With only three days wedged between the Bears and Cardinals preseason contests, Head Coach Josh McDaniels knew this week represented a test for how well his team could grasp its normal workload.
At the conclusion of Wednesday’s walkthrough, McDaniels rated that test as a success.
“We crammed everything we could cram into two days,” McDaniels said. “You kind of see what your guys are capable of learning real fast because there are some new little things that we have to do based on what they do. Our guys adapted well to it in the last two days.”
Those adaptations included naming items to improve on in Thursday night’s contest. McDaniels cited no penalties and no turnovers as goals for his offense, while shoring up the two-minute drill performance as an expectation for his defense.
“There are a lot of little things like that that we are looking forward to trying to improve upon and get better at,” McDaniels said. “We will see which ones come up tomorrow night.”
Separate sides of the ball aside, the goal for the entire roster is to pick up its first win of the exhibition season. While every team has a different approach to its final preseason game, McDaniels’ approach does not involve abandoning his starters.
“Our guys are going to play,” he said. “(The starters) are not going to play into the second half or anything like that, but there are some things that we want to do better than what we have done.”
Eleven-year veteran Brandon Stokley said he hadn’t been told otherwise, and feels that minutes are no issue – as long as the team is continuing its track toward being ready for the Sept. 13 opener at Cincinnati.
“Gonna expect to play the whole game and then we’ll see,” Stokley said. “I haven’t been told anything yet so go in with the mindset of playing the whole game and then go from there.
That mindset may especially apply to Tom Brandstater. When asked how long the rookie would play, McDaniels replied: “He will play a long time.”
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Brandon Stokley, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Preseason
I think that would be nice, to have to monster tacklers in the middle with DJ and Harris. We could really use that.
If this did happen I would say Harris starts inplace of Haggans. Either Reid or Haggans could get cut. That was the only LB position I thought was kind of weak. Maybe the broncos will throw 1 of them in the trade.
Eventually, Ayers will start opposite of Doom, so Harris would be better suited at ILB. I think Ayers will start before the year is over.
What good comes out of McD being honest to the media? It lets every team know what our intentions are. That, to me, is a disadvantage. I think there’s not a smart coach in the world that adds truth to the rumor mill. There job is to win ball games. Not public relations. And of course Belichick rubbed off on him, he was with him for like 7 years or something and probably taught him more than a few valuable lessons about being a leader. Most up and coming coaches would love to have been shown the ropes by BB. Sure he’s an A55 to the media, but his players are dedicated to the cause and he has that locker room under control and has for years. I have no problem with McD now that I’m cooled off over the #6 deal from earlier, and I’ll give him a couple years to prove he’s a winner.
U don’t trade a pro bowl WR for a back up LB. I think we wait and see if BM straiten up. We will get better trade offers. I wish we could of kept Shanny and got a DC. We would still have great O and just a D to fix.But that is wishfull thinking. I think it will be a very ruff year. 5 OR 6 wins and alot of bad media.
YOu guys are listening to to much espn talk. the Broncos are looking into tampering buy the jets. I smell some foul play here. I think the jets are putting stuff out there just to get stuff started. doesn’t this sound all to familiar. This is how the cutler thng all started. Mcd not going to TRADE BM. unless there is a deal they can not pass up. I still trust MCD he still has not giving me any reason not to. Honestly we can hope MCd is alot like Belichik he a good coach.
When I was in the Pro Shop at Invesco Field I saw a lot of Marshall jerseys sitting on the racks. I heard a bunch of people talking about Marshall and how they thought that he wouldn’t be around for much longer. Anyway, this kid wanted a Marshall jersey and his dad said “Son, you know the value of a dollar, so you should spend it wisely. Except if buy a Marshall jersey I’ll slap you silly.” Not even joking, dude I was cracking up. Kid was like scared to even touch a Marshall jersey after that. LOL.
Let’s keep Marshall, I think that him and Rod Smith need to have a chat.
G Funk I agree something smells funny and that is how the Cutler thing was started by other teams talking to the media.
I don’t think BM will listen to any one any more. TO quit listening to J Rice the last few years in SF because he became too big, the same thing with BM. Rod Smith had back 2 back 100+ and he did not cry for more money. You signed a contract , don’t cry about it latter. You will get a new deal when the old one is up.
D Funk is right on target. The media plays on stories/rumors. That’s how they make their money. So, in celebration of the media’s horrific chewing up of the Denver Broncos and the fans buying into it, I offer an old classic song by Don Henley:
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!
Meant G Funk, Sorry, sorry, G.
You have to give JMAC a couple of years to get his guys on the field but I have to be honest I am not that optimistic about this year. When we dealt Cutler I was okay with it but this offense is not looking great. The defense will be better but it’s hard to get worse. I think this year will be really tough. I’m guessing we’ll go 5-11…. I know that’s rough but I think with our schedule this year it’s going to be hard to see us winning more than 5. That’s why trading our first rounder next year will prove to be the worste decision of the offeseason as if Brandstater doesn’t turn into a viable starting quarterback then we will be searching for one next year and that draft pick would have been nice to have.
These lies are starting to tick me off. We’re not trading Cutler, We trade Cutler. We’re not trading Marshall, We are shopping Marshall.
Do what ever you want McD, you are the coach. But you’re not gunna win over the fan base if you keep lying to all the fans.
he lies so he can get a better trade, IS THAT SO BAD FOR US.
Better trades???? Who the Heck is david harris?
This is some crazy off(your rocker)season. Do you think we could get Elway back out of retirement. LOL.
A tackling machine florio, he led the jets in tackle 2 years ago and was 5th on their team last year even though he missed 5 games
That might be the worst trade offer I’ve ever seen. (Oh, wait. Forgot about the Trade a 2nd round pick for a 1st round pick)
ATV,
Look at it this way. Don’t you think the LB’s are set? We have plenty of depth and tons of young talent. Larsen and Wes aren’t even starting and they are pretty darn good.
If we’re gunna trade b marsh, at least trade him for some one we need.
playing the rumor field to get us a better deal is a good strategy, I just don’t have faith in McD to recognize a good deal if the cutler episode was any indicator. Trading another pro bowl player while our offense is looking…..well….not so hot is not a smart play. When you look at the Belichick spin offs none of them have been able to pull it off, sooo expecting a lean year for our Broncos
might be good enough florio, but Harris would start, and be better than Andre or Mario IMO
I will say this, if he is traded, i rather get an end that’s elite. But i do believe we are okay on defense.
Florio’s Mom- LOL. Nice jab!
Nobody knows how the draft picks will turn out. The 1st round pick we traded for #33 could have been a lot more money for a lesser player. Then again maybe we just gave up Tim Tebow. On the current issue, we know B. Marsh is a great talent. Trading for a draft pick is not gonna happen; but if we get some immediate help on Defense and a good pick. I might be all for that.
Looking for some Orange Crush!!!!!
Ah, looks like I wasted a perfectly good song? The meaning never got through? Stop buying in to everything the press says. Hey, if Marshall goes, bye, if not, then suck it up Marshall and get your head into the game. Money will follow after you prove yourself. Not talent wise, we know you have that, but being a man and stepping in line with the rest of the team. See, that’s the key word, “team.” Marshall is still about himself. Diva. No room for that in McD’s world. It starts and ends as a team effort. BM doesn’t get that. Maybe Rod Smith can instill that into him? Maybe not. It’s all up to BM right now. He is in control of his own destiny.
Yes I agree that he is better than Andra and Mario, but that is a want, not a need.
A DE would be a great addition. I like Robert Mathis for the Colts.
well said Florio,
I wanna believe when he says we wont trade but his short history has shown him to be a liar. Fans dont like being lied to, especially when it comes to their top performers. He doest have to say “OMG, I cant wait to get this guy out of denver” all he has got to say is…we are looking at all options. Instead he lies and says people are his guys then trades them
I want us to go to the superbowl this year (even tho its doubtful) but I hate McD so much. We have depth at line backer, and draft picks are nothign mroe than shots int he dark. Luv Phonzy but trading a first round pick for a second is retarded in my book not unless we won the superbowl then it would be a whack first rounder anyway. Phonzy isnt quite as impressive as i expected but he is still young and theres still time to develop.
ATV- agreed.
Someone on the DL. That is why I was saying look at NYG. They have an excess of quality DL. Hey, maybe coach Nolan knows exactly what he needs to stop LT and Sproles, LJ and Charles, McFadden and Fargas. I am definitley not the expert. I do however think that we are just one or two players away from having a top five defense this year.
Can I get an Orange Crush over here?!!!!
we have alot of depth at LB but u are right its a need not a want. short of some defensive line power house we need nothing. Why we should have gotten Orakpo instead of Ayers in my book.
at this point in time, nobody is gonna give up a quality defensive stud even if marshall was a model citizen. Defensive monsters are hard to come by and most defenses are built around them. We never shoulda let trevor pryce go for example. After he left, DL started to tank a bit
I haven’t seen Ayers do much this preseason. I see his # out there, but never see him make a play.
TRBeast—dude, please chill out on the hate talk. I don’t understand all the secrecy in the NFL either. Maybe McDaniels knows how the other teams operate (look at the Patriots cheating scandal) and he is trying to protect the Broncos. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and believe crap when I see crap. Savy?
Its not a secret, everybody on her for the most part know i dont like the guy. Cant help it. He annoys the heck out of me. Does that mean i wont support him or should i say the broncos? no. Just dont like him. If he does well, kudos….If he doesnt, whatever. I am very indifferent towards the guy.
Every team goes through these rough patches. We’ll get through this one and hopefully come out a better team. Obviously we can’t make everyone happy but when all said and done you take what comes your way. Right now the 2009 season is coming our way. So let get ready regarless of what happens.
Hating is not indifference. You have the right to feel anyway you feel, TRB, but never confuse hate with indifference. You question all his moves and say you hate him. That is not supporting him, it’s just what it is. It’s what you said it is, hate…. But at least you offer reasons and solutions. That gives your posts merit and worth. And I still love you, bro.
I like the pick of Ayers. His holdout hurt his learning curb, but he will develop into a very good player. He is versatile. He can be all over the field. I wasn’t hot on the idea of a RB, till we got Orton. Then I thought it would be a good idea, as Orton could use the run support. Smith with be a good pick up down the road. We still have a couple of years, at least with Champ and Goodman. I like the Dawkins PU. Hill also. McBath and Bruton will be solid safeties in the future, learning from the best. I like what McD has done. It’s all just a matter of ones perspective, I suppose?
brian_schneider, exactly right. The team is what it is. For good or bad, we as Bronco fans are here for the ride. If we have a winning season, I will be in my seat, at my broncos bar, with a smile on my face. If we have a losing season, I will be in my seat, at my broncos bar, with a smile on my face. Nothing will break my support and resolve.
good advise not to believe what the media says, or McD for that matter still have not heard from BM. The best thing would be for him to get his act together and be the player he can be and we need this year. florio’s_mom: ayers was looking pretty good on sunday, cast and all he and doom played a pretty good start, it was good to see some promising D and so far that looks like the only improvements I have seen, but its all BS since this is preseason and much of our offense has not even been on the field. it is what it is and our role in all this it to get some support into our team, we are the 12th man after all
GO BRONCOS
My Apologies. Thats why I put indifference in the second statement. Hate is a strong word so lemme rephrase:
Not a fan of the guy. I am very indifferent towards him. He does good, great, he sucks and gets fired….goodbye. He strikes me (and this is just me) as an arrogant guy and somewhat dishonest/shady guy. Not a fan of his, but I do luv and support the club so indirectly I support him. Don’t get me wrong, even tho his actions seem monumental, he has only been here for a few months, still has time to prove me wrong. And i dont see BB as the best thing since sliced bread, couldnt ask for a better coach mentor for the guy but as a person dont like belichek either, seems shady, been caught cheating and his public relations stinks. Some stated that PR isnt part of the coaches job….unfortunately, incorrect. IT IS. Thats like saying all a player has to do is worry about performance and be a trainwreck in every other faccett of his life or the NFL.
This is my honest opinion…dont wanna be a basher or hater but this is how I feel about the guy
……GO BRONCOS!!!!
What is considered “tampering”? Contacting the player directly not through his agent or why exactly would the Jets want to “tamper” with Marshall?
vraptor567, yep, 12th man. Heck, Invesco can here us from Vegas, ha, ha. In the 70′s, Mile High Magic was rampant. The stadium was sooooo loud and the stadium shook like thunder. They ran decibel readings and the only stadium at the time that was louder was Detroit’s and they were INDOORS. Miss those days, sniff, sniff. We have a new generation and also with all the transients that moved to Colorado, the seats are getting filled with fans of other teams. So sad. Sometimes, change is not a good thing. THAT would be an example. Bring back the Mile High Magic.
Meant “hear” us.
Ready to be awake late tonight for the game in NFL Ntwk!… or must I say, tomorrow? Beers already in the fridge, snacks ready to be microwaved… and the alarm clock set, because I should sleep a couple of hours before the game or I’ll never wake for work tomorrow.
Maybe the long offseason wait is why people gives too much importance to pre-season. Like the scent of popcorn in the access line before watching a movie.
Go Broncooos!
brian_schneider, correct. The team cannot work around agents and GM’s. Also, Denver is trying to get BM in line and when a team starts talking about trades, etc., it throws dissension back into the mix. Makes Marshall want to “act up” again to get what he wants. Jets are jerks in my books, but I also don’t believe the media. Lies till no end. I say this at times (it was said by Bruce Lee); “Believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear and remember that 3 billion Chinese can’t all be Wong.”
whitebronco#1, did you try the TVU network? Someone put it out there as a way to watch via your computer, live. I’ve never used it but it might be worth a look.
http://www.tvunetworks.com/
I am looking forward to tonight’s game. What is Brandstater going to do? What is Ayers going to do? Can our second secondary step it up? I also want to see Hochstein out there. Not sure if I will though. Great things to come this year. Hopefully Brandon steps up to the plate after this week. No more whammies!!!!
More rocking the stadium so much that the cameras shake!!!!!!
I’ll try that DD, thanks… but I’ll still keep on my plan, because now I can’t do that to those poor beers, it just breaks my heart.
Denver is not going to trade Marshall. Remember the situations with Ochocinco and Anquan Boldin? They both tried the same thing Marshall is doing but they had no control over it and had to play under their contract.
McDaniels and Xanders know this. And McDaniels knows he needs Marshalls talent in order for his new offense to be successful.
There’s a plethora of rumors floating around. Every single one of them is totally unsubstantiated!!!! They’re all the fettile products of people with nothing better to do than stir the pot. I put as much credence in the rumor that BM and Rod are talking to each other as the Jets turning down the Broncos demands for BM, alsolutely NONE!!!!
There is another game tonight that should be very interesting. BSU/ Oregon.
BSU is favored at home. I don’t know. Should be a great game. What do you guys think?
Bronco fan till the end both Boise State and Denver. lets have a double bronco victory tonight.
meant “Fertile” not fettile
I’d be absolutely delighted if the Rod/BM rumor is true, but I place absolutley no value on it.
When BM does come back, there needs to be a players only meeting with BM and everyone else. Hopefully, that will help BM realize the damage his actions have done to him as well as the team.
man I remember some of those games in mile high, if you were in the nosebleed section you could feel the whole section sway when 12th man rocked the house, invesco is still pretty good probably safer. I’m just hoping McD doesn’t alienate the fans, cuz when the Broncos rock the house u should be able to feel it across the state.
GO BRONCOS