Posts Tagged ‘San Diego Chargers’

An Equal Protection Clause

November 20th, 2009 - 2:22pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by Chris Gentilviso

Whether Kyle Orton or Chris Simms starts on Sunday against the Chargers, one difference between the two quarterbacks is certain.

With the right-handed Orton in the lineup, the blind side blocking falls on the shoulders of Ryan Clady. With the left-handed Simms behind center, that onus shifts to Tyler Polumbus.

In the eyes of offensive line coach Rick Dennison, the quarterback’s throwing hand has little effect on pass protection responsibilities.

“I don’t think it is that big of deal,” Dennison said. “He is getting back there and we’ve got to give him time to throw. We just do our protections, we don’t really worry about what hand he is tossing it with.”

Head Coach Josh McDaniels echoed Dennison’s sentiments, noting that the most substantial changes, if any, occur in situations outside of the hashes.

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Taking Notice

November 19th, 2009 - 3:10pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by Zach Eisendrath

By now, Chris Simms’ career-threatening and possibly life-threatening injury has been well documented.

Three games into the 2006 season, Simms — then the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — suffered a ruptured spleen against the Carolina Panthers.

The fact that Simms could start an NFL game on Sunday for the first time since that fateful day, and a subsequent splenectomy, has not been lost on Head Coach Josh McDaniels.

“I have a great deal of respect for what he’s overcome now to come back and do this, and I can also see every day why he’s overcome it,” McDaniels said. “He works as hard as or harder than anybody we have on our team.”

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Bringing a Backfield Presence

November 18th, 2009 - 4:43pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by Chris Gentilviso

The last time the Broncos and Chargers were on the same field, loose footballs were at a premium.

Denver forced four fumbles in its 34-23 Week 6 win over San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium. Most crucial of those miscues was a late-third quarter strip by Elvis Dumervil that landed in the hands of Vonnie Holliday.

Leading 24-23, the Broncos converted the turnover into a Matt Prater 50-yard field goal, and the Chargers were held scoreless the rest of the way. Come Sunday at INVESCO Field at Mile High, Mario Haggan sees those types of errors again tipping the balance.

“The game is predicated on mistakes,” Haggan said. “Hopefully on Sunday, they make more mistakes than we do and we come out on top.”

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Forward Progress

November 16th, 2009 - 5:33pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by Chris Gentilviso

Through his first nine games as a pro, Knowshon Moreno’s versatility has surfaced early and often.

No rookie has recorded two 100-yard games from scrimmage — except for Moreno. He’s also set himself apart through the air, as the lone NFL newcomer with both a rushing and receiving touchdown this season.

Moreno turned in a career-high 97 rushing yards against Washington on 18 carries. Week by week, the rookie is improving in an area the Broncos stress to their backs — gaining yardage on every play.

“There were some plays where there wasn’t much there, but he didn’t go negative,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “He went, got a yard, got a two-yard gain here or there and kept us in positive situations. That is something that he’s doing better and better as the year goes on.”

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Royal’s Special Night Earns Special Honor

October 20th, 2009 - 5:00pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by Chris Gentilviso

A pair of special teams touchdowns against San Diego has granted Eddie Royal his first career special teams honor.

Royal will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the Broncos learned on Tuesday, for his Week 6 performance in a 34-23 victory over the Chargers. His 235 total return yards set a franchise record.

The majority of those 235 yards came via that pair of blistering runs on the Chargers’ coverage teams. Royal became the second Bronco and 11th player in NFL history to record a kickoff return for a touchdown (93 yds. in first quarter) and a punt return for a touchdown (71 yds. in second quarter) in the same game. He is the sixth player to accomplish that feat since the 1970 NFL merger.

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6-0, Say No More!

October 20th, 2009 - 10:04am by mark_cooperOther posts by mark_cooper

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, go baby, GO!! Was that fun to watch or what? My son had just walked upstairs and I called to him to come watch the run. WOW! History in the making with a punt return (71 yds) and a kickoff return (93 yds) for touchdowns.

Then, the Chargers replied with their own version of a punt return. I wasn’t happy but that makes for fun TV and fan viewing and the halftime show was funny with Chris Berman saying all you had to do was watch 4th down and the kicking game to enjoy the first half.

They had our number early then the D… as in DOOM (two sacks) and the Boys started firing on all cylinders. Five sacks, a bunch of knockdowns, a bunch of in-your-face Philip Rivers while you try to throw the ball. You really have to give Coach Nolan a lot of credit in that he really shut down Rivers with the blitz package in the second half. From the corners and the middle walking up and back, disguising it well.

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Broncos at Chargers: Second Half Live Blog

October 19th, 2009 - 8:22pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by Gray Caldwell

Q3 14:56: The Broncos receive the kickoff to start the second half, and the offense takes over at the 26-yard line after Eddie Royal’s kickoff return. On first down, Knowshon Moreno is wrapped up near the line of scrimmage for no gain. Second down brings a deep pass from Kyle Orton intended for Tony Scheffler, but it is broken up. Flag on the play — pass interference on the defense. That sets up a first down on the Denver 45-yard line.

Q3 13:50: After a six-yard gain on a pass from Orton to Scheffler, Moreno finds a hole for a gain close to the first-down marker — it sets up 3rd-and-1. The handoff goes to Moreno, and there’s no indication whether it’s a first down or not — there are flags all over the field. Two fouls. Illegal shift on the offense, which is declined, and delay of game on the offense for spiking the ball after the play. It’s fourth down, and Brett Kern is in to punt. Darren Sproles is back at his own 10-yard line ready to return. The punt sails into the end zone for a touchback.

Q3 12:34: Brian Dawkins is back in the secondary and Mario Haggan is back in at linebacker as the defense trots onto the field. Andra Davis makes the tackle on first down as LaDainian Tomlinson picks up three yards. On second down, Rivers is nearly sacked by Dumervil before throwing a ball intended for Chris Chambers that falls incomplete. Two flags on the play, both on the Broncos. A holding call on Haggan makes it 1st-and-10 for the Chargers at their own 28-yard line.

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Broncos at Chargers: First Half Live Blog

October 19th, 2009 - 6:39pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by Gray Caldwell

COIN TOSS: The Chargers have won the coin toss and will receive the ball to start the game. Matt Prater is on the field for the kickoff.

Q1 14:57: After the Monday Night Football theme music pumped through the speakers and Darren Sproles was taken down at the 28-yard line, the starting defense is on the field. It’s Kenny Peterson, Ronald Fields and Ryan McBean on the line, Elvis Dumervil, D.J. Williams, Andra Davis and Mario Haggan at linebacker and Champ Bailey, Andre’ Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill in the secondary.

Q1 14:19: The first play of the game is a run by LaDainian Tomlinson, and he is tackled after a three-yard gain by Dawkins. Tight coverage by Bailey forces an incompletion on second down, and the Chargers now have a 3rd-and-7 on their own 27-yard line.

Q1 14:13: Darrell Reid and Brian Dawkins nearly sack Philip Rivers, but he throws it away just in time. The screams from the crowd seem to indicate there are plenty of Broncos fans here in Qualcomm Stadium.

Q1 13:59: The offense is on the field for its first drive of the game. It’s Kyle Orton at quarterback, Knowshon Moreno at running back, Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffer at tight end and Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal at receiver. Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris make up the offensive line.

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Broncos at Chargers: Pregame Blog

October 19th, 2009 - 4:46pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by Gray Caldwell

Sunny day here in San Diego, and we’re packed into the press box at Qualcomm Stadium. It’s an open-air press box, so it’s always fun to be able to soak in the full atmosphere of the game.

Like the Broncos, the Chargers have painted the field with an old-school feel, as well — the end zones are blue with white diamonds outlined in yellow, and the AFL’s 50th anniversary logo is painted at midfield.

Players are on the field warming up, and there have already been sightings of the brown-and-white striped socks along with the brown and gold pants. Clearly we’re in for an interesting uniform combination yet again.

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Leadership On Multiple Fronts

October 16th, 2009 - 3:26pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by Chris Gentilviso

When asked about the qualities Vonnie Holliday brings to the Broncos, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan quickly labeled three things — maturity, experience, and an appreciation for what it takes to win.

Those qualities are an extension of Holliday’s work ethic over his 12 pro seasons. Recovering from a knee injury this summer arguably made the 2009 offseason his hardest.

The adversity only encouraged Holliday to find a path that landed him on Denver’s roster.

“I don’t encourage people not to go to training camp, but this year just taking that offseason off — no OTAs, mini camps, all those things — definitely saved my joints as a 12th-year guy,” Holliday said. “Coming into the season the freshest, the healthiest I’ve felt in a long time.”

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