For Kyle Orton, the difference between the preseason and the regular season boils down to putting away the football mirror.
“We were still working so much on ourselves,” Orton said of the exhibition slate. “I think when you get to this point in the season, most teams are pretty much off of yourselves and moving right on to focusing totally on their opponent, and we are no different.”
With the growing pains of July and August in the rear-view mirror, the Broncos are moving towards a Bengals defense that stands as a worthy first test for the regular season. Cincinnati recorded 9.5 sacks in its four exhibition contests, and its unit has an established reputation for forcing turnovers.
“For the last three or four years, they have just created so many turnovers, and that is the way they win,” Orton said. “Offensively, we have got to, certainly, take care of the football. They have got good players that can create a lot of havoc and like to create a lot of pressure, so we have got to be smart with the football and make plays.”
BELIEVING IN THE SYSTEM
Those latter two points are aided by an offensive system that confuses defenses. In the eyes of two veterans of Head Coach Josh McDaniels’ system, that is exactly what the Broncos have.
With another training camp and preseason in spread formation mode under his belt, Daniel Graham once again sees the potential for this offense to accomplish anything it needs at any given time.
“I think we can, as long as we execute our game plan and we go out and do what we have to do,” Graham said. “We can come out and move the ball on anybody.”
Much of that forward progress thinking comes from templates in the past. LaMont Jordan recalled several instances in New England where difficult situations forced the offense to change its gameplan.
More times than not, Jordan remembered the system prevailing, regardless of the 40 rushes or 40 passes in the play distribution.
“I do know this — that in this system, if you have to line up and win a game running four wide the entire game, you’re going to win it,” Jordan said. “Last year, the last four games, last three games actually, weather was bad. We had to line up at two tight (ends) and pound the ball. So whatever the circumstances, whatever the situation calls for, then our system has something to handle it.”
DEFENSE DIVING IN
Through four preseason games, Andre’ Goodman saw great strides made by his defense in learning its new 3-4 system.
Goodman said jitters are no longer an issue. The ultimate goal for week one is establishing greater chemistry on the field.
“I think we’re comfortable,” Goodman said. “But in terms of the personnel we have on the field, I think what we need to do is mesh well together. I don’t think we have shown that yet, but I don’t think we’re panicking at all either.”
The Broncos have little reason to panic considering the performance they put together to close out the preseason. The Cardinals were victimized by a defense that yielded 244 total yards in 60 minutes of play, while forcing four turnovers.
That film has Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis on guard, readying his high-powered offense for a “very aggressive” defense.
“They aren’t having breakdowns,” Lewis said. “Back to the first week, they’ve really kind of settled in over the last couple weeks and are really doing a nice job and playing well. They’re athletic, they’re chasing the ball hard and they are getting there and making plays at the football.”
–Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Andre' Goodman, Cincinnati Bengals, Daniel Graham, Kyle Orton, LaMont Jordan, Week 1
Hope Kyle is ready for the opener
Cant freakn wait. I am sooooo nervous for Sunday. Cmon boys…show the world that we are better!
Man oh man, I got the jitters!!! I’m so excited and ready to see this defense just wreak havoc all over the place. I hope they can establish that chemistry on the field… that will lead them to playing as a team. I’m so ready for this, hope they will be to come Sunday.
My advice the the entire team: Do not under any circumstances hold back. The offense just needs to go for it and get it done. I hope they can solve the red zone problems they’ve been having for so long. Get inside the 10 and score a freakin touchdown will ya!!!! The defense, well, they will do wonders if they can elaborate off of what they did against Arizona. Harass the offense till they fall over so I can laugh. Force turnovers and show NO mercy whatsoever. That should be easy for Dawkins. Can’t wait to see that guy show his inner beast! haha
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
This team is ready to win some ball games, despite what all the critics have to say. Our offense has the potential to be great and I know Orton’s gonna get-r-done (can’t believe i said that).
The defense reminds me a lot of what we had back in ’05. A lot of attitude and all heart.
We can take this division by surprise….
aiight donkies…(i luv u guys/gals…i got u 07)
I’m out
Personally I have set my expectations low for the new team.
Dont get me wrong, I love the Broncos, but I just want to set realistic expectations by giving this team game time to settle into the schemes. The Preseason showed some promise in most areas especially up front on D. I expect this will only get better over time.
The secondary still needs some work on shutting down the medium to deep passes, again time/practice/study will see the leakage managed and eventually fixed.
The jitters are growing with the first game of the seasontomorrow night, which means the Broncos will play on Monday (My time lol)…DAMMMMMMNNNNN I CANT CONTAIN MYSELF!!!!!!
Orton just needs to find his rythmn and not get caught up in his mistakes. Learn from it and move on…
Good luck boys!!!!
From New Zealand I will be screaming and cheering you on!!!!
Good News Bronco fans. The Denver Broncos have re-opened contract extension talks with B-Marsh the BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope we can sign him for a long time, but thats just my opinion. I personally love the guy and hope he can be the next Rod Smith for the Broncos.
Football is finally back….well, tomorrow, but you know what I mean. Can’t wait until Sunday… Can’t wait until they silence the haters…
GO Broncos…
I keep hearing every analyst say we don’t have the personnel for a 3-4 system. I think that is ludacris. We have great back 4 with bailey, goodman, dawkins, and hill. Loads of athletic linebackers in reid, dumervil, williams, larsen, woodyard, haggan, davis, and ayers. We have big D-ends with Peterson and Mcbean along with newly aquired Holliday. Baker and Fields are massive DTs…. the D-line is young and pretty raw, but they definitely have the size and skill sets associated with a 3-4 system.
I heard Clayton say we were going to go 3-13 and finish behind 4-12 records of Oakland and KC. I can’t wait for Denver to get out there and prove him wrong by starting off the season 3-0!!
Orton Hears A…WAHOO!
As the season begins, and we travel to Ohio,
Did we bring all the WR’s?!?…but little did I know…
After giving the news a much overdue silence,
I find Brandon Marshall is beyond his defiance.
Fans are eager as he steps on the field,
Dreaming of the yardage and touchdowns we’ll yield!
Take all his issues, and leave them behind,
Out on the field, he makes Orton SHINE!
Dink it! Dunk it! Spread it around!
NO opponent is worthy, NONE to be found!
Go Broncos!!!
YEAH, I’M LOVIN’ THE KOOL-AID FOLKS!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
heres the link peyton is talking about
http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/09/09/broncos-disgruntled-wr-marshall-open-contract-talks/
I want Marshall to stay as well, yall know im a big fan of his. A happy healthy marshall = problems for any defense. So far he has no hip problems, hamstring is good. Just get him happy and lets get this show on the road…happy to see orton will be ready for opener.
07elway,
thats one strong message you have for the team..lol..coach should take note of it…
i no longer listen to nfl or espn analysts and their rankings, more like rampings…this team has just about taken the lowest of the lows in criticisms and it is ready to blow up….
be cheering for the my Broncos here on Hawaii
Im glad we picked up Vonnie Holliday. He adds a good expienced player on the dline, who has actually started in a 3-4 in this league (no offense to any of our dlineman now).
i like our captains. im glad woodyard is a captain in a way cuz he is a young boy that matured into a young man rather quickly over the course of last season. he stepped up when the opportunity presented itself. the only reason i dont like it is cuz he took away a spot that couldve went to DJ Williams. i think he deserved it a little more because he has been really consistant over these last few years on a defense that, needless to say, has been rather poor.
Whats up Atwater4Hof?
You forgot about Jarvis Moss. I garuantee he will be the most improved player on out roster this year. He’s a beast dude. Mark my word!!!
And, Clayton was the only one talking that BS too!!! The critics aren’t totally down on us. I heard another analysts say we would finish around 500.
BroncoBoy2012 whats up,
DJ will, no doubt, be a leader on the field and in the locker room this season. His play will speak for its self. Plus, he is the D captain in the huddle, he wears the communication helmet and relays all the calls to his-Defense.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!! Been studying the schedule trying to pick wins and loss’es. Near as I can see it 6 and 10. Wins, cleveland,dallas washington, s.diego at home, k.c twice,oakland at home. Loss’es cincinatti,at oakland,at n england, at s.diego,at baltimore,pittsburgh at home,giants at home,at indy,at philly. That being said I hope I am terribly wrong and they go 11 and 5 or 12 and 4 and win the afc west and more. GO BRONCOS
This team will compete each and every week, unlike the 2008 team. There will be no QBs and WRs bashing the defense in game ONE this year. D captains like Dawkins won’t have it. Truely, Cutler does not fit the mold of this team; Coach McD watched him last year and didn’t like what he saw. POINT BLANK PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BRONCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the fans on this site. U guys have great opinions and patter. You’ll see my name pop up more and more as i have recently figured out how to sign on to Broncos Country…
From Scotland…theotheredge.
GO BRONCOS!!
Btw – Whats this i hear about a possible contract renegotiation for BMARSH?
Glad to hear about Marshall and the contract talk. We need his head in the game and playing top notch. If he gets his payday, he will be trying to prove that he deserves it. Very, very, good news. No distractions is a good thing.
Welcome theotheredge!!!!!!! They are just talking as of right now about BMARSH’s contract extension. My gut feeling is a deal will get done sooner rather than later so that we have a happy WR during the coarse of the season. He will be a Bronco for years to come, he is just to valueable to let go. With that said, I thought the same thing about Cry Baby Cutler, so anything can happen. Here’s to hope!
Clayton had a freakin bromance on Shanny and is still ticked he got canned. Our team is better in all 3 phases and much better in the coaching category across the entire staff. I am so pumped I cant even wait till Sunday. Bring on the season…………………
Gang, read my post at the previous article (2009 Captains Announced). It’s my 7:47 pm post on the page. It has some good news for 1 of you guys (or girls), come the end of season. It’s my attempt to show my appreciation to the Bronco fans who will visit me at Fan Huddle when we’re up and running.
Welcome to the site, theotheredge. Your handle sounds familiar? Where did you blog before here?
samoanbronco, keep the faith, my distant brother from another mother. We want to hear you cheering all the way from New Zealand!!!!!!!
All I can say is I agree with my Bronco family here that I too am SICK of hearing from NFL Network and ESPN prognosticators how bad the Broncos are going to suck this year and how bad McD has screwed up with the Cutler and now Marshall fiascoes.
Not ONE mention of Dawk being on the team now and the signings of Goodman and Hill!! All they talk about is the D-line not being good enough. I guarantee Dawk signs with any other team and they talk about it. Man I hope that just fuels the fire in the boys up front!!
And I’m SICK of hearing about he Chargers. Granted they are the most stable in the division but last year proved anything can happen with Miami, Atlanta and Baltimore all making the playoffs.
So let’s just wait and see what happens and hopefully we can keep them close and pull out some W’s. I hope BMarsh gets pissed and goes out and proves to everyone what type of player he can be. But most of all I hope the D just gets nasty and smashes them in the mouth! Go Broncos!!
Hey there theotheredge… welcome to Broncos Country (online) haha. Glad to have you here.
theotheredge, welcome to the greatest blog on earth – Broncos’ Country is officially READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey guys, i dont put my personal input on these blogs much, but i read them every day.
07Elway, ive read your blogs forever! theyre great! haha i wouldnt have ever thought that you were a girl. more power to you!
this is totally off topic, but doesnt royal remind you of a younger steve smith?
I echo your sentiments BroncoBoy1993… 07elway’s blogs are great!. She has some serious fire and passion in her, and her blogs are always a great read.
aSharpeIdea_84… If you’re sick of hearing about the Chargers, try living in San Diego.
The Broncos are going to kick some butt this year and surprise everyone.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
Sunday can’t come soon enough for me. I too am tired of all the critics against the Broncos. They have always been against us. I am probably wrong, but I do believe that last year we weren’t supposed to do anything either according to the same critics. We did blow our chance to win the division, but we weren’t supposed to be there anyway. This is a new year, new coaches, new scheme, new players, and new attitude. This is how a TEAM is supposed to be, take care of each other and let people say what they want. That is one thing about this site, we all have our opinions about how great or how bad the Broncos are going to be, but we stick together for the sake of the TEAM. I think the Broncos are going to be a surprise team to the rest of the league and our critics. Thank you all for your great posts and information about the best team around. I am glad to be a part of this site and Broncos country.
—GO BRONCOS—
He kinda does i see what your saying BroncoBoy1993. But I am so ticked of that every one on NFL network keeps doubting us and saying we have no chance blah blah chargers will take it like its a piece of cake or something!!!!!! Cant wait till we show them!!
Can’t wait for the season! Going to talk so much crap to my friend that’s a Bengals fan…. unless he chickens out and stays at his house from fear of losing in front of me. Maybe I’ll go to his house, so when we win I can shove some stuff in his annoying Charger fan little brother!!!!
Welcome to the greatest blog theotheredge!!!! We have staticians like dlmyers and royalbeast, equal minded like broncos20 amongst others , beautiful girls like 07elway, yoda like dynamicdave, and comedians like myself!
Find your nitch and help us keep the bronco hating fans from other teams in their place while cheering for our team!
Oh, did I mention I played Madden 10 Week 1 v.s. the bengals, Palmer played the whole game (ALL MADDEN BABY!) and I sacked him 4 times, picked him off 3 times, and forced him to go 5-15 passing with 43 yards! Needless to say his qb rating was LITERALLY 2.8 at the end of the game!!
Stay thirsty my friends!
football babe, wipe your mouth….. YOUR DROOLING!
I always do only one fantasy all year. and I just drafted mine earlier on today. Got Brandon Marshall in the 8th round and eddie in the 7th. Hopefully both steals….especially if Brandon signs a long term contract and is happy and ready to play.
GO BRONCOS!!!
hahaha football stud… I don’t drool, I’m just overly excited!!
BroncoBoy1993… what was it, like a year ago now the biggest secret was unveiled and everyone here found out I was a girl. As 2champ said at that time, I’m a master of disguise. lol What can I say? Its a gift!
THEOTHEREDGE—GOOD TO HAVE U ON BOARD AINT NO OTHER FAMILY CLOSER THAN THE BRONCO FAMILY….On other news lets hope this deal can get done for marshall so we can officially get this season on the road…I kno its gon be full of surprises..lol..countin down the days…
Guys im glad every one is docking the broncos and all of you should be too!! THink about it…People will underestimate us, this will give us the best shot to get hot and GET ROLLING!!! And if we do suck this year then next year will be the same thing. Its good to be under-dogs. Trust me. Dont forget no one know wtf were going to do. With shanny everyone knew what we were going to do, its just they couldnt **usualy ** stop our rbs lol.
Welcome the theotheredge. I’m pretty new here to. I can’t wait till Sunday. All the so called expert analysts are going to look pretty dumb come mid-season. I still torture myself and watch NFL network. M. Faulk was totally dogging on our team. All they want to talk about is the Cutler issue and not all of the talent and improvements the Broncos have made. Oh well, it would be as fun if everyone thought the Broncos were going to be top notch. If things go our way (which I feel they will), then we can clown on them.lol
I sure hope we can sign BMarsh to a long term contract. If that happens and we get some good consistent quarterback play, I have a feeling this season is going to be a fun one for us Bronco fans.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
OOppps. I mean’t wouldn’t be as fun..
I like that point u made blaze no one really knows wut we are capable of…..
I hope we have a winning season just so all the people who counted us out cant back track because if we can win against Pitt,NY,Phi,Bal,SD,Ind,andNE theirs nothing they can say we had a winning record and won against some of the best teams “so they say” in the NFL.
I’m not really worried bout the schedule because every single player on the field is a football player and everyone knows their assignments…they are all gorwn men on the field so anybody can go out and win….I remember last season when everybody voted the falcons browns and jets to beat us by big margins but we turned around and got 3 W’s so im not worried bout any schedule…if everyone on this team is ready and pumped to win we can win every game and im confident in the squad we have especially with the leadership and passion on the team…i say we go 10-6 atleast…i’m confident in that wit no hesitation…..u can quote me on that
I like how it seems McD has pulled the team together theirs no one person above the team he made that clear with Cutler and Marshall to me last year it seemed that we werent united as a team I know its hard with all the injurys it just seemed like we were giving up in games to much.
Well, this is our time to shine. The Broncos will “shock the world” and it all starts with a solid performance in Cincinnati. Things are good for us. GO BRONCOS!!!
hey theotheredge,
i too would like to welcome you to our little blog family. nice to hear from fans across the atlantic…this is exciting.
hey 2champ4pickSIX,
its been a while no??i see your saving your energy for the kickoff..great to hear from you again.
hey DD,
i posted on the last blog about “your” captain’s list, but dont if it got through. anyways, i’m impressed with that group, thats one tough list to crack..lol..bring the heat…
GO BRONCOS
07Elway…sorry i had a couple posts a few days back asking you and DDave something about the defense..Either it got lost in translation or deleted but no worries..LOL..we move on..i thought you two were ignoring me..LOL.Anyways boys and girls..Countdown to sunday..cant wait!!!I hope certain voices with NFL Network(Dukes)are getting ready to kiss the Broncos behind with a big fat apology………
STAY POSITIVE PEOPLE!!!
cincinatti is gonna get lit up! whos ready for some denver broncos week 1 magic! ya baby LETS DO THIS!
the broncos gunna rock this year GO BRoncos!!!!!
btw-get bmarsh sdigend
You know our coach always used to put motivators in the weight room and then in the locker room. Sometimes they were just messages of motivation, others they were new articles of what the critics said about a previous game or an upcoming game. I’ll tell you what just reading about your own team and how critics bash you really gets your fired up.
I hope the players realize that the critics have had a bash fest with this offseason. They are just waiting for the Broncos to fail so they can say and I quote this is what the first words out of the filthy mouths would be “It’s because they traded Jay Cutler, and got rid of Shannahan, and because they don’t have a good front 7, and they have a young head coach blah blah blah.” I hope the players just get mad and fired up to make a statement against the Bengals. I want those critics to lift up they leg, and shove both their feet in their filthly mouths.
Go Broncos!!!! Bust Palmer up, and make Ochocinco tweet about how bad he hurts.
The Bunguls don’t stand a chance against us. We’ll sack Palmer about 5 times, I think, and get 2 or 3 interceptions. Our defense is ready to play, and our offense looks ready to play with Orton and Moreno.
Chad Ochosinco is talking trash already. Notice he didn’t guarantee a win though.
If I were him I wouldnt go across the middle. I think that would be very, very, bad for him. He better stick to kicking field goals for his own saftey.
If we can hang onto the ball and get it in the freaking endzone. I can see another shutout.
The time has come for redemption.
Go Broncs!!!