SB Nation - Marlon McCree

Horse Tracks 9/30/09 - NFL study shows higher rate of dementia in former players; status of Hamilton, Harris unknown; A. Smith unlikely

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:45:19 -0000

NYT - Study Indicates Higher Rate of Dementia in Former N.F.L. Players - Alan Schwarz
This is scary stuff with far-reaching implications. Folks, make sure your kids know the dangers associated with concussions. It's not about being tough; it's about keeping your brain intact and functioning into old age...

DB - Gearing Up For a Ground Game War - Patrick Smyth
Fun facts from the weekly press release.

DPP - Broncos' schedule takes turn for tougher starting with Cowboys on Sunday - Mike Klis

DPP - Mailbag: Denver brought in the right new players - Mike Klis
"Andra Davis, cornerback Andre' Goodman and safeties Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill...replaced Nate Webster, Dre' Bly, Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree." Wow. Never looked it all those names side by side.

DPP - Broncos defensive backs coach lauds his veterans - Jeff Legwold
Sounds like Alphonso Smith is unlikely to play Sunday. Ben Hamilton and Ryan Harris are nursing injuries and their status is unknown. Ryan Torain worked out for the Dolphins, while Kory Lichtensteiger was waived by Minnesota.

CSG - Broncos are actually chameleons - Frank Schwab
Pardon the look ahead, but I wonder how much of a chess match the game versus Belichick and Co. will be...

PFW - Week Four matchup tidbits

DPP - Broncos primer: the Dallas Cowboys - Linday Jones

DPP - Q&A: Broncos make sure Dumervil plays to strength - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Analysis: Broncos' offensive line showing great depth - Lindsay Jones

CBS4 - Elway: Broncos Offensive Line Has Been Outstanding - Matthew Buettner

LTC - Dedication - Brian Howell
Daniel Graham is feeling the effects of playing 8 years down in the trenches. Anyone still wondering why we drafted Richard Quinn?

LTC - Broncos’ consistency bodes well for season - Brian Howell

DB - Awareness on Display - Zach Eisendrath
The NFL is helping put breast cancer awareness at the forefront in October.

DB - Ask Elvis Dumervil...

DB - Colorful Season At Home - Jim Saccomano

DB - 3-0 Makes For A Fun Start - Mark Cooper

DB - Buckhalter, Moreno Up For Awards - Gray Caldwell

TSN - AFC West: Unbeaten Broncos face uphill battle - Shawn Clarke

Cowboys News

NFP - Monday replay: Cowboys shut down deep threat - Matt Bowen
Plenty of good analysis which is relevant come Sunday.

ST - The smartest thing the Cowboys can do is let Romo be Romo - Jennifer Floyd Engel

ST - Broncos, Orton are a pair of surprises - Jeff Caplan

ST - Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins is stepping up - Clarence Hill

ST - Dallas Cowboys down to one healthy running back - Charean Williams

DMN - Rush weak? Dallas Cowboys' running back depth being tested - Todd Archer

DMN - No pass rush from Dallas Cowboys' Spencer making it tough be Ware - Jean-Jacques Taylor

DMN - Jenkins looks to have won job at right cornerback for Dallas Cowboys - David Moore

DMN - Dallas Cowboys scouting report: Denver Broncos - Rick Gosselin

AFC West

NFL - Chiefs sign former Cardinals TE Pope

KCS - Chiefs having trouble finding right combination on offensive line - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs trade Thigpen to Dolphins - Kent Babb

SDUT - Connected by Steel - CHris Jenkins

SDUT - Scouting the Steelers

NFP - Real Fake People: Very Fake Al Davis - Ray Gustini
Another gem from Gustini.

SFC - No tussle over Russell; he'll start - David White

SFG - Last word on Gannon - David White

OT - Poole: Raiders are historically horrendous

NFL News

NFL - Trotter back with Eagles after year out of league

NFL - Rams LB Vobora suspended four games

NFL - Saints place Pro Bowl left tackle Brown on IR

NFL - Rams release veteran DT Hollis Thomas

NFL - Tomlin may bench Steelers WR Sweed after drops

NFL - Police investigating case involving Patriots CB Wilhite

NFL Opinion

NFP - Diner morning news: Breaking down the teams - Mike Lombardi
Lombardi has a fair point (IMO) regarding the Broncos' prospects. It remains to be seen whether Kyle Orton can win a game for us when we need it...

SI - Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants are NFL elite through Week 3 - Don Banks
Banks thinks the Broncos will be 4-7 or worse after the next 8 games...

SI - Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals have hope despite records - John P. Lopez

FOX - Schein 9: Don't rule out Jets-Giants Super Bowl

PFW - Rookie Meter: Jury out on freshman backs - Matt Sohn

Y! - Latest injury could spell end for Pennington - Jason Cole

NFP - Tavern talk: Zorn’s game management - Mike Lombardi

CBS - Time for Zorn to prove he's worthy of Redskins gig - Clark Judge

NFP - NFL notebook: Bills’ offense needs T.O. - Matt Bowen

ESPN - T.O. wallowing in his own martyrdom - Tim Graham

SI - MMQB Mailbag - Peter King

NFL - One month into 2009 season, Steelers and Cardinals not so super - Vic Carucci

SN - Who Will Be The Last Unbeaten Standing? - Albert Breer

CBS - Bengals' turnaround has been long time coming - Charley Casserly

SI - Eric Mangini might be worst NFL coaching hire ever - Joe Posnanski

NFP - The contract conundrum - Jack Bechta

NFP - The NFP Power Rankings

NFL - Expert Rankings: Week 3

CBS - Power Rankings: Manning always gives Colts chance to win - Pete Prisco

Y! - Jets, Saints proper hosts for Bourbon St. party - Mike Silver

SN - NFL Power Poll: Redskins reeling after loss to Lions - Clifton Brown

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

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

On Being a Team Player: Jaguars Defensive Back Brian Williams

River City Rage — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:01:55 -0000

"I’m definitely excited to be here," Williams said. "I’m looking forward to contributing to the great defense here. This is a playoff team on the rise, and I want to help take it a step further." - Defensive Back Brian Williams, 3.11.2006

"Our defensive coaches loved Brian’s physical style," head coach Jack Del Rio said. "He has good size, and he has played a lot of man-to-man coverage which will enable us to open up the blitz. Mike Tice confirmed what we saw as we studied this player, and he spoke highly of Brian’s quality character."- Jack Del Rio 3.12.09

Who is this kid to whom the Jaguars just gave $10 million? Simply put, Williams is the long-term fix at right cornerback after two consecutive years of temporary solutions. -Vic Ketchman, 3.13.06

[Note by River City Rage, 08/09/09 10:09 PM EDT ]: Sometimes I write an article and realize that I've gotten away from my whole point. Here's what I'm saying in a nutshell. I like Brian Williams at right cornerback, I think we've got enough guys at FS/SS to fill the void, and people who are calling for B-Dub to move on are making a shortsighted judgement.

Going into his third training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Defensive Back Brian Williams faces a challenge from every direction, despite being a flexible, reliable, and dedicated player. When the Jaguars brought in Drayton Florence, Williams learned the safety position, when Florence burnt out, Williams went right back to Corner. He's a player that's done exactly what's asked of him without complaining, demanding a trade, or becoming a locker room nusance. Yet it feels like he's universially deemed the "odd man out" in the Jaguars secondary this season.

Look closely at the situation that Williams faces as he goes through camp.

Derek Cox: Picked in the 3rd round for the price of a 2010 2nd, to justify that cost, he must become the eventual starter opposite Mathis. A "best case" situation for Williams at cornerback is for him to hold off Cox while the rookie learns to not break his ankles defending a top receiver.

In all seriousness, the most logical formation for the Jaguars would be to have Mathis and Williams on the outside with Cox learning the position in nickel situations.

Sean Considine, Gerald Alexander, and Marlon McCree: Would the Jaguars bring these guys in if they were comfortable with the situation at Strong Safety last season? Considine has played his way into the probable starting spot at SS, with Alexander gunning for Reggie Nelson. Let's not forget that Alexander isn't far removed from being a 2nd round pick. McCree adds veteran depth and not much else, but he's still another body competing at a postion that Williams used to have a hold on.

The 6 million dollar man: Brian Williams has the 2nd highest cap hit of any player this season, second only to David Garrard. (Interestingly, many of the top cap hit players are facing challenges this season, see Pashos, Tony, Hayward, Reggie, and Henderson, John). Brian is under fire from every angle and has a heavy cap hit compounding the issues.

Editoral: Yes, Brian did have an unforutnate legal misstep that embarassed him and the team. However, other than this incident, he's been a fantastic team player, accepting challenges and doing exactly what Del Rio asks him to. He's a solid player who has the skills to compliment Mathis at cornerback. While I'll concede that his time with the team is probably short (2010 would be my guess), for 2009 he's the 2nd best Cornerback on the roster.

Why in the world the team (and its fans) would be so willing to quickly count him out is mind-boggling. Sure, the Jaguars secondary was horrible in 2008, but to cut ties with a proven asset at the position would be foolish.

Predicting the Arizona Cardinals Record: Part 1

Andrew602 — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:00:17 -0000

With the start of the 2009 preseason only less then a week away, now's a good time to break down the regular season and predict a record for 2009. Last year, many of us figured a realistic record would be 9-7 or 10-6, and their actual record fell along those lines. This year, the schedule becomes more difficult, coaching changes are made, and different personnel and schemes are brought in that can make predicting a valid schedule very frustrating. This season is sure to feature its ups and downs, upsets and surprising, and many more unknown scenarios. Let's break down the schedule and attempt to bolster a reasonable prediction for the Cardinals 2009 record. We'll do 4 weeks at a time until we have the complete 16 game record complete.

Week 1 - San Francisco 49ers

Key Additions: WR Brandon Jones, CB Dre Bly, WR Michael Crabtree

Key Losses: LB Tully Banta-Cain, WR Bryant Johnson, CB Donald Strickland, QB J.T. O'Sullivan

Analysis: When Mike Singletary took over the 49ers last year, it took a couple of games, but Singletary was able to spark a fire under the 49ers and make them one of the most competitive teams towards the end of last year. That fire is sure to continue on this season, and should create a great season opener as the Cardinals and 49ers have opened the season together the last 3 years together.

What to watch for: The most obvious things to watch for would be how Beanie Wells handles his first regular season game, as he should get a good amount of carries against a physical defense in the 49ers. We should also watch out to see if Larry Fitzgerald's momentum from the playoffs continues into this season.

Key Match Up: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. Michael Crabtree

Prediction: Win - Cardinals coming off a Super Bowl run, at home, should be too much for the 49ers.

Week 2 - At Jacksonville Jaguars

Key Additions: WR Torry Holt, S Marlon McCree, OT Tra Thomas, OT Eugene Monroe

Key Losses: LB Mike Peterson, RB Fred Taylor, DE Paul Spicer, CB Drayton Florence, WR Matt Jones, WR Jerry Porter

Analysis: The Jaguars had high hopes last year after coming very close to the Super Bowl in 2007. They were also one of the very dominant rushing teams that year. Things changed last year when injury, and inconsistency at the quarterback position hit them. They lost Fred Taylor but Maurice Jones-Drew looks to lead the team in the running game. The Jaguars are still a very dangerous team and have the right tools to make week 2 a very competitive one for the Cardinals.

What to watch for: This will be the first game on the road in 2009 and as we all know, the Cardinals have never played well on the road in the past. Although they surprised us against Carolina in the playoffs, winning on the road week 2 should be a challenge. If they can overcome the road games early, it should be a good sign for the 2009 season.

Key match up: Maurice Jones-Drew vs Karlos Dansby

Prediction: Win - Too many holes on the Jaguars and virtually no chemistry will give the Cardinals the edge.

Week 3 - Indianapolis Colts

Key Additions: DT Ed Johnson, RB Donald Brown

Key Losses: WR Marvin Harrison, RB Dominic Rhodes, Tony Dungy

Analysis: The Colts took 5 games last year to get back to playoff football. Things won't be the same this year as Peyton Manning is healthy heading into the season. The loss of Harrison shouldn't have too much of an effect on the offense as the Colts have virtually been without him the last couple years. The main factor that could give the Colts problems is the loss of long time head coach, Tony Dungy. There will be an adjustment but expect their top offense and quick defense to show up when they come to University of Phoenix Stadium.

What to watch for: Peyton Manning. The entire Cardinals defense will need to be watching Manning if they have a chance at winning the game. Manning can pick any defense apart with his superb quarterback skills. If the Cardinals can stay focused and not commit any mistakes, look for the upset.

Key match up: Dwight Freeney vs Mike Gandy

Prediction: Loss - Unfortunately, banking on not committing mistakes is not smart, and the fantastic offense of the Colts will be too much for the Cardinals.

Week 5 - Houston Texans

Key Additions: DE Antonio Smith, DT Shaun Cody, LB Cato June, LB Brian Cushing

Key Losses: QB Sage Rosenfels, S Will Demps, CB DeMarcus Faggins, RB Ahman Green

Analysis: After another average season, the Texans hopes are high heading into 2009. They have continued to fit the right pieces into place for the last few years, and seem to finally have most of the puzzle complete. They've built a solid line and built everything around it. They found a steal in last years draft in Slaton, have one of the best wide receivers in the game in Andre Johnson, and if Shaub is consistent, they're offense is set. If they're defense can adapt and improve off of last year, this team will be a contender.

What to watch for: This is surely going to be a hyped match up as the top two wide receivers in the NFL meet up. Expect many breakdowns and predictions for who will have a better performance, along with who the best receiver is during the post game news.

Key match up: No brainer...Larry Fitzgerald vs Andre Johnson

Prediction: Win - The Texans are still too inexperienced and will have trouble facing the Cardinals on their home field.

------------------------------------------------

Cardinals record through Week 5 - 3-1

It's not a bad start to the season and if the Cardinals are able to pull it off, this should surely jump start them to a lead in the NFC West. The only problem with that is keeping their number one spot as the other three teams will be gunning for them. We'll break down weeks 6-9 next week but what would you think of their record so far? Could you see it going any other way?

Horse Tracks 7-11-09 - Letting NFLN boil my orange-and-blue blood

Douglas A. Lee — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:17:11 -0000

Mornin' MHR Friends! Now before I get accused of seeing everything through my orange-colored shades, let me just say that I don't expect John Elway to be #1 on everyone's "Greatest QBs Ever" lists. Nor do I think Jay Cutler is a terrible QB because of what happened. But how about we use some common sense here? If you want to put Elway at 7th greatest, you'd better have guys like Otto Graham and Bart Starr up there. Don't put Brett Favre and Peyton Manning (not yet, at least) ahead of him, and of course don't give me that Dan Marino Garbage. Please. As for Cutler, he's got elite skills but he's yet to put it together and win games. All his fault? Of course not. I still think he will win a Super Bowl and could become a great. But don't rank him in the top 5. I know, I'm letting these NFLN clowns get to me. Sorry, I'll take a deep breath and get over it. I'm going to yoga class with my wife.

DB - Switch Hitter
Gray Caldwell profiles Darrell Reid, who is the making the stunning switch from 290-lb. defensive tackle to 260-lb. linebacker. Reid is obviously on quite a diet, and has been talking to Elvis Dumervil about their position changes. Whether it's a crazy idea or a good one, I can't help but wonder how many coaches would look at a DT on film and see a LB.

CSG - Position-by-position training camp preview: Wide receivers
Frank Schwab considers the outlook for the WRs, including how a potential holdout would affect Brandon Marshall's progress in McDaniels' offense.

NFL - Then and Now: Denver Broncos
Jason Feller compares Goose Gonsoulin to Brian Dawkins. Jeez, I'm sure glad this isn't a Gonsoulin/Marlon McCree matchup.

NFL - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the American Football League
There's a series of links here to commemorate the AFL. Of course, there are no Broncos among the HOF list, and I don't believe there's any mention of Floyd Little or Lionel Taylor.

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 10 all-time QBs
Steve Wyche puts The Greatest Ever at #7 in his top-10 list of the QBs in history. Wow. He's got Favre, Marino and Peyton ahead of Elway. Starr, Staubach and Graham don't even make the list. In fact, the only pre-80's guy on the list was Johnny U. Puzzling.

DST - Going old school | The Daily Ticket
Set Schrock thinks the Broncos should bring back their old uni's and logo. Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DP - Armstrong: At long last, not so quoteless
According to Armstrong, Rod Smith will be co-hosting NFLTA on The Network at 5pm MST.

SDUT - Chargers free agent player shot in Philly suburb
UFA RB Curtis Brinkley (Syracuse) was shot while in his car. He was able to drive away, and reportedly spoke to his uncle via phone from the hospital. Yikes. Obviously, our thoughts at MHR go out to him.

SDUT - Single-game tickets on sale July 17

NFL - Browns' Stallworth released from jail after serving 24 days of sentence
Wow, that was quick. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

NFL - AFL remembered for its cast of characters
Ken Rappoport looks back at some of the more colorful coaches and players from the AFL.

SI - Michael Vick, Brett Favre drama keep NFL in news during offseason - Ross Tucker

NFP - Williamses’ case remains unresolved - Andrew Brandt

NFP - Diner morning news: Uncle Fred's theory
Lombardi looks at the Lions and Bills.

NFL - As former Viking enters Hall, current Viking paces group of top linemen
Bucky Brooks looks at today's top O-Lineman.

CBS - Positional Rankings: Cornerbacks
Pete Prisco has the Champ ranked as second-best to Asomugha despite his rough '08.

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 5: Quarterbacks
Warren Sapp puts Jay Cutler among the top 5 QBs in the league. Wow. He may be top 10, but please. Manning, Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, Warner, Brees, McNabb and Romo are all clearly better than Cutler (so far).

NFLN - NFL Videos: 32 in 32: Arizona Cardinals

NFLN - NFL Videos: 2009 Coach Feature: Ken Whisenhunt

SI - Green Bay Packer Ryan Grant credits father for NFL rise - Andrew Lawrence

NFP - Can (Derrick) Brooks find a new home? - Matt Bowen

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Wake Forest - Wes Bunting

CBS - Top 32 seniors: Top heavy with the heftier prospects
Rob Rang looks at his top prospects for the '10 Draft.

Chargers By The (Jersey) Numbers: #20

John (obviousman) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:00:48 -0000

Holy crap there are a lot of players who like the #20. It seems whenever the number becomes available it's immediately snatched up by somebody, anybody. More than fifteen players have worn the #20 jersey for the San Diego Chargers, including five cornerbacks, two safeties and eight running backs. This one is going to have a lot of nominees to go through, and the winner is not at all guaranteed. Get ready for some statistical fun after the jump.

Defensive Backs:

Antoine Cason - The current #20 and a player that flashed a ton of potential in his rookie season. His ceiling is high enough that this could one day be his number, but for right now he can't compete.
Marlon McCree - Marlon played a decent FS in his two seasons with the Chargers, collecting 4 interceptions, 1 sack and 1 touchdown to go with his 126 tackles. Unfortunately, McCree's most famous play as a Charger was a critical fumble after intercepting Tom Brady during a 2007 playoff game that kept the Patriots in a game that they eventually won. He was released one year later to free up playing time for Eric Weddle.
Wayne Davis - Davis was drafted in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He then had six-year career in the NFL and played for the Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. In his professional career, he totaled five interceptions in 73 games (14 starts).
Miller Farr - Miller played a season and a half with the Chargers in 1965 and 1966, but even during that short span he showed a knack for intercepting the ball. In 1967 he signed with the Houston Oilers and caught 10 interceptions for 3 touchdowns in his first season there. He finished his nine-year career with 35 interceptions for six touchdowns. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Reuben Henderson - Henderson had a good rookie campaign with the Chicago Bears, starting all 16 games while intercepting the opposing QB 4 times and recovering 1 fumble. However, after that he became a backup for the Bears for three seasons before playing that same role on the 1984 Chargers. His stat-line with the Chargers is horrendous: 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 anything really. He did, however, return 1 punt that he then fumbled away.
Jesse Thomas - Jesse's career as a Charger was only slightly better than Henderson's, because he did not have a fumble. In his one-year as a Los Angeles Charger, Thomas collected no stats as a backup cornerback. Previous to that season he had three fairly-successful seasons with the Baltimore Colts, including scoring a defensive touchdown in 1956.
Jerry Wilson - After bouncing around the league as a backup safety and corner for seven seasons, a 30-year-old Jerry Wilson found a home as the starting Free Safety for the San Diego Chargers in 2003. In his two seasons as starter, he caught 4 interceptions and forced 4 fumbles as well. Over three and a half seasons in San Diego, Wilson tackled 177 opposing players.

Running Backs:

Fred Ford - A 22 year old out of Cal-Poly Pomona, Fred was a backup RB and a return specialist on the 1960 Los Angeles Chargers. In six games with the team, before being shipped to Buffalo, Fred ran the ball 20 times for 154 yards (7.7 YPC) and 2 touchdowns. He also had a respectable kick return average of 22.6 yards.
Mike Garrett - Mike Garrett is a former two-time All American and Heisman Trophy winner as the running back at USC. He spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1966-1970 before being traded to the San Diego Chargers. In a little over three seasons with the team, Garrett racked up 2,235 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs to go with 779 receiving yards and 6 receing TDs. Garrett may be most famous as the first in a long line of successful USC tailbacks. He is currently the athletic director of that school.
Gerry McDougall - Gerry made some noise in the Canadian Football League in the late 1950s, making the CFL Eastern All-Star team in 1957 and 1958, before signing with the Chargers in 1962. He played three seasons as a backup running back in San Diego, collecting 104 career rushing attempts for 469 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also completed his only pass attempt, an 11 yard pass for a touchdown, to give him a perfect QB rating of 152.1.
Darrin Nelson - Nelson was traded from the Vikings to the Cowboys as part of the infamous Herschel Walker Trade in 1989. However, after refusing to report to Dallas, he was subsequently flipped to the Chargers. In 23 games with the Bolts, Nelson ran the ball 39 times for 211 yards and caught it 35 times for 357 yards. When his contract was up with the Chargers, Nelson immediately went back to the Minnesota Vikings.
Barry Redden - Coming out of Richmond, as the 14th pick in the 1982 draft, Barry Redden expected to get some carries. The problem for him was that he was drafted by the Rams, and he was stuck behind a future Hall of Famer named Eric Dickerson. After five years with the Rams, Redden signed with the Chargers in hopes of getting more carries. Nope. This was a passing offense that liked to mix up the running game. In his first season with the Chargers, Redden wound up touching the ball only 18 times (11 rushing attempts). In his second season, he touched the ball 30 times but still carried in less than 20 times. After that he moved on to become a backup RB and return specialist with the Cleveland Browns.
Chris Samuels - In 1991, Samuels was a 12th round pick by the San Diego Chargers. In his one season in the NFL, he rushed the ball twice for 10 yards and caught in twice for 33 receiving yards.
Russ Smith - The Chargers drafted Smith with the 40th overall pick in the 1966 AFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Chargers, but was never a major part of the offense. His final statline: 213 carries, 915 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned a handful of punts and kicks, but was never the number one option there.

Missed Opportunity:

via www.geocities.com

Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, WR-RB-KR-PR

Probably the greatest kick returner in the history of college football, Rodgers won the 1972 Heisman Trophy. He did more than just return kicks though. To realize the full-effect of how Rodgers effected each game he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, you simply had to look at what he did during the 1971 Orange Bowl against Norte Dame. In the one game, Rodgers ran for three touchdowns, caught a 50-yard pass for another touchdown and threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to a teammate. He did all this before leaving the game with 21 minutes still to play. As they say, speed kills.

The Jet was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of 1973 Draft, but was signed away by a lucrative deal to play in the CFL. Always a fan favorite there, he won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 1973. In his four years with the Montreal Alouettes, Rodgers won the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy twice (Eastern division MVP and CFL runner-up) and "All-Canadian" all star honors and helped lead his team to a Grey Cup championship in 1974.

In 1977 he finally took his shot at the NFL, signing with the Chargers. Hamstring injuries kept him out of the game for most of his first NFL season and the following year a freak knee injury sustained during team practice ended his career after only 17 NFL games. As good as he was in college and the CFL, the world will never know how impactful Rodgers could've been in the NFL.

The Winner:

via i.cdn.turner.com

Natrone Means, RB

Let's start with the stats. Five seasons with the Chargers, 3,885 rushing yards, 34 rushing TDs, 631 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs. One Pro Bowl selection, garnered while leading the 1994 San Diego team to the AFC Championship and a Super Bowl appearance. That season alone is ridiculous: 16 starts, 343 carries, 1,350 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Where Stan Humphries has to be given credit as the leader of the offense on that team, Natrone has to be given credit for carrying that team on his back for nearly every game they played. That's why he got the SI cover.

What makes Natrone special is not the stats though, and it's not even his rise to NFL stardom after coming out of North Carolina, but how much the fans loved him. Everyone seems to have their favorite Natrone Means moment (and their favorite nickname for him). He was a big, tough running back who gave 110% every single game. That stands as a fact that made him a good player and also probably played ahand in shortening his career, and he struggled with injuries after that 1994 season. It doesn't matter though, Natrone is a pillar in the history of the relationship between Chargers players and Chargers fans. More than any other winner of a jersey number, Natrone demands some good moments from you guys in the comments. What's your favorite Natrone game?

Quick Bytes: June 4th, 2009

Jonathan Loesche — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:58:26 -0000

Lorenzen, Now A Tight End, Trying To Impress Jaguars -- Courant.com

UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen is now trying to make the Jaguars' roster as a tight end. While he may be a long shot, Mike Tice likes what he sees out of the UDFA.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars | Jacksonville.com

As previously reported, Marlon McCree will be rejoining the Jaguars. McCree spent his first few seasons with the Jaguars before being cut in Del Rio's first year.

Mel Tucker getting situated as new Jaguars defensive coordinator -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Jack Del Rio's stand in, I mean Mel Tucker, speaks about his experience so far with the Jaguars.

Jaguars tight end Lewis takes notes to improve game | Jacksonville.com

Great read on Marcedes Lewis and how he plans to step up in 2009. As much as people hound him, I think he's easily the best first round pick of the Shack era so far.

Jack Del Rio questions severity of John Henderson's bruise - NFL - SI.com

~~Even more on the John Henderson-Del Rio saga. The more I think about it, I with Collin that Big John needs to be spent to the first team that offers a decent draft pick.~~

Henderson says he's "in"

An update posted on the Henderson situation. Hopefully Big John pulls through and has a return to form.

Yahoo sues NFLPA over royalties

An interesting situation has emerged between Yahoo and the NFLPA. Yahoo claims it shouldn't have to pay royalties to use players' stats in fantasy football as the statistics are already public knowledge.

-John

Additional Links:

Q and A with David Garrard

Harvey is the key to the defense

FBT continues to write for Bleacher Report but not BCC...

Jags in the trenches

Nelson works his tail off

-Collin

Safety Dance

Brian (DaBolts) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:15:51 -0000

The Chargers have gone through a lot of turmoil at the safety position. In 2006 Marlon McCree and Terrence Kiel were the starters; Bhawoh Jue and Clinton Hart were backups. Safeties come in two flavors, strong and free. Generally the strong safety is the one that is going to be hammering receivers that make crossing routes across the middle. The Free safety is going to provide coverage and over the top help; though in many schemes the two can perform essentially the same function. Free Safeties are usually a little quicker; and the strong safeties bigger but slower. Safeties are usually the last line of defense; if a play gets behind them it is typically seven points.

Unsafe at any speed

In 2006 Kiel was arrested early in the season for sending codeine based cough medicine through FedEx to Texas. After he pled out, the Chargers released him, leaving McCree, Jue, and Hart. Jue went to injured reserve and McCree and Hart were it. McCree was a huge hitter, but he was slow and often took bad angles on plays; Adrian Peterson just ate him alive. Hart made mistakes, but showed promise. In the 2007 draft AJ Smith traded up, to the tune of a second rouder to nab Eric Weddle for the future.

In the 2007 season Hart & McCree were the starters. With the departure of Wade Phillips and the arrival of Ted Cottrell the defense struggled a bit in the early part of the season. Phillips was much more aggressive with his play calling; Cottrell was more a 'bend don't break' and wait for your opponent to make a mistake type coordinator (extra credit to anyone who can diagram that sentence). The second half of that season the new philosophy did pay off with a number of turnovers and McCree and Hart ended up with 8 interceptions between them. As the season wore on; Weddle saw more and more time on the field and seemed to be improving. He improved enough that the Chargers released McCree in the off season.

Releasing McCree was not a bad move; he was just too slow. Denver picked him up and he performed poorly giving up big plays and getting injured. Things were not happy for the Chargers either as in the first game of the season Carolina's rookie tight end, who is mostly the responsibility of the Safeties, got loose for a huge game including the game winning catch in the final play. This was a pattern that would recur throughout the season and is evident in the Football Outsiders statistics for the defense, only three teams were worse in covering tight ends. It was often difficult to tell which safety had made the mistake; but more often than not it was Clinton Hart by the end of the year. Hart broke his hand early in the season and that may have been a factor early in the season. There is no doubt that having Merriman out left quarterbacks more time to find their checkdown receivers and that Merriman essentially had masked sub-par safety play.

With the upcoming offseason it is hard to imagine Clinton Hart keeping his starting job. He may serve as a backup but given the numbers there is no way he keeps that position. Weddle played poorly early in the season, but by the half way point was much more in control and played far better under the playcalling of Rivera; he will remain the starter. The Chargers do have Paul Oliver and Steve Gregory on the roster that could conceivably move up. Oliver saw some time and looked reasonable in a back up role; Gregory seemed to improve things when filling in for Hart but looks very slow. Neither is going to be a great solution, that does leave a hole that needs filling, either through the draft or in free agency.

Poll

How should the Chargers address the safety position?

Hart will rebound next season, let him keep the position.

6 votes

Paul Oliver is the future here.

8 votes

Steve Gregory deserves the first shot at it.

5 votes

Draft one now!

15 votes

Pick up a free agent.

17 votes

51 votes | Poll has closed

A Few Good Questions With.....Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

John Bena — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:48:28 -0000

Our thanks once again to Lee for taking time out of his busy scedule to answer some Broncos questions for us!! -- TSG

MHR -- Do you think the youth of the Broncos finally get what it takes to bring it week after week? It seems the team is at its best when its backs are against the wall. Can they play with that sense of urgency every week?

LR - Ask me Sunday night. Because if the Broncos lose to the Chiefs, everyone will be lobbing the same criticisms about inconsistency they have all season. At the same time, there does seem to be a growing confidence that if the team can avoid turnovers they can hang with even the better teams. I still think they have too many defensive deficiencies to be a legitimate threat to win more than one playoff game, if that. That will depend on matchup. But getting back to the question, there has been talk this week that they've learned their lesson not to play down to the level of opponent. We'll all see vs. Kansas City, which actually isn't playing horribly despite a 2-10 record.

MHR -- What impressed you most about the win over the Jets?

LR -- I was struck by how well Jay Cutler was able to toss the ball around despite a steady downpour. I also was impressed with the power running game that Peyton Hillis brought to the table. You saw glimpses of that with Michael Pittman, but whether it's the blocking improving or Hillis himself, it seems as if he's more explosive. The Broncos averaged 5.1 yards per carry against a team that had been No. 3 in the league in yards per rush allowed. I also thought that Josh Bell is starting to come into his own a little bit at cornerback. He's not a bad pickup. And, finally, I see a different Dre' Bly. He has really improved in recent weeks after I thought he was a step slow and lacked aggressiveness in the first half of the season.

MHR -- Do you get the sense the Broncos want to enact a bit of revenge against the Chiefs this week or do they simply want to play well in front of the home crowd for the first time in a long time?

LR -- The Chiefs have yet to win at Invesco Field at Mile High. That's seven straight losses heading into Sunday. They're 2-10 this season overall and put a beatdown on Denver in KC. That should be motivation enough. But I think the three straight home losses overrides any of that. Denver, believe it or not given this rollercoaster year, is headed for a home playoff game. They need to start establishing some home mojo. I think getting away has been good for this team because it alleviates the distractions that come with home games. The young players need to get past that and show some fortitude and focus with the ticket requests, family issues etc. that come with playing at home.

MHR -- Just how good has Ryan Clady been and are coaches/players around the league noticing?

LR -- I know the coaches are. On several conference calls this year I've asked about him specifically and he's gotten raves. The players, I'm sure, are just learning how good Clady is as he makes his first go-round through the league. Clady has been matched one-on-one mostly with little help and has demonstrated the athleticism to stick with premier pass-rushers, including Joey Porter and John Abraham. He's quick enough to shadow these players and has enough power to handle bigger pass-rushers. He should be in the Pro Bowl, but two-thirds of the vote are from players/coaches and that stuff sometimes gets political with who deserves it from previous years. But one item working in Clady's favor is that both Pro Bowl tackles last year - Jonathan Ogden and Tarik Glenn - are now out of the NFL. And Marcus McNeil of San Diego, a reserve, is playing for an underachieving Chargers offense, especially running the ball.

MHR -- While they have been inconsistent, I get the feeling no one will be jumping for joy if they have to face the Broncos in the playoffs. Do you feel that way?

LR -- I doubt Peyton Manning is quaking having to face the Broncos. Baltimore's defense could be a bear for Denver's offense. New England beat up Denver pretty good in October, if I recall. And given the Broncos problems at home, I doubt anyone will be particularly fearful of playing them. All that said, the Broncos playoff fortunes are matchup-driven and influenced by weather, since, the Jets performance notwithstanding, I'm not sure how much the Broncos can just ram it against teams with the run, a la Carolina. A lot of what will occur in the playoffs depends on the next few weeks and whether Denver continues its current uptick. I'd like their chances better in a rematch with the Patriots than against the Colts and Ravens as things stand right now.

MHR -- Extra credit - what's the latest on the injury front?

LR -- My best guess is that Nate Webster starts at middle linebacker, Champ Bailey returns to action and D.J. Williams and Marlon McCree both don't play.

MHR University - Who Should Start, and Why

Steve Nichols — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:00:06 -0000

From Born Orange comes these excellent questions, which are at the heart of much discussion at Milehighreport.com lately:

What's become of K2? He seems to have fallen far from Shanny's grace to have both Larsen and now Haggan starting at MLB in Webster's absence (I still think we're better off without Web in the middle).

Also, what's your take on the status of some of the rookies/backups who've been doing a good job filling in for the injured starters, once the starters are healthy again- primarily the LBs and CBs?

When players go down to injury, a coach has a headache on his hands. If the back-up plays poorly, the coach has to make adjustments to cover for the weakness. If the back-up plays well, a controversy can be in the brewing.

Let's take a look at the issues in BornOrange's questions, and take a look at the thinking that goes into when (and whether) to bring back injured starters.

More below the fold...

Niko Koutouvides

First, let's address the K2 issue.

During the pre-season, Webster and K2 were locked in a struggle to determine who would start at MLB. Webster edged out K2, and the season got started. Fans quickly tired of Webster's missed gap assignments and his overpursuits. But he's an energetic player who fires up his teammates, and folks like keeping count of how many times his helmet flies off (I guess).

K2, on the other hand, is a speedy LB who shines making open field tackles on coverage units. Many folks (including me) were hopeful he would get a shot at starting. Keep in mind, though, that K2 had a shot at starting during the pre-season and during camp, and didn't beat out Webster.

Then came the injuries. K2 had a shot at starting, as did Larsen (who plays at MLB and FB). Larsen proved himself the better MLB, to such an extent that the Denver staff had him play both ways on the field.

In short, as much as some fans may not be thrilled with Webster starting, K2 just hasn't earned the position, having been beat out by Webster and Larsen (and even a virtual unknown Haggan). Sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't.

But what about starting Larsen?

Let's stay on the MLB position for a moment. Why isn't Larsen our starter? First, I'm going to grant that Larsen is probably the best MLB we have. But the situation for the coaching staff is more complicated than just "Who is the better player".

Denver has been losing a lot of games to a lot of bad teams throwing the ball "early and often" and "deep". The spread offense is a fine concept, but not for this Denver team, which needs to be pounding the ball after gaining a lead (the formula that has taken Denver to championships). Only lately, Denver has realized the folly of throwing too often (we hope), and discovered the talent of power RB Hillis.

Hillis faced one of the best run stuffing teams against the Jets. Keep in mind that he is a 7th round pick, was meant to be a FB, ran in single back formations (meaning no FB run support) and is somewhere around a 5th string RB for this team. Against the Jets, a lot of fans were reminded of the dominance of a true powerback. Hillis, who was a FB behind two elite RBs at Arkansas, still managed to prove himself in college as a powerful blocker, receiver, and runner. In the NFL, he proved that he deserves to be Denver's #1 RB.

So what does any of this have to do with Larsen not playing at MLB? He's needed at FB even more. Here's why.

Denver's FB Situation

Denver has lost a FB, but in a good way. Hillis is one of those "diamonds in the rough" that has been discovered by Denver. He is a one cut runner who plows over and through defensive players. For readers of Chalk Talk and MHR University, it has been preached time and again how a power running game is needed to wear down defenses, to limit interceptions (defensed can't exclusively play in pass mode), and to set up the break away runs of faster RBs.

With Hillis out of the picture at FB, Denver has only three options.

Play a lot of single back formations
Use Pinnock at FB
Use Larsen at FB

One is to play Hillis in single back formations (as against the Jets). This option worked very well, and took the Jets by surprise. A lot of fans would likely want to continue on this path. But it isn't good coaching.

The Jets assumed that Denver would be their regular pass heavy selves. When they saw three recievers and a single back, they played pass. Denver hit them right in the gut. As pointed out by a couple of astute MHR members, nothing kicks you in the stomach like a powerback charging into a nickle defense. If Hillis is the answer at HB (and I think most of us agree that he is), then teams are going to adjust for him quickly.

Teams were not ready for Jay Cutler and the wild spread offense, but they adjusted, and Denver suffered. The way to stop teams from adjusting is to play a balanced game, where the opposition can't load up a defense against a particular trait. Denver needs to have a FB in to block for Hillis, and also needs to run some pass plays with multiple receivers without a FB. Denver needs to mix it up, instead of relying on a single look.

In other words, we will need a FB in our system.

The second option is to use Pinnock. Who? That's right. A virtual unknown. With Denver near securing a playoff bearth, the time for experimenting is over. Pinnock was brought in because we lost a FB (Hillis, to the starting RB role). But he wasn't brought in to start. He was brought in to back-up Larsen in case Larsen goes down.

The third option is to use Larsen. If we use Larsen, why not use him at MLB too? He's done it already this year! Fans may disagree on the point I'm going to make, but here's the coaching thinking that is likely going into the decision.

Playing Larsen two ways is a fan pleaser, but it isn't good football. Larsen played two ways for Denver because Denver was short handed and desperate, not because they wanted to. Larsen beat the odds and played both positions, and did it very well. To do so game after game though, is to risk injury, not to mention an exhausted player playing at two positions (hurting both sides of the ball).

Like it or not, Larsen can only do so much on a weakened defense. As a FB, he ensures that there are no postions on the offense that aren't elite. Right now, ensuring that our un game can keep up with our pass game is what will make this offense unstoppable.

Take it from me. I'm all about defense, and I would be kicking and screaming to get Larsen in at MLB if I was the defensive coordinator. But for the sake of the team overall, I think Shanahan is making the right move.

What About Other LBs (Haggan, Woodyard, and Winborn)?

Let's assume the obvious. DJ Williams is going to start at WILL. He is a better run stopper than Woodyard, and has more big play potential. He is one of the true elites on the team, and plays his position better than anyone. He never lost his position when he went down. While the WILL position isn't primarily a run stopping position (it zones the weakside and blitzes more often than playing man), my point is that DJ does everything Woodyard does, and more.

Woodyard's best fit is at WILL. He is not really a true MLB, and has an excellent future ensuring depth at WILL and playing coverage for STs. Moving him to MLB would be an adjustment (something we don't want late in the season), and would weaken the depth at WILL.

Haggan is getting a lot of love from the MHR faithful, but there's a catch. He has played on limited downs, and it's hard for a coach to make a major decsion on very limited data. Haggan may have raw talent, but going towards the playoffs (where experience is everything), he just doesn't have a record beyond a few plays. As it is, He is listed as the third string at WILL (an excellent place for a LB with raw talent, but little experience with the team), but can also play third string behind K2 at MLB.

Winborn is the natural fit at SAM. He has played over the talent level of Boss Bailey (IR), and will likely keep his position unless he is bumped by a draft pick in the offseason.

What About the DBs?

This is the most complex issue for me to address.

Let's start with the easy part; Dre Bly. Dre Bly will return and keep his #2 CB position. Bailey and Bly are #1 and #2 in interceptions since 1991. They are both two of the best in the game.

Fans are leary of Bly, pointing out his seeming lack of production in Denver. But in the two years he has been in Denver, Bailey hasn't looked stellar either. I have attributed this to Denver's weak pass rush, and even more to the decision to put the strong safety in the box. (A story on this issue is coming up next week).

Yet, in the last game Bly looked great. Denver had two safeties in deep coverage (despite the rain). Coincidence? No way. Denver respected Favre, and played the right defensive alignments. This allowed Bly to be himself, and it showed. Bailey's return (hopefuly this week) should be a major boost.

But what happens at safety and at nickleback?

Tough call. Very tough call. Let's assume for moment that Denver finally decides to play two safeties out of the box. Lowry would likely have a better showing than his first outing, when he was one of the top tacklers for the Broncos, but whiffed on several tackles trying to guard the entire field horizontaly by himself. As much as I've defended him, I don't think he's the best option.

This leaves McCree and Barrett. Like most fans (I believe), I would like to see Barrett get the call. McCree has the experience, and could play well if he has another safety to take half of the field. Barrett has the advantage in speed and athleticism. All other factors being even (which they aren't), I would like to see Barrett developed. This close to a playoff run, it's a tough call.

At strong safety, Manuel has done a decent job playing in the box. Out of the box, in the Jets game, Fox came out looking like a winner. In my mind, we should play the strong safety out of the box, and play Fox (unless he proves the Jets game was a quirk). My uneducated guess is that Manuel will get the start.

For the safeties, in my mind, the big question is whether we go back to playing 8 in the box or if we go traditional.

At CB, the contenders for nickle are Paymah, Williams, Bell, and Jones. I don't know much about Jones. Bell looked good, but like Haggan, it was in limited action. The competition then comes down to Paymah and Williams, and I would guess Paymah gets the start. My guess is as good (or bad) as anybody's on this topic, and I'll bet readers have some good thoughts on why someone should start over someone else.

So how about it gang? What are your thoughts?

Poll

How many picks should Denver use on LB this reloading season?

None. Several of our back-ups should start next year.

13 votes

One. How can we pass on a LB in a good year for LBs in the draft?

157 votes

At least two. We need major help at LB.

49 votes

219 votes | Poll has closed

The Denver Broncos Defense - The Truth About The Kansas City Loss

John Bena — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:05:46 -0000

It seems like every week the same people say the same thing about the Broncos defense. We hear how horrible they are, how they can't stop the run, how they can't defend the pass, how they can't put pressure on the quarterback. Some of that is true, we all know that, but something has become a disturbing trend, something that continues to be overlooked. Much of the problems with the defense start with the offense and special teams. No, really, it does.

Specifically against Kansas City, I'd go so far as to say the defense, for over 3 quarters, played as well as it did against the Raiders Week 1. Unfortunately, the offense didn't give them much of a chance. What is certain is the Broncos defense is by no means a dominant defense in any facet, run defense, pass defense, pressuring the quarterback, none of it. The defense as a group is average at best, but with the offense the Broncos put on the field this team should be able to win, unless the offense, the strength of the team, let's it down. On Sunday, that is exactly what happened.

Take a look at the drive chart for the Chiefs on Sunday --

Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
1st Quarter
15:00	5:55	KC 11	9	84	Field Goal
08:24	3:46	DEN 26	7	23	Field Goal
01:16	3:36	KC 48	8	22	Missed FG

Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
2nd Quarter
08:53	2:59	KC 19	6	23	Punt
03:26	0:43	DEN 2	2	2	Touchdown
01:18	0:43	KC 20	3	4	Punt
00:11	0:11	KC 40	1	-1	End of Half

Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
3rd Quarter
12:13	3:30	KC 37	7	38	Field Goal
07:32	0:11	DEN 43	1	-2	Fumble
06:29	1:25	DEN 47	3	7	Punt
03:26	5:46	KC 27	10	73	Touchdown

Start Time	Time Poss	Drive Began	# of Plays	Net Yards	Result
4th Quarter
07:58	4:09	DEN 49	7	34	Field Goal
02:06	0:29	DEN 43	3	43	Touchdown

A couple things stand out almost immediately. First, the Chiefs average starting field position was it's own 47 yardline. Think about that for a minute. The Chiefs had the ball 12 times in the game(not counting the drive right before halftime), and basically started every possession, on average, at midfield. Not Good.

Let's look a bit deeper. First, a bit of my own opinion. To me, solid kick-off ocverage is determined by where the opposition starts their possession after the kick. In fact, the key to winning football games is winning the battle of field position. Case in point are the 2006 and 2007 Broncos who were dead last in average starting field position.

Obviously, a touchback is the best case scenario, forcing a team to start at their own 20. Not trying to be too diificult, I'll give the Broncos another 10 yards to play with and call any drive started by an opponent inside their own 30 is solid. That forces a team to go 50-60 yards to reach the Broncos Red Zone. 5 to 6 first downs. Tough going against any defense in the NFL, if you have to do it over and over again. Let's look at it.

The Chiefs started offensive possessions inside their 30 yardline just 4 times out of 11 drives. The results of those drives -- FG, Punt, Punt, TD. 10 Points Allowed. Acceptable. Let's give the Chiefs 10 more yards and look at possessions started inside their own 40. Now there are 5 total possessions out of 12. The results - FG, Punt, Punt, TD, FG. 13 Points. Sure, there were some big plays in there, and every defense will surrender big plays now and then. The key to playing defense, especially against a team like the Chiefs, is to force them to have to go the long way to score. When the Broncos, as a team, did that, the Chiefs scored 1 TD in 5 possessions.

How about the other 7 possessions that started accross the 40 yard line. Incredibly, 6 of those drives started in Denver territory. SIX TIMES the Chiefs began an offensive possession across the 50 yard line. This is where the offense and special teams really let the defense down.

The first two possessions that started in Denver territory - (Den 26, Den 2), were on the fumbles by Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall. Both of these came in the first half and at the point the Chiefs took possession they were already in solid field goal range. Both possessions led to points(FG, TD).

Now it is Cutler's turn, throwing the two interceptions, giving the Chiefs the ball inside Denver territory again(Den 43, Den 47). With the Chiefs outside FG range, the defense hold strong, forcing a turnover and a punt, keeping the game clase(16-13), a very manageable situation for the offense. Unfortunately, the offense did little to help the defense, going 3-and-out. The Broncos offense had the ball 4 times in the 3rd quarter for a total of 6:28. They ran a total of 16 plays, and crossed midfield only once, on the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Still, the Broncos appeared to be in good shape. The offense had turned the ball over 4 times and the defense had held the Chiefs to 16 points.

Now it was the Special Team's turn. After the Chiefs scored the only TD their offense earned all day, it became the coverage unit that let the defense down. The Broncos answered the Chiefs TD with a FG -- Red Zone inefficiency - 1/4 on the day - is another way the offense hurt the defense, but that has been talked about all week -- the Broncos were looking to pin the Chiefs deep. Someone make a play! Nope. The Chiefs are once again able to begin a possession in Denver territory when they break open the kick-off return. The Chiefs need only 34 yards to answer the Broncos FG with 3 points of thier own.

Again, the Broncos drive down and score, another field goal, and hope is renewed. Again, the special teams miss out, this time on an onside kick. Yes, odds are against the recovery of an onside kick, but Spencer Larsen was THAT close. Someone make a play!

The Chiefs take over and score the game's final points, a Larry Johnson touchdown. The possession needs to travel only 43 yards.

Do you see a trend? The Broncos allowed 33 points. Only 13 would be what I consider "earned points" by the Chiefs. That's not to say that the Chiefs wouldn't have scored if the Broncos didn't continously give them the ball in Broncos' territory, but the odds were in the Broncos favor.

Football is the ultmate team game. The idea of this post isn't to lay blame at the feet of the offense. It is meant to remove full blame from the defense alone, and educate those of you not lucky enough to watch the game on what actually happened, beyond the boxscore. The Broncos defense has alot of work to do. But the offense we are so excited about needs to do it's part if the Broncos are to be successful and stop setting the defense up to fail. That, my MHR brethern, is The Quest moving forward.