broncohaven
08-31-2005, 06:06 AM
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
The End of the Beginning
Filed under: General— @ 5:48 am Edit This
We know how the cliché reads; “it’s only the preseason”, but to look at Peyton Manning’s reaction to being sacked in the third quarter at the hands of rookie cornerback Darrent Williams, and you would be hard pressed to convince anyone that the preseason doesn’t mean anything. Seeing Peyton frustrated is a rare occurrence in the NFL, and the fact the Broncos were able to produce such vehement rage from the All-Pro quarterback should speak volumes about where this team has come in the off-season.
The most notable difference in this contest compared with the two playoff loses at the hands of the Colts was the pressure put on Manning by Denver’s front four. Showing that without a doubt the defensive line, full to the brim with Cleveland castoffs, has been upgraded over that squad that trotted onto the field last December. Not a starter remains the same along Denver’s defensive line, and I for one would argue that there isn’t a position along the line that isn’t better this year. Substitute Trevor Pryce for Reggie Heyward. Replace Mario Fatefhi with Gerrard Warren. Swap Michael Myers for Monsanto Pope. And exchange Ebenezer Ekuban for Anton Palepoi. Despite their disappointing paths to Denver they’re proving that the past is gone and done with, and that they’ve arrived in Denver ready to play. With four new starters, each of them an upgrade, I expect some good things from the Broncos front four this season.
Darrent Williams may be of diminutive stature by NFL standards, but he’s proving more than worthy of the second round selection the Broncos invested in him. He adds energy to the Broncos secondary that hasn’t been present since I can remember. Champ Bailey is the quiet professional, going about the business of shutting down receivers with reserved aplomb. Peyton Manning gave Williams the ultimate compliment on Saturday when, despite being matched against one of the leagues best receivers in Marvin Harrison, Manning chose to pick on Lenny Walls on the other side of the field. Given that fact, Walls better keep looking forward if he doesn’t want to see his competition for the starting spot, because the little man is bearing down on him. Mike Anderson may be the comeback player of the year this season. After winning rookie of the year honors in 2000, Anderson has been relegated to the grunt work of an NFL fullback. He sat out the entire 2004 season with a shredded groin, but seemed back to his old rookie form against the Colts. Showing he has enough speed to scamper 93 yards in a single burst, and that he can get the tough yards in the red zone that the Broncos couldn’t manage last season. Add to that the comfort level that Jake Plummer feels having Anderson in the backfield to pick up blitzers, and Anderson may do more for this offense than anyone could have predicted. There can’t be much doubt that Tatum Bell is the future at tailback for the Broncos, it clearly isn’t Maurice Clarett, but maybe the old Marine has one more dynamic season. It will be nice to see the Mile High salute.
In Cutting Maurice Clarett, Mike Shanahan set his ego aside and decided to cut his losses. I hope that when the time comes he’ll be able to do the same with Jerry Rice. For all the talk of fair competition for roster spots, it would be nice to see the old man make at least one play before he’s given the #3 spot ahead of the slick-fingered Darius Watts. At least Watts can run a route that keeps a cornerback’s attention. Watts is perhaps the most adept Broncos receiver when it comes to getting open. When he learns to relax and catch the ball like he’s capable, he’ll be a great asset to the Broncos. And don’t doubt that he will get over the dropsies, because he will. You don’t put up the numbers he did at Marshall if he had a physical problem catching the ball. Once he stops worrying about it so much the catches will come.
The pre-season is over for the starters, but it lasted long enough for them to show that the rest of the teams in the AFC West are going to have deal with the Denver Broncos. Anyone who wants to hand the Division to the upstart Chargers or the aged Chiefs might want to practice a little patience and see how things play out. Judging from the pre-season, the Broncos may have something to say about how the Division ends up. But of course the pre-season means nothing, right Peyton?
The End of the Beginning
Filed under: General— @ 5:48 am Edit This
We know how the cliché reads; “it’s only the preseason”, but to look at Peyton Manning’s reaction to being sacked in the third quarter at the hands of rookie cornerback Darrent Williams, and you would be hard pressed to convince anyone that the preseason doesn’t mean anything. Seeing Peyton frustrated is a rare occurrence in the NFL, and the fact the Broncos were able to produce such vehement rage from the All-Pro quarterback should speak volumes about where this team has come in the off-season.
The most notable difference in this contest compared with the two playoff loses at the hands of the Colts was the pressure put on Manning by Denver’s front four. Showing that without a doubt the defensive line, full to the brim with Cleveland castoffs, has been upgraded over that squad that trotted onto the field last December. Not a starter remains the same along Denver’s defensive line, and I for one would argue that there isn’t a position along the line that isn’t better this year. Substitute Trevor Pryce for Reggie Heyward. Replace Mario Fatefhi with Gerrard Warren. Swap Michael Myers for Monsanto Pope. And exchange Ebenezer Ekuban for Anton Palepoi. Despite their disappointing paths to Denver they’re proving that the past is gone and done with, and that they’ve arrived in Denver ready to play. With four new starters, each of them an upgrade, I expect some good things from the Broncos front four this season.
Darrent Williams may be of diminutive stature by NFL standards, but he’s proving more than worthy of the second round selection the Broncos invested in him. He adds energy to the Broncos secondary that hasn’t been present since I can remember. Champ Bailey is the quiet professional, going about the business of shutting down receivers with reserved aplomb. Peyton Manning gave Williams the ultimate compliment on Saturday when, despite being matched against one of the leagues best receivers in Marvin Harrison, Manning chose to pick on Lenny Walls on the other side of the field. Given that fact, Walls better keep looking forward if he doesn’t want to see his competition for the starting spot, because the little man is bearing down on him. Mike Anderson may be the comeback player of the year this season. After winning rookie of the year honors in 2000, Anderson has been relegated to the grunt work of an NFL fullback. He sat out the entire 2004 season with a shredded groin, but seemed back to his old rookie form against the Colts. Showing he has enough speed to scamper 93 yards in a single burst, and that he can get the tough yards in the red zone that the Broncos couldn’t manage last season. Add to that the comfort level that Jake Plummer feels having Anderson in the backfield to pick up blitzers, and Anderson may do more for this offense than anyone could have predicted. There can’t be much doubt that Tatum Bell is the future at tailback for the Broncos, it clearly isn’t Maurice Clarett, but maybe the old Marine has one more dynamic season. It will be nice to see the Mile High salute.
In Cutting Maurice Clarett, Mike Shanahan set his ego aside and decided to cut his losses. I hope that when the time comes he’ll be able to do the same with Jerry Rice. For all the talk of fair competition for roster spots, it would be nice to see the old man make at least one play before he’s given the #3 spot ahead of the slick-fingered Darius Watts. At least Watts can run a route that keeps a cornerback’s attention. Watts is perhaps the most adept Broncos receiver when it comes to getting open. When he learns to relax and catch the ball like he’s capable, he’ll be a great asset to the Broncos. And don’t doubt that he will get over the dropsies, because he will. You don’t put up the numbers he did at Marshall if he had a physical problem catching the ball. Once he stops worrying about it so much the catches will come.
The pre-season is over for the starters, but it lasted long enough for them to show that the rest of the teams in the AFC West are going to have deal with the Denver Broncos. Anyone who wants to hand the Division to the upstart Chargers or the aged Chiefs might want to practice a little patience and see how things play out. Judging from the pre-season, the Broncos may have something to say about how the Division ends up. But of course the pre-season means nothing, right Peyton?