Tag: Denver Broncos (Page 14 of 56)

      Why won’t Josh McDaniels utilize Tim Tebow?

      September 29, 2010 /
      Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow stands on the sideline during the first quarter of their NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Daron Dean (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      There are only 16 games on a NFL schedule. Most seasons, a team has to win at least nine of those 16 games to make the playoffs and sometimes that’s not even enough.

      Forty-five players can be active on Sundays. Of those 45 players, usually two are quarterbacks and a third is named the emergency signal caller in case of injury.

      With this in mind, I wonder why Josh McDaniels has decided not to use rookie Tim Tebow in special packages – especially with running back Knowshon Moreno out with a hamstring injury.

      I’m not a big Tebow fan. I think he’s a massive project and I have serious doubts that he’ll be a productive starting quarterback one day in the NFL. But that’s just my opinion. Obviously McDaniels and the scouts in Denver see something in him, which is why they traded multiple picks to move up in April’s draft to select him in the first round. One day, Tebow will be the starter in Denver, although it won’t be this year and chances are it won’t be in 2011 either.

      So why not get Tebow involved now? He can obviously run, as he proved that at Florida. His passing mechanics are still a work in progress, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t line up in the Wildcat formation and throw the ball out of a run-pass option. McDaniels thinks it’s “ridiculous” to use Tebow in short yardage situations, but I would venture to say that it’s more ridiculous for a head coach not to use all of the weapons that are at his disposal.

      What is McDaniels worried about? That his quarterback of the future could get hurt running the ball? Tebow is a runner at heart – he’s not going to stop running when he becomes a starter.

      Is McDaniels worried that Tebow is going to make a mistake to cost the Broncos a game? All young players make mistakes – it’s inevitable.

      I don’t get why a team like the Broncos that lacks offensive punch would leave a potential weapon like Tebow on the bench. I’m not suggesting he start over Kyle Orton – now that would be ridiculous. But seeing as how Laurence Maroney was stuffed at the goal line last week in a loss to the Colts, maybe it’s time for McDaniels to consider all of his options.

      Good head coaches know how to utilize all of their talent. It’s one of the things that gives them an advantage on Sunday.

      External Sports, NFL

      Example 948A that stats can be misleading

      September 26, 2010 /
      Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver. UPI/Gary C. Caskey Photo via Newscom

      If someone were to ask me before the games today how many points the Broncos would score if Kyle Orton threw for 476 yards, I probably would have responded with: “31.”

      Because you have to figure that Denver gets in the end zone at least four times if Kyle freaking Orton is throwing for 476 yards. I mean, there’s no way the Broncos are scoring less than 31 points if Kyle bowl haircut Orton throws for 476 yards, right?

      Thirteen. As in 13. As in 13 points the Broncos scored on Sunday in their 27-13 loss to the Colts.

      How does Kyle Orton throw for 476 yards and the Broncos only score 13 points? Matt Schaub threw for nearly 500 yards last week in Washington. Do you know how many points the Texans scored? Thirty. I realize that Houston has a much more potent offense than Denver, but the math doesn’t add up when a quarterback throws for nearly 500 yards, only turns the ball over once and his team only scores 13 measly points.

      Josh McDaniels is going to look at the film from the game today and puke. Peyton Manning threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, but everyone knew he was going to do that. He’s Peyton Manning. When Kyle Orton gives you 476 yards, you have to at least be in position to win that game in the end.

      The Broncos ran nine plays inside the Colts’ 15-yard line in the second quarter alone and only came away with three points. The red zone offense was brutal the entire game and some of that is on McDaniels, some of it is on Orton, some of that is on his receivers, some of it is on the offensive line and some of it you just have to chalk up to good defense.

      Either way, Kyle Orton threw for 476 yards today and the Broncos only scored 13 points. I guess I could have just written that and saved myself 250-plus words, because it explains it all.

      External Sports, NFL

      Broncos’ receiver Kenny McKinley found dead after committing suicide

      September 21, 2010 /
      DENVER - AUGUST 30: Wide reciever Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos makes a reception against the Chicago Bears during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 30, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Bears defeated the Broncos 27-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

      In incredibly sad news, the Denver Post is reporting that Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley has committed suicide.

      Authorities were called to McKinley’s home in central Centennial at approximately 3:25 p.m. to investigate a possible suicide. Officers discovered McKinley’s body in a second-floor bedroom with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

      He was 23 and is survived by a young son.

      “Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more important, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room,” coach Josh McDaniels said in a statement Monday night. “This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

      “He was one of the funniest guys I knew,” former Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley said. “Everything he said and everything he did was funny. That was his personality — he was always happy. A lot of people say that about people that passed, but that’s the truth. He was always a happy, funny guy. That’s what makes this so devastating.”

      “Kenny had a big heart, a love for life. It’s just very shocking,” said Andrew Bondarowicz, his agent. “These guys, they’re made of steel on the outside. But for a lot of them, the challenge of being at your best and living up to all the expectations is a difficult situation. Some people are better equipped and have the support system.”

      This just goes to show you that you never know what someone is dealing with in their personal life. My heart goes out to McKinley’s family and most of all, his young son.

      As the Post points out, the Broncos are no strangers to tragedy. In January of 2007, cornerback Darrent Williams was shot during a drive-by shooting, while running back Damien Nash collapsed suddenly following a celebrity charity basketball game in February of that same year.

      The Broncos have certainly gone through a lot over the past four years.

      External Sports, NFL

      Hey look – a playmaking wideout in Denver who has never been arrested

      September 19, 2010 /
      Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (L) celebrates scoring a touchdown over the Seattle Seahawks with teammate Jabar Gaffney in their NFL football game in Denver September 19, 2010. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      When the Broncos finally gave up on troubled star Brandon Marshall and traded him to the Dolphins in the offseason, they deemed first round pick Demaryius Thomas the answer to their massive need for an offensive playmaker.

      When Thomas struggled with a foot injury for much of the preseason and missed Denver’s loss last week in Jacksonville, it was easy to question whether or not he would make an impact his rookie year.

      But apparently he will.

      The former Georgia Tech product caught eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 31-14 rout of the Seahawks on Sunday. He was targeted nine times, so the fact that he caught eight of the passes thrown his way shows that the rookie can make plays in Josh McDaniels’ offense.

      Of course, you can’t talk about a rookie that hauled in eight passes for 97 yards without talking about the man who was pitching him the rock. Kyle Orton finished 25-of-35 for 307 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions, proving once again that he’s more comfortable in his second year under McDaniels. Denver’s running game once again couldn’t get going, but with the way Orton threw the ball Knowshon Moreno and company weren’t needed.

      As for the Seahawks, their 31-6 victory over the 49ers smells flukish in light of how they played today. Not that winning at home and losing on the road is anything new for Seattle.

      External Sports, NFL

      Belichick names Maroney full-time starter. Nah, just kidding – he traded him to Denver.

      September 14, 2010 /
      New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney (39) spikes the ball in the endzone after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on November 8, 2009. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 27-17. UPI/Matthew Healey Photo via Newscom

      There have been times over the course of the last couple of years where it looked like Laurence Maroney was finally going to turn the page in New England.

      Like the time when he rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries against the Bengals his rookie year – a performance that earned him both FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week and Diet Pepsi Rookie NFL Player of the Week honors.

      Or like during the 2007 playoffs, when he compiled 244 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two games before being limited to 36 yards on 14 carries (with one touchdown) against the Giants in the Super Bowl.

      But whenever it appeared that Maroney was ready to make more out of his career, injuries, inconsistent play or Bill Belichick’s desire to keep Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk or Fred Taylor relevant would get in his way.

      After receiving zero action in the final two preseason games this year, Maroney appeared to be in Belichick’s doghouse for good. And even when Belichick insisted that his former first round pick was still in the Patriots’ plans, you got the sense that Maroney wasn’t long for New England.

      On Tuesday, Belichick shipped Maroney and a sixth rounder to Denver in exchange for a fourth round pick. Maroney will now be reunited with Josh McDaniels, who was his former offensive coordinator in New England. He joins a backfield that also includes Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter, although the latter has shown signs of decline, which is probably why the Broncos felt the need to acquire Maroney.

      Maybe now that he’s out of Foxboro, Maroney will start to live up to his first round status. He’s still going to have to split carries, but at 25 he has plenty of time to turn things around if he can make the most out of the situation.

      In New England, Belichick is now relying on the combination of Taylor, Faulk and Sammy Morris in the running game. Should be interesting.

      Knowshon Moreno owners can relax. He’s the clear RB1 in Denver. If anything, the main guy hurt by Maroney’s arrival is Correll Buckhalter, who may not get as many reps if Maroney thrives with the Broncos. I think the big benefactor from this trade is probably Fred Taylor, who is now even more cemented in as the Pats‘ RB1. Maroney was up-and-down while in New England, but he clearly has some talent and he was still a threat to Taylor’s touches. Now Taylor will surely be the main ballcarrier while Kevin Faulk takes all the third-down and receiving duties. It looks like BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5 carries on Sunday) is next in line for carries if Taylor were to go down.

      External Sports, NFL

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