TXBRONC
09-29-2006, 08:23 PM
I found this article on the Daily Camera website and thought you all might enjoy it.
[URL="http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/broncos/article/0,1713,BDC_2453_5026991,00.html"[/URL]
Kircus sneaks up on foes
Receiver making an impact for Denver
By Ryan Thorburn, Camera Sports Writer
September 28, 2006
ENGLEWOOD — Rod Smith has earned the respect of the league. Javon Walker has the league's attention again.
David Kircus doesn't have either at this point.
Which is just fine with the sandwich-maker turned Denver Broncos No. 3 wide receiver.
"I think there's a lot of teams out there that don't know about me. They don't know the kind of ability I have and the type of routes I can run," Kircus said. "That's a bonus for me and a bonus for the team because they can put me in the slot and different areas on the field, and I don't think teams are going to look at me as a threat.
"That gives me the chance to get one-on-one a lot of the time and get open against the linebacker or safety or even some of the corners."
Kircus made two receptions against New England on back-to-back plays — a 12-yard catch on third-and-7 and a 24-yard catch that set up a Jason Elam field goal for the first points of a game the Broncos won 17-7.
A week earlier, during overtime against Kansas City, Kircus made a 14-yard catch on second-and-9 from the Denver 17-yard line. The Broncos would win the game on the drive with an Elam field goal.
The performances are certainly not creating a buzz in the fantasy football world, but Kircus has been a key component in getting Jake Plummer and the passing game on track after a slow start.
"I think he has really stepped up. He has made some plays when it has counted," Denver head coach Mike Shanahan said. "You never know for sure what a guy is going to do through preseason. You evaluate them and you get a chance to see if he makes plays when the lights are on. He has made a number of plays when the lights have been on. I'm very impressed."
Kircus helped feel the void at receiver during the preseason when Ashley Lelie was holding out and rookie Brandon Marshall was hurt. He led the team in receiving during the exhibition games but was catching footballs thrown by super rookie Jay Cutler.
Same story for rookie tight end Tony Scheffler and even running back Tatum Bell. Throw in the fact that Walker and Smith played sparingly and it's no surprise that the passing game didn't have much spirit in St. Louis.
"We've done well in practice together. Jake has found me in practice in situations where we've had third-and-long and things like that. He knows I can come up with the catch," Kircus said. "It's just getting the chance to get out there. The more we're out there together the more comfortable we're going to be. Like him and Rod, they've got a good chemistry going and they've done it a few years together."
Smith (94 yards) and Walker (250 yards, two touchdowns) each have 11 receptions to lead the team. Kircus is third among receivers with four receptions for 62 yards (15.5 per).
[URL="http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/broncos/article/0,1713,BDC_2453_5026991,00.html"[/URL]
Kircus sneaks up on foes
Receiver making an impact for Denver
By Ryan Thorburn, Camera Sports Writer
September 28, 2006
ENGLEWOOD — Rod Smith has earned the respect of the league. Javon Walker has the league's attention again.
David Kircus doesn't have either at this point.
Which is just fine with the sandwich-maker turned Denver Broncos No. 3 wide receiver.
"I think there's a lot of teams out there that don't know about me. They don't know the kind of ability I have and the type of routes I can run," Kircus said. "That's a bonus for me and a bonus for the team because they can put me in the slot and different areas on the field, and I don't think teams are going to look at me as a threat.
"That gives me the chance to get one-on-one a lot of the time and get open against the linebacker or safety or even some of the corners."
Kircus made two receptions against New England on back-to-back plays — a 12-yard catch on third-and-7 and a 24-yard catch that set up a Jason Elam field goal for the first points of a game the Broncos won 17-7.
A week earlier, during overtime against Kansas City, Kircus made a 14-yard catch on second-and-9 from the Denver 17-yard line. The Broncos would win the game on the drive with an Elam field goal.
The performances are certainly not creating a buzz in the fantasy football world, but Kircus has been a key component in getting Jake Plummer and the passing game on track after a slow start.
"I think he has really stepped up. He has made some plays when it has counted," Denver head coach Mike Shanahan said. "You never know for sure what a guy is going to do through preseason. You evaluate them and you get a chance to see if he makes plays when the lights are on. He has made a number of plays when the lights have been on. I'm very impressed."
Kircus helped feel the void at receiver during the preseason when Ashley Lelie was holding out and rookie Brandon Marshall was hurt. He led the team in receiving during the exhibition games but was catching footballs thrown by super rookie Jay Cutler.
Same story for rookie tight end Tony Scheffler and even running back Tatum Bell. Throw in the fact that Walker and Smith played sparingly and it's no surprise that the passing game didn't have much spirit in St. Louis.
"We've done well in practice together. Jake has found me in practice in situations where we've had third-and-long and things like that. He knows I can come up with the catch," Kircus said. "It's just getting the chance to get out there. The more we're out there together the more comfortable we're going to be. Like him and Rod, they've got a good chemistry going and they've done it a few years together."
Smith (94 yards) and Walker (250 yards, two touchdowns) each have 11 receptions to lead the team. Kircus is third among receivers with four receptions for 62 yards (15.5 per).