Spencer Larsen came into the season without an offensive touch in his NFL career.
In Sunday’s 49-29 win against the Chiefs, the Broncos fullback-linebacker turned full-time fullback continued to show why the team has entrusted him with the position.
After earning four touches total in his first five games of the season, Larsen got the ball three times Sunday, showcasing himself as another weapon in a versatile attack.
The 26-year-old picked up a pair of rushing first downs in short-yardage situations, including a career-long 14-yard scamper in the third-quarter, and added his first career touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Tim Tebow.
In his Monday morning media session, Head Coach Josh McDaniels listed all the ways the third-year player has helped out this season. That includes areas that show up on the stat sheet but also less glamorous roles, such as lead blocking at the goal line and protecting Kyle Orton on pass plays.
On Sunday, Larsen helped pave the way for Knowshon Moreno’s first career 100-yard rushing game and factored in an effort that kept Orton from getting sacked for the first time this season.
“He does all the things that you don’t notice,” McDaniels said, “and that is kind of the life of a fullback.”
Add in Larsen’s special teams responsibilities, and the Broncos have a valuable, versatile piece who has consistently shown a willingness to put the team ahead of himself.
Having Larsen, who in 2008 became the first player in franchise history to start a game on offense and defense, in the fold remains a luxury McDaniels doesn’t take for granted — even if the fullback’s contributions don’t always show up in the box score as they did Sunday.
“If we told him he was playing defense this week he wouldn’t even flinch because that is the kind of person he is,” McDaniels said. “He is an unselfish player that we are very fortunate to have on our team.”
HALEY APOLOGIZES
Kansas City Head Coach Todd Haley apologized to McDaniels and the Broncos for not shaking the coach’s hand after Sunday’s game.
McDaniels said he was not bothered by Haley’s postgame conduct, and the Broncos coach made it clear on Monday that there were no hard feelings between the coaches.
“I was proud of the way we played and I have a lot of respect for their entire organization,” McDaniels said.
The Broncos and Chiefs meet again in less than three weeks on Dec. 5 in Kansas City.
‘LIKE A PROFESSIONAL’
When asked about how D.J. Williams handled his punishment for his Friday arrest, McDaniels said his veteran linebacker, ‘responded like a professional.’
D.J. Williams sat out the first series of Sunday’s game, two days after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Denver. The linebacker entered on the Broncos’ second defensive series and finished the game with two tackles and a pass defended.
The team also fined him the maximum amount possible for conduct detrimental to the team under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and stripped him of his captaincy for the season.
“What happened last week, I think is a learning experience for our whole team, our whole staff and everybody here — in terms of what it can do negatively to distract or impact your team,” McDaniels said. “I think he handled it like a pro, as a man and he understood that’s not what we want our captains to be like — or any of our players to do — and I thought that he went out there and played hard. He did his job and he played when he had the opportunity to do some things, he made some plays too.”
KEEP GYM IN SCHOOL
At halftime of Sunday’s win, representatives from Comcast and the NFL Network took the field to present Denver’s Kepner Middle School with a $25,000 check as part of the “Keep Gym in School” initiative.
In September, Brian Dawkins helped the school dedicate the new equipment and facilities made possible by the program by participating in a pep rally and play period at the school.
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Spencer Larsen, Week 10
Indeed, Larsen was a big weapon for us yesterday. It may be part of his job but he has got unnoticed for so long. He doesn’t get half the props he should for what he does on the field. Get him more involved and we’ll be looking more sharp on the field. Was great to see him get his first TD from Tebow. That was a sweet moment.
What we saw yesterday was a TEAM playing like a TEAM. So many positives and great things about yesterday’s game, I don’t know where to begin. I’ll just say this is the team I know & love and its about flippin’ time they get their act together. Just don’t lose the momentum… we’re on a roll to bigger & better things for this organization. Not getting ahead of myself, this was just one game but this one game has really put a need for competition in our division. Our Monday night game against SD will be a big test for us. Cannot wait!!!
Haley made a fool of himself. That’s all I’ll say about the no handshake thing. He let his emotions get the best (should say worst of him). I’m just glad McD hasn’t let big losses get to him like that. He gets excited when we win and play well and he definitely shows his emotions then but he holds it in when we are at our worst. I’ll give my respect to McD over the Chiefs any day. I’m glad we creamed them yesterday… makes my living here in KC a lot easier (and more fun). hahaha :p
Was glad to see DJ come out fighting yesterday. I think losing his captaincy for the season woke him up. That’s a great honor & a big compliment to a person to be named captain by your teammates. It says that they respect you enough to lead their team. That being taken away from him should hit home for him. Glad to hear he took it like a man and owned up to his boo-boo. lol
Have faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!
Hey all!! Great game great week for me as a Bronco fan.
The Chargers are definatly a beatable team. realy need to find ways to limit River’s effectiveness. That is on the coaches they have been preaty good at game planning I will give that to them it is just in game consistency and execution that has been lacking and with any new coaching staff they are not that great NFL ready at in game adjustments and we tend to fall apart.
Really need to game plan a way to get some consistent preasure on there pocket and take them out of the big play downfield. And limit there third down conversions.
but I definatly think we can play with them and am truly going to be going into this game with a new respect for our team and more importantly a new Hope.
So lets go Broncos mistake free football for 60 minutes
Keep it up! i have gone to several Broncos games in the last few years and you are one of, if not the only player to sign every autograph you can and i want to thank you for that, It means alot the fans! I hope the best for you and I cant wait to see you excel as a DENVER BRONCO!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
I`m glad for Spencer. Maybe he`ll get to carry the rock more. I hope D.J. learns his lesson.
What was the highlight of the game for me was the 4 down goal line stand. We need to see something like that out of our D. I LOVE IT!!!
Well, I think that Cassel has always been harder to sack than Rivers and we got to Cassel very well yesterday to my surprise!! Haggan completely destroyed him along with Hunter!! Those guys are stepping up extremely and I am loving it!!
I love how professional Larsen is! I really like to how Tebow and Larsen both set a record with each other yesterday with Larsen getting his first receiving TD and Tebow throwing his first TD pass! Its funny how Tebow has one pass for one TD! Haha, got to love it!! Everyone stepped up yesterday, and if we play like we did yesterday, I see no reason why we can’t win our division! I know we have a long way to go and I am asking for a lot, but anything is possible!! Just look at all the times San Diego was close to last in our division just to come back in the end and win it! I believe it is our turn with how we completely rattled the 1st place division chiefs!!
My hatred for the Chiefs grew even more whenever Haley did what he did!! How can you even walk to the middle of the field and not shake the other coaches hand?? Why even walk to the middle of the field then unless you wanted to be an a$$! I wish the rest of the teams in the AFC WEST just showed as much class and profession as we do but I honestly never see that happened!! That’s why I love this team!!!
I LOVE ME SOME BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!!
LOL Ashley. Thats a big Boo-boo. He might not be suspended until next year. We`ll see what happens, huh? I know that nobody feels as bad right now as D.J. doe`s.
Ya Broncosfreak30, Tebow is batting 1000 right now. I bet he`s on cloud 9.
To see Haley do that is uncalled for. Just a few weeks back, when we got romped by the hated raiders, McD gave kudo`s to Tom Cable and the raiders after the game at the post game interview. I guess that goe`s to show that McD has some maturity inside him. I like it.
i rlly wasn’t expecting this and i’ve gotta say and am going to be honest with u guys i gave up on this season and on the team. we were defeated by really bad teams and now beat a good team. i gotta say i was wrong and am sorry to the team and to the bronco brotherhood. see u on monday night!!!!!!!!
note:i’ve just got on my comp and saw the score, wow!!
when you’re 3-6 it’s not all that easy to be optomistic.
when you’re 2-6 it’s not all that easy to be optomistic.
haha strandoftds, yeah it was a VERY big boo-boo. He should feel bad & guilty & embarrassed. He’s very lucky things didn’t turn into an accident or more serious. I thought he shouldn’t have been allowed to play yesterday, very tough mental decision for me. lol I wanted him out there but he needed to be shown actions like that aren’t taken lightly. I know the team gave him the maximum penalty but all in all I was very glad to see him out there at his very best. Play like that all season, every season and I’ll forgive him. lol
And I’m with you on your fav part of the game. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d have a hard time trying to remember the last time this team put up a goal line stance like that. I swear, I had THE biggest smile on my face when down after down, they did not let them get that TD. I kept telling myself they’re gonna do it, and they did. Most impressive part of the game. Was refreshing to see them score on their very 1st possession of the game too & then the second. At that point, I knew that they were going to fight to the end to get this win. They need to double the pressure on Rivers and double their fight against SD. We need a MNF win… bad!
Apology accepted The JoEL, ha.
I was probably one of the very last who was still very optimistic about this team & thought they could get back on track after the bye and they did. I’m not the type to come on here and say “I told you so” after one game or if we won our next 7. I just want this team to do well. But I’m glad they proved me right on some level and that my hope in this team wasn’t too far-fetched. There is ALWAYS a light at the end of the tunnel. They just need to stay on pace like they were yesterday and people will be hopping back on the “Broncos aren’t atrocious” bandwagon. lol Cheers my Bronco Bros… taste the kool-aid again. Plenty to go around. haha I’ll be nice and share. 
Have faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!
Great watching that beatdown yesterday…….I was a very pleased and very happy Broncos Fan! I’m not going to put the flag back up just yet but a win over the Bolts and I may have to put it back up. The Chiefs game is done and over, study the film and focus on what worked and where we still need improvement………the focus for the remainder of the week, starting today needs to be on the Chargers. We have to find a way to contain Gates because Rivers to Gates has been a combo that’s burnt us and destroyed us in the past. So who takes the responsibility for covering Gates? Someone needs to be glued to that dude at all times. I’m not too concerned about Matthews and the running game but don’t completely over look it. We have to match the Monday Night Charger home crowd intesity.
This is as important as a week 11 game can get. A win by the Broncos and they are right back in the division possibly a game out of first and a loss and we could be 3 back. Win the toss, take the ball, score first and then play smash mouth football from there on out! I know they can beat the Chargers, I’m nervous and excited for this game and it’s more than a week away!
Let’s go boys, like Ryan Harris said “this is a fresh start to the season” we are 1-0, let’s make it 2-0!
Go Broncos!
Great to see Larsen get involved more,hope he gets to stay involved,like I posted the other day,we need a good smashmouth Fullback like Griffith to open up some holes,he probably won’t be as good as Griffith,but he looks to have potential.Happy for Tebow for getting his 1st TD pass.Damn glad to see Harris get his RT spot back,Beadles looked a lot better at LG.But it don’t mean a thing if we can’t keep it going,next up Big Mouth Crybaby Rivers and the Deadbolts.This will be a HUGE challenge for us,especially our D,keep it up Broncos,and McD,it’s still NOT all good in the neighborhood,we need more wins!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Love Me Some Spencer Larsen Production!
Hopefully Gates’ toe will be what we can rely on to slow him down:
The Chargers returned from their bye week Monday healthier than they were before, although they’re not out of the woods when it comes to injury concerns.
Wide receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) and linebacker Brandon Siler (foot) rejoined the team’s practice, albeit in limited fashion.
However, tight end Antonio Gates, who missed a game due to injury for the first time in his career in the Chargers’ last outing against Houston, did not practice. Neither did receiver Legedu Naanee. Running back Ryan Mathews, who suffered an ankle injury in the Houston game two weeks ago, also was held out practice.
Turner remains hopeful that all of the team’s injured players will be able to return for Monday night’s game against the Denver Broncos. He told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Mathews is probably the most questionable in the group, adding he’s taking a wait-and-see attitude toward Mathews’ availability.
Gates, who is fighting toe and plantar fascia issues in his right foot, told the Union-Tribune that he’s better and was banking on the extra day until Monday’s game to make a difference.
“It’s a long week,” Gates said.
Man I still have to apologize for my harsh words on Champ yesterday. After going back and looking at some of the plays. As well as thinking about the plays I saw while watching the game……. I shouldn’t have knocked him for his play. There were many times when the blitz didn’t get there in time which left him in a bad spot. It was a much deserved team win and I was a PROUD Broncos fan in Fox and Hound yesterday.
So what was Haley’s problem? He was mad McD kept Moreno in to get to a hundred? I hope Moreno goes off for 150 next time we face em…
This is for Olap2009 the “Go Redskins” blogger of very few words:
Monday night football, first quarter, Eagles 28 – Redskins 0, LOL.
As for Haley’s rant, this time I’m glad we are not the center of a controversy, I like it much better from this side of things….
Vick is looking pretty good! First play of the game on O and BAM! 7-0
Poor Shanny. 35-0 and just the beginning of the 2nd quarter. So much for a good game.
And this is a little info as to why Haley may have been mad at McD:
Mark Schlereth was just on 104.3 the Fan talking with Mike Evans and clarified why Todd Haley was so angry with Josh McDaniels after the Broncos dismantling of the Chiefs on Sunday. Haley was not angry about the score, but was upset that the Broncos continued to bring the blitz – 30ish times according to Schlereth – in the second half, including in the fourth quarter. He felt that the Broncos should have called off the dogs, and that it was not appropriate to continue to blitz.
Matt Cassel was limping at some points in the game so its understandable that Haley may have been concerned about his QB’s safety. Also, Haley pulled Jamaal Charles in the Chiefs rout of the Broncos at Mile High last season even though Charles was just 30 yards from the NFL single game record.
The pulling Charles out of the game last year for the majority of the fourth quarter while he was only 30 yards away from the NFL single game rushing record which he would of easily gained on our D that day is something I referred to earlier and it was obviously a very class act, namely from Charles as he said he really didn’t care about the record as they didn’t need to inflict anymore damage.
McD as we know has a bit of a different personalilty, diplomacy is not his strong suit and he was so tired of getting embarrassed out there the last couple of weeks, specially the 59 points pounding by the Raiders, that he just put aside head coaching football etiquette and let it all out on the field until way late in the fourth. And I can see where he is coming fom, he had to re-establish some form of confidence in his team and every ounce of that counted, but obviouslly Haley took exception to that and I can equally see his point.
Anyway we will move on and have to play them again in three weeks in KC and I guess we will find out exactly what kind of amunition this provided for what now seems like a pretty good newly re-built rivalry between us and the Chiefs. McD also did a good job last year of building up the rivalry between the Chargers and us when he talked back to their LB’s on the sideline, so all there is left for him to do now is find a way to lit a fire with the Raiders as to get that rivalry going again, LOL.
Anyhow, bottom line, nothing is black and white in this world, there are all kind of gray areas depending on what side you look at a problem from. The “there is always two sides to a story” saying pretty much applies to everything, even our Broncos. However, publicly Haley apologized at his press conference to the fans, Broncos and McD. Yeah, right!!! We believe that was heartfelt, haha. Can’t wait for that re-match, hard hitting in KC in December is what it will take, nothing less but our best.
My man Larsen!! He was making plays all over the place before his freaky fall last year when he was coming out of the shower that injured his shoulder. Ohh yeah the handshake thing—I think the team was having a great game and McD played 60 minute’s of football! The red flag toss and the broken replay booth probably pissed him off a little also. Throw in some TT running and passing and Orton on fire and the D doing its job and the most important thing talked about up to the game!! Getting a jump in the first quarter!! Great Team Win!!
IMSDB
FTR
Haley was fighting for blood until the very end. Do you think that he would have taken out his starters if we would have? I don’t think so.
Hey, I didn’t say I agree with one or the other, I just see both points is all, it’s really no big deal, is it? Still a 49-29 win that I know of, a win for McD and a loss for Haley, that’s all that matters.
I agree,if Haley wanted us to call off the dogs he should’ve ran out the clock faster by running,and quit passing so much,heck Cassel got like 469 yds passing.
I like the Defensive calls,if you smell blood go for the juglar,we have played to soft on Defense until yesterday,I say play 60 minutes wide open!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do see your point tho Bay.
A good Rivalry is healthy.
Well if Haley is going to make a big deal about that, then he needs to get out of football. Our offense quit in the fourth, defenses blitz, See you in 3!
I see your point and I wasn’t pressing an issue, nor disagreeing with you. No matter who was right or who was wrong, what Haley did was disrespectful. I bet McD will feed off of this even though he said it didn’t bother him. I’m sure it did! I’m sure that coach will scheme to whoop the crap out of them when they go to Arrowhead. I hope our young coach is growing and hopefully after hitting rock bottom (almost) Coach McDaniels is soaking this all in. I’m sure that we all would throw him a bone after yesterday. Time will tell.
And now it’s Shanny’s turn to get embarrassed, 45-14 at the half and at his house and against a division rival!!!!!
I guess not only McD hasn’t quite figured out yet how much the Raidesr rivalry means to us, now Shanny has no clue as to the significance of the Redskins- Eagles rivalry, too weird (I do realize both coaches do know the importance of those respective rivalries, my point being the scores certainly don’t reflect it)
BTW, 45 points is only 4 points away from tying the all time record of points scored in the NFL in the first half. Packers put up 49 points on the Buccaneers at Lambeau in 1983, when Steve Young was the Buccs QB, look how he turned out….
That was really a hidden prop for Tebow, he may have a long ways to go, but maybe one day he will be our new lefty Steve Young type player.
Shanny looks like he’s had a few sleepless nights. I wish him the best but this is obviously not his season. Monday night spanking! I hope we can spank down the bolts next Monday night! If we can beat them I think I will see a glimmer of hope to end this season strong and maybe make the playoffs. THAT’S A FREAKING LONG SHOT, but it was nice to see that we could actually play football against KC. I’ll always have a dusty bottle of the orange koolaid on the upper shelf! LOL!
It is a NFL record after all, 45 points is the most points ever scored by a road team in the first half, welcome to Washington Mr. Shanahan, WOW!
idk, this whole handshake thing is being blown up way too much i think. Haley was just pissed off that he got stomped. although you know he will have that team ready next time. but man that was an amazing offensive performance for most of the game. the only thing that kinda says watch out to me though is that we were out scored in the 2nd half. but thatj usually happens when teams are up by so much. i just hope that we stay level headed for next monday night. we will have our hands full, chargers are never an easy game. hopefully TT will continue to grow and get more freedom in his packages and everyone else will keep doing work as well
GO BRONCOS
And on the day that they sign McNabb to a 78 million dollar five year extension. Boy it’s going to be tough to be a Redskins’ fan tomorrow, or Olap2009 for that matter, LOL.
ya true lol. we may not see Olap on here for a while after tonight lol. unless the skins get some midnight magic or something. at least the game will be over at almost midnight where i live
Olap. What comes around goe`s around.
LMAO… He really did ask for it though…
Just maybe S.D. comes out of the gate as stale as yesterdays bread. Or donuts for that matter. And with there bye week and being all banged up, I say SHOW NO MERCY!!
LMAO also. Hey, he`s dished it, and now it`s time to recieve. Haha!!
52 points! In the rain! Reid has to be giggeling inside.
Make that 59
Bay, the one thing that I was really wanting to see on Sunday before the game started was that we do not quit. Do not give up. And man did we romp them. This gives us something to build on. Even if we do not make the playoffs, just continue to fight. Go Orange and BLUE!!
Yeah, I pretty much liked most everything about yesterday, no complaints from where I’m standing, at least not this week, back on the guardedly optimistic outlook, with two division games in the next three it won’t take long for us knowing exactly what will come out of it, no more room for bad outings though, we put ourselves in an unenviable spot, but if that effort can be dupliacted over and over, anyhting is still possible, and they say I don’t drink the kool aid, LOL.
I am so glad that the Broncos played the way that they did, I did not pick the Broncos to win, I am so glad that I was wrong,
I took a sip or two yesterday. If we can somehow make the playoffs I think I will buy a keg!