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
Olap2009, I got news for you, you made yourself a spot on the wall of shame with your 45-10 KC win pick, but kudos to you for coming out when we called you out.
A friend of mine that lives in Houston is a Texans season ticket holder and I invited him to come up for the Denver/Texans game. This was his first response:
I don’t want to see the Texans play anymore.. NFL Football is stupid.
LOL! Made me laugh!
Hey Bay,the Eagles were up 59-21 in the 4th qtr,and still blitzing.LOL
59-28 now.
Hey Olap2009……GO REDSKINS……LOL
Agreed Bay. Hey, if the kool aid is spiked you could take a sip or two. lol. Hi, Olap, good to see ya. You`ve got heart dude. Cool beans.
I’m sure that Shanny won’t go to the middle of the field shaking his ginger at Andy Reid!
finger lol
I feel for your Texans buddy, after the last second hail mary batted down pass caught for a TD to beat his team yesterday, I can see his point, LOL. The Texans are kind of like the Bengals, every year they think this is the year, they have all the talents they are going to break through and they let everybody down, every year, that’s no fun. Funny story, at the sportsbar here in Austin they didn’t even have the Texans game on because nobody asked for it, and we are in the Texans viewing area, that was so sad, Kubiak could be on the hot seat.
Yeah, he might give him the ginger, LOL.
Agreed Bay. Hey if the kool aid is spiked, might as well take a sip or two. lol. Hi Olap, Good to see ya. Welcome to the jungle. You`ve got heart dude.
Hey the guys on MNF showed Tebow highlights,John Gruden giving Tebow and Orton props too,I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gruden said he loves the Broncos Offense.
Hey Olap2009….just kiddin dude,welcome back.
Sorry for repeat. problem with computor. Or is it the the person behind this thing? lol
strandoftds…..might be a short between the pc and the chair.LOL
Deion Sanders even has Orton rated third on his top ten performances this week, and that’s not like Deion to get impressed by a guy like Orton, it says a ton right there…
Or is it the spiked kool aid? LOL.
You ain’t just whistling dixie bro!
LMAO
I’ll officially jump back on the bandwagon,if we play solid Monday night.
Ya BFE. Even if the wheels come off. Whatever that means. It just sounds good. Hey, I think I`ll put a patent on it. lol
BFE- I saw that too! Who do we start next year??? I don’t think ANYONE saw Orton looking this good. I just wish we knew what TT could do with more time under center. Orton does great with no pressure. TT can run over pressure!
Yeah hopefully the wheels stay on this time.LOL
camharland… I don’t know buddy,I guess McD has a big descision to make,maybe he keeps them both,maybe he trades Orton,who knows what he will do,it would be hard to trade Orton,if he continues to play good,but I guess that’s why we play the rest of the season,and see how he plays.
Agreed Tebow could run this Offense I believe.
Glad for the win, was blogging with the guys during the game. It was a big shocker. Had us winning 26-21 and even I didn’t believe it. We are far from a being where we need to be but I shall enjoy this win. We just jumped out ahead and stole momentum, when they stole it back, they really stole it. same goes with oakland, they took momentum and never let it go.
I have said on paper the talent is there, we could be more talented but not to antagonize any McD lovers, ill leave that alone. So it comes does to preparation and coaching, prep was there and quite frankly the guys just finally played with some heart and not just that, its easy to keep playing strong when everything is going ur way. Alot of it fell our way this game.
To talk about champ, I saw nothing wrong in his play. Nothing that will signify he is pulling a randy moss for example. Champ doesn’t do that. I mean the man is amazing but what do u expect when our DBs are playing 10 yards off ever down. We gave the recievers too much respect but in the same breath it was because we had the lead, knew they had to pass and didnt wanna give up the big play. I will say however that Wink is doing an ok job but compared to Nolans play calling ability Wink has a ways to go.
We were far from perfect but I will take the TD. Love the Tebow run and pass td. Called the pass td. Moreno proved that he can be great like ive always said (altho would be better in zone blocking) … Harris on the oline made a difference. And I was just happy to see us win. I the grand scheme i still think we won’t even touch .500 and still want a coach switch, a xander switch and a staff switch (especially tuten) but for now I will enjoy it and look to see changes in off season.
TRB out…
ps: i know sndvl enjoyed seeing his boy larsen break that nice fb run and score a recieving TD. Mays is one hard hitter.
Just a heads up. I was listening to 850 KOA and Dave Kisla was on talking about the game. One thing he mentioned was Haggan playing outside LB position. He loved the way that Marrio was so dominant and had 3 sacks. Dave said the way Marrio was playing he looked just like Tom Jackson back in his hayday. Dave concluded with saying, I think the Bronco`s have just realized that they found the perfect spot for Haggan. He said this could be the making of a great D.
YA, champ is fine. He`s not a problem I don`t think.
It would be nice to see the wheels come off of S.D. Chuck Wagon haha.
strand,
Haggan played outside last year, and he forced his fair share of fumbles, however, he lacks sideline to sideline speed which was why they moved him inside i believe. But with Ayers and Doom down, Guys like haggan, hunter and Mays are getting shots and doing well.
Yes! I like it!
And Dave did mention that too, so maybe he`s got it figured out. Just saying. I think another reason he said that was because marrio is wearing Tom`s old #.
Yeah I think Haggan needs to stay outside,he’s pretty fast to be so big.
Thats the best pass rush we had all year,I think Wink hit on something this week,maybe he learned something,he just needs to be more consistant,but who knows when he’s calling the plays,McD calls Defensive plays too,like I posted the other day,I think he needs to let the other coaches do their jobs.
If speed is the issue the only way to counter that is smarts and a nose for the football. Knowing where the ball is going.
There is a time when you have to just let go. Have some faith in your staff.
Hunter and Mays need to be involved more,they played lights out.I love it.
strandoftds…I think McD let the other coaches have more say on Sunday,and it showed,maybe he sticks with it.
Yeah you gotta trust your staff can get the job done,if you don’t you undermind them,and they’ll leave,just like Nolan did.
Awesome I`d say. And BFE, that hit that Mays got called on was bogus. That was a clean hit. He better not get fined for that. Rediculious call I think.
Been there, done that.
I agree 100%,if he gets fined for that,they might as well start fining every Defensive player in the NFL.It really is getting ridiculous tho!
Ya, McD is growing little by little.
What are players to do at full speed. Crazy.
What did you think of that goal line stand?
He better grow full size by the end of the season,if we get close to .500,I say Mr.B lets him stay one more year,but I’ll save my thoughts on that until I see if he can keep it going,another losing streak,and he’ll be gone.IMO.
Man I`m wavering on that right now.
AWESOME……………….as far as the players slowing down at full speed,it is impossible,everybody knows that.
Did you get to see the game?
I been calling for McD’s head since last year,I really would like to see him succeed,but I don’t know if he’s got what it takes,and the big win yesterday means nothing if we flop in SD.
We need consistancy. Week in and week out.
No they didn’t show it in my area,but I saw a lot of highlights,but I had to watch NFL Network a lot,they don’t seem to show a lot of Broncos highlights,I don’t think they like us.LOL