SB Nation - Ryan Torain

Packers News: Game Times, DeShawn Wynn, and Mark Tauscher

Brandon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:43 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

I wasn't going to write a post about the change of the Green Bay Packers' November 1st game against the Vikings, from noon to 3:15p.m., because I don't have a preference when it's played. But then I read Greg Bedard's great tweet:

Let's see, 3 hours of additional tailgating time for Favre's return. Yeah, that's going to help things.

Mitchell just pointed out that RB DeShawn Wynn isn't having a good season. Then it's reported that the Packers tried out a couple running backs, RB Ryan Torian and RB Quinton Ganther. Maybe it's a sign GM Ted Thompson has lost faith in in Wynn too. But then Greg Bedard again sets me straight. From JSOnline.com, discussing the news last month that LT Levi Jones came in for a workout:

That the Packers worked out so many offensive lineman does not mean anything. NFL teams, during the first four to six weeks of the season, routinely work out several players at the same position. Two weeks ago, the Packers worked out quarterbacks and receivers. Next Tuesday it could very well be running backs and linebackers.

Final word on the signing of RT Mark Tauscher: Bob McGinn says Tauscher will receive $700,000 in base salary, another $400,000 potential incentives, and comes with a $1.3 million cap charge.

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

Horse Tracks 8/16/09 - Knowshon reportedly out one to two weeks

Douglas A. Lee — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:18:24 -0000

DB - Sunday’s Practice Closed to Public

DP - Moreno's recovery likely one to two weeks
Knowshon reportedly has a sprained MCL in his left knee.

DP - Quarterback controversy? Broncos say no - Mike Klis

NFP - Sunday at the Post
Lombardi thinks the Broncos looked "extremely well-coached" on Friday and that McDaniels will be a "very good head coach." He also offers a glowing review of Knowshon Moreno.

DP - Gaffney plugs holes in McDaniels' offense - Jim Armstrong
Jabar Gaffney understands his role with the Broncos, even though deep down inside he still wants to be a star. It sounds like his years in New England gave him an excellent sense of team and humility.

DP - Kiszla: B-Marsh's priority should be winning
Kiszla wants to see Brandon Marshall commit himself to helping the Broncos win in '09, contract extension or not.

LTC - Bailey still searching - Brian Howell
Champ says he's got a lot left in the tank, despite his aches and pains. While he used to care about the individual accolades, he says he just wants a ring now.

DP - Klis: Familiar start to season for McDaniels
Matt Cassel didn't exactly have a great start to the preseason in '08. Personally, I remember the calls for Cassel to be dropped to third string. How'd that work out?

DP - McBean taking advantage of his fresh start with a new defense - Jeff Legwold
Knowshon's was the only reported injury from Friday night. Meanwhile, Ryan Torain cleared waaivers and reached an injury settlement with the Broncos.

DP - Paige: Learn to live with Orton at QB
Woody is ready to give Kyle Orton a chance. I think.

TSN - Broncos coach McDaniels not afraid of change - Clifton Brown

SBN - Better Know a Blogger: Mile High Report's John Bena
He didn't tell the rest of us about this, and I don't know if he wanted me to find this, but I did! Sorry, John (not really).

NFP - Weekend notes: Preseason action
Bowen thinks another clunker from Orton could mean a QB controversy

DB - A Few Minutes With Kenny McKinley - Broncos TV
Kenny says he's following Eddie Royal around like a little brother.

DP - After watching Orton, I'll stick with Rockies
Kiszla responds to emails

CSG - Broncos not worried about poor showing; Moreno sprains MCL - Frank Schwab

HL - Grateful Lodish part of Rice's 1st Hall of Fame class

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SDUT - Despite loss, Chargers healthy; Tomlinson, Merriman see action

SDUT - You can bet LT would've sat if Coryell were calling shots

SDUT - Gates looks sharp, gets a full workout early

KCS - Chiefs’ offense bogs down in 16-10 loss to Texans

KCS - Haley’s punishment of Bowe hurts Chiefs instead - Jason Whitlock

CCT - Asomugha's support helps Raiders land Manning Jr.

SFC - RAIDERS TRAINING CAMP / McFadden angling for larger role

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NFL - Seattle Seahawks 20 at San Diego Chargers 14

NFL - Houston Texans 16 at Kansas City Chiefs 10

NFL - Chicago Bears 20 at Buffalo Bills 27

NFL - Atlanta Falcons 26 at Detroit Lions 27

NFL - Cleveland Browns 0 at Green Bay Packers 17

NFL - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 at Tennessee Titans 27

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NFL - Ravens WR Smith out for season with knee injury; QB Beck feeling better

NFL - Marching back in: Veteran kicker Carney returns to Saints

NFL - Vick shows off strong throwing arm in first practice with Eagles

FOX - Vick shines in first practice with Eagles - Alex Marvez

NFP - Pros and Cons of Vick in Philly - Robert Boland

PFW - Tatupu helps Curry during Seattle rookie's holdout - NFC Whispers

CBS - Jaguars camp report: Holt works in shadows with young Jags - Pete Prisco

ESPN - Eli Manning seeks a comfort zone - Chris Mortensen

ESPN - Camp Confidential: Colts like their changes

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Washington State - Wes Bunting

The Future of the Running Game

Emmett Smith — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

6 months ago: Denver Broncos running backs Correll Buckhalter, front, and rookie Knowshon Moreno run during drills at football camp at the Broncos' headquarters in the south Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

While perusing the sports archives of the Gazette the other day, I came across this article on the Denver rushing attack. The information wasn't really new - nycbroncosfan and I came to much the same conclusions early this year in our Divining The McDaniels Way 4-part series and in other articles - but the point of the article was that Denver will almost certainly use some form of a committee system at running back. Josh McDaniels has said as much several times, so this isn't big news; but there is a growing stream in the collective football consciousness about this hot-button issue. As we move forward, will the measure of a running back be established any longer only by the individual’s gross yardage per year? Or will we begin to see the team rushing totals as more important than that of the individual?

My sense is that the rushing totals of the team will begin to be seen as the more important of the two. One thing that would be worthwhile would be to view the individual's totals, the team's totals and an increasing emphasis on the type of rushing scheme that the team uses. While I don’t expect this anytime soon, there would be a lot of value to it. It would not only emphasize the importance of the overall team production, it could also increasingly take into account the type of rushing offense that the player was in, much as we now talk about West Coast Offenses, Erhardt-Perkins and Run 'n Gun systems. Just as we are missing the boat when we compare quarterbacks if we don't look at the scheme, the offensive line and the receivers, comparisons of running backs are limited in value if they don't look at the team's O-line, their total rushing production and the specific scheme that is used in the running game.

There are a limited number of so-called "franchise" running backs in the league. Because of this fact, many teams won't have a player of that particular caliber, while some, like Oakland, seem to collect them much as Jon Gruden collected quarterbacks, thus reducing the overall availability even more. One solution for such teams is to establish a running attack that can use second- to fifth-round draft choices with similar effectiveness. Although few would argue that the Broncos' former system eventually took this to extremes, it is still true that a system such as the Denver zone-blocking, one-cut system can increase overall effectiveness of the rushing attack without moving to a 'star' or primary-back system. That doesn't suggest that such a system is 'better' or not, but only recognizes that it is an option since not every team can employ a dominant primary-back approach.

Options for the Rushing Attack

Even when such an approach is possible, is it optimal? Let's consider four possible examples: LaDainian Tomlinson with San Diego, Adrian Peterson with Minnesota, Matt Forte with the Bears and the New England Patriots.

Let's look at the Patriots first. We should note that the 2008 New England Patriots had less issues with injuries at running back than the Broncos did, but they saw plenty of injuries as well. Laurence Maroney suffered a shoulder injury that allowed him to play only three games last year. Kevin Faulk got most of the press, but he, too, had injury issues. Sammy Morris, who is probably most similar to Peyton Hillis in his skill set and overall production, also spent time out with injuries. As a result, Josh McDaniels came from one club with serious injury issues at the position to another with even worse problems. Although he was excoriated by the press for the hundreds of running backs that he supposedly had piling up in camp like cordwood, the fact is that there is a fairly normal level of competition for the 4 or 5 RB slots that McDaniels will keep going into the season. The rest are out due to injuries, which explains the process quite well.

In San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson spent much of last year complaining that he was underused. The Chargers didn’t run enough plays for him, he said, and when they did the line play wasn’t to his liking. As far as the line play, I understood – they, too, were decimated by injuries, especially in the early season and they underperformed for much of the season. But LDT, as he’s often called, didn’t mention that he too was injured, had been at the end of the previous season and was during the first half of 2008. Not surprisingly, he was also fighting injuries at the end of the 2009 season. SD has responded in three ways.

First, head coach Norv Turner has been saying very publicly that they are going to ride the LDT train for about 330-350 carries next year. Given that LDT is 30, and we know that when a back goes over 28 years of age or 300 carries in a season, he’s liable to lose some degree of production and to increasingly deal with injuries. Therefore, San Diego's public stance is very unlikely, although it's certainly possible.

But the second way they dealt with the situation was to slap the franchise label on Darren Sproles and to consider increasing his carries. For the most part, SD seems to be thinking of Sproles as a special-teams specialist who can also be a good change-of-pace back. Sproles recently signed the tender but not before San Diego took the third step of adding big and talented Gartrell Johnson out of Colorado State to come in and start taking even more snaps. Not being comfortable depending on a rookie 4th-round pick to dominate, the Chargers also picked up Michael Bennett. Still think that LDT is going to get 330+ carries this year?

This all came around because, like nearly every club, the Bolts struggled with injuries at the RB position. The Chargers put it out to the media that they expected LaDainian to get those 330 carries, but few in the league would give that any credence. From one perspective, the drafting of Johnson and the signing of Bennett were clear signs that they didn’t believe that LDT would survive that level of use to play in any playoffs and they were getting ready for that fact. That seems a sensible approach and covers them no matter the outcome.

Whatever their public stance, San Diego knows what Josh McDaniels knows and what others are finding out. In this day and age, in this league, you need at least three decent running backs to count on getting through a season. It really helps if they aren’t counting their carries and yards as much as the points and the wins. It’s just good coaching to have more options, to have certain players that you can count on for certain plays and to keep as many of them healthy as possible – and to have at least one or two in reserve, for the inevitable day when back number 1 and/or number 2 goes down.

Matt Forte did very well for a rookie running back. He's a tough player with good hands as a receiver, and he led the Bears in both rushing and receiving. But Forte's production could have been even better if the Bears had a better second option at running back. How about Minnesota? By the end of the season, Adrian Peterson's production was dropping off noticeably and his yards-per-carry numbers were heading south like New York retirees to Florida. Peterson spent the offseason trying to quickly gain 15+ lbs of muscle in order to protect himself from that kind of repetitive pounding. It rarely works to gain a lot of muscle weight in a single offseason - usually, that weight falls back off by the end of the following season - but you can see why AP would try to go that route. The primary-back system is fine in degree, but I have to wonder at the effect over the course of a person's career. Right now, AP is wondering the same thing.

What can a RBBC Approach Look Like?

I believe that we will see more teams go to the running-back-by-committee approach because it’s just good business on several levels. First, teams such as the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers have shown that a running-back-by-committee approach can be an invaluable tool in building a winning program. Both clubs have allocated a sizable share of the salary cap to multiple top-tier running backs. Both have good, but (in my opinion) not great quarterbacks. That isn't meant as a dig to the QBs, both of whom I highly respect,. I don't consider Jake Delhomme's single bad playoff game last season to take anything away from him, but neither QB is commonly considered a top-five player.

Yet, both clubs ran the ball over 500 times each, and they were numbers 1 (NY) and 3 (CAR) on the list of top rushing clubs. New York used a three-headed attack that included Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, while Carolina added Jonathan Stewart to DeAngelo Williams. Both teams also put a lot of resources into their offensive lines, and the team production showed. Both teams made the playoffs, and both will be considered contenders for the NFC crown this season. The committee approach can work, and work well.

Medically, the RBBC model suggests to me that it can produce the same (or better) total production over the course of a season and that it will extend the careers of some of the backs. It will mean needing to draft a high-round running back a little less often. That means more picks available for other positions, which is good from a business perspective. If I'm correct as to the medical advantages, that could also improve the bottom line for the team, since they will be paying players to sit out with injuries somewhat less often.

Fiscally, using a RBBC approach can permit the team to permit the allocation of resources more effectively. If you tie up a substantial portion of your offensive dollars in a single back, you're betting that this back won't become injured over the course of the season. If he is, the season may fail based on that single issue, leaving you with very little production out of the RB position. If more players - very good quality players, but not quite the same level as, say, an Adrian Peterson - are in a RBBC system, one of them going down has less of an impact. The reality of the NFL is that almost every player will become injured in some degree over the course of a season. You need to plan in such a way as to minimize the negative effects of that potential situation.

1,000-Yard Rushers

The RBBC also means that the 1,000-yard goal is going to be far less of a concern to most coaches ,and could become less important to more players. It just won’t be a statistical reality for a lot of teams. It is interesting to note, however, that the Giants' RBBC approach did produce two 1,000-yard backs (Jacobs and Ward), so it won't be out of the question. In the end, it’s far better to have five 400-yard backs than one 1,500-yard back. Those 2,000- to 2,500-yard rushing totals will look very good at the end of the year in the only stat column that counts – the ‘wins’ column.

In the future, as the running back by committee or RBBC approach is made increasingly probable, the stats on RBs will probably tend to be seen differently. Not everyone agrees, of course. As a disclaimer, Mike Pizer of USA Today claims that this trend towards a RBBC is being reversed, but he bases that belief on the ‘fact’ that he thinks that Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno will not be platooned and on no other information. Others may have better frameworks for their assumptions.But as the teams use more of a committee approach, the contribution of the individual players will tend, more often, to be lower. That's fine - in fact, it has advantages in the opportunity for players to heal in between injuries and for teams to rotate in fresh legs consistently. The overall team rushing production can be higher in the end. But that will mean that team rushing should take on a somewhat higher importance, and that scheme will be increasingly important as well.

In the end, we could yet see an emphasis on the team aspects of rushing production. If the committee approach becomes common, the different systems of running the ball will tend to be discussed, analyzed and debated in head-to-head comparisons, which increases the enjoyment for the fans who choose to learn more about their chosen sport. The running-back-by-committee approach will become more common because it makes sense financially, from a drafting standpoint and as a function of the team's overall offensive strategy.

The Broncos' Sui Generis Rushing Attack

Does this mean that players can't be platooned based on specific skill sets and need? Not at all, and that's important. Just because the teams will commonly spread the carries to more players doesn't mean that each running back can't have 2 or 3 areas in which he excels. The Broncos, for example, have a simple new philosophy. Each back is expected to carry the ball, block in pass protection and receiver well. They have a bruiser of a back in Hillis, but Peyton also has remarkable hands as a receiver and can pass protect at a high level. He also can block and block well for other RBs. Moreno has better abilities at eluding defensive players, but he doesn't have quite the foot-pounds of force that Hillis generates, simply as a matter of Hillis' superior weight. He, like all Broncos backs, has good pass-protect skills. Correll Buckhalter has certain runs at which he excels. I admit to being less optimistic about LaMont Jordan based on his performance in camp so far but with Ryan Torain being waived, his shot looks more and more likely. One change that will come about will be that offensive coordinators will have to know more about the specifics of their backs' skill sets than many of them do right now. The best of coordinators will get more out of their players, but that's nothing new. Between Josh McDaniels, Bobby Turner and Rick Dennison, as well as offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, I don't expect the Broncos to have any problems in that area. I'd argue that their running back program looks to be one of the best in football for the upcoming season, based on player quality, offensive line and coaching.

Which brings us, inevitably, to the 2009 Denver Broncos rushing attack. I don't remember the last time I was so excited about this team's chances in the rushing game. There is a Latin term, "sui generis', which means 'of its own kind/genus' or 'unique in its characteristics.' Head coach McDaniels has promised us that this year the Broncos will have a sui generis rushing attack; one that does things we have never seen in professional football before. While he could be blowing smoke up our collective elimination chakra, he now, without question, has the tools to do so,in his O-line and in his RBs. Moreno and Hillis et al that can provide him with all of the skills that are needed for the running game to be their main attack, should they desire to do so, and their production will be limited only by the coach's own fertile imagination. Buckhalter is showing a tremendous argument for keeping him near the top of our list. LaMont Jordan has decided that he needs to put more effort into his work, and while it's about time, is also good to see. Darius Walker brings good skill levels to the table and he may still make the club. Someone will be the starter du jour, but in that is likely to have only a small value. Everyone will have to play their way onto the field, which is as it should be. And then?

Bring on the season!!

Horse Tracks 8/13/09 - Torain Waived, another Marcus Thomas added; BMarsh on trial today

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:10:25 -0000

Update 10:07am EST. I knew I was forgetting something this morning as I put Tracks together...today is Broncobear's birthday. Happy Birthday, Doc! Hope it's a great one, my friend!

DB - Taking a Long Look - Chris Gentilviso
Josh McDaniels reminded the rookies that tomorrow's game is time for them to prove they belong.

DB - Day 13: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DB - Day 13: Orton - Broncos TV
I wonder if this guy gets excited about anything. Certainly doesn't matter, but Kyle doesn't seem to like talking to the press - like it's quite a chore...

DB - Day 13 Blog - Zach Eisendrath
LaMont Jordan returned to practice yesterday, while some of the rookies got to shave off their awful hairdos.

DP - Marshall takes in alma mater's practice before trial
BMarsh dropped in on UCF's football practice on his way to Atlanta for trial today and possibly tomorrow.

SI - Postcard from camp: Broncos - Ross Tucker
Tucker thinks Kyle Orton's cerebral persona and supporting cast make him a good fit for the Broncos. He likes Josh McDaniels' thick skin but isn't sold on the front seven. Andre' Goodman apparently thinks Alphonso Smith will be one of the five-best nickel corners by season's end. Tucker expects a big year out of Knowshon and was impressed by Richard Quinn and Chris Baker.

LTC - Salivating for sacks - Brian Howell
Although Elvis Dumervil won't predict how many sacks he'll tally in '09, he says he may have more opportunities this year thanks to his move back to OLB.

AP - McDaniels taking preseason stuff very seriously - Arnie Stapleton

LTC - Broncos’ Williams vying for more playing time
Brian Howell profiles Jack Williams

DP - Davis part of veteran look at LB - Jeff Legwold
McDaniels says 3-4 inside linebackers are a difficult commodity to find, with college programs looking for faster players at LB.

9NEWS - The only Shanahan on the sidelines
Kyle Shanahan is proud to be the only Shanahan working this year, and he says his allegiance is still with the Broncos as far as being a fan goes, and that after Texans games he rushes home to watch Denver.

DP - Broncos' schedule: Potential woes with tough foes
Klis reminds us that Denver has a tough schedule looming (had you heard?). Apparently the over/under has dropped to 7 wins as the under bets have poured in.

ESPN - Camp Confidential: McDaniels is in control - Pork Chop

DP - Fans, 49ers can expect to see plenty of top selection Moreno - Jeff Legwold
Torain apparently has a strained LCL and was expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Meanwhile, Darcel McBath will reportedly start in BDawk's free safety position.

DP - Dove Valley Days: Smith bolstering Broncos' secondary - Jeff Legwold

LTC - Buck's tops here - Brad Cochi
McDaniels praises Correll Buckhalter's versatility and work ethic.

DP - Mailbag: Practice picks a concern?
Woody thinks we should worry about Orton's practice INTs. Plus, somehow it matters that the Broncos' opponents have better QBs.

AP - Broncos Cut Oft-Injured Ryan Torain - Arnie Stapleton
Peyton Hillis points out that he's now the only remaining RB from '08 on the roster.

CSG - Broncos camp glance for Wednesday - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos notes: Team waives Torain - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos' Simms continues comeback after spleen injury - Frank Schwab

DB - Day 13: Transcripts - McDaniels and Orton

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SDUT - Forney appears to be set at RG

SDUT - Rookie's goal: Make Chargers say, 'We've got to keep this guy'

KCS - Chiefs safeties are ready to take it up a notch

KCS - Chiefs Buzz: Hali making progress

SFC - RAIDERS / Exhibition opener offers mini QB controversy

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Mike Mitchell a scratch

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NFL - Texans LB Cushing suffers knee injury, could miss two preseason games

NFL - Colts safety Bethea misses practices with broken right hand

SI - Assessing season-ending injuries and their lasting effects on teams - Ross Tucker

NFP - Tavern talk: blue-chip players, part 3
Lombardi counts Marshall and Clady as Denver's blue chips, with Champ falling a bit below. He thinks McDaniels will be successful in Denver if he's given enough time.

SI - Postcard from camp: Colts - Peter King

SI - Titans look confident and poised to keep Super Bowl hopes alive - Don Banks

NFL - Deep, confident Bears team eager to kick off season - Thomas George

CBS - Falcons camp tour: Grimes, Houston face big challenge - Pete Prisco

FOX - These teams will challenge Lions for futility in '09
Peter Schrager is expecting horrid seasons from the Rams, Bucs and Browns.

NFP - Three teams Vick should be calling - Matt Bowen

Y! - Shockey Q&A: Full speed at all times - Jason Cole

Y! - Jarrett finally grasping Panthers' tough love - Charles Robinson

NFP - Diner morning news: Injuries happen - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Wednesday whys: Dealing with White’s contract - Andrew Brandt

NFP - Jets’ Jones: a good fit in Seattle - Matt Bowen

FOX - CAMP SIGHTS: Wrestling dad shaped Laurinaitis - Alex Marvez

NYT - Greatest Quarterback by the Numbers: Peyton Manning? - Toni Monkovic

NYT - The Pinpoint Accuracy of Drew Brees - Toni Monkovic

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Hawaii - Wes Bunting

Ryan Torain: The Next Texans Running Back?

Jake — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:45:16 -0000

In the midst of the injury problems that are currently plaguing the Houston Texans, an injury may have provided some good fortune to the team that plays in the Bayou City. Ryan Torain was waived from the Broncos today after straining his knee in practice Wednesday.

Torain is a risk given his injury history. He fell to the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, but was considered by many as a steal for Mike Shanahan's Broncos because he seemed ideal to run in a zone-blocking system. He was a complete back at Arizona State after transferring from a junior college. Torain hit holes with authority and also had excellent hands as shown by his 5.5 yards per carry and 12.2 yards per catch for his collegiate career.

His professional career got off to a rough start when his elbow was fractured in 2008 training camp, which derailed his impressive showing in camp to that point. Once Torain made it back on the active roster, he made it one game against the Browns before he tore his ACL.

This seems like a track record for continued disappointment, but it may not be so. Josh McDaniels signed every free agent running back with a pulse this offseason, and many speculated that Torain would be an early casualty. As stated before, Torain is ideal for the zone system that is no longer utilized in Denver due to the regime change. It should be noted as well that Torain had been one of the pleasant surprises early in Denver training camp before he strained his knee.

The Texans would be taking a risk on Torain, but it would be a calculated one. Torain would likely be signed for the minimum, and would join a stable of unproven backs behind Steve Slaton. At 6'1" 225, Torain would be a phenomenal compliment to the smaller Slaton if he could stay healthy. If he continued to be a brittle player, what would the Texans have to lose? It seems like a low risk/high reward move to me.

What do you think BRB? Is the upside of Torain worth the risk of signing another injury prone running back?

Ryan Torain released after knee injury

John Bena — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:37:21 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos running back Ryan Torain flips the ball back to a coach during the NFL football team's training camp in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Browse more photos »

The Denver Broncos released RB Ryan Torain after he was diagnosed with a PCL sprain in his knee, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said after today's practice. Torain, who has battled injuries throughout his college and pro career, was attempting to make the team despite the crowded backfield.

This is a sad situation, to be sure. Torain has talent but his upright running style leaves his legs especially susceptible. Mike Shanahan stuck with Torain last season after he dislocated his elbow, essentially leaving a roster spot open for him for 7 weeks. Josh McDaniels isn't as forgiving, nor should he be. The Broncos need 53 healthy bodies when the season opens.

Here's hoping Torain finally gets healthy and can reach his potential. It appears that won't happen in Denver, however.

One side-note. The Broncos could bring Torain back should he clear waivers. If that happens, the Broncos could place him on IR.

The team reportedly signed RB Marcus Thomas to take Torain's spot on the roster.

Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers - A Few Good Questions with John Bena from MileHighReport

Fooch — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:30:11 -0000

As some of you might recall from past seasons, we like to do some cross-blogging with our opponents each week. My man The Sports Guru over at Mile High Report is always up for this kind of thing and was already kind enough to answer a lot of your questions via a FanPost. I had a few specific questions of my own that I wanted to pull out and have John answer. Once the season gets here we'll be asking more specific matchup questions, but for now we can ask broader questions we've always wanted answers to (like what's up with Josh McDaniels???). So, thanks to John for taking the time to answer these questions. Also, I answered a few of his questions over at MHR. If you feel like adding in your own two cents head on over.

Fooch:I won't make you rehash the Jay Cutler fiasco. However, I would like to know what you as a knowledgeable Broncos fan, as well as the less intelligent ones (sports talk radio maybe), think about Josh McDaniels in his short but interesting tenure so far as Broncos head coach?

JB: I think there was a knee-jerk reaction to everything that has happened. On the surface, that would make sense, a 33-year old, first time Head Coach, not bowing down to his 25 year old "star" quarterback. I think Cutler/Bus Cook took advantage of McDaniels and the Broncos a bit knowing that fans would react that way. Plan and simple, the guy was coddled by Mike Shanahan. He was made to be the reason everything good happened in Denver and everything negative was the fault of everyone else. When Shanny got fired, Cutler wanted out. There was going to be accountability. I think as time has gone on, especially now that people get to see and hear McDaniels on a daily basis they are beginning to realize what he is about - and that’s winning.

Fooch: Along the same lines, what are your thoughts on Mike Nolan at this point? Even with the whole Nolan v. Alex Smith storyline, it really doesn't mean much the first game of the preseason. Rather, I'm curious what kind of defensive scheme Nolan is instituting and how he has come off to the public?

JB: I have been thoroughly impressed with Nolan as a coach and teacher. The Broncos defense was historically bad, so moving to the 3-4 should be that big of a transition(they can’t get any worse). Watching Nolan work with the defense, especially the linebackers, has been a joy. He is enthusiastic and you get the sense that players really enjoy playing for him. I think his defense is going to be aggressive and tough, something that Broncos haven’t been in recent years. The guy has had success everywhere he has been a coordinator, so I am excited about what he can bring.

Fooch: With a new coach, will we still see something like Mike Shanahan's fantasy killing RBBC, or will the Broncos settle on one guy (such as Knowshon Moreno) going forward?

JB: Perhaps the biggest fault Shanahan had was believing the hype surrounding the Broncos running game. "Anyone can run for 1000 yards in Denver". While the Broncos running game has been dominant, that domination was becoming less and less apparent the past few years. Sure, injuries had something to do with it, but so does talent. Terrell Davis was obviously a steal as a late round pick, but those guys don’t come along very often, if ever again. Shanny tried with Clinton Portis, and failed with Tatum Bell. From then on it was late round, journeymen types that either had injury histories(Selvin Young/Ryan Torain) or just weren’t very good.

McDaniels gets that. Not only has he improved the depth with more known commodities but he drafted Moreno, the best back in the draft. McDaniels knew he could fix everything that was wrong with the defense in one off-season, so he took steps to improve the strength of the team, the offense. Moreno will have every opportunity to be the main ball carrier, but the Broncos will utilize other backs when the opponent calls for it. Much like Kevin Faulk in New England, the Broncos have Peyton Hillis/Correll Buckhalter to make plays out of the backfield, especially on 3rd Down when a running back needs to be able to pass protect.

Fooch: It's hard not to look at Kyle Orton without laughing (not in terms of his football abilities, just the neck beard and pictures like this (http://content.ytmnd.com/content/3/c/9/3c966dacdef985be894c30ae242ddc13.jpg) and this (http://media.photobucket.com/image/kyle%20orton%20jack%20daniels/patroto/ortonmontage.jpg) . However, given the skills of Jay Cutler, how are Broncos fans handling the Kyle Orton/Chris Simms experience?

JB: Fans are apprehensive about it, and for good reason. Cutler has physical tools that only a couple of guys in the NFL have. It does take more than that rocket arm to be successful, however, and the Broncos are banking on more of a team approach. I have focused on the first 7 games of last season when it comes to Orton, simply because it was the first time he was the quarterback through a training camp. He was having a solid year until he got hurt and never really got right. Here are Orton’s stats through those 7 games –

Kyle Orton, 2008 through seven games

1,669 yards
10 touchdowns
4 interceptions (5 games without an interception)
143 completions
230 attempts
62.2 completion percentage
7.26 per attempt
4-3 team record

Meanwhile, Jay Cutler’s were very similar –

Jay Cutler, 2008 through seven games

1,862 yards
13 touchdowns
7 interceptions (2 games without an interception)
163 completions
254 attempts
64.2 completion percentage
7.33 per attempt
4-3 team record

I’m not saying that Kyle Orton has the physical tools Jay Cutler has. Not by a long shot. But I do know, through watching him at Purdue, as well as last season when he wass the starter throughout camp, that he can be successful.

Fooch: As you asked, what will you be paying particular attention to this Friday?

JB: The progress the team is making, especially on offense. The Broncos are not going to scare anyone with their defense so the offense has to be efficient and score points. I’ll be watching to see if the quarterbacks are getting the ball out of their hands quickly and making the right decision. That will tell me whether or not they are getting more comfortable with the offense.

On defense, I’ll be keeping my eye on the Front-7 to see if they are picking up the 3-4. Are the linebackers breaking back into coverage quickly. Is the line gaining leverage and keeping the gaurds from getting to the second level. I’ll be looking for someone on the D-Line to stand out.

Honestly the score means little to me.

Fooch: I liked your other question as well: surprise cut and surprise player that will make the team.

JB: Josh MCDaniels has made it known that every position on the field is up for grabs. The players believe it and this Training Camp has been as competitive as any I have seen. That said, there are areas that the team simply has too many players. I think one of the veteran running backs has to go. Right now, the odd-man out appears to be LaMont Jordan. I know McDaniels likes Jordan, but Peyton Hillis can do a lot of the same things, as can Correll Buckhalter.

As for a player that will make the team, keep an eye on Rulon Davis along the D-line. He’s a former Marine and plays that way. He has great size and will get a lot of reps during the preseason to show what he’s got. Ryan McBean is another.

MHR University - Preseason Depth Chart Analysis and How to Watch Preseason Games

Steve Nichols — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:30:10 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey takes part in drills during a football training camp session conducted in Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

One of the most fun ways to prognosticate about a team during the reloading season is to put together and discuss projections for depth chart placement. Then, as always, a team will put out an initial depth chart (preseason) that can have fans scratching their heads.

What is the purpose behind the initial depth chart? Why do teams put them out, and what can be learned from them? What should we watch for as a team heads into the preseason?

Let's take a look at the initial depth chart for the Denver Broncos (released 9-10-09) and start a discussion on what we think the chart indicates. Let's also review what to watch for in preseason games.

(The caption says he is practicing during a drill. But I like to think that Champ is asking forgiveness for the doubters amongst the fan base).

First, I'm going to borrow from a previous article I wrote about how to watch preseason games (edited to update us for this year)...

How to Watch the Preseason Games -

Let's talk about the mysterious and controversial preseason games. Controversial, because coaches have to weigh the value of getting players ready or evaluated versus injured. Controversial, because the League, networks, and even fans can't agree on issues surrounding ticket prices and revenue for games that "don't count". But mysterious, because we as fans have to balance cheering for our team to win knowing that the team isn't going all out for a win. So what do we watch for?

Here's a guide to watching the preseason games in a manner that allows you to learn about the team, evaluate players, and gauge the team's success moving forward, regardless of what the scoreboard says.

Different coaches approach the preseason differently, but all coaches are a little more vanilla than they would be if the game counted. They aren't going to show every wrinkle of a system. They are also going to call plays to test a team in a situation, even if the situation doesn't exist (such as a two-minute drill at the end of a half even though the team leads, or going for it on fourth down, even though the game condition calls for a punt).

Some coaches, like Mike Shanahan, believe in the school of thought that you "Play a preseason game like you would a regular game." In other words, play to win. Denver fans may be used to winning preseason games, but this may not happen under Josh McDaniels. Shanahan took it easy on the players in camp (compared to most teams), but in the PS he generally called the game the way he might in a regular game. For this reason, he also got a lot more PS wins. Did this count against his ability to evaluate? Not at all. Mike is also a coach that has his mind pretty much made up near the start of camp who is going to be on the roster, so he is ahead of the curve. Still, he'll make some calls to try out scenarios that he wouldn't do if the game counted.

We'll have to see if McDaniels is more concerned with evaluating talent and schemes than pumping up the team early with wins that are (to some degree) "meaningless".

So what do we watch for in a Denver PS game? The coaches are still holding back, and the competitions are more settled than most fans might think, right? Well, there's a lot to watch for. Here's what I'll be watching for if I'm lucky enough to catch a game.

The Players

Some position things to watch for:

Denver placed a high emphasis on receivers being able to run block (Pittsburgh is an example of a team that also demands receivers can run block). Will we see that continue this year?
Despite raw talent, which receivers demonstrate chemistry with Kyle Orton? Which TEs?
The safety's first movement is towards an assignment or a zone. His second move indicates how well he's read the play. That's the move to watch.
How well do the halfbacks protect Orton if held back to pass block?
Many teams stress TE coverage from the strong safety or the LOLB (even though both players take a role from time to time). Who will get the emphasis under McDaniels? Whoever gets the assignment, how well do they do? Does the SS play back, or closer to scrimmage?
Will we see the Ted Block scheme in our system? Will our new 3-4 be played more like a traditional 3-4, or more like a 5-2 (with pass-rushing OLBs)?
Are we doing more 1- or 2-gap schemes on the defensive line? Is the NT handling (or demanding) double teams?
It's almost too obvious to write, but who are the first eleven players on the field for the first plays on offense and defense? But here's something else to consider: who plays STs on the kickoff?
How does the OL do in pass protection? Most vanilla calls by the defensive coordinators will be simple slants designed to get to the QB.
Who looks tired at the end of each quarter? When a play is blown, how well does a player shake it off?
Does our starting RB get spelled, rotated, changed for pace, or play every down?
When a pass play for the offense goes for long yardage, was the error made by the CB or the SAF?

The Systems

Here's what to look for in terms of defining the new defensive system. Some of these things are similar to what to watch for in the "position" list above. However, those are tactical evaluations for each player. This list is strategic for the overall system view.

Defense -

How often do we switch between 3-4 and 4-3? In 4-3, is the MLB more man or zone? In 3-4, are most 4th pass rushers (a LB) coming from the inside, outside, or balanced?
In the 3-4, how wide are our DEs playing? Do the OLBs primarily rush (such as 5-2), or play common man, zone, and blitz responsibilities?
CBs in man or zone? (Unlikely we'll see much zone with talents like Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman available).
Where is the SS positioned?
1- or 2-gap play by the DL?
How often do we blitz?
Do the #2 and nickelback CBs play tight, on, or off in their coverage? (Bailey is allowed to always play off, which fits his personal style). In fact, will Bailey be allowed to continue his own preference?
Is the defense playing "bend, don't break", "hold the line", or aggressively? How much blitzing is there?
Is the 3-4 the base formation? It likely is. Is it a standard 3-4, or a variation (wide, in, over, under, etc.)?
Is the defense trying to force the pass or the run, or playing it even?
Are there certain plays that have more prominence?
Who is covering the TE - the SS or the SAM?
Does the WILL play more "zone and blitz" or "zone and man"?

Offense -

How much misdirection will we use this year? While Orton is more of a pocket passer than previous Denver QBs, is the bootleg really gone? (The bootleg is a great combination with zone blocking, because of the type of misdirection it foists on the defense). More importantly (critical to me), is "How much zone blocking do we keep from previous years"?
How smooth does Orton sell the play-action pass, and how often is it used?
Do we see Orton making audibles on the line? How much leeway is he getting from the coach on the sideline?
When Orton throws an INT (and he should), was it a bad decision on his part, on the part of the receiver, or good defense?
How much does the TE figure into the pass game this year? Does it seem to be planned or a check down?
Does Orton have favorite targets, or does he spread the ball? Do the routes seem more timed, or opportunity driven?
How do the cheerleaders look? Are they as hot as last year? (Yes, this is important).
Is there more run, or pass?
Do we see more formations with 3 or more receivers, or less?
How much do the RBs (RB and FB) get into the game going out for passes? Are they screens, or actual common routes?
Do we see a FB often, or more sets that are single back or 2 RB (no FB).

A lot of fans will watch to see who makes the big plays. My opinion is that this isn't the way to go. The coaches are probably more interested in who plays consistently well, and less on who makes a game-changing play. But that's just my opinion. I think the decision on who starts is made before the preseason with most teams (believe it or not), but when a new coach arrives, this all changes for the first year. The decisions left to be made for most teams are only for a few players on the bubble, or if a player really blows it time after time. This year will be more wide open than the last several years because we have a new HC.

Another thing that I consider is that I don't get excited by how many wins or losses we have. Good play can be indicative of how the other team runs their preseason, and losses might have been wins if the team were going all out. However, if the team loses and played very poorly, that is something to watch for, too. So for what it is worth, try not to get hung up on who wins, and instead focus on "how" each player plays and how the team plays as a whole. McDaniels may try to win a few games to boost the confidence of the players and fans, or he might sacrifice wins to get deeper analysis of what he's working with.

Denver's goal is to get the players up to speed, and to give the players some confidence heading into the season. Let's hope for the best, but let's take the preseason into its proper context and watch it with a studious eye.

What will you be watching for?

The Initial Preseason Depth Chart

I don't put very much into the preseason charts. Neither do most hardcore fans (notably Guru, who mentioned pretty much the same thing in his story on Monday).

That said, is there any worth to a preseason chart for the fans? Sure. Any time that we as fans are writing about, talking about, or reading about the team, we are learning. Here's my take on some of the things in the initial chart to get the conversation rolling.

No surprises on the OL. From left to right, we see Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris. Harris is hurt, and (as of this writing) we don't know how badly. In the worst event, expect Polumbus to take his place. The depth chart says it's Brandon Gorin, but that's because a depth chart won't list a player twice who backs up two positions. Tyler Polumbus is the primary backup for both tackles.

Sometime ago I wrote that it was possible we might not see Brandon Marshall as our #1 starter. Pehaps it was 1 or 2 folks that chimed in that I was out of my mind. Perhaps I wasn't.

On this chart, we have Jabar Gaffney at #1, Eddie Royal as a mismatch for anyone at #2, and Brandon Stokley in the slot. This can happen when folks hold out. Do we take this chart to the bank? Not really. As long as Marshall keeps up a good attitude, plays hard and well, and his next legal case fizzles (a lot of ifs), he can have the position back by the start of the season. But it is NOT a sure thing, either. Gaffney has done everything right so far, and Marshall may need to see that he'll have to be 100% on and off the field to keep "his" spot. Then the question becomes (as I wrote in that other article), who gets the slot - Gaffney or Stokley?

I admit some surprise that Chad Jackson and Kenny McKinley are lower than Lloyd and Swift, but with much of my focus thus far on defense, I may have missed some of the reports on these players.

Exactly what we should expect - Daniel Graham, then Tony Scheffler, then Richard Quinn. The only question now is, how many TEs do we keep beyond that?

We knew Orton, then Chris Simms, then Tom Brandstater. The question is, will Brandstater get a chance to emerge as a future starter, will he displace Simms as the primary backup, or will he be a project that never comes to fruition?

Like Marshall, if you look like you might hold out on the team, you might not make the initial depth chart as a starter. McDaniels already said Knowshon Moreno is good, but behind the rest of the players in conditioning and understanding the systems (meaning not just the offensive system, but team communications, huddle scheme, terminology, etc.).

Our new regime doesn't use the FB term in the depth chart, so we'll have to figure out where this puts us in terms of starters. My assumption is that Peyton Hillis is a starting FB if ever there was one, but he may be too useful as a RB (or should I say "tailback" in this new scheme?).

Correll Buckhalter is extremely versatile, and has looked great. He gets the nod for now. LaMont Jordan is listed second, and ths may be a surprise to folks like it is to me. Not that Jordan isn't good, but because I would expect Hillis to be higher. Hillis is listed third.

This loses meaning beyond the point that preseason charts are "motivators" for players more than being accurate. Why? Because we have to consider that we don't know if we'll have a primary back that gets spelled, or a "backs by committee" approach. In the latter, we might have a rotational scheme or a specialist scheme.

So for fans of Moreno, Ryan Torain, and Hillis, don't put all of your money on Buckhalter or Jordan just yet. Watch the preseason games, and learn.

Early observations had Ryan McBean looking real good, and he gets the early nod to start at LDE where he'll be stopping the run. It makes sense to me that Marcus Thomas (a 4-3 DT) would move to LDE in the 3-4, and he now shows behind McBean.

At RDE, I've heard a lot of good things about Rulon Davis, so I'm a little surprised he's near the bottom right now. (In fact, our own Guru reported from camp that he noticed how well Davis was doing). But Kenny Peterson has done well so far, and has earned the right to go into the preseason as the current RDE.

I'll say this, I'm far more happy about our DE positions than I was before the summer. The four players I've listed so far look solid, and we still have 3 others in contention. For future reference, I hearby bestow the title "PDX" on Everette Pedescleaux. His name takes longer to type than my entire article!

This is the scariest position for those of us worried about the transition to 3-4. It is the anchor of the 3-4 as much as the MLB is to the 4-3. Fortunately, it looks like Ronald Fields (the listed starter) is doing well. I'm a little surprised that Chris Baker is in front of Carlton Powell.

If I am blessed enough to get any preseason games in my area, NT is one of the positions I'll be watching for the sake of pure analysis. (I'll be watching safeties for the love of the game).

SAF

May I brag a little? I had hoped for Brian Dawkins to be the FS, and he lists this way. I knew that the choice to put him at FS or SS would be tricky to guess at, so I wouldn't have bet either way. But I agree with the early chart - Dawkins should be at FS, and Darcel McBath is more of a FS than a SS. McBath should become something special learning under Dawkins.

At SS, I feel good about Renaldo Hill starting. I had written in an earlier article that David Bruton, Vernon Fox, and Josh Barrett are more at risk than the other three, and I was curious to see who would make the team if we only kept four safeties. Many folks chimed in with valid reasons that we might keep five or even six. As of now, Bruton gets the backup at SS, and perhaps Barrett and Fox have to fight for a possible fifth spot.

I felt confident that Bailey and Goodman would start, and they are. My assumption was that Alphonso Smith would come in as a rookie and learn nickel. But as well as Smith has played, Jack Williams seems to have improved his play to the point that he is a contender for that nickel position. Also, given Smith's value at returner on STs, it seems prudent to let Williams play at nickle while Smith learns. Watch the preseason games to see if one player seems to edge the other for the role at nickel.

This gives us four terrific corners, and a good mixture and experience and youth. There are still four more corners to round out the chart, not all of whom will make the team.

OLB

Mario Haggan at LOLB? McDaniels himself said that there was some "loafing" by OLBs, and that Haggan wasn't one of them. This strikes me as a motivational signal. Darrell Reid is likely the starter, and early reports are good on Tim Crowder. If they're loafing, that's a bad sign. But it is more likely (at least in my mind) that the coach is sending a gentle message rather than really worrying about Reid and Crowder. The message this sends to Haggan though is kind of weird ("you're starting because the REAL starters are taking it too easy").

But I'm not worried about Reid and Crowder, or the LOLB position in general. (In fact, a friend of mine who is in tight with the Colts organization tells me that Reid is a steal for us, and we can expect some special things).

At ROLB we have three interesting names. We all know and love Elvis Dumervil (MHRers know him as "Doom"). He's a terrific RDE in a 4-3, and will likely play more of a pass rushing type ROLB in what would appear to be a 5-2 look. I'm glad to see him listed at starter.

Robert Ayers is listed next. He surprises me, because his rookie reports made him out to be more of a run stopper who doesn't always get the penetration needed to get to the QB. I had him pegged at DE (against the tide of most opinions, I know). At OLB, I thought he might not be able to keep up with TEs to play LOLB, but he could be a run stopper at that position. But ROLB seems to make sense. Starting wider than he would at DE, he has a better rush chance against the QB. But he can be schemed in several ways, too. For example, SD goes against the grain of most teams, and prefers to run to the weakside. Ayers would be a specialist in such games. With the Ameoba philosophy in place, Ayers may be used as a specialist depending on down, distance, and opponent.

Last is Jarvis Moss. Moss gets some criticism because he almost quit the team during camp. However, to a careful eye (and mine has experience in counseling as well as coaching) it sounds like a kid who was having problems that needed help. Instead of letting him quit and cashing in on the money he (Moss) would have had to fork over, the coaches encouraged him to take a couple of days away to get things straight or to think things over. I think there is a deeper story here, and one that probably isn't much of our business. Here's what is important. Moss came back, was welcomed back, and has been showing good moves for penetrating the pocket. He may very well have a solid role on this team moving into the regular season. That the coaches helped him out shows me that the kid has worth as a player, and at the very least as a young man. I'm in his corner, whether he makes the team or not.

ILB

Before camps, I listed D.J. Williams being moved inside to RILB and Andra Davis getting LILB. I was pretty proud of myself for getting that one right, as that is how the two players have been lining up throughout the camp season. So imagine my shock at reading the chart and seeing them switched! It makes no sense for several reasons. First, they haven't been playing the way the chart shows; second, it doesn't match their skill set for the Ted block scheme that DC Mike Nolan runs in his defensive systems, and third, Williams is more of a zone- and blitz-LB while Davis is more of a run stopper and big plug kind of guy.

Given that Williams is playing LILB in practice, and Davis is RILB in practice, I'm calling this an error on the chart. But who knows how far the deception could run? It would be a shock, but terribly interesting to see McDaniels and Nolan pull a major switch ala the morphing Patriots defense (which changes looks to match opponents like, well, like an ameoba!)

Another intersting tidbit. Behind these two are Wesley Woodyard and Spencer Larsen, who are excellent ILBs even if they weren't in the backup role. But look at who each player starts behind! Larsen (more of a run stopper or Ted blocker) is behind Davis, as he should be. And Woodyard, who swarms to the ball and gets in on every play, is rightfuly behind WIlliams. So it follows that the chart is likely backwards at the ILB positions. Either way, the bottom line is that we have four solid players for two positions, and still have two more players behind them fighting for a roster spot.

My only remarks on STs (where I have next to no coaching experience) is my surprise that Brett Kern is listed as the holder. It is common for teams to either use a QB or a punter. The reasoning for QB is that he can throw the ball on a fake FG, or cover up for a blown snap by throwing the ball. That is the prevailing school of thought in modern football. But we're going with the punter. The thinking here is that the punter is more in tune with what the kicker needs when placing and timing the hold. I don't buy it, but a few minds that know more about STs than I do believe in it. So there it is. I would have used a QB, but then again you REALLY don't want me coaching your STs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, have at it. What are your thoughts on the presason, and preseason charts in particular? What will you be watching for? As always, any questions about football are welcome. I can handle most questions as they pertain to what happens on the field, but MHR is full of experts on just about every aspect of the game ranging from history to caps, from legal to medical, from current events to other teams.

Let's hear from you! (If you're a longtime reader, but have never joined or posted, why not make this the day?)

Poll

I feel _______ about the roster and depth for the overall team than I did before the preseason camps started.

much better

219 votes

somewhat better

353 votes

the same

224 votes

somewhat worse

76 votes

much worse

12 votes

884 votes | Poll has closed

Horse Tracks 8/8/09 - Knowshon signed; HOF Edition

Douglas A. Lee — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:01:49 -0000

DB - All Aboard: Moreno Agrees to Terms

DP - Moreno signs with Broncos, 8 days late - Mike Klis
Honestly, I'd say the Broncos did quite a job getting Knowshon signed. The four players between DHB and Moreno are still without contracts, and the percentage increase for Knowshon's guarantee is less than that of Robert Ayers.

DB - Break in Action - Zach Eisendrath
Friday saw a lighter practice, while today is a much-welcomed day off. QB coach Mike McCoy says his transition from Carolina has been easy, as his training under Dan Henning years ago was quite similar to McDaniels' under Charlie Weis. Kenny Peterson and Chris Baker fielded punts to earn a curfew-free Friday.

DB - Day 8 Blog - Gray Caldwell
Nic Clemons is apparently recovered from his injury, while Wes Woodyard left practice with a possible injury. The LBs coaches have been working daily on improving the players' interception skills. I'll have to agree; fantastic playlist today - I'd love to know who was responsible for that one...

DB - Day 8: McDaniels - Broncos TV
McDaniels says to expect lots of 3-WR formations this year, meaning more action for Brandon Stokley than we're used to seeing.

NFP - Biggs: Denver's go-to guy
Not sure why we don't learn stuff like this from the local guys (unless I missed it), but Brandon Stokley apparently played a huge role in Eddie Royal's life last year.

DB - Day 8: McCoy - Broncos TV
Mike McCoy called it a "very easy decision" to head back to Denver. He stressed that the offense will be molded to best utilize the players' skills, rather than vice versa.

DB - Day 8: Baker - Broncos TV
Chris Baker discusses his punt-fielding skills and his dreams of catching TD passes. He says he's played NT for a long time and understands it's not a "glory" position.

DB - A Few Minutes With Ryan Torain - Broncos TV
Chris Hall catches up with Ryan Torain, who answers fan questions. Everyday of his offseason was rehab, and he admits to having been a Chefs fan growing up in Kansas. But he said, "That's all over now."

DB - Day 8: Transcripts - McDaniels

IDT - Moreno’s signing gives McDaniels all the game pieces - Hunter Ansley

AP - Denver Broncos (Finally) Ink Top Draft Pick Knowshon Moreno - Arnie Stapleton

CSG - Friday's Broncos training camp at a glance - Frank Schwab

DP - Broncos' new corner the real deal - Lindsay Jones
Folks are just starting to figure out what Ted Bartlett's been writing for months...

DP - Jordan's debts new snag for Broncos RB - Jeff Legwold

DP - Briefs: Broncos sure to find a slot for Stokley - Jeff Legwold

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KCS - Chiefs agree to contract with top draft pick Jackson

SDUT - Chargers' draft move motivates Merriman

SDUT - Despite all the other stuff, 'Lights Out' doesn't take day job lightly

SI - LaDanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Shawnee Merriman want to reach SB - Jim Trotter
Someone should let these guys in on a big problem; their coach is Norv Turner...