Even with a quick turnaround before Thursday’s preseason finale in Minnesota, Head Coach Josh McDaniels hopes to bring a sense of normalcy to preparations for the last tune-up before the Sept. 12 regular season opener in Jacksonville.
In his final press conference before the game on Tuesday, the head coach compared the short week to getting ready to play a game on Thanksgiving, which the Broncos did in 2009.
According to McDaniels, part of that normalcy means getting the starters some time in Thursday’s contest.
“We don’t put a play limit on them,” McDaniels said. “There are some players that we want to see — if they can play this week then they’re going to play and they’re going to play more than three or four plays.”
McDaniels said the Broncos spent Tuesday morning going through a two-hour “crash course” on the Vikings that included preparing to stop the defending NFC North champs’ first-unit offense led by Brett Favre.
McDaniels said most of the starters played almost a full quarter in last season’s preseason-closing win against Arizona in a similar situation. He said players such as running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter and offensive lineman Ryan Clady could be ready to make their preseason debuts on Thursday, giving the Broncos a potential chance to build some chemistry with the offense closer to full strength than it has been at any point this preseason.
No matter who is able to take the field on Thursday, McDaniels said it’s an important opportunity to continue the progress they’ve built through the preseason. With more than a week between the close of preseason and start of the regular season, the head coach hopes to strike the right balance of resting players, while keeping them sharp going forward.
“If you don’t play them at all, you’re talking about two weeks without playing football, which you don’t really do much of since you start training camp,” McDaniels said. “We’re interested in trying to stay in some type of a rhythm.”
Below are a few pictures from Tuesday’s practice.
- Eric Detweiler, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Josh McDaniels
Hopefully Knowshon can get out there, and take a couple handoffs, even if he doesn’t look good running the ball, he still needs to get that chemistry and timing down.
Moreno, Bucky and Clady could be back for the Minnesota game? Great, but PLEASE DON’T RUSH THEM BACK, like Decker, Kuper and Thomas twice so far, all re-injuring same areas of their bodies, it’s not worth it.
If Moreno and Buck are 100% great play them,but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T PUT CLADY IN A PRESEASON GAME AGAINST THE VIKINGS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Clady don’t need practice he knows what to do when Sundays come around,please don’t bring him in,especially against Jared Allen,that is the stupidiest thing I ever heard!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would agree BFE, Clady needs no reps against Jarred, Clady is the best at his position, I think he can do just fine without the 4th preseason game which by the way is the stupidest one of the 4 for the starters. The main goal if not the only one for the starters for this game for every team is usually to stay healthy, and here is McD wanting to push three have been pretty seriously wounded right into this stupid game, sometimes you really wonder where this young coach gets his common sense, not his forte to say the least, dealing with the press, dealing with his players, dealing with the press about his players, unloading on the sidelines on the other team’s players, all of this requires common sense and he has repeatedly shown to fall short in this area, still waiting for him to mature as a HC, not forcing the issues with the recovering injured would be a place to start.
start quinn and tebow its meaningless dont hurt you starters
A voice of reason and maturity, no kidding, give that game up, use it for making the cuts, this is a different type of preseason than most for us, we limped through it, don’t chance it any longer, retreat the troops, the Jacksonville game is only 11 days away!!!
The best part of the whole article is the use of the word “normalcy”, which isn’t actually a word, but was used by President Harding during his campaign as a way to state that he wanted to return things to Pre-WWI status.
Seems somewhat analogous to the distress the Broncos have felt in recent years with all the coaching/player changes. Hopefully, that “normalcy” is circa 1997/1998.
I agree BFE and Baylin, don’t rush Clady out there. He needs to be healthy more than he needs the reps. And yes olderthandirt, I think Quinn should get a lot of playing time. A last chance if you will. He has done nothing to impress me and this could be it. However, I would not shed a tear if they traded him today. I like the guy. he seems like a good person but that ain’t cutting it in the NFL.
Also, I read somewhere that Knowshon said he is about 80%. OUCH That is no bueno mi amigos. Very frustrating. Are these guys not doing all the right things to take care of themselves? Or is it plain old bad luck? We need our star players healthy. Guess I’m just venting my own personal frustration. Sick of the Broncos being mediocre and sick of the over confident chargers fans and dillusional raider fans. Come on boys, get healthy for week 1 and shut the critics up please.
I LOVE ME SOME BRONCOS……. MAYBE TOO MUCH. LOL
Big D you pretty much settle the injury thing telling us Moreno says he is about 80%, with a hammy!!! PLEASE do not play the guy at 80%, the odds of re-injuring it are HUGE, I have no idea whatsoever why McD would come out and make such statement that these three might play, including Moreno, I am baffled, but then again being baffled by Mcd is pretty much standard mode of operation here, LOL.
I agree Baylin, I have been browsing the web a bit today so I’m not sure where I found that article. I hope it’s not legitimate. But who knows.
Well I guess I misquoted, Knowshon says he is 80 something percent. This was just posted on the broncos site.
ya im with you guys! just let those guys sit out that last game so they can be as healthy and healed as possible for the regular season opener! and i read an article today that said they arent sure clady is going to be 100% for the opener….. so why… in the name of everything holy…. would you even consider playing him the 4th preseason game? and moreno… if he is still only “80 something %” would you consider playin him? give carries to white, and let the back up QBs go at it! i mean thats what we REALLY need to figure out is who is going to be backing up our starters. so play the back ups! thats my 2 cents…
Go Broncos
“THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES”
mcd should wait they have a spot in the roster already. I don’t want to hear about any set backs!!!
NFL Network reported about an hour ago and said Moreno is at 80%….. Moreno said it.
Moreno said in the interview in the context of getting in football shape he is 80%.. I did not take it that his hammy is olnly 80%.. Watch the video on the blog. The team has a whole number of trainers and coaches that probably know what is best for the players. I suppose if they never practiced or played exhibition games they wouldn’t get hurt?
I guess we are all in agreement that Clady and Moreno need to sit out the last preseason game,the 4th preseason game is mostly for the guys that are borderline on making the team anyway,stupid to play injured vets.IMO
Don’t know about anybody else but I sure was impressed big time with Ayers and Mays Sunday Night,I know Doom is gonna miss most,if not all of this season,but I think if we can get Reid back reasonably soon,we could have a glimmering hope at having a good LB core.
DJ,Ayers,Haggan,Moss,Woodyard,Atkins,Mays,Hunter.(Reid).
With Kirlew,Alexander,J. Williams,W.Williams prob getting cut,or maybe put on PS,IDK.
If they know what is best for the players than why are they bringing them back in before they are ready,only to see them get hurt again???(Decker,Kuper,Thomas)makes no sense to me.
Agreed they need practice and contact,but not heavy contact before they are healthy.
I’m sure there is a fine line at knowing for sure when someone is 100% and probably the proof is when they return to action. Say we hold everyone out three weeks longer than we think-there still would be no guarentee that the injury won’t re-occur as they get back into football shape and practice and have contact. I’m just saying the guys have to come back and get some hits and practice sometime before throwing them into the heat of battle. Just saying…coaches and trainers probably know better than we bloggers…Go Broncos
If McDaniels manages to re-injure any more players, especially Clady, HE should be the one cut from the roster.
You would think the coaches and trainers would know a lot more about things like that,but they made mistakes before,just don’t wanna see it happen again.Agreed they need contact but they have to make a descision when,and not to much too early,just sayoing.
After what has happened this off season injury wise it is only natural that some of us bloggers are concerned about it, I am not of the sheep mentality, following the leadership blindly, I like to think for myself and I like to question the one in charge (specially when he is young enough to be my child) whenever I feel there is reason to, that may not make me right, but it doesn’t hurt anything either, it’s an attempt to keep everybody honest is all, I believe McD should listen to us on this one, LOL.
Sit the starters! Let the youngsters battle it out.
FTR
Amen.
Definitely. It’s more fun to watch then anyway.
Agreed
Like everyone has said, since the last game is the MOST insignificant. I say we sit ALL the starters as well (with the exception of Beadles, Walton, Daniels) since they could use the practice even tho 2 of them will be starters.
In other words, if your spot on the 53 man is already decided, then I dont want u out there. The young guys and unsure guys are fighting for a career and a future. Give them a fighting chance to show case what they have to offer while keeping your starters safe.
The way Moreno spoke during the interview gets me a little concerned. He sounded a little annoyed and frustrated. To me that means that he is either frustrated with the questions being asked or he is unhappy with where he is at physically right now. I hope and pray he was just annoyed with the questions. I could definately be reading too much into it but usually when a player is starting to feel good they are more approachable to the media. It just seemed that he really didn’t want to answer the questions being asked which makes me feel that he is uneasy with where he is at. I repeat this is just an observation and I could totally be wrong. Just did not like the vibe he was putting off.
Maybe play the starters for a quarter, just to keep them fresh. Or half a quarter. But other than that, SIT, SIT, SIT! WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE INJURIES!!!
This is great news our guys are getting better.I absolutely want to see big man Ryan Clady manning his position protecting KO’s blind side.Same thing with Moreno great progress if he’s ready (yeah more than 80% lets hope) I’d like to see him out there.Will I be on the edge of my seat nervous as hell on every play?of course. You ‘re making one false assumption that it is only playing football that is dangerous wrong .Ryan hurt himself playing bball,hamstrings you don’t need any contact.You can hurt yourself watching television(BMarsh hand through the glass) sometimes just working out with weights you tear or dislocate something.It is a dangerous violent sport but they need to work together a little before Jacksonville especially with all the changes on the o line just a couple series only if they are well enough.GO BRONCOS!!
Darrell Reid will start the season on PUP list which will give him six more weeks to heal. At that point, depending on his rehab, he could be activated or if not, placed on IR for the remainder of the season.
Looks like Jason Hunter will fill his role in certain defensive packages.
Great to see Robert Ayers have a great game last Sunday!! Also Moss was working hard and had the one tipped pass on 3rd down to stop a drive. If we can get Moss in the passing lanes and sky, he could be a disruption at 6’7″. Joe Mays played a very good game!
Walton and Beadles could use the extra experience,seeing that Beadles needs all the experience he can get.I don’t know if it’s him or Walton or a combination of both,but our running game up the gut stinks.Maybe play them for a qtr or so prob wouldn’t hurt.
rbf1…I was wondering about Reid,thanks for the info.I likes what I saw from Ayers,Moss,and Mays also,Hunter didn’t look too bad either.
The Dline needs to step it up too,you can’t expect the LBs to get all the pressure and sacks,plus the run D still looked bad to me,but looked better than last week.
No prob BFE. I know we’re all looking for someone to step up and rush the QB. I liked the wrinkles we saw in this game as Moss & Ayers were in 3 pt stance, in some packages going with one less D- lineman.
Wink looks to be aggressive to produce results on D this season!
Look for Williams, Bannon, Fields & Thomas to be the catalysts from the NT position.
The nose tackle and the inside linebackers, (Haggan & DJ Williams) those are three guys that are very important. But when you go through it, the nose tackle is probably the single-most important guy, as he has a two gap assignment.
In 3-4, LB’s sitting back to survey the offensive set, can key in on an inside ball carrier and “hit the gaps” quickly to offer help to the 3 down linemen when defending the rush. In pass coverage, the 4 linebackers are already in a “sitting back” position, are able to see the patterns develop and cover the short/intermediate pass.
The 3-4 Defense works best against a team that enjoys sweeping their running back to the outside or having their wide recievers run slant routes through the middle. It is easy to confuse the offense with the 3-4 defense by showing different blitz packages with the linebackers who may blitz or fall back into coverage.
I’m with him on the agression part,whatever it takes to get results and still stay honest on Defense is what we need to do,plus maybe thro in some blitz packages from a Safety or Corner every once in a while wouldn’t hurt either,I think that Wink will be a good Defensive Coordinator,I like his style and the players seem to like him a lot.Remains to be seen how good he will be tho.
Rumor is we’ll be using some 4-3 scheme too.I’m a lot more familiar with the 4-3 anyway.Whatever works to slow down the opposing Offense works for me.
Wasn’t in Phonzy that came through on a Corner blitz but didn’t quite make the tackle? I believe it was Mays who finished off the sack. Happened so fast at the game, I had to look at the big screen to see who it was at Invesco.
Good point BFE- it does remain to be seen, but I like what I’ve seen so far, and the good thing is, we’re only going to get better.
Either Pouncey is going to be great or J Williams didn’t bring his A game Sunday night,cause looked like to me Pouncey handled him pretty good,I’m sure he had some help,but still you’d think Williams would be able to get around or thru him a few times.
Yeah I think you’re right it was Phonzy missing the sack and Mays or Ayers finished it up.Mays is a great surprise to me,I expect Ayers to step up,but if Mays can help out along with Moss and DJ,our LBs might do alright,but still wished we had Doom and Reid starting.
Lucky dog I wished I could attend a Broncos game live,that would be so awesome,maybe when my kids leave home I’ll travel out that way and catch one at Invesco,that would be sweet.
Great talkin’ atcha rfb1 but I gotta go for now,keep’em straight up there.LOL
GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re right BFE – we will see some 4-3 alignments. The catalyst last season was the man you mention, #95 Darrell Reid who would come in and line-up at DE.. (5 sacks).
Have a good one BFE.
Go Broncos!!!! Football is so unpredictable and it is the ultimate team sport. All of the players on the field have to rely on one another and when a team is missing any part of that group the whole team and the team concept suffer. I am a fan of MCD unlike some of the other men who have posted I believe in his system and I believe in him if for noththing else that he reminds me of a young Shanahan. He came in an offensive genius but He has also taken the time to upgrade the defense that goes a long way in my book.
I want to see moreno get hit. This is only his second year in the league and I think he needs to be under the spotlight of at least a few series before he goes to jacksonvill if for nothing else so that we don’t get into a regular season game and he coughs the ball up. I am with the rest of you Clady is special. I believe we should sit him he will jump in to the heat of battle and not miss a beat. And be a leader on top of it all.
Go Broncos
Josh will only play these players if they are comfortable playing. I like Moreno but I have to say, I don’t believe he will ever be the kind of back we want him to be, he’s good but he can’t carry the team on his back if kyle goes down. I dont think josh is dumb enough to play Clady this week any player that is questionable still has about a week and a half to prepare for the regular season! if Moreno is “80 some percent” then he should be 100% in a week!
GO BRONCOS 2010!!!
Agree…sit the starters and let the young guns battle for a roster spot. It isn’t about winning anyway.
Glad Moreno is getting back in action. Hopefully he’ll get back to 100% sooner rather than later. I really think that with Buck and Moreno healthy, after White’s 4 game suspension we could have a very decent rushing attack. Last game if it was Buck or Moreno, I honestly don’t think we score a TD on that short yardage run. I think that having those three would switch up the pace of the running game.
You gotta pick your battles. You don’t kill your soldiers in basic training in prepartation of a war.
It seems so simple to us but yet it seems so complicated to the coaches, that desire of winning every game including tomorrow is obstructing the overall view of the lanscape ahead for McD, if he does indeed start guys in the 4th preseason game who are not at least over 90 % healthy, he will have failed this test in his young HC life. I would much rather have a player a little less ready for the Jacksonville game at near 100% healthy than have one totally ready for the same game at less than 80% ready, and that’s what 10 more days recovering can do, get you from 80 % to 100 % ready health wise, in most cases anyway.
meant 80% healthy, not 80% ready.
So I guess we will see if McD has grown as a coach,or is still wet behind the ears.I do agree with some of his descisions,but disagree with some of them too,he needs to be smarter at some of his descision making.I don’t know how many years Mr.B will allow him to keep making mistakes without improving as a head coach,we all know if you don’t win in this league fast,you’re gone,so let’s pick it up McD and show us you are definitely the coach we need to make us into champions.GO McD and GO BRONCS!!!!!
On the subject of Mr. B, he is not the type to change staff. McD will be with us for the length of his contract no matter what. Heck he let Shanny stick around for more than a decade.. who only won one playoff game in that time span (post elway) So judging by that the mistakes McD can make are pretty much endless. But i think the kid is actually doing a pretty good job. We all want to see the results now, but he has a formula in the works that could lead this team to great things in a couple of years. And in the mean time, i think we will be way more competitive than people think.