The 2009 National Football League season begins for the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 13.
But for the orange-blooded fanatics who support the team, passion never rests and the interest is intense from the first stretching of training camp.
So for that reason alone the city is loaded with everything from angst to apoplexy to genuine concern. But that’s how it is with Bronco fans. The one thing everyone has to be cautioned about is that it is not only early in the marathon race that the NFL represents, but it has not started at all yet.
History is littered with examples showing that a team’s play during preseason often has no bearing on what it does when the season starts for keeps.
There are new players, and in this case an entirely new coaching staff as well, and that’s a lot to put together and get ready for the regular season. But the only goal is the regular season, and while everyone involved wants to win them all, you just have to focus on what it takes to get the team ready for the games that count.
Last year the Detroit Lions finished preseason with a 4-0 record, which made all their fans very happy for the month of August. But that was before the Lions went on to set the all-time pro football record with a 0-16 mark, completely obliterating any temporary—and artificial—happiness attached to that summer won—lost total.
When we are staring at the moment, let’s not lose track of the future.
Tags: Jim Saccomano, Preseason
I think Moreno can play. Dawkins can play. Don’t know about Lloyd, yet. The thing is, even though Moreno and Dawkins CAN play, do they want to risk them? I think they will risk them in order to get them some time in before the regular season.
What exactly happened to Moreno?
Well it’s been nice to read some positive posts for once. I thought the team looked good against the Hawks. Moved the ball well on offense, if it was regular season i think we kick the field goal when it was 10-7 instead of going for it on 4th and goal, got a kick out of orton’s left handed jump ball but hey he was trying to make something happen so it’s all good. defense has 7 sacks with i think 5 of those coming against first team offenses so that’s another good sign. I’ve been impressed with our offense’s ability to move the ball. Hillis is looking like a beast and Royal seems like he got faster!!! Andre Goodman better stop getting beat hopefully he’ll redeem himself this Sunday vs. the Bears. I’ve never looked forward to a preseason game more than the one this sunday night vs. the Bears. I expect to hear the boo’s rain down on Cutler whenever he does anything. Ok so moving on to what’s bothering me………..
I was at a sports collectors warehouse over the weekend here in so. cal and a guy spotted me wearing my broncos shirt and just started bashing McD and how they handled the Cutler situation, he and another buddy were saying how he want’s the Broncos to fail miserably this year so they can fire McD in the offseason, he also mentioned how he doesn’t want anyone to have a standout season…blah….blah…blah. I could only listen for so long before i told him i can’t listen to you anymore, it’s only preseason and you haven’t even given this team a chance. Seriously what’s with all the bashing of McD and those fans that were sold on the Cutler is going to take us to the promise land……..Cutlers gone so move on, we have a new leader (McD) and I’m on board and liking what i’ve seen so far. Cowherd predicted this morning on his radio show that the broncos would go 4-12 and get swept by the Raiders???? Wow! I’m hoping some how we either win the division or be the wild card and shut everyone up but let’s not get ahead of ourselves…….long season this year with the opponents we play……let’s have another solid preseason game and give the home fans something to get excited about.
Go Broncos!
I agree DD, if they are able to play they will.
I will say, however, that with Lloyd out, it hurts his chances to make the squad.
Moreno had a knee sprain.
Ohio, I would have listened to this stranger bad mouth my team for only so long. I would have then looked him in the eye and said, “Do you know me? No? Then stop talking to me as if you do.” Then I would walk away. I’ve had to do it before. I don’t mind talking football, but when some stranger gets in my face and starts ranting and ragging on my team, I will only be so polite. He certainly wasn’t being polite, so I won’t go out of my way to be, either.
Dynamicdave… you are my hero!
Did you ever go by Super Dave in the past????
Ha, ha, I’ve been called A LOT OF THINGS, ha, ha. I’m just the type of person who trys to keep it real. I don’t back down when it comes to family, friends and the Denver Broncos.
lol Super Dave!!! Yes its the best thing since McDenver or McHoodie!!
Ha, ha. Better the McNuggets or McDonalds?
lol McNuggets…Hahahahaha thats good but seems too mean to Mcdaniels lol
Does any one else feel our D will help us beat the hard teams this year? Ie. Eagles, Chargers, etc.
IDK i have a strong feeling our defense will be pretty good. NOT GREAT! not yet heh, but good.
DDave..i left a post for you under”Broncos claim Spann of waivers”Please go back and read,ok?
Ever hear the expression a good offense is a good defense?!? True but it goes both ways.
The best defense is a good offense, or an offense that can keep its defense off the field. I think we’ll be fine. If we can eat up the clock, our D won’t have to perform exceptionally well for much of the game at all.
Our defense has improved. It is no Pittsburg or Baltimore defense, but probably middle of the road, thus we have improved on defense so far.
I believe we have an opportunity to beat some of the really good teams, New England except for New England. They know our offense, which means their defense practices all the time against our offense. However, on that note, they don’t practice against a defense such as ours, and Brady, with a tremendous amount of pressure, does not do so well… no quarterback does if you bring the house all the time.
With that said, yes, any given Sunday I do believe we can beat those top tier teams.
There was a lot of progress made on the first unit in this game. Sure there were plenty of things that need to get fixed, but like the previous weeks game they are all very fixable.
The offense came out guns blazing like Seattle’s Defense owed them money. The play calls were right on the money and the most impressive plays were when we nearly converted the 1st & 25. That showed me this offense is very capable of shredding Defenses up. However I do think we will need a more consistent long ball game to compete with Defenses of the likes of Baltimore and Pittsburgh. But I think this team will be more complete and improved by then.
Also I thought the Defense (1st unit) played pretty good overall and showed they are nothing like last years team. Much improved nonetheless, if we don’t become better at stopping big plays on 3rd & long this defense will have a lot of problems this year. I am optimistic that with Dawkins on the field the intensity level will be turned up to not allow 3rd & long conversions to happen as often.
All that aside, I like a lot of the progress thats being made and believe in what this team is brining to the field. Go Broncos!
Thanks Guru for your post, it is always insightful and appreciated!
I hope D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumerville and Kenny Peterson all get a free shot at Cutler. That line is not very good and I am excited to see this game on Sunday. Go Broncos.
Guru, I think McD will be using the long ball when needed. I also expect to see it when Marshall gets into the thick of it. When Moreno is back, the O will open up more. I know that they practice the long bomb, but there are soooo many small passes to learn in McD’s complicated offense, to keep drives going. They have to practice them more in preseason. I imagine that McD’s playbook is rather extensive. But I read about them doing the long pass in practice (and being on target) so I know it will be used. I’ll wait for Marshall to get in the mix.
I have to say I’m really not worried about our team. Ohio did you mean Bill Cowher? Not sure I know who Cowherd is. Good ploy on names though!
But it makes me laugh that someone as smart as he comes across with football knowledge would think we would go 4-12 and get swept by the raiders.
The same analysts that criticize the raiders for picking heward bey, and trading burgess for a 2nd round pick, think that they are a good enough team to sweep us?
LMFAO!
Back to Cowher it cracks me up that the way his team won was with a good defense, yes they were great at times but not always. Great against the run almost always. And by keeping the other team off the field for long periods of time due to long sustained offensive drives of his own. Now, how can he have had so much success with that, and not see our D is allowing near the fewest number of 1st downs a game against 1st units! Allowing little running room against 1st units, and sustaining 12 play 7 minute drives consistently. AND NOT THINK WE WILL BEAT THE RAIDERS? LET ALONE ONLY WIN FOUR GAMES???
To think I wanted to get him as a coach in a year or two……
Mark my words guys, our D will be good if not great against the run, thus keeping drives short on time by the other team, Passing for 1st downs makes your drives quick, you may score but your tired Defense is right back out there getting worn out on 7 minute drives all over again. Our D will stop the run efficiently, and be dangerous against the pass. They will be good as long as they are healthy.
Our offense will sustain long timed out drives! Orton will be great short passing for first if needed, and our running game will pound the ball repeatedly with our horse stable back field to draw out long drives!
Look for us to wear down other teams Defenses with time of possession, while their offense has no choice but to score quick, or don’t score at all!
Stay thirsty my friends!
Didn’t that left arm pass/interception in the endzone remind ya of the bad jake, plummer that is???
Never liked Cowher, I mean didn’t it take him like a quarter century to win the big one? I guess better late than never but I could care less what he has to say about the Broncos. He is probably going by the AFC cahmpionship a few years ago where they handed it to us and Plummer, in Denver no less, and it was a piece of cake.
Anyway, He’s got some surprise coming that probably will make him wish he never got into broadcasting. What a cheap shot, 4-12 and lose to the raiders twice… Why would he come up with that? What a jerk.
Been outta the loop a bit.
Can you guys fill me in on what’s going on with B Marshall??
I thought he would have gotten some reps in the seahawks game. Is he hurt or still just doesn’t know the play book?…the latter seems like a lame excuse not to give him some time in. What’s his deal?
NY, who knows? Obviously BM has always been Cutler’s closest friend on the team, and I would imagine those feelings are lingering on. Cutler said he wanted to be traded, so Marshall is asking the same. However, I believe McD never thought that Cutler could cut the mustard in his system (not good in scoring, untimely turn overs at critical points and overall poor attitude to learn a new system/spoiled brat), and he let him go with of course a couple of draft picks plus a QB to go with it. With Marshall, it might be different, McD might like what he sees here and probably sees him as the Randy Moss replacement and couple that to the fact that he won’t be able to get much for him in a trade (personal off field issues and injuries question marks), I believe in the end he might not be traded and become a keeper. Just my opinion.
the problem with bmarsh is that he is more interested in ‘twittering’ then in reading the new playbook. he needs to play and get knocked on his butt a few times by a good defense to see how that repaired hip can take it.
from the sound of it today, it looks like he might be headed in that direction (he is back on the 1st team offense roster, even so it’s as the 4th WR).
and i hope nolan goes blitz happy against the bears and let’s peterson, dumervil, williams and bailey plant cutler face first into the mile-hi turf a few times
Well said lostfan, a lot of people are taking about the Orton/Cutler game, I don’t see it that way. They don’t even go against eachother, but what I’m looking forward to, is how the defense guys we had when cutler was here will respond. After all Cutler dropped them all without a second thought and never even said goodbye. Bailey, Doom and DJ, let’s see how we can “welcome” Cutler back…
Not Cowher. He did mean Cowherd. As in Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio.
if bmarsh still wants out of denver; pat bowlen should honor his request; however, instead of sending him to another nfl team, bowlen should contact some of his old cronies up in canada, send bmarsh there for a few players who are more interested in playing football and winning then strutting around whinning
sorry but had to chime in with something I’ve been noticing so far.
In past years it has seemed like the Broncs would start strong but had a very hard time finishing, cough cough* “last year”. But I am really getting the feeling that with all the changes and new faces etc. that we prob will start out a ‘lil slow due to the newness of it all. Totally revamped offense and defense. New schemes, new approach to the ST side of the game etc. the list is long.
But as the season progresses and the players really get the feel for it all, they will be tough, mark my words. This is gonna be a flip-flop year for us. Anticipate us starting a little sluggish as everything starts to meld together and everyone REALLY catches on. But then once it does hold on for the ride Bronco Fans!! It’s gonna be a good one!
azbronc4life, I totally agree. As the season progresses, the team will gel to the point of being a force to contend with. Let the naysayers believe what they will, but this year it won’t be me eating crow (needs a lot of salt, by the way).
azbronc4life…That is my feeling too. For the reasons you mention but also I feel this years Broncos will change up what they do every week making it harder for teams to game plan against them.
This is a team that I believe is being built for the long haul. I like it.
I tend to agree with AZbronco, DD, and Mike, but the big thing to me is that none of us really knows what this team can do and what it will struggle to do. Granted we do have a tough schedule on paper and San Diego expects the division crown to be delivered any day to their front door. But the most enjoyable part of this Pre-Season so far has been what I liken to just buying a lottery ticket to the 200+ million Powerball a few weeks ago. The dream is alive and anything can happen. The difference is the best part about it, when the Powerball numbers are called, the dream is over. With this Broncos team, we can start with a few losses and the dream is still in tact. I don’t know about all of you but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that all of you brag, read, talk, and wear Broncos a whole lot this time of year. I am enjoying everybody saying that we will be terrible, we will be lucky to win 3 games, McDaniels is an idiot, Cutler is the next Montana, etc. I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a whole lot more to this team that they are getting credit for. And as a diehard, like most of you, I believe it will only get better!!!