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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Peyton Hillis: The Next A-Train

 

 

The Asterisk: More Teams Than the New England Patriots Deserve It!

I recently wrote an article stating the the New England Patriots should have an asterisk next to their Super Bowl championships. I say this because of spygate, and the fact that the Patriots cheated during the duration of their dynasty.

In the comment discussion I had with many people—but two especially—I told them that if they showed me other championship teams that were caught cheating, that I would write about them as well.

I am doing this because it is my belief that cheating is wrong in every way, shape, and form. To me, every team that cheats needs to be punished, and I believe that taking Lombardi trophies away is appropriate.

Since I have written an article exclusively about the Patriots, I am going to start with the most recent since.

 

1996-1998 Denver Broncos

In December 2001, the Denver Broncos were fined near $1 million dollars, and stripped of a third round pick due to salary infractions from the 1996-98 seasons.

In talking to some people about this prior to reading the report, I heard it was an accounting error by someone in the accounting department.

After reading this post, I realized that this was not simply an accounting error.

The Broncos deferred payments to both John Elway and Terrell Davis to the tune of $29 million dollars.

That is a complete slap in the face to the entire league. Denver won two Super Bowls while violating the salary cap.

Today in the NFL, above average starters make in the $7-8 million dollars per year. Back then, they made considerably less.

The difference is an additional five to six starters making top dollar on a team that was already good enough to make the playoffs.

This is a disgrace to the game and to every team in the NFL that follows the rules.  Since the NFL will not strip people of Lombardis, this is one that needs to have the * next to it.

 

Jimmy Johnson’s Dallas Cowboys

In the wake of the whole Spygate incident with the New England Patriots, Jimmy Johnson from FOX sports reported that when he was with the Dallas Cowboys, they did the same practice that the Patriots did.

As I said with the Patriots, hold true to all teams. If the Cowboys videotaped signals from where they were not supposed to, regardless of how much it helped the team, this is still cheating.

Why there was no rebellion to this really surprises me. Two of the best teams of the 90’s, including the one everyone knows as the team of the decade, admit to cheating.

 

The 1970’s Raiders

The motto of the Oakland Raiders is “Commitment to Excellence”. It should be “win at all costs”.

In an article published on ESPN, Lester Hayes speaks how when he first came to the Raiders, Fred Biletnikoff showed him how to use stickum.

Stickum is an illegal sports substance that helps you hold on to the ball, a players jersey, or to else you touch.

I tried it one day in high school practice to see what it was like, and it was like super glue on your hands.

The cheating practice did not end there.

From 1971 to 1973, Bob Brown convinced the NFL to allow him to wear braces on his wrists.

What he did not tell them was that the braces were made out of leather that would slide over his hands, so when he hit a defensive player rushing the QB, he could hit them with these leather gloves.

It was reported the John Madden would even sneak into the opposition’s locker rooms before games so that he could spy on them, and try to get any advantage he could.

 

Papa Bear Halas

In an interview with Steve Sabol on lyflines, he speaks of Papa Bear dating to the 1961 or 1962 team that obviously cheated.

Back then, there were no TV contracts, so teams would tape their own games. Each week, you would give a copy of your previous game to your next opponent, so that you could study each other—just like it is done today.

Halas decided that he was going to record every game with two different cameras. The one for him was recorded so he could grade his team. The second recording was done out of focus, so the other team couldn’t.

Again, this is something that is just poor sportsmanship. It is cheating to gain an unfair advantage.

I have an eight year old daughter. Most of the time when Cydni and I play a game, I let her win. Every once in a while, I will win, and before the game is over, she will get mad and storm off.

So, I guess I can say that these men, that are grown adults, act just like my eight year old daughter. It is more important to win than to be fair.

Every one of these men, and every one of these teams should be ashamed of themselves. And every one of these teams need to have the * placed next to their name, on every record and Super Bowl.

Done With Retrospect, Let’s Look Forward To The Denver Broncos Season…

The abundance of retrospective articles and blogs in the Broncos community is very evident. I’m taking this time to renew my faith in the 2010 season and present an optimistic look at the Denver Broncos’ year to come.

The best thing a fan can do for him/herself is keep an upbeat attitude about their team and their respective desires. For Denver and fans alike, the desired outcome is a new team with a new position in the league.

The Broncos’ new position may begin at the bottom rung of a very tall ladder, but this isn’t always a bad place to start.

Now, with Coach McDaniels calling the shots, and a slew of fresh faces ready to take the field in Denver’s honor, we have nothing to do but look forward to an exciting new team, and hopefully a brand new direction.

With Kyle Orton orchestrating an offense that’s sure to drop from it’s highly regarded No. 2 position, the depth chart isn’t exactly golden. But with Knowshon Moreno, and other talented backs joining him in the backfield, the offense may feel a sense of balance.

Neither Orton or Moreno are superstars by any means. Orton had a great record in Chicago as a starter, but his personal statistics did not reflect it well. Chicago’s team was mainly defensive based, and allowed for Orton to make mistakes.

Now in a system where defense will certainly not hold the same role, Orton will be forced to make better decisions, and manage the game more properly on offense.

In the back to aid in this endeavor will be Knowshon Moreno, Peyton Hillis, and maybe even Correll Buckhalter. When Orton can’t be the player to change the game and ignite the offense, these backs will have to prove they can pick up the slack.

This scheme will all reside on whether or not Orton can respond positively in the face of pressure. If the roster remains the way it is, there won’t be much of a defense to back him up in case of an error. Some players blossom in such a situation, and some fail. Optimism on our part is the key, and obviously the idea of this article.

It’s safe to say at this point that our receiving corps may suffer a loss in the next month. But one player does not make the team. Once again, through adversity, players must respond to this and adjust their play as necessary.

Eddie Royal stood out aside Brandon Marshall last year, mostly due to the attention given to Marshall by the opposing defenses. With Marshall on the brink of departure from Dove Valley, other receivers will have to fill the gap. Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley are likely candidates, but only time will tell.

As we would all like to see Brandon Marshall stay with the team, it remains to be seen whether or not this will be possible. Nobody thought we would actually trade Jay Cutler, but it happened (and fast.) Realistically speaking, negative energy breeds negative energy, and the longer his attitude dilutes the locker room, the longer it will take this team to take form.

If the Broncos must lose a familiar face and an outstanding player to further the growth of the team as a whole, I agree whole-hearted. A team that can go out professionally, without personal agendas and grudges holding them back, and have fun at the same time, has the best chance of succeeding in this league. After all, we don’t exactly need an Uno-Cinco jumping into angry crowds and picking boxing matches with our opponents. Don’t stroke the ego…

Through mini-camp and the preseason, a rejuvenated and proactive group should develop in Invesco. I for one am excited to see how it turns out, and hopes the best for the team, the city, and the fans as the season unfolds.

Whether we have to wait another few years before the Broncos contend for a championship, or if they have a breakout season to kick it off, I hope we can all still enjoy Sundays as always, and just relax. Remember, there’s always next year (I seem to be saying that a lot the last few seasons.)

Hopefully, you’re all with me in continuing an optimistic outlook for the Broncos, and the league alike!

Here’s to cheering for our favorite teams, tailgating with friends and family (and the occasional Raider fan,) enjoying Sunday at home, or at our favorite sports bar, and rejoicing in the fact that Sports Center is on every night no matter what kind of foul mood the games might put us in.

Cheers…

CFL: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Add Two Recent NFLers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed two recent NFLers, quarterback Darrell Hackney (Denver Broncos) and Jonathan Hefney (Philadelphia Eagles).

Hackney was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006 after a successful career at Alabama-Birmingham. At UAB he set four school records in passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and total offensive per game. After being cut by the Browns he signed with the Denver Broncos on January 2, 2007.

After battling with Jay Cutler, Preston Parsons, and Patrick Ramsey he made the team. In 2008, he re-joined Denver, but this time on their practice roster before being promoted on November 1 when Ramsey was placed on injured reserve. After the Broncos signed Chris Simms and acquired Kyle Orton in the Cutler trade, Hackney was waived by Denver.

Hefney was a starter at safety and cornerback while at Tennessee and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. On July 25 he was released by the Bucs. He would later sign with the Philadelphia Eagles and earn a spot on the practice roster. He was cut later in the season.

The Blue Bombers have also signed Jasper Johnson, Chase Ortiz, and Bradley Pierson.

This article also appeared on The CFL Report the unofficial (obviously) home of the CFL, always looking for more writers if you would like to join please contact me either by e-mail or on my bulletin board.

Denver Broncos: Has The Defense Been Reborn?

 

 

San Francisco 49ers Sign CB Dre’ Bly

With the injury to Walt Harris this week, it was only a matter of time before the 49ers brought in another veteran to fill out the roster spot and the today the team signed cornerback Dre’ Bly accordingly.

Bly, who according to Matt Maiocco of the The Press Democrat signed a one-year contract today, has been around the league a few times. Most recently he played with the Denver Broncos after working for the Lions and Rams previously.

He has been unemployed since he was cut by the Broncos this offseason. While with Denver, he compiled 62 tackles (54 solo, 8 assisted) over 16 games. He also had a pair of interceptions.

While Bly’s best days might be behind him, he is still a producer and helps give the 49ers some veteran depth. With Shawntae Spencer coming off an injury and players like Tarrell Brown and Marcus Hudson who have yet to prove themselves, a little extra proven support could be a big deal.

Bly will likely line up across from Nate Clements this season and get his hands dirty supporting the run defense—something he can defintely do.

Orangins: Becoming a Bronco Fan in New York

It happens at an early age.

Your first words, your first steps, your first day of school.  Childhood milestones to be sure.

But come on, we’re talking about something more important than speaking, walking, and early education (after all, I’m typing this on a laptop while sitting down—and I am pretty sure I didn’t learn Microsoft Word in kindergarten.)

What I am referring to is becoming a fan of your favorite team.  In my case, it’s being a Denver Bronco fan while growing up in New York.

How does that happen, you may ask?  I should be a Jets or Giants fan, right? Or in the very least, a fan of one of those ‘national following’ teams: Cowboys, Steelers…

In a New York word: No. (expletives deleted)

Since 1977, I have bled orange and blue.  It’s more blue than orange these days, but the Bronco blood continues to flow through me, and always will.  And it all started in a place so not Denver, so not the Mountain time zone—the beach.

As a child, my family would spend a lot of summers at Jones Beach on Long Island.  I couldn’t swim yet, so I built sand castles and basically complained it was too hot. 

“I’m thirsty,” was my catchphrase.  Still is, spoken more to my bartender than my mother these days.

My grandfather would take me to the snack bar.  Quite a walk from his cabana, and my feet still bear the scars of scorching sand and being stuck with every sharp object ever imagined sticking up from it. 

The reward for this trek would turn out to be a refreshing drink, and lifelong loyalty.

Orange Crush.

Bright orange, served in bright orange cups.  A stark contrast from brown colas in plain styrofoam.  It was different than the norm, and that’s what I wanted to drink.

Fast forward to football season.  In the pre-Sunday Ticket/ESPN/Internet days, it was Jets and Giants games on Sundays in New York.  The thrill of Richard Todd throwing picks at Shea Stadium.  Joe Pisarcik fumbling away a win in the Meadowlands.

Are you kidding me?

Like those days at the snack bar, I would soon be in for an orange-tinged treat.  During halftime highlights, I saw them. Bright, alive, appealing to a three-year-old. 

The jerseys worn by the Broncos.  Not blue, green, or black.  Orange—different than the norm.

“Wow, who are they?” I asked.  I was told about the ‘D’ on the helmet standing for Denver.  The Broncos having their first successful season.  And the Orange Crush.

Wait a minute, I drank that at the beach, I said.  They call their defense, “Orange Crush,” was the reply.  I didn’t know what a defense was (apparently, neither did Mike Shanahan the last few years), or where Denver was.  All I knew was I loved Orange Crush, and now I loved the Broncos.  The connection was made.

Oh sure, starting almost immediately, there were attempts to dissuade me.  My dad taking me to Jets games.  My mom buying me a Cowboys shirt.  And my elementary classmates had a few choice words for me, suffice to say.

No matter, I was hooked.  Hooked for life.

It has been an orange-addled addiction with highs and lows, from stealing John Elway from Baltimore, to Super Bowl humiliations in the 80’s.  But I’ve persevered.  And it all started that day at the Jones Beach snack bar.

It took another 20 years before the Broncos won a Super Bowl.  They did so after ditching their orange jerseys for blue.  No longer different than the norm, but we were world champions.

And they still make Orange Crush.

Denver Broncos: What Will the Broncos do on Draft Day?

 

Let’s Play GM

Now that the smoke has finally settled from what has become affectionately known as “McJaygate” there seems to be a peace in the Mile High area as Head Coach Josh McDaniels prepares for his first NFL Draft or could it just be the calm before the storm? When the deed went down a few weeks ago, there were many skeptics and critics that did not agree with the decision to trade away your former first round pick for a journey man quarterback.

Now that we’ve had time to digest, what has changed? One thing seems to be certain, McDaniels appears content to remain steady with his two quarterbacks (Orton and Simms).

 

If this is the case and Mr. Peter King (SI.com) is correct with his assessment that McDaniels really likes Orton, then as the Bronco’s GM what do you do with your two picks?

As part of the Cutler deal, the Bronco’s inherited the Bears 2009 first round pick at number 18. If you are the team’s GM what do you do with your two first round draft picks? This is a dilemma that the team’s new GM Brian Xanders is facing.

If Orton is now the right guy in Denver, then the answers for Xanders and McDaniels seem logical. Following one of the worst seasons this franchise has ever seen with their defense finishing near the bottom in 2008, this should be the focus on Saturday.

This year’s pool of prospects is filled with a great many talents and the Bronco’s should have plenty of opportunity to snag a couple at 12 and 18 in the first round of the draft on Saturday. At number 12, the team could easily target one of this year’s talented class of linebackers and out of Southern California, there are three (Brian Cushing, Ray Maualuga, & Clay Matthews) to choose from alone.

Switching to the more traditional 3-4 defensive scheme the Broncos are in need of strong inside linebacker play as well as a big man in the middle to play nose tackle. Some experts think that Boston College’s B.J. Raji (DT) could fall to number 12 and this is where the Broncos should look, but it is not likley that he’ll slide that far. Another name that will be on the team’s radar, but it is unlikely he’ll last past the top 10 is Texas’Brian Orakpo (DE).

Again there is plenty of talent to consider, but the way the draft is likely to shape up, the Broncos will likely have their pick of litter (past Aaron Curry) at the linebacker position. All signs would point towards the Broncos taking inside linebacker Ray Maualuga. His addition inside could allow LB D.J. Williams to move back to a more natural outside linebacker position.

At number 18, the team would then be able to look for a defensive playmaker in the secondary or up front. Defensive end Tyson Jackson (LSU) and defensive tackle Jerry Peria (Ole Miss) could be potential targets for this spot if the team is looking for their needed help up front or they could give a look at corner back Vontae Davis (Illinois). Davis is considered one of the best athletes and defensive backs in the nation entering this year’s draft.

If I am the GM of the Broncos my choices may not be quite clear yet, but with two first round picks I know I have very good choices. The speculation of making a deal to draft up would not be a consideration. While the future could look promising with a young arm, why tie up so much cash on a promise, when I can build for now.

 

Based on what I know about Orton and what I believe in McDaniels as an orchestrator and offensive mind, my needs to be addressed in this year’s draft will be the defense.  I am confident that the arms I have in camp will be adequate for my team to compete.

So where do I go and what do I look for; an inside playmaker, an immovable force up front, and a stud defensive back will be high on my charts for 2009.

 

 

By David G. Ortega

 

 

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