This morning, the University of Denver’s 17 varsity athletic programs gained a 10,000-square foot strength and conditioning complex, thanks to Broncos President and CEO Pat Bowlen.
The Pat Bowlen Training Center — named for Bowlen, who is also a member of the DU Board of Trustees — officially opened today after a ceremony at the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness.
The facility is attached to the Ritchie Center and is located beneath the seating at the recently-opened CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
More pictures from the ceremony after the jump. Photos courtesy of Kelly Photography.
MANDIEGO I completely agree. It all starts with the running game. The running game takes pressure off the QB, wears down the other team’s D, and gives ours a breather. I am really optomistic about Moreno in his 2nd year. The dude is a warrior with incredible toughness and I think he is going to run strong this year with improved conditioning.
What will be awesome about Tebow is that he will make plays. Where Orton will be ok with throwing it away or taking a sack, Tebow will use his running ability and cause tons of problems for defenses. If he can throw on the run is to be determined, if he can then he could be super dangerous.
Guys I love the comments. But our failure last year wasn’t due to just one thing and it is hard to define it to just one thing. It was a contribution of all the things that were listed. So there is no right answer other than we sucked in a number of facets of the game.
As for Tebow if McD thinks he can start, start him, if not sit him. It is McD call.
As for Orton if you read the posts on the Denver Post, it does make some sense. Give him a fair shot somewhere else as he won’t be here long term and probably gone after this season anyway.
Agreed, we had trouble in many areas last season. I feel like they were mainly because of scheme changes both offensive to power blocking and on defense to a 3-4. We were trying to switch to those schemes without the appropriate personnel and I think we are much better off this year in that regard.
You are right though McD is very knowledgeable with QBs and I’d trust his judgement on if he thinks Tebow is ready despite my opinion he’d be better off holding a clipboard until the 2011-2012 campaign.
Yes I do agree with you, I wouldn’t mind him sitting for while like Rivers (though I am not a Rivers fan) but what I was tiring to get across to people was to not chew each other out on thier opinions. Take what they say on board and learn from it. And that wasn’t directed at anyone, that is just a general statement. Everyone has their opinion and will believe it is right, just respect other peoples opinions as well.
And yes Atwater4HOF I do agree that the scheme changes did not help the situation. But I am very hopeful for this season ahead.
Yea I agree some people get a little carried away sometimes. Thats what happens when we have to wait 4 more months for the season to start and theres nothing to talk about ha.
Haha yes, no football for 4 months it is hard to analysis stuff, I was on a blog yesterday where people were fighting over gun control laws and why people carry guns because of the Ronald Fields arrested. Just not much to talk about at the moment.
Oh wow haha that is sad.
WATCH THIS VIDEO and THEN TRY to tell me that Orton can’t throw a deep ball……….HERE IS PROOF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJxMyAr6TU
Yeah, but it was something they could talk about, where as now? What we got to talk about? Trading Orton and starting Tebow. That is about it….I think Fields did us a service, he gave us something to talk about for a day haha.
Well MarshMelo15, if you look at the vid, he threw from the about the 17 to about the 30, so if my maths isn’t wrong that is about 53 yards. And can’t some QB’s throw 70 yards?
Also if you watch the vid the ball is high, takes forever to get there (3.5 secs) and Marshall has to slow down to catch it. It was a nice throw but lacked the velocity.
24_Champbailey…….So your idea of a good Defense is like when Jamal Charles ran for over 230 yards on us????? Yeah that sounds like a stellar D!!!!!
Hate to use this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayItjFT9dQw&feature=related
But strong armed crybaby cutler through the ball from the 36 to the goal line, 64 yards if my maths is correct and it hit the player in full stride and the ball took roughly 4 secs to get there.
Aussie…..I never said Orton had a ROCKET arm, all I was doing was PROVING that he could throw a deep ball. There is proof, so all I want is for people to stop using that as an excuse. The reason for why he didn’t throw deep more often is becasue of the playcalling NOT becasue he can’t do it. That’s Mcd’s system little dink and dunk routes, short slants, and screens, so don’t blame the QB, hes just doing what hes told.
im sittin lookin at our schedule……dont know bout u ppl but im not seein the wins this yr….no matter who Qb’s…..not gonna beat indy..we never do….not gonna beat the chargers…not gonna run a kick and a punt back….not gonna beat the Jets…we cant stop the run…not gonna beat the Texans…..cant score wit them guys….the NFC west?? well split and well Split with the rest of our div….so I think were lookin at hmmmm…..7-9…Heck what do I know I called 11-5 last yr
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE MY TEAM!!!!!!
Well when your offense turns the ball over 3 times and lets the other team score on ints it is hard for the defense to get into the game.
And don’t sleep on Charles I think he is good, but yes our old starters struggled towards the end of the year. And it didn’t help we put the whole game on Orton’s shoulders.
Well MarshMelo15 I was showing because he doesn’t have a rocket arm it is hard for him to throw the deep ball. Because he floats it, makes it easier for a CB or Safety to cover. In both those deep balls that were thrown to Marshall he was wide open, if he had a CB or safety near by Orton would not risk it, which I believe happened on a number of occasions this season.
And it was McD fault for not calling more deep passes but it was because he couldn’t trust Orton’s arm and worried about the turn overs.
BA…I agree with your assessment of Orton’s arm.Just an opinion tho.
Yeah that is my opinion based on the vids and games I have seen
And as far as putting the whole game on Orton’s shoulders,I remember when a certain QB had the game on his shoulders every week.Would you want Orton bringing you back with 2 min left in a game where you must score a TD to win??? I wouldn’t.jomho
Haha yes, I would not rely on Orton solely to will a game, he can’t do it as he is a ‘game manager’ as he has been called.
Orton can throw the deep ball,he’s just not accurate when he does.IMO
I remember when we played Seattle once,Elway ducked a sack from the BOZ,stood back up and launched a ball from the 50 to about 5 yards deep in the endzone,right on the money for a TD.I miss that.
Yes don’t we all, but can Orton do that (I would say no) the question is can Quinn or Tebow?
That my friend is the million dollar question.
I know and only time will tell us if they can. What happens to Tebow though when (if) Quinn lights up the field, does he ride the bench the next 5 or so years?
We definitely have a QB controversy,I don’t know if it’s good or bad,I think it should bring competition to a high level,and if nothing else make all 4 QB’s step it up a notch or 2.
I think competition is good, but I think at least two QB’s from the 4 will get screwed. But it could happen in a number of scenarios.
I think Quinn has the ability to be a good QB,better than Orton,(yes)better than Tebow in a year or so(I don’t know).
I think Orton already has one foot out the door,and maybe Brandstater too.
I would definitely keep Quinn,unless he shows no sign of improvement over the next year or 2.
Yes I like Quinn, but the Tebow pick pretty much means that all 3 are going to get screwed. I think Tebow will start in 2011 and in this year, Orton, Quinn and Brandstater are fighting for his back up position next year. If Orton is better than Quinn we keep Orton, bye Quinn. And of course the reverse of that. Brandstater may go to the practice squad this year or we could possible have 4 QB’s on the roster (I don’t it with the number of CBs that we will have on the roster) so Brandstater has a hard time of standing.
I agree,I don’t know if Orton will take a backseat to Tebow though,Orton would make a great backup,if he will play the role of a backup remains to be seen,I think if Quinn does good this year it’ll be Tebow and Quinn next year and cut Orton loose.Brandstater will prob go on PS or I look for him to maybe be cut since he has low value at this point.
BF92, yes totally agree and I believe that is how it will play out, Tebow and Quinn.
Oh and someone asked if Tebow could throw on the run I believe? Well that is pretty much all he did in college.
Yeah I watched him torch my Tennessee team all 4 games they played,Tebow was without a doubt the best college player in history,at any position.I think if mentored right he can be an amazing NFL QB too.Kinda like a Steve Young but bigger and tougher.
Well laters BA,getting past midnight here.Gotta get up early.
Laters BFE92, and yes I think Tebow will be good.
MarshMelo15 ok one game… they had a bad game that day but the rest of the games they were really good.. and dont say they werent yeah that game they had a problem to stop the run, but it was mostly that game. Jamal Charles is a hella of a good RB, he can do incredible things and that day he did.. our D lacked that day and he shined that day.. one game.. our D was amazingly last year, they just were tired at the end cause they werent seeing any success so they struggled at that game.
Glad I took a break from the blog, lots of serious bickering over the last few days here….
Reading what Woody says about our QB’s salaries made me think of a couple things, first here is what he says (he is assuming Orton will move on, because he thinks he should):
If Orton were to be shipped out, the Broncos would save his $2.6 million contract and have Brandstater at $395,000, Tebow in the first year of an approximate five-year, $15 million to $18 million contract (about $8 million guaranteed) and Quinn in the odd position of receiving $700,000, with the chance to earn $5.9 million (if he takes 70 percent of the snaps).
The most glaring point these numbers bring to my mind is why would anyone be stupid enough to start Quinn and end up having him play more than 70% of the snaps and have to pay him the absurd amount of nearly 6 million dollars instead of $700,000?!? The guy has done absolutely nothing in the NFL to prove that he is a 6 million dollar man.
So, in my opinion, it will be a very difficult and what could be a very expensive decision to trade Orton and start Quinn, meaning trading Orton would be an easier thing to do only if you are planning on starting Tebow since his contract will most likely be much less incentive ladden than Quinn’s. But starting Tebow is like stepping into the twilight zone, no one has an iota of knowledge of where that would lead us right off the bat.
Which brings us to the reason why this starting QB thing has been so hotely debated here, no one has a clue or real good idea of what would be best for the Broncos, not even McD. I am pretty sure than other than he believes Tebow is the answer long term, he has no clear thought has far as what is best to do at the QB position to start the season on the right foot, and he can’t be bummed out about it because he created it all on his own with first trading for Quinn, who thought he was THE new QB in town at the time, then a couple weeks later Tebow takes that role away from Quinn, while Orton now knows clearly he is ultimately not wanted here….
McD wants competition at every spot, he definitely got what he wanted at the QB position, and you better be carefull what you ask for because in this case he brought himself into a unbelievably complex type of situation and I wish him good luck as to finding the best way to proceed from here. I, as the rest of all of us in the near universe, have no clue as to what that is, just opinions, and those opinions just about all have some validity to them regardless of what QB’s you keep on the roster and in what order, so I will refrain to tell anyone I know what’s the best way to do it, I’ll let you guys figure it out, LOL. In closing I just hope McD will find it. Now he is in the middle of a maze, no saying how long it will take him to find his way out of this one… Once again good luck coach, you need it, because a lot of your future will be hanging on what way you decided to go with this QB quagmire. That’s why you get the big bucks I guess.
Orton, Quinn, Brandstater, Tebow.
One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong. One of these things is not like the others, can you figure it out before I finish my, mini camps, OTAs, preaseason games, trade dealine song.
Here’s a simple solution. Just put all four athletes on the field and let them compete for the job.
Each QB will determine his role on the team by how he compares to the other three. The QB’s themselves will determine who the starter is.
I like your “hore race” analogy a little better than the “maze/quagmire” one… Good read though bay.. you’re a good writer..
Now I get to think of Brady Quinn as “Steve Austin”….lol
ILMSDB!!!
**Disclaimer**
This opinion may have contained humorous sarcasm that is not intended to anger anyone or proove that the author is always right about anything…. lol…
“QB quagmire” nice choice of words
OC, btw thanks for taking over my “I’m always right spot” which I gladly and permanently hereby pass onto you, LOL. And thanks to you and texark-fan for the kind words.
Hey guys.
Speaking of guys not throwing the deep ball and don’t arm strength can be blamed on nfl films. No joke.
If your in the nfl you should be able to throw it at least 60 yards and I think everyone can. My brother is 13 and about 5’1 (yeah he is really short) but since I’m a coach I transformed him in to a super QB. Lol
He can currently throw the ball 47 yards. It has nothing to do with how strong his arm is, but what muscles and technique and throwing motions he uses.
So that brings me back to my point. I see my brother throw it almost 50 yards and its not that breathe taking. But for those of that watch games on TV it is. The ball shoots in the air, the camera zooms out and pans up and gives it the allusion some one is throwing it over the grad canyon. Some how the NFL trick ppl in to thinking a deep pass is so epic only immortals can do it.
When I went to camp last year I watched orton and simms stand on the other teams 40 yard line and throw it to the back of the endzone for a pass of nearly 50 yards. The same as my brother. It didn’t look spectacular becuz of the angles and my own depth perception. But it still doesn’t mean he can throw it 50 yards. And I’m sure he could throw it a lot farther to. For some reason his deep passes don’t look jaw droppingly amazing. Like big bens or mcnabbs. Its hard to explain if you haven’t seen them in person and on tv. Maybe ticket holders know what I’m talking about.
Just a strange ordeal for orton where it appears he can’t throw deep.
Ps I’ll have to post some film of my brother so you can see he is the real deal sometime!
BroncoAussie, a while back you said you wanted a statement to use after a comment.. I think I got one for you.. How about.
Blue Thunder Down Under!!!!!!
I think in this situation Brandstater is the odd man out. Orton showed he could be effective in this system and until he proves otherwise I think he’ll be the “named” starter. If we trade Quinn then we basically got rid of Hillis for nothing, we won’t get rid of Quinn unless a “can’t pass up” deal gets proposed. Tebow..c’mon we ain’t gettin’ rid of Tebow..duh. I believe we’ll have 3 QBs on the roster, Orton, Tebow, Quinn. I honestly think that Tebow could beat out Quinn and Orton for the starting job. If he doesn’t though, I feel comfortable with Orton more than Quinn.
Very good point brian.
Tom has been the only QB mcd hasn’t been pleased with (that’s still on the roster)
florio- yeah I know what you’re talking about. As season ticket holders in section #111, we saw orton throw our way plenty of times… mostly dink n dunk. Had some zip on the ball. Also saw Brandstater last pre-season vs. Bears…. we enjoyed watching him.
I believe Orton will be our starting QB when the season starts. If he struggles toward the middle or end of the season it`s Tebow all the way. Tim`s the QB of the future. If Orton plays good Ball, it`s his job to the end of 2010, and I see Tebow playing some WILD HORSES. Personally I`m looking forward to see Tebow start at QB.
Orton is solid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf–FS4-gWI&feature=related
We had a absolutely brutal schedule last year. The Ravens beat us up really good and we never recovered. I don’t think we trade anyone until the preseason. Some Qb will get hurt this spring during training and this is a great problem to have.
I think it is awesome to have a debate over which of three QBs that we have on our roster to start!!!
I am sure however that our debate will have nothing to do with which one actually starts. McDaniels will play the one that will give us the best chance to win. My opinion is that will probably be Orton; but McDaniels may feel like the better athlete and leader gives us the best chance to win not the QB with the most experience in his system. It makes this a very interesting discussion.
With the additions to the O-Line, I am really more excited to see how much improved our run game can be this year. Moreno is a superstar in a cocoon.
One thing left to do sign Elvis to a fat contract. I don’t know of any fan of the Broncos that would not agree that Elvis deserves it. He worked hard though a lot of uncertainty and did everything he was asked and made himself a probowler. Pay him.
Sign DOOM! Besides Champ, DOOM was our best player on defence. If we don`t sign him to a long term contract, he`s as good as gone at the end of this season.