Unlike many of his teammates, Kyle Orton has made the journey from Denver to London before.
The Broncos quarterback and his wife, Bridget, vacationed in the city a few years ago, giving Orton — who majored in history at Purdue — a chance to take in many of its most famous sites.
After making the more than nine hour flight from the Mile High City to London’s Heathrow Airport this time around, the expectations for the trip are a little different.
“You want to have a great combination of having fun and enjoying your time over here, no question about that,” Orton said. “But for us it’s such an important game, that’s going to make the trip one way or another. If we can come out and play well and win the football game, we’re going to have a fun trip.”
The Broncos took their next step toward that goal Friday morning when they touched down in London. After three days of productive practice at Dove Valley, the team began what Head Coach Josh McDaniels called “the second phase of the plan” in getting ready to play San Francisco on Sunday.
McDaniels said most of his players were able to get some sleep on the plane ride before the team rolled into its preparations for the 49ers. On Friday, that included a morning meal, meetings and time to watch tape of Thursday’s practice session before heading to the historic Brit Oval — a more than 150-year-old cricket ground — for practice.
“Everything is kind of going as planned — no hiccups so far,” McDaniels said in a media session before the workout.
The Broncos got an early taste of local culture before the session began when the team’s captains met with a pair of players from the Surrey County Cricket Club.
Orton, Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Daniel Graham, Chris Kuper and D.J. Williams signed a football to give to Surrey representatives Arun Harinath and Tom Lansford. The cricket players presented Graham and Kuper with fluorescent green cricket jerseys bearing their football numbers before giving them a taste of England’s national sport.
Graham — batting left-handed — got in a few good strokes against Harinath, a fourth-year player who is normally a batter for the Lions. Then Kuper, a right-hander, stepped in and cracked a few shots.
“I’ve played for 12 or 13 years and I still haven’t picked it all up,” Harinath said. “For those guys to just pick up the ball striking just like that is impressive. I think if you’re an athlete you can pick things up like that pretty quickly.”
McDaniels, who had never been to London before, said his players would have some time Friday night and Saturday afternoon to do some site-seeing. The team will get its first look at Wembley Stadium during a Saturday walk-through.
All of that is part of the adjustment to a new place with plenty of differences from home — some of which were evident to players even in their first hours in the city.
During his press session, Brian Dawkins was still shocked by his ride over to the practice facility and needing to get used to cars driving on the left side of the road.
“I looked out and I saw traffic and we were supposed to go to the right in my mind and we went left and I saw cars coming, so that kind of freaked me out for a second,” Dawkins said with a smile.
After a week of practicing and traveling, players made it clear that they were well on their way to making all necessary adjustments — physical or cultural.
They’ve embraced the plan set out by McDaniels and the coaching staff meant to have the team ready to play by 5 p.m. local time on Sunday and remain focused on the most important part of the trip — leaving England with a win.
“Now we just have to tune everything up (with) our game plan,” Graham said. “We’ll work on the last things we have to work on before Sunday and today we’re just going to sharpen up everything.”
While five players stayed in Denver to focus on getting healthy, McDaniels had good news on the injury front after arriving in London.
“We think that everybody that’s here should be ready to go and capable of playing,” McDaniels said. “We look forward to having a full strength team out of the group that’s in London.”
Robert Ayers (foot), Perrish Cox (concussion), Darcel McBath (ankle), Kevin Vickerson (groin) and Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) did not travel with the team and are out for Sunday’s game. But Eddie Royal (groin), Andre’ Goodman (quadricep) and Dawkins (knee) fully participated in Friday’s practice and are listed as probable.
For the 49ers, Alex Smith (shoulder) and center Eric Heitmann (neck) were declared out earlier in the week. Cornerback Tarrell Brown (back) is doubtful. Running back Anthony Dixon (hamstring) and Vernon Davis (ankle) were limited during Friday’s session and are questionable. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks (knee), cornerback Nate Clements (ankle) and guard Adam Snyder (back) are listed as probable.
- Eric Detweiler, DenverBroncos.com
Below are some photos from Friday’s session:
Tags: Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, London, San Francisco 49ers, Week 8
Just read an interesting stat- 3 out of the 4 teams to play in London, the last two years, have scored at least 32 points.
I see no reason for the trend not to continue.
33-32 Broncos. KO gets back on track…
That’s because the league probably makes them put on a “show” for the crowd.
Nice to have Dawkins and Goodman back but we still left five defensive players at home. Ouch. I look for a good bounch back this week and Broncos win 27-21.
I was really hoping cox could make it. His prescense will be missed even with goodman back. I trust cox at nickle more than any of the others … folloowed by syd and then nate.
we are gonna win, but we are gonna win passing the ball more than likely, which is all well and good but is just a bandage for what we do wrong, which is run and play defense, so we will have to keep up. winning this season means nothing in my book unless we find a way to fix our core problems.
Brian schneider u may be correct but people were saying two sucky teams … this game may suck for the england fans. on the contrary, they prolly picked the right two teams, teams with slacking defenses and can put up points. and now a running qb … it will probably be a bad game fundamentally but and exciting high scoring ones for the london fans…
Broncos…. no partying tonight. Stay away from the Speckled Hen! until after the win on Sunday. Then find your nearest pub! O-lay, O-lay….O-lay, O-lay!
Anyway, I do hope the team is in it to win it. Otherwise this 1-6 San Fran team will roll up another 200 plus yards on the ground on us.
Here is to stopping the 49ers run and watching some spectacular catches from Broncos wideouts!!!
I think we will miss Vickerson the most.
Bay, agreed. I don’t know how much we can expect from Le Kevin.
You know what’s really scary is that Gore could pile up the yardage and so could Smith. I know its Halloween but should I bet this scare?
ya bay i agree also. he has been playin well for us the last few weeks.
@ brian…. honestly? i wouldnt bet ANYTHING on the team we have right now. too many question marks!
Oh hahaha, it should say “… should I be this scared?”
lmao… that makes WAY more sense! i was thinkin you must be fall down drunk on the kool aid!
An offensive line in complete flux
No ability to cover tight ends vs. the fastest TE in football
Frank Gore vs. a team that can’t contain
A ball hawking defense on a wet track
A mobile quarterback vs. a cigar store indian
49ers 31 Broncos 16.
We have to make the 49ers beat us passing the ball,even if it takes 9 or 10 in the box,cause if we don’t they’ll kill us on the ground with Gore and Smith
Bitterrooter….We double teamed Clark in the Indy game,we can do the same with Davis.IMO
A mobile but unexperienced QB,give him different looks on D and blitz his butt often.
Yeah Bay….that 4-3 with Vickerson looked pretty good.
ya.. we have got to attack on defense… enough of this waiting around for someone to run into us then tackle em….. hit them first! play physical!! blitz that qb! go man to man on the WR’s so that we can bring heat! ANYTHING! just dont stand back and watch plays happen to us!
Hey does anyone know where I can find an authentic darrent Williams jersey??
@ yovi…. uh… not sure if you will be able to. ebay maybe? i HIGHLY doubt the broncos team store would still carry them.. your best bet may be to have one made. build a custom jersey at NFL.com
Orton, a cigar store indian! LMAO @Bitterrooter, I can’t wait until OC sees that one, a cigar store indian sculpture with a big sign on it “Don’t touch, it will keel over”, hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! Definitely time for me to hit my pub, cheerio lads.
I think the Broncos will win 18-16. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah it’s 5:00 Bronco Bros(beer thirty) TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol bitter root … u make some good points and we could possibly lose, probably more like it. just can never bring myself to predict a loss for the broncos. I hope the defense wants to prove something even tho we are missing doom, ayers and cox not to mention vickerson, i hope this D has some pride left
I like the idea of a 4-3 front for this year. think we should continue it. worked well against Jets. Hopefully Jmoss can play DE for this week. 3-4 was pretty much dead with the loss of doom….and then the loss of ayers just sealed it
up against a desperate team, i expect their best shot (cornered dog) offensivly we have edge in firepower.
HOLD ON TO THE BALL!!!!!! they’ve some aces on ST. OL pls get into rythm..
Kinda lost my fire a bit this week since the loss??? Mabey it is the world series with SF in it the town is going crazy everyone wearing Orange and Black kinda makes everything seem like Holoween when in fact it is Base Ball.
Any how looking forward to the game. We have to Beat them there is no way my broncos can lose two to the bay area just not going to happen.
Defanse kinda scares me but we got a couple back and they should have little to no pass game when they do we should come up with at least one pick.
Got to stop Gore,
I’m with all the rest of you this should be a pass first game on offense,Sf hard to run ball on but we need KM to show up. Need the offensive line to open up some holes would actualy like to see TT in for ten or so plays would realy like to see some imagination with that package see him throw once or even twice.
But again that is all on MCD and he is super stubborn and arogant so who knows what we will see.
Go Broncos23 SF 16
Turnover free football for 60 minutues!!!!!
You would think with our 4 Horsemen,we could run the spread Offense to open up the Defense,then run out of the same formation,with Orton and Tebow changing it up.Orton has been running spread this year and Tebow was the master of the spread Offense in college,I’m no coach,(but like an etheopian wearing a dinner jacket,and holding a fork),just a wishful thinker.
I for one would like to see some real smashmouth football from our Broncos,hit’em in the mouth kinda football,that’s what we are lacking.
Anyone old enough to remember the Broncos of old knows what I’m talking about.
I was watching the Florida State/NC State game last night and Stoops,the DC for FS came out onto the field to give his Defense an earful for giving up 3 yards on 3rd and 4,now that’s what I’m talkin’ bout.
INTENSITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At last, the Broncos are in England and I am expecting nothing less than 100% commitment from all the players.
Wembley is the most famous football stadium in the world and if they cannot play well there then God help them. However I am expecting a great game and it is down to all parts of the team to play their part in winning. Confidence is the key and I just hope that they have recovered from last Sunday.
This is a great test of character for all concerned and I believe their whole season could rest on this one game.
35 to 17 broncos with km frist 100 yard gain
Love to see Moreno get his 1st 100 yard game,but with his hammy problems and the Oline problems,I don’t see it happening bro!!
If I was coach(a big if) I would go back to zoneblocking on Offense and 4-3 Defense.
i think that if we lose this game josh might be forced to play the tebow card wether he wants to or not because, really, tebow is the only thing keppingn josh here i believe
I need a Broncos victory to shut up these SF Giant fans I live in SF with my wife and two kids.
I am hoping for a Bronco victory.
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s past midnight in the East,where all you diehard local Bronco fans at huh???..it’s still primetime where you all at.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Lay the wood and bust’em in the mouth boys,only way I see us getting our season outta the gutter and back on track.Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot!!
i hate troy smith and them weak 49ers let get them broncos lol please win denver i hate when u guys loss it make me have a bad week like i cant watch any highlight show we need a win cmon man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The UK is ready – just hope the team is……
Today is the last day for score predictions, NO PICKS ON GAME DAY.
i am holding strong to the 31-10. i posted dated the check already…
*post dated*
Since Elway got the #23 spot on the best one hundred players of all time I thought I would post who finished ahead of him, #20 through #11, this list just came out Thursday:
20. Brett Favre
19. Nagurski
18. Ray Lewis
17. Barry Sanders
16. Otto Graham
15. Deacon Jones
14. Sammy Baugh
13. Joe Greene
12. Anthony Munoz
11. Ronnie Lott
I recall the last time I was in England. Well actually I don’t remember much, but the comradity between everyone in the Pub at the time of being in the pub. I thought I made a big mistake, I couldnt help it but with everyone else speaking in an English accent about 2 hours and 5 pints later, i was speaking with one. It was awesome though, for that night I was dubbed an honorary Englishman.
Elway should be alot higher and so should barry sanders IMO. They both deserve top 10 or at least top 15
Barry Sanders quit on the game early though, granted he was stuck with the Lions, but it’s still what sticks out with Elway, his 16 years in the league, taking more sacks than any other QB and still play in 5 super bowls winning two, he is the one really getting the shaft in this top 100 is how I see it.
Haha…We have a wooden Indian in the local pub I go to…
I should go to K-mart, get an Orton jersey and put it on the Cigar Indian Sunday…lol
Broncos 16
49ers 14
ILMSDB!!!!
Coach has shown Tebow in run and handoff formations everytime he has been on the field. I hope this is a setup for teams then one day Tebow fakes the handoff and passes. I believe coach is setting up the defenses for more elaborate plays in the near future. Lateral to Knowshown who lobs a pass to Orton in the end zone? Wishful thinking ? Who knows. Go Broncos!
Maybe McD is keeping that for the playoffs.
If he’s got it best use it cause there will be no playoffs if the wins don’t come hot and heavy now.
That was just sarcastic.
I know it was.