Broncos-Raiders: Week Three Gameplan

The Denver Broncos are undefeated so far this season.  After conquering coach McDaniels’ home state of Ohio, Denver faces a challenge with greater implications this Sunday as they square off against their division rivals the Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole.

As far as football rivalries go, Broncos vs. Raiders has to up there with the best of them.  There is no team that Denver fans love to hate more than the Raiders, and no team that Oakland fans enjoy despising more the Broncos.  

Many Broncos and Oakland alike don’t care if their team loses every other game they play in a given season, as long as they win these games.

In fact this hate-hate relationship is arguably the most intense rivalry in all of football. The reasons are many and varied, but they have stood the test of time and like the Hatfields and the McCoys; it is a feud that will never find its end. 

These two teams know each other very well, and always come to play each other.  But both teams face many challenges this week because both squads have changed significantly since they last met.

The Raiders Offense

Quarterback

No. 2 JaMarcus Russell

This is the year that Russell gets to prove whether or not he is a boom or a bust, and I have to say that right now it doesn’t look so good for JaMarcus. 

Even Raider Nation, who has steadfastly supported their young QB is beginning to believe that Russell, who signed a six year $61 million dollar contract in 2007 as the first overall pick in the draft, is just another overpaid under-performing talent.

This conclusion is not an emotional one at all, but rather one based on reason.  Russell’s passer rating so far this season is a 46.6 and he has completed less than 36 percent of his passes. 

Russell’s performance has nothing to do with pressure or coverage either, he simply has no accuracy with the football, often missing his receivers by what might as well be a mile.

JaMarcus needs to get his stuff together and fast if the Raiders are to have a hope that their ragamuffin team has final turned a corner and can once again hang with the rest of the league.

Wide Receivers

During the preseason Russell seemed to be in sync with one receiver in particular, Chaz Schilens (6’4″, 225 pounds). 

Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury before the season began and has not been able to be the go-to guy Raider fans thought he was going to be.  Schilens will be out again this week against the Broncos.

The Raiders also have decided not to start Javon Walker (6’3″ 215 lbs).  Walker, who coincidentally signed a six year $55 million dollar contract last year,has not been able to show coach Cable that he can run fast enough to even be on the depth chart for the Raiders.

So the Raiders will once again start a pair of wide receivers who were playing ball in college last year.

 

No. 18 Louis Murphy, 6’2″, 200 pounds

This fourth round pick has been a huge surprise to the Raiders.  In two games Murphy has six catches for 118 yards and one touchdown.  Murphy who was often overlooked in the shadow of Percy Harvin at Florida has been the only bright spot in the Raiders receiving corp this season.

 

No. 12 Darrius Heyward-Bey 6’2″, 210 pounds

The seventh overall pick of the 2008 draft who signed a five-year, $38 million dollar contract, of which $23.5 millions in guaranteed, has caught just one pass for 18 yards.

Both of these players are big play threats because of their lightning speed.  Murphy ran a 4.43 second 40 yard dash at the combine, while DHB ran it the fastest clocking in at 4.29 seconds. 

Both of these receivers have the disadvantage of being rookies trying to adapt to a whole new level of play and have been thrown into the fire expected to perform in their first year. 

And unfortunately their quarterback’s passing accuracy has not really given them the chance to make a lot of plays either.

 

Running Backs

Now here is the bright spot for the Oakland Raiders.  They have some great running backs.

 

No. 20 Darren McFadden, 6’2″, 210 pounds

McFadden was the fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft and signed a six year $60 million dollar contract (are we starting to see a trend here).  McFadden who ran a 4.33 second 40 yard draft at the combine is a promising young talent who has shown flashes of brilliance as a running back for the Raiders when he hasn’t been hurt.

McFadden has all the skills and is a very versatile back who can hurt a team in many ways and is quite elusive in the open field.

 

No. 29 Michael Bush, 6’1″, 245 pounds

Bush was a steal for the Raiders in the 2007 draft.  He was drafted in the fourth round because he had broken his leg.  Before his injury, all signs pointed to Bush being a first round draft pick.  Now that he is healthy, he is playing up to that first round standard. 

Bush is a punishing hard and fast runner who has a motor that won’t stop.  He fits the Raider ideology of pounding the rock up the gut perfectly and is a dangerous weapon for Oakland.   

Both backs will be getting carries for the Raiders this year, and thus far Bush has been performing better out of the two of them running for 4.3 yards per carry over McFadden’s 3.6 yards per carry. (In my personal opinion, Bush is the better back)

 

Offensive Line

The Raiders O-Line is built to run the football, and they are good at it.  Anyone who saw their first game of the season against the Chargers saw an O-line that imposed their will on the defense.  They were knocking the defense back with bad intentions that paid a unique homage to their head coach. 

Unfortunately the Raiders lost one of their starters on the O-line this past week.  Second overall pick in the 2004 draft Robert Gallery broke his leg, leaving Paul McQuistan to take his place at Left Guard.

Offensive lineman need to communicate and they develop chemistry with one another.  Gallery’s absence may be obvious this week if McQuistan fails to communicate well with his teammates.

 

Tight End

No. 80 Zach Miller, 6’5″, 255 pounds

Miller is the biggest receiving threat on the Raiders offense.  Miller hauled in six catches for 96 yards against the Chargers and helped the team march down the field on several drives. 

The Chiefs knew he was a threat and made sure he was covered all over the field last week.  That combined with JaMarcus’ accuracy shut Miller out of the game as a receiver.

 

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

The Denver Broncos have a new identity this year as a team.  Last year, the Broncos were an offensive juggernaut and finished the season with the second most prolific offense in football, while having one of the most pathetic defenses in the game.

Denver got a complete overhaul in the off-season though and now boast a very formidable defense and a more high percentage than prolific offense.

The defensive gameplan is against the Raiders this week is twofold.  

1) Stop the Run

2) Cover Zach Miller

The Raiders have proven they do one thing well, and that is run the football.  They get a great push off the line and move the line of scrimmage and their running backs pound the rock up the middle.  

So Denver needs to be run oriented on defense.  Stop the run and make JaMarcus “accuracy” Russell with his 36 percent completion percentage beat us through the air. 

Denver’s secondary is one of the best in the league.  Though older and slower than the Raider wide outs, they know how to play the game and should have no problem handling a couple rookie receivers.  This frees up the other seven guys to stop the run.

Denver also needs to make sure that Zach Miller does not get to roam freely.  Make sure he is covered because he is the most sure handed receiving threat the Raiders have. 

Take him out of the equation and the Raiders won’t be able to get anything going in the passing game, and their drives should stall like a K-car.

The Raiders Defense

The Raiders defense is no joke.  Their front four are all big guys who play equal to their size.  Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, and Greg Ellis. 

Each are capable of disrupting the backfield, racking up sacks, and stuffing running lanes.  Each of them has played well thus far this year and need to be taken seriously.

Linebackers Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are two very underrated linebackers who wreak havoc all over the field.

And we all know that Nnamdi Asomugha is a shutdown cornerback who is right at the top of the list with Champ Bailey as the best cornerback in football.  Chris Johnson has come into his own opposite Nnamdi to make them one of the best tandem of corners in the league.

After Nnamdi and Johnson though, the talent tapers off.  Stanford Routt is fast, but is not great in coverage.  Kansas City exposed him by exploiting him in coverage last week when he was called to action while Nnamdi was dehydrated late in the game.

Michael Huff has also recently come into his own at safety, and had two picks last week in Kansas City.   

The Raiders defense is strong at every level, and poses a real problem to game plan against.

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver’s offense played better last week than they did the week before, and I hope to see them continue to play better each week.

The Broncos showed they can run the ball well, and Buckhalter has had the opportunity to show that he can make things happen as a running back in Denver.

Moreno may be out with a groin pull, so that may hamper the running game somewhat, but a healthy dose of Peyton Hillis pounding the football should fill in nicely to this game plan in his absence.

The Raiders can be run on and Denver needs to establish the run early in order to wear down Oakland’s pass rushing lineman and keep them honest.  If Denver runs right at Seymour or Ellis it will run them down and hamper the energy and mental burst to attack the pass.  

Denver has a great Offensive Line which benefited greatly from week one to week two with Kuper being back from injury.  It will be a battle up front, but one that is evenly matched.

Nnamdi and Johnson are so good in coverage that the Broncos are going to need to rely on Running backs, tight ends and slot receivers more as passing targets this week. 

Hillis or Moreno (if healthy) should see some balls fly their way on screens and check downs.  Tony Scheffler should see some more action this week too as he is a mismatch target no matter who is covering him. 

Brandon Stokley out of the slot is no secret after his week one heroics. Stokley should easily take advantage of Stanford Routt’s poor coverage skills and catch a good many balls this week.

As long as Denver continues to protect the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalties, I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Raiders this week in their home Stadium.

I give Denver the edge in this game because of Oakland’s lack of a passing game on  offense, and the Broncos improved defense.  Though it is usually loud in the Black Hole, the game is set to be blacked out in Oakland so that shouldn’t be an issue.

My prediction: Denver wins, 20-6.

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Week Two Gameplan: Broncos vs. Browns

The Denver Broncos are coming off of a game where Broncos nation was sure the team had lost until our depression turned to elation with a little luck and Brandon Stokley being in the right place in the right time.

Denver fans will happily take the win, but are expecting the Broncos to play better than they did last week when they take on the Browns this Sunday at Mile High.

The Browns have been a seemingly cursed franchise over the decades. The Browns won championship after championship in the AFL before the merger but have yet to win one since.

The curse continued for Browns fans when the infamous Art Modell moved the Browns team (players and all) from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1996 only to win the Super Bowl a few years later as the Ravens (2000).

Broncos vs. Browns has some cursed history for the Browns as well. Many will recall the ’86 and ’87 AFC Championship games. The Broncos won both times in dramatic form, first “The Drive” led by Elway in ’86, and then a game that is known by some as “The Fumble” in ’87.

In ’07 the Browns posted a 10-6 record and though they missed the playoffs things were looking up for the Browns once again, but they followed that season up with an uninspired 4-12 record last year. 

The Browns have a new head coach in Eric Mangini, a rebuilt defense this year, and though they lost their first game to the playoff bound Minnesota Vikings, the Browns are not the same team they were the past few seasons.

 

The Browns Offense

The Browns offense has the potential to be dangerous.

Quarterback

No. 10 Brady Quinn

Quinn is a talented young quarterback who can make all the throws and has something to prove. He also has a guy backing him up who made the Pro Bowl just two seasons ago named Derek Anderson.

If Quinn struggles, he could be replaced after this game, so he needs to play well. A guy under with that kind of pressure could fall apart or rise to the pressure.

 

Wide Receivers

No. 17 Braylon Edwards 6’3” 215 lbs

Braylon Edwards is a physical specimen. His height and size create a mismatch for almost any defensive back. But Edwards is known more for his dropped passes and missed opportunities than he is for his big plays as of late. He is capable of being one of the best receivers in the NFL, but has yet to realize his potential.

No. 16 Josh Cribbs 6’1” 215 lbs

Cribbs is one of the most explosive players in the NFL. He is probably the most gifted return man in the game, and in an effort to get the ball in his hands more, he is now starting at wide receiver for the Browns as well.

Running Back

No. 31 Jamal Lewis 5’11” 245 lbs

In 2003 Lewis ran for 2066 yards in a single season, and was just 39 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. He has never come close to that mark again, but still Lewis is a bear of a running back, using a mix of size and power to grind out the tough yards.

Lewis supposedly has a neck injury, but I am sure he will be on the field this Sunday.

Offensive Line

Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Floyd “Porkchop”Womack, and John St. Clair make up the Browns offensive line.

The left side of the line is young and elite, the right side are wily veterans who know the tricks of the trade, and in the middle is a promising rookie center. Though unproven as a unit, the Browns have one of the better offensive lines in the game.

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

Cleveland has a stud in Josh Cribbs.

Containing Cribbs will be key to wining this game. Denver needs to kick the ball out of the end-zone on every kickoff, and punt the ball out of bounds on every punt to keep the ball out of the hands of the Browns’ best playmaker.

After Cribbs is contained, Denver needs to do what it did last week against Cincinnati, and put pressure on the young quarterback Quinn while simultaneously holding the line of scrimmage and stuffing the run.

As big of a potential threat as Edwards and Cribbs pose, they are no match for Denver’s seasoned secondary. So if Denver’s front seven can attack the Browns offense behind the line of scrimmage, the Bronco defense shouldn’t be on the field very long.

Look for Denver to be successful attacking the right side of the Browns offensive line getting pressure on Quinn and forcing him to scramble left against his throwing arm.

Haggan and Davis could see a few more sacks this week as a result of St.Cair’s aging abilities, on the flip side though Dumervil will have his hands full trying to get past perennial pro bowler Joe Thomas.

Though the schemes are no doubt different and the Browns are a different team this year Andra Davis should be ready to stick it to his former team this week.

If Denver can shut down the running game and not let Cribbs make plays on a screen, reverse or wildcat play, than Denver should be in good shape.

The Browns Defense

Coach Mangini brought some defensive talent with him from the Jets when he took over in Cleveland and in doing so he put together a more complete well rounded defense.

It all starts up front with Shaun Rogers who is largely considered one of the best nose tackles in the game. Though some have questioned his work ethic, he is effective at drawing double teams to open up opportunities for his teammates to make plays.

Rogers is flanked by Robaire Smith and Kenyon Coleman, who also do a great job of holding their ground and tying up their opponents.

Behind them is a great group of underrated yet very effective linebackers in K.Wimbley, D.Jackson, E.Barton, and D.Bowens. D’Qwell Jackson is the leader of this defense and is a tackling machine, he will be all over the field reeking havoc on passing and running plays alike.

The Browns also have a very respectable secondary with E.Wright, A.Elam, B.Pool and B.McDonald. Wright can hang with the best of them, and Elam is a hard hitter.  Beyond this though, their depth is a little thin.

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver’s offense went nowhere last week against the Bengals. They just couldn’t get anything together. This was not so much due to the Bengals defense as it was due to the failures of Denver’s offense. Dropped passes, penalties, and holding the ball too long put the Broncos in a deficit of yards all too often for the entire game. Denver should be able to correct these errors though, as they were uncharacteristic of the players who made them.

After a lackluster preseason performance Buckhalter played like he did back in Philadelphia and made the most of his opportunities to run the ball when given the chance, and should be expected to do so again against the Browns who gave up over 200 yards rushing last week.

The rookie Moreno on the other hand did not impress, but the Broncos offense was barely on the field last week. Hopefully his lack of playing time in preseason didn’t stunt Knowshon’s growth in the NFL and he will take better advantage of the opportunities he receives this week.

Denver’s offensive line did not have a great performance in week one at all. Holding penalties and giving up three sacks is not what anyone expected from this highly touted group.

The loss of Chris Kuper to injury was really felt during the game, I think it messed with the line’s chemistry and communication in a bad way. Hopefully Kuper will be back this week to return some stability to the unit, but they all need to play much better, mistake free football.

Orton still needs to settle down and open his eyes. Too many times did I see his feet chopping, which doesn’t allow him to set up and deliver the ball. He needs to finish his drop and set himself in the pocket and use his eyes better to play the defense off his intended target.

Orton also needs to work on his mental clock. He tends to hold the ball too long, and he needs to know that he is out of time and get rid of the ball.

The good news with Orton is that he was smart with the football in Week One. He didn’t turn the ball over trying to force a throw that wasn’t there, unlike what a former Broncos quarterback used to do (He lost the game for his new team by throwing four interceptions).

Denver’s wide receiving corps needs to shake off some rust, too. Every single wide receiver on the field dropped a catchable ball last week against the Bengals. That is unacceptable and I expect that it was an aberration that we won’t see repeated this week at home in Mile High.

 

As long as Denver continues to protect the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalty’s and big plays created by Josh Cribbs, I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Browns this week in their home opener.

I give Denver the edge in this game because of Clevland’s lack of explosive offense, and the Broncos improved defense. The Mile High air doesn’t hurt either.

My prediction: Denver wins 20-13.

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Week One Gameplan: Broncos Vs. Bengals

Even though this week’s game is in a city that is on the complete opposite end of the state and a four hour drive away from his hometown of Canton, Coach McDaniels gets to open up the season in his home state of Ohio.

They are pretty much known more for the television show “WKRP in Cincinnati” than for good football over the years.  The only notable player to ever wear a Bengals Uniform was Boomer Esiason who led Cincinnati to two Super Bowl losses to the 49ers in the 80’s.

The Bengals have gotten better over the past few years under the tutelage of Coach Marvin Lewis, yet they remain consistently inconsistent from year to year.

The Bengals followed up their 7-9 2007 record by finishing third in the AFC North in 2008 with a record of 4-11-1.  Nonetheless Cincinnati is not a team that you want to look past on your schedule. 

They are using the sting of their embarrassing showing last season to fuel their intensity this year.  The Bengals are a team of bad intentions who are much better than last year’s record shows and they need to be taken seriously.

 

The Bengals Offense

The Bengals are loaded at the offensive skilled positions. 

 

Quarterback  No. 9 Carson Palmer

He has a great arm and is a seasoned quarterback in the NFL.  He can be very dangerous if he has time to throw the football. 

 

Wide Receivers

No. 85 Chad OchoCinco 6’1” 192lbs

No. 85 is very talented.  Unfortunately his play has dropped off the past few years.   Whether it is double teams, chemistry, age or maybe he is just not that good, Mr. eight–five is known more for his antics on and off the field than for his play on it. 

 

No. 11 Laveranues Coles 5’11” 200lbs

Coles chose to sign with Cinci in the offseason and will fill the position opposite OchoCinco left vacant by T.J. Who’syourmama?’s departure. 

Coles has also had an inconsistent career in the NFL as a No. 1 receiver, but now that he is playing second fiddle to “the Chad” (who was once considered elite), he may see the kind of touches that Houshmandzadeh built his career on the past few years.

 

No. 15 Chris Henry 6’4” 200lbs

Henry has had a troubled career in the NFL.  He has shown flashes of great ability but has gotten in his own way by getting in trouble with the law.  Bengals fans are hoping he has turned over a new leaf this season. 

Henry turned it on in the preseason, racking up 14 catches for 224 yards and four touchdowns in four games.  This could mean he is poised to have an amazing year coming out of the slot.

 

Running Back

No. 32 Cedric Benson

Benson was supposed to be the reincarnation of Ricky Williams (the Ricky before he decided to retire from football at the height of his career so he could go smoke pot full-time). 

Unfortunately for Benson, he struggled more than he succeeded thus far in his career.  He may be finally putting things together in Cinci, but still, no one is expecting anything spectacular from him.

 

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

Cincinnati has a potent aerial arsenal at their disposal, with a capable running complement, but the Bengals do not have a very good offensive line.  Andre Smith was supposed to help make them better, but a holdout followed by a foot fracture has kept him from making any impact on the Bengals line.

Therefore the key for Denver to be successful against this passing attack will be putting pressure on the quarterback.

All three of Cinci’s receivers are known for their speed, not their route running.  So the trick is not to get beat deep.  The best way to do this is with pressure.  It takes time for receivers to get down the field no matter how fast they are. 

Palmer is a pocket passer with limited mobility and is fresh off an elbow injury last year.  If Denver can stay in Palmer’s face all day long the Bengals won’t have time to throw the deep ball. 

The beautiful thing about the 3-4 defense is that you can bring pressure from anywhere.

I look for the Denver’s front seven all to get involved in creating pressure.  D-line, outside, and inside backers should all keep the pressure coming from different places all day long. 

Champ, Goodman, Smith, Hill, and Dawkins should be able to keep OchoCinco, Coles, and Henry from getting open down field and snatch up any errant throws that come their way.

Denver’s front seven will also need to keep Cinci honest in the running game, but again Cinci’s weak O-line creates the opportunity for Denver to shut Benson down as well. 

The Bengals really don’t get too creative in their running plays and Denver will mostly see them try to pound the ball up the middle more than attempting to finesse run to the outside.

Denver has a chance to come out and make a statement defensively in this first game.  Not giving Palmer anytime to set up, make his reads, and throw the ball will go a long way to Denver getting a W this Sunday.  (Forcing a couple turnovers wouldn’t hurt either.)

 

The Bengals Defense

Cincinnati has quietly been putting together a very solid defense under Marvin Lewis.  They have yet to become one of the most feared in the league but they have been consistently getting better under his guidance. 

The Bengals run a 4-3 defense starting up front with Robert Geathers, Domata Peko, Tank Johnson, and Antwaan Odom.  These guys are big and tough will make plays on you if you’re not careful.  They also drafted rush specialist Michael Johnson out of Georgia Tech who could cause some trouble of his own on passing downs.

Dhani Jones, Rey Mauluga, and Keith Rivers make up a young but talented line-backing core for Cincinnati.  Mauluga may not start, but should at least see some time.  A top prospect who fell to Cinci in the second round, Maualuga is known to be a devastating hitter. 

Keith Rivers was a top prospect last year who would have challenged Jerod Mayo for defensive rookie of the year had he not broken his jaw in week seven. 

Cinci’s secondary got stronger with the addition of Roy Williams in the offseason.  If he can return to the form he once played with in Dallas a few years ago, this move could be huge for the Bengals. 

Leon Hall and Jonathon Joseph have developed into a pair of very good corners as well.  They will keep most offenses honest all over the field, but could be susceptible to the deep ball at times.  The Bengals do not have any notable depth to speak of beyond these two starters in the secondary.  

 

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver should just play their game against Cincinnati.  McDaniel’s offense should work against anybody, with screen passes to receivers and running backs, and short passes with a healthy portion of run set up by the pass. 

Hopefully Knowshon Moreno will be mostly-to-fully ready for the game.  He only had a few runs in preseason, but they were enough to show everyone that he will be a force to be reckoned with this year.   I don’t believe the Bronco’s depth chart; I think we will see him out there on the field quite often. 

Denver also may have their full complement of receivers including perhaps Brandon Marshall.

McDaniels’ system is all about game management.  If Orton is careful with the football and does not take any chances then the Broncos should be able to systematically move the ball down the field very well. 

Denver’s offensive line is one of the best in the NFL, and seldom gives up a sack.  I saw Orton having happy feat in the pocket too many times in the preseason.  Orton needs to learn to trust in his offensive line and be comfortable in the pocket knowing he has time, then just make the smart throw with the football.

If Marshall does indeed take the field then all bets are off.  Cincinnati’s biggest weakness is in their secondary, and Marshall should draw a double team.  That should leave things open for Royal, Gaffney, and Stokley to get open. 

McDaniels needs a win to satiate the critics out there who are already calling for his job, and the Bengals are looking to set the tone for the rest of their season.

As long as Denver protects the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalties and turnovers I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Bengals in week one.  Both teams will be hungry, and both teams will be looking to make a statement in this first game. 

Call me a homer if you want but I give Denver the edge in this game because of Cincinnati’s weak offensive line. 

My prediction: Denver wins 23- 17.

 

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Tony Scheffler: Impressing Denver’s Coaches

Player: Tony Scheffler

Height: 6′ 5″

Weight: 255 lbs.

Age: 26

College: Western Michigan

Acquired: Draft, Second Round (61st overall), 2006

Pro Year: Fourth

Combine Numbers:

• 4.54 seconds – 40 yard dash
• 17 reps of 225 lbs. – Bench press
• 33½” – Vertical jump
• 9’7″ – Broad jump
• 6.82 seconds – Three cone drill
• 4.04 seconds – Short shuttle

Scheffler led the NFL and set a Denver single-season record for the tight end position with a 16.1 yards-per-reception average in 2008. This helped him register a career-high 645 receiving yards (40 rec.), which ranked eighth in the league among tight ends.

Scheffler is known as a receiving tight end in the National Football League. His speed and his sure hands have allowed him to attain a certain level of success thus far in his career, but he will need to become a better blocker if he wants to take his game to the next level, especially in new Head Coach Josh McDaniels’s offensive system.

“All of our guys have got to be able to do everything; they cannot just be one-sided players,” said Denver Broncos tight ends coach Clancy Barone.  “They have got to be tough and smart and Tony certainly is both of those things.”

Barone certainly knows how to evaluate talent and get the best out of his players.  He has coached a Pro Bowl tight end each of last four years—the Chargers’ Antonio Gates (2007-08) and the Falcons’ Alge Crumpler (2005-06).

With such an impressive résumé of experience, it is clear that Barone is one of the best tight end coaches in the business.

And the intriguing part is that he has coveted the ability to work with Tony Scheffler for a while.

“[Tony] is such a talented guy, I knew that way back when he was in college.  I was with the Falcons and he was a guy that I wanted to draft.  Of course, the Broncos got him first,” Barone said.  “He is a guy that I would always keep in touch with when I’d see him after games when I was with the Chargers and we’d kind of talk.  [Tony] is such a talent and I’m just happy to have another one like that to coach.”

Coach Barone, who coached Gates and Crumpler to Pro Bowl seasons with their respective teams, believes that Scheffler is a guy who belongs in that same class of players talent-wise.

Barone is not the only coach who recognizes Scheffler’s abilities either. 

“He can do a lot of things. Tony is very versatile.  He obviously has very good speed and hands in the passing game,” said McDaniels

When coaching for New England, McDaniels used to split tight end Ben Watson out as a receiver to create a mismatch on the defense backs. I would imagine, given Scheffler’s abilities, he would use him in a similar capacity here in Denver this season.

McDaniels continued by saying, “[Scheffler] has also shown a good solid toughness in our running game for us here in training camp and that will be important when we are in those two tight end sets and want to try to run the ball.  We ask [our tight ends] to do a lot in our offense and Tony showed up and worked hard every day and he is getting better.”

Scheffler’s marked blocking improvement in camp, under coach Barone’s tutelage, has not gone unnoticed.

This will allow McDaniels to use Scheffler in his two-tight end formations, which will allow the Broncos to run the ball with power, and disguise some passing plays with this heavy formation.

Scheffler continues to get better and increase his versatility as a tight end and is just one of many very potent weapons on the Denver Broncos’ offense.

Scheffler will need to keep his wits about him and make the most out of the opportunities he gets to make a play this season.

This will be Scheffler’s fourth year in the league and, at 26 years old, if he continues to hone his craft, listen to coach Barone and impress Coach McDaniels, he will certainly take his place among the NFL elite tight ends in the next few years.

Brandon Stokley: Denver Broncos’ Wes Welker?

Many have speculated that Eddie Royal would be the next Wes Welker in Denver, but signs point to a different Bronco taking on that role.

Ever since Josh McDaniels was named the head coach in Denver, fans and pundits alike have dubbed the Broncos “the Patriots West.” 

Coach McDaniels brought with him the potent offensive system that he ran so successfully in New England when he landed in Denver.  

Naturally, this has caused speculation and comparisons, as people ponder who on the Broncos roster will fill the roles that Randy Moss and Wes Welker occupied in New England.

Most have automatically assumed that Brandon Marshall fills Moss’s role and Denver’s rookie phenom from last year, Eddie Royal, would step right in to the slot position and become the Wes Welker for the “Patriots West” Denver Broncos.

The indications we get from training camp thus far seem to tell a different story, though.

Randy Moss (6’4″, 210 lbs.) and Brandon Marshall  (6’4″, 230 lbs.) share similar physical characteristics in size, height and weight, but what sets them apart is the way they play the game.

Randy Moss is a burner, he uses his speed to beat a corner down field and uses his height and leaping ability to secure the ball when covered tight.

While Marshall shares the same height advantage, he does not have the same speed.  This makes Marshall more of a possession receiver than a speed guy.

Marshall makes up for his lack of speed by using his size to his advantage.  Marshall is difficult to bring down, and is elusive when he gets the ball in the open field.  

You don’t see Marshall beating a corner deep for a long gain; you see him get separation and make a catch 12 yards out and then break a tackle and make a move to get those extra yards.

Eddie Royal, on the other hand, has the speed to beat a corner deep, and has the sure hands to make the catch.  The only thing Eddie lacks is the height to win the jumpball of an imprecisely thrown pass.

Forgetting about a number system that ranks receivers and simply focusing on who is going to play the role of running the deep ball routes, Eddie Royal will be the Randy Moss in Denver’s new offense.

So what role will Brandon Marshall play then?  Is Brandon Marshall Denver’s Wes Welker?

No.

Though Wes Welker’s production has been prolific and he is considered the No. 2 receiver in New England, Welker got his yards operating on the inside, slot or at the No. 3 wide receiver position.

New England, and not Denver, had another receiver (often new Bronco and former Patriot Jabar Gaffney) run routes from the other outside receiver spot. 

Once he is healthy, and if he wins his day in court, I see Marshall filling this role where his routes would be more intermediary than deep, which would play to his strengths.

So who would be the Wes Welker slot receiver for the Denver Broncos? 

Who, other than the guy who has spent the last two years in Denver’s slot, Brandon Stokley?

“Brandon Stokley is one of the toughest slot receivers I’ve coached against; (he is) everything I thought he was when I came here,” McDaniels said, adding that Stokley “just has a knack of how to get open.  That’s an invaluable skill for a wide receiver, particularly on third down.”

McDaniels recognizes Stokley’s abilities as a slot receiver and plans to use him in this capacity because it is what Stokley does best.

Stokley has all the tools of the prototypical slot receiver.  The only question may be if he can handle the workload.

Over the past two seasons, Wes Welker has tallied an NFL high 223 receptions out of the slot position.

Over that same span, Stokley caught only 89 balls and missed six games due to injury.  Add to that the fact that he recently turned 33, and you might doubt whether Stokley has the durability needed to be “Wes Welker” in Denver.

Stokley believes he is up to the task, “I think I can play a lot of plays and take the grind of the season.  I worked hard in the offseason and I’m ready to go, man. I’m ready to play football.”

Coach McDaniels thinks he can handle it as well, “We’ll play Brandon probably more than they did last year just because of the way we are going to be in three-receiver offense as much as we may end up being in it.”

Stokley is already proving he can handle the workload this off-season.  Having developed a strong chemistry with his new quarterback, Kyle Orton, through OTA’s and minicamp, the Orton-to-Stokley connection is one that can be seen often in training camp.

The Denver Broncos’ official Twitter has tweeted the following over the past week: “Orton finds Stokley deep down the middle for a long gain” and “Orton-to-Stokley for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion.”

Mike Klis of the Denver Post has observed this connection as well, “During a 7-on-7 pass coverage drill early in the Broncos’ practice at training camp, Orton threw a ball 40 yards until it landed perfectly in Brandon Stokley’s hands”

“Orton completed so many passes to Brandon Stokley during the controlled scrimmage at Invesco Field at Mile High on Aug. 6 that no one should have trouble learning who will play the Wes Welker role in the Broncos’ new offense this year.”

In the end, no two receivers are the same, but, in a straight up comparison, Eddie Royal is Denver’s Randy Moss (deep threat), Brandon Marshall is the other outside receiver (intermediate possession guy), and Brandon Stokley is Denver’s Wes Welker.

Desire: Does Jarvis Moss Have It?

Desire.

You have to want it, and you have to want it badly.

Life does not make it a habit of just handing you something, you have to work for it, you have to want it, especially when it comes to playing football.

Even at the High School level you have to put in the time, go to the weight room, watch the tape, practice until you can do it in your sleep, push yourself beyond your limits to succeed.

Jarvis Moss is no longer sure that he has the desire. 

Several team sources have confirmed that Moss left Dove Valley Saturday without practicing and has informed the Denver Broncos that he is contemplating whether he wants to continue playing football.  

Coach Josh McDaniels explained that,”[Moss] was excused [from practice] for a very personal reason. I am going to respect that, and I hope everybody else does, too.”

Despite being drafted as the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, Moss never fully realized his potential as a defensive end with the Broncos over the past few seasons.

Hampered by a fractured right fibula in his rookie year, Moss played only sparingly for the Broncos over the past two seasons, amassing career stats of only 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Too small to play Defensive End in the 3-4 defense that is being implemented in Denver this year, Jarvis was moved to outside linebacker to make better use of his 6’6″ 265 lb frame.  

Jarvis seemed to be excited about this change of position which many NFL scouts and commentators thought he was best suited to play coming out of college.

“It’s a brand new start for me,” Moss said. “I’m going to continue to work hard, pray, and everything will take care of itself.”

Moss had been working out with the Broncos all offseason, and despite being low on the depth chart he seemed to be in fine spirits.

Something must have changed his thinking though, as he is now contemplating retirement.

Maybe he couldn’t handle being that low on the depth chart, no longer the big man on campus that he maybe was at Florida, and couldn’t handle the pressure that his high draft status put on him. 

Maybe he felt like he couldn’t keep up physically with the other guys, and that it is only a matter of time.

Perhaps he feels unwanted, as it was reported that Denver tried to trade him for a seventh round pick during the draft.

Maybe he cannot hang with the rest of the team mentally, with the strain of learning a new more complex defensive system.

Whatever his reasoning is, Moss has doubts about whether or not he wants to continue to play football, and you cannot have that.

Moss is paid to play, and it takes a commitment of all that you are.  Your body, your time, your energy, everything. 

But he doesn’t know if he wants to play anymore.

It all comes down to how badly you want it.  You need to live it, and if he has his doubts about it then this may be the end of Jarvis Moss’ career.

After an action like this, the likelihood that Moss makes the Denver Broncos 53-man roster is remote. 

If you didn’t have him there already, Broncos fans can officially call Jarvis Moss a bust.

If he is having doubts now, than I think it is safe to say that he no longer wants to play. 

He just doesn’t have that essential quality.

You need to want it.

You need to have that Desire.

Desire: Does Jarvis Moss Have It?

Desire.

You have to want it, and you have to want it badly.

Life does not make it a habit of just handing you something, you have to work for it, you have to want it, especially when it comes to playing football.

Even at the High School level you have to put in the time, go to the weight room, watch the tape, practice until you can do it in your sleep, push yourself beyond your limits to succeed.

Jarvis Moss is no longer sure that he has the desire. 

Several team sources have confirmed that Moss left Dove Valley Saturday without practicing and has informed the Denver Broncos that he is contemplating whether he wants to continue playing football.  

Coach Josh McDaniels explained that,”[Moss] was excused [from practice] for a very personal reason. I am going to respect that, and I hope everybody else does, too.”

Despite being drafted as the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, Moss never fully realized his potential as a defensive end with the Broncos over the past few seasons.

Hampered by a fractured right fibula in his rookie year, Moss played only sparingly for the Broncos over the past two seasons, amassing career stats of only 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Too small to play Defensive End in the 3-4 defense that is being implemented in Denver this year, Jarvis was moved to outside linebacker to make better use of his 6’6″ 265 lb frame.  

Jarvis seemed to be excited about this change of position which many NFL scouts and commentators thought he was best suited to play coming out of college.

“It’s a brand new start for me,” Moss said. “I’m going to continue to work hard, pray, and everything will take care of itself.”

Moss had been working out with the Broncos all offseason, and despite being low on the depth chart he seemed to be in fine spirits.

Something must have changed his thinking though, as he is now contemplating retirement.

Maybe he couldn’t handle being that low on the depth chart, no longer the big man on campus that he maybe was at Florida, and couldn’t handle the pressure that his high draft status put on him. 

Maybe he felt like he couldn’t keep up physically with the other guys, and that it is only a matter of time.

Perhaps he feels unwanted, as it was reported that Denver tried to trade him for a seventh round pick during the draft.

Maybe he cannot hang with the rest of the team mentally, with the strain of learning a new more complex defensive system.

Whatever his reasoning is, Moss has doubts about whether or not he wants to continue to play football, and you cannot have that.

Moss is paid to play, and it takes a commitment of all that you are.  Your body, your time, your energy, everything. 

But he doesn’t know if he wants to play anymore.

It all comes down to how badly you want it.  You need to live it, and if he has his doubts about it then this may be the end of Jarvis Moss’ career.

After an action like this, the likelihood that Moss makes the Denver Broncos 53-man roster is remote. 

If you didn’t have him there already, Broncos fans can officially call Jarvis Moss a bust.

If he is having doubts now, than I think it is safe to say that he no longer wants to play. 

He just doesn’t have that essential quality.

You need to want it.

You need to have that Desire.

Brett Favre’s Retirement Opens the Door for Michael Vick

Vikings fans everywhere are disappointed about the announcement that Brett Favre has decided to stay retired. 

Even at the age of 40, Favre would bring credibility to any team. Opposing defenses needed to respect Favre’s abilities. He made things happen with the football. He was a gunslinger.

Favre held the Vikings hostage with his indecision, and now Minnesota is stuck with another season of having a passing game that doesn’t scare anyone.

Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson hardly strike fear into the hearts of NFL secondaries.

Minnesota is once again one-dimensional, and has to rely on Adrian Peterson to win their games for them.

Or do they?

The Vikings were ready to take a risk with the aging arm of Brett Favre after the end of the season meltdown he had last year with the Jets. Why wouldn’t they be willing to take a shot on another risky player?

Michael Vick is free and clear to sign with any team in the NFL, but few teams are in need of a starting QB. 

Minnesota already has a “backup plan” in place with Rosenfels and Jackson, but the Vikings know that neither of these guys has the chops, or they wouldn’t have entertained the possibility of Farve’s third coming.  

The Vikings have also constantly shown that they are willing to ignore a player’s off-the-field faults, as was the case with Percy Harvin and Randy Moss.

The addition of Vick just makes sense, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.  It is a risk, but it could pay off.

Aside from the PR frenzy it might cause, (which would go away after a few months) the real question with Vick is if he still has what it takes to play football in the NFL. If he can answer positively to that question, then I can’t see how this doesn’t make sense.

If Minnesota signs Vick, they could have a monopoly in the running game. They would have Michael Vick, a QB with great speed, Peterson, the most dominant running back in the league, and Percy Harvin, a receiver threat who can run the ball.

All the different possibilites that Vick could create are just amazing.  

It makes sense, Minnesota. Embrace the madness and go get Michael Vick!

Former Denver Broncos That Are So “Good” Nobody Wants Them

Going into training camp this year, fans of the Denver Broncos find themselves looking at a completely different team than they beheld just one year ago. 

Many players who were household names to the Broncos faithful are either with another team or are still looking for work this offseason.

With all the change that has occurred in the Broncos’ roster, I find it encouraging that Denver has cut the fat that was holding the team back.

Taking a look at the long list of players no longer in Denver, there seems to be a trend. 

Many of them are still unemployed. 

The following is a list of 2008 starters that nobody wants. These players are so “good,” nobody wants them. After starting last year for Mike Shanahan’s poor excuse for a defense (save Selvin), these guys aren’t even good enough to attend OTA’s with another NFL team.

 

Defensive Tackle Dewayne Robertson (Cut)

Robertson was supposed to be the answer to Denver’s problem of stuffing the run. 

Unfortunately, his nagging knee injury never allowed him to be anything more than a rotational player who was far from the force in the middle that Denver fans were expecting.

His 22 total tackles and 1.5 sacks were just not enough for McDaniels and Co. to keep him around. 

And surprise, surprise. Robertson is such a good player, nobody wants him.

 

Linebacker Boss Bailey (Cut)

Champ Bailey’s brother, Boss, has had an unfortunate career. 

When he is on the field, he has played very well. But he has been struck with the injury bug and has not been able to shake it for a number of years now. 

It is hard to know how good a player is if he is never actually able to play. 

Boss’ nagging injuries have kept him off the field for too long, and his reputation precedes him. Injuries have kept Boss from being able to find employment on another NFL team, despite being a season opening starter in 2008.

 

Defensive End John Engelberger (Cut)

I never understood why this guy ever became a starter in the NFL. He played for the 49ers when they were terrible, so maybe that was it. 

Engleberger never put up great numbers and has always been too small (260 pounds) to be an effective defensive end.

He may have had desire and heart, as he was known to play through injury, but his skills have always been second string at best. It just goes to show how terrible Denver’s defense was last year.

 

Running Back Selvin Young (Cut)

Mike Shanahan’s offensive system with Bobby Turner’s and Rich Dennison’s coaching allowed him to plug anyone into Denver’s backfield and have success. This was proved time and again.

Selvin Young went undrafted in 2007, but he proved to be a capable back in the zone blocking one-cut system Denver runs. 

Young probably could not have started on any other NFL team, yet he started for the Denver Broncos in 2008. But he was one of many who got injured early in the season and never recovered. 

His “skills” were not good enough to keep him around Denver in McDaniels’ Offense, and he too is looking for a job.  

 

Linebacker Nate Webster (Free Agent)

Despite being a career backup, Nate Webster got a chance to start in Denver after Al Wilson went down with a career-ending back injury. 

Webster played fairly well in 2008, cleaning up many tackles missed by the anemic defense, but he also got beat quite often and looked out of control on the field. 

He too struggled with injuries and in the end was not worth keeping around. 

 

Linebacker Jamie Winborn (Cut)

Stepping into place after Boss went out with an injury, Winborn started most of the season as the strong side outside linebacker.

In fact, Winborn led the team in tackles for the 2008 season. 

Winborn turned 30 and doesn’t fit the 3-4 system Mike Nolan is implementing in Denver, so he was cut, and he has yet to get an offer to play for another NFL team.

The following are more 2008 players who have yet to sign with another team after being released by the Denver Broncos.

Fullback Andrew Pinnock (cut)

Running back P.J. Pope (cut)

Tight end Nate Jackson (cut)

Linebacker Louis Green (cut)

Safety Herana-Daze Jones (cut)

Cornerback Rashad Moulton (cut)

Tight end Chad Mustard (cut)

Running back Alex Haynes (cut)

Running back Cory Boyd (cut)

Wide receiver Cliff Russell (cut)

Defensive tackle John Shaw (cut)

All of these players were so “good” no other NFL team will have them. 

Maybe they will get picked up as players get injured during camp or the regular season, but it is mind-boggling that so many guys who played for Denver last year are such dead-weights and have failed to attract interest from any of the other 31 NFL teams.

There were only nine players out of the 27 who were released from last year’s roster that have been able to join a team for training camp with a shot at maybe making the team.

Running back Anthony Aldridge (waivers, Washington)

Wide receiver Jayson Foster (cut, Pittsburgh)

Linebacker Niko Koutouvides (cut, Tampa Bay)

Tight end Mike Leach (cut, Arizona)

Safety Marquand Manuel (cut, Detriot)

Safety Marlon McCree (FA, Jacksonville)

Cornerback Karl Paymeh (FA, Minnesota)

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey (FA, Tennessee)

Cornerback Dré Bly (cut, San Francisco)

All of these guys will have a difficult time making their new teams as anything more than a special teams player or a backup. That is just how “good” these players are.

Note the picture I chose for this article. It took Robertson, Engleberger, and Webster to try to tackle Ronnie Brown. You can blame Slowik and his terrible defensive scheme, but it also goes to show the talent these players possess.

McDaniels and Co. wasted no time cleaning house in Denver, and I am glad that they did. It wasn’t as if there was untapped talent among the players that Denver released, but rather, dead weight that needed to be purged.

Everything has changed in Denver this offseason, and the Broncos have shed the players who were substandard, injury-ridden, and didn’t fit the system. 

To these players, I say “thank you for your service and good luck,” but I am glad to see them replaced with promising talents and players who can step in and win.

Denver is a team with new players and a new identity going into the 2009 season. It is streamlined and ready to surprise a lot of people.

Brandon Marshall Will Be In Camp

It is a topic that has been circulating in the back of every Broncos player and fans mind since Brandon Marshall left Dove Valley a month ago with a bunch of boxes after meeting with Pat Bowlen.  Will Brandon Marshall remain a Bronco in 2009?

Since Marshall asked to be traded the Denver Broncos have held up a strong front.  From the team’s standpoint he is under contract and they have no intention of trading him or re-signing him to a larger contract with all his legal problems looming.  

Marshall’s attempt to get a larger contract by demanding a trade has not worked on the Broncos, and with training camp just around the corner, you have to wonder how far Marshall is willing to take this.

The Denver Post’s Mike Klis reported earlier this week that the Broncos informed Brandon Marshall that as an injured player he will be expected to show up for training camp with the team’s rookies on July 27.

Yahoo! Sports Sean Jensen caught up with Brandon Marshall at the University of Minnesota while he was working out with fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

When asked if he plans to report to training camp on time, Marshall said, “Well, I’m under contract with the Broncos.”

This looks like a good sign. Despite Marshall’s desire for a new contract and his issues with the Broncos medical staff, he still understands that he needs to honor his contract and report to camp.

When Marshall was asked about his situation possibly being a distraction to his teammates he responded, “You don’t ever want to be that.”

So we can all hope that Marshall comes into camp and is able to talk with the organization and work things out, while training and working hard to learn the new offensive system Coach McDaniels has instituted in Denver.

Despite being away from Denver, Marshall has still been rehabbing from his injury and working out to try to get better at his craft. 

Marshall said, “At the end of the day, I’m going to be playing football, and, if I’m going to be out there, I got to be in the best shape I can be in.  All I can do is get up everyday and beat my body up, and that’s the truth.”

Marshall has even been challenging himself by working out with other NFL wide receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald, who many considered to be the NFL’s best wide receiver right now.

“The main thing I’m taking back to Orlando with me is that I’m 20 yards behind Fitzgerald.  [Working out here] showed me how far behind I am from the best.”

Marshall said he enjoyed sharing insights with receivers like Fitzgerald and the Green Bay Packers’ Greg Jennings.

(Hopefully he learned a little something about how to handle your business from Jennings, who is an elite receiver himself and was able to get a huge contract extension by just playing well, not by causing a scene or involving the media.)

The highlight of Brandon’s week in Minnesota though was when he worked out with Jerry Rice. “I had never gotten the chance to meet the G.O.A.T. [Greatest of All Time] before,” Marshall said. “It’s inspiring, to see how old he is, and how he’s still got it.”

If Marshall got some insight from these great players about how to handle his business from here on out, then maybe Marshall will shut up, report to camp and do what he is paid to do, and let the contract take care of itself. 

If it wasn’t for Brandon’s off-the-field legal issues I’m sure he would have a long term contract already.  Hard work pays off, and that is what he needs to do, work hard, keep his nose clean and the money will come.

I know we haven’t heard the last of this situation, but one thing we can rest assured about is that Marshall will not try to holdout. He will report to camp.  After all he is still under contract with the Broncos.

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