Javon Walker Grounded by Shanahan/Plummer?

[fontaine]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4595367

Walker's air show grounded
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated:11/03/2006 12:44:55 AM MST


Please, somebody remind us again why the Broncos went to the trouble of trading for Javon Walker?

For as infrequently as Denver throws the football to Walker, maybe they should buy him a folding lawn chair, so he has a comfy place to sit on the field. Being paid a contract worth an estimated $40 million, he's one expensive spectator.

There is no criticism of Walker here. Only sympathy.

The Broncos have decided their twin Bells of different mothers will carry them to the Super Bowl. Or run this season into the ground. Whichever comes first.

"They're more committed to the run than they are the pass," Walker said Thursday, describing Denver's offensive philosophy.

Maybe it was telling that Walker referred to the Broncos as "they" rather than "we," as a hint he does not yet feel at home in this conservative offense. Or maybe it was my imagination. But I do know Walker described himself as on the outside looking in at the running game. He was not complaining. He was merely telling the truth.

Never in Mike Shanahan's tenure as head coach in Denver has this team been so reliant on the run.

Don't believe me? You could look it up. These statistics don't lie.

During his previous 11 seasons in Denver, Shanahan built the NFL's most proficient scoring machine by gaining 61 percent of his team's yardage by passing the football. The air show was often as spectacular as fireworks.

But the passing game has been grounded in Denver.

The Broncos have rushed for 1,087 yards this season and passed for 1,090 net yards, a mere 3 yards and a cloud of dust from a mundane 50-50 split.

Why is this ultraconservative plan so significant?

While the Broncos have long won respect by pounding the football between the tackles, we have forgotten how they struck fear in the league.

Passing has become such a no-no in game plans that when Jake Plummer throws for a modest 174 yards, as he did in a loss to Indianapolis, his most vocal supporters tried to boast he enjoyed a spectacular game, a ridiculous claim that had even the quarterback scratching his head in disbelief.

Anybody old enough to remember 1977 can attest it was a very good year in Denver, when the city grooved to the beat of Fleetwood Mac and buzzed about smash hits by the Orange Crush.

But times have changed, and so have the way the games are won in the NFL. No Broncos team has finished a season with more yards rushing than passing in 29 years.

What Shanahan is trying to do on offense is as old as Stevie Nicks.

"If you can run the football, you really establish a lot. And it opens up other avenues of the game," Broncos fullback Kyle Johnson said. "In all honesty, if you run, there's less chance of error. You have a higher probability of an interception or an incompletion than a fumble. If you can produce runs where you get 5 yards a carry, you're eating up the clock and moving down the field."

LOL >> I can't believe KJ just said that!

Whoa. There for a second, I thought Johnson was channeling the ghost of Woody Hayes.

Now, as a child of the 1960s who earned no dessert until all the meat and potatoes were cleaned off my dinner plate, I was taught traditional Midwest values and raised on the belief that the forward pass was a sign of weakness. So nobody loves smashmouth football more than me.

But this is crazy. By setting the clock back three decades on offensive strategy, who do the Broncos think they are? The Dolphins of Don Shula? To be sure, Tatum and Mike Bell can make some noise by carrying the rock, but nobody's mistaking them for Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris.

Too often, Denver only relies on Walker when there's nowhere else to turn for a touchdown or critical first down. That seems like an incredible failure to maximize the benefits of a smart acquisition by Shanahan.

"Sometimes, you just got to let your playmakers just make plays," said Walker, who ranks 25th in the NFL with 33 receptions. He has the talent to do way more. But the Broncos keep asking him to stand around and wait.

If they want to score big on a consistent basis, the Broncos need to make a commitment to getting the football in the hands of their most dangerous offensive player.

He's a sky Walker. Don't ground him.

Staff writer Mark Kiszla can be reached at 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com.

[gunns]

Just be patient Walker, the passing game will be revived in the future and I'm predicting you will be a big part of it. For now, feel a part of the team and be quiet.

[-Slap-]

Passing has become such a no-no in game plans that when Jake Plummer throws for a modest 174 yards, as he did in a loss to Indianapolis, his most vocal supporters tried to boast he enjoyed a spectacular game, a ridiculous claim that had even the quarterback scratching his head in disbelief.

Oh, come on, nobody is that stupid.

[Florida_Bronco]

Isn't this the same writer that everyone around here thinks is a joke?

[elsid13]

Oh, come on, nobody is that stupid.

LOL

[BlaK-Argentina]

I love Walker, but I don't like the way he's been talking to the media about not getting the ball a lot.
He should feel like part of the team... I mean, when we DO throw the ball, it's to him 70% of the time.

We could use him a lot better, but it's not like he has 10 catches for the season.
Just play, Javon! The balls will come your way.

[fontaine]

I guess, Walker is just frustrated that on any given pass play he's just as likely to try and catch a ball as he trying to prevent a poorly thrown pass from being intercepted!

:~ohyah!:

[bpc]

I don't like the public speak, but I agree with the idea. Four balls last game... and another one that was wide open that Plummer barely missed for 75 yards and a TD. We went to him in the 1st half and could have used him to help close the Colts out in the 2nd. The guy is an elite player and a game breaker yet the best defenses Walker has seen have come from our own coaching staff taking the ball elsewhere.

If TO demands the ball 10 times a game, Walker should be getting that many looks as well.

[Dedhed]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4595367

Passing has become such a no-no in game plans that when Jake Plummer throws for a modest 174 yards, as he did in a loss to Indianapolis, his most vocal supporters tried to boast he enjoyed a spectacular game, a ridiculous claim that had even the quarterback scratching his head in disbelief.


Staff writer Mark Kiszla can be reached at 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com.

It really is laughable what has come to be considered "great" play from the quarterback by some folks. Just laughable.

[Rascal]

Kizla is an idiot. Why do you guys even bother reading his crap. Him and Burger Bill can jump off a building.

[Mile High Shack]

Kizla is an idiot. Why do you guys even bother reading his crap. Him and Burger Bill can jump off a building.

b/c if it furthers their Plummer hate, then that is all that matters

[azbroncfan]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4595367


"They're more committed to the run than they are the pass," Walker said Thursday, describing Denver's offensive philosophy.


Who knows how much of that sentence was blown out of wack. Did he really say They, what else did he say? I don't take too much of these reporters reports too serious.

[Williams]

Just be patient Walker, the passing game will be revived in the future and I'm predicting you will be a big part of it. For now, feel a part of the team and be quiet.

:thumbsup:

It would be one thing to complain about commitment to the run if we weren't succeeding doing so. But when we're #3 in Rush YPG in the league, and Tatum and Mike are getting 4.5 and 5.2 YPC respectively, why gripe? Not to mention, we are coming off a week where we finally put some points on the board.

If it's working, keep pounding the ball.

[BroncoFanCam]

Don't worry Javon....

There is a Quarterback not too far away, that can heave a deep ball without it looking like a Todd Sauerbrun punt, and with the accuracy of a hand-me-down scud missle.

You and he are a match made in Orange and Blue heaven... just be patient.

[Popps]

Isn't this the same writer that everyone around here thinks is a joke?

Sportswriters are fat, stupid idiots, unless you agree with their particular point that week, in which case you post their article and treat them as royalty.

That's how it works here.

[Mile High Shack]

Don't worry Javon....

There is a Quarterback not too far away, that can heave a deep ball without it looking like a Todd Sauerbrun punt, and with the accuracy of a hand-me-down scud missle.

You and he are a match made in Orange and Blue heaven... just be patient.

I hear he walks on water

and when the broncos are partyin' and they run out of beer, he simply opens up the faucet tap and out pours fresh brew

[Pezman]

<---------See my sig

Krapla is one of my favorite writers in sports. He is like the national enquirer of Broncos news. Wooo!

[troya900]

I hear he walks on water

and when the broncos are partyin' and they run out of beer, he simply opens up the faucet tap and out pours fresh brew

Maybe it looks like fresh brew, when for four years you turn on the tap and fluid that looks like it came straight from the septic tank comes flowin out.

[BMF Bronco]

Isn't this the same writer that everyone around here thinks is a joke?

Oh no bro, come on now, when he writes something they agree with, he's dead on, and the other 99.9995 percent of the times, he's just talking out of his ass. Didn't you go to the school of spinning **** to fit your needs?!

[Crushaholic]

Has he even studied the recent history of the Broncos? We RELY on the running game opening up the passing game. That's just the way they roll at Dove Valley...

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Has he even studied the recent history of the Broncos? We RELY on the running game opening up the passing game. That's just the way they roll at Dove Valley...

The #30 passing attack really isn't rolling right now despite the #3 rushing attack.

[Mile High Shack]

Maybe it looks like fresh brew, when for four years you turn on the tap and fluid that looks like it came straight from the septic tank comes flowin out.

oh c'mon, you are being a tad dramatic aren't you?

it was more like zima ;)

[Requiem]

Eh, I don't know. We've thrown the ball to Javon 55 times so far this season, he's on pace for about 130 -- that's quite a few balls, considering Rod is getting his far shair, I believed 42 his way (I'd have to look again) as well. It's far more balanced then it was when comparing Rod to Lelie, but I think Javon is getting involved in the offense quite a bit. Would I like to see more? Yeah, but I think we're doing the best we can to get him involved.

[Smiling Assassin27]

"Everyone can see I'm back," Walker said. "The bonuses, that's up to the team. But I'm confident that either I get it here or I will get it someplace else. Hopefully, it's here."


Does this statement bother anyone else?

[Crushaholic]

Does this statement bother anyone else?

Yep...

[Rohirrim]

Kizla is a tool.

[orange 4 life]

kiszla wrote an article about the broncos with a negative slant to it?

NEVER. ;D

kiszla is so bad its hard to read. i DID read this one this morning in the paper, but as usual it makes better toilet paper than reading material.

[Northman]

Oh no bro, come on now, when he writes something they agree with, he's dead on, and the other 99.9995 percent of the times, he's just talking out of his ass. Didn't you go to the school of spinning **** to fit your needs?!


No doubt about that, you graduated from there with honors.

[Northman]

Does this statement bother anyone else?

Nope. Cause he is right.

[-Slap-]

Does this statement bother anyone else?

Why? Javon wouldn't have been talking holdout in Green Bay if he wasn't about getting paid. The organization is well aware of his feelings.

[Clockwork Orange]

Does this statement bother anyone else?

Not in the least. Walker was willing to play this year out at a lesser rate to prove that he could come back at a high level from his knee injury. The contract extension could just as easily have vanished before his eyes if he didn't produce.

He wanted to get paid, he's gone out on the field and produced, he'll get paid. Seems pretty simple to me.

[BMF Bronco]

No doubt about that, you graduated from there with honors.

What the hell are you talking about? I don't spin ****!

[orange 4 life]

I don't like the public speak, but I agree with the idea. Four balls last game... and another one that was wide open that Plummer barely missed for 75 yards and a TD. We went to him in the 1st half and could have used him to help close the Colts out in the 2nd. The guy is an elite player and a game breaker yet the best defenses Walker has seen have come from our own coaching staff taking the ball elsewhere.

If TO demands the ball 10 times a game, Walker should be getting that many looks as well.

i agree as well.

with that in mind, this article was all kisterd and not walker himself.

still, we should be throwing to javon more than we are.
we should be throwing to rod more than we are.
we should be throwing PERIOD more than we are.

when we throw the ball, especially early on, it opens up the running lanes and allows for our backs to hit open holes.
it also gets the ball into the hands of javon or rod, BOTH of whom can still make plays after the catch.

rod hasnt broke any this season, but he will.
like sharpe late in his career, he may not be the 5+ catch/80+ yard a game guy he once was, but he IS still capable of a 10 catch and/or 200 yard performance.....if we throw the ball enough.

remember that game sharpe had against the chiefs a few years back?
we opened it up, he was there all day, and he racked up record numbers despite not being the go to guy anymore.

bottom line is we're at our best as an offense when we throw to set up the run, and we're not doing enough of that this season, but its a long season, and despite that javon is STILL on pace for well over 1000 yards and 70+ catches.

hopefully last week was a building block.
this is a tough defense this week, and the way to beat them is to throw to set up the run.
here's to hoping we put the nail in the coffin of the defending champs.

jake

[watermock]

Not in the least. Walker was willing to play this year out at a lesser rate to prove that he could come back at a high level from his knee injury. The contract extension could just as easily have vanished before his eyes if he didn't produce.

He wanted to get paid, he's gone out on the field and produced, he'll get paid. Seems pretty simple to me.

What are you yapping about? He IS being paid. The ink isn't dry on a contract HE SIGNED, he's cashed his Signing Bonus, he's played HALF a season and he's allready whining? STFU to both Kizla the instigator and Walker a spoiled brat.

Walker didn't have to sign that contract. Considering he was coming off an ACL, the leap of faith was made by DENVER who gave him a very fine contract that made him a VERY wealthy man who plays a game. He got tackled 4 times last week. Toughing it out are we Javon? The more I think about it, the more I think he poisoned Lelie's mind into an idiotic holdout.

[watermock]

Let me get this straight Javon. Mike Bell rushed for an average of 9.1 YPC...My Son Cecil rushed twice for an average of 19.5 and despite Tater being hobbled the team rushed for an average of 6.3 per carry for 227 yards.

We should be passing more? Why, so Jake can throw his patented left handed interceptions? I could be wrong, but JUST MAYBE, if we had Manning behind center we might be passing more...just a hunch tho.

It's perfectly OBVIOUS why we aren't passing alot, especially against a team poor against the run, and one that is more and more dangerous the more times Manning sees the field.

Shut up Javon, and leave the coaching to someone that knows WTF he's doing. Honestly, I think this comment was out of line, but a veiled comment that he might be ready for a QB that will be able to air it out more without throwing picks.

[Play2win]

Its getting to the point where, when a ball is thrown at JAVON, no matter how good or bad of a throw it is, if he doesn't make the catch, I am totally Shocked. What? Javon didn't make the catch. No, that didn't happen, I am sure Javon made the catch, I just didn't see it right.

[Clockwork Orange]

What are you yapping about? He IS being paid. The ink isn't dry on a contract HE SIGNED, he's cashed his Signing Bonus, he's played HALF a season and he's allready whining? STFU to both Kizla the instigator and Walker a spoiled brat.

Walker didn't have to sign that contract. Considering he was coming off an ACL, the leap of faith was made by DENVER who gave him a very fine contract that made him a VERY wealthy man who plays a game. He got tackled 4 times last week. Toughing it out are we Javon? The more I think about it, the more I think he poisoned Lelie's mind into an idiotic holdout.

Here we go again. ::)

What I'm yapping about is that Walker is still playing under his rookie deal with a one million dollar roster bonus thrown into the mix. He doesn't see a dime of the big money (the extension) unless he goes out and proves he's worth it this season. He can be released and never get a red cent of that money.

He's been outstanding this season, so it stands to reason that the Broncos will go ahead and let him collect on the contract extension.

[Play2win]

Here we go again. ::)

What I'm yapping about is that Walker is still playing under his rookie deal with a one million dollar roster bonus thrown into the mix. He doesn't see a dime of the big money (the extension) unless he goes out and proves he's worth it this season. He can be released and never get a red cent of that money.

He's been outstanding this season, so it stands to reason that the Broncos will go ahead and let him collect on the contract extension.

What if he is awesome this year, but wants to play for a more prolific passing offense, does he have the option to shop around, or is he under contract?

Do we have to worry about him playing somewhere else next year even if the Broncos want to keep him?

I think he is going to be awesome with Cutler, but I hope Jake doesn't sour him.

[Cito Pelon]

Walker will be complaining about something or other with regulaarity seems like.

[Clockwork Orange]

What if he is awesome this year, but wants to play for a more prolific passing offense, does he have the option to shop around, or is he under contract?

Do we have to worry about him playing somewhere else next year even if the Broncos want to keep him?

I think he is going to be awesome with Cutler, but I hope Jake doesn't sour him.

He's under contract, he signed an extension that kicks in next season. The only way he gets out of here is if he's released.

[elsid13]

What if he is awesome this year, but wants to play for a more prolific passing offense, does he have the option to shop around, or is he under contract?

Do we have to worry about him playing somewhere else next year even if the Broncos want to keep him?

I think he is going to be awesome with Cutler, but I hope Jake doesn't sour him.

It a club opition I believe. So if he plays well, and Denver agree to it, he gets a 10 million signing bonus(I believe)

[Play2win]

He's under contract, he signed an extension that kicks in next season. The only way he gets out of here is if he's released.

Good. Thats what I wanted to hear. This guy is only going to get better.

[SprintRightOption]

Javon has the potential to have a better career than even the Great Rod Smith, if he sticks around for another 10 years. He was a rookie in 2003, right. So, he's about 25-26, and receivers are in their primes from 25-33. TO is 32 or 33 and is still great. Marivin Harrison is 33 and shows no slowdown. Javon can be great from 2006-2013, all in a Bronco uni.

And once Cutler gets in there, with a bigger arm, more deep outs and deep posts will be in order. If I were him I would be privately campaigning for more passes because the dude has great hands and body position.

"if it's in the air, it's mine," quote from Javon himself.

Now if he is a complainer next year and the year after, bad sign. But I don't think he will, once we get back to 250 passing yards per game.

[Bronco Bob]

Kizla needs to get together with this guy and compare notes:


Wideout showing full value with big season coming off knee surgery
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:11/02/2006 10:41:33 PM MST

Every day he's healthy, with each productive game, Broncos receiver Javon Walker moves closer to a $10.7 million prize.

For now, the big payout dangles there like a big, juicy carrot in front of a starved rabbit.

After missing virtually all of last season with the Green Bay Packers following reconstructive knee surgery, this has been Walker's show-me year.

Through seven games, Walker not only has proven he can nudge veteran Rod Smith as the No. 1 receiver, but emerge as arguably the Broncos' best offensive player. Walker is on pace for 75 catches and more than 1,200 receiving yards.

And even with his glitzy statistics, there is an overwhelming sense the Broncos have yet to fully tap into Walker's talents.

"I'm still getting used to it, it's still my first year here," said Walker, whose Broncos play at Pittsburgh on Sunday. "I know what I'd like to do, but I'm still getting a feel for the coaches, the plays and trying to do my part."

Having forced a trade from Green Bay after last season, Walker was lured by the Broncos with a make-good contract that pays him an affordable $2.15 million this year and No. 1 receiver-type compensation beginning next year.

There is a $6 million option bonus due Walker around mid-February, followed by another $4 million roster bonus in early March. His base salary and workout bonus would bring his 2007 earnings to $10.7 million.

Compare that to the $6.6 million Smith is scheduled to make next season.

The Broncos could opt to restructure Walker's deal by making it more cap friendly, but $10 million-plus is the going rate for an elite receiver in his prime.

"Everyone can see I'm back," Walker said. "The bonuses, that's up to the team. But I'm confident that either I get it here or I will get it someplace else. Hopefully, it's here."

[Popps]

Walker is 11th in the league in total yards, ahead of guys like Burress, Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens. He's near the top of the league in yards per reception, and has made arguably the biggest crunch-time plays in at least 4 of our 5 wins. He's THE guy in crucial situations and has delivered in every game except the first.

This is money absolutely well spent. If some sportswriter wants to get his panties wadded because he's not putting pretty enough stats, let him.

He's a perfect fit for our offense, our most valuable offensive player and a brilliant signing.