Through his first nine games as a pro, Knowshon Moreno’s versatility has surfaced early and often.
No rookie has recorded two 100-yard games from scrimmage — except for Moreno. He’s also set himself apart through the air, as the lone NFL newcomer with both a rushing and receiving touchdown this season.
Moreno turned in a career-high 97 rushing yards against Washington on 18 carries. Week by week, the rookie is improving in an area the Broncos stress to their backs — gaining yardage on every play.
“There were some plays where there wasn’t much there, but he didn’t go negative,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “He went, got a yard, got a two-yard gain here or there and kept us in positive situations. That is something that he’s doing better and better as the year goes on.”
Moreno’s 520 rushing yards are the eighth most by an NFL rookie through a team’s first nine games in the last five years. He has four more yards than then-Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cadillac Williams did at this point in 2005. Williams was eventually named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Of those 18 carries, four went for 10-plus yards, including a 28-yard scamper on the opening play of the game. Moreno took advantage from sound blocking by Spencer Larsen, who was in at fullback.
Fully healed from a shoulder injury that sidelined him earlier this season, McDaniels exuded full confidence in Larsen being a piece to the backfield puzzle.
“(We have) no hesitation putting him in the game in that role because he can bring some level of physicality as a lead blocker to our backs,” McDaniels said. “He did a good job yesterday.”
INJURY UPDATE
After missing the second half at FedEx Field due to an ankle injury, Kyle Orton is questionable for the Broncos’ Week 11 battle with the division-rival Chargers.
“We’re not sure exactly how that’s going to go,” McDaniels said of Orton’s status. “We’re going to see how he progresses during the course of the next few days.”
As for whether Orton will hand over reps to Chris Simms in practice, McDaniels added that it will be evaluated over the team’s three days of preparation this week.
“He’s definitely not out for the game,” he said. “We’re certainly hopeful that we can get him ready to go. But if he can’t practice, then it will be Chris, for sure.”
McDaniels also announced that right tackle Ryan Harris (toe) will not be available to play in Sunday’s game at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Tyler Polumbus has started each of the last two games in his place.
Tags: Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Knowshon Moreno, Kyle Orton, Ryan Harris, San Diego Chargers, Spencer Larsen, Tyler Polumbus, Week 11
Glad to hear Ortons playing again! dont get hurt buddy!
another season of mediocrity, see you in january 2010,
6-10
Boooo
sorry, had to try and claim first – Moreno, keep it up, and if possible, keep improving. We need all of the offense we can get. If we arent going to score, at least stall so our Defense can breathe
W/e John we going pass 10 wins we might even get 13-3 dont come here disrespected the broncos
Thanks goodnes a better blog. FYI Kern is still undefeated. 6-0 w/Denver and 3-0 w/Tennessee.
And if you think im an idiot for my comment, i was referring to “phillifanofusa” that came on here before we lost to Baltimore
I have been a Bronco fan for 35 yrs and I know we will not finish 13-3. It was great while it lasted but the honeymoon is over.
Well, at least we still have the Chiefs twice and the Raiders once. Those should be guaranteed wins. But I thought Washington was a guaranteed win, too. We better get our #$%& together. If San Diego beats us this weekend, I might just give up on this season and call it a repeat of last year. This coming game is crucial to deciding who wins the division. I wonder if Brandstater might get a chance to play if Orton can’t.
I think we’ll end up 10-6 or 11-5, sweep the Chargers, and win the division. I think that McDaniels has some tricks up his sleeve for the playoffs, so I predict that we’ll go far, mabye to the AFC Championship game or even the Superbowl.
DoomervilRocks92 I pray you are right buddy, but i very much dought it.
whats wrong with you guys? we talked all about the suprebowl until last monday! the Cards went freaking 9-7 last year and got THIS CLOSE ( ) to winning the superbowl last year? we got on a bad streak! you can NEVER expect what the outcome will be. I’m pretty sure we got a bit cocky before Baltimore, and then we couldnt capitalize and keep the Chargers under our foot. We just need to hold San Diego under the water & keep Orton in (think about how good our passing game was before Simms came in) and we should be a prime team to represent the AFC.
just because you are old doesnt mean you know whats gonna happen there pops. I also bet you didnt think we would start out 6-0.
Some people need to relax!!!! Our Broncos are 6-3 and 1st place in the AFC West. Hands up- How many of us thought that was even a possibilty on draft day (mine isn’t raised). Sure, we have lost 3 in a row. But to call it a season with 7 games remaining???? Give credit to Washington. They played their tails off. Baltimore and Blitzburg as well. We caught those two teams at the wrong time. Orton’s injury coupled with a rusty Simms led to our demise yesterday. We can’t expect our defense to play at a high level if they are on the field for, what was it- 20 minutes in the 2nd half? 2 more wins and we match last years total. 4 more and the playoffs are a serious possibility. Sure, we all remember the catastrophic collapse last year. And that leaves many with the unsettling feeling of Deja Vu. But lets not forget who was the signal caller on that team. And the defense that resembled a sieve.
This is 2009. A new era of Denver Broncos football! Don’t lose faith. Keep cheering loud. And proudly wear that Orange and Blue. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
I don”t think there is anything wrong for guys to point out the obvious. The Skins game was a must win game, this is a desperation game. The Chargers are coming on strong like they do every year, we are unraveling like we do every year, and the injuries are mounting. Even if Orton can play Sunday, which I doubt considering how bad the injury play looked, he will be way short of 100%, the pressure will be coming at him relentless, and on the other side of the ball, just imagine what Rivers can do to our D the way it is playing now. No wonder some think this will be ugly, they are totally justifed in their opinion and it doesn’t make them bad fans, they just have been fans long enough, like me, 35 years, that we know what’s coming when we allowed it to get to this point in the first place. The season has already turned ugly, and the mojo has gone out of the D, the one part that held us together. It is what it is, we hope to be proven wrong but personally, I can’t keep my hopes up just to set myself up for a huge disappointment for the 4th game in a row. It’s too hard on my health. If they come through great, if they don’t it still would be a fine rebuilding season at 8-8, my pre-season prediction anyway.
I don”t think there is anything wrong for guys to point out the obvious. The Skins game was a must win game, this is a desperation game. The Chargers are coming on strong like they do every year, we are unraveling like we do every year, and the injuries are mounting. Even if Orton can play Sunday, which I doubt considering how bad the injury play looked, he will be way short of 100%, the pressure will be coming at him relentless, and on the other side of the ball, just imagine what Rivers can do to our D the way it is playing now.
And on top of that McD can’t tell us what is the psyche of his players this week after 3 losses… How can you be so out of touch with your players? It seems as things are starting to come undone in the locker room, assignments are not respected any longer, D seems tired of bailing out the O, every one should rightfully be mad at the ST, players are showing discontent on the sidelines, it is not the same team spirit we had earlier. No wonder some here think this will be ugly, they are somehow justifed in their opinion and it doesn’t make them bad fans, they just have been fans long enough, like me, 35 years also, that we know what’s coming when we allowed it to get to this point in the first place. The season has already turned ugly, and the mojo has gone out of the D, the one part that held us together.
It is what it is, we hope to be proven wrong but personally, I can’t keep my hopes up just to set myself up for a huge disappointment for the 4th game in a row. It’s too hard on my health. If they come through, great, if they don’t it still would be a fine rebuilding season at 8-8, my pre-season prediction anyway.
Old doesn’t automatically give you wisdom, but it does give you experience, we pops, have been on the merry-go-round a few more thousand times than the youngsters. You young guns are doing the right thing, you are true fans speaking with your heart. On the other hand, we old pops are saying it like we see it, talking with our head and experience, true fans nonetheless, as I’m sure you all know having read our posts all season. No need to take offense to that. It is what it is.
Without a doubt, this next game is going to be pivotal as to how the rest of the season goes. If we lose this one (with SD) there’s a good chance there’ll be a landslide effect with the rest of the season. If we lose, I see losses to the Giants, Colts, Eagles, and quite possibly KC on the road. That puts us at 8-8 if my math is right. The thing is, once you start losing, it can really affect the attitudes of the guys on the team, consequently affecting their play.
On the other hand, I can also see us winning the rest of the season if the SD game is a win. Both the Giants and the Eagles look beatable to me, and the Colts aren’t exactly infallable. Success breeds success, so here’s to being optimistic and a wiining season (including the playoffs)!!!
GOOOO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!
Guys, sorry for the kind of double post, this site has been messing with me, it wasn’t posting my first post, then I worked with it again, posted it and here was the original post…
I’m happy to see how many other people realize that the offense has to give the defense a rest. I fill that is the reason the defense gets beat. The last three games the defense has been on the field way to long. Like said before, does not matter how old &/or how young the defense is if they are on the field the majority of the time they will get tired. So please Mcd come up with a game plan that we will have long drives for TD’s &/or field goals thru the whole game so our defense can rest & we will beat SD.
Man, some of you are just a bunch of jolly people aren’t ya? Goodness.
Last time I checked we’re going into week 11 of the season… pretty sure its not over. Now granted, we have accumulated more problems than I think they know what to do with but the SEASON IS NOT OVER!! Get a grip people. The Skins was a must win, we should’ve won it but that does not mean we’ll lose every game we have left. If they can manage to get their act together, I think a lot of you will end up surprised. This season could go either way… we choke like we have in the past or for once we can come out on top of the West. That would be an accomplishment all on its own. One that I would be very proud of.
Like some others have stated, we are 6-3 and still on top in the West (even though we have the same record as SD). McD is a smart guy, smart coach and he’s got what it takes to lead this team to a winning record for once. That would be a very nice change of pace. We should’ve won that game yesterday but I’m not gonna complain about being at 6-3. I’m not gonna sit here like the rest of you singing the coulda, shoulda, wouldas about this team. That’s not gonna change the fact that we lost 3 games. We had the lead, we had the win but they blew it… time to move on. What happens one week does not directly affect what will happen the next. They have an entire week to make improvements… they haven’t but I’m not gonna sit here and make assumptions that they’ll be just as bad next week as they were this week. Waste of time.
I’ve already said our next 4 games will be tough, I still stand by that. The SD game will be no walk in the park. Again, they’re looking for some revenge and to take our spot in the West. Completely 100% up to our boys to decide how badly they want to play better and get the win. And instead of talking about it, they need to come out strong, in full force and attack the Chargerettes. I believe they can make a huge turnaround and make a strong statement at the end of the season.
In their first 6 wins, they had just a handful of big improvements to make or work on. Now, they’re back to fixing all 3 phases. Can’t say it enough. Takes a whole TEAM to win a game (and lose). Give us a W on Sunday boys… don’t you dare even think about giving us our 2nd home loss of the season. Not acceptable. We play the Chargerettes on Sunday… destroy them! Show some passion will ya!? Get that fire burning again. Play like a TEAM for Heaven’s sake… not gonna bite ya. Gee whiz
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS!!!!
I have been reading these posts for several years and have never taken the time to join the boards until now. I just have to say a few things as a long time Broncos fan and one who never gives up on his team.
If you told me in July we would be 6-3 at this point, undefeated in the division, with a road win over San Diego and five wins in the AFC, I would have said “I wish”. Well, that wish has come true. Admittedly, I am disappointed with the last three games, but I am not disheartened. The heart of a Broncos fan is as big as the heart of this franchise and the State of Colorado. I have no doubt in my mind we can not only beat San Diego for the second time, but we can also beat Indianapolis when we go there. We are better than these last three games.
You know, it also cracks me up the way some of you people act here. One guy calls for Orton’s head, another begs to start Simms. Now we have an about face after one game. People stick up for their individual players and forget this is a team sport. Our problem now is we forgot how to play as a team. We’ll remember and when we do, believe me we can beat anyone.
It’s a long season, people, and this bandwagon gets heavier and ligher with each passing week. I can fully understand that, but am completely dismayed by how quickly the best fans in the NFL are abandoning their team. Come on people, these are the Broncos we are talking about! Have faith!
Go Broncos!!
Hello Bronco Nation.
We find our team in need of a Must win coming this Sunday at home vs. the Bolts. Just like the last three games we lost! Good posts both young and old are chiming in with their opinions! We have baylin and tnalan both at 35 years worth of Bronco experience! I am a Papa myself at 38 years! Most will start pointing out very good points on why we are in the slump of a 3 game losing streak and some will come out to defend their beloved Broncos like sndvl!!
I guess like theroyalbroncos says just cuz I am a “pops” that I do not know what will happen?
This is very true! But the last time this old man woke up there is 16 games in a season and anything is possible! So I will ride out the season on the winning band wagon and getting up for every game and expecting the best out of the Broncos. If at the end of this season we miss the playoffs? Well then I will again begin preparing for the draft and waiting for next years schedule to come out! If we win the super bowl I will be doing the same thing! Just my two cents in November!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
FTR
OhhhRaww. Broncos_Bill Bolts dont serve!!
FTR
07elway
Man, some of you are just a bunch of jolly people aren’t ya? Goodness.
LOL!!!!!!!
FTR
Well said FTR, I respect that. We are clearly too early in the season to write ourselves off, I will watch each game as usual, I just won’t be disappointed if we don’t make it to post season. I’ve already dealt with that possibility in my head, that’s all, that way it makes it much easier to enjoy the rest of the season, at least for me. Too many tangibles stacked up against us of late for me to keep riding this one above cloud nine.
BTW, it’s always amazing how many fans miss watching our games, including hardcore ones like 07. In all my years as a fan, I can count the games I missed on one hand per every ten years at most. Regardless of the reason for missing them , I don’t understand that at all, it would simply eat me up to miss a single game. I constantly reorganize my life to make sure I don’t miss one. I guess I’m just saying that to show how big a fan you can be even if you don’t look at a season the way others do. We all do it differently, doesn’t make you a bandwagon fan, just a true fan with a different opinion is all.
Some of you talk as if the season is over. Even if we loose to San Diego. We still can get the wild card. Things happen during a season LOOSing is one of them. This is a must win. NOT a desperation game. I’d rather loose now. Then get hot at the end to go to the playoffs. It’s gonna make it you will see.
Where is all this orange kool-aid you guys are drinking? LOL.
Hopefully the team is drinking the same stuff… INVINCIBLE, HERE WE COME…
If I’m getting the vibes off these right. We might all well put Tom Brandstater in. Cuz what I’m reading is the season is over. Might as well see what we have before the draft huh??? Some of you seen to just want to start over. Rather than play the season out. It look like some of you wanted something wrong to happen just to say “I told you so.” Well it’s not over even if your faith is.
Well said #1!! All we need is a record of 10-6 to make it in. I think we’ll end up with 11 wins even if we loose to the Chargers. I think we will surprise everyone and win this week though. Even if Simms plays. He will get all the reps to get physically ready. He already is mentally. In the Skins game, he knew where to go. He was just late on the reads. It won’t happen again.
baylin
I agree! To each his own! That is why we are a Bronco Nation! Here is a tid bit- I lead my post with Bronco Nation for a reason. It is because Dave Logan of KOA first made the quote long before the raiders did.
FTR
I see why some of you are fans and not coaches. lol On any level at that. Some of you probably would tank the season away. We can do it. We will do it. We will rise. Like Elway to the occasion. We will rise. Like funk in Missy Elliot’s lather pants. WE WILL RISE. lol
Only old farts like me can remember cutting our x-mas trees down up in Woodland Park/Divide while turning up the radio to here Logan do play by play on the trucks radio. Waiting for return from Upchurch to return the football. He also has the Distinction of catching John Elway’s first NFL pass! And Still holds 5 Denver Bronco punt return records including; most punt returns in a career with 248, in a season with 51 and in a game with 8. Most career yards with 3008, most in a season with 653 (which is tied for 3rd most in the NFL)!
Sorry It’s like baseball the crap just comes out! LOL
Our should I say pops out!-Ha
FTR
For all the old guys>
http://www.rickupchurch.com/NFL%20-%20Broncos.htm
FTR
FTR; “But the last time this old man woke up there is 16 games in a season and anything is possible!”
My point exactly. 16 games in a season, which makes this season far from over right now. They don’t have much time left to get their act back together but anything IS possible. If there’s one team that can pull off miracles, it’s us. We’ve done it several times this season… no need to stop now. If they can manage to come back to life on Sunday, this will be a very close game… will come down to the last minutes. I’d much rather see an on-the-edge of your seat kind of game than see us get smothered by those no good SD boys.
My faith in this team cannot and will not be broken by any means. By all means, bring on San Diego… let them come get a piece of the Orange & Blue boys.
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS!!!!
FTR, my first year as a fan was Upchurch rookie year, so I got lucky, started out with some real high electric energy. I used to live in Dillon (Summit County) for ten years, and I remember listening to the post game comments and interviews on KOA with Logan each time I’d see the Broncos at Mile High on the long road back up to the eisenhower tunnel, usually on snow and ice, until I would lose the signal on the radio, leaning over, trying to catch every last words as they were fading in and out. Great memories.
Wow there’s a lot of great comments here. I’m not a new jack, and I’m not an old timer, but I did play college ball at Syracuse, with McNabb and Harrison, but I was a bench jockey. However I do know more about the game then most, and I was a QB.
A lot of you have great points. Being in real locker rooms I will say this, Wins and Losses do weigh on a team, but like some of you said lets get them out of the way now. Lets face it (Arizona) It dosent matter what you win it matters when you win.
I KNOW were not going 13-3, and this week is huge, but we need to get “HOT” in the end. We have the talent and the smarts, from experience I will tell you the coaches “fire” matters. I think McDaniels has a lot of it. Dawkins is invaluable.
If we right this ship on sunday (btw at home) we will be good. Honestly I dont care who you put on the schedule, next week is the hardest. Let’s just good luck broncs and hope for the best. Frankly….this is not up to Orton, but McDaniels, and although I was a skeptic at first I believe in this punk!!!!!!!!
Cmritter, can you play Sunday? LOL.
I know i’ts hard to ask the Defense to do it again,but this is a must win game no matter who plays QB.There’s still hope,the season’s not lost yet,but getting closer.If our Defense can rise up(I know they can,we kicked the Charger’s a?? at their house)and show some character,we can win this next game,we have to,I hate them damn Chargers and their damn big mouth fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO BRONCS 7-3
BFE92, for a second I almost wrote it down, I thought 7-3 was your score. LOL.
Baylin,LMAO
I gotta wait and see if Orton plays or not before I pick the score.LOL
I didn’t get to see the game,but judging by the highlights,and the stats I seen,we played pretty damn good till Orton got hurt??
I have to agree with all the people that are saying that this season is NOT over. There are still 7 games left to be played. Washington lost 4 straight before they played us. Who’s to say that we won’t come out on sunday and put the chargers away. This season is far from over and I for one think that we will respond and win some more games this year.
—GO BRONCOS—
So,big deal if we don’t go to the Superbowl.We got a new head coach,new offensive coordinator,new offensive system,new defensive coordinator,new defensive system,and 29 new names on our roster.If we finish say 10-6,hey that’s pretty damn good, considering the circumstances.IMO
IT is all about O-line and D-line match ups. We matched up well vs the first 6 and have been out weighed and played by the last 3 teams period. We matched up real well vs the chargers and I anticipate a good game football god willing a victory for BIG D. as for the loses I knew we would lose eventually, but the look on coaches face tells me he is very serious so playoffs this year and an even brighter future, + turnover battle has been lost. NFL teams have to feel worse than we fans do after a loss so I will expect balls out play to br demanded and rendered unto ceaser=Fans as per Mc D’s standards.
It only takes a couple of losses to unsettle the weak and foolish. The Broncos have great potential within them and we’ve seen glimpses of its realization. This, of course, makes losses frustrating, but we still control our own destiny at this juncture and that’s really all a fan can hope for. Let’s do this. It’s time to take our rightful place atop the division. GO BRONCOS!!!
Sure are alot of opinions out here, enjoyed reading them
While everyone has a point I agree with FTRs very first post. Im a very young bronco fan going on 13 years now. I was around for one superbowl and since then things have been going down hill but cant help but love this team. I hear ya Baylin, I may miss a Quarter or so if its a early game because of church but I will watch the rest. I look forward to football season so much. Only sport i can truly say I LOVE…and one of the shortest seasons so I gotta cherish every game.
I believe there are many possibilities fo rthe outcome of this year. yes it is deja vu of last year but theres a difference….this game alone wont determine the winner of the afc west, like it was last year because its not the last game of the season, there are six more and just like SD controls their fate so do we so its all about how bad we want it. We are in a slum but I see us finding our way out and I see us ending 10-6 or better like I predicted early in the season….call it blind faith but another thing u gotta love about this sport is any giving sunday, redskins proved it against us and we can prove it against “superior” teams
But the problem isnt the opposition has gotten better or adapted to us…its that we have gotten worse and have began our usual unraveling. This is a new Bronco Era (new coach and all) so if we are gonna purge old habbits I believe it should start with the unraveling. Our Defense is still the sh*t, just gotta go back to playing as a team, a unit, handling your assignment and trusting the man to your right/left to do the same. Like I always say 300 spartans crushed thousands of persian soldiers because they fought as a unit. (wasnt just a movie, really happened lol)….A lot can happen when peopel are selfless and play as a team.
Before I leave, Hope Orton is back, congrats Moreno, and simm was rusty. If he gets the practice I believe he will do alot better. Still have faith in our boys, starters and backups. Altho I would personally rather see Brandstater just so we know what we are doing with that bears pick next year. Anyway,
THE SEASON IS STILL OURS FOR THE TAKING
GO BRONCOS!!!!
I like Moreno. I think he will be a great player and isn’t bad for a rookie. Our offensive line is young and talented and, fate willing, we should have a great running game for many years to come. I see us establishing the run against San Diego early, then burning the Chargers deep with play action. We could well get a big early lead like we did last year in Denver. If we can control Sproles on special teams and maybe get a return TD from Royal like we did in San Diego, we can then force San Diego to be one dimensional and unleash the pass rush against Rivers in the second half. Now that Law has had another week in the system, he should fit in better and be more coordinated with his team-mates.
The rivalry factor is also key, as is inevitable Charger arrogance and over-confidence. I expect some serious disrespect out there, which should get the intensity way up. Remember the altercation before the game in San Diego? You know they will be talking trash big time and fully expect to go in and have us law down in our own house.
Rivers and company have had their good fortune. The Chargers are due to get beat and if any team can do it, the Broncos can. We have traditionally held LT’s yards and TDs down over the years. Plus, he really seems to have lost a step. The key is forcing Rivers to beat us, then letting the strength of our defense carry the day.
i was just watching some old rod smith interviews man how i miss rod he’s my faverite broncos of all time. also best reciever ever all he wanted to do is win go broncos with faith
u guys sound like the seasons over….some fan u are,.,,,,,wow. well i guess we should throw in the towle huh???? no, i for one am not going to! i will stand up, cheer, and watch denver go into sunday and take the bolts out. regardless of what u FAKE fans are, we wont lose faith!