When Head Coach Josh McDaniels and Daniel Graham are on the same NFL roster, the results have been fruitful.
Eleven playoff games. Nine victories.
Two Super Bowl appearances. Two Super Bowl trophies.
After a two-season hiatus, McDaniels and Graham have joined colors once again, hoping to bring the same rewards they experienced in New England to Denver.
For Graham, the arrival of McDaniels injected a boost of life into his offseason.
“It’s good just reuniting, getting back in this offense,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun since he’s back here.”
That fun revolves around the presence of an offense that makes great use of Graham’s position.
In his one season with McDaniels as his offensive coordinator (2006), Graham hauled in 21 catches for 235 yards, with two touchdowns in 11 starts. In McDaniels’ final season as New England offensive coordinator (2008), the team rushed for 2,278 yards, marking the highest NFL single-season total since 1985.
In turn, the eight-year veteran knows being a tight end in this system requires great knowledge in both the running game and passing game. But with previous experience under his belt, Graham is transitioning with relative ease.
“I’m just refreshing my memory,” Graham said. “When you’re in that offense for five years, you really can’t forget much.”
McDaniels has no reason to forget the corps of tight ends he’s inherited here with the Broncos.
Coming off a season where he started all 16 games for the first time in his career, Graham also knows he’s in good company with his fellow tight ends. Last season, he and Tony Scheffler grabbed a combined 72 catches for 1,034 yards.
Coupled with the return of veteran Jeb Putzier and addition of rookie Richard Quinn, Graham expects the position to make a substantial impact on the offense this season.
“We’ve got some good depth on this team,” he said. “Everybody has a certain strength that we all bring to the table. As a group, we’re pretty good.”
-Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Daniel Graham, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Jeb Putzier, Richard Quinn, Tony Scheffler
Yo if anyway on the other blog is looking for me I am here. The blog is screwing up on me at work and I can’t get back.
Doc, no probs I understand and it wouldn’t happen again. I will just post them as links rather than put them on the site.
A babychamp maybe that will happen. I remember when Portis was with us. He was always wearing the WCW Championship belt Pastor Troy gave him. Shanny didn’t like it. So in a overtime game with us having the ball in field goal range. He kept running him up the middle. 1 2 then his ankle went. We was on the 20 with Jason Elam on out team. Shannon Sharpe was walking of the field after the injury with his hands up. Like whats going on. Right after the injury we kicked the field goal.
The #1—I remember that lol lets see if Mcdaniels or even just the players give marshall some heat cuz i would be even more upset as a player seeing my teammate bash his own team the way he did…If i were champ dawk williams dumervil or anyone on defense i would take it to the field because he is representin hisself as an enemy when he dosent consider himself a bronco on our turf by usin the terms the broncos, they, and them..so why not throw some shots at him….i would but thats just me
To tell you the truth though. If it happens it won’t be Dawkins or even Champ. The team still looks at him as family. You know like the cousin that can’t stay out of trouble. No touch him though just tell us what he did. We’ll deal with it. The players from last yr will do it. I just don’t see it in Champ tp do it. D.J., Woodyard, Doom, or maybe even Larsen. We be the one or ones delivering the shot or shots. Like Willie Beamin, no invisible juice can save you.
I meant “Don’t not No”
I get what you sayin and i agree im jus speakin off anger n emotion lol
Grahams experience will be an asset for the rest of the group at TE. Putzier has been working hard to make the Team. Scheffler and Quinn complete the group!
Brandon Marshalls interview was interesting. He really doesn’t have much choice this year. He will play and we’ll go from there.
Man I hope we don’t start to look the Patriots. I hate those cheaters. Start Tony Scheffler over Grahams, Quinn as number 3 and move on. I got one thing to say “SIGN MICHAEL VICK” nobody else wants him, we can probably get him for cheap. Say what you want about Vick, but he’s better then Orten or Orton whatever his name is. Then if Vick dont work out, we have a backup plan.