybe even a starter one day. 
 
It’s Josh McDaniels first year as the head coach of the Broncos and he drafted Brandstater for the same purpose. 
 
Brandstater will no doubt sit for his first year, but who knows maybe another injury will happen to our quarterback and he will have to step in. We will see him play in preseason soon enough though. 
 
I’m not saying that Brandstater is the next Brady. For every Brady there is another 100 players that end up out of the league in a couple of years. So he might or might not be the next Tom Brady but let’s hope so. 
 
I mean, who doesn’t want three Super Bowls in four years, to have potentially the greatest quarterback ever and no doubt a first ballot hall of famer.  Or would you rather have Spergon Wynn, the last QB drafted before Brady.

Kyle Orton is Booed in Denver Broncos Camp

This week in camp Kyle Orton and a few other players have been booed during the Broncos camps for bad play. While this is the NFL and fans will boo bad plays and cheer good ones, I have to wonder if Denver fans are channeling this boo really towards the organization and it’s new head coach.

I’m not a Broncos fan and I’ve not attended these camps but Bronco fans have and have done so in record fashion this off-season. So far in camp the organization has set a new record for fans coming to a particular day of camp with 13,400 plus. This new rise in attendance could be for different reasons.

For one it could be that the fans are there because our economy is in the tank and more people have extra time on their hands, so why not go see the team at camp for a day. Another reason is that the fans could actually be very excited about the Broncos chances with their new look team on the field.

Or it could be that they aren’t happy with the organization and it’s moves this offseason, so they want to come to camp and let everyone know what they think.

It doesn’t seem to matter which way you look at this situation, no one can deny that much has changed in this organization as we move into the 2009 season.

Can the Broncos Win in 2009?

Even if Josh McDaniels is successful in turning around the offense and implementing his style into this team, it is still going to be hard for the defense to have success.

Just this morning I wrote an article for huliq.com on Brian Dawkins hand injury and the issues some vets are having with this new coaching staff. It’s is going to be hard for new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to turn around a defense that was one of the worst in football a season ago.

With an injury to Dawkins, Champ Baliey complaining about camp, and Javris Moss now contemplating retirement, this team is destined for another bad season in defense.

Sure the Broncos do get a gift as they get to play the Raiders and Chiefs twice a season but other then that it should be a challenging season overall.

In the end I believe this team is going to need a strong start to the season and maybe more then any team in football this season. Not only are they going through a lot of change but I’m sure their are fans that will be very disgruntled if they should start slow, because of all the change.

Fantasy Football Information on the Broncos

While this team does have talent and especially on offense, right now I would recommend you drop every player on this team a round or two lower then you have them right now. Brandon Marshall has been hurt for the entire summer so far and currently is not practicing with the team this week.

He needs to show he can recover from his hype surgery before you can look to him as a receiver worth selecting in the first five rounds of your fantasy draft.

Eddie Royal needs to prove that he can get his touchdown total up this season as he needs more then five to be a star player. If your in PPR fantasy leagues he should still be solid as he will be the Wes Welker in this offense and should have over 100 catches this season.

Kyle Orton is nothing more then a backup fantasy quarterback to take at the end of your fantasy draft. Because Marshall has missed a lot of time this off-season, Kyle is missing out on valuable time to work with his No.1 receiver. This is only going to hurt his chances for success and Brandon’s as well.

As far as the Broncos Defense, all I can say is stay as far away from them as you can. This is actually going to be a defense that you will want to start your fantasy players you have against them, when they face the Broncos this year.

In the end I believe the Broncos are going to struggle this season and head coach Josh McDaniels may very well not make it to next spring as this teams head coach.

Fantasy Football Information Writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com

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?

Eddie Royal: Lock, Stock, and Barrel

The question is, “do you put much fantasy football stock in Eddie Royal this year or do you predict a falloff?”

Well, the mere fact that we are all fascinated with Royal’s performance last season and his potential should answer your question. He was and will be that good!

I do think it is possible that Royal’s 91 catch season last year may not re-produce again this year, but to think he can’t catch 80 balls just because Kyle Orton is his QB is insane. Who did Orton have to throw to last year, exactly!

I am not insinuating Orton is an outstanding QB, but with weapons like Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler and Eddie Royal along with an outstanding leader on the sidelines, see Josh McDaniels below, running the show, success is eminent.

The first part of this video is Brandon Marshall, but the second half, well,  is the guy that will be on my fantasy football roster—AGAIN THIS YEAR!

Royal has lightning fast speed with good hands.  Just say his name three times, Eddie Royal; Eddie Royal; Eddie Royal.  Wow!  It’s powering, house-holdish and catchy. 

Ok, maybe I am a little too fascinated with him, but you get the picture or if you don’t, then what I am telling you is expect another good to great PPR fantasy football season from Eddie Royal. 

In PPR and deep leagues you should see Eddie Royal coming off the board around the fourth to fifth rounds, only because people are skeptical and may not know who he is—yet.

According to the Associated Press and USAToday, “We wouldn’t usually project a second-year receiver to repeat a 91-catch rookie year, but Royal could actually improve on that.”

________________________________________________________________________________

“Head Coach: Josh McDaniels

Josh McDaniels was introduced as the 12th head coach in Broncos history on January 12, 2009.

McDaniels spent the last eight seasons (2001-08) on the coaching staff of the New England Patriots, helping the franchise win three Super Bowls, four AFC championships and six division titles en route to posting the NFL’s best overall record (111-34 / .766) during that time.

He was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach during the previous three years (2006-08), directing an offense that led the NFL in points per game (28.8) while ranking second in the league in yards per game (370.8) and third in fewest turnovers (63) over that stretch.”

Source: NFL.com

________________________________________________________________________________

In other words, don’t be afraid of the Broncos, especially their receiving core, just because Kyle Orton is the QB.

See other articles written by Clint Peoples here

Broncos Training Camp 2009: Front Office Sends Good Vibrations

The most important angle that has come from camp this week may have snuck under most fans’ radars.

 

Maybe it never made print.

 

It wasn’t in the highlight reels from training camp.

 

What it was, is nothing short of special.

 

And it has meaning for the current state of the team as well as into the future for years to come.

 

What is it you ask?

 

It’s an openness we have not seen from the Denver Broncos front office without someone eventually losing their job.

 

Mr. Bowlen (Owner / CEO / Chairman), Mr. Ellis (COO), and Coach McDaniels should all be commended.

 

Give them credit for taking the fallout over the Jay Cutler debacle.

 

Maybe they needed the time out of the spotlight to get things in the right direction.  It’s possible they didn’t want the media circus or the rumors to bloom into something greater. 

 

Whatever the motivation, the net result is working, and it shows.

 

This week, for the very first time since Mike Shanahan was terminated, owner Pat Bowlen opened up along with Joe Ellis along a unified front on the local radio waves.  The great thing is that there were no questions that were off limits and in jest the responses were candid, mindful, with a definite enthusiasm that training camp brings.

 

Perhaps by virtue of a new regime being given a chance to succeed, the opportunity has been seized to have the default attitude be optimistic in nature.  

 

It’s not that the Broncos are glad that Mike Shanahan is gone, they’re not.  

 

It’s not that they are so happy to have Josh McDaniels running things; after all he did get rid of a franchise quarterback.

 

Still there are things about Josh McDaniels that still clearly impress Joe Ellis and Pat Bowlen that they are behind him 100 percent in order to give him the opportunity to succeed. With Coach McD, it really is more about the fact that his approach is bringing something the Broncos haven’t seen recently.

 

Certainly the thing that stands out about this camp is that it is run more like a high school or college practice.  That is to say it is very physical in nature, so much so that starting free agent safety Brian Dawkins already has a broken hand and the preseason hasn’t even started yet.

 

Bowlen and Ellis both gave incredibly candid, unified radio interviews about the Broncos’ new approach as an organization. 

 

The Broncos haven’t always been considered a physical football team, in part due to the altitude. This is not to say the Broncos haven’t been physical, they just haven’t usually been the biggest, or the strongest. This season, don’t expect the Broncos to be the biggest or strongest kid on the block either, but they are taking a definite turn in that direction. 

 

The Broncos noticed something in the way the New England Patriots went about their business.  Additionally, this year’s Super Bowl Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers may have one of the most traditional physical attacks on offense, with a balance of speed and a physical presence on defense.  In that combination the Broncos saw something they haven’t seen since  they repeated as champions at the end of the last century.

 

Therein is the endorsement of Josh McDaniels.

 

Joe Ellis had a great take on AM 1510 Mile High Sports radio when he mentioned that Josh started his interview process by talking about the defensive side. This went on for the better part of an hour according to Ellis. Obviously Josh knew offense, but the fact that he was able to get so in depth on the defensive side of the ball impressed the Broncos.

 

Coach McDaniels noted in interviews after the Cutler debacle and NFL Draft, that the choices made were because of a number of holes the Broncos roster needed to fill besides the defensive line. 

 

The fact that the Broncos current leadership has been methodical about every detail was also noteworthy.

 

Probably the most noteworthy mention came from Mr. Bowlen in an interview on Monday with Scott Hastings and Alfred Williams on 104.3 FM The Fan.  The interview itself is nearly twenty minutes in length, but it is a gem at that.

 

Things have changed for the Broncos and they are turning a new leaf in August by opening a unified front.  It also brings the franchise back to a previous decade  when talk of winning was constant. 

 

During the interview Mr. Bowlen said that Josh McDaniels brought new things that even Pat Bowlen hadn’t thought about previously.

 

Pat clearly stated that how the Broncos do is directly tied to his own personal legacy and how he will be viewed.  Ultimately change was made to improve the future of the franchise. Coach McDaniels obviously made a solid impression on Bowlen and was solidly endorsed during the interview.

 

When Bowlen was questioned about the Jay Cutler debacle and eventual trade, Mr. Bowlen humbly gave his best insights on the situation.

 

“Well, first of all, it was a tough decision, and it wasn’t made without a tremendous amount of conversation and analysis and everything else.

 

I think Jay sort of…it bothered me, when we were in the middle of this and I wanted to get his input, I wanted to talk to him face to face.  He didn’t want to do that for obvious reasons that I don’t know, because he never returned my calls and he never came to see me.”

 

“I’m still a big fan of Jay Cutler I hope he does well in Chicago, but that was one of the biggest disappointments that I think I’ve had as an owner, where I can’t get a key player, especially a key quarterback in to sit down in front of me and talk about the future.”

 

Have they talked since the trade?

 

“No, I mean there’s no reason too at this point, he’s a Chicago Bear now.”

 

Scott Hastings asked a question about Cutler’s lack of maturity from his perspective.  Mr. Bowlen kept pace and gave the following insight.

 

“Well that’s what happened, we had I feel, a good relationship between us.  He had his reasons too.  He was prepared to move on for a reason.  I don’t know what that reason was.  I’m certainly not being negative on him about it; I mean I hope he has a good career in Chicago.  I hope we beat them when we play them and beyond that the rest is football.”

 

Regarding Brandon Marshall’s current status with the team Bowlen remained firm.

 

“Yeah I sat down with Brandon for about an hour and we talked about various things.  It’s clear he wants a new contract but there’s another 40 guys out there that would like to have a new contract too.

 

My theory has been, play out your contract, if you’re as good as you think you are. Guess what?  You’re going to get a big contract on your next negotiation.  That’s sort of the way you’ve got to work it. You can’t have people lining up outside your door for new contracts when they have two or three years left or even a year left.

 

If I do something outside the box for Brandon, then why am I not going to do it for the next guy?  You just can’t run a football organization like that.

 

On the importance of winning, the emphasis remained clear how he’s conveyed things to Coach McDaniels

 

“Make sure you do the right thing because in this community 8-8 isn’t going to get it. That’s not going to get it with the owner either.  So what I always want to do is have a coach I have a significant amount of confidence in, can have conversations with and that I like.  That’s the way it was with Mike and that’s the way it is with Josh.”

 

Alfred Williams immediately jumps in jubilantly.

 

“Wow!  I love that!  I love the fact that you just said it.  You know what I’m saying.  I love the fact that you just said that 8-8 just ain’t good enough!”

 

Mr. Bowlen in a nutshell closed out by saying that the Broncos have to be competitive enough to get into the playoffs.  Once they make the playoffs anything is possible, even in the face of the most challenging schedule.

 

Finally, Mr. Bowlen promised the fans an exciting football team to watch this season.

 

That is something that hasn’t been talked about by the owner so openly, in public for sometime. 

 

Moreover, during the interview Mr. Bowlen was staying on top of negotiations with holdouts Robert Ayers and Knowshon Moreno.  Ayers signed by Tuesday and Moreno should be signed by the end of the weekend.

 

That Broncos fans is, something special coming from the brass in Dove Valley. 

 

Sure it’s rooted in fundamental sales to communicate with your audience, but Mr. Bowlen is very well aware that there is a strong expectation of this football franchise. 

 

Why else would he have made the difficult decision of releasing his good friend Coach Shanahan?

 

Why would he have let Jay Cutler go?

 

It’s because he cares about this business of football.  He loves his job, being the owner of the Denver Broncos and he cares about how he will be remembered.

 

That should encourage fans to push the Broncos back to new heights.

 

Other Notes Worthy of Mention

—

High honors go to Mr. Bowlen for staying on the high road about Jay Cutler.  That interview was on Monday.

 

Yesterday (8/6) Jay Cutler popped off on Chicago radio when he rated the Bears fans a nine and Broncos fans a six with regards to their passion for their team.  The Bears regularly are having around 10,000 fans at each practice session where Dove Valley can only hold about 1,500.  The Broncos did however get about 10,000 at the stadium last night. 

 

So what does this all mean?  

 

Jay Cutler said what he said in the face of fans, reporters, and former teammates who looked past all his faults on and off the field.

 

Somehow I have a hunch that week three of the preseason is more than just a preseason game.  It will be interesting to see how much or how little Jay Cutler plays in that game.

 

—

While Orton was booed at last night’s practice, he does show a myriad of positives and negatives.  Here are comments I previously posted on articles by Seth and Sayre.

Just my quick take in breaking down what I see in Kyle Orton thus far:

1) He has good pocket presence and pretty good technique in the pocket.

2) He lacks zip on the ball. He really should work with coach Tuten on strengthening the ligaments in his throwing shoulder. The stronger and tighter they are, the more zip he will be able to put on the ball. You can tell by how loose he is in the pocket that he needs to tighten up a bit as well. That will work itself out with live action to some extent.

3) Orton needs to work mentally on having greater anticipation skills. I notice when he’s checking down or going with his read he gets locked up. Every QB deals with this on some level, but he has a lot of that going on right now. His decisions to check down or check off a receiver needs to be immediate and anticipated. He’s still uncertain where he’s going. He is also trying to force the ball in some situations where he just needs to checkout, find the next receiver or throw the ball away.

4) On the deep routes he has to have the strength and zip, otherwise it’s easy picks for the DB’s.

5) With Orton, only time will tell, but he appears to have good leadership, but just needs to push himself harder to be a force on the field. QB’s should be THE force to recon with. So the shy part of Kyle needs to become aggressive, and open up enough to be a play maker.

—

The Broncos closed Wednesday morning practice to the general public so presumably business partners of the team could privately enjoy the practice.

 

Thursday’s boring walk through was open to the public.

 

I guess if you’re hanging with your infant son rolling around in the sun, it’s not a bad gig if you can get it.

 

—

The Broncos start the preseason a week from tonight in San Francisco against the 49’ers at 8pm Denver time on CBS 4 KCNC.

 

Attention Raiders Fans: Sneak Peek at Kyle Orton and Denver a Must See

I will keep this article short and sweet as the video I’m about to post will say more than anything I could.

The video you are about to see is from the Denver Broncos practice held Thursday, August 6.

The reason why I’m posting this is because so far this offseason I’ve heard Broncos fans defend Orton, Mcdonkey, and the rest of that weak-ass Broncos team.

This is the first time I have seen Orton’s arm in a Broncos jersey.  I understand it’s only a practice, but this a must-view for all Raiders fans who have yet to see a preview of the Broncos.

All Raiders fans who read this article and watch this video, please comment your thoughts.

 

DENVER BRONCOS INVESCO FIELD TRAINING CAMP AUG 6TH, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GpukIWC6Uk&feature=channel_page

 

Jay Cutler Hasn’t Changed a Bit: Still Mouthing off, Still Immature

“It’s a lot (different). Denver’s like a six, and Chicago’s like a nine. It’s quite a bit different. Just the fans and how passionate they are, that’s probably the biggest difference.”

Yes, this is the Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler speaking on a local Chicago sports show about the fans in Denver.

I do not blame Cutler for speaking out about the Broncos, as the terms of his departure were by no means friendly.

I do blame him for going after the passion of the fans of the Broncos, though.

The debate as to whether it was Cutler or Josh McDaniels (or both) at fault for the messy situation over the winter may never be settled. However, most people in Denver have moved on from talking about Cutler.

Evidently, Cutler himself has not.

According the details given, “Interviewed Tuesday night on ESPN Radio in Chicago, Cutler was asked about the 20,000 fans who showed up to the Bears’ practices over the weekend.”

That’s it. Nobody asked him for his opinion of the fans in Denver. They might have asked him how that compared to training camp in Denver, but Cutler himself was the one who brought up passion.

I believe nearly all fans of every team in professional sports are passionate. Maybe not “bandwagon” fans or fans of the Florida Marlins (or one of the more dysfunctional organizations around the sports world). Other than that, most fans have passion.

Some more than others, though.

There is no disputing the fact that the Denver Broncos have some of the best fans in the NFL. Mile High Stadium, the “Thunder”, the Barrel-Man.

Very few people have the audacity to question the passion of Broncos fans. 

Clearly Cutler is trying to “stir things up.”

He could have ripped on Josh McDaniels, Pat Bowlen, or the front office. He could have blasted the Broncos’ defense that let him down many a time in 2007 and 2008.

But he didn’t. He went after the passion of the fans, and Denver as a football town.

Nobody said he had to feel any love for Denver, for the Broncos, or even the fans. 

He could at least respect the fact that fans stood by him after he fell flat on his face leading the Broncos down the stretch last season—losing the final three games to complete one of the worst collapses in the NFL.

Fans even stood by him in his fight with McDaniels, Bowlen, and the rest of the Broncos’ front office after he threw a fit about hearing his name in trade rumors.

People called for the firing of Josh McDaniels, simply to appease Cutler.

So, when asked, what right does Cutler have to bash the very people who supported him while he was becoming the player he now is today?

Broncos fans should use this as a spark. Go out this season and show the team the kind of passionate support they’re used to. Even if this year is a “down year”, which it may or may not be.

Jay Cutler is just as mature now, as he was back in December when he screamed, “What the f**k Eddie?” after Eddie Royal couldn’t quite reach a pass that Cutler had air-mailed 10 feet too high in that infamous San Diego Chargers game. 

Yeah, not very mature at all.

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