dragondawg
09-11-2007, 08:38 PM
By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With 91 seconds left in the game, Javon Walker was down on the field after taking a hard hit in which his head was pulled forward, then snapped back on the turf.
The Denver Broncos’ receiver returned a few plays later and made three catches. His final reception — an 11-yard grab on third and 10 with less than 15 seconds left — set up a 42-yard field goal as time expired. He said it was one of the biggest catches of his career.
“In a situation like that, I would have to say so,” Walker said.
Walker shrugged off the injury, which he suffered when he caught a 21-yard pass on third and 23.
“As Michael Irvin always told me, I’d rather take that hit for a catch like that,” Walker said.
Walker wore a championship belt on his shoulder after the game. The belt has pictures of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, who died this offseason.
“We all pulled together and these two guys on my shoulder would have done the same,” Walker said.
Bailey on special teams
Cornerback Champ Bailey played on the kickoff coverage team. He stayed back and was the last line of defense. He might have saved a touchdown on a 48-yard return by Terrence McGee. Bailey said he assumed he would continue in that role.
“They needed me so I’m out there,” Bailey said.
Option in?
The Broncos ran a few option plays. The first worked for a 33-yard gain to Travis Henry, who had 139 rushing yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Jay Cutler ran some option at Vanderbilt, but didn’t want to run it every week as a pro.
“I hope not,” Cutler said. “I thought I was done with that.”
Injury report
Cornerback Domonique Foxworth was limping in the locker room after the game because of a sprained ankle, but X-rays were negative. Linebacker Louis Green was hit hard on a punt return but walked off the field.
http://www.gazette.com/sports/walker_27087___article.html/yard_bailey.html
Broncos had room to maneuver
The Denver Broncos had a lot of success with the slant route in their 15-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Buffalo’s defensive scheme made things fairly easy, though.
The Bills don’t have cornerbacks who excel in man-to-man. As a result, their corners play off the ball in an “outside” technique. That allows receivers to find openings inside without much interference.
Wide receiver Javon Walker had a particularly good day as more than half of his nine catches were on slant routes. Here’s a look at some of those completions:
First Quarter
Walker gains 13 yards on secondand- 5 from Denver’s 36-yard line: Walker lines up in the slot to the right of the formation with CB Jason Webster lined up in front of him. Walker and Webster engage at the 36, but Walker is able to get inside position and runs by Webster to make the catch. Walker gains 21 yards on second-
and-8 from Denver’s 49: Walker is split left. Webster is lined up in front of him about 6 yards off the line of scrimmage. Webster backpedals as Walker charges off the line, but Webster gives up too much ground. That allows Walker enough separation for QB Jay Cutler to find him downfield.
Second Quarter
Walker gains 12 yards on second- and-5 from Denver’s 44: This one is too easy. Walker is in the slot to the right, but no defender is within 7 yards of him. He’s wide open as he comes off the line and makes the catch on the run before LB Paul Posluszny brings him down.
Fourth Quarter
(Note: The following catches came on Denver’s game-winning drive.)
Walker gains 21 yards on third-and-23 from Denver’s 21: Lined up opposite Terrence McGee on the left side, Walker gets a clean release to the inside and runs past McGee into the open space. Cutler hits Walker in stride before McGee chases him down.
Walker gains 8 yards on fourth-and-2 from Buffalo’s 43: Lined up wide right, Walker slips inside quickly before CB Ashton Youboty reacts, making the grab between Youboty and SS Donte Whitner.
Walker gains 11 yards on third-and-10 from Buffalo’s 35: Walker is wide left and FB Cecil Sapp lines up inside him in the slot. McGee is playing well off Walker, who makes a move inside. Posluszny and LB Mario Haggan take deep drops, leaving Sapp wide open over the middle. But Cutler fires the ball to Walker, who makes the catch between Haggan and McGee.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/160140.html
THE GAZETTE
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With 91 seconds left in the game, Javon Walker was down on the field after taking a hard hit in which his head was pulled forward, then snapped back on the turf.
The Denver Broncos’ receiver returned a few plays later and made three catches. His final reception — an 11-yard grab on third and 10 with less than 15 seconds left — set up a 42-yard field goal as time expired. He said it was one of the biggest catches of his career.
“In a situation like that, I would have to say so,” Walker said.
Walker shrugged off the injury, which he suffered when he caught a 21-yard pass on third and 23.
“As Michael Irvin always told me, I’d rather take that hit for a catch like that,” Walker said.
Walker wore a championship belt on his shoulder after the game. The belt has pictures of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, who died this offseason.
“We all pulled together and these two guys on my shoulder would have done the same,” Walker said.
Bailey on special teams
Cornerback Champ Bailey played on the kickoff coverage team. He stayed back and was the last line of defense. He might have saved a touchdown on a 48-yard return by Terrence McGee. Bailey said he assumed he would continue in that role.
“They needed me so I’m out there,” Bailey said.
Option in?
The Broncos ran a few option plays. The first worked for a 33-yard gain to Travis Henry, who had 139 rushing yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Jay Cutler ran some option at Vanderbilt, but didn’t want to run it every week as a pro.
“I hope not,” Cutler said. “I thought I was done with that.”
Injury report
Cornerback Domonique Foxworth was limping in the locker room after the game because of a sprained ankle, but X-rays were negative. Linebacker Louis Green was hit hard on a punt return but walked off the field.
http://www.gazette.com/sports/walker_27087___article.html/yard_bailey.html
Broncos had room to maneuver
The Denver Broncos had a lot of success with the slant route in their 15-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Buffalo’s defensive scheme made things fairly easy, though.
The Bills don’t have cornerbacks who excel in man-to-man. As a result, their corners play off the ball in an “outside” technique. That allows receivers to find openings inside without much interference.
Wide receiver Javon Walker had a particularly good day as more than half of his nine catches were on slant routes. Here’s a look at some of those completions:
First Quarter
Walker gains 13 yards on secondand- 5 from Denver’s 36-yard line: Walker lines up in the slot to the right of the formation with CB Jason Webster lined up in front of him. Walker and Webster engage at the 36, but Walker is able to get inside position and runs by Webster to make the catch. Walker gains 21 yards on second-
and-8 from Denver’s 49: Walker is split left. Webster is lined up in front of him about 6 yards off the line of scrimmage. Webster backpedals as Walker charges off the line, but Webster gives up too much ground. That allows Walker enough separation for QB Jay Cutler to find him downfield.
Second Quarter
Walker gains 12 yards on second- and-5 from Denver’s 44: This one is too easy. Walker is in the slot to the right, but no defender is within 7 yards of him. He’s wide open as he comes off the line and makes the catch on the run before LB Paul Posluszny brings him down.
Fourth Quarter
(Note: The following catches came on Denver’s game-winning drive.)
Walker gains 21 yards on third-and-23 from Denver’s 21: Lined up opposite Terrence McGee on the left side, Walker gets a clean release to the inside and runs past McGee into the open space. Cutler hits Walker in stride before McGee chases him down.
Walker gains 8 yards on fourth-and-2 from Buffalo’s 43: Lined up wide right, Walker slips inside quickly before CB Ashton Youboty reacts, making the grab between Youboty and SS Donte Whitner.
Walker gains 11 yards on third-and-10 from Buffalo’s 35: Walker is wide left and FB Cecil Sapp lines up inside him in the slot. McGee is playing well off Walker, who makes a move inside. Posluszny and LB Mario Haggan take deep drops, leaving Sapp wide open over the middle. But Cutler fires the ball to Walker, who makes the catch between Haggan and McGee.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/160140.html