Seven days ago, the Broncos concluded a full game week of preparation that mimicked the regular season. Tonight, the Broncos head into the preseason finale against Arizona with starters on the bench, only two days of practice instead of the normal three and the emphasis back on evaluation rather than a regular-season-like schedule.
To that end, assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates said that he’ll take things back to the basics. He said earlier in the preseason that base schemes allow him and his defensive coaches to better gauge the players on the field. With the starters on the sideline and some roster positions still for the taking, evaluation has again become the priority.
“What we want to see is progress,” Bates said. “We still have some roster spots available. Defense and special teams — it’s going to come down to this game for a lot of guys, because they’re still close.”
This is a curious week at Dove Valley, as two separate but vital tasks overlap. For the reserves and those on the roster bubble, Thursday night’s game could represent one of the most crucial evenings of their professional lives. For the starters and those whose place on the team is assured, their minds are on the Buffalo Bills.
“We aren’t at full-game week planning,” Bates said, “but as far as getting a feel for Buffalo does, we’re well into that.”
Which led me to ask Bates one final question — which team had he studied more on tape, the Bills or the Cardinals?
“Buffalo,” he said with a grin.
RANDOM NOTE …
Like many in this state, I’m from somewhere else. I’ve become quite fond of Colorado, but I certainly hope that banning tag at a school in the Springs isn’t reflective of the values of this state. I played tag, dodge ball and its more unruly cousin “battleball” and I turned out perfectly fine after only three and a half years of therapy.
JUST ONE MORE THING …
In a blog entry earlier this week, BuckinBroncoFan wanted to know who would comprise my 53-man roster. I replied with some blather about how, as a team employee, I ought not offer an opinion on the matter.
Lame, I know.
But who do you think will be the top 53? Feel free to share your predictions on the roster in the comment section below.
Time to pack the laptop, the recorder, the binoculars and headphones and go to the stadium … I’ll talk to you again from there. Until then, vaya con Dios.
Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Jim Bates
I agree 100% with your take on Tag, Andrew. Bring a short, slow-footed boy when I was young, I also played tag and got roughed up more than a few times. It’s part of being a kid. You gotta learn to take some hits when you’re a kid or how are you going to handle the real ones as an adult, huh? Anyway, hopefully, they’ll get enough publicity and common-sense feedback to realize this may not have been the best decision.
And as far as “not rooting for anyone”, shoot, man, you’re human! Even on the payroll, there’s nothing wrong with rooting for the good guys. I happen to think they picked the right punter, but hope Ernster, if he is a good guy, will land on his feet somewhere.
Keep up the good work.
Call Mike S….tell him, here’s his list:
Broncos Offense
WR 14 B. Stokley 12 D. Hixon
LT 78 M Lepsis
LG 62 C. Myers 50 B. Hamilton
C 66 T. Nalen 67 G. Eslinger
RG 70 M. Holland 77 C. Kuper
RT 64 E. Pears
TE 89 D. Graham 82 S. Alexander 89 N. Jackson 85 C. Mustard 88 Tony Scheffler
WR 84 J. Walker 86 B. Clark 15 B Marshall
QB 6 J. Cutler 8 P. Ramsey
RB 20 T. Henry 37 C. Sapp 30 M. Bell 35 S. Young
FB 39 K. Johnson
Broncos Specialists
P 10 T. Sauerbrun
K 1 J. Elam
KO 10 T. Sauerbrun
PR 12 D. Hixon
KR 12 D. Hixon 86 B. Clark 30 M. Bell
PC 83 M. Leach 62 C. Myers 77 C. Kuper
KC 83 M. Leach 77 C. Kuper 62 C. Myers
H 10 T. Sauerbrun 6 J. Cutler 8 P. Ramsey
Broncos Defense
LE 60 J. Engelberger 96 T. Crowder
LT 95 S. Adams 73 J. Kennedy 63 A. Gordon
RT 79 M. Thomas 99 A. McKinley
RE 94 J. Moss 92 E. Dumervil
WLB 52 I. Gold 51 W. Mallard
MLB 55 D.J. Williams 54 D.D. Lewis
SLB 53 L. Green 58 N. Webster
LCB 24 C. Bailey 41 K. Paymah 28 J. Shoate
RCB 32 D. Bly 22 D. Foxworth
SS 25 N. Ferguson 40 C. Cox 38 S. Cargile
FS 47 J. Lynch 21 H. Abdullah
1. Jay Cutler
2. Patrick Ramsey
3. Darrell Hackney
4. Travis Henry
5. Selvin Young
6. Mike Bell
7. Kyle Johnson
8. Javon Walker
9. Brandon Marshall
10. Brandon Stokley
11. Domenik Hixon
12. Brian Clark
13. Glenn Martinez
14. Daniel Graham
15. Tony Scheffler
16. Stephen Alexander
17. Nate Jackson
18. Matt Leach
19. Tom Nalen
20. Greg Eslinger
21. Ben Hamilton
22. Montrea Holland
23. Chris Kuper
24. Eric Pears
25. Matt Lepsis
26. Adam Meadows
27. Jason Elam
28. Todd Sauerbrun
29. Sam Adams
30. Amon Gordon
31. Jimmy Kennedy
32. Marcus Thomas
33. Antown Burton
34. Jarvis Moss
35. Elvis Dumerville
36. Tim Crowder
37. Carlos Hall
38. John Engelberger
39. Wesley Mallard
40. Louis Green
41. Ian Gold
42. DJ Williams
43. DD Lewis
44. Nate Webster
45. Champ Bailey
46. Dre Bly
47. Dominique Foxworth
48. Jeff Shoate
49. Karl Paymah
50. John Lynch
51. Nick Ferguson
52. Steve Cargile
53. Hamza Abdullah
1. Jay Cutler
2. Patrick Ramsey
3. Darrell Hackney
4. Travis Henry
5. Selvin Young
6. Mike Bell
7. Kyle Johnson
8. Javon Walker
9. Brandon Marshall
10. Brandon Stokley
11. Domenik Hixon
12. Brian Clark
13. Glenn Martinez
14. Daniel Graham
15. Tony Scheffler
16. Stephen Alexander
17. Nate Jackson
18. Matt Leach
19. Tom Nalen
20. Greg Eslinger
21. Ben Hamilton
22. Montrea Holland
23. Chris Kuper
24. Eric Pears
25. Matt Lepsis
26. Adam Meadows
27. Jason Elam
28. Todd Sauerbrun
29. Sam Adams
30. Amon Gordon
31. Jimmy Kennedy
32. Marcus Thomas
33. Antown Burton
34. Jarvis Moss
35. Elvis Dumerville
36. Tim Crowder
37. Carlos Hall
38. John Engelberger
39. Wesley Mallard
40. Louis Green
41. Ian Gold
42. DJ Williams
43. DD Lewis
44. Nate Webster
45. Champ Bailey
46. Dre Bly
47. Dominique Foxworth
48. Jeff Shoate
49. Karl Paymah
50. John Lynch
51. Nick Ferguson
52. Steve Cargile
53. Hamza Abdullah
stupid, stupid, stupid,