15:00: A shout-out to our own Margot Kelly, a PR intern experiencing her last game as a Bronco. Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
First play of the fourth quarter is a Hackney pass to Brett Pierce for a big gain and a first down, setting up the Broncos at the Arizona 23.
13:00: On a third-and-three, Pittman is taken down in the backfield for a loss of two. Prater comes out to try and narrow the lead with a 33-yarder, but a false start penalty backs the Broncos up. Prater goes for a 38-yarder, and it’s good. 14-13, Arizona up by one.
12:06: Prater kicks off, and it is yet another touchback. The Cardinals starting field position has almost always been at their own 20 or worse, courtesy of the Denver specialists.
12:06: Anthony Morelli is now in at quarterback for the Cardinals.
11:00: Morelli is having success, moving down the field with three big gains through the air, getting inside Denver territory in less than a minute.
9:55: Larsen comes through the middle untouched on a blitz, but Morelli gets the ball off. But Larsen’s pressure forced Morelli’s throw to go wide and short.
9:51: The Broncos get more pressure on Morelli, and this time he’s taken down for a sack by Woodyard. Morelli fumbles, but it’s recovered by the Cardinals. Nevertheless, it’s fourth down and Arizona punts. McDaniel takes it inside the 10 and advances it to the 13.
9:05: Hackney slides out of the pocket to avoid pressure and hits a wide open Keary Colbert for an 87-yard touchdown! The offense stays out on the field for the two-point conversion attempt. Hackney takes it himself on a bootleg to the left, diving into the endzone. Denver takes the lead, 21-14. The crowd went nuts, considering there are a fair amount of Bronco fans here and many people have left the stadium.
8:51: After a string of great kickoffs, Prater’s kickoff goes out of bounds, giving the Cardinals the ball at their own 40.
8:45: Josh Barrett nearly had an interception after he tipped a pass high up into the air. On the following play, Jarvis Moss made a nice inside move and got to Morelli, sacking him for a loss of eight.
8:15: That sack forced a fourth-down, and the Cardinals punt away to McDaniel, who is taken down immediately at the Denver 21.
7:58: Hackney nearly completed another deep pass that could have gone for a touchdown, but he overthrew Russell.
6:56: The Bronco offense stalls and is forced to punt, and Paulescu booms one to the Arizona 25. Josh Barrett is called for a pass interference on the following play, giving the Cardinals an automatic first down.
6:00: A few plays later, Morelli overthrows his receiver and it’s picked off by Jack Williams. He takes it 89 yards for a touchdown! 28-14, Denver.
Williams went from sideline to sideline, breaking tackles and getting several big blocks from his teammates as he made his way to the opposite endzone.
5:42: The Cardinals returned the ensuing kickoff to the 20, but Roderick Rogers was injured on the play. Time is out on the field as trainers attend Rogers.
5:37: Rogers gets up and is assisted off the field by the training staff.
Woodyard scores another sack, his second of the game.
3:55: Morelli has another pass picked off, this time by Larsen as the ball was tipped up in the air. He is pushed out of bounds at the Arizona 17.
2:10: The Broncos face a third-and-three at the Arizona 10 after a pair of short runs. Hackney hands off to Cecil Sapp, and he takes it around the right end and out of bounds for a first down.
2:05: Out comes the victory formation, and Hackney kneels on the ball to bring the game to the final two-minute warning.
2:00: Victory formation yet again, and the two teams appear content to let the clock run out. The Broncos defeat the Cardinals, 28-14.
Tags: Adam Zinser, Fourth Quarter, Live Blog, Preseason, Uncategorized
there is some good pressure!
Man, Hackney is fun to watch!
Wow, for the 4th preseason game of the year, this has been an entertaining one………there were some stretches that could almost lull you asleep, but there’s some good competition going on for roster spots by both teams.
WOW! Jack Williams with an AWESOME pick 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sure don’t envy the coaches trying to cut this roster down to 53 players. There are some promising young players that, unfortunately, are gonna get cut.
Now Spencer Larsen with the pick!!! This is a fun quarter to watch if you’re a Bronco fan!!!!!
Funny game… some great plays… I really liked it
I am surprised I’m the only one posting this quarter! I have a feeling some Bronco fans decided to go do something else with their Friday night and they might regret it! That was entertaining to watch. GREAT effort from the Broncos tonight. They started off the game looking really good against the Cards starters and continued the effort through the entire game. I haven’t seen the stats, but there were not alot of penalties tonight. The coaches are gonna have a tough next 12-16 hours trying to decide on the final roster. At least they’ll be able to tell most of the guys they cut that they have a strong chance to make another team!
Well, I am by NO means qualified to evaluate NFL personnel, but I have been a Bronco fan for about 22 years now so I’ll give it a shot:
PROPS: Hackney, Aldridge, Larsen, Woodyard, J. Williams, Niko
DROPS: Paymah (played terrible tonight, and pretty much the last two years)
2nd string offensive line played really good against a stout AZ front
2nd string defensive line had some real bright spots…..Crowder and Moss were getting some pressure on the QB for once!
Fun game to watch………….NOW BRING ON THE RAIDERS!!!!!!
So… We have to cut 22 with eight intended for the practice squad? 14 real cuts… Ummm, wow. That does seem like a tough bunch of decisions. One of the punters, and I sure don’t know which. Probably Chad Mustard, just because we always seem to be cutting him. Maybe I haven’t been paying attention, but I’ve never heard Brett Pierce’s name, so he seems like a likely cut candidate. Figure Dada Wale and/or Tyrone Poole could be shown the door. Wouldn’t be terribly surprised if Sapp and/or Pittman were gone. Marquay McDaniel seems like a probable cut. Anyone else have any guesses?
Nice job, Spencer, Jack, Keary and Darrell. Shanny has some tough decisions to make but I have full confidence he’ll keep the best 53 and we’ll go from there. If we can just bottle this effort, we should be able to mow the Raiders over on September 8!
dont forget patrick ramsey he had a not so good pre-season this year and sucked when he played that detroit game
What about Ramsey?
Well, I hate to see Pittman go, but he very well might. I don’t think they’ll cut Sapp, I think he will be the starting FB. I think they’ll probably keep Kern and cut the other punter, although he won’t be unemployed very long. One you didn’t mention that I think could be cut is Paymah……….seriously I have been surprised he’s hung around as long as he had, but when Matt “overrated” Leinart beat him time and time again tonight I think his job may be on the line.
If I was the one to pick the backup QB I would pick Hackney. Dude just has too much upside to cut…………but, for some unknown reason, Shanahan seems to carry the Patrick Ramsey flag. I respect Mike Shanahan, especially when it comes to evaluating talent, but I think he’s got this one wrong…..Hackney is mobile with a good arm and he makes pretty good decisions. He threw the ball away tonight a couple of times when he could’ve easily tried to force something and throw a pick. Come on Mike……..KEEP HACK!!!!
I am guessing clifford russell will be another cut, Paymah. I would love ramsey to get cut, hackney looked way better, but apparently, according to the announcers, ramsey has the #2 spot and hackney will probably be a practice squader or end up somewhere else. I really dont like that, ramsey cant go a game w/o a pick. Hackney sure can. Well, good luck mike.
Woodyard is a beast!
way to go for the reserves this game… they really made a case…
woodyard is a beast, REALLY!!!! a good special team addition/mainstay for years to come
jack williams also, an insurance in DB positions…
alridge can run and pound in the ground…gonna keep andre and selvin on their toes…
Ok, so I figure Wale Dada, Marquay McDaniel, Chad Mustard, Brett Pierce and whichever of Kern or Palescu are most likey gone. Probably Palescu, because given their nearly identical preseason performances, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take the younger, cheaper player. Paymah and Ramsey have certainly played poorly enough to join them.
And honestly, so has Pittman. He’s a hard-nosed, selfless player, but a 2.7 yard per carry average (and I’m rounding up a little) against 2nd and 3rd team defenses is simply not good. I respect Pittman a lot, he has an amazing work ethic, he’s taken whatever he can get here, but he just seems to not be the guy he once was, and that makes me a little sad.
I look at the fact that we have 8 DE’s on the roster, and I can’t imagine them all making it. We’re clearly keeping Dumervil, Moss, Crowder and Engelberger. I think Ekuban is probably safe, too. Do any of you have any idea about Birdine, Carrington and Clemons? Because I sure don’t, and I would imagine that one or two of them are gone.
I figure we either keep Martinez and move Russell to the Practice Squad, or if Shanahan is concerned that Russell won’t clear waivers for some reason, we might keep him and wind up cutting Martinez, which I wouldn’t like. I’m going to try to predict (within a tolerance, there will be some either/or propositions and some flat out guesses) the roster. I’ll probably whiff on a lot of my choices, so I apologize in advance for wasting your time. That post is coming soon.
Man, this would be easier if all the players were listed on the roster at the positions they actually play.
QB – Cutler, Hackney
OT – Clady, Harris, Pears… Does Polumbus make the active roster by default just in case of a multiple injury scenario? He seems like the perfect candidate for a year on the PS, but we might not be able to spare him. Yikes.
OG – Hamilton, Kuper. Any thoughts on PJ Alexander or Gandy? The only backup guard I’ve heard of is Gandy, and it seems like Erickson is destined for either the PS or to be cut
C – If Nalen is acutally projected to be ready for next week, I expect Lichtensteiger to go to the PS, leaving Nalen and Weigmann on the roster
TE – Graham, Scheffler, Jackson. And of course… Mike Leach.
WR – Marshall, Royal, Colbert, Jackson, Stokely, Martinez. Russell to PS
RB/FB – Young, Hall, Alridge, Sapp. Hillis to practice squad, if we think we can get him by waivers. Torain to PUP list. Not exactly sure that’s allowed, but I think we can hide Torain on the PUP list for 6 weeks, which accounts for my 54 man roster, because this is really hard, so I’m taking short cuts where I can.
PK – Prater
P – Kern
DE – Dumervil, Engelberger, Crowder, Moss, Ekuban, and one of Birdine, Carrington and Clemons. At least one of the two who don’t make the roster to PS
DT – Robertson, Thomas, Peterson, and McKinley or Harris, probably Harris (Carlton Powell to IR pretty soon, I’m guessing)
LB – DJ Williams, Webster, Boss Bailey, Woodyard, Koutovides, Winborn, Larsen
S – McCree, Abdullah, Rogers, Barrett
CB – Champ, Bly, Foxworth, J. Williams
That’s my best guess. And it leaves us 3 PS slots for castoffs from other teams that Shanahan may like. I’ve never tried something like that before, it was pretty hard, and if the ratios are all off (like you look at how many I kept at various positions and just started laughing) sorry, I’ve never actually played football, so I was trying to do it by what made sense to me.
lets give alridge a lot of credit he made this team by playing hard. i think hackney played well. woodyard will be a starter he makes nice hits . and i really like jack williams he could be starting soon . ireally like these broncos. go broncos.
why does everyone like Foxworth…..HE IS TERRIBLE…Urban gfave him the business last night…If you really watch him play he has been getting beat by 2nd and 3rd teamers CONSISTENTLY…I think we should cut him loose (he is not getting better) and either let a vet take his place or train a younger player
As eveyone is saying, it’s going to be a tough cut to make. Here’s my guesses on the 53 man roster:
Offense 27
WR 5:Marshall, Royal, Martinez, D. Jackson, Stokley
TE 3: Graham, Sheffler, N. Jackson
QB 3: Culter 1, Hackney 2, Ramsey 3
RB 4: Young, Hall, Aldrige, Torian
FB 3: Sapp, Pittman, Hillis
OL 9: Clady, Hamilton, Weigman, Kuper, Harris, Pears, Polumbus, Alexander, Lichtensteiger Nalen to PUP or retires
Special Teams 3:
LS 1: Leach
P1: Kern
K 1: Prater
Defense 23:
DL 8: Engleberger, Robertson, Thomas, Dumerville, Crowder, McKinley, Peterson, Moss (Only because he’s a #1 draft pick)
LB 7: Williams, Webster, Bailey, Winborn, Koutouvides, Woodyard, Larsen
CB 4: Bailey, Bly, Foxworth, Williams
S 4: Abdullah, McCree, Poole, Barrett
Great effort left out on field last night! What a pool of talent we have with all the rookies drafted/FA, this year. Jack Williams got a nice int and scored ! (almost took one back vs. the Cowboys). Kudos to Spenser Larsen, Peyton Hillis, Kory Liechtensteiger (Center), and the two undrafted rookies, Anthony Aldrige and Wesley Woodyard! Woodyard is a former Kentucky Wildcat who was the leader of their DEFENSE! What a find he has been !!! Clady and Royal are set to go! Can’t wait to see Ryan Torain get back and make his contribution towards the success of our Team!! I hope you guys all make the Team!! Go Broncos !!!!
FOXWORTHLESS…MUST GO! Even Leinart and a 2nd stringer made Foxworthless look to be exactly who we thought he was…a 3rd rate CB, who’s position is being held only because of his position on the NFLPA committee.
It’s time to do what we know has to be done, let him go! The 3 year experiment is over. Even other teams who desperately needed CB help wouldnt even offer up a 5th rd tender for him, even the Cleveland Browns??? That tells you that the NFL knows exactly what we know….Foxworthless is just not NFL caliber, and im guessing he knows it too.
Oh…if you really think that Sapp is a 1st string FB, go see your physician. That spot belongs to Hillis, clear and simple. For those who say he missed his assignment, you’re NUTs. The RT missed the assignment. Hillis was supposed to hit the hole and drive block to allow Alridge to make the yds. So, that was Polumbus. Hillis is big, mean, and phenomenal hands. He’ll be 1st string without a doubt. IF he is waived, he’ll be gone faster than Samie Parker. Take that to the bank and cash it!
WOODYARD is AWESOME. So is LARSEN! Take a look now folks. It’s gonna be DJ, Larsen, and Woodyard @ LB for years to come! It may take some developmental time, but it’s coming. Last night, I’ve not seen our LBs so active in recent memory. Makes the future look very bright?
Great effort and win by the 2,3 and 4th teamers, may they alll be playing professional football this season somewhere!
As strong as Cutler is, I hope Shanny keeps Hackney figuring he won’t need him this year. I think in another year he could be the best back-up QB in the NFL and will not be around if put on the practice squad. He moves the ball down the field and is from what I can tell from TV anyhow, a real leader on the field . The team responds well when he is calling signals.
I think the Broncos will be especially careful this year about who they try and put on the practice squad after the Hixon deal last year. I thought that was about the biggest mistake the Broncos have made in a long time as making a player available for other teams to pick up. Makes me glad Elam is gone and we now have a kicker who I think will reach the same level as Jason did without tieing up two roster spots. Prater is awesome and will get nothing but better!
I think we may see a number of OL and DL players get sent to the practice squad. Many teams won’t bother with our “undersized” lineman. Only a couple hours to go till we find out who makes the cut!
I don’t care about who gets cut as long as FOXWORTH is one of them. We can’t keep holding because of his ties to the NFLPA. He flat out sucks in man defensive and he can’t tackle anyone with those arm tackles he loves to do. I’m sorry but it’s true. In comparison to Paymah, paymah can effectively tackle.
delux304… I have to agree with you. He seriously cannot cover my mom. How about cutting him and going with our young kids. With our young talent we can be a special team for a long time….Just my opinion.
when do the cuts have to be done by?
we just cut sam pa
sam Paulescu
I read that Alridge was put on the IR with a foot injury. I did not realize he was hurt that bad.
Just read we cut these guys…
FB Cecil Sapp
S Josh Barret
QB Darrell Hackney
OL P.J. Alexander
TE Chad Mustard
TE Brett Pierce
DE Paul Carrington
DE Larry Birdine
WR Glenn Martinez
OL Mitch Erickson
P Sam Paulescu
DT Stephen Harris
LB Jordan Beck
WR Clifford Russell
Updated list
FB Cecil Sapp
S Josh Barret
QB Darrell Hackney
OL P.J. Alexander
TE Chad Mustard
TE Brett Pierce
DE Paul Carrington
DE Larry Birdine
WR Glenn Martinez
OL Mitch Erickson
P Sam Paulescu
DT Stephen Harris
LB Jordan Beck
WR Clifford Russell
OL Dylan Gandy
WR Marquand McDaniel
CB Tyrone Poole
S Vickiel Vaughn
CB Wale Dada
INJURED —
RB Anthony Alridge – Torn Ligament in foot