SB Nation User Blog: jonahsilas

5 things I am looking forward to this (second bachelor) weekend

jonahsilas — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:15:55 -0000

So last weekend I was in Denver with my groom's men celebrating my upcoming nuptials, seeing the Rockies look bad and being present for one of the greatest NFL finishes of all time.

Amazingly enough, this week I am headed back. No dudes, beer and nosebleed seats this week. Just me and my sister in the FedEx luxury box.

I will be coming in from Denver proper while my sister trains it from Littleton. I intend to be early (and less hungover) than last week. Anyone tailgating and want one more to join in the fun?

In the meantime, this is what I am looking forward to this weekend:

1) My second ever NFL game, second in two weeks and second luxury box experience (the other was in Oakland for the A's). Will I drink white wine?

2) Seeing my wonderful older sister, who may just be as big a Broncos fan as I am. Even though he is staying at home with a friend so we can focus on cheering, my infant nephew will be wearing his Broncos sweats. Awesome.

3) Watching for signs of life on the defensive side of the ball. Seeing Moss, JMFW, Woodyard, et al. come in and be difference makers. We have a real chance with a banged up Saints O.

4) Eddie and Brandon. Brandon and Eddie. Touchdowns and first downs. Catches and runs. (Maybe a little Cliff and Darrell would be alright, too)

5) Trying again to put some faces to the names from this great website. And maybe sharing a bloody mary or three.

Everyone enjoy the game. Go Broncos!

5 things I am looking forward to this (bachelor) weekend

jonahsilas — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:46:47 -0000

I posted a while ago about my bachelor weekend which is happening in Denver and includes the upcoming tussle between our Broncos and the dreaded Clunkers... now it has arrived and I sure am excited.

These are the top things I am fired up about:

1) Seeing my first game at "Invesco," and my first NFL game and my first Broncos game - all at once! Sounds like the nosebleed section will be playing a role in the events, so that is extra cool. I intend to be hoarse by the end of the first half...

1a) Seeing my first game at Coors Field Saturday. Guaranteed better than the first two Rockies games I saw - at Mile High!

2) Watching the Chargers dreams of a Super Bowl start to fade as our D shuts them down, plants Phyllis on his ass and as their D gives up yards in chunks. I feel great about a lot of the matchups, and the injuries so far are going our way. Boss will be back, and I am hopeful that the run D to be at least as good as last week.

3) Jack M!@#& F@#!*^% Williams! I hope he plays, and makes some plays. Woodyard too. I love those guys. Football players to the core.

4) Drinking Colorado beers. And lots of them. With my best friends in the world. Falling Rock, here we come. (I am skipping the strippers - do you know how many beers a lap dance costs? And last time I went to a strip club in Denver, I paid good money to hear the weepy life story of one of the young women who was working. I am waaay too nice.)

5) Meeting some MHR folks in the flesh. UnarmingMermaid said he'd be at the game, and Denver_Native sounded like a maybe for tailgating. You two - shoot me an email at the address on my profile page and we can trade cell numbers. Anyone else interested in trying to meet up? No guarantees on how early I get up on Sunday, but I will be there as soon as my hangover lets me.

Go Bachelors! Go Beer! Go Broncos!

Tailgating with bachelors at the home opener

jonahsilas — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:15:26 -0000

So it has just been confirmed that my bachelor party is going to be in Denver the weekend of September 14th. Besides general carousing, we will be attending the Chargers/Broncos game - we managed to get enough nose bleed seats for the whole group (6 right now). This will be my first ever regular season NFL game, first ever Broncos regular season game and I am really pumped!

I know we are going to spend significant time at Falling Rock Tap House, and probably will go out to The Ethiopian Restaurant (one of my faves) on Colfax Saturday night. The Rockies play the Dodgers that Saturday, so that might be an option. I am planning to eschew the strip club thing -- I'd rather spend the dollars on Laughing Lab and TommyKnocker MapleNut. I think we are staying at the La Quinta over by the freeway, but that isn't confirmed.

So my question to MHR is -- anyone else attending this game? Wanna meet up to tailgate or grab a drink before or after? Do you have some good seats I can come visit you at? I am hoping we will have homebrew to share before the game, but no guarantees.

Anything else we must do as a crew of bachelors in Denver?

Why He'll Make the Team #4: Kenny Peterson

jonahsilas — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:49:14 -0000

I thought this series would give up the ghost with the start of camp... but with some major changes to the squad already, I figured I would give a go at one "in camp" dispatch about a higher profile player. If it goes well, maybe I can fit a couple more in before cut downs begin.

For this episode, we are going to look at Kenny Peterson, who is vying for a spot on the defensive line, most likely as a Defensive Tackle. Although he mostly played end in college, switching to tackle his senior year, Peterson seems to fit best at the tackle position in the NFL. He has some shown flashes, but hasn't started a game, in 5 NFL seasons

After a rough year last year, Kenny has been very active in the offseason and OTA's, garnering the following mention from coach Shanahan after Sunday's practice:

At the end of the OTA days, Kenny earned a chance to be our starter. We have a lot of competition. We will evaluate this day-by-day, and he is doing a good job.

Read on to find out more about why Kenny will Make The Team!

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-3

Weight: 292

Born: Nov 21, 1978

College: Ohio State

The Criticisms

For many reasons, Kenny Peterson has taken it on the chin in his NFL career. Starting with his refusal to participate in the Draft combine and then getting injured and not being able to workout for teams. Despite an apparently strong Senior Bowl showing, this man who moved from DE to DT his senior season and anchored a BCS Championship winning defensive line and many predicted as a first round pick, fell to the Packers in the 3rd round. Scouts questioned his technique and his size. The press handed him the always dangerous "tweener" mantle, one he has had to fight off throughout his NFL career.

After 3 mostly uneventful years (although he logged a few sacks his final season, including one in the postseason) backing up Cletidus Hunt at tackle in Green Bay, he was released. The Packers seemed to think he had reached his potential - as a backup to a not that strong plater. He made his way to Denver as a stop gap option in the middle of 2006 when Courtney Brown went down with a left knee injury. He was active for only a couple of games, and began to get labeled as a journeyman player who would never start in the NFL. Still he came into camp was ready to compete for a DT position in 2007.

Alas, it wasn't to be as he was suspended for the first 4 games of the 2007 season due to a positive test of a banned substance. Upon his return, he was cut - the cloud of banned substance suspension hanging over him. He was brought back a month later to shore up a mess of a defensive line. He ended the season on a high note, notching a sack of Rex Grossman and a pass defended against the Bears, and 3 tackles in the finale against Minnesota.

Detractors hang on the tweener label, and suggest Peterson's technique and understanding of the game leave much to be desired. They also question his pass rush, and physicality.

The Response

After joining the chorus of detractors after it looked like Peterson blew his chance with the Broncos with a positive banned substance test, I had my eyes opened when Kenny returned to the team and addressed the fans directly via Mason's Morsels. He defended his character, and responded to attacks by explaining his banned substance came from something in a fat-burner he was using that included a chemical on the banned list. He insisted that he never used, or would use, steroids and that the coaching staff's faith in him when they resigned him was proof positive of his high character. From that moment on, I was rooting for the guy.

Peterson's drive is really hard to assail, if you look at the facts. The guy played high school ball in Canton, Ohio, literally next to the (much decried around here) HOF. That team won USA Today's "national championship" in 1997. He logged 101 tackles and 15 sacks and was named was an All-American that season. While there he also played basketball. He then matriculated at Ohio State, where he had 3 injury plagued seasons at DE, before being moved inside for his senior season. That final year, he started at DT, anchoring the line for an undefeated championship squad despite weighing only 265 pounds. In the BCS title game, he registered two sacks and a forced fumble - he has no fear of being under the lights, that is for sure. He was named second-team All-Big-Ten and set a number of weight room records for the storied program. Peterson has had success throughout his career.

As for his character - Peterson doesn't drink or smoke to this day. and didn't throughout college. He started a youth mentoring program while in Green Bay. while many of his peers are out spraying champagne and carousing, Kenny spends his free time building and refurbishing computers to give to family and friends or playing his piano. In an interview as a Packer he talks about wishing he could go back in time and teach people that "racism is ignorance." He cites his parents as his best influences and his young cousin who has persevered through a kidney transplant as a personal hero. The knocks against his character due to his suspension clearly hurt him, as seen in his blog post, because he is a genuinely kind and honest person. His "blowing off" of the combine and banned substance test were anomalies, not the norm for him - although most critics focus on those hiccups, rather than the whole package.

The journeyman tag is clearly unfair. Kenny has played two places - and has risen against all odds to fighting for a starting DT spot this year. The coaching staff sees something they like, and have kept with him through inactive stretches and a suspension. Journeyman, or a guy seeking the right environment?

Looking at the criticisms of him as an athlete, many do seem unwarranted. Admittedly his playing weight in college was low for a DT, which his bull-rush style fits far better than the end position. He gained 25 pounds between the college season and combine, but since an injury which kept him from working out for teams he was never able to put the increased strength and power on display. the Broncos website actually lists him as pushing 300 now, which wouldn't be a surprise given his weight room ethic and past performance.

His technique may have left something to be desired entering the league. He played DT for a single season, after having played 7 seasons of high school and college ball on the end. At this point, with the time he has spent out of the league due to injury and suspension, he is really only in his 6 season as a tackle. Clearly the technique is coming around, as evidenced by his big games last year, his flashes of pass rushing brilliance and sacks and the fact the coaching staff has him running with the ones this year in camp.

The Prospects

Kenny Peterson is not suddenly going to become the second coming of Joe Greene, but he is finally beginning to realize the potential that made him a top-25 prospect in high school. He has fought through a lot to get to where he is, and as Coach Shanahan has underscored, has earned a shot at a starting position in Denver. He is not a danger off the field, or in the locker room, but rather an asset.

His name has appeared in reports out of training camp reports as starting alongside Robertson. Although many players have gotten that chance, and Kenny was the first man in based on an outstanding performance in the offseason and OTA's.. He is saying and doing all the right things - including noting his excitement about being part of a versatile unit that works together to use everyone's strengths. Despite early success, he doesn't sound complacent. He talks of being a student of the game, and is very complementary of the talent surrounding him.

Lastly, his playing style and athleticism lends itself to the single-gap scheme the Broncos will use this year. He should be a really nice addition alongside Robertson's gap plugging girth, McKinley's experience, Ekuban's rush skills and Mallards finesse up the middle. Especially after the loss of Carlton Powell Jr. (who he resembles in many ways) for the season, I expect a career year from Peterson. Thomas and Ekuban, and maybe even McKinley will certainly press him for a starting position. But he should be in the mix at the end of camp, and a key component of what is shaping up to be a multi-faceted DT rotation this season, and hopefully many seasons to come.

Poll

Will Kenny Peterson Make the Team?

Yes - as the starter alongside Robertson.

4 votes

Yes - as a backup and part of the DT rotation.

35 votes

No - there is too much talent ahead of him.

1 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Ryan Torain " Blog Archive " The Rookie: A Running Start

jonahsilas — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:49:40 -0000

Ryan Torain " Blog Archive " The Rookie: A Running Start

Ryan Torain is blogging - all season!

Elvis Dumervil " Blog Archive " No. 92 reporting...

jonahsilas — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:00:45 -0000

Elvis Dumervil " Blog Archive " No. 92 reporting...

Elvis Dumervil's first blog post. Write on you crazy lineman!

Lynch is gone?!

jonahsilas — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:03:32 -0000

Both RMN and CBS4 are reporting that John Lynch's absence from practice is due to disgruntlement, and that he will be released to pursue another job - either playing or broadcasting - tomorrow.

[As of 7:30 MDT on Wednesday the Denver Post is reporting that this has been verified by multiple sources, so it seems certain that Lynch is no longer a Bronco. So long, John. Thanks for everything.]

Lynch was starting at Safety in the base defense, but coming out in the nickel and dime packages, so far in camp. Another report I read early in camp said he was working his butt off and fired up to make it hard for the coaching staff to keep him off the field - so this comes as a big surprise to me. Lynch's veteran leadership was part of what I was counting on to keep a young defense in step - especially as a mentor to young guys Barrett, Woodyard and even Abdullah.

I know I have no back story, but this seems like an odd move by Lynch. He was asked to take a pay cut, and told he had no guaranteed starting position, and could compete for inclusion in any and all packages. Yet the coaching staff still started camp with him getting the majority of starter reps - only pulling him out for the obvious passing packages, where youthful speed was desired. It seems to me like the Broncos organization lived up to their side of the bargain. I wonder what Lynch's beef is?

More importantly, what does this mean for the defense overall? Is it a disaster of epic proportions, a welcome relief, or somewhere in between? Vote and discuss below.

Poll

What is the impact of Lynch leaving the team?

What a disaster! Did you see what happened when he was out last year?

15 votes

Not ideal, but not terrible. Would love to have him, if he wanted to be on the squad.

71 votes

Good riddance to old rubbish! Barrett is the future!

4 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

Why He'll Make the Team #3: Lorne Sam

jonahsilas — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:58:42 -0000

Hi folks. Back with another edition of Why He'll Make the Team. I am going to continue looking at undrafted free agent pickups because, well, they're the most fun!

Today we're are going to take a gander at Lorne Sam, a Florida State and UTEP product. Sam, whose brother P.K. played on a Patriots championship team, was a highly touted high school player, and went to the Seminoles to be a QB. After being moved to receiver, and several injuries, Sam transferred to UTEP where he played QB, RB and WR. He earned his undergraduate degree in 2006, playing 2007 as a graduate student. At the combine he competed as WR and enters camp as longshot in a deep group of wideouts. Will he make the team? Read on and see what you think.

Tale of the Tape

via static.nfl.com

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 220

40 Yard Dash: 4.59

Bench Reps: 23

The Criticisms

Lorne Wallace Sam has had a long and painful road to the NFL. In 2002 he followed his brother to Florida State, where he red shirted after a shoulder separation in August scrimmage. He followed that up with two unspectactular seasons, accounting for 10 receptions, , 6 yards rushing and a special teams tackle. After the second season, he discovered he had played the whole year on a broken foot, missed the postseason and decided to transfer to UTEP. After a year off, Sam played two seasons for UTEP, missing part of each one due to knee and foot injuries. His final season he compiled over 1000 yards of total offense, primarily running and receiving, despite missing the final two games.

With six year saga like that behind him, you can imagine that one major concern with drafting Sam was his injury history. He only played one complete season in college - the rest were all injury shortened.

This also meant he moved around a lot. His QB career was derailed when he couldn't stay on the field. He was injured as a slot receiver, ending up running the ball quite a bit. He has never focused on a single skillset, and his receiving skills are raw - his hands questionable if strong, his route running sloppy. To top it off, some question his deep speed and his propensity to fumble.

Scouts question his desire and work ethic, and cite his hesitance to extend his arms and fight for balls in the air. His blocking is not physical enough. The concern is that he gets by on athleticism, rather than the disciplined technique and toughness necessary to succeed in the NFL.

The Response

Many of the concerns about Lorne Sam are in fact well founded, which is probably why he ended up signing as a free agent. There is nothing he can do about his injury history now besides get out there and play, frankly. However, in an interview with PatriotsInsider.com before the draft, Sam said he got a whole battery of tests at the combine, and they came up clean - including his troublesome left foot. He seems to be healed, although until he plays some NFL games the durability questions will remain.

Also true is the fact that Sam jumped all over the field in his college career, never really perfecting one position. He may not be ready for prime time as a starting receiver, but he has shown a willingness to play wherever needed. In his PatriotsInsider.com interview he says that he personally requested to play special teams everywhere he went, but as a QB most seasons, he wasn't allowed. He talks about being a gritty player, wanting to play like Hines Ward and getting it done however and wherever he can. If he can make himself useful as a gadget player, special teamer, and emergency quarterback he could buy himself the time to develop his receiving skills.

Finally, Lorne Sam follows his older brother P.K. to the NFL. His brother left school early and has bounced around. In contrast, Lorne is coming off a year of studying for a Master's in Educational Leadership (which I am guessing would be applicable to being a school principal or superintendent). He talks about how his brother's tough experience helped him understand that this is a job, and he needs to work nine to five, and then some, to succeed. That kind of attention to detail, and his brother's guidance, could help him put in the time to overcome his fumbling and motivation issues.

The NFL's online draft prospect analysis mentions that he seemed to figure out that he needed to fight for the extra yard his senior season, and that his blocking was adequate - when he put his all in. He has the fight in him, he just may need some coaching to help him express it on the field.

The Prospects

Lorne Sam is a tantalizing prospect. With his skill in the short receiving game and on the ground and the improved moves after the catch he flashed his senior season, Sam is a special talent. He has pretty good speed - near Marshall's combine number in the 40 and faster than top 10 finisher Eddie Royal in the 60 yard shuttle - and is quite strong - second only to Royal in the combine bench press. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry his two years at UTEP.

He is an upstanding guy - he tells a story about being shocked that a team at the combine asked him not just if he belonged to a gang or owned a gun, but whether he ever shot a man. He led student organizations, got a degree and kept his nose clean. He would certainly not be a "problem child" on the squad.

If he can develop his aggressiveness and route running he could blossom into a "slash" type player along the lines of Randle-El, an intriguing tool in Mike Shanahan's offense. Although he clearly doesn't fit as a QB in the NFL, he talks about viewing the game that way, and has a real mind for the game. He is highly intelligent, having skipped a grade in elementary school and having pursued graduate studies at UTEP. Such a guy is an asset on a team, whether as a returner, receiver runner or emergency quarterback.

He is still raw receiver and is not ready for primetime. In a less deep
wide receiving corps, he could have a slim chance of making a roster as a returner or special teamer. With the depth of the receiver position in Denver this year, including fellow rookie Eddie Royal, Sam probably at best shows enough in camp to warrant a spot on the practice squad. Realistically he will not beat out McDaniel, Russell Parker or Martinez for the last WR spot. His versatility will help his chances to hang around as a long term project though, as Shanahan cannot be too happy with running Mike Leach out there as his 3rd quarterback (as he did last year without Rod Smith available). With a bad camp, however, I think Sam hits the streets.

Poll

Will Lorne Sam make the team?

Yes - after a killer camp he makes the 53 man squad.

9 votes

To the practice squad with him!

96 votes

No way - time to use that degree, kid.

25 votes

130 votes | Poll has closed

BREAKING NEWS: Javon Walker Hospitalized

jonahsilas — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:41:57 -0000

Not that I have anything other than what the mainstream news is reporting, but it appears Javon Walker has been hospitalized with a broken orbital bone after being found unconscious on the street at 7:30 this morning. Police said he sustained significant injuries and was the apparent victim of a robbery.

Reports have him at various clubs spraying people with Dom Perignon until around 6:30am. Nobody deserves this... no matter how dubious their behavior.

I am sure there are more details to come, but this sounds serious. I am guessing we don't see much of Javon in the AFC West this year.

Mile High Salute!?

jonahsilas — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:48:28 -0000

photo via www.broncoscountry.com

I was just catching up on the media out of mini-camp this last week, and ran into this "gem" of an interview over at the (horrible) Denver Post. This really is, overall, a terrible piece, and I apologize for linking to it.

No, I didn't want to share Lindsey Jones stumbling her way through an explanation of D-Jax's career, as if she just woke up and hadn't had her coffee yet (Sorry Lindsey - try dropping the frequent "uh's" -- it doesn't, uh, help...) Nope, it wasn't the goat-like beard Jackson is sporting that made me point this out to you (although I do sorta like the the crumb-catcher he's growing, despite the fact that you'd think it could get tangled in one's chinstrap).

The part I liked occurs 42 seconds in when Jackson (somewhat awkwardly - a natural response given the interviewer's "technique") says:

I'm gonna try to bring back the Mile High Salute. That's what somebody told me at Fan Fair, to bring back the Mile High Salute. So every time I score I'm going to have to try to do that.

That's right - after a brief resurgence from Mike Bell, whose days look numbered, the Salute is back! We have another potential celebrant, and one who has a decent shot at scoring to boot. I was already pretty excited about having Darrell Jackson on the squad, as I think he has a chance to be very effective. This is is just gravy.

Clearly I, for one, am all for it. I think it is a great celebration, especially at a time when so many U.S. soldiers (many Colorado based) are deployed in dangerous theaters abroad. And I think it is still legal to salute in the end zone...

I would love to start a fan campaign to try to get more players onboard with the Mile High Salute. We have enough warm bodies here, we could at least send some emails... Anyone interested?

Poll

Bring Back the Mile High Salute?

Yes - Every Broncos Touchdown

60 votes

Maybe - I am okay with D-Jax doing it, but everyone else should lay off.

1 votes

No - Go get your own celebration and leave T.D.'s alone!

8 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed