Whether Kyle Orton or Chris Simms starts on Sunday against the Chargers, one difference between the two quarterbacks is certain.
With the right-handed Orton in the lineup, the blind side blocking falls on the shoulders of Ryan Clady. With the left-handed Simms behind center, that onus shifts to Tyler Polumbus.
In the eyes of offensive line coach Rick Dennison, the quarterback’s throwing hand has little effect on pass protection responsibilities.
“I don’t think it is that big of deal,” Dennison said. “He is getting back there and we’ve got to give him time to throw. We just do our protections, we don’t really worry about what hand he is tossing it with.”
Head Coach Josh McDaniels echoed Dennison’s sentiments, noting that the most substantial changes, if any, occur in situations outside of the hashes.
“Just if we were going to move the quarterback out of the pocket or roll him out or something like that, then, obviously, you’d probably roll (Simms) left and (Orton) right,” McDaniels said. “I think everybody in football probably knows that, so I’m not unveiling any big secret. Other than that, nothing really (changes).”
McDaniels confirmed at his Friday morning press conference that Orton was not going to practice in the Friday afternoon session.
While he said it was not ideal for any player to miss three days of practice and then start a game, McDaniels added that Orton’s consistency in taking reps throughout the season is a clear benefit to the situation.
“We’re going to continue to work with him and rehab him, but we’re not going to put him out there at practice today,” McDaniels said. “(We’ll) continue working with him and hopefully, he’ll be ready to go on Sunday.”
While Orton has rehabbed his ankle, Simms has turned in a solid week of practice. Friday stood as a crucial day in his progress, as new threads were being added to the team’s preparation.
“Today will be an important day for him in terms of being in tune with what we’re doing in the passing game when we get down there, two-minute operation and those kinds of things,” McDaniels said. “We’ve got to finish the week off well, but he’s had two good days of practice.”
INJURY UPDATE
There were two changes to the Broncos’ Week 11 Injury Report on Friday. After not participating in Thursday’s practice, Correll Buckhalter (knee) and Brandon Lloyd (foot) were both full participants on Friday. Both players are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
On the San Diego side, there were three Friday changes. After not participating in Thursday’s session T Jeromey Clary (ankle) was a limited participant. He is listed as questionable entering Sunday’s contest. After seeing limited participation on Thursday, DE Travis Johnson (groin) and OLB Shaun Phillips (ankle) were both full participants on Friday. Each player is listed as probable for Sunday’s game.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Chris Simms, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, Rick Dennison, San Diego Chargers, Week 11
I really hope that the whole team shows up ready to play. Hopefully the home crowd can really get into it for us. We may NEED this win but were going to have play like we WANT it.
Go Broncos!!!!!!!!
WE are still in this….a 13-3 finish is just as likely as a 6-10 finish…we dont know what the future holds but what we do know is our team was solid enough to sin 6 in a row and that doesnt come with luck. We get back to playing as a team and we can beat the chargers and take our rightful place as the leaders of the AFC West by sunday night and all the way to the playoffs
As long as simms is put into the game plan and is ready…I have faith he will do well with some assistance from our Running Game and A Defense I hope finds its pride again. Orton is pretty much a no go…I say Simms and Brandstater get all the reps incase things go REALLY south with Simms, like 3 INTs no yards in the first Half bad lol…..Glad to see Brandstater warming up his arm as well. Anyway, I got faith, glad to know some of yall do too.
Ill go ahead and say we win 23-17…,,,and if we lose we lose 28-13…but I prefer the first one lol
GO BRONCOS!!!
Sure looks like Simms is looking/throwing deep….maybe…just maybe…we might see it again this week?
we will in the last practice pictures…Royal was cutting up field so they workign on deep routs…it worked unbelievably well last week. it will stop them from sitting on short routes and only playign the run
Hopefully this time his long ball doesnt end with an INT….I am serious about getting Brandstater ready to as well…Might as well throw them both out there if simms starts sucking….and I dont mean incomplete sucking…I mean..INT, FUMBLING, straight up suckign lol
Anybody notice that Eddie Royal has always done well against the Chargers? He had the two TD returns earlier this season, had 11 catches for 74 yards or something like that in last year’s finale, and had the winning reception in the first game last year. I think he’ll blow up again this weekend.
1.love orton, yes i was one of the doubters in the preseason but the guy is doing his job.
2.love simms, only cuz i played qb wen i was in high school and im a lefty, we get a lot of criticism.
3.But the guy im lookin for is BRANDSTATER!! his showing in preseason really has me wanting to see what Mcdaniels can mold this guy into!
Either way i like our chances with any of these 3 QBs. Orton jus has the hottest hand
GO BRONCOS
WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO WIN IF OUR OFFENSIVE LINE GIVES SIMMS ENOUGH TIME. HE LOOKED LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS LAST WEEK
We cannot judge Simms based on last weeks performance…It was just bad. I think we all would agree that we would feel most comfortable with Orton playing, but I dont think any of us know what to expect of our team regardless. Lets just hope they play well and get the W. I cannot make any predictions, and I’m not sure that anyone can.
Go Broncos!
We have to go with Simms if Orton can’t go and see what he can do. He got a 3 Million dollar contract to do more than hold a clipboard. Also, he’s had a whole week of practice with the first team offense and should be more in sync with our recievers. Does anyone remember preseason when Orton injured his finger and Brandstater came in? ( I think Simms was hurt?) Brandstater couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn? then the next week,against the Cardinals, when he had the reps with the first team offense, he lit them up!
I think both Simms and Brandstator need to be ready to go, but God forbid that Orton comes in and hurts himself even more with the giants coming up on Thanksgiving.
We need to win this game and get to playing our best football. Now is the time to get another winning streak going. I have faith in the other 10 guys on offense and our defense to get this thing turned around.
shoutout and baylinorangecrush: don’t know if you saw my prediction? It’s on Coops last blog about 8:30 A.M thursday lol……….
Sorry, meant shutout not shoutout!.
Coachemup what part of ND are you from? I am from Bismarck.
mcdanielsdomain09 I agree 100% Brandstater is going to be good, I think is QB of the Future
coachemup, I like the post, you are 100% right. everyone hated Brandstater after that game and the next game he EARNED respect based on his performance. There is some logic to your statement, when a guy gets a week to prepare then they will play much better. Defense must have an A+ performance, Special Teams must turn in an A+ performance and most important our offense must stay on the field with long sustained drives ending in TD’s. San Diego is a 2nd half team, we must beat them up in the 1st half and the 2nd half.
Defense 5 -7 sacks this game would be huge. Rivers needs to feel the pressure all day long. GO Broncos!!!!!
Bronco Nation:
I say let Simms start and let Orton get 100% for NY coming up on turkey day. Simms will not look like a deer in the headlights this week with having all the time with the starters during the week. He gives the bolts more to worry about in the “unknown” how to prepare for him slinging the ball! Simms is set to have a good game with our running game back witch it will be! I agree with TheRoyalBeast we have proven we can beat good teams! I do not believe we will spiral down hill as all the so called experts are jumping on due to last year’s failure. Screw last year and the experts! This is this year and we will rebound starting on Sunday!!
GO BRONCOS
FTR
Broncomania56 and Coachemup keep up the good posts. I like it and agree with ya all! Shutout You can bet on Simms doing better and you are right about that we can not judge him on last week!
FTR
What is up with the Simms haters? Man I was on facebook and The Denver Broncos posted the injury report and just about everybody was hateing. I just don’t understand today’s fans.
I would like to see everybody who posts here, open a FB account and post something intelligent and positive there. We are in danger of creating a negative culture around here and I for one can’t stand the thought of that happening.I don’t think I could take Denver becoming another perpetually losing TEAM and City. Even when the chips are down I will support my Denver Broncos. Who’s with me?
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
Here, here mondono: lot of it comes from the denver post.
monodono:
I would say get off of FB!!!!! Never is there a place more negitive then that site!! It’s not the Bronco Nation going on face book its true fans comming here or the Bronco Huddle site http://fanhuddle.com/denverbroncos/
Just my two cents!
FTR
tnalen: Grand Forks
Face Book and My space is not the venue for talking football!
FTR
FTR, your right about FB not being the venue for talking football but that doesn’t change what is brewing out there. I want the culture to change before we become like oakland, cleveland, or detroit. I also like the guy’s at Milehigh Report, good stuff.
I think that we will be alright with Simms in there slinging it around. He had all week to prepare with the first team. He can throw it down the field. This is the week we get back to playing physical football again for 60 minutes. By The Thanksgiving game against the giants we will be 7-3 and going for our 8th win of the season. Lets get this going at the stadium for OUR TEAM and make some noise for the BRONCOS this week.
—GO BRONCOS—
2 things I take from today before practice. Marshall without knowing Kyle’s status at practice time. Favored Simms over Kyle. Royal favors Simms over Kyle. McD is down playing what Simms is doing in practice. It has been wide eyed childish glee. When taking about Simms possible start. Don’t be lowed to sleep with the game time decision. That is for the Chargers locker room to think it’s gonna be a cake walk. If Simms do what I anticipate him doing SUN. I’m not a big advocate of loosing position to injury. If he does what I think he can. Simms will be the man. With him they practice the deep ball all yesterday. Just a lil FYI.
Look for the Broncos using the draft pick on D. A all world S,CB, or NT.
GREATNESS007-I believe i’d go NT,we need depth on the D-line worse than anywhere,IMO.Oh yeah Broncs win 27-21.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has the potential Greatness its true…Altho I will say I am more of a Brandstater fan…anyway, I think he will do well…he was rusty. Now tha the knows he will start and is getting the reps…he will do real well and hopefully the runnign game and defense can suppor thim cuz he will need it. Orton is out for sunday no doubt…..Its simms playing and I pray he does well….I believe in anyone under center in Denver (till they REALLLY prove otherwise) lol….we doubted Orton gave him a chance he did alright….lets give simms a chance too
I think no matter who plays at QB we’ll be alright because in the last game against the Chargers Orton was 20-29 FOR 229 YARDS AND 2 TD’s 0 int’s and a passer rating of 115.4,pretty good. IMO,and our D had 5 sacks,but we also got 2 TD’s from Royal on ST.The last game we had a full team effort,I belive our guys are tired of losing,and they’ll be fired up and show them da?? Deadbolts who’s taking back the AFC WEST Title…..GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRB,by the way,I’m a Brandstater fan too.LOL
The only thing that worries me about Simms starting is that he’s a lefty,so that means Polumbus has got to block his blind side,and he’s been doing alright,but everybody knows that he’s no Ryan Clady(which is a beast).
Thanks for the propitious comments about Mile High Report on this thread for I am the Bradfather that many of you read over there. Let’s dominate the Chargers. I feel good about this game and let’s make Queer Felipe Cry Me A Rivers eat some turf. Hopefully, Orton goes, but I see Eddie Royal and Correll Buckhalter tearing it up come what may. GO BRONCOS!!!
This Broncos team has been in some very tough situations the last 3 games. Lets remember that both Pittsburgh and Baltimore had bye weeks to prepare for the Broncos, and obviously Orton going down against Washington was the straw that broke the camels back in that game. Now with that said I have to say I hate excuses and think its a waist of integrity to make them. This team is bigger than that and I have been very proud at how the team has accepted responsibility for its miscues this season. I don’t know how this sunday is going to play out because all the factors that are involved, but I do believe in this team and its leadership and I will be very surprised if they don’t show up and treat this game like a must win playoff game. I’m not saying it is a must win game or the season is over, but it is important nonetheless.
I think for this game to be successful the Broncos needs to be better in some major key areas. 1) The obvious, Orton and/or Simms need to be at the very least efficient at moving the ball. 2) The ST has got to become special on every aspect of ST’s. The Chargers can hurt us badly in this area (as we all know). 3) The defense needs to be a relentless menace to society for the ENTIRE game. This may be most crucial for the fact that Rivers is likely going to bring his A game and must be attacked at all times. 4) Home field advantage must be an advantage. Home field in Denver can be hell on earth when the fans are alive (and present). 5) The running game needs to remain consistent and avoid turning the ball over. San Diego is weakest against the rush and can be controlled with power running. 6) Treat this game like your 0-0. What has happened in the past is exactly that.. THE PAST. The good and the bad mean nothing now. This is a new game, new season, and it should be approached as 1 game at a time, 1 quarter at a time, 1 play at a time. Lots of faith for this Sunday.
Go Broncos!
testing, I hate it when this blog has a mind of its own and does not post, either because they say invalid password or for no reason at all. Please see what’s wrong with the site and fix it, what ever I attempt to post gets deleted and I have to start all over again, AGGRAVATING.
Ok, let’s try it again, since the middle of the week I’m glad to see more picks have come in, 10 of them and all have us winning. We started the week with only three picks, two of them having us lose… This losing streak has had a serious effect on the psyche of the fans, numbers don’t lie. We had 40 picks for the Ravens game (season record), 30 for the Steelers, 21 for the Skins and 13 for this week so far. I, personally, don’t really blame anyone for having lost some of their interest (some are no longer posting, others are just too wary of making predictions in the midst of a losing streak), but I will be glad to see enthusiasm pick up again if we can muster a win here and there. My pick is Broncos win a close one with a lot of FG’s, 19-17. Remember, today is the last day for picks as far as the contest goes, no pick on game day. You’ll have to make your pick without knowing who our QB will be, just like everyone who has already picked this week, keeping things fair. GO BRONCOS!
Buck, full practice, great news.
Jordan probably out, Hillis probably in? PLEASE.
Simms probable starter, with Brandstater as back up and Orton inactive is my guess.
Playing for a THREE game swing. We lose we’re one down to SD, we win we’re one up on them plus we win the head to head tiebreaker, so in essence we would be two games up. I don’t buy for one second that this is not a must game win, looking back on the season at season end, my guess is you’ll be real hard pressed to find a game in the season that was more meaningful than this one. Stop this non sense that this just an important game but not a must win, I live on planet Earth, what planet do these people live on?
Anyway, 1) run the ball more than 50% of the plays, 2) pressure Rivers all game long and 3) keep Sproles in check on ST (Berger, we’ll do need those high, long hang time, kicks bad). If we do those three things, I believe we’ll win, if we are not successful on even just one of those three things, I believe we could easily lose. Just my opinion.
Totally agree with you, FTR. Orton needs to rest for Thurs. against the Giants. Simms will do just fine with a full week’s preparation. As I recall, there was much debate in the pre-season as to who should start; Orton or Simms. I think I was leaning towards Simms, myself. Last week’s debacle was just because he (Simms) hadn’t had any real kind of preparation, hence the rust. This week I think he’ll not only start, but he’ll have a really good game! That would also allow Orton the extra rest to be fresh for the Giants on Thursday.
Here’s an idea (or maybe just a brain fart, lol). What if McD were to rotate the 1st and 2nd team offenses (including the QB, RBs, WRs, TEs, & Linemen) so that each was more fresh on each down, to combat their defense? Hmmmm……I dunno…maybe not…..just a thought.LOL
Seriously, I see the Broncos winning with either QB, with a lot more deep balls thrown, opening up the offense. I’ll say 23-17 Denver.
we need this win and we need everyone to step up and do there jobs like in are 6 wins go broncos lets get it donee at home
baylinorcrus. what have you got as far as injury reports on Harris and McBean?
I have a feeling The D really misses McBean up front.
monodono,
Harris and Jordan, out.
Orton and Barrett, questionable.
Marshall, Bucky and Lloyd, probable
McBean is not listed on the injury report, should be ready to go.
Told ya Chris is starting. IT was all just misdirection.