View Full Version : Hixon Released, Clark Resigned in Special Teams Shakeup!
TheSportsGuru
10-02-2007, 06:48 PM
http://www.milehighreport.com/story/2007/10/2/184929/266
The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed wide receiver Brian Clark and waived wide receiver Domenik Hixon, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.
Clark (6-foot-2, 204 pounds) is a second-year player who rejoins the Broncos after the club waived him Saturday. Clark, who was inactive for Denver's first three games this season, entered the NFL with Denver on May 3, 2006, as a college free agent from North Carolina State University.
As a rookie in 2006, Clark spent the first six weeks of the season on Denver's practice squad before he was signed to its active roster on Oct. 23. He played six games (0 starts) for the Broncos, leading the club with 23 kickoff returns for 512 yards (22.3 avg.).
In 43 career games (23 starts) at North Carolina State, Clark totaled 78 receptions for 1,311 yards (16.8 avg.) with 11 touchdowns. He was an All-Academic Atlantic Coast Conference selection as a junior in 2004 and also competed on the school's track team.
Clark, who received PrepStar honorable mention All-Southeast Region honors at Chamberlain High School in Tampa, Fla., was born Dec. 26, 1983, in Jacksonville, Fla.
While I am sad to see Hixon go it was an obvious move that needed to be made. Hixon just wasn't attacking the hole on kickoff returns and consistently was brought down by first contact. It was almost as though he never recovered from the Kevin Everett play.
Let's hope Clark brings a spark to the return game and allows the offense to start somewhere further than our own 15 yard line....
ignore my thread....I love this move. I know Brian Clark didn't blow any of us away, but I always thought his returns seemed less tentative than Hixon's. He almost runs like a turner coached back. He has a onee cut and go style. I actually think this will improve our return game. Hixon just seemed to tentative and his fumble hurt us badly.
Clark will average at least twenty a return and is much more powerful of a runner. Plus he impressed me during the preseason and I was dissapointed by his release.
LonghornBronco
10-02-2007, 06:52 PM
Obviously Shanny cut Hixon to put an end to those God awful Hixon/chuck norris references.
smalltowngrll
10-02-2007, 06:56 PM
Is Gold next??
TheSportsGuru
10-02-2007, 06:57 PM
Girl, you read my mind!!!!:thumbs:
eddie mac
10-02-2007, 06:58 PM
That's Special Teams sorted then.ROFL!
NYBronco
10-02-2007, 07:00 PM
I would like to see a punt roll into the endzone and brought out to the 20 rather than make a fair catch at the 10 or even less.
That One Guy
10-02-2007, 07:03 PM
I would like to see a punt roll into the endzone and brought out to the 20 rather than make a fair catch at the 10 or even less.
If it hits at the 10, Hixon lets it bounce to the 6 before fair catching it.
BigPlayShay
10-02-2007, 07:06 PM
What's the ****ing point? Forget returning punts, Can either of them COVER kickoffs or punts any better than the other. That is where the most help is needed.
smalltowngrll
10-02-2007, 07:12 PM
Could Clark be any worse than Hixon?
I mean, when you are at the bottom, the only way to go is up!
Kaylore
10-02-2007, 07:15 PM
I was hoping to read "Morgan signed." Oh well. :-[
Cito Pelon
10-02-2007, 07:29 PM
ignore my thread....I love this move. I know Brian Clark didn't blow any of us away, but I always thought his returns seemed less tentative than Hixon's. He almost runs like a turner coached back. He has a onee cut and go style. I actually think this will improve our return game. Hixon just seemed to tentative and his fumble hurt us badly.
Clark will average at least twenty a return and is much more powerful of a runner. Plus he impressed me during the preseason and I was dissapointed by his release.
That is what got Hixon cut. Clark will attack, that's for sure.
Cito Pelon
10-02-2007, 07:37 PM
I was hoping to read "Morgan signed." Oh well. :-[
Jeez, you were a Clarker for a long time. Clark I hope to see this guy attack, attack, attack. That's probably what the staff wants also. The lanes are there, hell, they're putting starters galore on ST's to make ST's work. The wedge is Dumervil, Chris Myers, Engleberger, that is quite a commitment, not to mention Champ. Hixon was wasting that effort.
yerner
10-02-2007, 07:37 PM
they both suck. did morgan steal something?? dude could return a kick..
DenverBroncosJM
10-02-2007, 07:55 PM
Last year people were ready to throw Morgan in the river.
All of a sudden he is a return god. Granted towards the END of last year he did ok.
Ahh Nostalgia plays with your mind sometimes.
yerner
10-02-2007, 08:47 PM
Really? I don't ever remember people that down on Morgan. He returned well and was appreciated for it.
theAPAOps5
10-02-2007, 08:51 PM
Hixon finally Dueled with Chuck Norris and lost. He wasn't cut he was obliterated.
Great... So that is a waste of another 4th round pick? SoCal, I am not sure why you want us to stockpile a ton of picks when our front office has no clue on what to do with them.
BlaK-Argentina
10-02-2007, 09:41 PM
Last year people were ready to throw Morgan in the river.
All of a sudden he is a return god. Granted towards the END of last year he did ok.
Ahh Nostalgia plays with your mind sometimes.
All I remember about Morgan is that the week after we activated him he returned a kick for 50+ yds and seemed to break a long one every game. (or was on the verge of breaking one every time) That's a hell of a lot better than what we have.
I'm with Khan, bring him back!!
FantomForce
10-02-2007, 09:43 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:
oubronco
10-02-2007, 09:44 PM
how does this make them better ?
I for one will be hoping we get him on the practice squad. He's a very athletic, multidimensional football player. He did run tentative as a return man this year but then the lack of blocking wasn't a big help either. I also think he's still very rusty from his year off and broken foot.
Given a season on the PS to shake off more of the rust and find his niche I think he could prove himself valuable in some capacity in the future.
Broncobuddy7
10-02-2007, 09:52 PM
What's the ****ing point? Forget returning punts, Can either of them COVER kickoffs or punts any better than the other. That is where the most help is needed.
You're absolutely right. The coverage teams are in far more need of help.
Popps
10-02-2007, 10:07 PM
Great news.
Bummer for Hixon, but he just wasn't getting it done. Didn't look like he wanted anything to do with it.
Clark looks more physical, and I'll go out on a limb and say he'll be an obvious, immediate improvement.
broncos love
10-02-2007, 10:16 PM
Great news.
Bummer for Hixon, but he just wasn't getting it done. Didn't look like he wanted anything to do with it.
Clark looks more physical, and I'll go out on a limb and say he'll be an obvious, immediate improvement.
Im sorry to say , but Clark isn't going to be any better. I agree with Kaylore; I was hoping to see Morgan back on the team. The only thing about getting Clark back is we can get rid of that dude Martinez. Who the hell is he?
chickennob2
10-02-2007, 10:17 PM
And thus a little bit of the amazing 06 draft is reclaimed. Still one hell of a draft. 2 for 3 in the 4th round ain't bad
TotallyScrewed
10-02-2007, 10:18 PM
I remember that Morgan sucked. We need more than one good return a season.
I love that Shanny and company are doing what they can to bolster special teams. They obviously see the same thing I do that is that Denver could be so much better if special teams can turn it around. However, I'll be sick if Bailey gets even a minor injury.
TotallyScrewed
10-02-2007, 10:28 PM
Im sorry to say , but Clark isn't gone to do know better. I agree with Kaylore I was hoping to see Morgan back on the team. The only thing about getting Clark back is we can get rid of that dude Martinez. Who the hell is he?
Come on people, use the language correctly. Gosh.
Rock Chalk
10-02-2007, 10:29 PM
Im sorry to say , but Clark isn't gone to do know better. I agree with Kaylore I was hoping to see Morgan back on the team. The only thing about getting Clark back is we can get rid of that dude Martinez. Who the hell is he?
::) :kiddingme
What kind of English is that?
broncos love
10-02-2007, 10:32 PM
Come on people, use the language correctly. Gosh.
Yea , I noticed my errors proffesor. I have no spell check on my browser. Please forgive me sir.
bronco militia
10-02-2007, 10:34 PM
ha ha....Adrian Madise part II
I tried to tell you guys back in training camp
Good riddance. I still don't get why they got rid of Morgan. Hopefully Clark can get er done.
rovolution
10-02-2007, 10:44 PM
Yea , I noticed my errors proffesor. I have no spell check on my browser. Please forgive me sir.
Those aren't spell checker errors. Those are poor grammatical errors.
cutthemdown
10-02-2007, 10:45 PM
scrub out, scrub in, big deal, who cares, won't change a thing.
Message sent - perform or risk being cut. Simple logic. Hixon was absolutely pathetic in the return game. Bye. :wave:
Sassy
10-02-2007, 11:16 PM
Morgan:
Recent Career Receiving Kickoff Returns Punt Returns Fumbles
Year Team G Rec Yds Y/G Avg Lng YAC 1stD TD KR Yds Avg Long TD PR Yds Avg Long TD Fum FumL
2004 Cleveland 6 9 144 24.0 16.0 46 3.2 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
2005 Pittsburgh 16 9 150 9.4 16.7 31 2.4 7 2 23 583 25.3 74 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2006 Denver 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 423 24.9 64 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career Totals (Full) 80 164 2466 31.2 15.0 78 4.3 99 17 51 1273 25.0 74 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 3
Last updated through games completed on Oct 1, 2007
Malcontent
10-02-2007, 11:19 PM
Im sorry to say , but Clark isn't going to be any better. I agree with Kaylore I was hoping to see Morgan back on the team. The only thing about getting Clark back is we can get rid of that dude Martinez. Who the hell is he?
This is an instant, yet dubious upgrade. at least Clark doesn't duck his head before running straight into the wedge on KR's. I'm sure theres more roster moves to follow.
Replacing one scrub with another is not the point. This was to send a message to the other 52 players only. The Shanahan Chopping Block is officially open for business. No tie is required, just a nice stretch of poor performances is all that is needed to gain entry.
Billy Clyde Puckett
10-03-2007, 12:07 AM
What's the ****ing point? Forget returning punts, Can either of them COVER kickoffs or punts any better than the other. That is where the most help is needed.
Bingo. That's the winning ticket.
Billy Clyde Puckett
10-03-2007, 12:08 AM
Good riddance. I still don't get why they got rid of Morgan. Hopefully Clark can get er done.
Morgan has proved he is worthless with about 6 teams now.
Morgan has proved he is worthless with about 6 teams now.
Yea, but I saw some good returns for us from him last season. Maybe it was a fluke and he looked like chit in training cramp.
broncofan2438
10-03-2007, 12:20 AM
So how dooooooes this make us better, and who is going to be our playmaker now?
Bob's your Information Minister
10-03-2007, 12:24 AM
Trash in, trash out.
You guys really need to invest in a legit return man.
lazarus4444
10-03-2007, 12:29 AM
does clark play LB too? DT?? i wish
Doggcow
10-03-2007, 01:33 AM
I think our blocking on ST needs alot of work as well, not just our returners.
broncocalijohn
10-03-2007, 01:43 AM
Obviously Shanny cut Hixon to put an end to those God awful Hixon/chuck norris references.
He now has more free time to save the world. Football was holding him back.
broncocalijohn
10-03-2007, 01:48 AM
Someone call Subway in Detroit. We are looking for a white guy that can return kicks and can knock you out in a fiery of punches while wrapping your foot long sub.
Ratboy
10-03-2007, 02:26 AM
Someone call Subway in Detroit. We are looking for a white guy that can return kicks and can knock you out in a fiery of punches while wrapping your foot long sub.
Ha!
TallyBronco
10-03-2007, 04:10 AM
Count me in the Morgan camp. Clark is a dead end. I'm growing less confident in Shanahan's ability to see what's happening on the field. Warren and Myers got it started. His misjudgment of Hixon, the tolerance of Gold, etc. Not looking good.
Killericon
10-03-2007, 04:15 AM
Hixon wasn't released by the Broncos, the Broncos were released by Hixon.
Okay, last one.
Popps
10-03-2007, 05:13 AM
Clark will improve the situation. Watch. It might not be drastic, but it won't make you want to kick your TV in like Hixon.
---
So, when's the defensive shake-up coming?
Northman
10-03-2007, 05:17 AM
Clark will improve the situation. Watch. It might not be drastic, but it won't make you want to kick your TV in like Hixon.
---
So, when's the defensive shake-up coming?
Yea, its all fine and well to bring in Clark but he doesnt play defense. Still a lot of work to do with this squad.
Hawaii_Guy
10-03-2007, 08:54 AM
Im sorry to say , but Clark isn't going to be any better. I agree with Kaylore; I was hoping to see Morgan back on the team. The only thing about getting Clark back is we can get rid of that dude Martinez. Who the hell is he?
Did you watch the game?? Martinez was one of the players that looked like he was really trying and playing hard. On our first drive we were inside our 30 and he layed a LB out for a great Henery run. This kid can play and I think he might even get a shot at returns. Hixon was playing very bad adn I think he cost us a game against Jax. And Clark is going to be something some day. He works out with Smith every day. He has more tallent then Hixon ever did.
cmhargrove
10-03-2007, 09:31 AM
1. Morgan was definitely our best KR last year. He could sniff the holes, and avoid traffic. He could also "stop and go" which made him a better returner.
2. Of the three guys we are talking about, Clark is definitely the best receiver. In the preseason, I was starting to feel like I used to with Rod on third downs (throw it to Clark, throw it to Clark!). He seems to be a clutch player in the passing game.
3. I don't think Clark was a great returner last year (just re-watch the Seattle game), but would be excited to see Andre Hall or Martinez get a shot. I kept hoping last week that the ball would fall short and Andre would get a shot.
Speaking of Rod, has anyone heard anything about him lately? 2 games to go before the team has to make a decision.
socalorado
10-03-2007, 09:48 AM
Hey, has anyone also thought that this move was becuase Walker may be out longer than expected? Clark was a better WR than Hixon, so could this move also be to bolster the WR position?
BroncoBen
10-03-2007, 09:49 AM
Replacing one scrub with another is not the point. This was to send a message to the other 52 players only. The Shanahan Chopping Block is officially open for business. No tie is required, just a nice stretch of poor performances is all that is needed to gain entry.
You hit the bull’s-eye Zona, this move is just a message to the team, play better or it could be you that is cut. If Hixon clears waivers the Broncos want to bring him back for the practice squad so he can’t be all that bad.
I think the problem has more to do with blocking on those returns than Hixon’s return abilities. There is no blocking…
Same goes for punt and kick coverage, Champ is right they playing horrible. Maybe the Broncos need to put more starters on special teams.
I'm glad to see Clark back. He's a great receiver, moreso than Hixon. Although, as a return guy, I don't remember his returns being that terrific. Morgan was better, but not as good a receiver.
I want Selvin to get a chance at some returns. Split them between Clark and Selvin, and I'll bet Selvin would outshine Clark.
broncsyanks
10-03-2007, 10:17 AM
i dont really get this move anyway, 1st we should have never gotten rid of morgan. he did well. I see our biggest problem on special "ed" teams is our tackling!!!!!
saubraun hangs the ball up there forever and gets it to inside the 20 on punts and that is from our 15 or he boots the hell out of it to 1 yard in the end zone and then the average starting field point for the other team is at there own 42>? WTF is that? its not hixon!@. what we have DJ in the middle there 2?? or do we have gold covering a TE here? i do not want to see our best defensive guy in champ covering and risking the chance of getting hurt.
go_broncos
10-03-2007, 10:36 AM
To me..the move is done as Walker will not be able to play this week.
I feel that Clark will get cut again next week(just like Mustard)
bronco_diesel
10-03-2007, 10:38 AM
the return game is going to stink until shanny takes a risk and places someone out there that can return. scrub for scrub is not the answer. we need someone who can see the hole and read his blocks - who is fearless.
either they need to take a chance on someone like hall or young, or have a spot on the roster for a return specialist who doesn't necessarily need to fit into the WR crew.
fontaine
10-03-2007, 10:51 AM
Our Special Teams gunner(s), whoever they are, hardly ever make it to the return guy to put in the tackle. I can't tell why that is from the TV angles but all I know is that the other returners have clear lanes and room to move, much more so than Hixon or Clark probably will.
I really believe we could be 1-3 if not 0-4 if Champ isn't back there to make at least 3 TD savings tackles against the Bills/Fade and another against the Jagwads.
Hell, wasn't Dante Hall a FA (I think he took one to the house last week)?
Billy Clyde Puckett
10-03-2007, 10:59 AM
1. Morgan was definitely our best KR last year. He could sniff the holes, and avoid traffic. He could also "stop and go" which made him a better returner.
.
Morgan had two long returns last year that inflated his stats. Take out those two and his return average was about 16 yards
From NFL.com Morgan's return stats:
2006 Denver Broncos 7 17 423 24.9 64 0 11 2 0 0
fontaine
10-03-2007, 11:07 AM
Morgan had two long returns last year that inflated his stats. Take out those two and his return average was about 16 yards
From NFL.com Morgan's return stats:
2006 Denver Broncos 7 17 423 24.9 64 0 11 2 0 0
No offense man, but that's just stupid.
It's like saying if you take out Devin Hester's two long returns this year his return average is only 18 yards and he has no TDs.
Hester's kick returns:
15 363 24.2 97t 1
Old Dude
10-03-2007, 11:08 AM
This is okay with me. Clark can't do too much worse on returns than Hixon (knock on wood), and he's a better receiver.
Now, what about kick coverage?
cmhargrove
10-03-2007, 11:14 AM
Morgan had two long returns last year that inflated his stats. Take out those two and his return average was about 16 yards
From NFL.com Morgan's return stats:
2006 Denver Broncos 7 17 423 24.9 64 0 11 2 0 0
Yes, and the point is...
On KR, you can't say, let's take out the big plays. When were Hixon's big plays? You don't expect special teams to always get you dramatic field position, but once or twice a game is all we really need. That might equate to one or two more TD's per game with the shortened field. Then we might be looking at 4-0 or at least 3-1.
I willl retract my earlier comment because I believe Darrent had the most talent at KR or PR for us. He really could have bbeen special there, but obviously we needed him to stay healthy at starting corner.
I still say that if we brought in Morgan this week, he would probably do better than Hixon has thus far. It's not about speed or talent, he just has better instincts.
Billy Clyde Puckett
10-03-2007, 11:50 AM
I'm just saying folk here have selective memories when it comes to Morgan's kick return abilities. Other than those two long runs, the longest of which was aided by tackling that was even worse than this year's Denver team, he sucked. Would be much better off trying someone new like Hall or grabbing someone off the PS or FA list.
epicSocialism4tw
10-03-2007, 11:50 AM
That stinks for Domenik.
Well, at least we wont have to hear the juvenile Hixon references anymore.
SonOfLe-loLang
10-03-2007, 11:56 AM
You guys have short memories...Clark was a total stutter-stepper on kick returns last year. I bet Hall is back there.
ozomulsion
10-03-2007, 12:14 PM
I'm just saying folk here have selective memories when it comes to Morgan's kick return abilities. Other than those two long runs, the longest of which was aided by tackling that was even worse than this year's Denver team, he sucked. Would be much better off trying someone new like Hall or grabbing someone off the PS or FA list.
Jeez, come on man.
sixtimeseight
10-03-2007, 01:47 PM
I'm just saying folk here have selective memories when it comes to Morgan's kick return abilities. Other than those two long runs, the longest of which was aided by tackling that was even worse than this year's Denver team, he sucked. Would be much better off trying someone new like Hall or grabbing someone off the PS or FA list.
Yea, heaven forbid we have a returner that could break off two long returns a year, instead of the zero we have now. That would be terrible.
BlaK-Argentina
10-03-2007, 02:11 PM
I'm just saying folk here have selective memories when it comes to Morgan's kick return abilities. Other than those two long runs, the longest of which was aided by tackling that was even worse than this year's Denver team, he sucked. Would be much better off trying someone new like Hall or grabbing someone off the PS or FA list.
Did Morgan shoot your dog or something? :P