Fixing The MistakesWhenever Brandon Marshall feels he has a bad or even so-so game, he takes it upon himself to make all the necessary corrections to turn things around.
That is certainly the case this week as he prepares for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I couldn’t sleep Tuesday night,” Marshall said in his press conference Thursday. “I was anxious, and I was looking forward to practice. Just getting out there and being able to polish up some things.”
Still Not SatisfiedThe Broncos offense has put up some stellar numbers in the team’s first three games of the season. The offense has thrown for eight touchdowns, rushed for five more and has averaged 432 total yards.
Two of those touchdown passes have been caught by Brandon Marshall the league leader in receptions among wide receivers. Marshall is also first in the NFL with 160.5 yards receiving per contest.
“That is what I work hard for,” Marshall said about his numbers so far this season. ”I want to be the guy not just in a single game but throughout my whole career. That is what we work hard for, and all we can do is continue to push and remember that every Sunday could be any given Sunday in this league.”
Entirely FocusedIt was fairly quiet in the locker room at Dove Valley on Thursday. Though many players did speak with reporters, just as many sat at their lockers, staring straight ahead as if in a trance. Why? Because they’re focused.
And with good reason.
At this time last year, the Broncos sat at 2-0 after two thrilling late field goals gave them victories over the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. Yet when the season came to a close, they weren’t where they wanted to be — the playoffs.
So now in 2008, the Broncos sit at 2-0 once again, and they want to make sure that they reach their final destination this time.
Marshall AFC Offensive Player of the Week
On Tuesday the NFL informed the Broncos that Brandon Marshall will be named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, two days after he played an integral role in the Broncos’ 39-38 victory over the Chargers.
It’s the first time he’s received the award in his three-year career.
In his first game back from a one-game suspension, Marshall caught 18 passes — a new Broncos single-game franchise record — for 166 yards and a touchdown.
The 18 catches were double the amount of any other receiver in Week 2, and also tied for second-most in NFL history behind only Terrell Owens, who had 20 catches in a game in 2000.
In his last five games dating back to 2007, Marshall has posted the most catches in NFL history for any five-game period with 55 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns.
Several Broncos have been honored in the past two weeks — Head Coach Mike Shanahan is also nominated for the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week award for Week 2, and Jay Cutler has been nominated for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week in both weeks of the season thus far. Eddie Royal was voted the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 1, as well.
With the impressive way the Broncos have gotten to 2-0, it’s no coincidence the awards seem to be a recurring theme.
Check out highlights from Marshall’s record day on Broncos TV.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Whatever It TakesUnbelievable. Phenomenal. Mind-boggling.
Pick your word, pick your phrase and it probably applies to what the Broncos pulled off Sunday against the Chargers.
Marshall To Active Roster; Gandy WaivedTo make room for Brandon Marshall on its active roster the Broncos waived guard Dylan Gandy on Tuesday.
Gandy joined the Broncos as a free agent on May 16, 2008 and spent training camp with Denver. The team released Gandy on August 30 to reach the 53-man league minimum, only to bring him back to the team’s active roster three days later.
Marshall was off the active roster last week serving a one-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
NFL Statement Regarding MarshallThe NFL announced today that Brandon Marshall’s suspension will be reduced to one game following Marshall’s appeal.
Marshall’s suspension for the Broncos’ first regular-season game will begin on Saturday, August 30. He is eligible to return to the Broncos’ active roster on Tuesday, September 9 following the team’s September 8 opener against the Oakland Raiders.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
An Interesting New Depth Chart…The Broncos released a new and updated depth chart Saturday, with some interesting changes on it.
The starting lineup remains the same on offense, with Eddie Royal continuing to hold onto that #2 wideout spot opposite Brandon Marshall. But Glenn Martinez has moved up behind Marshall.
Nate Jackson remains at the #2 spot behind Daniel Graham, with Scheffler at the #3. Jackson has worked with Graham in the team’s two-tight end sets, and he started on Friday against the Packers, scoring a touchdown in the process.
Peyton Hillis holds onto the #2 fullback spot behind Cecil Sapp. He saw significant action Friday night and performed well.
On defense, Marquand Manuel is listed as the starter opposite Marlon McCree. Hamza Abdullah mans the #2 spot behind Manuel, with Roderick Rogers and Josh Barrett behind him, in that order.
Vickiel Vaughn is at #2 behind McCree.
Also, Brett Kern is listed as the starting punter.
You can check out the full depth chart here.
What do y’all think about the changes and how things have progressed?
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
Cowboys at Camp: Final PracticeThe Broncos and Cowboys closed out their joint practices Thursday afternoon with some 11-on-11 team drills between the offenses and defenses, and a little special teams in between. After a morning that featured a bit of a scuffle, the afternoon session was filled with nothing but good, clean football — and the occasional offensive fireworks — as Broncos President and CEO Pat Bowlen and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones stood and watched practice side-by-side.
ATTENDANCE REPORT: The Broncos who were out of pads for the morning session also were for the afternoon session…In addition, the usual pack of veterans did not participate in the practice, including Dre’ Bly, Dewayne Robertson, Brandon Stokley and Darrell Jackson.
POSTURING FOR POSITION: Michael Pittman — who celebrated his birthday today — was the running back in the lineup on most situational third-downs.
MATCHUPS: For the final session of their joint practice, the Cowboys and Broncos went into 11-on-11 team matchups right after their individual team drills. Here are the details.
Cowboys at Camp: Day 2, AMThe competitive juices were flowing as Broncos and Cowboys hit the practice field together for the second straight day on Thursday. Hard hits and big plays were abound and a skirmish between the two squads showed that neither team is taking their time out on the field together lightly.
ATTENDANCE REPORT: Boss and Champ Bailey remained out of pads with their respective injuries, Boss nursing a sprained right ankle and Champ as sore right hamstring…Louis Green remained on the sidelines with a concussion/neck injury…Tom Nalen watched practices still resting his left knee…Erik Pears was out of pads with a sore back…Ryan Torain continues to recover from surgery on his left elbow.
POSTURING FOR POSITION: Niko Koutouvides continued to take reps at middle linebacker with first team. Jamie Winborn continued to fill in for Boss Bailey at first unit strong side linebacker. Marquand Manuel continued taking first unit snaps at safety with Hamza Abdullah getting reps with the second team. After getting the afternoon off yesterday, Casey Wiegmann was back as the first unit center.
MATCHUPS: Here is the breakdown of how each competition went down.