One of the bright spots through the Broncos’ first five games has been the play of the team’s special teams units.
In his first season as the Broncos’ special teams coordinator, Jeff Rodgers has the league’s top-ranked punt return unit along with the No. 2-ranked net punting average entering the Broncos’ bye week.
“We’re not trying to put a bunch of emphasis on stats,” Rodgers said. “But net punts are an important indicator of how we’re doing field position-wise with returning the ball to the defense and vice-versa with opponent net.”
The Broncos have the league’s leading punt return unit, which has averaged 21.2 yards per return. Eric Decker has the highest punt return average in the NFL with his 25.6 yards per return. Quan Cosby joined the team in Week 3 and took over the punt return duties, averaging 16.8 yards per return, which ranks third in the NFL.
“Decker did a good job stepping in there early on in the season,” Rodgers said. “Then, Quan is a guy who’s had experience in the league and the one thing that jumps off the tape with him, even in the past before he got here, is he’s a fearless guy. He’s going to return for the team and is not a stat guy. He’s going to save us some field position and make sure the team’s successful.”
The Broncos are averaging a gain of 8.2 yards every time the ball is punted, which is second-best in the league this season. Thus far, Denver has gained a difference of 330 yards on punt exchanges, which is second-best in the NFL. Those extra yards translate into better field position for both the offense and defense when they take over after a punt.
As an overall unit, Rodgers knows that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“I’d say we’re still a work in progress,” Rodgers said. “Guys are getting better, improving and hopefully we can play better down the stretch than we have.”
Oh and I need to correct myself. I said my first purchase was Angry Ba*t*rd… Should have read Arrogant Ba*t*rd. 8.7% Alc by volume…
What games are you gonna watch tomorrow with the broncs not playing? Who do you care to see?
It’s the same here, you have to be a bar to fill growlers, I never even heard of a 12 pack of Milk Stout, good for you, different pour obviously but still Milk Stout.
Daddy, I have my eye on the San Fran/Detroit game. Phi/Was should be a good one. And of course the Monday night matchup. Since both clubs are on our schedule!
Haha!! Should clarify. 2 six packs
Sndvl – Det. because we play them in two weeks and Was. to keep your eye on Shanny?
Your loyalty that deep?
AFC west teams first and foremost and future opponents of ours to know what we’ll be up against.
Oakland Cleveland
Carolina Atlanta
SF Detroit
Buffalo Giants
Dallas N-E
But the best for us is Sunday night, Minnesota Chicago and Monday night, Jets Dolphins since we play all 4 teams!
I like it -
I still watch Texans cuz I’m wishing Kubiak well.
Wish I could watch football tommorrow but everyone is sick so I will be smashing hamburger patties lol
You should live where I do, Texans on every week, haha.
I can get every game online – makes it difficult to choose.
Det. Is my sisters favorite team. Plus they are playing San Fran who is 4-1.
Philly/Was because I haven’t seen a Shannahan coached game yet this year. I’d like to see Philly get buried too. Put a final stamp on the dream team nonsense.
Mia/NYJ not only because we play them. Not only because it’s the only game on. I want to see the BEAST in all his glory!!!!!
I refuse to watch any Oakland game. Unless we are playing them.
Want makes a fan?
I grew up a Steeler fan. Bradshaw was in his first or second year and I was a little kid he thought was cute and he threw me up on his shoulders while he signed a few autographs – back when fans could be trusted to have access to players after games.
I still watch the Steelers though Ben is far from being the type of character player I like to watch.
I began college in ’82 in Denver = the rest is history.
Never did become LA Rams or LA Raider fan though I grew up in S. Ca.
Born in GA. I follow the Braves.
Lived in St. Louis four years – Hate Cards. Love Puls though.
That was “What” make a fan – fat fingers!
Bay – AFC West teams are still my first choice as well but I still find myself drawn to the Seahawks out of habit – I think I’m getting old.
Yeah, I hear you but over the years the Seahawks were usually the least of our worries so I really put them out of mind, specially since they are NFC.
You know we’re old when the other day a blogger pointed out that a mistake was made in the Broncos archives because they said in a certain year we finished 5th in the division, haha.
We finished 5th in the division twice, in 1990 and 1999.
And we won it 10 times, 1977, 78, 84, 86, 87, 89, 91, 96, 98 and 2005.
Now, here is a trick question, what place did we finish in 1982?
12th!
With 2-7
The strike year
Because they didn’t have divisions for that year, just the two conferences and we only finished ahead of Houston (1-8) and the Baltimore Colts (0-8-1).
And of course those were the Houston Oilers.
I did some ugrading in my Bronco album this morning and came up with some neat stuff.
What about this one:
1984 was the Bronco record for turnover ratio in a season, Elway’s second year, +21, we had 31 INTs and also a Bronco record 24 fumble recoveries that year. The record for INTs was in 1964 with 32. 2005 was also a real good one to with second best turnover ratio, +20, Jake Plummer’s year to the AFC championship game. Goes to show how huge those takeaways are, 1984 Elway went 13-3!
I will be watching the Brown’s for hubby and also Greenbay cuz I like Aaron Rodgers. It is funny I played my first fantasy games in 2008 and when I was drafting my team I decided to pick up Rodgers as my starting QB and my hubby said that was a stupid move. It was Rodgers’ first year starting and I had a feeling he was going to be a good player but my hubby refused to listen well needless to say I finished 2nd in my league and played in the fantasy version of the SB and lost. I have chosen him every year since BUT as soon as Tebow was named the starter I now have him starting in one of my leagues and the back up on 3 of my other leagues. I play 6 all together. BTW, I have a weird feeling about the Detroit game. Something tells me that we are going to upset them and win that game. I could be wrong but when I listen to my intuition instead of my head I am usually right (not always) but 70% of the time. I really hope I am right.
In 2008 we were -17 and last year -9, I guess only a coach like Shanny could of pulled a 8-8 record in 2008 with a -17 turnover ratio!!!
As long as you don’t lay any money on it, go with your intuition, if money is involved go with your head, LOL.
When was our last tie?
1987, at Green Bay, 17-17 after OT.
In 3 years with Denver Orton has thrown 28 INTs and had 10 fumbles in 34 starts. Tebow in 3 starts has thrown 3 INTs and had 1 fumble. 4 turnovers in 3 games as a rookie compared to 38 turnovers in 34 games for a veteran… I wonder if not having Orton as the starter then would have made a difference in our margin
Tebows TD to Turnover ration is 13 – 4 Ortons is 49 – 38 not to mention the countless dropped pics Orton has thrown
No money involved, I do not know enough about football to risk my money on it. I do enter a pool at work for 5.00 to pick the week’s winners. Whomever guesses the most right wins around 500.00. If I can win this week I can go to the Miami game. That would be so awesome since I have never been to a football game of any kind in my entire life. I am 43 by the way and I realized that Tebow is the same age as my son LOL.
Good luck shaztah! go with your gut on your picks and you will win!
Ok guys, here were my Hubby’s picks (it was his turn to pick) let me know what ya think. Do I have a chance of going to see the game?
Atlanta over Carolina
Washington over Philly
GreenBay over Rams
Steelers over Jags
Buffalo over Giants
Detroit over 49ers
Cincinatti over Indy
Oakland over Cleveland
Baltimore over Houston
NewOrleans over Tampa Bay
New England over Dallas
Minnesota over Chicago
Jets over Miami
I think they are mostly good but the Detroit 49ers game the Buffalo Giants game and the Washington Philly game could go either way.
I’ll never forget how I became a fan.
My family to this day still cannot believe my memory of the time period. The year was 1983.
The setting. Denver. More specifically-Mile High Stadium. The team. Haha. Teams. Both from Denver. One was the Denver Gold. The other. The Denver Broncos. The first afternoon. Walking to Mile High. Ice cream cone in hand. Shorts and a T shirt. My uncle taking me into Mile-High. Telling me about a guy named Red Miller. Pointed him out to me. My oh my what a sight walking out of that concourse, with the open green field and blue sky. Bright shining sun. Home team had these awesome gold helmets. (Kinda like Notre Dame). Whew…
The second trip to mile high.
The afternoon was a little brisker. I had to wear a coat. No ice cream cone this time. Instead a hit chocolate with some marshmallows! The walk to the stadium was a little crazier. People yelling. People acting weird. (Weird for a 5 year old). I couldn’t understand why everybody was wearing orange and blue. When last time I went, everybody was in gold. Stadium was fuller this time around. Like everybody was in a seat. Even our seats were higher. “Why can’t we sit next to the players like we did last time?”. My uncle pointed out we where here to see a different team. Where he pointed out another individual. His name was John Elway. He was new and this team wasnt the same team we saw last time. This team was called the Broncos. “Oh”. Well I’m cold and I want to see the gold team. Bam! Another hot chocolate. Well, I don’t remember much from that game. Not as vividly as I do that first trip. (Must have been 1 too many hot chocolates).
What I will never forget, that afternoon, was the ENTIRE crowd going insane. INSANE. People jumping. People screaming. People high fiving. Hugging. Jumping. The stadium was shaking. My was that stadium shaking.
Turns out. That new guy Elway. He had led that Broncos team to a 4th quarter comeback. Against a team named the Baltimore Colts. It was MAGICAL. It was Mile-High Magic…
Made me a fan for life! I left wearing a Bronco hat. And have been in Blue and Orange since.
That’s what makes (me) a fan!!!
Shaztah,
I have the niners. And if your hubby is a Brownie, why oh why did he pick Chokeland? Ick
I cant remember how I beame a fan I was too young I just know I’ve been one since I was really young and from what my family says. They moved here when I was young and Football was what kind of allowed everyone to meet people and kind of connect better. They always told me I would run around during the game with a football yelling touchdown when ever Elway scored. I remember every game since I was 6 and haven’t missed a game since I remember being able to focus on a TV lol. I hope my kids can grow up running around screaming Touchdown every time Tebow scores! I live and die with every play and love every moment of Bronco Football even if its a blowout they will always be my team.
1. Family
2. God.
3. Friends
4. Broncos football!
Cool story sndvl. I think I’m going to take tomorrow off. It probably won’t happen, but I’d like to think I can unplug myself at will. It’s an illusion. My son will want to be checking up on his fantasy players, so… it’s inevitable.
Shaztah – a woman’s intuition is usually right so go with it girl! I hope you’re right!
And just an FYI guys, I changed my handle from I♥Tebow-GoBroncos to this new one…much easier I think.
Go Broncos!!
I’m only 24 and by the time I actually got into football, Elway had retired. I was fan a year or two before we had Plummer come aboard. I was a fan because I liked the Broncos uniforms and would always pick them on the video game when playing against friends. I wish I had gotten to see Elway win those two Super Bowls. I am hoping maybe Tebow can lead us to a couple.
Bay, your team trivia was fun and interesting. I am a trivia fan and always looking for good nuggets of information. I found one the other day looking through the HOF website. There is one round in the draft that has produced no HOF QB’s in the history of the NFL. That includes the older draft when it ran as many as something like 22 rounds. I think the last round a QB was drafted in was the 19th round. There has even been a FA QB but none from this round.
There are no QB’s in the HOF drafted out of the 2nd Round! I found that to be unbelievable!
There is no week sadder than a bye week for me … thats how much i love bronco football … i love football in general with a passion but I love Broncos football even more so. No real games per se that I will be watching … might only end up watching sunday night and monday night … might not watch any because I have a big day on Monday that i need to prep for. But if I were to watch games it would be games with my fantasy players. Its almost like cheering for the broncos because each individual player is a member of my team.
Its funny … lotta pics of TT passing to lloyd and them talking and etc … and he may never play another game with lloyd lol — If I was into conspiracy theories I might be led to believe they are trading possibly the teams best reciever to limit TTs weapons so we can tank, blame it on TT and get luck … thats IF i was into that kinda stuff lol. Orton had the safety blankets of Marshall and Lloyd … TT might have neither … lets see how he does.
Later days, TRB out…
I stand corrected! There is one, Clarence “Ace” Parker in 1936! Played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is the only one.
Bay – I enjoyed trivia lane as well.
Sndvl – Good Story
shaz – your hubby picks with his head – there’s no gamble in there.
Who picked niners over lions? Hope not – If Tebow can beat the 6 – 0 lions – broncos are headed to playoffs. Shaz – that’s a man writing from his heart!!!
TRB – I think I hate BYE week too – I’m feelin’ a frustration I just can’t put my finger on.
NFL.COM has a story up with m.iRVIN claiming Welker is the best WR in football today. I’d go a step farther – without Welker – Brady never becomes one of the most proficient passers – Patriots never become…. I credit Bel- with recognizing the current role of slot receiver as being the single most important role on the offense. Bel made Welker. It is that quick, short, high percentage pass that allows other offensive shortcomings to have no effect.
During off season I saw comments stating that Welker could never be a deep threat, and other like criticisms. So Welker starts the season proving the naysayers wrong, and he does so successfully, after all he is one of the best route runners ever with quickness that’ll break the ankle of average receivers. I’d tell Pats to get back to what works for the team.
For the same reason I see the success of Royal as being critical to the success of Tebow. Praying little Eddie will stay healthy!
Wow Bay, talk about stat/record keeping. Talking about remembering when I became a fan, was the first time I was watching the game and Elway was playing in his second year and the analysts were talking about how Elway was too pumped up and needed to settle down. I watched him throw a 40 or longer yard pass that went into the stands I believe and was like, wholly cow that guy can throw the ball. I found myself watching him more and more to see what he could do the next game, complete shock and awe. After that I have tuned in to see every bronco game I can. Shatzah I would say that your picks look pretty good, but and considering the concept of a gamble and any given Sunday, I would just say go with what your gut instinct tells you. Well in about 8 hours the other teams will be playing, while ours has the week off. I am excited about seeing what the team can do with Tebow under center, but nervous at the same time, because of all the fans expectations. But hopefully next week we will see the broncos come out swinging and score 30 point or more game, and I will be happy. I will however be watching the Miami game, doing a little scouting you might say, as they seemed pumped to play the jets, and would like to see just what they are capable of. Bronc on everyone!!!!!!
Seems to me as if Elway’s words to Tebow and the press in the offseason are very omnipresent in Tebow’s mind as reported by Legwold:
“I’ve said this before, but I never thought I was a finished product. I never said I was. I never believed I was,” Tebow said last week. “I’m going to work every day as hard as I can, one game at a time, one day at a time.”
When asked what that will mean as NFL defenses now game plan to stop him, the former Heisman Trophy winner said that work will entail “accuracy, footwork and getting the ball out of my hand.”
NFL pro personnel scouts and defensive coaches contacted by The Denver Post since the Tuesday announcement of Tebow taking over as quarterback of the Broncos believe Tebow is exactly right, that the key to him being successful is throwing from the pocket and doing so with more accuracy, better footwork and getting the ball out more quickly.
The scouts and coaches envision defenses using controlled pass rushes in which the outside rushers don’t go any deeper in the backfield than the quarterback — staying “level” with the quarterback with no looping jaunts behind him — to keep Tebow from scrambling. They see defenses that will do everything possible to force Tebow to stay in the pocket, passing instead of running, at least early in his NFL career.
They also see defenses bringing pressure — extra rushers — to the middle a lot of the time, and getting in Tebow’s face. The goal would be to keep Tebow hemmed in and not allow him space on the edge waiting for a defensive breakdown to give him an opening to run, or throw to a wide-open receiver.
Having defenses study him and adjust to his strengths will be the biggest difference between Tebow’s appearance off the bench last Sunday against the Chargers — he rushed for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown in the second half — and in the Broncos’ final 11 games.
Teams will prepare for Tebow the starting quarterback, not just the threat of Tebow as a situational player.
“You see him in the game, you see him in certain situations and then you can scheme for him,” Chargers safety Eric Weddle said. “It catches up sooner or later.”
All I can say is it’s a gift from above that Tebow gets his first start this season against the Dolphins, and with a bye week to prepare. There is no reason for him not to win that game, meaning the pressure will be on, and that’s what he loves most so the stage is set for the Broncos going 4-2. And if not it will be a gigantic disappointment, at least to me.
Interesting Tebow stats:
As for the Broncos, it’s their job to counteract the potential negatives and play to Tebow’s strengths.
Some scouts believe that means using more in-breaking routes or crossing routes so a receiver faces Tebow as he awaits the ball. Early in his NFL career, Tebow has looked more comfortable throwing toward the sidelines than he has over the middle.
In the best passing performance of his pro career, 308 yards against Houston last December, Tebow had only one completion in the middle of the field (a 50-yard pass to wideout Jabar Gaffney) and 15 completions toward the sidelines. Among his eight completions in his start against Oakland last year, he had only one (to tight end Richard Quinn) over the middle.
Expect that trend to continue.
Anyway, lots more about the Tebow factor for both our team and others in this Legwold article way too long to post here in its entirety:
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19123775
Here is Jim Armstrong who doesn’t chime in much anymore but he does so today about the Luck sweepstake:
On the surface, next Sunday’s Broncos-Dolphins matchup looks like just another game between two NFL have-nots. Uh-huh. And Sienna Miller is just another blond.
For all we know, the future of both teams could be at stake. Why? Because, more and more, it’s looking like one of these two model franchises gone bad could land the first pick in the 2012 draft, a.k.a. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
How hot of a prospect is Luck? Forget five years down the road. Former CU quarterback Joel Klatt, now a Pac-12 TV analyst and talk-show host on 102.3 FM The Ticket, said Luck would be a star in the NFL — right now.
“He’s the fifth-best quarterback on the face of the planet,” Klatt said.
Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, a healthy Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. That’s it. Klatt ranks Luck No. 5 ahead of such beer-league wannabes as Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan.
“I’ve watched every snap he’s had this year and some from last year,” Klatt said. “He manipulates the defense constantly with his eyes. His football acumen is so superior to any other college player I’ve ever seen. It just kind of jumps off the tape.”
Cecil Lammey, The Post’s fantasy guru and a draft analyst for footballguys.com, when asked about Luck: “If you want to lock him up in a keeper league, you take him in the first round. Who cares? The guy’s a Pro Bowler for 10 years.
“The Rams had the No. 1 pick (in 2010) and took a quarterback (Sam Bradford). Would they draft Andrew Luck? Yeah. The Broncos have Tim Tebow and, yeah, that’s great. If they can get Andrew Luck, they’re taking Andrew Luck.”
Said Klatt, “I would say, if there’s any way the Broncos can actually get Andrew Luck, they need to try.”
Luck? Unless every NFL scout ought to be bagging groceries at Kurt Warner’s alma mater, he’s a 17th Street parade waiting to happen. The kid calls his own plays. In college!
“You never know until he gets there what kind of player he’s going to be,” said CU defensive coordinator Greg Brown, whose team was shredded by Luck last weekend. “I just know he’s a phenomenal talent. He spins the ball perfectly and thinks on his feet so quickly. He always seems to make the right decisions.”
Former NFL scout Dave Razzano said Luck, whose dad, Oliver, played four seasons for the Houston Oilers, is the complete package.
“He’s a franchise quarterback,” Razzano said. “This kid’s as tough as nails. He’s a big guy (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) who can run. He punishes defenders. He’s kind of like a linebacker at times. He’s a great leader in the locker room, and in the huddle he rallies the troops.”
Now this is by far the catching moment of this article:
“The Drive” now “The Dive” (LMAO!!!!!)
No one knows more than Elway what a star at quarterback can do for a franchise.
Whatever you call it, and any way you slice it, the Broncos are among a handful of NFL teams whose glaring lack of talent could land them the No. 1 pick or a high enough pick to trade for it. The key now is not to win.
The Broncos, if they’re going to have any chance at drafting Luck, need to take a knee. They need blown coverages, botched assignments and the occasional arrest or suspension. And if it’s third-and-12, a nice fullback-up-the-middle would be just the ticket.
Who knows? Maybe Jarvis Moss will land on the waiver wire. If so, the Broncos need to grab him and start him.
And while we’re on the subject, what do you figure Marcus Nash and Willie Middlebrooks are doing these days? Wouldn’t they look good in orange and blue right about now?
Repeat after us, Bronco Nation: “I wanna go to Mi-ami . . . and lose.” For the Broncos, it could be the only way out of their mess.
I apologize in advance to all the Tebow lovers here for all those Luck comments made by others than me, LOL.
And Jim comes up with another precious moment about the teams who are in the front running position for Luck:
Dolphins (0-4):
Brandon Marshall, team leader. Enough said. The rotting Stinkheads — good morning, Mark Schlereth — not only are they frontrunners for Luck, they’re a threat to go 0-fer-’11 now that quarterback Chad Henne is out for the season. With Henne on I.R., they signed the immortal, Canton-bound Sage Rosenfels instead of David Garrard. OK, everyone, on cue: Hmmm.
Brandon Marshall, team leader. LMAO once again, hahahaha!!!