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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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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 48 Comments »

Striving for Stability

December 21st, 2009 - 5:42pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Speaking at his Monday press conference at Dove Valley, Head Coach Josh McDaniels talked in detail about the team’s erratic rush defense in Sunday’s 20-19 loss to AFC West rival Oakland.

The Raiders had eight runs for 150 yards — good for a 18.8 yards-per-carry average. The rest of the game, however, Denver’s defense was much stronger against the run — allowing a 3.5 yards-per-carry average on Oakland’s 26 other rushing attempts.

“It wasn’t all bad, but certainly on those (eight) plays, it was close to terrible,” McDaniels said. “Again, if you don’t make the plays in those critical situations this time of year, you’re going to be in close games, and ultimately, those are the plays that determine the outcome most of the time.”

McDaniels said Oakland’s drive late in the third quarter — in which the Broncos ended up making a goal-line stand on the first play of the fourth quarter — was symbolic of the team’s rush defense throughout the contest.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 74 Comments »

Ready to Seize the Moment

December 17th, 2009 - 2:31pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

With rookie Darcel McBath placed on injured reserve earlier this week and veteran Renaldo Hill sitting out Wednesday and Thursday’s practice sessions with an ankle injury, David Bruton knows full well that he might have extra duties on his plate come Sunday’s Week 15 matchup against the Raiders.

If or when his number is called, the rookie safety plans to make the most of those opportunities.

“You want to seize the moment and seize the day,” Bruton said. “And that’s exactly what I want to do if I get the chance — go out there and perform at a very high level.”

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 31 Comments »

As Fundamental As They Come

December 10th, 2009 - 2:56pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

On Tuesday, a six-person committee of both USA Football and NFL Players Association members selected Ryan Clady to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team. The second-year lineman was recognized as one of the league’s most fundamentally-sound players and a community service activist.

Clady and Head Coach Josh McDaniels reflected on that prestigious honor during a press conference at Dove Valley before the team’s Thursday practice session.

McDaniels called Clady “one of the most athletic left tackles” in the game today, praising the 6-foot-6, 325-pound left tackle’s ability to play with constant effort for 60 minutes.

“In order to be as successful and productive as he’s been at left tackle, you have to be good fundamentally,” McDaniels said. “You can’t guess. You have to use your hands and your feet equally effectively, and he does that. (He’s a) very smart player. He knows what he needs to do, not only in the pass-protection game but also in run blocking. He does a nice job working with the other interior linemen. (This is) a very well-deserved award for him.”

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 36 Comments »

A Special Teams Statement

December 7th, 2009 - 3:37pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

After reviewing the tape of Sunday’s 44-13 win at Kansas City, Head Coach Josh McDaniels came to a quick conclusion as to why the Broncos were able to snatch the game’s momentum early and hold onto it until the final gun.

“I think it started with our performance in the kicking game,” McDaniels said. “We knew that that had been a strength of Kansas City’s. I felt like we really challenged them in every phase of our special teams.”

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer’s units were stout from start to finish. Matt Prater went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts. Mitch Berger boomed three punts for a 51.7 yard average. Between punt and kick returns, Eddie Royal notched 149 return yards.

Perhaps most importantly, the team’s kickoff coverage was superb. On nine Matt Prater kickoffs, Kansas City was limited to an average return of 20.9 yards, the longest being a 26-yard run by Quinten Lawrence.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 27 Comments »

Paying Tribute

December 3rd, 2009 - 3:07pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

At halftime of the Broncos’ Week 13 matchup with AFC West rival Kansas City, the Chiefs will retire the No. 58 of late Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas, who holds franchise records for sacks, safeties, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles.

To Elvis Dumervil, the ceremony will hold a little bit of an extra meaning. Like Thomas, Dumervil was born in Miami. His high school, Miami Jackson High School, was about a 15-mile drive from Thomas’ high school, South Miami Senior High School.

Growing up in such close quarters to the nine-time Pro Bowler, Dumervil always looked up to his hometown counterpart and his accomplishments on the football field, trying to model his game after the elite pass rusher.

“I thought he was kind of so-called undersized, playing the position that he was playing as a rusher at the time,” Dumervil said. “He was very explosive. He made big plays. He changed the game, getting off, the forced fumbles, the what — seven sacks in one game? He was a trend setter and he will always be remembered.”

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 52 Comments »

Prater Kicks His Way to Weekly Award

December 1st, 2009 - 2:17pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Matt Prater will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the Broncos learned on Tuesday, for his Week 12 performance in a 26-6 victory over the New York Giants.

Prater connected on all four of his field goal attempts (26, 32, 47, 24) in Thursday’s Thanksgiving night matchup and sent all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone, resulting in a career-high five touchbacks.

When all was said and done in Week 12, Prater accounted for 14 of the team’s 26 points on the evening, another career best for the third-year kicker.

Prater is the second Bronco to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week this season. Following a standout special teams performance against San Diego in Week 6, Eddie Royal won the same weekly NFL award.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 10 Comments »

Moreno in Running for Weekly Award

December 1st, 2009 - 9:27am by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

After his performance on the ground in Week 12, Knowshon Moreno has once again been nominated for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger and Arizona Cardinals kick returner LaRod Stephens-Howling are the other finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors.

Moreno paced the Broncos with 88 rushing yards on 19 carries and scored his fourth touchdown of the season against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving night.

Through his first 11 games on the pro circuit, the University of Georgia product leads all rookies in rushing attempts with 161 and rushing yards with 688.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 17 Comments »

Broncos vs. Giants: Second Half Live Blog

November 26th, 2009 - 7:59pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Q3 – 15:00: Remember, you can watch tonight’s Thanksgiving matchup LIVE on NFL Network and online with NFL.com/LIVE’s Online Extra. To access the online broadcast, click here.

Q3 – 2:38: Buckhalter returns Lawrence Tynes’ second-half kickoff to the Denver 21-yard line. Moreno gets the carry on first down, picking up 10 yards to move the chains moments into the second half.

Q3 – 13:12: Out of shotgun on first down, Orton fires to Marshall down the left sideline. After snagging the ball with his left hand, Marshall gains total possession of the ball — picking up 33 yards and setting Denver’s offense up at the New York 36.

Q3 – 12:22: After a one-yard run by Moreno and a six-yard completion from Orton to Marshall, Denver faces a 3rd and 3 from the New York 29.

Q3 – 12:13: On 3rd and 3, Orton has a pass that was intended for Brandon Stokley intercepted by Terrell Thomas. Thomas returns the ball 24 yards to the New York 40.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 495 Comments »

Broncos vs. Giants: First Half Live Blog

November 26th, 2009 - 6:16pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

COIN TOSS:  The Giants have won the toss and elected to receive.

Q1 – 15:00: Fans, remember you can watch LIVE on NFL Network and online with NFL.com/LIVE’s Online Extra by clicking here.

Q1 – 9:45: Matt Prater’s kickoff sails deep into the end zone and the Giants will start their first offensive series at the Denver 20-yard line. Starting on defense for the Broncos: Vonnie Holliday, Ronald Fields, Ryan McBean, Mario Haggan, D.J. Williams, Andra Davis, Elvis Dumervil, Andre’ Goodman, Champ Bailey, Renaldo Hill and Brian Dawkins.

Q1 – 14:28: After Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks for a six-yard completion on first down, the Giants elect to use their first timeout of the game.

Q1 – 13:17: Brandon Jacobs is brought down for a two-yard loss by Andra Davis on second down, but Manning finds Steve Smith cutting across the middle on third down for a gaini of eight, giving New York a first down at the Denver 32.

Q1 – 12:20: Jacobs looks for a hole going through the right tackle on first down but picks up only three yards as Brian Dawkins meets him inside the hole. On second down, an interception goes through the hands of Andre’ Goodman, bringing up 3rd and 7.

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Posted in DenverBroncos.com | 312 Comments »

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