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Archive for 2009

Broncos at Eagles: Second Half Live Blog

December 27th, 2009 - 4:02pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

Q3 15:00: Matt Prater’s kickoff is downed in the end zone for a touchback to start the half.

Q3 14:41: Philadelphia starts its drive with a 25-yard gain to the 45-yard line on a pass from Donovan McNabb to Jeremy Maclin. On second down, however, McNabb has a long time to throw and tries to loft a pass to DeSean Jackson, but Champ Bailey jumps the route and intercepts it. Denver will take over at midfield.

Q3 13:54: Knowshon Moreno carries for four yards on first down into Philadelphia territory, and an Eagle is down after the play. He walks off the field with the help of trainers — it was defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley. On second down, Kyle Orton is in the shotgun. he drops back and fires to Brandon Marshall, who avoids his first tackler and picks up yardage for a first down.

Q3 13:09: Philadelphia is called for a personal foul — 15 yards for a facemask by Trent Cole — giving the Broncos a first down at the 22-yard line. On the next play, Orton fakes a handoff to Moreno and fires to Marshall for a quick two-yard gain. On second down, Orton fakes a handoff to Moreno and fires again to Marshall for a first down.

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Broncos at Eagles: First Half Live Blog

December 27th, 2009 - 2:14pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

COIN TOSS: Daniel Graham calls heads for the Broncos. It is heads. The Broncos elect to receive to start the game.

OPENING KICKOFF: After a squib kick by the Eagles, Richard Quinn takes the kickoff out to the 37-yard line.

14:55: On the first play of the game, Buckhalter takes a carry for no gain. The starting offense is Kyle Orton at quarterback and Buckhalter at running back. Ryan Clady, Russ Hochstein, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Tyler Polumbus make up the offensive line. Brandon Marshall at wide receiver, Peyton Hillis at fullback and two tight ends — Daniel Graham and offensive lineman Brandon Gorin, who declared eligible.

14:18: After an incomplete pass by Orton, the referees rule that the quarterback threw a backwards pass on third down, which was incomplete and picked up by Dimitri Patterson and returned for a touchdown. Head Coach Josh McDaniels has thrown the red challenge flag, however.

14:15: After a review, the ruling on the field is overturned — it was a forward pass, and thus an incompletion. Now it is fourth down, and Mitch Berger is on to punt. DeSean Jackson is excitedly motioning deep to return, but Berger punts short of him, setting up a first down for Philadelphia at its own 36-yard line.

13:25: The defense is on the field, led by Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, Champ Bailey, Andre’ Goodman and Tony Carter in the secondary. Robert Ayers, Vonnie Holliday, Ronald Fields, Ryan McBean, Mario Haggan and D.J. Williams make up the rest of the nickel unit defense.

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Broncos at Eagles: Pregame Blog

December 27th, 2009 - 12:00pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

Here we are in Philadelphia, and you’d have no idea the city had more than a foot of snow just a week ago. Last night it was pouring down rain as we checked into the hotel, but this afternoon it’s sunny and warm.

As a matter of fact, here’s the gameday weather report:

Broncos at Eagles Weather Report

A few players are already on the field, including Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, Tyler Polumbus and Vernon Fox for the Broncos. Can’t quite tell which Eagle is on the field — there’s only one.

The word is the Eagles will introduce the Broncos defense before the game, so we’ll get a taste of the reaction Brian Dawkins will get in his return to Philly. When the Broncos offense takes the field, we’ll certainly hear a similar reaction for former Eagle Correll Buckhalter.

More and more Broncos are making their way out to the field in orange hoodies — David Bruton, Tony Carter and Alphonso Smith are taking a lap around the field.

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Old Stomping Grounds

December 26th, 2009 - 6:39am by mike_riceOther posts by

One way or another, it will be an emotional weekend for Broncos’ running back Correll Buckhalter and safety Brian Dawkins. Both players are returning to Philadelphia to play their former team on Sunday.

Before joining the Broncos this past offseason, Buckhalter spent eight seasons with the Eagles, while Dawkins was with them for 13 and made the Pro Bowl seven times. He knows Sunday will be special.

“It’s going to be an electric atmosphere, I know that,” Dawkins said this week. “It’s going to be hyped. But once the whistle is blown and kickoff after that, it’s football.”

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Larsen and Royal Ruled Out

December 25th, 2009 - 2:20pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

At his Friday afternoon press conference, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said Spencer Larsen (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (neck/head) have been ruled out of Sunday’s Week 16 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Larsen and Royal’s absences, a host of other players will get some additional chances. McDaniels said Peyton Hillis will serve as the team’s primary fullback, while several other receivers could be called on to fill Royal’s void.

One of those individuals is rookie Kenny McKinley, who’s made an early dent in the kicking game. The South Carolina product has appeared in six games this season, with six kickoff returns for 136 yards and three punt returns for 37 yards.

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Hopeful for Hill’s Return

December 24th, 2009 - 3:38pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

On Monday, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said he was “hopeful” Renaldo Hill would be active for Week 16′s matchup with the Eagles.

Hill sat out last Sunday’s game against Oakland with an ankle injury and was a limited participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday.

McDaniels would like to have the ninth-year safety available against Philadelphia — and every week for that matter. Not just because of what he bring to the defense, but his value to the team as a whole.

“He is maybe as intelligent of a player as I’ve ever been around, and I’ve been around some smart ones,” McDaniels said. “This guy is very in tune with the entire game plan.”

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Guarding Against the Big Gain

December 23rd, 2009 - 3:36pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

For the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, wide receiver DeSean Jackson fulfills the need for speed.

In 13 starts this season, Jackson has hauled in 56 catches for 1,087 yards. That 19.4 yards-per-catch average ranks first among all receivers with at least 15 catches.

For Champ Bailey and Andre’ Goodman, respecting Jackson’s speed is a given. But the antidote for the second-year standout’s athletic ability is keeping him from breaking the big gain.

“I think you’d rather give up those 10- or 12-yard comebacks than to give up those 60-yard plays for touchdowns,” Goodman said. “You’ve got to stay on top of him. There’s no doubt there and just force them to make those short throws and come up with the tackle.”

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You Can’t Force Love

December 23rd, 2009 - 2:13pm by jim_saccomanoOther posts by

That headline is not really the title of a country song or a preview to a book on philosophy.

It is just an old saying of mine and others regarding the fact that there are at least two things you cannot command or direct from people, those being love and respect.

You can own a company, run a firm, have a relationship, or whatever, but it does not work if you demand love and/or respect.

When these come our way, they are given voluntarily, and all we can do is accept them and be humble about being loved.

That brings us to Denver broncos safety Brian Dawkins.

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Broncos Add Batiste to Practice Squad

December 23rd, 2009 - 9:19am by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

The Broncos on Wednesday signed fourth-year tackle D’Anthony Batiste to their practice squad. The spot became available when Tony Carter was moved to the 53-man active roster on Saturday.

Batiste has played in 12 games during his pro tenure, including eight outings this season with the Redskins.

The 6-foot-4, 314-pound tackle started the 2009 season with Washington and was inactive for the first four games before replacing Chris Samuels in the team’s game at Carolina during Week 5. He saw action in the team’s next seven contests before being waived on Dec. 15.

Batiste, a four-year letterman at Louisiana-Lafayette, entered the NFL in 2006 as a college free agent with Dallas. He has started four games on the pro circuit.

– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com

Broncos Finish Strong in Fan Voting

December 22nd, 2009 - 3:59pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Fan voting for the 2010 Pro Bowl came to a close on Monday night, and four Broncos ranked in the top five at their respective positions on the final fan ballot.

Leading the way was Champ Bailey, who finished tops amongst AFC cornerbacks with 443,018 votes. The next highest cornerback, Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, had 287,135 votes to his name.

Meanwhile, Bailey’s secondary counterpart, Brian Dawkins (215,199 votes), finished second among AFC strong safeties, only trailing Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu in that category. Rounding things out for the defense was Elvis Dumervil, who ranked in second behind Pittsburgh’s James Harrison at outside linebacker with 273,543 fan votes.

As for special teams, Eddie Royal (117,313 votes) ranked in third amongst kick returners, only behind Cleveland’s Joshua Cribbs and San Diego’s Darren Sproles.

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