Mark Cooper

Wow, like I mentioned last week. Dangerous territory when you have a team like K.C. winless and coming off 12 consecutive losses.

I had to repeat what I said on the 25th as I’m not sure everyone saw it. See below.

Interesting looking at stats this week. We’re the No. 1 offense in the AFC and No. 16 in defense in the AFC. On top and on the bottom. I’ve never seen that before and was a little perplexed, thinking, weird. The Saints defense is #14 in the NFC and Raiders are No. 10 in the AFC and Chargers are No. 15, all partially because of our success against them, keep in mind.

So we have a lot of improving to do before you can leave the TV set and not miss a big play :o)…. I may be O.K. with that as long as we win.

Whoops, we got run all over. I need some help from you all this week I was in Miami at a 30th High School Reunion and offshore fishing on Sunday and had to dodge some of the heaviest rain stroms I’ve seen in along time getting off the water Sunday…then listening to the scores and watching ESPN into the evening.

Help me here?? What happened ((overall)) other than 198 yards by Johnson a two interceptions by Jay and two other turnovers?

Just looking at the stats, I would have said turnovers and rushing yards against us??…correct?

Also, glad Clifford Russell is O.K.

Eddie Royal, I love you baby!!! Way to initiate the Raider Nation to Broncos Football.

Playing at the Black Hole in Oakland is like going to biker bar on Halloween. Did you see the costumes? Always cracks me up. I liked everything I saw, especially the trash talking and the shoving and even some late hits and a few chop blocks with defensive lineman crying to the referees. That’s rivalry football, semi-clean and hard hitting.

Jay was on fire and looked in mid season form. Brandon will be back next week. The O-line played well and gave Jay a lot of time.

I was a little worried early with the success the Raiders had running the ball but it looked like adjustments were made and we started shutting them down for the remainder of the game for the most part.

I enjoyed the way we spread the ball around to the different receivers and the variety of running game, mixed in. It seemed to have the Raider defense somewhat off guard all night. Great game plan. A lot of mis-direction too.

OH, congrats coach Shanahan, because I know you had to be serious and professional about the WIN………but I know you wanted to smile and laugh and maybe even talk a little trash yourself after pummeling the Raiders. I know you wouldn’t because it’s not the right thing to do….or professional………..but the thought of it is kind of funny!!

I digressed…I’m allowed, I was an O-lineman and that’s part of the the (loose bolt theory) we had, to play the position :o)

Hopefully the Defense was what we can expect to see throughout the year…”Bend don’t Break” and the Raiders didn’t really challenge us vertically, only underneath passes and with a running attack that got shut down. Loved the hit Windborn and Webster put on McFadden early. He needed to come out of the game for a play to gather his marbles.

441 yards of offense was fun to watch. The only question mark I have is the kick coverage teams, but it’s early and hopefully they can gel to create the web coverage or big plays can make or break a game.

P.S. got run out of the Keys by Ike the Hurricane so Wade Boggs and I didn’t get a shot at our rematch.

Bolts up next.

Wow!! what a week. Final cuts and semi-final roster moves. Been and interesting week. Keep an ear to the news and paper, it might not be over. The Turk seems to be hanging around longer this year and getting guys.

The Foxworth trade talk today and Lowry move surprised me mainly because I’ve been concentrating on the O-line and D-line most of the pre-season. What’s your take?

To answer a few questions 18 games. I’m O.K. with that with less pre-season games and I like the idea of a few more guys on the roster.

Raiders…hmmm, hate em, sorry. Rival or not-so-rivalry anymore. I really miss the trash talking and rivalry atmosphere, late hits and penalties that went with that. Old school, guess??

I’m running out of town tomorrow to dodge Hurricanes in the Keys and fish a charity tournament for Cystic Fibrosis, so I’ll have to get a rundown from you all after the game as I’ll try to catch the game in a bar…I mean restaurant. :o) Not many of those in Key West.

And this year I plan to to put Wade Boggs to bed early and keep his name off the Mike & Mike in the Morning show on ESPN, if any of you remember that story from last year…pretty funny.

Hopefully “Hanna” the Hurricane scoots to the east and around the Bahamas (another of my favorite places) and folks are out of harms way.

All I have to say this week is GO BRONCOS, whip the Raiders for a 1-0 start to a season I’m really looking forward to.

Coop

I don’t know about you guys/gals but what I saw Saturday night, I liked a lot!!! D.J. Williams was in All-Pro form. If he can play like that and the defense can keep that pace and get better throughout the year, I’m pretty fired up!!

Going in, the Cowboys might have one of the best O-lines in the league, and they average 320+ pounds, I think, and they’re very talented. Jarvis and Elvis showed the speed they have, and I really liked what I saw overall on defense a majority of the night. I also saw some receivers behind our secondary which bothered me a little, but it’s pre-season and I’d rather see the corners take chances now rather than during the season.

Cutler was on fire, going 12-12 early, and Royal made a super catch. I think both tackles played really well against what I thought going in was going to be a good test, with the size and speed of the D-ends at Dallas. Jay made some real nice throws and was impressive. I think this year he may come into his own.

What’d you all think?? I’m curious?

COOP

O.K. you all are slipping a little out there. Clady versus Mario? Wut up? :o) I thought you all would have had this on the radar screen long before I mentioned it…..? You aren’t asleep out there are you? I know it’s preseason and you may remember my comments last year on preseason….zzzzzz, but this years different…young team, new lions on the field, let’s go baby!!!

Mario: 14 sacks, 3rd sack King in the league last year.
Clady: Rookie

I like Clady!! This will be a good warm up for him to see a big guy that can fly.

Oh yea, when did Alex Gibbs get back in the game. Gary Kubiak must have made the call. I haven’t talked to Alex in a long time, miss his yelling at the top of his lungs at me…not. :o)

So what’s your call? W or L…….?

Hi All,

I had to digest the Lynch move a little before I commented. Leaving a team and possibly the game is tough. Will he find a home, probably. Are we upset??…sure…. whenever a guy of his moral and athletic prowess leaves a Team there’s remorse and bitterness. BUT that’s the NFL. I still like our secondary with or without him looking at X’s and O’s much like Management did to make a decision like this one.

Pride and ego are a HUGE part of this game. Without it, a player would never make it to the NFL. Sound odd? It’s a part of the athlete that’s separates them from the good player to being the very best. The NFL. It’s like having a Superman Syndrome, you have to. If you don’t think you can compete…you’re done before you start.

If you’ve ever tried to be the best at anything and it didn’t quite work out, you can typically look back at it and see you had something missing. Not in the NFL.

I don’t know if this makes sense and I’m not sure I’m expressing in the best fashion, so feel free to ask questions or share you thoughts.

Coop

I know the title messed with you guys but I have to brag a little. I got an AFC Championship ring in “86″, but I just got my Superbowl win last weekend in “Islamorada, Florida” winning the fly division of the Rolex IGFA Inshore Championships. It’s a tournament where you had to win a tournament in 2007 to be invited. If you win a tournament or come in 2nd and the 1st place finisher doesn’t go, 2nd place participant gets asked.

I finished 2nd or runner-up to Wade Boggs last year in a Key West Redbone Celebrity Charity tournament for Cystic Fibrosis and he didn’t go, so as runner-up, I was asked. We fished 3 days for 5 different species for points and it was “better to be lucky than good”. Some of you may remember the story of that tournament as it hit the Mike & Mike show on ESPN inaccurately.

Like they say, a blind squirrel finds an acorn, right!

O.K. Camps just around the corner….it’s T it up time and let’s get going baby!! Funny how memories start flooding in. I use to HATE the drive to Greeley and the smell….man. Coming from Miami and the coastal smells of the tradewinds and saltwater….Greeley was a shocker, just imagine. We lived in dorms and would spill water on the pizza guys delivering pizza’s. I know “juvenile” comes to thought but you had to get a laugh somewhere during two-a-days and we’d have 120 guys in camp. I’ll tell a few funny stories as we get into camp blogs.

Remember we were 23-year old kids/guys trying to make a football team so some of the stories will make you laugh and also think I was missing a bolt or two (which I’ve been accused of before) and I always say. If the shoe fits, wear it!! :o)

COOP

With Henry gone, we have:

Selvin Young
Michael Pittman
Ryan Torian
Andre Hall
Anthony Aldridge

Plenty of depth and ability in that crew. I like the group. What do you guys think? Thumbs up or thumbs down. I agree with Mike. Sometimes you have to cut your losses. We have the depth, and if we can keep healthy this year, we should make some progress on last season’s record.

12th, Ryan Clady at #1
42nd, Eddie Royal
108th, Kory Lichtensteiger
119th, Jack Williams
139th, Ryan Torain
148th, Carlton Powell
183rd, Spencer Larsen
220th, Josh Barrett
227th, Peyton Hills

CONGRATULATIONS fellas, Welcome to the Denver Broncos, that was a special day for you, your families and a lifetime experience no matter what round you were drafted in. Cool stuff!!

Great day for a player to see his dreams come true. I’m anxious to hear everyone’s comments. My first comment was there was amazing speed amongst that group of guys. Pretty impressive.

I still remember the day I was drafted like it was yesterday. It was a big day. Watching the T.V. surrounded by family and a few of my team mates at my home in Miami.

I’d already been drafted by the USFL, New Jersey Generals (remember those days?) and my team mate Jim Kelly was drafted and headed off to the Houston Team so New Jersey traded them my rights so Kelly could try to get me to sign with the USFL. Interesting times.

The USFL actually offered more money but had no severance or retirement, etc and the NFL was my dream and coming to the Denver Broncos with a QB named John Elway was something no one could compare.

It was fun watching all the families of the players enjoying the day. My father and mother were on cloud 9.

I’m curious on all your feedback you BRONCOMANIACs!!!!!!!!

The offseason will be busy and we’ve already seen Coach Bates leave and Bob Slowik has the job. He’s been with the team since 2005, so that’s a positive. I don’t know a lot about him. I’m sure we’ll get to know him quickly.

Big playoff weekend coming up. My dark horse team is Jacksonville as much as I like the Patriots who aren’t playing like they were earlier in the year. I like Green Bay, the Cowboys even without T.O. and Indy. Yea, yea, I know I sound like a front-runner, right?

Let me know your thoughts and check in throughout the offseason and let’s keep in touch and I’ll give you my 2 cents worth and keep you up to speed on what I know and hear and you do the same.

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