45% Of Our Offense

[frerottenextelway]

Mike Bell
Erik Pears
Tony Scheffler
Brandon Marshall
Jay Cutler

On quite a few downs, over 45% of our team on the field were true rookies. And not to mention, guys like Walker and Tatum aren't exactly old either. We are going to be a POWERHOUSE for years to come. Cheers!

[OrangeShadow]

this is going to be a fun offense to watch for a long time. and to think most came from one draft

[Paladin]

Interesting that Bell and Pears were UDFAs.

Need to keep improving the D. CAnnot make a living just outscoring other teams all the time. Look at Indy. I hope they clobber Cinnci...

[NYBronco]

It was like the old days when Denver would get an early jump on the opposition.

[BlaK-Argentina]

This offense will be scary good for YEARS!! Draft D, D and some more D this year and we got ourselves a great, young team.

Let's hope we can keep it up against the Bengals next week, but there's more than one reason to be optimistic about the future of this team.

[Inkana7]

Marshawn Lynch next year?

[Atwater His Ass]

The future is now. Today's game was like watching old school Broncos football. We jumped on them early, got some turnovers by the D, and our speacial teams actually showed up today. Now, if we can do this against quality competition I will be truly impressed.

[watermock]

we would of won by 33 with Jake.

[bloodsunday]

Pears is an interesting guy. He is getting baptized by fire and by all accounts the coaches are satisifed with his performance. I read a piece, I think it was Legwold, where he suggested the coaches think Pears could be our starting RT next year when Lepsis is healthy.

Isn't it amazing how much a win helps the psyche?

[bloodsunday]

One thing about the NFL is that the best way to get experience is on the field. I haven't "graded them out", but I think Abdullah and Cox offer a little potential at safety and they have been forced into action as well.

[Traveler]

What a difference a win makes! Now if we can just get Warren off those skates. Did anyone else see that?

[Kaylore]

It was a good performance. Their defense is very bad, but we did what we were supposed to against a poor defense. Great win for Denver! :)

[freak6]

Playoffs baby. Believe it. Home game vs the Bengals!!! If they lose to the Colts we are in great shape. The time is now.

Starting a rookie that has never even taken an NFL snap is giving up on the season

Where are you now? We are in position to make the playoffs. The Chargers are about to seal the deal and put KC to rest. We gotta handle the Bengals next week and then who knows.

BELIEVE!

Best rookie class in Broncos history, if we do anything in the playoffs, maybe the best ever.

[Jason in LA]

This may be the most up lifting thread of the season. I didn't realize this until I just read it.

It was great to see the offense have a great game for the first time all season. Looked like the old days. 37 F***ing points. I liked that.

[ludo21]

Young team and still playoff bound, gotta LOVE IT!!

And still more up and comers in Kuper, Myers, Esliinger...

[theAPAOps5]

45% of the time it works ALL the time.....


It was great to see the rooks step up today. I really enjoyed watching Marshall break tackles, AGAIN. And Scheffler and Cutler have a great connection. Scheffler making it back to his pre-season and early season form. Finally, most impressive was old man Smith was brought back to life too!

[Clockwork Orange]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5221491,00.html

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Big Three are coming together very nicely.

Forget about the current quarterback contingent of the Broncos' Jay Cutler, the Titans' Vince Carter and the Cardinals' Matt Leinart.

The reference here is to the Broncos' Class of 2006, and the developing trio of Cutler, tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The three have become great friends, and if things stay intact, given the NFL standards of physical vulnerability, they could form the core of the Broncos' offensive future.

Coach Mike Shanahan gave Broncos followers a hint Sunday when he heavily involved Scheffler and Marshall in the game plan. Before Sunday's 37-20 win at Arizona, Marshall, out of Central Florida, had just nine receptions. Against the Cardinals, he grabbed five for 58 yards, and Cutler threw the ball in his direction eight times.

Scheffler, from Western Michigan, caught three for 58 yards Sunday. In the previous 13 games this season, Scheffler had 10 receptions, though he did have two for touchdowns last week against San Diego.

The plan is not only to involve these players now, but to recognize their talents for seasons ahead.

"Isn't that the basis of the NFL draft?" Marshall said. "You draft players to play them now and in the future. No reason for us to hang around and just read playbooks. But Jay will lead us. I can't say enough about this guy.

"He will make NFL history someday."

The three began their bonding at an NFL gathering in June in San Diego.

Cutler and Scheffler hit it off immediately and eventually roomed together during training camp. The friendship, Scheffler said, adds up to production on the football field.

"The reason we have become close is that all three of us have the same kind of personality," said Scheffler, a native of Chelsea, Mich. "Plus, we're able to trust one another, and that's a big factor. In order to be successful, trust is such a vital ingredient, and I can see that in all three of us."

With Cutler as the quarterback of the future, Marshall could find himself on the receiving end more often. Rod Smith is 36 yards old and completing his 12th season, all with the Broncos. Wide receiver Javon Walker is 28, in his prime, and could constitute an imposing one-two punch with Marshall.

At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Marshall's size and ability to separate from tackles makes him the kind of target to work well with Cutler. The class of '06 is growing in maturity, and Cutler probably is its top student, recognizing the essence of the team game and team spirit.

"We have too much talent and too much character on this team for us to just give in these last few games," he said. "If we keep fighting and winning ball games, we have a shot."

The reference here is both short-term and long-term.