The off season and preseason were days where the fans of MHR tried to determine how many wins the Broncos might be able to pull off during the regular season. Among the factors that were discussed were the state of the defense, Orton's ability to lead the offense, Marshall's eventful off season, the new coaching staff and the schedule - which appeared fairly daunting before week one.

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No admission of his dastardly ways, erroneous predictions, or egregious vitriol of the past six months, but John Clayton actually put Denver on his positive list today.

Quote:

 

Broncos are no fluke: The Broncos are for real. They beat the Cowboys 17-10 in what was supposed to start an impossible stretch of games for Denver. As turbulent as the offseason was, head coach Josh McDaniels made the regular season smooth. The Broncos are 4-0 and appear to be big players in the AFC playoff race. Beating the Cowboys was huge. Denver's defense withstood a last-minute drive by Tony Romo. Mike Nolan, the Broncos' defensive coordinator, totally took away the Cowboys' running attack. Like he did in Week 2 against the Giants, Romo made bad decisions. The last pass of the game was broken up by Champ Bailey. If you need to win a game, never throw on Bailey. Romo threw a costly interception in the Broncos' red zone early in the second half. That interception, which was grabbed by Bailey, might have been the turning point. Had the Cowboys settled for a field goal, they would have led 13-7.

Broncos QB Kyle Orton is doing a lot of the same things that made him a winner in Chicago. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He might not be making spectacular plays like Jay Cutler. But he's winning. Welcome back to the playoff race, Denver.

Back in 2007, Bill Parcells related his quarterbacking statutes and bylaws by which his quarterbacks should live. This was during a MNF game tape in preparation for the game the Cowboys eeked out over the Bills in the waning moments of the fourth quarter (25-24); this is another in the long list of reasons that antidepressant medication is dissolved into the city of Buffalo's tap water.

Before reading the list, I'd like to suggest everyone run through a list of Parcell-chosen quarterbacks. A rough list would include, Hostettler, Simms, Quincy Carter, Pennington, Romo, Testeverde, and a new project Chad Henne.

Do these players have things in common? Maybe not in terms of playing style, but it seems were all on the path of becoming the type of player that the Tuna wanted to either take his team to a championship level (Giants) or out of the cellar (like he was brought on to do in Dallas & Miami).

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Okay fellas. No way Brandst8r or McKinley get through waivers. I'm not buying Moss' resurgence. The only times he made plays were when he gambled on the snap count. He is quick, but still not strong. He was lucky to not have been hard-counted by Palko. In a real situation, he would have been eaten up by a real tackle or jumped off sides and hurt the team. I vote Crowder.

Things are looking up.

I'm guessing LK Smith starts on PUP, so I've listed 53 and left him off.

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Greetings friends. Six months ago when DC Nolan was new news, there was much ado about a transition from 4-3 to 3-4. While no one argued that the personnel was not in place for such a switch, the news was received with much excitement to the knowledgeable Bronconationites, as this has proved a successful model for the Patriots, Steelers, and arguably the Ravens (who use a hybrid model that is difficult for offenses to react to NYTimes Sports).

But what about this transition? Nolan and McD thought it would be gradually added to the system as players adjusted and as the roster took shape of the adequate sized dudes for the job. Watching the '1st string' defense during Friday's game, we saw mostly 3-4/5-2ish line ups during the first half. It didn't seem like there was switching going back and forth.

Was this just like the throwing into the fire of the offense (KO's 17 different formations on passes)? Possibly, as Coach McD's tendency is to get players in the heat for analyzing their abilities more so than for results as Styg recently taught us. Or maybe the defense has just backed off of the notion of keeping both systems on the broiler because it might just be too much to handle. And not backing off the notion like the White House is backing off the 'public option' for health care, but for a more logical reason.

Think about this: last year's opening day roster had 8 LB's (if we include the heaven sent versatility of our ballistic Mormon, Spencer Larsen) and 10 DL. Last year's roster relied heavily on rotating the big guys up front as we had no real proven stars and were hoping to develop young guys and make due with some serviceable vets. That was 18 roster spots for the front 7, and nearly all these guys were activated on game days (except Moss). Now, clearly we had massive injuries to the LB corps, but this was the needed roster spots for a 4-3 with some LBs who were STers week in and week out.

In the case where a 3-4 is in play, the team will likely need more than 8 opening day line backers, and will probably not keep 10 down linemen. Perhaps the talk of using both systems in the off season is easily accepted by the media and the fans, but the logistics of such a suggestion may be cuffed by roster dealings.

I'm a dentist by trade (we'll still have to call 911 if someone collapses when I'm in the room), but there was a time when I thought about applying to both medical and dental school. This would mean taking two difficult entry exams, preparing for interviews at double the number of schools and spending way more money. I realized that I'd still have to make a decision about what I wanted to do down the road, so I did my homework, chose dentistry and didn't look back. Had I been between the two scenarios, I would have stretched myself too thin and compromised the dental preparation I made in result.

The point is, I don't think it bodes well for being in between systems. The coaches will go one way or the other. No sense in making the defense more complicated than it needs to be. I think Nolan will use the 3-4 in 1st and 2nd down, and now the roster looks like it will serve itself better for 3-3-5 in the nickel.

I'm no expert like the talented MHR professors, but with the addition of Le Kevin Smith today (NFL caliber 5 technique DE depth), it seems as though this is the thought process. On to wins and progress. Defense might have some growing pains, especially with the converted ends trying their hand at pass coverage, but signs point to future success.

2008 Opening Day LB                                                DT                                               DE

                                   Larsen                                       Robertson                                  Engleberger

                                   Winborn                                     Thomas                                      Dumerville

                                   Green                                         Clemons                                    Crowder

                                   Koutouvides                              Peterson (tweener)                  Moss

                                   Williams                                     Josh Shaw (member him?)   Ekuban

                                   Webster

                                   Woodyard

                                   Bailey

2009 Projected OLB                              ILB                                           DT                                      DE

                              Dumerville                 Davis                                       Fields                               McBean

                              Haggan                      Willams                                  Baker                                Peterson

                              Ayers                           Woodyard                              Powell(?)                          Smith (new guy)

                              Reid                             Larsen                                                                              Thomas

                              Crowder                                                                                                                 Clemons

My guess is Pedescleaux and L. Robinson make it to the PS, and we wish Rulon Davis the best in the near future.

Keep on keepin' on. Peace.

Sounds like Jay is on his way to GMdom in year four.

When asked about having a say on the roster,  he said:

"Oh yeah," Cutler said. "I think they're definitely going to ask me. If they don't ask me, I'm going to tell them what I think because I've got to be the one throwing to them on game day, and I've got to trust them. But (offensive coordinator) Ron (Turner) and I have been on the same page since the start of training camp in what guys we wanted to see working in with me and what guys have stepped up and what direction we want to go with this group."

Chicago Daily Herald

I mean, one can't get a lot of yards without scoring a lot of points alone, right?

Another morning in Broncoland, with an eerily similar feeling to other mornings we've had here - the prospect of another cheered for face/number who not being with the team. The early rumors trade rumors of Cutler were pretty surprising to most of SBNation, and I, for one, thought they'd go away without a trade. The firing of Shanahan, the Cutler drama, and the draft have all brought on divisions inside Bronconation. WIth passing time, and a little more vision, we are seeing the clarity of the future. The True Bronco Spirit is returning. Now again, some degree of uncertainty arises returned with the first reports of Marshall's lack of attendance to mandatory camps.

(Let's be realistic here: It's way too early to be paranoid; he'll be healthy long before the regular season starts; we might just be collectively the burned child fearing the flame. So all this 'saga' talk might just be a touch over-dramatic).

I have watched Bronco games since I was 4 years old. I've got the Broncoland license plate on my car even though I live out of state. I stand with you as a passionate fan of the game, and of the true Bronco favorites: Tom Jackson, Eddie Mc, Fletcher, Atwater, Elway, Hillis, Clady, Rulon Jones, etc.

These times in the NFL have changed. The arrival of Marshall in 2007 showed elite WR talent on the team beyond what we had seen in recent memory. He was 'like TO, but better because he had a good attitude,' we all thought. He arrived at dominance after showing his hunger and drive to improve and win. We wanted to embrace him like we did Rod Smith - a true Bronco. We became accustomed to watching Marshall catch crossing routes and run over DBs and stretch the field and force corners to play him honestly. We feel like we need him to win, maybe even moreso than we felt about Cutler.

But is Marshall one of the True Broncos? I suppose it's too early to say. I think most of the NFL world would agree, that a contract extension would be in order if there were less concerns about injury and behavior. We want #15 to be on the field catching passes from Orton/Simms/Brandstater this year and for the next 5-6 right?

INJURY

Brandon's hip treatments and (un)diagnosis has caused him distrust with the med staff. Is he Justified?

It's kind of funny now, but some of my coaches thought I was getting 'big-headed' and just didn't want to practice, but I needed some fine-tuning. What made last years so weird was that I got two MRIs, one in training camp and the second around Week 6 and was told nothing, but come to fine out THERE WAS A BIT OF A PROBLEM after all.  – Brandon Marshall SOURCE: Fox Sports

So the last MRI was week 6, yet he played the whole year on the hip. Is it possible, those MRIs were correct, and the damage was done to the hip after that? Obviously the team wouldn't want Marshall to be damaged goods. We all know what a busted hip can do to an aggresive football player (see Bo Jackson). Maybe the staff handled things just right. Was there any deception? We hope not. Either way, it's clear with his Florida rehab, that he prefers the healing of his hip to be done by people he's chosen.

I wonder too if Brandon is realizing for the first time that he is not indestructible. The arm injury (from the glass case) healed quickly. His hamstring problems always cleared up fast. He used to be invincible. But pain that's lingered for months and months is something he's never dealt with before. With that, comes some realization that football is a big price to pay for fame/fortune/glory. Unfortunately for lots of players, the injury side of things is still part of 'the business,' just like contracts.

He may be wanting money to protect his past, or money to gaurentee his future, but Marshall does want to get back to healthy. We've all got to hope that he can recover quickly like ARod did from surgery and be an impact player in two more months. Let's face it: he shouldn't be making less money than 57 other WRs in the league (and Royal's contract will be worth more in his fourth year than Marshall's is this year).

BEHAVIOR

Marshall is getting taken to the cleaners in the public eye. Outside the Lines didn't read the following statement:

Here’s what the letter, dated July 29, 2008, had to say:  “My name is Rasheedah Watley, I am the ex girlfriend of Brandon Marshall.  I read in the newspapers that he is in trouble with the league because of me.  I will let you know that he never hurt me or hit me, I was pressured by my family to make up certain things [to] get money.  I was told to say that Brandon hit me and hurt me so that I could get him to pay to keep me quiet.  I want you to know he never did.”

- http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/06/espns-brandon-marshall-story-omitted-key-facts/

Still, there has been lots of smoke surrounding Brandon the past 6 years. People might assume that means fire. There probably is some, and he has been trying to extinguish them. Marshall deserves fair trials in court and in the public realm if and when they happen. We hope this was a case of extortion and someone who was looking to take advantage of a situation, and the league thus far has seen no reason to suspend Marshall as of yet. We all sighed relief. We loved it when he indicated he didn't care Cutler had moved on, because stats meant less than wins. We want to give him all that credit. We don't want to think of him as the next Plaxico Burress.

What about what his teammates say? Javon Walker was an impact player for Denver for a couple seasons before he needed a change of scenery. We all remember how we were robbed of another Bronco we cheered and took pride in. DWill had spirit, talent and loved the game. He wore his jersey proudly. After his death, Walker wasn't the same, as I'm sure none of us would be. He came back angry about how it was turning into 'Marshall's team.' It was like they couldn't coexist. I never could figure out why.

I read this article last week about the altercation leading up to the fateful shooting that night:

Another Broncos receiver, Brandon Marshall, and his cousin were partying with Williams' group that night and began spraying champagne around, "some of which hit a club patron and his friend, who confronted Williams and his entourage," Marshall told "Real Sports." Those men flashed gang signs and were escorted out of the club, said members of a rap group from Williams' hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, who were with him that night. Fellow teammate Javon Walker said he didn't see the encounter inside the club but saw trouble brewing when he left the club at closing time. Marshall and his cousin were exchanging heated words with two men, he said. The rappers said it was the same men who had been kicked out of the club earlier that night.

 

- http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17665629/detail.html

Marshall was even involved then. Ugh. I wish I didn't even know any details about this tragedy. Makes me sick. Maybe something happened that night and Walker just couldn't live being next to Marshall in the locker room. I hope that's not the case, and I'm not intending to throw blame. But once again, Marshall's actions don't reflect the spirit of Rod Smith, Jim Ryan, Nalen, or Coach Turner.

It's time for Brandon to unite with the team and embrace the team concept like Bronconation is willing to embrace him. Let's hope that this situation ends happily for all parties - that Marshall can be a model citizen and return to his dominating physical presence, that Coach McD can lead a group of team-first players, that the fans can cheer for someone who deserves all the cheers he merits, and that we head back to Super Bowls. Let's hope that we don't have another division among the nation arguing if the team's direction is right or not. It's time to come together.

RIP DWILL