SB Nation - Mitch Erickson

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)

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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.

Projecting the Future--Analyzing the Denver Broncos' Potential Practice Squad Signees

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:28:32 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

3 months ago: Denver Broncos quarterback Tom Brandstater (3) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Victor Hobson during the second half of an NFL preseason football game in Denver on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski )

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Heading into tomorrow, there is going to be some exciting speculation regarding the makeup of our 53-man roster, including some surprising, even flabbergasting cuts. What better way to really start the breakdown than to take into account a guaranteed group of eight (well, nearly guaranteed, anyway) who will be on the team by making the practice squad?

There is a terrific breakdown of the rules regarding the structure, purpose and formation of the practice squad HERE. Beyond what Kirk has presented in that article, it is worth noting how telling it is when a team builds its practice squad. We can't overlook the importance of a developmental squad on a rebuilding team, especially given the breadth of the turnover the roster has undergone, and if we look closely at how it is built, we may gain some very telling clues as to what the long range teambuilding philosophy of this organization continues to be, and whether it is consistent with the goals they have laid out for themselves.

For example, where does Tom Brandstater fit in the PS scheme? If we see him there, we can divine that he truly does have a lot more to learn, and despite the growth and poise he has shown throughout the preseason, he is truly not ready to be a starting QB. Alternatively, if he doesn't show up there, it is a sure sign that the Broncos staff wishes to keep their options open in regards to being able to rotate him in with the starting unit when possible, or necessary.

There are other considerations as well...

Will Denver use the PS as a place to store incumbents, or projects? Will Denver have to keep all of its Dline talent on the 53 man roster, in order to ease the rotation and activation of the group? Or do they have confidence that they can consistently start a solid group, and put the developmental opportunities on the PS? WR is another position where they may be starting as many as four WRs on the active 45, and so there may not be enough room there for eh backups as well. Could a player like McKinley go to the practice squad, where he would await the call to start in the event of injury?

Beyond these obvious roster considerations, another benefit of being on the practice squad is the tasks scout team players are routinely charged with. Since they are not expected to start in each week's game, they are often responsibilities and expected playbooks of the opponent, not their own team, in an effort to accurately mimic opponent tendencies. Would offensive linemen like Mitch Erickson and Clint Oldenburg better benefit from this kind of work than a LB like Lee Robinson or a DL like Everette Pedescleaux?

If the Broncos were to keep, say 7 WRs on active, and an additional WR on the PS, what would THAT indicate about the team's plans moving forward?

As always, one of our prime considerations is "Who will make it through waivers?" The saving grace here is EVERY team is thinking the same thing about their own players. Historically there isn't a significant amount of sniping that occurs during this waiver period, and Denver is as likely to benefit from that process as anyone.

Here is the current list of players that are practice squad eligible, plus my own very rough designation regarding their likely status for the final roster:

	53-man roster	Practice Squad	Waived
RB Knowshon Moreno	X
OLB/DE Robert Ayers	X
CB Alphonso Smith	X
DB Darcel McBath	X
TE Richard Quinn	X
DB David Bruton	X
OG Seth Olsen	X
WR Kenny McKinley		X
QB Tom Brandstater		X
DE Mathias Askew		X
OG Mitch Erickson		X
T Clint Oldenburg		X
WR Matthew Willis			X
WR Nate Swift		X
DT/DE Ryan McBean	X
DB DJ Johnson			X
DB Tony Carter			X
SLB Lee Robinson		X
DE Everette Pedescleaux		X
DE/NT Chris Baker	X

Thoughts on above list:

RBs, WRs: It should be noted that Moreno is our only RB eligible for the PS, and that is 100% unlikely that that will happen. Therefore, Denver may choose to keep its extra depth at the RB position on the 53-man roster. This is my rationale behind McKinley to the PS. I think he has played decent, though has made numerous mistakes, and would be an excellent Bronco. However, with the expected starting crop and significant receiving threats we have from other positions, including RB, it is likely that the depth for the WRs might get stashed on the PS. Brandon Marshall's status regarding further suspensions will also be a consideration until it isn't, which may force Denver to carry more receiving personnel than would typically be wise.

OL, DL: I have two of each here, and all are versatile enough to cover multiple areas. My thoughts here are that the Scout team has a job to do beyond just protecting young talent, and that is to help the rest of the team prepare each week. Linemen will be a focal point of this preparation, and all of the above selected young men are versatile, and have proven to be smart, a prerequisite for mimicking 13 other team's playbooks throughout the course of the season. However, until I see how Denver handles their practice squad, I am not convinced that this is a likely or unlikely scenario. it is just something that makes sense, and that I would understand if they did it, but like the draft, this may be a totally off-base assumption about their style... For DL, what is interesting is just how much overall depth they will be carrying, if you include the players currently lining up at DE, like Doom, Reid and Ayers. It will be intriguing to note who gets activated week to week, and whether they feel the need to call up a lineman from the practice squad in the event of an injury.

Tom Brandy: this seems like as sure of a call as any. You get all the benefits of him being on the active roster, without actually placing him on the active roster... Why would they do anything different? Well, one thought, as I mentioned above is if McDaniel's wants some strategic versatility when it comes to whether Tom plays or not. Currently it is taboo for the third stringer to come in unless the players ahead of him are completely unable to play with injury. If he came in, there would be no going back if he was on the PS. With two injured QBs ahead of him, there is a very slim possibility that he would be better suited to the starting roster. Only slim, of course, since that sort of short range thinking would paralyze the broader spectrum of his growth, and would endanger his roster spot in future scenarios if such a strategy was engaged in.

WR again and a LB: By adding Swift and Robinson as my final PSers, I have a pretty clear idea of what it is I expect Denver to be using the PS for this year. I think it is likely that they are going to simply try to stash key backups at positions that require the depth, and that have the young options available. That the group of eligibles isn't more diverse speaks, I think, to this approach. I don't think it is an accident that there are no RBs outside of Moreno who are eligible, yet there are WRs. That both lines have eligible options also speaks to this strategy. By adding Robinson, I am assuming that Denver's LB roster does not change in the near future (ie, no trades), and that the Davis, Haggan, Larsen combo might not make it to the final 53 unscathed. DJ and Woodyard, I think, are the only absolutes in the LB corp, and I like Robinson, so there you go. If he is among the waived, I certainly wouldn't color myself shocked. [Editor's Note: as this was put int he hopper, new came through that Robinson was indeed, cut. No surprise there, and for me, it is the first of what I would consider "unfortunate" cuts being made. Licks Ten Tigers being cut bothers me as well...best nick ever! :( ]

20 players, and 8 are practically guaranteed to be around. What are YOUR thoughts, MHR?

Horse Tracks 8/26/09 - Dreaming of an Orange August in Canton

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:02:15 -0000

DB - Floyd a Hall Finalist - Gray Caldwell
Floyd Little took a giant step toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday, as he and Dick LeBeau were announced as senior nominees. Can you imagine The Franchise and Big Play Shay going in together next summer?!?!?! A Denver weekend in Canton?

DB - 44 Reasons to Elect No. 44 - Thomas Mackie
A must read for all Broncos fans...

DB - Floyd Little - Jim Saccomano
Sacco shares some of what Floyd Little meant to the Broncos.

DB - Tuesday: McDaniels - Broncos TV
McDaniels praises Russ Hochstein's versatility (sound familiar?), as he can play every line position, plus TE and FB. Plus the team is looking forward to playing at home after two weeks on the road. McDaniels actually says the Seahawks forced the Broncos to pass more than planned. Lots of dancing around Brandon Marshall questions...

DB - Tuesday: Sounds from the Locker Room - Broncos TV
Quotes from several players after a rain-shortened practice...I am crushed to see that Mario Haggan walks around with a Yankees cap. What is he THINKing??

DB - On the Right Track - Zach Eisendrath
On progress, Hochstein and turnovers.

DP - Broncos' Little a lot closer to the hall - Mike Klis

DP - Hochstein latest Patriot to join roster - Mike Klis
Klis says Hochstein's arrival (for the same 7th-rounder New England had sent over in the Le Kevin Smith trade) may put Kory Lichtensteiger and Mitch Erickson on the bubble.

DP - Haggan would love to put a hit on Cutler - Mike Klis
Haggan says the fans would love to see a sack of JC. Chris Simms is thankfully off crutches already, although he is not expected to play again in the preseason. The Broncos may sign QB Ingle Martin as presumed preseason fodder.

DP - Marshall's deal doesn't distract - Jeff Legwold
For what it's worth, Kenny Peterson and Correll Buckhalter downplay the effects of BMarsh's situation in the locker room.

ESPN - Receiver, Broncos in a whirl of hurt - Jeffri Chadiha
Chadiha is expecting the BMarsh situation to only get worse.

CBS4 - Elway: Don't Panic, 'Preseason Is Preseason' - Video
Two videos with The Greatest Ever.

CSG - Marshall listed as a starter for Broncos - Frank Schwab
But will he play??

CSG - Broncos notes: Running back Little named a Hall of Fame finalist - Frank Schwab

DB - Tuesday: Transcripts - Josh McDaniels

DB - Ask Chris Baker...
Submit your questions for the rookie in the middle

AP - Marshall Practicing; Preseason Debut Still Unclear

AP - Patriots Trade Hochstein To Denver For Draft Pick

ESPN Insider - Kicking off my Insider blog - Adam Schefter
Schefter has heard rave reviews about Josh McDaniels, including a prediction that "McDaniels is going to be one of the greatest NFL coaches ever." Meanwhile, a silly Bears fan tries to make the case that JC's receiving cast wasn't all that great because it had Eddie Royal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TJ - Brandstater roughed up in first NFL game - Chhun Sun
Tom Brandstater's hometown paper on the rookie's debut.

AFC West News

SDUT - Bolts' Clary toughest on himself - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Cromartie continues to impress - Kevin Acee

CBS - Declining Tomlinson? L.T. aiming to prove otherwise - Clark Judge

CBS - Chargers: Five things to know - Clark Judge

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

CCT - Raiders add defensive tackle

CCT - Peterson: Raiders backup could make an impact

ESPN - Miller aims to build on Raiders' tradition - Pork Chop

KCS - Haley expects Charles and other Chiefs backs to improve their ball handling - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs notebook: New linemen could play right away - Adam Teicher

NFL News

NFL - Reid: Eagles will give Vick 'a couple shots' Thursday vs. Jaguars

NFL - Big Ben practices, but will he miss any time? 'Not that I know,' he says

NFL - With a QB surplus, Bucs calling teams about trades

NFL - Bills WR Owens still not ready to play; RB Jackson re-injures thumb

NFL - Giants CB Ross re-injures left hamstring on last day of training camp

NFL - Titans WR Washington still limping, leaving status for opener in doubt

NFL - Rams WR Avery practices just three weeks after breaking his left foot

NFL - NFL officially gives Saints K Hartley a four-game suspension for drug use

NFL - Wilford returns to Jaguars, but this time, he's a tight end

NFL - Cowboys assistant coach, scouting aide sue over practice-facility collapse

NFL - Williams sisters become latest celebrities to buy part of Dolphins

NFL Opinion

SI - Preseason Week 2, Winners/Losers - Don Banks
Banks acknowledges Orton's progress but reminds us that Kyle didn't throw any deep passes. Interesting point, one which crossed my mind, too.

SI - MMQB Mailbag: 10 rookies who've impressed; Cowboys video fallout - Peter King
What a shame. Peter King lists 10 rookies who he likes, writing about nine of them. For the tenth one (Alphonso Smith), he mentions only the draft choice Denver gave up for him.

Y! - Niners' Hill proves his head's in the right place - Mike Silver

NFP - QB Battles: time to make the call - Matt Bowen

NFP - Why Tarvaris is the player's choice - Matt Bowen

NFP - Diner morning news: Sanchez needs time - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Tavern talk: Finalizing our blue list - Mike Lombardi

CBS - Texans camp tour: Slaton's progress makes Houston contender - Pete Prisco

CBS - Texans: Five things to know - Pete Prisco

NFL - Prediction time: Picking first and last place teams in each division - Jason La Canfora

PFW - Madden's replacement primed for gig - Barry Jackson

FOX - NFL pressure cooker the true test of young QBs - Peter Schrager

ESPN - LeBeau among many worthy candidates - Len Pasquarelli
Pasquarelli thinks the HOF should include more assistant coaches.

NFP - The story of Curtis Buckley and how he made the Bucs - Jack Bechta

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Vanderbilt - Wes Bunting

2009 Denver Broncos Training Camp - 8/3 AM - Slowly building a football team

John Bena — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:15:05 -0000

This is bittersweet for me because it is my last report. Once done, I will head to the airport and back home. I miss my girls and am glad to be heading home, but the past 4 days or so have been incredible My thanks to the Denver Broncos for allowing me, and by extension you, access to the inside. A 2-year veteran now, I am already looking forward to next year.

Enough mushy stuff, let's get back to the football. It has been easy to see over the first 4 days of camp that Josh McDaniels is taking the task of rebuilding this football team seriously. Not from a pure aspect of the roster, either. The Broncos had become a team void of fundamentals, with little regard for the details. How many times under Mike Shanahan were mistakes or turnovers accepted as "part of the game". Surely they are, but simply because something is EXPECTED doesn't mean it should be ACCEPTED.

In a sport when one mistake, one mental or physical miscue, can cost a team a win, a playoff spot, or more, the attention to detail, the mastery of the fundamentals is what can separate 10-6 from 8-8 or 8-8 from 6-10. It will be a focus now, and the Broncos should be better for it as the season goes on.

Each practice has been a building block to the next one, and each day has seen an increase in 7x7 and 11x11 work. One can't succeed in a team environment if they can't succeed against another person or blocking sled. It has been that focus that is going to benefit this team in 2009. The physicality of the workouts, practicing in pads, is going to help this team. They may not be the most talented team every Sunday, but they will be as prepared as anyone. That is a step in the right direction.

Now, on to some thoughts from my final practice at Dove Valley...

In the past there were practices dedicated to Special Teams. Usually in the afternoon, these workouts would include only players that were on the Special Teams units and would last 75 minutes or so. While I can't say there won't be a workout like that this year, there has yet to be one and with the work going into special teams during the main practice I'd venture to say there won't be. It is the efficient use like this of the practice time available that impresses me about the way these workouts have been scheduled.

Whether you support McDaniels or not, I'd be interested to hear anyone say they aren't impressed by how this camp is being run from an organizational standpoint. There are very few wasted movements and the team gets in and out of team/individual drills fast.

Each workout is filled with teaching. Specifically the D-Line, getting a ton of one-on-one instruction. Today's focus - spacing and getting low. In a 3-4 defense, it is the job of the defensive line to hold their ground in order to allow the linebackers to make plays in space. How well the Broncos' defense picks up the 3-4 will depend largely on this unit getting it done.

The O-line was working on exploding off the ball, doubling the D-end, sealing the edge, and getting to the next level (LB or S). Of the new guys, Mitch Erickson seemed to be getting the most praise from Rick Dennison while Black Schlueter was struggling just a bit.

LB Nick Greisen was carted off during the workout. While he was favoring his left leg, he was able to walk into the locker room. No update was given by Coach McDaniels after the workout.

The special teams work included punt team - specifically on punts coming from mid-field, both covering them from a punt standpoint and retuning them as well. Eddie Royal, Matthew Willis and Alphonso Smith were all returning punts.

At one point, the QBs were in a pod all by themselves working on play-action/bootleg. Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd were standing in different spots - flat, the middle, far pylon of the end zone - and each quarterback would practice booting to his right. That, of course, is against the grain for Chris Simms, and he struggled just a bit. Kyle Orton, however, looked pretty good making all the throws. More on Orton later.

At the same time, Linebackers were in a pod with the DBs practicing their footwork dropping in coverage. For Elvis Dumervil and Tim Crowder, two former D-Ends trying to convert to LB, this will be the hardest transition.

One quick note about Josh McDaniels. He is all over the field. He gets heavily involved in all the workouts, all positions. Whether it is going over technique with defensive linemen or dropping in coverage during wide receiver drills, McDaniels is in the middle of all of it. If anyone thought that McDaniels, as a QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator, would only be working with the QBs, you are largely mistaken.

On to 11x11, where during Red Zone work Champ Bailey proved he still has it. Bailey stepped in front of C.J. Jones to juggle, then intercept, a Chris Simms pass in the end zone. Bailey can still go get the football.

Time Crowder is really playing well. With Jarvis Moss in limbo and Robert Ayers still holding out (could change at any minute), Crowder is really taking advantage of the opportunity to play. At one point during the workout, Crowder took Nate Swift down to the ground hard on a completion across the middle. At another point, Eddie Royal got a bit annoyed with Crowder's physicality, leading to screams of "Don't get mad, this is football" from some of the defensive coaches.

Other than Ronald Fields, Chris Baker and Carlton Powell were getting reps at NT

Jack Williams has been getting the reps when the Broncos go to the Nickel.

Tom Brandstater.....Where can I begin. The kid has some tools, no doubt about it. He is raw, however, and really needs to work on his mechanics. I guess what I am saying is not to expect any late-round, Tom Brady-type magic when it comes to Brandstater's progress this season.

As for the other quarterbacks, Kyle Orton is beginning to look more comfortable in the offense. I am going to give all the QBs a bit of a pass, no pun intended, when it comes to their roller-coaster performance this week. It is going to take time, and reps, to learn a new offense and there are going to be bumps in the road. Let's be honest, the final exam isn't until September 13th, over 5 weeks away.

During one play, Marcus Thomas had to cover Daniel Graham after a shift. With the vocal encouragement of his defensive teammates on the sidelines, Thomas did his best to keep up with the TE on his drag route. Graham made the catch, as the ball just squeezed past the arm of a diving Thomas. Solid effort, indeed.

One general observation; the Broncos' defense will be extremely tough to throw against this season, especially down near the goal line.

Eddie Royal catches everything. Everything, I tell you.

LaMont Jordan did drop a sure touchdown during team drills. Jordan was running with the first team with Correll Buckhalter taking the morning off.

Whatever your opinion of Alphonso Smith, he is a natural returning punts and is extremely at ease with the football in his hands.

Some group sprints ended the working part of the practice, but as is the case with the other days, the team goes back to their pods and finishes with what I would describe as a light cool-down. The teaching never stops, however, and there is little time wasted.

One last impression. I have been very impressed with Mike Nolan. He is energetic, is involved with his players and passionate about what he is trying to accomplish. Perhaps it is simply a surprise to me, but I didn't expect that from the guy I saw coach the 49ers.

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster -- Guards/Centers

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:30:10 -0000

Denver Broncos offensive linemen take part in drills during the team's football minicamp at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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If you listen very closely you might hear, at a distance, a faint, almost imperceptible sound.

In the wake of resigning C Casey Wiegmann to a two-year, five-and-a-half million-dollar contract, one could be forgiven for suspecting that this sound is the dismay and despair of defensive lines throughout the league who must now contest with what is arguably one of the strongest, most coherent and most productive offensive line units in the NFL. Within that unit, no group works together more closely, or relies on each other as much as the guards and centers.

Casey's return, combined with the returns of LG Ben Hamilton and RG Chris Kuper, would do well to inspire a certain level of despondency in Denver's 2009 opponents, as it was an interior unit which ranked 1st overall in ALY (Adjusted Line Yardage), and 5th overall in ALY solely in the cramped spaces between the right and left guards. When one factors in the added emphasis on pulling guards that is a hallmark of the McDaniels offense (ranked 2nd overall ahead of Denver for guard-to-guard ALY in 2008), and the addition of multiple blue-chip RBs to the stable, the Denver rushing attack should indeed be fearsome.

But the sound that can be heard on the edges of training camps around the league are not the wails and moans of teams who fear having to do battle with such a proven unit. This is the NFL. What the sound portends is the approaching storm. A league full of defensive lines who desire nothing less than to tear apart this line's reputation and cast it down to the perceived depths of incompetence that the rest of the team is rumored to have reached. They will believe, fully, that annihilating Denver at the point of attack will reduce the Broncos to an afterthought that can be easily tossed aside. These defenses have made up their minds to do battle, and they will be focused, louder, more terrible, less relenting. Like Northerlies they will blow in every week, where they must be rebuffed by Denver's varied, complex schemes, swift, repeated blows and confusing attacks which resemble withdrawals.

But even early success against such hordes won't be enviable. The opponents will bristle with hostility at every loss, as if upset by human intelligence, and the attack will be renewed again.

This will be a season of such storms, and the guards and centers are the prow of the ship that Denver must steer steadfastly into them...

Ben Hamilton

#50 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 290

Born: Aug 18, 1977

Age: 32

College: Minnesota

Contract: 2009: $3.34m $4.39 against the cap, 2010: Free Agent

Acquired:Draft #4a (113th overall), 2001

One year removed from a season-long absence due to post-concussion syndrome, Ben Hamilton saw his reputation take a bit of a hit in 2008. Of course, he was still elite, but perhaps the expectation was that, as the longest-tenured member of the Broncos line, he should also be its best member. As it stood, he gave up the most sacks and was flagged for the most penalties, and in a way seemed to be the weak link. Yet, as noted above, the line still managed to clock in as one the finest units in the league, in every measurable statistic.

Maybe he really wasn't that bad?

He certainly has to be looking forward to his contract year, especially in conjunction with his run of good health and the line talent that has been amassed around him. He has been nothing less than a pro's pro, beginning with his first season starting for Denver, where he played both center and guard, covering for an injury to Tom Nalen. He also has been exceptionally durable, and except for the 2007 season (a case where toughness is trumped only by long-term concern and care taken for the unknowns involved in post-concussion symptoms) has yet to miss a start in any game the Broncos have played since he was promoted to the active roster after a stint in NFL Europe.

Of interest is that since the final game of the 2003 regular season, Hamilton has yet to log any more snaps at center. With the accrued depth at center over the last two seasons, there is a developing chance that Hamilton may not be the first name called upon if Wiegmann were to go down with an injury (though it is likely he would be the second name called up.)

Hamilton's leadership on the line, too, should not be overlooked; with a contingent of new, young guards behind him, it is imperative to hang onto the veteran player in order to smooth their transition into the Bronco's complex scheme. Next year, Hamilton's story should be quite interesting in the offseason; but for now, it's steady as she goes.

Casey Wiegmann

#62 / Center / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 285

Born: Jul 20, 1975

Age: 34

College: Iowa

Contract: 2009: $2.5m, 2010: $2.2, 2011: Free Agent

Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Kansas City), 2008

With the restructured contract handled with significant professionalism, Casey Wiegmann looks to continue his streak of 8,046 consecutive offensive snaps (tops among offensive linemen). He is nothing if he is not durable, and as his battle with Kris Jenkins will attest to, he is playing with as much savvy and intensity as could be asked for from a 34-year-old lineman.

When a soul refuses to yield to the weaknesses of the body, it is a source of immense power, and Wiegmann has certainly learned how to tap that, regaining in tenacity what he loses in vigor. But he also benefits greatly from his natural physicality, as a smaller lineman with good girth and strength, which allows him to move fluidly and easily within the confines of his area of work, which goes part and parcel with the demands placed on the center in an offense which features pulling guards (as it is usually the center who must execute the athletic 'trap' part of the block). He was well suited to a pure zone-blocking scheme, but he is eminently suited to the new wrinkles that McDaniels has brought into town for this offense, including being an above-average snapper in the shotgun.

With his experience doing the line calls, and spearheading multiple league-leading rushing and passing offenses (2003, 2006 and 2008) the offense is in completely capable hands with Wiegmann.

Chris Kuper

#73 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 302

Born: Dec 19, 1982

Age: 26

College: North Dakota

Contract: 2009: $1.01m, 2010: Free Agent

Acquired: Draft #5 (161th overall), 2006

Chris Kuper is what I would consider an almost-ideal starting guard for Denver's system. Big and athletic, very strong and terrifically balanced only begin to describe Kuper. He is also versatile, having started his career with Denver on the left side subbing for Chris Myers (who had been subbing for Hamilton in 2007), before moving over to the right side to replace Montrae Holland. In both instances, he made the most of his opportunities, and can be counted on as a player who rises to meet expectations. He also slid over to left tackle during his senior year in college, and showed that in addition to being a sound technician as a guard he could also show the athleticism and awareness to adequately man the pass-protection schemes. He isn't likely to see any snaps at center.

Since coming to Denver he has improved significantly in one particular category: reach blocks. Early in his career he would extend too far when blocking away on reach blocks or when moving to the second level, and while his athleticism and quickness still made him a force against the linebackers, he has since learned to use his long arms (a major asset) to get into his blocks under control, where he can use his strength to redirect. He is also an excellent pulling and trapping guard, who will be perfect for the new offense, and he strengthens any interior unit that he is a part of with his ability to switch off and onto blocks during defensive stunts and blitzes, a combination of intelligence and quickness. He makes his center's job easier by a large margin.

In addition, he is durable and exceptionally tough, maintaining a starting streak by playing with a broken hand last year that looked like a side of ham strapped to his wrist. Depsite the injury there was simply no noticeable dropoff in his play. He is the type of player that refuses to be the weak link.

There can be an expectation that the Denver line will fall a bit short of the elevated level of play last year, due to both the schedule and the idea that teams will be gunning for them. However, I think that Kuper, being in his prime and entering a contract year, has the goods to be even better than last year, and will catch on around the league as one of the premier free agents at guard in 2010. Denver should be in the top two or three teams in the league when running off his flanks. Like with Hamilton, 2010 will be another story, especially during the offseason; but for now, we are exceptionally solid.

Kory Lichtensteiger

#67 / Center / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 295

Born: Mar 22, 1985

Age: 24

College: Bowling Green

Contract: Escalators are available in the final year if he plays 35% of the offensive snaps in two of his first three seasons. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

Acquired: Draft #4a (108th overall), 2008

Kory Lichtensteiger is a player who is used to being the best: best lineman on his high school team, then district, then division, then college, and most recently the Rimington Award winner in 2008 for the nation's best collegiate center.

After seeing action in every game as a rookie, Kory doesn't look to be slowing down or tailing off anytime soon, having logged special teams contributions in all 16 games of 2008, while lining up as an H-back on numerous goal-line formations, most of which were scoring plays.

Looking forward, the first thing you see is his ideal somatotype for center: squat, stocky, long arms, thick upper body and strong lower body. His quickness makes him highly effective in tight spaces, and his intelligence (awarded the Falcon Medal of Honor, which is given to a player that exemplifies sportsmanship and scholarship) makes him a consistent contributor in terms of properly reading and making line calls. He made a name for himself in college by leading the NCAA's centers in sustained blocks, which is a measure of tenacity, strength and will. He finished first in this category in 2008 by a wide margin.

He did primarily shotgun snapping at BGSU, and it was all quality work, which fits well with the expected offensive scheme. It remains to be seen how prepared he has been for the classic under-center exchange, but as it is a function of hand quickness, it can be expected that he will adapt and perform well in this area, as he shows excellent hand quickness and placement on reach blocks and when locking up the body of the defender.

His versatility is the opposite of Chris Kuper's, being as he is eminently suited for interior blocking. As a guard he registered 184 knockdowns in his first two years at BGSU, mostly on pulls and traps; so again, he seems to be a perfect fit going forward. He is not quite the quick lateral mover that Kuper is, and so it is expected that Kory will not see time subbing on the outside, and also that he will likely have a learning curve in pass protection slightly behind his run blocking.

Lichtensteiger is an excellent prospect to have in the wings who will be ready to contribute as a starter sooner than later.

Matt McChesney

#60 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 310

Born: Nov 06, 1981

Age: 27

College: Colorado

Contract: Undisclosed

Acquired: Free Agent, 2009 (Miami)

Before you say roster fodder, consider his unique brand of versatility. He played DT at Colorado, and logged snaps there for both St. Louis and the Jets before a knee injury landed him on two different versions of IR in two years (due to NFL Europe rules at the time).

In an effort to stick on a roster, McChesney went through a position switch to OG, where he has noted that his intensity and aggressiveness, while helpful, have needed to be dialed back, a task which has taken up most of his learning curve since the switch in early 2007, but which has improved enough to get him a look from 2008 Miami Dolphins architect Bill Parcells.

But most of his learning curve was taken up by figuring out how to deal with the loss of his little brother, who died in an accident on the Roaring Fork River. Those kinds of events change people, and McChesney is no different. By going back to his roots (he dreamed of someday playing for the Denver Broncos when he was a kid in the South Stands screaming his lungs out for them) and being close to his family, he hopes to break onto a roster where there is already top talent and very little room for error.

Described as "tough and smart," he seems to fit the general mold of players that McX are looking for, and might make his dream come true in 2009's Training Camp.

Mitch Erickson

#61 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-6

Weight: 290

Born: May 14, 1985

Age: 24

College: South Dakota State

Contract: Reserve/Futures Contract

Acquired: Rookie Free Agent, 2008

After leading SDSU to a Great West title, Mitch Erickson made it to Denver's practice squad where he is working on adding bulk and improving his balance. With the five starters well established and over ten backups vying for spots on the line, he will need to show that he spent 2008 picking up on all the little things.

His flexibility is of the guard-to-tackle variety, where he logged starts in all 44 of his career college games. At his height and weight, he seems better suited to back up LG, or moving out to back up the RT position. In the 2008 training camp he got most of his reps at RT, and is quite similar to former Bronco Eric Pears, in both build and playing style, with some of the same shortcomings.

My gut says that while Mitch probably has the right attitude, and is a tough player, he may a bit too much of the Shanahan mold. I would expect him to have a very difficult time making this roster.

Pat Murray

#72 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 310

Born: Oct 31, 1984

Age: 24

College: Truman State

Contract: 2009: $385,000, 2010: Restricted Free Agent

Acquired:Practice Squad Signee (Seattle), 2008

A better physical specimen in terms of what McX are looking for in a lineman, everything about Pat Murray indicates that he is at best an ideal candidate for the practice squad. His best attribute is his "jack of all trades" versatility, having logged most of his experience at RT in college, yet seeing extensive practice reps at both guard and center while in Green Bay and Seattle.

In general, his playing style and college play isn't ideally suited to the offensive scheme (it is more of a drive-blocking style) but there is no doubt that his versatility makes him a boon in practice and training camp in order to field 2nd- and 3rd-team lines in order to run drills.

But eventually those drills become pregame practices, and somewhere in that transition Murray usually gets lost. With the severity of the numbers crunch coming up for the interior linemen, Murray will need one heck of an opportunity to arise even to scratch back into the practice squad. Could quite likely be the first offensive lineman cut.

Seth Olsen

#70 / Guard / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 306

Born: Dec 17, 1985

Age: 23

College: Iowa

Contract:

Rookie

Acquired:

Draft #4b (132nd overall), 2009

Seth Olsen is one of those naturally "big" linemen, the kind with the good bone girth as opposed to being just 'weighty', and he is well balanced in that area, having good strength in both his lower and upper body. He excels at using his hands, and his hand technique is the strongest part of his game. Intelligent, tough and resourceful, he was also trained in the art of zone blocking at Iowa, and so has an advantage in that department.

However, his second-level play is an order of magnitude below where it needs to be to compete with the current veteran guards, his most likely position. He will need to work on regaining leverage at the second level instead of leaving his feet to make a block, or extending out of control and thereby lunging past defenders. If he can bring that element of his game in line, his hand play should take care of the rest.

In a way, Olsen is a significant departure from the traditional "Shanahan" offensive lineman, and I see him as very much the product of the new scheme and philosophy ideas that McDaniels holds, so adjusting to Olsen's skill set may take a little while. Olsen is not the quickest player, and does not have the best lateral agility, something which was prized under Shanahan, and Olsen could even be accused of "trudging", something I haven't seen in the starting lineup since George Foster left town.

But he is a smart, tough technician with an aggressive mean streak and the versatility to man both RG and RT, and even has experience at LT and LG. Ideally a right guard, he has the natural physical makeup to be the lead candidate for the first backup G/T combo player (with Kory being the first G/C combo), as he has the natural girth and trained leverage to effectively "sit down" in pass protection, a major boon when having to be inserted in case of injury to a starter.

Olsen has significant improvements to make to be a starter-quality player, but the backup job appears to be his to lose.

Blake Schlueter

#63 / Center / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 284

Born: Apr 22, 1986

Age: 23

College: T-C-U

Contract:

Rookie

Acquired:

Draft #7 (225th overall), 2009

Denver's final pick in the 2009 draft, some immediately questioned whether Lichtensteiger had a future in Denver. Don't. Schlueter is an excellent find and a terrific opportunity to insure both the guard and center position, with a tenacious, mean and intelligent player.

He is a good size already to man the center position, but his body type is a bit different from Wiegmann (though similar to Hamilton) so he may need to add some bulk in order to play at Casey's level in the middle, and to anchor effectively in pass blocking.

Where Schlueter really impresses is his potential for special teams. You've seen it before, but here are his pro day numbers:

40 yard dash	4.79
20 yard dash	2.77
10 yard dash	1.64
225lb bench reps	28
vertical jump	35"
broad jump	9'3"
20 yard shuttle	4.28
3 cone drill	7.42

This is an exceptionally athletic, and more importantly, driven young man. He is a wild card that will make it difficult for the coaches to settle on the eventual active roster, but with McDaniels' deep respect for the role of special teams, it seems quite likely that Schlueter will be part of the active gameday 45-man roster, which means he is putting significant pressure on backups like Murray, Erickson and McChesney.

If Schlueter can maintain his drive right through training camp, than just like his pro day, he will be impossible to ignore.

SUMMARY

2009 looks to feature as strong a group of interior lineman as Denver could hope for in an offseason of significant tumult. The starting trio of Kuper, Wiegmann, and Hamilton have the combination of experience, talent and camaraderie that will keep the unit playing at a high level, while backups such as Olsen and Lichtensteiger give the starting offense confidence that the wheels will stay on in the event of injury. Players like McChesney and Schlueter will drive the above group even harder, and the additions of Murray and Erickson should keep the entire unit running smoothly throughout training camp, perhaps earning themselves a future look.

But when the leaves begin to fall, there will likely only be ten total linemen kept, including tackles, and only seven will be expected to be activated for game day. With players like Schlueter too talented to keep off of the special teams roster, and players like Licthensteiger (also a special teamer) too critical to risk leaving off the game day roster in the event of injury, good players like Olsen may find themselves in a tragic numbers crunch, which at best may keep them off the active roster, at worst may put them in danger of having to clear waivers just to make the PS, and even then they won't be completely safe.

One drawback to solid team-building philosophies are the roster limits and their unsympathetic treatment of excellent depth at a position. And with a major free agency period for Hamilton and Kuper coming up in 2010 these roster decisions will end up having far-reaching consequences. They have to be made with utmost care.

The battle from within can be as critical as the battle without, and the coming storm demands proper choices now. Forces amass against this unit, waiting for the smallest weakness to show up.

It has been said that Wind is all winds, Force is all force. The whole of that horde is now coming.

On one side, that legion.

And on the other?

We must be shrewd.

Poll

What are the chances that their could be a surprise cut or trade from the group of Ben, Chris, Casey, Licks Ten Tigers, Seth and Blake?

Zero chance. They are all keepers in some capacity.

137 votes

Mild. I could see one of the rookies not making the cut.

212 votes

Moderate. Licks Ten Tigers is part of the old regime, he may not be the apple of McX's eye.

56 votes

Surprising. There are rumblings that Hamilton doesn't fit the long term plan.

64 votes

Exceptionally surprising. We paid Casey just so we could cut him...

10 votes

479 votes | Poll has closed

Denver Broncos Add Four To Practice Squad

John Bena — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:26:57 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Sunday signed safety Josh Barrett, guard Mitch Erickson, quarterback Darrell Hackney and defensive tackle Steven Harris to their practice squad, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Barrett (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) is a rookie from Arizona State University who was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round (220th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in all four Denver preseason games in 2008, ranking fourth on the club in defensive tackles (11) and tying for third in special-teams stops (2). A two-year starter at Arizona State, Barrett attended Reno High School in Reno, Nev., and was born on Nov. 22, 1984.

Erickson (6-foot-6, 290 pounds) is a rookie from South Dakota State University who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 28. He appeared in all four preseason games for Denver in 2008 following a collegiate career in which 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.

Hackney (6-foot-0, 248 pounds) is a second-year player from the University of Alabama-Birmingham who spent the final eight games in 2007 on Denver's 53-man roster after beginning that season on its practice squad. In four games (1 start) with the Broncos in the 2008 preseason, Hackney completed 24-of-38 (63.2%) passes for 285 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions (94.7 rtg.). A first-team All-Conference USA selection at UAB as a senior, Hackney attended Douglass High School in Atlanta and was born on Aug. 7, 1983.

Harris (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) is a second-year player from the University of Florida who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on May 2, 2007. Harris, who saw time in all four preseason contests for Denver in 2008, played four games for the Broncos in 2007 and totaled six tackles (all solo). A member of the Gators' National Championship team in 2006, Harris attended Coral Gables High School in Coral Gables, Fla., and was born on Aug. 14, 1984.

Surprise! Broncos Trade Montrae Holland To Dallas

John Bena — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:48:18 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Thursday traded guard Montrae Holland to Dallas in exchange for a fifth-round choice in the 2010 NFL Draft, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Holland, a sixth-year player, joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on March 5, 2007, after spending his first four NFL seasons (2003-06) with New Orleans

The door to the Shanahan Dog House is a small one and like I said last night during MHR Radio, I wouldn't be surprised if Holland were to be cut. Well, he wasn't cut, but the Broncos surely sent a message by trading him away.

A 5th Rounder? Is that enough for you??

Oh, and, I do have to mention that I said during last night's MHR Radio that Holland would be the surprise cut of this Training Camp. Shanahan is nothing f not consistent, and this is another example. He'll pay you for your production, but you better keep up the hard work or you'll be gone.

via extras.mnginteractive.com

Moving forward, this move has to be considered an indictment on how impressive Ryan Harris has been this Training Camp. After a rough start, Harris surely has been solid. It also proves Chris Kuper is ready for prime time, despite playing all of pre-season with a cast on his hand. Kudos to Kuper as well!

I look for the Broncos to take a serious look at guys like Kory Lichtensteiger and Mitch Erickson tomorrow night, and don't be surprised if they comb the cut lists this weekend.

Poll

Montrae Holland to Dallas for a 2010 5th Rounder....Good Move??

Yes...There is no room for players who lack motivation

323 votes

Bad Idea! Holland provided solid depth at the very leaast!

254 votes

577 votes | Poll has closed