The Broncos won a game, a preseason game but it was still a win and it was a shutout and it came over a team that should be competitive in 2009. Beating Arizona is the bright light that new coach Josh McDaniels needed. It was some kind of confidence confirmation for the players too.
Rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater showed he can play. In a preseason game. He's got a long ways to go but he does look coachable and with hard work he could develop. Just hope that starter Kyle Orton and backup Chris Simms don't get hurt at the same time during the regular season.
The defense gets a solid grade in this one.
The season opener is next and the Broncos will have to run the ball better, play the same kind of defense and hope the quarterbacking doesn't doom it's chances of competing well and having a chance to win.
Hold on as it promises to be a rough go in 2009 in year 1 of the McDaniels regime.
Notes
The Broncos running game looks like a weakness unless the line gets healthy and unless Knowshown Moreno has a smash debut.
Rookie Kenny McKinley looks like a real find as a third or fourth receiver. He won't be a star but he could be a productive part of the offense.
I think, but I'm not sure, there was a Jarvis Moss sighting. Will it be enough for him to make the roster, I'm not sure.
Rookie DB David Bruton looks like a contributor to be and the secondary and special teams needs some rambunctious youth.
Showing posts with label Kenny McKinley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenny McKinley. Show all posts
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Broncos compete but lacking firepower
Jay Cutler was back in Denver but the return hardly mattered as it was but a preseason game. The former Broncos' quarterback started slow but had a solid evening (15-21, 144 yards, 1 TD) in a 27-17 Bears' win but the reason for the evening was to see how and if the Broncos would progress.
Kyle Orton was accurate (12-16) but hardly special. Rookie Tom Brandstater showed glimpses of potential (8-12, 110 yards) even though he threw an interception. Fellow rookie Kenny McKinley, a wideout from South Carolina and a Steve Spurrier favorite, grabbed four balls for 75 yards. That's the good news. The bad news is the Broncos struggled to run the ball and were penalty plagued.
And a not-so-irrelevant fact is that Denver is now 0-3.
This is not a situation of the team looking at a lot of players and getting ready for the season. This is a team lacking in explosive talent with running back Knowshon Moreno out with an injury and receiver Brandon Marshall struggling with maturity.
Marshall is going to be a cancer if not traded yet his value is at an all-time low.
Moreno needs to get and stay healthy.
Kyle Orton was accurate (12-16) but hardly special. Rookie Tom Brandstater showed glimpses of potential (8-12, 110 yards) even though he threw an interception. Fellow rookie Kenny McKinley, a wideout from South Carolina and a Steve Spurrier favorite, grabbed four balls for 75 yards. That's the good news. The bad news is the Broncos struggled to run the ball and were penalty plagued.
And a not-so-irrelevant fact is that Denver is now 0-3.
This is not a situation of the team looking at a lot of players and getting ready for the season. This is a team lacking in explosive talent with running back Knowshon Moreno out with an injury and receiver Brandon Marshall struggling with maturity.
Marshall is going to be a cancer if not traded yet his value is at an all-time low.
Moreno needs to get and stay healthy.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Orton gets passing grade
Kyle Orton showed up looking like an NFL quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks, if only a preseason game, dimming his poor performance against San Francisco a week earlier. Orton was on target most of the night.
One thing to remember is, while explosive and productive Eddie Royal, talented-and-capable of more Steve Scheffler and dependable Brandon Stokely are established receivers, this offense lacks sufficient explosive talent and currently has a lot of question marks, such as: who will be the bell cow back behind Orton, who will be the no-doubt no. 1 (not Brandon Marshall, as the forecast for him this season, with attitude and injury is gloomy; see Chad Johnson, version 2008) and 3 receivers and who will take the heat off of Royal, who will look less attractive this season if forced to be the top dog.
Darius Walker, a solid back at Notre Dame, showed he has the capability to stick on this roster with his Saturday numbers. Another name to remember, as a contributor in 2009 and not a starter is receiver Kenny McKinley.
Defensively, the Broncos played the run well and rushed Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, getting to him occasionally. What they didn't do was disrupt his timing or make effective plays on the ball.
Preseason, especially this one, is about developing players, finding chemistry, getting into a rhythm and learning who can and will play. Winning, while important, is secondary.
Marshall trade idea a poor choice
Anyone desiring dumping Marshall merely to rid the Broncos of his selfish, delusional mindset is open to a self-inflicted wound on the team. Marshall's value is at an all-time low. For all his off-field baggage and on-field negative (low yards per catch average) the man is a big, dependable, productive target who, if not an elite receiver, is the next rung on the ladder.
Being hurt and a police report regular has likely made him as attractive as nuclear waste to other teams yet if healthy, if mentally adjusted, Marshall is an undeniable no. 1 receiver and that is worth a no. 1 draft choice plus other goodies. Right now, the Broncos could not get, would not get a no. 1 for Marshall nor even a no. 2. Getting rid of him for less than his true value would be foolish and would result in negative on-field and public relations consequences.
One thing to remember is, while explosive and productive Eddie Royal, talented-and-capable of more Steve Scheffler and dependable Brandon Stokely are established receivers, this offense lacks sufficient explosive talent and currently has a lot of question marks, such as: who will be the bell cow back behind Orton, who will be the no-doubt no. 1 (not Brandon Marshall, as the forecast for him this season, with attitude and injury is gloomy; see Chad Johnson, version 2008) and 3 receivers and who will take the heat off of Royal, who will look less attractive this season if forced to be the top dog.
Darius Walker, a solid back at Notre Dame, showed he has the capability to stick on this roster with his Saturday numbers. Another name to remember, as a contributor in 2009 and not a starter is receiver Kenny McKinley.
Defensively, the Broncos played the run well and rushed Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, getting to him occasionally. What they didn't do was disrupt his timing or make effective plays on the ball.
Preseason, especially this one, is about developing players, finding chemistry, getting into a rhythm and learning who can and will play. Winning, while important, is secondary.
Marshall trade idea a poor choice
Anyone desiring dumping Marshall merely to rid the Broncos of his selfish, delusional mindset is open to a self-inflicted wound on the team. Marshall's value is at an all-time low. For all his off-field baggage and on-field negative (low yards per catch average) the man is a big, dependable, productive target who, if not an elite receiver, is the next rung on the ladder.
Being hurt and a police report regular has likely made him as attractive as nuclear waste to other teams yet if healthy, if mentally adjusted, Marshall is an undeniable no. 1 receiver and that is worth a no. 1 draft choice plus other goodies. Right now, the Broncos could not get, would not get a no. 1 for Marshall nor even a no. 2. Getting rid of him for less than his true value would be foolish and would result in negative on-field and public relations consequences.
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