SB Nation - Darius Walker

Horse Tracks 11/4/09 - Orton has sore left ankle; Broncos add two to PS, bringing back DT Carlton Powell

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:44:53 -0000

Good Morning, MHR Friends! Try not to lose much sleep over Darius Walker - I know a lot of folks liked what they saw from him in the preseason, but he gained his yards in garbage time against second- and third-teamers and still managed only 3.8 YPA. He's merely this year's version of Anthony Alridge, sans blazing speed. On an editing note, I feel like I've got to tighten up Tracks a bit; a return to quality over quantity (and more blurbs to help you decide which columns you want to read before you click on them). So I'm going to run some polls over the next few days - I need your help (because obviously what you want is what really matters, here). Don't worry, this doesn't mean I'll decrease the amount of Broncos-centric news. It's more a matter of the other stuff... Please be honest, as your input will help me improve Tracks and determine its direction. Thanks!

LTC - Orton thrives with Broncos, rookie coach - Brian Howell
"I’ve learned a lot," he said. "I think I’m a better player. The coaching has been great, and they’re making me a better player. I think this is the system that fits me." Sounds to me like a player who knows where his bread is buttered (hometown discount at contract time?). Then again, we don't really know how McD will value Kyle at a much higher price (versus his current $995,000 salary). Maybe he'll like Brandstater's value better...

DPP - Broncos rookie Moreno learning on job - Mike Klis
Although he's on pace for over 1,100 yards from scrimmage (very good for a rookie, especially as part of a backfield tandem), Knowshon is yet to break a run of 20+ yards. However, as Moreno himself says, "I didn't really have too many big runs at Georgia, either. It's all about those hard yards."

DPP - Defense ready for no-huddle from Steelers - Jeff Legwold
"Quarterback Kyle Orton may show up on the Broncos' injury report this week because of a twisted left ankle he suffered in Sunday's loss in Baltimore. Orton was hit by Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs in the second quarter and played the rest of the way with the ankle wrapped. Orton received treatment on the ankle Monday and Tuesday"

DB - Ball, Powell Added to Practice Squad - Gray Caldwell

NFLN - Playbook: Broncos vs. Ravens recap - Video
Billick & Mayock look at how B-more beat the Broncos. It's just as Orton said - two safeties sitting deep, tons of pressure - can't go deep, don't have time to make good throws underneath.

DB - Preparing For Pittsburgh - Patrick Smyth

DPP - Analysis: McDaniels will have his hands full with LeBeau's Pittsburgh defense - Jeff Legwold

DPP - McDaniels' involvement with Spygate not clear - Jeff Legwold

CSG - Loss should help keep Broncos humble - Frank Schwab

CSG - Coaches: Orton deserves some of shared blame in loss - Frank Schwab

LTC - Broncos’ loss is chance to find, fix flaws - Brian Howell

KDVR - Tanaka: Broncos still among the NFL's best

HSB - Elam comes full circle - John Hollis

Steelers News

FH - Hines Ward: Ryan Clark Should Sit Out This Week - J.J. Cooper

PPG - On the Steelers: Carter capable of filling in for Clark - Ed Bouchette

PPG - How do teams adjust to Denver's altitude? - Ed Bouchette

PPG - Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript

AFC West News

ESPN - How I See It: AFC West Stock Watch - Bill Williamson

SFC - Creepshow: Raiders hitting an all-time low - Scott Ostler

OT - Poole: Bottom line is that bad NFL coaches are safe

OT - Peterson: Finding Raiders coaching candidates no easy task ... unless you get creative

SI - Oakland Raiders can't allow abusive Tom Cable to continue - Ann Killion

KCS - Chiefs add Chris Chambers

KCS - Chiefs use bye week to fine-tune offense - Kent Babb

SDUT - Chargers' defining time - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Jackson's DUI case on hold for now - Brent Schrotenboer

NFL News

NYT - N.F.L. Seeks Help in Enforcing Drug Policy - Ken Belson

FH - Congress Shoots Down NFL's Request for Help on StarCaps Ruling - Dan Graziano

NFL - Goodell meets support, critics in Congress over drug programs

NFL - Goodell, Smith to join latest round of labor negotiations

FH - Dan Snyder 'Sorry' for Redskins' Fans - Matt Snyder

NFL - Browns coach Mangini remains quiet about Kokinis' departure

NFL - Seahawks release 11-year veteran RB James

NFL - Bills' McGee expects to miss 2 weeks after arthroscopic surgery

NFL Opinion

NFP - Diner morning news: Kokinis never had a chance - Mike Lombardi
"Every time Mangini was given more responsibility in New England, he was not successful. Conversely, every time Josh McDaniels’ role was increased, he kept getting more and more successful." This is one of Lombardi's best columns - not for the McDaniels praise, but for the insight into how Eric Mangini has gone wrong already in Cleveland.

NYT - Circumstances of Kokinis’s Exit in Question - Judy Battista

NFL - Another 'do-over' on horizon for perpetually rebuilding Browns - Jason La Canfora

NFL - In-season coaching change is nothing but a knee-jerk reaction - Vic Carucci

SI - Cleveland Browns are mess; New Orleans Saints success is run - Peter King

SN - These elevators are going through the roof - Clifton Brown

CBS - Game-breaker Jackson becomes draft home run for Eagles - Clark Judge

NFP - Tavern talk: How Falcons gave away points - Mike Lombardi

FOX - Schein 9: These aren't same, old Texans

ESPN - Frustration and growing pains in Green Bay - Kevin Seifert

NFP - Packers defense comes under fire - Matt Bowen

Y! - Packers looking far from prime-time worthy - Mike Silver
"If Brian Dawkins and Ray Lewis had engaged in a pregame staredown Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, would it still be going on right now?"

PFW - Can it get any worse in Washington? - Keith Schleiden

Y! - Lost identity contributing to Giants' woes - Jason Cole

SI - Alex Smith has San Francisco 49ers headed in right direction - Jerome Bettis
"There's an unwritten rule, Jay Cutler: You can talk crap to players on the field, but you don't direct that at coaches. I don't know how the chatter between the Bears QB and Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan started this week, but it's just not the way Jay should carry himself. Play the game. Rob Ryan can't make a play; he can't kick your butt on the field. So it shows a complete lack of class to bring him into the fray."

FH - Studs and Duds, Week 8: The Ginn Mill - Shane Bacon
You know, the guy probably took a lot of heat as a kid. But once past that, how awesome is it to have the name "Bacon"?

NFP - Scout’s notebook: defensive review - Wes Bunting

Power Rankings, Etc.

ESPN - NFL Power Rankings Week 9

CBS - Power Rankings: Texans have passing chance against Colts - Pete Prisco

FH - NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: There Will Be Blood - Josh Alper

FOX - NFL Power Rankings - Adrian Hasenmayer
"It was bound to happen. The skeptics were waiting patiently the past few weeks for the Broncos to come back to reality. But don't kick too much dirt on 'em, it's never a good idea to overreact to one game — win or loss."

USAT - USA Today's NFL power rankings

NYT - Week 8 QB Ratings: Favre Rising and Eli Falling - Luis DeLoureiro

PFW - MVP Meter: Favre chasing down Peterson - Dan Parr

PFW - Rookie Meter: Byrd finally cracks top 10 - Mike Holbrook

Poll

What do you think about the quantity of AFC West news (aside from the Broncos, of course) in Horse Tracks?

It's just about right; I tend to read most of it

120 votes

If half of it disappeared, I'd hardly notice

211 votes

Why do we need so much Raiders news?

42 votes

373 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos add Lance Ball, Carlton Powell to Practice Squad

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:01:15 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

In this Aug. 29, 2009 photo, Indianapolis Colts running back Lance Ball rushes for a touchdown as Detroit Lions safety LaMarcus Hicks dives during the fourth quarter of a exhibition NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Browse more photos »

The Broncos made two pairs of moves with their practice squad roster today, as RB Lance Ball and DT Carlton Powell replaced RB Darius Walker and DE Everette Pedescleaux.

Walker was waived, while Pedescleaux was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.

Ball is a second-year player who appeared in one game in 2008 for Indianapolis. In the Colts' regular-season finale, Ball took 13 carries for 83 yards, adding 5 yards on 1 reception. He fumbled once (recovered by the Colts). During the 2009 preseason (for the Colts), Ball rushed 35 times for 86 yards (2.5 YPA) and caught 3 passes for 32 yards with zero touchdowns and 1 fumble (recovered by Indianapolis). In addition to his time with Indianapolis, the former Maryland Terp has been a practice-squad member of the Rams and Titans.

Powell was originally drafted by Denver in 2008 (5th Round, #148 overall) but missed the entire season due to an injury to his Achilles tendon. A teammate of Eddie Royal's at Virginia Tech, Powell was waived by the Broncos in September before spending two weeks on the Browns' practice squad.

Moats vs. Slaton: Let’s Take an Unbiased Look

Mike Kerns — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:25:53 -0000

More photos » by Dean Duprey - AP

Ryan Moats has made a good case to get more opportunities from out of the Houston backfield.

Browse more photos »

It is no big secret that Steve Slaton has had a rough go at his sophomore season in the NFL. You can blame the offensive line for not giving him any lanes to run through. You can blame him for adding bulk in the offseason. You can even blame the playcalling for making running plays too predictable. All of that is fine and good. But the bottom line remains that he has endured the fabled "Sophomore Slump." Half of an NFL season is a good measuring stick to make that assumption.

And this isn’t even taking into account his fumbling problem, which isn’t as surprising to me as it has been for many of my fellow Texans fans. One of his negatives before the draft was that he had a hard time hanging onto the ball while at West Virginia at times.

But the reaction to his benching against Buffalo last Sunday has been met with mixed feelings from many. Some feel that it was about time and others were criticizing head coach Gary Kubiak for not having patience with a young player going through a hard time. I have to disagree. Kubiak has been more than patient with Steve and has handled it the best way imaginable. By benching him for an entire game, and watching another guy have a career day in his place, had to be an eye-opening experience for Steve. The axiom that "The NFL stands for Not For Long" isn’t just a clever catch phrase.

Then we have his backup, Ryan Moats. A guy who before Sunday was known more for his offseason issues with a Dallas police officer than he was for his play on the field. A guy who has waited patiently for his opportunity and kept his mouth shut and capitalized when his number was called. And when asked after the game if he thought that he should be the starter, he remained humble when he had every reason to brag a little bit.

A third round pick out of Louisiana Tech in 2005, Moats was stuck behind Philadelphia Eagles standout Brian Westbrook for most of his time there. He broke his ankle in the Eagles first preseason game in 2007 and missed the entire season. It would be the last time he played for them, as he was released in the final round of cuts the next season. He stuck around on Arizona’s practice squad for about three weeks before he was released again. Houston quickly snatched him up a week later to their own practice squad. After cutting Darius Walker and multiple injuries to Ahman Green, Moats was promoted to the active roster and quickly rose to second on the depth chart behind Steve Slaton.

Now that you know a little more about the guy, we can move towards the debate. Many are calling for Moats to get the start at Indianapolis this Sunday over Slaton. Yet, others are saying Buffalo’s awful run defense was the only reason he had the breakout performance. Me? I don’t care. I want whoever gives us the best chance to win. I am completely unbiased on the issue.

Of course, I feel that Steve is the more talented player. I mean, the guy is electric and can score almost any time he touches the ball. But, much like Jacoby Jones, you start to hold your breath every time he has the ball now. Seven fumbles in eight games doesn’t even happen in a video game. That is a hell of a bad run. And it isn’t anything that can be corrected without getting the opportunity on the field. But could you imagine the fallout if we are right there about to beat The Colts on Sunday and Steve puts it on the ground, and it turns out to be the play that costs us the game? That would be Sage Rosenfels all over again. And I wouldn’t wish that on any player.

I am all for starting whoever Coach Kubiak chooses and then having them split carries evenly. Let’s see how Ryan Moats runs against someone that isn’t Buffalo. Not that Indy is world-beaters against the run or anything, but at 8-0 they surely aren’t awful.

So, let’s hear it, BRB nation. Who you got starting this Sunday, and why?

Poll

Ryan Moats or Steve Slaton. Who would you prefer to see start on Sunday?

Steve Slaton

626 votes

Ryan Moats

673 votes

Chris Brown...You know you love him...

39 votes

1338 votes | Poll has closed

Horse Tracks 10/30/09 - Fields (limited) returns to practice; Ravens LT Gaither held from practice Thursday

Douglas A. Lee — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:26 -0000

NYT - N.F.L.’s Influence on Safety at Youth Levels Is Cited - Alan Schwarz

NFL Films - Week 8: Broncos vs. Ravens Preview - Video

NFLN - WK 8: Playbook: Broncos vs. Ravens - Video
Baldinger, Theismann and Sterling look at Ray Rice, BMarsh, Stokes and the Broncos' D versus play-action passes.

DB - Starting the Clock Before Sunday - Zach Eisendrath
"After sitting out practice on Wednesday, Ronald Fields (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday’s session. Brian Dawkins (hamstring) was also listed as a limited participant. Spencer Larsen (shoulder) participated in full."

DB - Some Well-Earned Time Off - Gray Caldwell

KDVR - Sources: Broncos RB Darius Walker Cut - Josina Anderson

DPP - Marshall, Orton among the surprises of the Denver Broncos season - Mike Klis

NFL - Don't sell 'em short: Diminutive pass rushers all the rage - Bucky Brooks

NYT - As Offenses Change, So Does Role of Middle Linebacker - Judy Battista

DB - Week 8 - Thu: Bailey - Broncos TV

DPP - Defense priority: keep ball out of Mason's hands - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Safe way winning way for Broncos - Jeff Legwold

DPP - A look at the Broncos remaining schedule - Jeff Legwold

DP - Lots of hitting in Broncos' indoor practice - Lindsay Jones

DP - Kiszla: Dawkins brings "it" factor to defense

DP - McDaniels memorabilia – a collector’s item? - Lindsay Jones
Hmm...where did I read about this before??

CSG - Royal providing happy returns for Broncos - Frank Schwab

CSG - Former Bronco Pryce sack machine for Ravens - Frank Schwab

AP - Brian Dawkins And Ray Lewis Have Emotion In Common - Pat Graham

ESPN - Broncos: Will they go undefeated? - Bill Williamson

ESPN Insider - Broncos-Ravens: 10 observations - Jeremy Green

FOX - What Brett can expect in Green Bay return - John Lynch

FH - Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bay - Matt Snyder

Ravens News

NFL - Texans, Ravens aren't the only teams chasing contenders - Vic Carucci

ESPN - Ravens at an early crossroads - James Walker

NFP - Wilson: Ravens preparing for Broncos' Brandon Marshall

BS - F. Washington still starting - Edward Lee

BS - Living tall: Grounded in family, Rice shows poise on and off the field - Ken Murray

BS - Ravens Insider: Pagano accepts the blame - Edward Lee

BS - 3 things that need to go right for the Ravens

BS - On the defensive - Jamison Hensley

BS - Ravens Insider

BS - Baltimore Sun staff picks

BS - Remember when: Ravens vs. Broncos, 2003

AFC West News

Y! - Johnson, others have worn out welcome - Charles Robinson

SDUT - Chargers in rush to get running game fixed - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Blitzing, pressure worked for defense against Chiefs - Kevin Acee

KCS - Chiefs, LJ working on a settlement - Kent Babb

KCS - Gay athletes don’t fit in what is perceived as a homophobic NFL - Randy Covitz

SFC - Russell buckles down in wake of Jets debacle - David White

SFC - For all of their efforts, Raiders not tackling - David White

OT - Easy to run against the Raiders - Steve Corkran

OT - Peterson: If Raiders' Russell has the fire, he needs to show it

NFL News

NFL - Young in, Collins out as Titans coach Fisher switches QBs

NFL - Fed up with losing, Browns fans organize protest at Nov. 16 game

NFL - Seahawks LB Tatupu out for season with torn pectoral muscle

NFL - Cracked bone in right foot won't keep Giants RB Bradshaw off field

NFL - Saints sign FB Eckel after losing Evans for season to knee injury

NFL - Ailing WR Johnson returns to practice with Lions

NFL - League says it doesn't have a problem with Redskins' sign ban

NFL Opinion

NFP - Diner morning news: Six NFL bottom dwellers - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Tavern talk: Titans go back to the future - Mike Lombardi

NYT - What Should Packers Fans Do With Their Memories of Favre? - Toni Monkovic

USAT - Favre's return plays like an ugly family divorce for Green Bay - Jim Corbett

NYT - Brett Favre and the Interception Myth - Larry Canale

ESPN - Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson forever linked with Brett Favre - Elizabeth Merrill

SN - NFC North showdown will hinge on more than 'feisty' Favre - Dennis Dillon

Y! - Peterson's compassion constantly on display - Jason Cole

FH - Between the Lines: Steelers Offensive Line Has Taken Big Steps - J.J. Cooper

FH - Studious Hakeem Nicks the Early Star of Rookie WR Class - Dan Graziano

CBS - League-leading numbers speak volumes, Schaub doesn't - Pete Prisco

PFW - Offense and defense and the Gremlins - Tom Danyluk

SI - Cedric Benson learned from mistakes in Chicago to thrive in Cincy - Paul Daugherty

SI - Alex Smith gets second chance with San Francisco 49ers - Don Banks

SN - Four slumping contenders need to find their groove — now - Clifton Brown

FH - Sign of the Times: Repressive Redskins - Kevin Blackistone

FOX - NFL Truths: Zorn should embrace bizarre role - Jason Whitlock

NFP - Fixing the mess in Washington - Robert Boland

FH - Peter King on the 12-Year Journey of Monday Morning Quarterback - Michael David Smith

NFP - The Player's Picks: Week 8 - Matt Bowen
"I am sticking with McDaniels and the Broncos until someone shows me they can take them down."

NYT - N.F.L. Week 8 Game Probabilities (Regression to the Mean) - Brian Burke

SI - The Peter King Challenge

Horse Tracks 9/10/09 - Team captains named; Broncos reportedly discussing new contract with Brandon Marshall

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:17:19 -0000

Good MORNING, MHR Friends! I'm tanned, well-rested and back after a few days in what turned out to be perfect Sarasota. The weather was surprisingly terrific, and we had a great time. Certainly, lots happened over the past week, as final cuts came (no surprises, in my eyes), Richard Quinn found himself in hot water, BMarsh returned and may even be talking over a new deal, team captains were announced (with the fascinating inclusion and contract extension of LB Mario Haggan), and the DP went "Premium." Oh, and Vonnie Holliday signed with the Broncos, which I predicted back in July. For anyone puzzled by the choice to keep LaMont Jordan over Darius Walker, look back at my RBs preview and you'll see that Jordan got a much bigger signing bonus; that, plus his receiving ability, usefulness in short-yardage situations and prior knowledge/experience within Josh McDaniels' offense make a strong case for LaMont. One final thought; if Kyle Orton starts playing this week, could that mean his finger never fully heals this year? Does another week or two mean he's 100% the rest of the way? Okay, onto the news...

DB - Players Vote for 2009 Captains - Broncos TV

DB - Week 1 - Wed.: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DB - Week 1 - Wed.: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Week 1 - Wed.: Dawkins - Broncos TV

NFL - Broncos discussing new deal with WR Marshall - Jason La Canfora

ESPN - Team Preview: Denver Broncos

Y! - Marshall could learn from Hall, McGahee - Charles Robinson

AP - Broncos New Era Under McDaniels About To Get Real - Arnie Stapleton

Well, the DP went "premium" just in time to roll out their prolific season preview...

DPP - Broncos' and Bengals' controversial receivers face off Sunday - Mike Klis

DPP - Orton putting up with pain, ready to start - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Kyle Orton embracing Colorado - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Bowlen is still Broncos' boss - Mike Klis

DPP - Fans fickle when it comes to McDaniels - Jim Armstrong

DPP - Krieger: Altered egos take time to evaluate

DPP - Paige: Orton must star in glove story

DPP - Broncos social time has seen its last time - Jeff Legwold

DP - McDaniels won't shed — or sweat — hoodies - Jim Armstrong

DPP - Analysis: Broncos to see pass-happy Bengals - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Benson has big role in Bengals' running game - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Broncos moving to a new beat at practice - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Shutting doors to draft big change - Jeff Legwold
A look at the different ways Shanny and McD handle the draft.

DPP - Broncos' blocking system changes to power game - Terry Frei

DPP - Tough practice, tough players - Anthony Cotton

DPP - Yoga takes big hit in switch to how Broncos will stretch - Lindsay Jones
I wonder if all those guys who pulled/tore groin muscles and hamstrings last season were the ones too macho to practice yoga. IMO, this was a poor choice by both the players and the team.

DPP - McDaniels has a busy helping hand - Mike Klis
A look at Mark Thewes, Josh McDaniels' childhood friend and right-hand man.

DPP - McD's goal for O-line: bigger and stronger - Anthony Cotton

DPP - Broncos offense: Small passes, big results - Mike Klis

DPP - All defensive schemes need players - Terry Frei

DPP - Broncos offensive starters - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Broncos defensive starters - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Broncos 2009 schedule - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Q&A: Where'd all the offense go? - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Fan surveys fuel stadium changes - Mike Klis

DPP - Numbers: Broncos coaches tend to have dandy debuts

DB - Week 1 - Tues.: Sounds from the Locker Room - Broncos TV

DB - The Challenge at Hand - Zach Eisendrath
A look at the Bangles' many offensive weapons, plus the initial injury reports. Denver reached injury settlements with Josh Bell and Matt McChesney.

DB - From Ourselves to Our Opponents - Chris Gentilviso
More player quotes heading into the opener.

DP - Mailbag: Broncos' roster moves questioned - Woody Paige

CSG - Three Broncos to test the importance of preseason - Frank Schwab

SI - Would Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin consider skipping games? - Ross Tucker

Bengals News

NFL - Ochocinco insists he'll provide the NFL with a surprise Sunday

CE - Palmer: Week's practices will rust-proof him - Joe Reedy

CE - All's well with Chad, for now - Paul Daugherty

CE - Bengals upgrade their special teams - Joe Reedy

AFC West News

KCS - Chiefs notebook | Cassel still uncertain for opener - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs hope their defense steps up against Ravens - Adam Teicher

SDUT - No catch to Chambers' game - Tod Leonard

SDUT - Rookie Vasquez a starter with a future - Nick Canepa

SDUT - District Attorney's Office reviewing deputies' report in Merriman-Tequila abuse case

SDUT - Merriman taking it slow, still not 100% - Kevin Acee

SFC - Sympathy for Seymour - Gwen Knapp

NFL - Why Patriots acted quickly on Seymour trade; top five teams of '09 - Vic Carucci

CCT - Raiders 2009 outlook - Steve Corkran

NFL News

NFL - Mangini picks Quinn over Anderson to be Browns' starting QB

NFL - Steelers LB Timmons doubtful to play vs. Titans

NFL - Jags welcome Jones-Drew back to practice, expect him to play vs. Colts

NFL - Westbrook ready to play again, expecting full load in Eagles' opener

NFL - Rams QB Bulger takes direct snaps for first time since breaking pinkie

NFL - Panthers LB Beason, RB Stewart look 'really good' in return to practice

NFL - Niners safety Lewis shakes off concussions, will start vs. Cardinals
Team doctors FAIL.

NFL Opinion

NFL - Among NFL trends, finding rookie starters is growing tougher - Pat Kirwan

NFL - Wins and losses will rule, but rookie coaches already have made an impact - Steve Wyche

Y! - Nine on '09: Storylines of upcoming season - Jason Cole

Y! - Steelers get lost in turbulent offseason - Dan Wetzel

SI - NFL experts make 2009 predictions on Super Bowl, MVP, more

Y! - McNair was more than just a player to Fisher - Mike Silver

NYT - N.F.L. Preview - N.F.L. Teams Unleash Offense, With a Nod to the College Game - Judy Battista

Darius Walker, 7 others named to Broncos Practice Squad

John Bena — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:32:35 -0000

by Jack Dempsey - AP

3 months ago: Denver Broncos running back Darius Walker (34) breaks into the secondary as he carries the ball during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. The Bears won 27-17. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

View full size photo »

The Denver Broncos on Sunday signed tight end Marquez Branson, cornerback Tony Carter, guard Mitch Erickson, cornerback D.J. Johnson, inside linebacker Braxton Kelley, defensive lineman Everette Pedescleaux, running back Darius Walker and wide receiver Matthew Willis to their practice squad, it was announced.

Branson (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) is a rookie tight end from the University of Central Arkansas who joined the Broncos as a college free agent on April 27. He played in all four of Denver's preseason games and recorded four catches for 26 yards (6.5 avg.). As a collegiate, Branson totaled 82 receptions for 1,236 yards (15.1 avg.) with 18 touchdowns and finished his collegiate career ranked fifth in school history with 18 receiving touchdowns. He also played at East Mississippi Community College where he added 17 catches for 175 yards (10.3 avg.) with a touchdown prior to transferring to Central Arkansas. Branson attended Starkville High School in Starkville, Miss., where he was a two-time all-state selection. Marquez Branson was born on Feb. 14, 1987, in Palmdale, Calif.

Carter (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) is a rookie cornerback who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent from Florida State University on April 27. He appeared in the first two preseason contests and contributed a special-teams stop. As a collegiate, Carter started all 50 career games he played and totaled 139 tackles (104 solo), nine interceptions (173 yds.) and 26 passes defensed. He added nine career punt returns for 132 yards (14.7 avg.) with one touchdown. Carter attended Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was rated the No. 2 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com and also saw time at quarterback and wide receiver. Tony Carter was born on May 24, 1986, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Erickson (6-foot-5, 286 pounds) is a first-year player from South Dakota State University who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 28, 2008. He spent his rookie season on Denver's practice squad. For the second consecutive season, Erickson appeared in all four preseason games for Denver in 2009. He received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior at SDSU. Erickson attended Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Minn., and was born on May 14, 1985.

Johnson (6-foot-1, 191 pounds) is a rookie cornerback from Jackson State University who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 27. He played in all four of Denver's preseason games and totaled eight solo tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass defensed while adding a special-teams stop. He played in 24 games for Jackson State after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Missouri. He totaled 66 career tackles (52 solo) and 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, at Jackson State. He attended LaMarque High School in LaMarque, Texas. Domonique Johnson was born on Nov. 7, 1985, in Texas City, Texas.

Kelley (6-foot, 242 pounds) is a rookie inside linebacker who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky. He played in three preseason contests and made three tackles (2 solo) on defense and a stop on special teams. Kelley totaled 287 tackles (175 solo), 6.5 sacks (30 yds.), four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six pass breakups in 46 career games (42 starts) at Kentucky. He earned All-Georgia honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Ga. Braxton Kelley was born on Oct. 24, 1986, in LaGrange, Ga.

Pedescleaux (6-foot-4, 312 pounds) is a rookie defensive lineman from the University of Northern Iowa who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 27. Pedescleaux posted a solo tackle in three preseason appearances for Denver. He played 51 career games (21 starts) at Northern Iowa and totaled 112 tackles, 11 sacks and six blocked kicks. Pedescleaux helped lead Northern Iowa to playoff appearances in 2005, ‘07 and ‘08 along with conference titles in each of those seasons. He earned third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior in 2008 when he registered 62 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. Everette Pedescleaux was born on Jan. 19, 1985, in Plymouth, Minn.

Walker (5-foot-11, 220 pounds) is a third-year running back who joined the Broncos as a free agent on May 8. He entered the NFL with Houston as a college free agent on May 10, 2007. He led the Broncos and ranked 12th in the league with 173 rushing yards and two scores on 46 carries in four preseason games. Walker totaled 58 carries for 264 yards (4.6 avg.) and a touchdown while catching 13 passes for 81 yards (6.2 avg.) in four regular-season games with Houston as a rookie in 2007. He became the sixth player in the history of the University of Notre Dame to lead the Fighting Irish in rushing for three consecutive seasons as he was ranked fourth in school annals in rushing yards (3,249) and third in rushing attempts (693) at the end of his career. He attended Buford High School in Buford, Ga., where he was named the Georgia prep player of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Darius A'Dunte Walker was born on Oct. 21, 1985, in Atlanta.

Willis (6-foot, 190 pounds) is a second-year wide receiver who joined the Broncos' practice squad on Dec. 23, 2008. He appeared in all four preseason contests, contributing four kickoff returns for 99 yards (24.8 avg.), two punt returns for six yards and a 7-yard reception along with a special-teams tackle. Willis entered the NFL with Baltimore as a college free agent on May 4, 2007. He made one catch for 11 yards in five games as a rookie with the Ravens. In 21 collegiate games, Willis made 24 catches for 248 yards (10.3 avg.) with three touchdowns. Willis attended Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif. Matthew Anthony Willis was born on April 13, 1984, in Dallas.

All Ready! Your 2009 Denver Broncos 53-man Roster(Official)

John Bena — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:14:31 -0000

Quarterback (3)	Kyle Orton	Defensive Ends (5)	Vonnie Holliday
	Chris Simms		Kenny Peterson
	Tom Brandstater		Ryan McBean
			Marcus Thomas
Running back (4)	Knowshon Moreno		Le Kevin Smith
	Peyton Hillis
	Correll Buckhalter	Defensive Tackles (2)	Ronald Fields
	LaMont Jordan		Chris Baker

		Linebackers (9)	D.J. Williams
			Elvis Dumervil
Tight End (3)	Daniel Graham		Mario Haggan
	Tony Scheffler		Darrell Reid
	Richard Quinn		Jarvis Moss
			Wesley Woodyard
Wide Receivers (7)	Brandon Marshall		Andra Davis
	Eddie Royal		Spencer Larsen
	Brandon Stokley		Robert Ayers
	Jabar Gaffney	Cornerbacks (4)	Andre Goodman
	Kenny McKinley		Jack Williams
	Brandon Lloyd		Alphonso Smith
	Chad Jackson		Champ Bailey

Offensive Line (9)	Casey Wiegmann
	Chris Kuper	Safeties (5)	Brian Dawkins
	Russ Hochstein		Darcel McBath
	Seth Olsen		Renaldo Hill
	Ryan Harris		David Bruton
	Ryan Clady		Josh Barrett
	Ben Hamilton
	Brandon Gorin	Special (3)	Matt Prater
	Tyler Polumbus		Brett Kern
			Lonnie Paxton

Immediate Reaction and Notes

There is one too-many because Brandon Marshall is still on the Reserved-Suspended list. One more move will have to be made when he is activated, but this allows the Broncos to get the lay of the Free agent landscape.
On offense, I had predicted that Darius Walker would make it over LaMont Jordan. I was wrong. There are reasons why, more than Jordan's New England past, why this could have happened. Pass protection is one of them. In the end, however, Jordan is the 4th RB behind KnowMo, Buckhalter and Hillis. I can live with it even though I don't agree with it.
I had though the Broncos would go with 6 WR's, IF Jabar Gaffney's thumb was progressing well. The fact the Broncos went with 7 doesn't necessarily mean it is not, but that the coaches value depth at WR more than RB or some other areas.
The addition of Vonnie Holliday mean alot momre than just what the guy can do on the football field. It is another veteran voice in the locker room, a coach on the field. He has alot of experience in all defenses and will help the young guys learn the nuances of the 3-4
Don't get too comfortable with this roster. I fully expect it to change between now and mid-week after the team has the chance to scoru the waiver-wire.

Denver Broncos 19 - Arizona Cardinals 0 - Postgame Quotes

John Bena — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:34:04 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

3 months ago: Denver Broncos quarterback Tom Brandstater (3) sets to throw a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL preseason football game in Denver on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski )

Browse more photos »

DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On finishing the preseason with a victory
"There were certainly things that we wanted to accomplish tonight. We wanted to play more physical, and I thought we did that on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We wanted to try to eliminate the penalties. I think we ended up the night with two. Certainly, we wanted to win the turnover margin. I think in all three areas, it was an improvement upon last week. (We are) still not exactly where we want it to be in any phase of our game, but we played against a good football team tonight and did some things we wanted to do."

On the defense’s performance throughout the preseason
"We felt better and better about our defense as training camp has moved on and the preseason has gone along. There are certainly areas where we can improve, but defensively, we have done a good job against the run. I think we did another decent job tonight against it in terms of winning the line of scrimmage. (There were) no big plays and (we) really got off the field on third down, for the most part. We wanted to be a more physical unit. I think we are on our way to doing that, and our covering ability in the passing situations showed up tonight. We are not where we want to be anywhere, but they are getting better."

On QB Tom Brandstater’s performance against Arizona
"I think he did some good things. He certainly did. He runs the team okay. There are still some things that we can work on and fix, obviously. For a rookie quarterback, I have had an opportunity to coach a number of them, and he has really done a nice job. It is not too big for him. The game isn’t too big for him. The huddle is not too big for him. He operated with that first unit pretty well and continued on and certainly made his share of mistakes. I am happy with his progress, and we have got to keep pushing for better."

On OL Russ Hochstein’s and G Seth Olsen’s extended playing time
"Russ just got here not too long ago, and (we) wanted to give him an opportunity to play in some of the things that we are doing here and get comfortable with our guys. Olsen is a rookie. If we had another two or three preseason games, it probably would be enough for him. That was part of the night. We wanted to make sure that those guys got some playing time together, and they did."

On the importance of the players who make the roster
"I would say they are extremely important because we are going to take 45 to the game, obviously. You would like to have depth at certain spots, certainly across the board. You would like to have guys that if you fall upon some injuries, they come in and play and you don’t necessarily fall too many levels down in terms of your performance. Tonight was a big night for a lot of guys. There is some competition, obviously, that we will evaluate again tomorrow morning, but that is what training camp and football is all about. There are a lot of guys out here working their butt off trying to make our roster, and certainly, we cannot keep them all. I thought, for the most part, we got everything out of everybody tonight. Those guys have made it tough on us, and we will have to make those decisions here in the next two days."

On RB Darius Walker’s performance against Arizona
"(He had) a lot of carries. (He played) tough, made some tough yards and did a nice job of getting it in there on the goal line. Darius is a good player. He plays well in the passing game and did some nice things that probably didn’t get noticed in terms of his blitz pickup. He ran and made some tough yards for us. We are glad we have Darius. He is a good addition to our backfield."

On when the Broncos will make their final roster cuts
"We will decide that tomorrow. Certainly, there are some decisions that need to be made going into Saturday. We are going to, certainly, take the time that we feel we need to take to make the right decisions. It could be tomorrow. It could be Saturday. We are going to make sure we make the right decision."

DENVER BRONCOS PLAYERS

S DAVID BRUTON

On forcing turnovers
"[OLB/DE Darrell] Reid, he set it up. It felt good to get the first pick in the NFL. That was very exciting, and my first fumble recovery. It’s always exciting to get your first turnover in any way. Just how we put the defense together tonight showed what we can do."

On shutting out the Cardinals
"That is a dream game, turnovers, hold them to that goose-egg. You always want to see that goose-egg, that means you usually win."

On winning
"It builds momentum for us. We can carry this feeling throughout next week until we go to Cincinnati. We are putting together the things we worked on, and keep getting better."

OLB ROBERT AYERS

On the excitement of the game
"It was real fun, we got to run around and make plays. And we came out with a victory, so it was real fun."

On forcing turnovers
"A lot of that is credited to knowing the other side of the ball, It was one of our goals for the game. [OLB] Darrell Reid made a good play, we kept feeding off that. The vibe just kept going for the rest of the game. "

On the defense’s growing confidence
"That is just good team defense, that is how it is supposed to be. This defense is not about one person making key plays, but about everyone making plays and having fun and playing together. Hopefully that can carry on to the regular season."

CB ANDRE’ GOODMAN

On going into the regular season
"We feel good, I noticed a lot of things we need to work on during mini-camps, training camp, and the pre-season. I think we got a lot of kinks worked out, and we are ready to go."

On getting a shutout
"As a defense you look forward to it, that rarely happens in the pre-season or the regular season in the NFL. It rarely happens."

On playing the defending NFC champions
"They played their starters for the first quarter. The defense showed up as did the offense. We put ourselves in a good position, scored some points, and made some plays."

WR BRANDON LLOYD

On the team’s play
"I’m generally happy with how everybody played. We cut back on penalties and the defense got turnovers. It was definitely good for us to have this kind of momentum going into the season."

On the meaning of the game
"The preseason means something. The starters are out there playing and if we came out flat we would have had to play a lot more. It helps to have a good preseason and it helps to finish on a good note."

On QB Tom Brandstater
"He has a lot of poise for a rookie. He has a really calm demeanor and everything about him is positive. And that’s the only thing you could really ask for. He wants to be good and make plays and he goes out there and does it. I feel like he comes out here prepared. He’s been here since he was drafted and he knows the offense well and it’s good for him to get out there and get those live bullets. I’m happy for him."

WR BRANDON STOKELY

On adjustments from last week
"We limited our mistakes like penalties and turnovers. Those can just be drive killers. It’s one or two bad things that can make a game look bad for you, and we didn’t do that tonight but we did it last week against Chicago. It’s just two different teams when we don’t do that."

On momentum from the preseason
"We played well tonight and we’re going to try to continue that into the regular season."

DL KENNY PETERSON

On the turnovers forced
"Any time you get a turnover it’s a good thing. You have to try to win the turnover battle. On defense you want to try to take it away as many times as you can and [OLB/DE] Darrell [Reid] got one tonight. It comes in bunches and, shucks let’s hope we keep it going."

On winning the final preseason game
"Preseason doesn’t count but it still matters. It gives us a good taste in our mouth and we know what winning tastes like. Let’s just hope we can keep that taste in our mouth in the regular season."

Shallow Thoughts & Nearsighted Observations

Ted Bartlett — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:30:12 -0000

Happy Tuesday, friends. Welcome to the creative process for ST&NO, which I now intend to lend some insight into. If you didn't know, I am told exactly what to write by messengers of the Supreme Commander of La-La Land. It happens subliminally, in the middle of the night, by visits from Fairies, because it almost feels to me like these are my own independent thoughts. Once the season gets going, I generally wake up on Saturday, and watch some college football, and write for a while, then I watch a bunch of NFL football on Sunday (after another, longer, more intensive Fairy visit) and write a lot more. Then, on Monday, I put the finishing touches on it, and it runs Tuesday morning. Voila! From the mind of the Supreme Commander, to the voices of the Fairies, to my ears, and then my fingers, to your eyes. It's like magic.

Well, usually that's how it goes. Sometimes, it's the middle of the 4th quarter of a fairly annoying and sloppy 3rd preseason game, and this pops onto my iPhone, from John Bena, and sent to the whole creative team.

Can someone post a small game recap, along with some thoughts to use as a Post Game Discussion Thread? Please??? Just reply to this if you do it!

I see it, and I kind of groan, because I live in the eastern time zone, it's almost midnight, I have to work in the morning, and the game was annoying, as I mentioned. I'm just not really in the mood, you dig? I decide I will wait for 20 minutes, and see if anybody else will claim the responsibility. Nobody does, so I decide that I should take ownership of the job, and get it done. Dammit.

So, I know what you're thinking. How did the Kool-Aid, subliminal, happy, positive messaging get to me, considering John's very ambiguous language? I mean, hell, all the guy did was ask somebody to write a few thoughts. I could tell from his tweeting that he was personally less than thrilled with the game. I was never asleep, so the Kool-Aid Fairies couldn't have visited me, right? How could I write such a shiny, happy screed as this? Ponder that, and meanwhile, we'll get Shallow and Nearsighted (and Shiny! and Happy!) with it. Ready..... BEGIN!!!!

1. We begin with our dear friend, the Boringest Man In America.

b. Denver running back Floyd Little, on the surface, falls short. He had but one 1,000-yard rushing season, ran for just 43 touchdowns, averaged 3.9 yards-per-carry in his career and rushed for 54.0 yards per game. But he had the misfortune of playing for a team that had a winning record only twice in his career. He won the rushing title in 1972 and had more rushing yards (5,185) than any other back in football from 1968 to '73. He played behind Steve Tensi, Marlin Briscoe, Steve Ramsey and Charlie Johnson.

We talk in the Hall of Fame selection room every year about not discriminating against guys on historically bad teams, which this Denver team was. I guess when I think of jobbed guys on historically bad teams, I think of Tommy Nobis, Claude Humphrey and Cortez Kennedy. I'll need to be convinced a little more on Little.

This is really important, for a couple of reasons. First of all, King indicates that he can be convinced, so that's a starting point. Now, he thinks he knows a lot more football than he actually does, and his treatment of fan email tends to be arrogant and condescending, but this is a good example of a guy who MHR needs to be lobbying. He can be, and needs to be educated.

I can relate, because 16 months ago, I was right there with him on Little. I was new to MHR, and had a very limited reputation, and was at least somewhat the idiot who didn't like Earl Bennett or Chris Williams that much in the 2008 Draft, and who favored Ryan Clady in the first round. Anyway, I looked at Floyd's statistics, and I wasn't blown away. I had never even seen one play that Floyd participated in, because I am only 32, and not tremendously history-minded. In making a point about Jerome Bettis, who doesn't deserve to go to the HOF, but certainly will, I wrote this FanPost, which makes me cringe now. I got crushed, as you can see in the comments. Firstfan cared so much that he sent me an outstanding book, Tales From The Broncos Sideline, which Floyd wrote, with John Elway writing the foreword, and Jim Brown contributing the preface. Turns out, it's a must-read for any Broncos fan.

I offered that copy of the book up once on here, after I finished it, and got no takers. I am glad, because I am going to send it to Peter King at Sports Illustrated. He needs to read it, because it conveys the greatness of both Floyd the player and Floyd the man. Not to steal the HOF committee's thunder, but please consider writing the BMIA a respectfully-worded email, advocating for Floyd's deserved inclusion in the Hall of Fame. It's an effort that won't be wasted, because the backstory is what sells Floyd, not the stats.

I said this King business was important for a couple of reasons, and I have only given one so far. The second reason is that if Floyd doesn't make it in this year, he almost certainly never will. This is not something people are going to come around to, and if those on the veterans' committee who put up his name lose, they won't try again. Only Bob Hayes has ever fallen short from the veterans committee, and then been re-considered and eventually elected later. Hayes was part of the Cowboys hype machine, and he got a lot of support from that. There's no Broncos hype machine. We're the best thing going for that, with all the talent and determination in this community.

Floyd is up against nobody but himself, and his own qualifications. What I mean by that is, the 2010 Class is limited to 5 modern-era inductees, and 2 seniors. If both seniors candidates make it, they don't keep anybody out, who could have otherwise made it, so it's really a yes-or-no vote, unlike the dynamic which kept Shannon Sharpe out in his first year of eligibility. We all know (or should get to know) that Floyd deserves enshrinement, and we need to help him get there. King says Dick LeBeau will get some love for being widely credited with inventing the zone blitz, which King calls a significant accomplishment in the game's history. How about Floyd saving a moribund franchise that went on to play in 6 Super Bowls (winning 2 of them) and average more wins per season, with more consistency, than any team in the last 31 years? THAT is a significant accomplishment in the game's history. Floyd was, and always will be, the Franchise. For somebody to decide that Floyd Little is not a Hall of Famer is analogous to that person stating for the record that fifty years of Denver Broncos football are meaningless in NFL history. No Floyd, no Broncos.

2. Some additional thoughts on Sunday night's game, incremental to the aforementioned shiny, happy screed:

a. Chris Baker looked outstanding on a few plays, and he lost leverage on a few others, and got pushed backwards. It's a technique issue, not an ability issue, and with good coaching and hard work, he is going to be a force. I can't imagine how a guy like this can go undrafted.

b. I think the offense greatly missed Jabar Gaffney. He's a downfield threat, without being a deep threat, and with solid guys like him, you never realize how much they mean to a team until they miss some time. He was an outstanding signing, and the Broncos need him back soon.

c. The Broncos defense has certainly looked better than that of any other AFC West team this preseason, in all three games. They struggle with covering the seams, and will probably continue to do so, but they are much improved from last year, believe that. Mike Nolan is really adding value, and while this is a transitional year, the improvement is very noticeable. The defense last year struggled to get one 3-and-out per game, and the first-teamers got 5 of them in 2 1/2 quarters against the Bears Sunday night.

d. Richard Quinn can catch, and he can get downfield, so don't be the guy who trumpets the inaccurate draftnik line that he can't do either. I believe that the Broncos actually bought low on him, because he's a very smooth athlete and has excellent functional strength as a blocker.

e. The Josh Barrett upper-extremity injury could really hurt, if it keeps him out long. He's a key special-teamer.

f. I think the Broncos have 2 of the 10 best punters in the NFL on their roster. Whichever one doesn't make it will be in high demand right away. I haven't seen them in practice, but I have to think that Britton Colquitt has a slight lead over Brett Kern at this point, based on games.

g. I think Darius Walker looks better than LaMont Jordan, and that he should be the 4th RB kept. Walker's fumble was bad, but he played well both before and after it. I like his burst to the hole, and in fact, he has more burst than either Peyton Hillis or Correll Buckhalter.

3. Observations from other games:

a. The best QB in the NFC this season is going to be Aaron Rodgers, with apologies to Donovan McNabb and Drew Brees. Rodgers is a great example of arm strength not being everything. Brett Favre has a much stronger arm than Rodgers, but Rodgers still throws the hell out of the slant, and is more accurate with it than Favre ever was. Rodgers also showed good athleticism against the Cardinals, with a long run on the opening posession. Rodgers' greatest strength is his decisiveness and command of the offense. He's starting to remind me of Peyton Manning a little bit, in that way, minus the heavy use of audibles at the line.

b. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie gave up 2 TDs against Green Bay, but it doesn't change the fact that he is getting ready to throw his name into the mix as the best CB in the NFL. That dude can turn and run with anybody, and he has outstanding ball skills, among the best in the NFL. He was a top-10 CB as a rookie, and should have definitely been Defensive Rookie of the Year over Jerod Mayo, who was good, but not nearly as good as DRC.

Of the TDs DRC gave up, one was a back-shoulder throw against a TE, (any CB gets beat on that play), and the other one was a deep ball off a great play-fake from Aaron Rodgers, where DRC got sucked up on the fake, and didn't get any safety help over the top, as Jordy Nelson went 76 yards. Trust me, Rodgers-Cromartie is going to be a great player for a long time.

c. Watching the Arizona-Green Bay game, I believe that both teams are Super Bowl contenders in 2009, assuming good health. The Cardinals defense had a bad day, but they aren't a bad defense. The Cardinals have 4 elite players on defense (Darnell Dockett, Karlos Dansby, DRC, and Adrian Wilson) and they're spread out across all three levels. They will give up some yards, but I've watched them really stiffen up in the scoring area for most of the preseason, and that's what winning defenses do.

Meanwhile, the Packers look like they are taking very well to the 3-4, especially Aaron Kampman. They're really benefiting from the return of Cullen Jenkins on the defensive line. His loss to injury last season basically single-handedly wrecked their defense. Ryan Pickett has done a nice job as the starting NT, also. I like what I see of the Packers trying to strip the ball, also. Charles Woodson doesn't look like he has lost a step either, and I had been hearing rumblings (someplace where you hear rumblings) that the Packers were considering transitioning Woodson to Free Safety sooner than later.

d. For two games in a row now, Vince Young has looked like a real NFL QB. Of course, against the Browns, he fumbled at the goal line going in, and had a bad INT returned for a TD, but we're concerned with nuance here at ST&NO, and he generally threw the ball better, and showed more command than I had seen in a couple of years from him.

e. Mark Sanchez is going to look like a rookie at times, but he is going to be more good than bad, right away. The guy has a feel for the game that you can easily see.

f. Among other New York rookies, Hakeem Nicks looked really good for the first time. He's a little different than most WRs, because he's more of a stout, hard-to-tackle guy, kind of like a more talented Josh Reed. Clint Sintim continued to look really good for the Giants, too, and he may challenge for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

g. The Falcons passing game shredded the Chargers, and their average O-Line did fine in pass protection. I think the assumption that Shawne Merriman's return was going to charge up the Bolts' pass rush is in some doubt, because they haven't pressured anybody this preseason. Merriman has been getting blocked, too.

h. Everybody has been saying Brady Quinn won the job in Cleveland, and I agree. I was watching the game live, and Bernie Kosar was quite prescient, right as Quinn had the team at the line, for his eventual TD pass to Braylon Edwards. Kosar mentioned how the strong safety was creeping to the line, and Quinn saw it, and checked to a slant to Edwards, against single coverage. The read was the key thing, and the throw was good, too. The play encapsulated the reason Quinn is better than Anderson. He's slightly less talented, but he consistently produces better outcomes.

i. I heard Shaun Hill say something during the 49ers telecast that was a really good quote. He said playing QB was the hardest job in sports, with the easiset job description: WIN. That's a great description, and Hill is one of these guys who seems to give his team a chance to win when he plays.

j. Jamie Dukes and I agree on something. That's a little chilling, actually. As I watched the Bills-Steelers snooze-fest Sunday, I was thinking that the Bills profoundly erred in picking Aaron Maybin, and would have been better off taking Michael Oher (or trading up to get an even higher-rated OT). They can't block anybody, and they're going to finish in last place in the AFC East because of it. It's too bad, because they are very good at WR, in the secondary, and on special teams.

k. A guy I didn't love coming out of college was Joe Flacco, but I am 100% sure now that he's a true franchise QB. I didn't see a lot of him at Delaware, hence my initial indifference, but the guy has a great arm, good mobility, and poise that is really rare, for such a young guy. He's what Jay Cutler could have been, with a better personal makeup. I like him better than Matt Ryan too, though Ryan has a lot of redeeming qualities, himself.

l. I think Nate Davis is going to get a look as the starter at QB in San Francisco before the year is out. He's very talented, and he only fell to the 5th round because of concerns about a learning disability that he has. He looked terrific against Dallas this weekend.

m. Has Matt Cassel proven that he's a "franchise quarterback"? I watched NFL Network all day Sunday, and had to hear Steve Wyche call him that like 14 times, and it made me cringe each time. He might be a good QB, but even that's far from known at this point.

n. Contrary to the MSM nonsense you hear, the best player on the Raiders offense is JaMarcus Russell. He really seems to be feeling the game a lot better, and he's right on schedule, if you look at him in a vacuum. Unfortunately, the only other talent on the offense is TE Zach Miller, and 3 RBs (Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, and Justin Fargas). Russell needs help at WR, and I don't think Darrius Heyward-Bey has shown much yet. His O-Line is really bad too, which will hurt.

o. Donald Brown is going to be the bell-cow RB for the Colts, and Joseph Addai will be more comfortable as a complementary 1/3 kind of guy. It's actually pretty funny when Jamie Dukes calls him Pat-Pat (meaning he carries the ball once, and pats his helmet, asking out of the game). Brown got a hard-running TD this weekend, and those are the kind of plays he can make consistently.

p. I will tell you who is a dominant player, whom you may not have heard of. Tony Brown plays DT for the Titans, and wears #97. He's a penetrating, one-gap kind of player, and he's really difficult to handle, which opens up the edges for Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch. Brown's success in 2008 could have been semi-reasonably assumed to be largely due to Albert Haynesworth's presence, but he's looked even better so far this preseason, with no Haynesworth around.

q, Matt Schaub showed a lot by playing hurt on Monday night. He banged up his knee on a scoring drive, kept playing, and then after a Vikings TD, led the Texans about 40 yards in 27 seconds, to steal a field goal before halftime. Those are the kinds of things that wins games.

r. Dan Orlovsky has always been talented enough to be a solid starter in the NFL, and yes, him being a UConn guy is part of the reason I have paid attention to him over the years. He is now getting top-notch coaching in Houston, and you can tell that he's really improved a lot in a little time.

s. Brett Favre looked the same as he did in the first 11 games last year, and ESPN actually had a good point, that with 11 indoor games this season, he'll be greatly helped.

t. I haven't seen the Bengals once this preaseason in anything but highlights, which is a bad oversight by me. I will definitely be DVRing their game against the Bengals, even though it may not tell me much. It's kind of a problem of my own making for not thinking ahead, though.

4. I was asked by Jon Tollerud on Twitter this week (follow me, if you like my work, @TedBartlett905) for a special edition ST&NO about the Brandon Marshall situation. Well, I don't think turd behavior warrants special treatment. That's not why I didn't write one, I just didn't have time, but it's true nonetheless. In any case, I have had some time to marinate on this, and I have some thoughts. I've been having problems with the story editor locking up on me, and this is my third time writing this part, so bear with me if I seem irritable.

I was all set to say that nobody in their right mind could now empathize with #15. Then, I watched ESPN's abomination of a pregame show, and listened to Keyshawn Johnson (it figures), Cris Carter (really, Cris?) and Tom Jackson (are you &&%$#& kidding me TJ?) all beat the Pay-Marshall-Now drum.

The Broncos can't, and they won't. They can't and won't trade him either. This has to do with controlling the football team and establishing a program. Players can't get their way by throwing a hissy fit. Some will say that Jay Cutler did, but I tend to speculate that Josh McDaniels never really wanted Cutler anyway, based upon evaluations of his film, his character, and his comments to the media that he should have some say in team management, as the starting QB. If I have that right, then trading Cutler was sticking to the company line, really, more than it was acceding to the player's wishes.

I frankly don't really care about Marshall's past legal troubles. He was acquitted, and none of us can possibly know the facts, so at worst, we should call him an alleged woman abuser. (Statements that insinuate that he certainly was guilty are inappropriate in the United States, whether we like it or not.) I care that Brandon stays out of trouble in the future, and that's it.

If Marshall gets with the program, and plays well, he will get paid. It may be in Denver, it may be somewhere else, but he'll get paid, for sure. He needs to come back to Dove Valley on September 6th, go out of his way to be humble, work as hard as he can, and get with the program. If he does that, maybe 5 years from now, he can laugh at how immature he was in 2009, and how much he's grown. If he doesn't, he'll be radioactive, and nobody will want him on their team, except the usual halfway houses in Dallas, Oakland, and Cincinnati.

I found Champ Bailey's comments, as relayed by Andrea Kremer, to be very interesting. He certainly was NOT getting Marshall's back, so all this Jamie Dukes "Marshall-Is-A-Team-Leader" and Keyshawn Johnson "McDaniels is losing his locker room by messing with Marshall" stuff seems like total bunk. Brandon needs to win his teammates and coaches back, and get to playing football. Everything else will eventually work itself out.

5. I think Dish Network must think football fans are stupid. Their commercial says (paraphrasing) that DirecTV charges $300 extra for extra NFL games, and why would you pay that? You can get over 100 games on Dish, including your locals.

Wow, over 100 games huh?

That's really something there, 106 games (plus 65 preseason games on NFLN!). That's also known as the games everybody with cable gets (if you take away the 8 NFL Network games for those cable companies who don't have it), and you're even close to the rabbit-ears only set's complement of 81 games (No ESPN or NFLN.) With the digital conversion for broadcast networks, do rabbit ears still work?

I pay for DirecTV's Sunday Ticket, because I am a Broncos fan living in Cleveland. Even beyond that, there's nothing cooler than flipping through a bunch of early games, and this year, I am going to take it to another level. I am going to set up two laptops with games on, in addition to my TV, and have a third laptop to type notes on. (I own 3 of them, and have one for work too, that I can use for whatever. One of mine is too old and slow to play video very well, though.) Good damn thing I am single right now, isn't it? if I weren't, I probably would be soon enough. Some man-cave activities will be definitely going on at my house this fall. The quality and integrity of ST&NO demand that I watch as much football as I can possibly manage, after all, so it's all for you, my loyal readers, and even those who just tolerate me and my schtick. :) It's worth every dollar of the $400, including SuperFan.

6. Let's remember to professionally work on some Hall of Fame voters, even beyond Peter King, for both Floyd Little and Shannon Sharpe. It's important enough to emphasize again. If we get them in, there's already talk of an MHR gathering in Canton for the ceremony. Since John and I are both fairly local to Canton, I am sure we can get something very cool organized, and watch 1 or 2 of our guys get in. Plus, if two Broncos go in, the team will almost certainly play in the HOF game, and get an extra growth opportunity next offseason, not to mention the fact that Josh McDaniels will get to coach an NFL game at the stadium he played his high school football in.

The first round of beers is on me, if we can help pull this off, though we can't have one in the stadium. Funny how high school stadiums don't have kegerators.

7. Retired for John Elway.

8. There's no live national TV coverage for the Cardinals game Thursday, for the first time this preseason, which sucks. I will be listening on 850 KOA's website, Tweeting, and maybe even participating in the game threads, since my eyes won't be as busy as usual, when they're normally getting my information for me. It will be another growth opportunity for the Broncos, which is very exciting.

That's all for this week. There won't be a Lighting Up The Scoreboard this week, since Game 4 tends to be so meaningless, but look for both ST&NO and LUTS next week, leading into the Bengals game. Until then, keep it Shallow and Nearsighted, and if anybody says you're biased, tell them the Fairies made you that way, and you can't help it.

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - Running Backs

Douglas A. Lee — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:30:10 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

7 months ago: From left to right, Denver Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno talks with fullback Peyton Hills and running back LaMont Jordan during the team's football minicamp at Broncos' headquarters in the southeast Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, May 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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The Broncos and Mike Shanahan developed quite a reputation for running the ball over the past 14 seasons. Denver basically became known as Running Back Central, where Shanahan and backs coach Bobby Turner turned several late-rounders into stars. While Shanny and Turner worked their magic in 2008 by turning seventh-rounder Peyton Hillis into a Denver cult hero, the season was noted more for its multitude of backfield injuries. New coach Josh McDaniels is no stranger to running-back attrition, as the 2008 Patriots suffered a similar fate; rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis started 3 games after being elevated from the practice squad.

Lesson learned, McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders spent the offseason turning over the depth chart. Among the pair's first moves were cutting P.J. Pope, Alex Haynes and Anthony Alridge; the departure of Cory Boyd followed soon after. Xanders and McDaniels began adding new runners at the start of free agency, signing Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan and J.J. Arrington in short order. Next came the draft, and the consensus of fans and experts alike was that Denver would emerge with at least one more back; the only question was when that would occur.

Although several fans were wishing for the Broncos to select Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia, most were expecting Denver to go defense-defense and fortify the front 7 with their two first-round picks (#12 and #18). While it appears that Xanders and McDaniels were hoping for such a scenario, the draft day board did not fall that way; highly-ranked 3-4 defenders Tyson Jackson and B.J. Raji went ahead of Denver's slot to Kansas City and Green Bay, respectively. Once their turn came around at #12, Denver's goal was to choose Moreno and DE/LB Robert Ayers with their two selections, in no particular order. Hearing that San Diego was trying to trade up to #13 in order to nab Moreno if Denver passed on the running back, Xanders and McDaniels pounced on the Georgia star.

Following the draft, Denver signed Kestahn Moore as an undrafted free agent; Moore was subsequently released in June. In the week following the draft, Denver cut Selvin Young, who had been projected as the starting back in 2008 before injuries derailed his season. The Broncos then added Darius Walker to the roster, who the Texans had chosen not to re-sign. J.J. Arrington's knee problems led to a failed physical and his eventual release in late May; the transaction cost the Broncos $100,000.

After the break, we'll take a deeper look at who the Broncos enter training camp with, and some expectations as to how the competition will play out:

Knowshon Moreno

#27 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-11

Weight: 205

Born: Jul 16, 1987

College: Georgia

Exp: Rookie

How Acq: 2009 Draft (1st Round, 12th Overall)

Contract: Unsigned

Moreno arrives in Denver with the highest expectations for a rookie back since Bobby Humphrey was supposed to help put John Elway over the top in 1989. Although several stars have occupied the Broncos backfield over the past 15 years (Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns), each player was able to fly under the radar before assuming the starting role. Not so for Knowshon, whose name is a combination of his father's moniker (Knowledge) and his mother's first name (Varashon). At Middletown South HS in New Jersey, Moreno completed his career as the state's all-time leading scorer and second all-time leading rusher in carrying Middletown to three straight championship titles. Knowshon's accolades at Georgia include being named the SEC's Freshman of the Year in 2007 and an AFCA All-American in 2008. He also joined Herschel Walker as the only Bulldogs to compile back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. It should also be noted that Moreno had 551 touches at Georgia and never fumbled.

Accomplishments aside, Knowshon brings a wide-ranging skill set to the Denver backfield; Coach McDaniels has spoken of Moreno's abilities as a runner, pass catcher and blocker. Wes Bunting of National Football Post wrote pre-draft that "(Knowshon)'s vision, toughness and ability to make people miss are rare." Meanwhile, Russ Lande of The War Room wrote, "Moreno is one of the most physical running back prospects our scouts have evaluated in years. Despite his lack of elite speed and burst, he is faster than expected and consistently outruns defenders who have angles on him. What's truly impressive is his ability to move well in tight quarters, a trait that separates the good NFL backs from the elite ones. He also is a polished receiver."

While it is difficult to project just how much Moreno will play in 2009, it is safe to say that Denver drafted him to be their #1 running back. During McDaniels' four years running the Patriots' offense, he never had a workhorse back at full health; therefore, it is uncertain whether McDaniels truly favors the committee approach he appears to, or a feature back to carry the bulk of the load. That said, look for Knowshon to emerge as Denver's de facto starting running back and to catch a lot more passes than we're used to seeing out of the Denver backfield.

Moreno is not yet under contract; naturally, how quickly he signs a deal may effect his development with the Broncos. As the twelfth pick, a simple look at Ryan Clady's contract (six years, $14.75 million incl. $11.415 million in guarantees) offers the framework for Knowshon's expected deal (with guarantees about 10% higher). Either way, he is quite obviously a lock to make the roster and should receive significant playing time for the Broncos in '09. Knowshon just celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday.

Correll Buckhalter

#28 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-0

Weight: 217

Born: Oct 06, 1978

College: Nebraska

Exp: 9th Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (Philadelphia)

Contract: 2/27/2009: Signed a four-year, $10 million contract. The deal includes $1.8 million guaranteed. 2009-2012: Under Contract, 2013: Free Agent

Buckhalter signed with the Broncos in March after 8 seasons with the Eagles, during which he carried the ball 476 times for 2,155 yards (4.5 YPA) and 18 touchdowns in 74 games. CB also has 85 career receptions for 930 yards and 4 touchdowns. While these numbers would suggest low mileage on Buckhalter's knees, those joints haven't been too kind to Correll over the years; a torn ACL in his left knee cost him the 2002 season, while the 2004 and 2005 campaigns were lost to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. However, Correll has been active for 49 out of a possible 53 games over the past 3 seasons in Philly (including playoffs). 2008 saw Buckhalter at his most productive (in terms of yards from scrimmage) since his rookie season, as he gained 369 yards rushing and 324 yards receiving, along with 4 total touchdowns. He did not fumble in 2008.

Shortly after Denver signed Buckhalter, he was unceremoniously linked to a drug dealer during a Pennsylvania court case. Fortunately, the convicted dealer denied selling marijuana to Buckhalter; no charges have been filed against the running back.

During his time in Philadelphia, Buckhalter was the primary backup to Brian Westbrook, filling in as the starter when necessary but averaging only 7.6 touches per game. While that number may rise in Denver, don't expect his role to change significantly. The Broncos have added Buckhalter for his versatility; Scouts, Inc. says, "Buckhalter is a productive back with a good combination of size and speed, displays good run skills and acceleration through the hole, has above-average hands with good open-field run after the catch ability." As stated above, the Broncos drafted Knowshon Moreno to be their top back; Buckhalter will get his touches, but he is still primarily a backup. It should also be noted that Correll has gotten reps as a kick returner, having taken back 37 kicks for 798 yards (21.6 YPR) for Philly in 2007.

Buckhalter signed a four-year deal in February, including $1.8 million in guarantees and worth as much as $10 million over the length of the contract. Salary details were not released. Those guarantees mean Buckhalter is a virtual lock to make the roster; of course, past history suggests a trip to the IR is always a possibility. Correll will turn 31 following Denver's Week 4 game versus Dallas.

LaMont Jordan

#32 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-10

Weight: 230

Born: Nov 11, 1978

College: Maryland

Exp: 9th Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (New England)

Contract: 3/4/2009: Signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract. The deal included a $500,000 signing bonus. 2009-2010: Under Contract, 2011: Free Agent

Also signed at the outset of free agency, LaMont Jordan joins his fourth NFL team in 2009, and his third squad in three seasons. A versatile back, Jordan racked up 1,588 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns for the Raiders in 2005. However, it was his only standout season in a career thus far marked by underachievement. After spending the 2008 season with the Patriots, Jordan has stated his preference was to stay in New England; when that opportunity did not arise, he chose to follow Josh McDaniels westward. Perhaps he sensed that McDaniels knows best how to utilize his skills; although he did not catch any passes in 2008, Jordan did rack up his best YPA (4.5) on the ground since 2004, with 363 yards gained on 80 carries. What makes Jordan's lack of receptions in '08 stand out is that he hauled in 70 passes during that career-best 2005 season. LaMont fumbled once in 2008.

After spending four years as an understudy to future-HOFer Curtis Martin in New York, Jordan received an $11 million bonus to head west to Oakland. After that productive first season with the Raiders, injuries and perhaps a bit of laziness cut down Jordan's playing time and output in subsequent years. Last month, LaMont had some interesting comments which alluded to his attitude in prior years, saying he was "out here for the offseason program, something I’ve never really done throughout my career...I want to play at a lot less (weight) than what I’ve been playing. ...I never really put in the work to being my best, and that’s what I’m here doing now."

At his best and when healthy, Jordan is quite a load out of the backfield, packing 230 pounds onto a stout 5'10" frame. As those numbers would suggest, Jordan is not an elusive back, but one who is difficult to tackle. Scouts, Inc. says Jordan "can fill a need as a power back who catches the ball out of the backfield and can be hard to tackle once he gets to the second level or catches the ball in the open field." Expect Jordan to be a threat in short-yardage and goal-line situations for Denver, and possibly as a receiver out of the backfield. His knowledge and experience from spending 2008 with McDaniels in New England will surely help him in Denver.

Jordan signed a two-year deal including a $500,000 signing bonus and worth as much as $2.5 million. Like Buckhalter, Jordan's salary is unknown. His small bonus means LaMont is quite expendable in a salary-cap sense; but if he does show up in shape for camp, Jordan's experience with McDaniels in NE, excellent hands and size should make him a keeper. Durability has been an issue for Jordan at times, as a torn MCL landed him in IR in 2006 and calf problems kept him from dressing for eight games in 2008. LaMont will turn 31 after the Broncos' Week 9 contest versus Pittsburgh.

Peyton Hillis

#22 / Fullback / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-1

Weight: 250

Born: Jan 21, 1986

College: Arkansas

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (7th round, 227th overall)

Contract: 7/16/2008: Signed a four-year, $1.755 million contract. The deal included a $49,800 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

As mentioned in the intro, Peyton Hillis went from nearly undrafted to Denver folk hero in a matter of months, thanks to the bone-crushing hits he dished out; and that's when he was carrying the ball. Although Hillis was a star running back in high school, he was relegated to fullback in his time at Arkansas thanks to the arrival of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. After the Broncos selected him, Hillis was seen as a fullback with great hands to catch passes out in the flat. He certainly showed off those skills during Denver's Week 9 loss to Miami, tallying 7 receptions for an eye-popping 116 yards and a touchdown. But his role would grow...

Injuries to Selvin Young, Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain and Andre Hall left Hillis as the Broncos' primary ball-carrier midway through Denver's game in Cleveland on Nov. 6. Hillis punished opposing defenses for several weeks, highlighted by a 22-carry, 129-yard effort with a touchdown at a rainy Meadowlands (with your trusty author in attendance) against the Jets. Unfortunately, Peyton's wonderful rookie campaign came crashing down the next week as a circus-like catch resulted in a torn hamstring against the Chiefs. Despite the brief cameo atop the RB chart, Hillis managed to rack up 343 rushing yards (which led the team, sadly) with a 5.0 YPA and an impressive 5 TDs. His receiving numbers were also notable, with 14 catches for 179 yards and a stunning 12.8 YPR. While these are relatively small samples which should not be extrapolated to a full season, Peyton's statistics are surely evidence that he is a playmaker with versatile skills and a promising future. By the way, Peyton did not fumble in 2008.

The arrival of Moreno and Buckhalter indicate that dreams of Peyton Hillis as Denver's workhorse back are distant from fruition. However, one cannot envision the Broncos' 2009 season without a hefty role for Hillis. As Peyton related to his hometown paper last month, Josh McDaniels recognizes the player's wide skill set; he had the second-year player "getting snaps at running back, wide receiver, fullback and tight end." McDaniels offered a glowing review of Hillis, saying "He's got great hands, and he's a very tough runner to bring down when you give him the ball. So he'll do a lot different things for us." Look for Peyton to fulfill myriad roles in 2009; he'll be featured at times in one-back sets, he'll be motioning out wide to catch passes, he'll be lining up at times as a fullback, and maybe we'll even see him as the tailback in a two-back set from time to time.

Hillis is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. He is a lock for the roster and should see significant playing time. Peyton doesn't turn 24 until during the 2009 Playoffs.

Spencer Larsen

#46 / Fullback / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 240

Born: Mar 04, 1984

College: Arizona

Exp:2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (6th round, 183rd overall)

Contract: 7/9/2008: Signed a four-year, $1.801 million contract. The deal included a $97,500 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

As a late-round selection last year, Spencer Larsen made the Denver roster on the strength of his special-teams play and versatility. His stadium-shaking hit on a kick return in Week 4 was arguably Denver's best tackle of the year and the only positive memory from that horrific game in Kansas City. Later on in the season, Larsen made headlines as a starter on offense (fullback), defense (linebacker) and special teams (kick coverage); he was the first Bronco in team history to do so. In fact, he received the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his efforts. A groin injury slowed Larsen down in December, and he did not play in Denver's losses versus thePanthers and Bills.

Although Larsen's versatility means he offers Denver roster flexibility (backup FB and ILB are the same guy), he is (to this point) nothing special as far as fullbacks go. MHR's own Styg50 wrote "Larsen was only adequate as a blocking FB however, and he has mentioned how uncomfortable he would be if he was ever asked to carry the rock," in his review at season's end. Larsen did not carry the ball or catch a pass in 2008 for Denver. However, he needn't worry much; if the past four seasons in New England are any indication, there won't be a lot of touches allocated to the fullback position.

Larsen is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. The fact that Spencer fills more than one spot on the depth chart means he would be a very difficult player to cut. Having spent 2003 and 2004 on a Mormon mission in Chile, Larsen entered the NFL at an older age than most, turning 25 this past March.

Ryan Torain

#42 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-1

Weight: 225

Born: Aug 10, 1986

College: Arizona State

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (5th round, 139th overall)

Contract: 7/9/2008: Signed four-year, $1.903 million contract. The deal included a $198,000 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

Ryan Torain entered the league with some rather unfair expectations. As a running back and a fifth-round choice of the Denver Broncos, Torain was doomed to fail from the very beginning. After all, his draft position and injury-shortened senior year at Arizona State made Ryan the obvious heir apparent to the crown of Late-Round Denver Running Back Comes From Nowhere to Top 1,000 Yards and Turn Every Fantasy Football League Upside Down. The shoes of Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary are hard to fill; Torain suffered a freak elbow injury during training camp, and throughout his recovery there were whispers that he would be the starting running back for Denver upon his return.

Granted, the reputations Mike Shanahan and Bobby Turner were bestowed as Running Back Whisperers was not undeserved; they did often turn what other teams deemed chicken you-know-what into chicken salad. But Torain, who has seemingly never been able to stay healthy for more than a couple months, had no chance. His pro debut resulted in a single yard gained on three carries (yes, that's 3 carries, 1 yard) versus Miami. A few nights later, the national stage was to be Torain's; Denver's matchup against the Browns was televised on the NFL Network and the previously-mentioned slew of RB injuries meant it was finally Torain Time. Although Ryan showed an odd and upright running style, it worked for most of the first half, as he racked up 68 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Savvy fantasy-football owners everywhere rejoiced. Torain did not fumble.

But as quickly as Torain Time had arrived, it departed just like that; an awkward tackle near halftime turned out to be a torn ACL in Ryan's left knee. His rookie season was over, after just 15 carries and six quarters of football. In addition to the knee and elbow injuries of 2008, Torain lost much of his senior season to a fractured toe. As a sophomore at Butler Community College in 2004, he missed several games with an ankle sprain. The hope, of course, is that Torain is someday able to find better health (fortune?) and make good on the promise he showed while at ASU (93.8 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry in 19 games). Those numbers, along with his large measurables, make Torain sound like a smaller version of Brandon Jacobs. However, his aforementioned upright running style mean he's more often receiving than doling out contact.

Torain is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. Health is clearly an issue; even if he is able to practice and perform in training camp, Torain may still find himself in competition with Darius Walker for the final RB spot on the roster. But his size, talent, potential, and injury history make Ryan much more likely to be on the 53-man roster, IR or PUP list than on the Broncos' cut list. Torain did participate in individual drills in June minicamps with a brace on his left knee, which is obviously a good sign for his future in Denver. Ryan will turn 23 during the upcoming training camp.

Darius Walker

#43 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-11

Weight: 205

Born: Oct 21, 1985

College: Notre Dame

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (Houston)

Contract: 5/7/2009: Signed a two-year contract

photo via static.nfl.com

Walker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Gary Kubiak's Texans in 2007. A star for the Fighting Irish, Darius was highly productive despite only seeing action in four games with Houston. He tallied 264 yards and 1 TD on 58 carries, plus 81 yards on 13 receptions for a total of 345 YFS; these are impressive numbers for any back, let alone an undrafted rookie. Walker has not fumbled in the NFL. 2008 was a lost year for Walker, as he spent 5 weeks on the Texans' active roster but saw no action; he otherwise had three practice-squad stints - two with Houston and one with St. Louis.

Despite those encouraging statistics, Walker is apparently not that great at anything in particular. As Scouts, Inc. put it, Walker "is not quite as big as you'd like and not quite as fast as you'd like, but he does have some quality running skills...He adds some value as a situational player who can spell the starter and run routes out of the backfield, but does not have enough physical skills to make you think he has a chance to ever be a starter." It does not appear that Walker has had any notable injury problems.

Walker signed a two-year deal with Denver; terms of the contract were not released. It's safe to assume Walker received a minimal signing bonus (figure less than $100,000) and money will not be a factor in the decision whether to keep him on the roster. If the Broncos' other backs are healthy, it would be a surprise for Walker to make the 53-man roster. Assuming another team does not snatch him up come August, don't be surprised to find him on Denver's practice squad. From my research, it appears that Walker still has practice-squad eligibility; he has only accrued one season (2007) and during that year he dressed for fewer than nine games (6, to be exact). Thanks to broncobear for help with that one. Walker will turn 24 following Denver's Week 6 Monday Night game in San Diego.

Overall Outlook

The common threads which seem to link Denver's running backs are versatility and sure-handedness; Josh McDaniels clearly prioritizes players who have the ability to run with the football, to get out of the backfield and catch passes, hang onto the football when they've got it, and to stay in and block when more protection is necessary. Expect to see more passes thrown the backs' way, if Josh McDaniels' time in New England is any indication. Look for Moreno to be the starter, with Buckhalter and Hillis seeing a good amount of touches, Larsen filling in at times as fullback, Jordan getting carries in short-yardage and goal-line situations, with Torain's role dependent upon his health, and Walker on the bubble. As for strategy, it is safe to say that Denver will return to a more balanced offense in 2009 than we saw last year; more runs near the goal line and more draws to combat the 3-4 defenses of San Diego and Kansas City. For more on Josh McDaniels and the running game, check out this earlier piece from broncobear and myself - Divining the McDaniels Way.