Syd’Quan Thompson’s goal throughout the preseason has been to carve out a niche in the Broncos veteran secondary.
On Sunday, the rookie cornerback’s role was pretty clear: playmaker.
The seventh round pick from California returned a fourth quarter interception 48 yards for a touchdown in Sunday’s 34-17 win at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Thompson later added a 62-yard punt return to go along with a tackle and two passes defended.
“Every time he gets an opportunity, he makes the most of it,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said, “and I think that’s what you want a rookie to do.”
Thompson said instincts took over on his first NFL touchdown when he jumped a Charlie Batch pass and glided untouched into the end zone for the Broncos’ final score.
The play capped an impressive day for the Broncos secondary, which accounted for three interceptions and a pair of touchdowns, and just as importantly for Thompson, boosted his case to make the 53-man roster.
Thompson said he won’t know exactly how strong that case is until final roster cuts come later this week, but he’s also helped himself by averaging 25.8 yards per punt return on his four attempts in the last two preseason games. After Sunday’s game, McDaniels said he’s been impressed by Thompson’s special teams tackling ability, in addition to his return efforts.
For now, the 23-year-old remains happy to keep up with his fellow rookie and friend Perrish Cox, who had his own long punt return last week and his first NFL interception in the second quarter on Sunday. Like any good playmaker, seeing his teammate shine only boosts his desire to match it.
“Everything’s competitive,” Thompson said. “I see (Cox) do good, it makes me want to do good. Whatever role I can play to help the team, that’s the best for me.”
- Eric Detweiler, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Preseason, Syd'Quan Thompson
sorry for the repost guys-
All right! Great game. Nice to match their ferocius D. We still need to tighten it up. Especially on 3rd down. I like Mays. I like the rookie DB’s. With Champ, Goody and Dawk, we are DEEP.
I like the emergence of Ayers, Moss and Mays. When Elvis returns we will be deep there as well. DJ leading the team with tackles in only 2 and just about 1/2 quarters! Very nice! Didnt like Jamal vs Pouncy. That kid held his own and then some. And to think we coulda had him….
Instead a damaged WR and his (Pouncy) former teammate. Who had a night of ups and downs. Or downs, then ups. But something to build off of. And hopefully a bright future. You have to hit Eddie wide open in the flat, you cant telegraph your passes either. But wayyyy better than BQ.
Orton is our man. If he goes down, then we are in a lot of trouble.
It was VERY nice to see our running game get going. Lendale will be huge. Ball made major strides. Doesnt look too good for Bucky. And Knowshow, needs to show up. SOON. WR depth chart is phenomenal. Nuff said!!!
Im no longer that worried about our O-line. We are deep and Clady is recovering in the wings. YEZZIR!!!!!
ST was amazing. I dont know what was said to them, but it effing worked. That phase will put us in the position to win, if not decide a couple of games for us!
So D-line is my only area of concern heading into this season. Funny. I could have sore I just had deja vu’….
Get Healthy/Stay Healthy, BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
11-5, baylin. Goin on a gut feeling, because this morning/afternoon- I AM LOVING ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!!!
BTW, with Cox and Thompson, can we finally close the book on Phonz????
I think we just TOOK OUR HOUSE BACK!!!!!!
THE BRONCOS OWN THE MILE HIGH MAGIC AT INVESCO FIELD!!!
GREAT WIN BRONCOS!!!!!
I thought Orton and Tebow played really well… A great one-two punch!!
Hello Parrish and Syd-Quan!!! Goodbye Alphonso…
ILMSDB!!!
KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE BRONCOS!!!!!!!
Wow, good game. Our D looked awesome. Quinn, good bye, Phonzy, see ya. Go Bronco`s. Oh, and Thursday`s game should be fun to see with Favre at the helm for a serie`s or two. After that It`s all vanilla. Ayers looked great. Yes!!!!!!!!!
Ahhh!!! THe sweet taste of victory against a quality team!!! A lot of upsides from this game.
OFFENSE:
QB:
Ortton A- Exceptional game except for one bad throw.
Quinn C- Still looks like a deer caught in the headlights. Takes way to long to make a decision.
Tebow B- A few rookie mistakes, but looked sharp. Too bad Decker dropped that pass at the 5 yard line. TT would have had another TD.
RB:
B- Much stronger performance. Hall looked impressive.
OL: A+
For the first three quarters the OL did an exceptional job despite position swaps. Fourth quarter was poor with all the “no chancers” playing.
WR:
B- A dropped pass or two, but every receiver looked impressive.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kick coverage: A+ Never got past the 20.
Kick Return: C- Some sloppy play including the penalty.
Punt Coverage: A++ WOW!!!!
Punt Return: A- Sure hate to see a penalty ruin a great retrurn.
DEFENSE
DL C- STILL NO PASS RUSH against starters!!! Run defense by starters better, but way to many time the backside was left wide open
LB C+ Looking stronger as they are getting used to each other.
Secondary A++ Can’t say enough about Cox and Thompson.
Only two weeks and it’s all for real!!!!!
great game I still say we end up 10-6!!!
60 MINUTES OF FOOTBALL GO BRONCOS!!!
Defense B-Liked the way Ayers,Hunter,and Mays played at LB,Ayers would have had 3 sacks if it werent for a penalty,secondary was AWESOME!3 picks 2 were picksixes,Dline played good at times,but ALL the pass rush was from LBs, gave up 2 huge running plays.
Offense A-Orton still getting better and better,Tebow showed why he’s going to PLAY in the NFL,running game looked better with White in there,will look even better when KM gets back,WRs were AWESOME.O line played great at pass protection,but still not run blocking very well,Beadles not looking as good as I thought he would,we need Clady back!
OVERALL:A- About time we dominated somebody in our house,even if it was against backup QBs.
I’ll stay with 9-7,but won’t be surprised if we go 10-6 if we get healthy.
The main concerns I have is Dline,no pass rush and stopping the run.
I think wink can put some blitz packages together to get pressure on the QB if we need to.Ayers and Moss’ prescences will be felt !!stopping the run is my biggest concern on D.
Oline run blocking,opening up running lanes.
With Clady back and Beadles and Walton gaining more experience,and KM coming back the running game should improve.
All in all I was very proud of the effort the Broncos had last night,looking like we might have some Mile High Magic this year.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!
BFE
Oh yeah Quinn and Phonzy should hit the road jack,cause they both suck !!!
I think that maybe we should cut our loss with Phonzy and Quinn. Phonzy is obviously getting pushed by the rookies and in my opinion the rookies have outplayed Phonzy. Either he doesn’t think his job is in jeporady or he isn’t developing the way McD would’ve liked.
I think it is time for a “BAR BQ”, he hasn’t impoved since he’s arrived and I was one that thought he would. I thought with better line, WR and coaches that would help him develope….I will admit it that I was wrong. Remember it was a low risk high reward trade for Quinn so I wouldn’t feel too bad releasing Quinn, even though I like Hillis.
Based soley on perfomance in my opinion Phonzy and Quinn would be for sure cuts.
I can honestly say I was the first one here who saw that Quinn does not have it, Tebow’s got it, and I don’t care that I took a lot of heat for not wanting to give him a fair shot, I could tell right away the guy is scared, a good looking young man in the wrong profession is what Quinn is, no one in their right mind will trade for him, Cleveland hit the jackpot when they unloaded him on us for Hillis, we won’t be so lucky but need to cut our losses and let him go regardless, just imagine what it would be like for whatever reason if Quinn needs to come in to the rescue in the regular season, what a nightmare to envision, don’t want none of it…
bay I agree with everything you said. Quinn is scared of getting sack, he only focuses in one player on the field when he should focus on all wide recievers. Quinn is not gonna last
Alphonso and Quinn are guys with high expectations; and they are not living up to them. I wonder if McDaniels could put a package of plays together for Quinn for the last preseason game to showcase him for a trade. I am sure in a few weeks there will be a trade partner in need of either a starter or some depth. Maybe we can get an extra pick for next year.
As for the O-Line, I must say they did better than I thought. The D-line also did better than I thought; but really didn’t do well enough to make this team a contender. I could see the line backers working together better on the blitz packages and with this secondary ready to make a play on a distressed QB….look out AFC West!!!
Did anyone want to do another fantasy football team this year? I was the commissioner for one of last year’s Broncos Blogging leagues. Let me know and i can fire it back up and send out invites.
And half pint Phonzy is just that, what a shame that we traded a first round pick to get him, A FIRST ROUND PICK!, but we need to cut our losses too and let someone take his roster spot who can help us. We have so many other guys who need those roster spots that those two occupy (Quinn and Phonzy) like Mays, Willis, Syd’Quan, maybe Hunter, Ball, Hall.
BTW, no one has said a word about it but if Fargas was active he is certainly not part of the plans, he had his shot last week and didn’t do half as well as LenDale yesterday in my opinion. I know a lot of guys held hope for him, but like I always said, no matter the guy’s heart, he has the upper body of a wrestler with legs the size of his arms, no way that can get the job done as a power back, just saying, to prove it his knees have been a problem throughout his college and NFL career to a degree.
I think Ball has to make the final cut.
Just my opinion.
Even if Moreno and Buck can make it back, how effective are they going to be? Out all this time. Out of gas come the final 15 or 20 minutes? Reinjury prone? Slow, as far as game speed is concerned.
Just a thought!
Get Healthy/Stay Healthy, BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
I remember las year many of the things being said about Quinn were being said about Orton. Now its a different tune. As for phonzy, give the kid some time, these are nfl coaches who know what to look for in players, there was a reason he was drafted and a reason he is here. Just a reminder.
What’s up everyone! I echo everyone else feelings…. Man it feels goooooood to finally win!! Then I had to come down from my high and realize that it’s just preseason, but we have alot of good things to build on. I won’t do a break down bc everyone has covered that like Mock Drafts in March and April.
I will say that the D-line and lack of pass rush scares me. I get it that we found a pass rush in the 2nd half but we couldn’t find one in the 1st half while Pitt had their main guys in. We have run stop issues in a major way, and lane assignments show it’s ugly head again last night.
No disrepect to Bucky but he can go bc he’s too injury prone and Moreno is starting to follow Bucks lead with the injuries! Please keep Mays, Ball, and Thompson bc those guys played with Heart and Intensity last night. As far as Brady EAS Quinn……………………………………………………………………………. Sigh ………………………………………………….. SMH………………………………………………………………………..
WOW!! that was an amazing performance by the defense and SP. overall was great. I wouldnt want to be the coach making the cuts this time around….
although im not shocked why some us are throwin Alphonso under the bus (poor performance) Ive yet to give up on him. we might be losing our own Champ after this season (13-14 yrs) expiring contract and need as much development from these young guns. im trying to be opptimistic by thinking that he’ll turn out like Leon Hall and Revis, (3rd year breakouts)…IMO…
everyone says cut Quinn, can someone tell me a better 3rd string QB
Can you name me a worse one? LOL.
QB: B+ Orton still looking great this preseason, one bad pass. Tebow, is showing strides of improvement, good to see is pocket game improve, however still brings ball down low before pass, but looks good for a rookie. Quinn, should be our 3rd string, takes to long to make a decision, makes o-line look bad. Keep him as a 3rd string. or if the price is right trade him.
RB: C+ Hall looks better, Lendale white looked slow, but decent for 3rd and 4th string RBs.
WR: A- Im impressed with the route running, and the ability of all the guys to make an impact. one week it will be Royal, then Gaffnay then Loyd, waiting on Bay Bay, to come around. One disapointment in game was drop pass by Decker in redzone, on 3rd down, especially since he gets so much praise for his hands. Will Stokley get cut?
TE: D+ This week did not see any good TE play, I have high hopes for Branson as our reciving TE. TE Run Blocking was not great either. We need to work in some screens to these guys.
O-Line C+ Good pass support for a few seconds, not long enough for the slow reaction time of Quinn, Run Blocking looks horrible, This “Power Blocking” scheme is missing the power they are getting no push, and not opening lanes. Clady will help.
ST A+ Solid overall nough said.
DB A-: Great Play. Smith looks bad, holding, getting beat. However in his defense the one pass interfence call look like it was a bad call I thought it was good timing, just a makeup call from the one where he got away wiht it. Maybe keep him in the PR, KR category to keep Royal fresh, actually cut him Thompson, Cox looked solid. Cox had one stupid penalty on him. The Starters still solid, Bruton also looked decent, but I want to see more of Nate jones.
D-Line C+, could not get to the passer, Jamal was getting on by the rookie, only good thing was the ability to open holes for the LB
LB B-, Ayers and Mays looked impressive, Along with Haggan a and Dj in the middle. Only negative was the abilty to stay home, on the counter, and tackling at times. I still want to see more of moss, and my boy Woodyard.The play when Dwyer carried like 5 Broncos for about 10 yds said enough.
Overall when the Starters are out there the D will complement each other, rather then getting pick six on bad throws, we will probally get some coverage sacks with baily back in action. Clady will help the oline, and Knowshon Moreno, will help the run game, then the will help each other. We look deep at every position other then D-line, maybe next years draft we can get some young blood there. I predict at 9-7 record, give or take a win.
Go Broncos
It never ceases to amaze me folks comparing a winning QB like Orton to a losing QB like Quinn, regardless of where they played, regardless of what they looked like when, it is obvious that Orton has something to bring to the table whether one likes his style of play or not, it is just as obvious that other than that fluke game Quinn had against us he has never brought anything to the table, and unfortunately that game against Denver by Quinn is what has rendered so many fans unaware of truly how bad he is, ask anyone on any Cleveland website, they’ll tell you how glad they are he is no longer a Brown, A BROWN!!! It shouldn’t take much to make a Brown fan happy… and some think Quinn can make it happen here! Like McD did at one point, but it’s obvious he has also now finally seen the light by playing him after Tebow last night.
McD has made a lot of mistakes so far personel wise in Denver, and there is no shame about that, the young man is learning, he is not a genius at personel, has never been, he just worked wonders with some of the personel Belichick gave him, that’s a BIG difference, McD has made a mess of the majority of his draft choices so far in Denver, at least half of them, the front office will have to seriously re-evaluate their entire draft thought process for next year would be a wise approach.
Ok even me…a jaded eastcoast guy was impressed with our squad last night….the starters played well in all three phases of the game…except no pass rush from the down three for the most part…but the lb’s made up for it..Secondary looked great… Except for Quinn the QB’s looked good…cant do much about him… he will do for this yr ..The thing i was impressed with most was…the attitude!! they went out there and out physicaled the pittsburg steelers!!!!!!..ok no game plan or any real prep for the game but i was impressed..im still sayin 8-8 or 7-9 but on this night I think i saw a glimpse into our future….and it looks gooood lol
Think it’s time to get rid of Quinn & start working on Tebow as back up
Im not a fan for Quinn by any means just saying that, Tebow should be the back up, with Orton the starter, and Quinn, on the bench. The Broncos need 3qbs on the roster, and I personally cant think of a better 3rd string qb. So either Trade him for anything, and pick up another scrub QB FA, or let him ride the bench.
well… it sure was nice to see us get a solid victory at home. of course im not sure that would have been the case with roethlisberger in there all game but im not going to complain! just to echo everyone elses sentiments…. pressure up front on defense was lacking. especially that first quarter. O line was a bit off in the run blocking game, but our ground game did look improved for sure! kyle still looks good. and tebow still looks better than quinn. guess the last game will decide the 2nd and 3rd options… if there is a 3rd option. as i said last week.. syd’quan looked GREAT on ST. good job rook. enough said.
Go Broncos
“THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES”
PS…. @ bay… a worse qb than quinn… ive got 2!!! jamarcus russel and chris simms. lol
The answer to, is there a better 3rd string QB is that the Bronco`s should only keep two QB`s. This is just an opinion, but I believe Simms is a much better QB than Quinn. The problem with Brady is that he just plain sucks. A Dear in the headlights type of QB. Simms was just rusty and I believe his career is over. He`s washed up.
Strandoftds, we agree, I tend to think Simms is a better QB than Quinn, at least he was in his preseason here, same learning curve for both and even tougher for Simms since it was McD’s first year with the new system here, yet he out performed Quinn, not hard to do would be a good argument.
And about keeping 2 QB’s, I touched on that subject earlier, considering Quinn is the third QB there is absolutely no upside to have him, we keep Orton and Tebow and if anyone goes down we bring in any unemployed veteran QB only at that time, there is always one available, and he can’t possibly do worse than Quinn if he ever has to come in and play. I tend to think McD is starting to come around to that way of thinking after playing Quinn with just 7 minutes to go in last game and he basically allowed him very little leaway as far as play calling just running the clock out even so it was a preseason game and he could of used it to find out more about Quinn, but I think he now knows all he has to know, I do.
Your right Bay, and the reason I say Simms was better is because he had the potential. Like what he did for Tampa Bay that one year. He took them to the playoffs. That says something. Heck, there`s no need to waste a roster spot with a sucky 3rd string QB. Use that extra spot on a LB or O-lineman I think. JMI.
ooooops, jmo.
Carrying Quinn as a #3 QB is the definition of dead weight, and the anti definition of a security blanket, hence there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to keep him, just my opinion.
Syd the Squid!!!!!
My take on the game was TT should be the backup to Orton! I had hopes for Brady but and still do think Brady should be our 3 rd QB. I can not think of anyone to take his place at this time. Too late in this years game plan to replace him! So lets all hope he gets better! Two QB plan is chaos thinking in my opinion. I think we found a 7th round sleeper in 225th pick Syd’Quan Thomson!!! I ‘am a fan after watching this young man in camp and his play on the field. He had a good game Sunday but I have had my eye on him from the beginning of camp. Just my Gut opinion!
ILMSDB
FTR
great game. i agree with the board. nice to see the whole board agreeing on our Broncos. got a question for you lucky ones who get to see a home game, since i have to see them in S.D.. when our defense makes a big play what is the chant being said at the stadium.
In – com – plete! It is chanted after an incomplete pass.
If D Thomas can get healthy and stay healthy our WR’s will be in better shape. Royal needs to step up, and Moreno better show up. Tebow is starting to look better but still has a long way to go and Orton looking like a Pro Bowler. Mile High Magic Is Finally Here!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully lyod doesn’t do what he usuall does and look good in the preseason, and do nothing in the real show. I think Royal is going to be tearing it up from the slot. WR is so Deep, IMO most teams have a great #1 and maybe a decent #2, then nothing the Broncos have a bunch of decent to good recivers. Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lyod, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Willis, not to mention the Rookies. They all can’t make the team, some reason I have a feeling that Stokley might not make the final roster. How many recivers should Denver leave on roster, 6, 7?
Usually it’s 6, the 6th spot should be between Stokley and Willis, I believe we would be better served with Willis, can play ST and stays injury free.