NO. 58
Von Miller makes no bones about it — the late Derrick Thomas was his “favorite football athlete of all time.”
And it all started with an interview.
“He said that he looked at playing defensive end as being like a running back, and the offensive linemen were trying to block him from getting to the quarterback,” Miller recalled. “That’s how I look at it. I always thought I was an offensive guy at heart, and I look at it like the offense is trying to stop me from getting to the quarterback. That interview was really what made me fall in love with Derrick Thomas the football player.”
Now Miller wears No. 58, just like the former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker.
He tries to mirror Thomas’ “fanatical effort and relentless pursuit to the ball,” which has already helped him tie for the most sacks among NFL rookies this season with 6.5.
On Sunday, he doesn’t expect any less hostile a reaction from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd just because his idol played for the Chiefs.
“No, I’ll probably get a little bit more (boos),” he smiled. “He’s a hero up there. They retired his number and everything. If I was a Chiefs fan, I’d give the other No. 58 a couple of boos. But it’s all good.”
‘THE SAME OLD ME’
On Oakland’s first offensive play of Sunday’s game, Rahim Moore raced to intercept a Carson Palmer pass intended for Denarius Moore, but he ran into Andre’ Goodman and ended up lying on the field with a concussion.
“He threw the ball and I was going over there to pick the ball off,” Moore said Wednesday. “I kind of had a little bit of it in my hands and I hit my own teammate’s shoulder. That’s just how it is.”
After the he headed back to the locker room, Moore said he felt “fine.”
“I really felt I could’ve came back in, but I didn’t want to take the risk, because I said, ‘It’s not the last time I’ll be able to suit up,’” Moore said. “I’m just glad we got the win. That was a good way for us to come out strong.”
While he was in the locker room, Moore said he was like a fan, “screaming and going crazy,” rooting his team on to victory.
The rookie safety was back on the practice field Monday with limited participation, and he said he “felt like the same old me.”
“He’ll kind of go through our medical people and find out exactly how much more he can go throughout the week, but he has been cleared,” Head Coach John Fox said. “He went through all the concussion stuff, and he looked fine out there today.”
“It was all good, just glad to be out there,” said Moore, who also checked in with a new blog post this afternoon.
WILD AFC WEST
At 3-5, the Broncos are one game back from a three-way tie for first in the AFC West.
Over the next three games, the team will take on two division rivals, starting this Sunday with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“This is our first time with Kansas City, but with the Raiders first game and San Diego’s first game, they were both hard-fought games,” Fox said. “We ended up being on the shorter end of the stick the first time around, but we fared much better the second time around with Oakland. We haven’t seen Kansas City personally but obviously on tape. They have a good running attack. They’re well coached. Defensively they run a 3-4, which is a little bit unusual as what we’ve seen as of late. It will be a good test.”
Tim Tebow said the Broncos will have the important task of starting fast, especially in a hostile environment.
“You know they will be very focused and very motivated, so we will have to go in and try to execute early,” Tebow said. “I want to try to take the crowd out of it and also get that momentum going early for us because any team playing at home, if they have the momentum going with the fans behind them, you can really get things going. We will have to execute early.”
INJURY REPORT
For the Broncos, only Wesley Woodyard (knee) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Brian Dawkins (thigh), Virgil Green (neck), Spencer Larsen (shoulder), Rahim Moore (concussion) and Cassius Vaughn (hamstring) were limited in practice, and Willis McGahee (hand) had full participation.
For the Chiefs, LB Demorrio Williams (groin) did not participate. S Jon McGraw (shoulder) was limited and CB Javier Arenas (ankle) had full participation.
Below are photos from Wednesday’s practice:
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: AFC West, Derrick Thomas, Rahim Moore, Von Miller, Week 10
Im #1!
I hope the ball starts bouncing around our way a bit. We still have chance to have a great season.
Lets go Broncosss!!!
There I was sitting at the bar staring at my drink when a large,
trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.
“Well, whatcha’ gonna do about it?” he says, menacingly, as I burst into tears.
“Come on, man,” the biker says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can`t stand to see a man crying.”
“This is the worst day of my life,” I say. “I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife with another man and then my dog bit me.”
“So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all, I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; then you show up and drink the whole thing! But enough about me, how’s your day going?”
Just thought I’d try to cheer up some of you pessimist!
My back is out – I tend to do that with mental stresses more than physical. I have the placement softball game for our next season tonight. Aargh!…
DB
LMFAO!!!! Liked it so much I had to have my wife read it.
So the Thursday night game is the evil Faiders against the Bolts.
So who do I cheer for? The bolts cause at least I can stomach it or the (can’t believe I am saying this) Faiders cause the Bolts really have the most talent and the more losses they get before they find their groove the better?
Ha! Nice one db, it’s been awhile since i’ve heard a good joke lol
DaddyBronc – where do you play your SB game???
RH709
You pray for a tie lol
Here in Lancaster at Lancaster City Park. You in the area?
I’m rooting for Raiders – hurts Broncos the least.
It’s pretty funny to think we hand Raiders there own….and they end up top of the division the next week.
Everyone is 1-2 in the division ….. except the chargers … thats an edge that needs to be taken away …. unfortunately I WONT ROOT for the raiders but I will feel better if they won …. but no matter how it does down … someone in our division is getting a loss … AND THATS FANTASTIC … Not unless the tie thing works lol. TRB
Also, the Broncos look better to win the division, and in general if they Raiders win.
I will not root for a Raiders win, but I will root for a Bolts loss. lol
I liked Palmer in Cincy for a long time. I’m going to root for Palmer. I like this Raiders coach better than any since….since… Shell?
OK now… I’m working hard at this – give me some slack.
A tie leaves 2 teams ahead of the Broncos instead of one assuming a win over KC.
If the Raiders win tomorrow night and we win against KC, we will be tied for 2nd in the AFC west. One game back. Correct me if I’m wrong.
http://www.nfl.com/standings
The AFC West has turned into the NFC West from last year LOL! At least it’s not hopeless! Pipe dream to make the playoffs; however, if we continue to improve, who knows?
Go Broncos!
C
Cam – that’s the way I read it.
I also read it that as vindication for Tebow.
2 consecutive games – it’s a streak!!!
2-2 in division.
With the Jets game being the following Thursday – if the Broncos are able to pull out 3 consecutive wins – Broncos will be 5-5 and only a half game behind the winner of the SD/OAK game.
This is doable!
Then we head to SD.
Well then- Cheers to a Raider win (Ugh!).
Guys lets not get ahead of ourselves. We are going to take it one game at a time and hopefully this run game will continue. But I think it is awesome that we are still in it to win it.
It is doable … not scared of the Jets … offense … thier defense is another case … especially with our inexperienced QB and WRs … not unless we have gotten our act together by then … anyway … anything is possible in the NFL. Ask the saints about last years playoff game. TRB
And daddy bronc if its a tie I believe only 1 team will be ahead of us … the chargers … not 2. Because raiders will be 1-2-1 in the division and we would be 2-1 (if we beat the chiefs) … so im pretty sure 2-1 beats 1-2-1 … chargers on the other hand would be 2-1-1 … there by giving them the edge over us … for now but not as much as a win.
Just talking scenarios … as unlikely as they may be.
TRB
Denver 34
Kansas City 27
I called the score against Green Bay 10 – 7 Broncos. Thus, it is with that logic that I hope for the equally probable event of both Oakland AND SD losing on Thurs. LOL
BLASPHEMY!!!!…….I tell you…rooting for those stinkin’ Faders…….as much as I hate to say it….I don’t see crybaby and his deadbolts losing after their Defense took the shelacking from GB last week!
Who cares which team wins?
We need to be worried about KC,do you guys know how hard it has been for us to win at Arrowhead over the years???
PLAYOFFS…..DID SOMEBODY SAY PLAYOFFS???????????
Somebody done made a new batch of Orange Kool-Ade!!!!!
You better spike it real quick!!!!
Even though our whole team and especially our defense has improved each week and our offense has been the last few weeks, as well as the play calling for tebow that continues to improve week to week,
They won 1 game after loosing 45-10 and people are talking about playoffs.”
If we loose this game we are at the bottom of the division and a laughing stock persay.
If we win this game we are probably the favorite or at worst 2nd favorite to win the division.
People dont be dumb and realize its a 16 game season and 1 game doesnt matter, like the media likes to make it out to be because they have nothing better to talk about.
Don’t cheer for either. Cheer for the tie and that both teams beat each other to a plup haha.
DaddyBronc – Lancaster?? … that’s way the hell and gone up there … I’ve played for a team out of Victorville – but Lancaster is way to far for me … we’ll have to just share our love of the Broncos and let it go at that … do you get a lot of wind up there??? … I HATE to play in the wind …
We lost today:: 33 – 29 … I think I’ll pick that score for this weeks game …
So – Broncos 33 – KC 29 …
Broncos-20
KC- 16
Wieman – that was a weird game. It was a placement game with both teams trying to lose. We rotated our young outfielders through the pitcher / catcher and us old guys took outfield. Apparently we were better at losing than they were. We forced them to 15 run us – final 26-11. That wasn’t a lot of fun.
Horse is right – stop talking playoffs.
trb – I don’t think so, I don’t think you get to look at divisional record except in the case of a tie. If the Broncos win in KC they are in a 3-way tie for second place with the loser of the SD/ OAK game and KC – all with records of 4-5. If there is a tie in the SD/OAK game then SD and Oak with both have records of 4-4-1 which beats a record of 4-5. That does leave SD ahead in the divisional tie breaker.
It is to be considered that it is possible theoretically for both Oak and Broncos to win out. If that were to happen this would be bad for Broncos as they could finish with an 11-5 record and still not win the division. We have another game with SD to force the tie. I think we then enter double tie breaker category. But these scenarios aren’t gonna happen.
Broncos win : 27 – 24
On the Bronco remaining schedule there are 4 teams currently at 5 and 3. Each of these teams are hungry and battling, and in genuine contention for a playoff spot. 3 of those teams are positioned to take their division and/or a wildcard spot. The forth is at least in contention for a wildcard spot. There is not one game on the Bronco schedule that can be considered a freebie. The closest game might be the MIN game. We meet the Vikings on the first weekend in Dec. Minnesota only lost to the Lions by a field-goal, and to the Packers by two field goals.
Broncos have a lot of season left.
It goes without saying that Tebow needs to win this game at KC. But more so he needs to finish strong and show that he can be a consistent QB especially in the passing game. Because it looks like he doesn’t have much in the way of confidence from the Broncos’ brass.
As reported by a local news broadcast:
“You called me a naysayer, let me tell you about a naysayer ok,” said Les Shapiro of FOX31 Denver & 102.3 ‘The Ticket’. (who also called Broncos Pre-season games).
“John Elway was at Stanford observing Andrew Luck once again,” said Les Shapiro. “This weekend — this past weekend the Broncos had a scout at the CU game looking specifically at Matt Barkley of USC and next week when Arizona comes here, Elway and some scouts will be at the CU game again looking at Nick Foles. They Don’t believe they can win with Tebows’ style of play on a consistant basis.”
Obviously that last sentence is Shapiro’s personal opinion. But with the team scouting QBs this early in the season, let’s just say it’s not a good sign for Tebow.
For more look up: ‘Local Denver coverage of Broncos win over Oakland’ on youtube.
-Royalty
Royalty –
Les Shapiro is out of line in what he is saying. Broncos have 7 scouts, possibly 8, plus EFX that are continuously on the hunt for players at every position that deepen, and build, and back-up the team. These guys are diligent to check out the character and ability of every guy at every position and to rank them. EFX know that every position is one play away from the ‘next man up’ due to injury.
Most NFL teams have 2 QB’s on the roster and another on the practice squad. Broncos have three QB’s on the roster right now – and two of them are not getting resigned. Orton and Quinn will not be Broncos next year. Therefore the Broncos are going to draft a QB. They have to. Looking at college QB’s and other top NFL candidates is what Elway is supposed to be doing. That is a major portion of Elway’s job. It is not necessarily a reflection on Tebow.
Tebow is getting his chance and I am pleased with the coaching support he is getting. If Tebow is able to win against these teams with 5-3 records (now), there is no way Tebow is going anywhere. Tebow has four shots at making all the naysayers eat their words – Jets, Bears, Pats, and Bills – these games will be huge for Tebow. If the Broncos are competitive – Tebow wins. If the Broncos win two of the four – Tebow is all in for next year. Then there are the remaining divisional games with SD and 2 with KC. And anything can happen game with MIN who is a bottom feeder after having lost to some very good teams – barely. Tebow is getting his chance. He is gaining in confidence. He has earned the right to be heard in game planning. If Tebow quits having to throw so many passes away due to pressure – and the fact is Tebow has already started to make them pay – his completion percentage is already there. If he can continue to eliminate turnovers for the most part – pass when necessary – he is going to be the Broncos QB for a long time to come. Those who say that Tebow will have to pass more are just wrong. Those who say something more balanced like there are teams in the NFL that can’t be beat with rushing yards – Tebow will have to be able to pass to win some games – they are right and his ability to pass opens up options. Yes – Tebow still has to prove that he can. The stats do not yet exist to prove that he can in the NFL. Be patient faithful Bronco fans – he’s a virtual rookie.
I have given my reasons several times in several ways as to why I think Tebow will succeed in the NFL. I am more confident in the process now than I have ever been.
Why?
1. The coaches are genuinely working towards his and the teams success.
2. He has already won one game that the ‘experts’ unanimously picked the Broncos to lose.
3. The process of changing and redefining what the NFL QB looks like has already begun, at least it is being talked about, initiated by Tebow.
4. Tebow has earned the right to start in the next four games – barring disaster – which is what I told you all (a total of 7 starts this season) Tebow would need to gain adequate NFL experience and success to earn him the right to be the starter next year.
Broncos Fans- no matter what Shapiro says – It’s Tebow Time!
I am especially impressed with Fox these days –
1. You have to know this Tebow thing was not what he expected coming into Denver.
2. Fox had his mind fully made up to run with Orton and yet – he has had the courage to change. (Thank God for Delomme)
3. In spite of the ‘no new game plan’ rhetoric, Fox and McCoy have begun to game plan around the Tebow skill set. (Thank God for the Lions)
I know some of you think that Fox will go with someone else next year, but I have begun to trust Fox. I think this Tebow thing is beginning to grow on him, and Fox is beginning to become a genuine Bronco fan.
Hey, WeimanCA what team did you play with in Victorville, I play alot of ball here? Do you know Kenny Bise?
My grandfather was a Raider fan back when Darrell Lamonica was QB so I’ll be rooting for the Raiders tonight, for me they are the lesser of two evils.
I was looking at the schedule for the AFC west… Chargers beat the Faiders tonight… Broncos beat the chiefs sunday… Broncos beat the jets on week 11… Week 12 Chargers vs Broncos… Broncos tied for first ?… Go Broncos…
Denver 24 KC 23
Broncos just need to focus on one game at a time.If they can accomplish that, I believe good things can happen. Look forward to a huge divisional game this weekend, and of course (after practice Thursday) you can do a little scoreboard watching and pray for both of the teams to pound the hell out of each other so bad that key players of theirs suffer injuries that detriment their success. But, do not count on that. Consistent running and offensive line play COULD get us to the postseason- especially with a healthy defense stepping up. Broncos go between 8-8 or and 10-6. I BELIEVE that we will be playoff bound come January. GO BRONCOS!!!
Is it just me, or has anybody noticed that Robert Ayers is kickin’ some butt out there! I was so glad when the Broncos got him and Wesley Woodyard in the same year and they keep getting better and better! Hey Robert! I notice, Man! You are on a role. Not taking away from Von and Doom, but you need to get more props for your efforts like that tremendous hit in the game in Oakland!
9-7,9-7,9-7 WINS THE WEST. That’s what our record is going to be. I realize you all think I,m nutz!! Thats Ok with me but WHEN we go on this run, and we are, you all think I’m a mad scientist. Did you see the holes the O line made against a good Raider team? Did you see the D ? heck did you see Eddie on Special Teams? And Ayers????This Team is getting ready to take off….GO BRONCOS COOK THE CHEFS!!!! AND GROUND THE JETS