Another Gem of a question/answer segment...not Pork Williamson - The Orange Mane

ØrangeÇrush · 10-05-2005, 06:47 PM

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/d...s_my.html#more

Dude, where's my receiver
Tuesday, October 4 at 12:01 AM

Coast to coast and border to border, we start with Cort Smith from Vancouver who wonders….

Q: My question is about Ashley Lelie. I was primed to see him have a breakout season. He's been practically invisible. Is there anything you've seen different in his game, or is it simply a matter of the Broncos coaching staff not getting him involved? Does he have what it takes to step into that No. 1 role once (Rod) Smith retires?

A: It’s a combination of things at the moment. The biggest part being that the Broncos offensive staff spent much of the offseason dissecting every pass Jake Plummer threw in ’04. The conclusions were that they wanted him to get his completion percentage up and interceptions down.

To that end they discussed each specific coverage Plummer faced, at what down and distance he faced it in and where he went with the ball each time. When that was done their message to him was they simply wanted him to be safer with the ball and Plummer has done just that so far.

That also means when he’s in a pinch he’s going to look for Smith, because he’s usually in the intermediate area while Lelie is well down the field. Defenses are also giving far more deep help on Lelie, who led the NFL in yards per catch among regulars last year.

There is also the matter of the defenses they’ve played so far. They’ve faced mostly power defenses and offenses that try to finesse power defenses with the flashy stuff are wasting their time and usually get beat.

It is safe to say though if the Broncos keep running the ball the way they have in the last two games (409 yards rushing), the opposing safeties are going to have to come up toward the line of scrimmage and you would expect to see more of Lelie when that happens.

Brad Ressler in Avon, Ind., has worked a theory….

Q: Pay close attention to how the Broncos are winning on the offensive side. Plummer is an average quarterback in the pocket. He turns into Superman once he rolls out. Last year in their best performances, he was rolling out. It got them to the playoffs. Then to my disgust, never rolled him out once in the first half of the (loss) from the Colts in the playoffs … If the defense keeps on playing like the “Orange Crush,’’ and the Broncos find a way to keep rolling Plummer out, I will get my revenge if the road has to come back through Indy.

A: Brad,

I’m up front with this, but after breaking each pass down over the last two years I think Plummer is better in the pocket than he is given credit for.

That said, this has been a popular thought among readers that the Broncos are rolling Plummer less this season than last.

And after just four games the video supports that. Last season through four games, by my count, Plummer had thrown out of a rollout – either designed or flushed by the rush -- 28 times and he had completed 16 of those passes (57 percent).

This year, through four games, Plummer has thrown out of a rollout – either designed or flushed by the rush – 11 times and completed six of those passes (54.5 percent). Again that’s my own review of the video, not the coaches.

But last season he also threw out of a rollout more as the season progressed. Still, Plummer had arthroscopic surgery to repair some knee cartilage a little more than three months before the Broncos opened training camp.

He wore a wrap on the knee for much of camp to protect it and he is playing with some pain. It may be later in the year before he feels 100 percent and that’s if he doesn’t take a direct hit on it before then.

And this is a different team than last year’s. So far the defense has been better than in ‘04, especially up front and they are far more suited to play a slug-it-out game. That also means an offense will take fewer chances with its quarterback, knowing a punt isn’t a bad deal when the defense has it going.

Q: Two bloggers who didn’t leave their full names – please do – wondered if players named gameday inactives earn their regular salary that day….

A: They do. They are on the 53-man roster so they earn their contracted salary, even if they are not among the 45 in uniform for the game.

The rosters go to 45 – and this is argued every offseason at the competition committee meetings – because many in the league want to avoid a healthier team having a competitive advantage with more available players.

The names of the inactive players each week have to be turned in 90 minutes before kickoff.

Marlow Perez of Quantico, Va., breaks it down…

Q: Lenny Walls has played very poorly this year. What is going on? It’s a contract year for him … With (Domonique) Foxworth playing so well against the Jags, could Lenny Walls fall to fourth on the depth chart?

A: Marlow,

The Broncos have already shown they will play the guys the coaches they feel are playing the best when they moved Lenny out of the starting lineup in favor of rookie Darrent Williams.

So, yes Lenny or any other player will be moved down the depth chart if someone else is playing well enough to move up.

Injuries to Williams and Champ Bailey pushed Lenny back into the lineup of late. And Lenny has surrendered some plays this year, as well as missed some tackles, but he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team.

Teams are going after him some, so he has been on the hot seat more than everybody else through the first two games except Bailey, who was thrown at the most in man coverage in the first three games.

Some personnel guys around the league think Walls is just pressing right now because it is a contract year. Guys say they don’t think about it, but it’s only natural especially since cornerbacks are some of the highest paid players in free agency these days.

For example Ken Lucas got a six-year deal for $36 million last March from the Carolina Panthers and he had never been named to the Pro Bowl and he had 11 career interceptions, six of those last season.

Walls is a scrapper, as most undrafted guys who make it are, so if he can relax – and in fairness he says he isn’t worried about what will happen in the offseason – the results may improve.

J. Leonard writes…

Q: The NFL and (Mike) Shanahan should require players to keep their scruffy hair from hanging down their backs and their tattoos covered. Players like Bradlee (Van Pelt) and Jake (Plummer) would play better and have more respect for the fans and more importantly, themselves, if they looked clean …like Rod (Smith) and Champ (Bailey).

A: They are grown men in charge of their lives, including grooming, etc.... And frankly things change.

When I first started covering the league you didn’t see many tattoos, now you see a lot of them. It’s just the way it is. Used to see cassette players in guys’ lockers too, now it’s laptops and Ipods.

The Broncos have a dress code for road trips and it is enforced. Other than that the players are simply asked to be on time, pay attention and do what’s asked of them.

Hair care is optional.

David Siddiqi from Florida wonders…

Q: Know this question has probably been asked many times before. But is John Mobley's career over for good? I know he hasn't spoken to any NFL teams, nor attempted to make a comeback in the past year after he was cut by the Denver Broncos in the summer of ‘04. In other words, is he retired? I have heard various rumors from Broncos fans, some saying that he retired in January of this year, and the Broncos organization just didn't make a big deal out of it. Any help would be appreciated.

A: David,

Players often don’t turn in their formal paperwork for retirement for quite some time after they stop playing.

Especially players who don’t need to start the pension process right away. Regardless of that, however, doctors have told him he should not play again because of his neck injury.

The Broncos failed him on a physical before training camp last year and it’s highly doubtful he could pass any other’s team physical.

He is, by all accounts, living happily in Florida, having moved on from football.

Ron Hayward of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., has scanned the roster…

Q: I have been reading for days about how the Broncos are depleted in the defensive backfield. I haven't seen Marques Anderson's name in the mix. What is the deal with him? Also curious about (David) Terrell. What is the deal with him?

A: Ron,

Anderson has played on special teams so far this season. The Broncos haven’t had any injuries at safety so Nick Ferguson and John Lynch have taken all of the snaps.

The Broncos also like what safety Sam Brandon has done playing in the nickel, so Brandon is the one who has gotten the extra playing time in some of the specialty packages.

As far as Terrell, I think he will get used at some point. When he appears on special teams will be an indicator that he is close to appearing in the offense as well.

Craig Forster in the United Kingdom asks…

Q: I am a huge Broncos fan since living in Denver for a few years, but I have since had to return to the UK to live. We are lucky enough to get three games on Sundays and the Monday night game each week, but the down side is we do not get to see any of the games “live.’’ Now there is a lot of talk and work going on to play a regular season game in 2006 in London. Do you have any idea as to possibility that the Broncos could (be) in that game, or would that be determined by the NFL with teams that do not have big (crowds) each week be more likely to be chosen to play out of the country?

A: Craig,

The Broncos are trying to be one of the teams that will play in China – owner Pat Bowlen has said he wants to be in a preseason game that will be played in Beijing as part of the build-up to the Olympics there in 2008.

The league is planning to play at least one, possibly two, preseason games in China. I think the Broncos efforts are focused on that at the moment.

The league usually picks the more popular teams to be in the preseason games overseas because they draw better.

The Arizona Cardinals surrendered a home game this past Sunday to play a regular-season game in Mexico City because their home crowds are usually among the league’s worst so it was a fairly painless thing economically for them to give up a regular-season home game for the league.

And finally, Luis Santine says c’mon already…

Q: What's the deal with David Terrell? How much longer before he steps onto the field? Judging by the Broncos pass plays, how difficult can it be to learn the system? He could be a nice addition to a …not-so-overwhelming offense.

A: The Broncos are certainly being patient with Terrell. He was the eighth pick of the 2001 and was universally considered a first-round pick around the league, so the talent is there.

Privately, some folks who worked with Terrell with the Bears have gone to bat for him with the Broncos. I think the Broncos will play him at some point, but only four wide receivers are getting used very much right now in the offense.

And the backup wide receivers have to have some kind special teams production.

Terrell just doesn’t have much experience on special teams from his time in Chicago, where he was a starter almost immediately, or at Michigan so he’s going to have to get better there before they can make him active on gameday.

But I still believe he will play this season. He’s too big, too strong and too good not to.

That’s it and thanks

ludo21 · 10-05-2005, 07:08 PM

good stuff besides the fact he chose a couple of the same questions to answer.

Rascal · 10-05-2005, 07:33 PM

For those Walls bashers consider this: "Walls....he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team."

ludo21 · 10-05-2005, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

For those Walls bashers consider this: "Walls....he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team."

So have DW and Fox, thats basically the only coverage Coyer plays. Main problem with Walls is he stays 15 yards off the LOS which lets easy slant passes be completed all day. If he moved up about 7-8 yards i think Walls would be playing much better. JMO, obviously he doesnt jam WR's well at all, but is being 8 yards off the ball rather than 15 so hard to ask from him?

Mile High Shack · 10-05-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

For those Walls bashers consider this: "Walls....he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team."

c'mon dude

why wouldn't you throw at him

if I had my choice between hitting my head against the wall or not hitting my head against the wall, I'd chose the non-wall

people throw at walls b/c he sucks

Mile High Shack · 10-05-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludo21

So have DW and Fox, thats basically the only coverage Coyer plays. Main problem with Walls is he stays 15 yards off the LOS which lets easy slant passes be completed all day. If he moved up about 7-8 yards i think Walls would be playing much better. JMO, obviously he doesnt jam WR's well at all, but is being 8 yards off the ball rather than 15 so hard to ask from him?

he's afraid of getting beat by quicker receivers

walls isn't quick and he knows it so anyone with a double move burns him, so that is why he stays so far back

orange crusher · 10-05-2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ØrangeÇrush

J. Leonard writes…

Q: The NFL and (Mike) Shanahan should require players to keep their scruffy hair from hanging down their backs and their tattoos covered. Players like Bradlee (Van Pelt) and Jake (Plummer) would play better and have more respect for the fans and more importantly, themselves, if they looked clean …like Rod (Smith) and Champ (Bailey).

Players like Van Pelt and Plummer would play better if they looked clean like Smith and Bailey.

That must be why the fros from the 70's went away, huh genius? That is one of the most ridiculous statements ever made...and they printed it.

Mile High Shack · 10-05-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange crusher

Players like Van Pelt and Plummer would play better if they looked clean like Smith and Bailey.

That must be why the fros from the 70's went away, huh genius? That is one of the most ridiculous statements ever made...and they printed it.

it had to of been from someone who is about 70 years old

he was probably grumbling to him/herself

damn hippies

epicSocialism4tw · 10-05-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludo21

So have DW and Fox, thats basically the only coverage Coyer plays. Main problem with Walls is he stays 15 yards off the LOS which lets easy slant passes be completed all day. If he moved up about 7-8 yards i think Walls would be playing much better. JMO, obviously he doesnt jam WR's well at all, but is being 8 yards off the ball rather than 15 so hard to ask from him?

I dont think that that's as much of Walls' fault as it is Coyer's or Slowik's.

orange crusher · 10-05-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Shack

it had to of been from someone who is about 70 years old

he was probably grumbling to him/herself

damn hippies

You're probably right. I don't think guys like Van Pelt or Plummer have a lack of respect for themselves either. My guess is that it is the guy asking the question that has a lack of respect for them because of the "unclean" look.

Taco John · 10-05-2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

For those Walls bashers consider this: "Walls....he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team."

Well yeah, because other teams see him as our weak spot. Are they wrong?

theodnixon · 10-05-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange crusher

Players like Van Pelt and Plummer would play better if they looked clean like Smith and Bailey.

That must be why the fros from the 70's went away, huh genius? That is one of the most ridiculous statements ever made...and they printed it.

damn funny,

i hope his wife never forgets to have diner ready when he comes home.

ludo21 · 10-05-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryllama

I dont think that that's as much of Walls' fault as it is Coyer's or Slowik's.

Coyer and Slowik have made great game plan adjustments thus far into the season, either they think Walls is playing ok or its Walls decision and the coaches cant get him to stop. If its coyer, someone please tell him to put walls closer to the ball plz

10-05-2005, 06:47 PM	#1
ØrangeÇrush Aaaayh!!! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,371	Another Gem of a question/answer segment...not Pork Williamson http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/d...s_my.html#more Dude, where's my receiver Tuesday, October 4 at 12:01 AM Coast to coast and border to border, we start with Cort Smith from Vancouver who wonders…. Q: My question is about Ashley Lelie. I was primed to see him have a breakout season. He's been practically invisible. Is there anything you've seen different in his game, or is it simply a matter of the Broncos coaching staff not getting him involved? Does he have what it takes to step into that No. 1 role once (Rod) Smith retires? A: It’s a combination of things at the moment. The biggest part being that the Broncos offensive staff spent much of the offseason dissecting every pass Jake Plummer threw in ’04. The conclusions were that they wanted him to get his completion percentage up and interceptions down. To that end they discussed each specific coverage Plummer faced, at what down and distance he faced it in and where he went with the ball each time. When that was done their message to him was they simply wanted him to be safer with the ball and Plummer has done just that so far. That also means when he’s in a pinch he’s going to look for Smith, because he’s usually in the intermediate area while Lelie is well down the field. Defenses are also giving far more deep help on Lelie, who led the NFL in yards per catch among regulars last year. There is also the matter of the defenses they’ve played so far. They’ve faced mostly power defenses and offenses that try to finesse power defenses with the flashy stuff are wasting their time and usually get beat. It is safe to say though if the Broncos keep running the ball the way they have in the last two games (409 yards rushing), the opposing safeties are going to have to come up toward the line of scrimmage and you would expect to see more of Lelie when that happens. Brad Ressler in Avon, Ind., has worked a theory…. Q: Pay close attention to how the Broncos are winning on the offensive side. Plummer is an average quarterback in the pocket. He turns into Superman once he rolls out. Last year in their best performances, he was rolling out. It got them to the playoffs. Then to my disgust, never rolled him out once in the first half of the (loss) from the Colts in the playoffs … If the defense keeps on playing like the “Orange Crush,’’ and the Broncos find a way to keep rolling Plummer out, I will get my revenge if the road has to come back through Indy. A: Brad, I’m up front with this, but after breaking each pass down over the last two years I think Plummer is better in the pocket than he is given credit for. That said, this has been a popular thought among readers that the Broncos are rolling Plummer less this season than last. And after just four games the video supports that. Last season through four games, by my count, Plummer had thrown out of a rollout – either designed or flushed by the rush -- 28 times and he had completed 16 of those passes (57 percent). This year, through four games, Plummer has thrown out of a rollout – either designed or flushed by the rush – 11 times and completed six of those passes (54.5 percent). Again that’s my own review of the video, not the coaches. But last season he also threw out of a rollout more as the season progressed. Still, Plummer had arthroscopic surgery to repair some knee cartilage a little more than three months before the Broncos opened training camp. He wore a wrap on the knee for much of camp to protect it and he is playing with some pain. It may be later in the year before he feels 100 percent and that’s if he doesn’t take a direct hit on it before then. And this is a different team than last year’s. So far the defense has been better than in ‘04, especially up front and they are far more suited to play a slug-it-out game. That also means an offense will take fewer chances with its quarterback, knowing a punt isn’t a bad deal when the defense has it going. Q: Two bloggers who didn’t leave their full names – please do – wondered if players named gameday inactives earn their regular salary that day…. A: They do. They are on the 53-man roster so they earn their contracted salary, even if they are not among the 45 in uniform for the game. The rosters go to 45 – and this is argued every offseason at the competition committee meetings – because many in the league want to avoid a healthier team having a competitive advantage with more available players. The names of the inactive players each week have to be turned in 90 minutes before kickoff. Marlow Perez of Quantico, Va., breaks it down… Q: Lenny Walls has played very poorly this year. What is going on? It’s a contract year for him … With (Domonique) Foxworth playing so well against the Jags, could Lenny Walls fall to fourth on the depth chart? A: Marlow, The Broncos have already shown they will play the guys the coaches they feel are playing the best when they moved Lenny out of the starting lineup in favor of rookie Darrent Williams. So, yes Lenny or any other player will be moved down the depth chart if someone else is playing well enough to move up. Injuries to Williams and Champ Bailey pushed Lenny back into the lineup of late. And Lenny has surrendered some plays this year, as well as missed some tackles, but he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team. Teams are going after him some, so he has been on the hot seat more than everybody else through the first two games except Bailey, who was thrown at the most in man coverage in the first three games. Some personnel guys around the league think Walls is just pressing right now because it is a contract year. Guys say they don’t think about it, but it’s only natural especially since cornerbacks are some of the highest paid players in free agency these days. For example Ken Lucas got a six-year deal for $36 million last March from the Carolina Panthers and he had never been named to the Pro Bowl and he had 11 career interceptions, six of those last season. Walls is a scrapper, as most undrafted guys who make it are, so if he can relax – and in fairness he says he isn’t worried about what will happen in the offseason – the results may improve. J. Leonard writes… Q: The NFL and (Mike) Shanahan should require players to keep their scruffy hair from hanging down their backs and their tattoos covered. Players like Bradlee (Van Pelt) and Jake (Plummer) would play better and have more respect for the fans and more importantly, themselves, if they looked clean …like Rod (Smith) and Champ (Bailey). A: They are grown men in charge of their lives, including grooming, etc.... And frankly things change. When I first started covering the league you didn’t see many tattoos, now you see a lot of them. It’s just the way it is. Used to see cassette players in guys’ lockers too, now it’s laptops and Ipods. The Broncos have a dress code for road trips and it is enforced. Other than that the players are simply asked to be on time, pay attention and do what’s asked of them. Hair care is optional. David Siddiqi from Florida wonders… Q: Know this question has probably been asked many times before. But is John Mobley's career over for good? I know he hasn't spoken to any NFL teams, nor attempted to make a comeback in the past year after he was cut by the Denver Broncos in the summer of ‘04. In other words, is he retired? I have heard various rumors from Broncos fans, some saying that he retired in January of this year, and the Broncos organization just didn't make a big deal out of it. Any help would be appreciated. A: David, Players often don’t turn in their formal paperwork for retirement for quite some time after they stop playing. Especially players who don’t need to start the pension process right away. Regardless of that, however, doctors have told him he should not play again because of his neck injury. The Broncos failed him on a physical before training camp last year and it’s highly doubtful he could pass any other’s team physical. He is, by all accounts, living happily in Florida, having moved on from football. Ron Hayward of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., has scanned the roster… Q: I have been reading for days about how the Broncos are depleted in the defensive backfield. I haven't seen Marques Anderson's name in the mix. What is the deal with him? Also curious about (David) Terrell. What is the deal with him? A: Ron, Anderson has played on special teams so far this season. The Broncos haven’t had any injuries at safety so Nick Ferguson and John Lynch have taken all of the snaps. The Broncos also like what safety Sam Brandon has done playing in the nickel, so Brandon is the one who has gotten the extra playing time in some of the specialty packages. As far as Terrell, I think he will get used at some point. When he appears on special teams will be an indicator that he is close to appearing in the offense as well. Craig Forster in the United Kingdom asks… Q: I am a huge Broncos fan since living in Denver for a few years, but I have since had to return to the UK to live. We are lucky enough to get three games on Sundays and the Monday night game each week, but the down side is we do not get to see any of the games “live.’’ Now there is a lot of talk and work going on to play a regular season game in 2006 in London. Do you have any idea as to possibility that the Broncos could (be) in that game, or would that be determined by the NFL with teams that do not have big (crowds) each week be more likely to be chosen to play out of the country? A: Craig, The Broncos are trying to be one of the teams that will play in China – owner Pat Bowlen has said he wants to be in a preseason game that will be played in Beijing as part of the build-up to the Olympics there in 2008. The league is planning to play at least one, possibly two, preseason games in China. I think the Broncos efforts are focused on that at the moment. The league usually picks the more popular teams to be in the preseason games overseas because they draw better. The Arizona Cardinals surrendered a home game this past Sunday to play a regular-season game in Mexico City because their home crowds are usually among the league’s worst so it was a fairly painless thing economically for them to give up a regular-season home game for the league. And finally, Luis Santine says c’mon already… Q: What's the deal with David Terrell? How much longer before he steps onto the field? Judging by the Broncos pass plays, how difficult can it be to learn the system? He could be a nice addition to a …not-so-overwhelming offense. A: The Broncos are certainly being patient with Terrell. He was the eighth pick of the 2001 and was universally considered a first-round pick around the league, so the talent is there. Privately, some folks who worked with Terrell with the Bears have gone to bat for him with the Broncos. I think the Broncos will play him at some point, but only four wide receivers are getting used very much right now in the offense. And the backup wide receivers have to have some kind special teams production. Terrell just doesn’t have much experience on special teams from his time in Chicago, where he was a starter almost immediately, or at Michigan so he’s going to have to get better there before they can make him active on gameday. But I still believe he will play this season. He’s too big, too strong and too good not to. That’s it and thanks

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10-05-2005, 07:08 PM	#2
ludo21 RIP Darrent Williams Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 17,906 Adopt-a-Bronco: Paul Ernster	good stuff besides the fact he chose a couple of the same questions to answer.

10-05-2005, 07:33 PM	#3
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,581 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	For those Walls bashers consider this: "Walls....he has also been thrown at in man coverage more than any other defensive back on the team."