Bad day for a vacation!

Haha right?

Today the Broncos:

• Cut last season's favorite to be the feature back in Denver Mike Bell, if you'll remember entering training camp Bell was listed as #1 on the depth-chart. Quickly falling from grace all the way into the fullback category. They also, of course, released kicker Garrett Hartley. There are still a few kickers left in free agency, John Carney being the most notable.
• They signed center Kory Lichtensteiger, leaving just three picks to be signed before Thursday. Remember there are still more cuts coming, because Denver still needs room on their roster for those three picks. Early guess for next cut? I'd say have a look towards the wide receiver position or the very deep defensive line pool. Most likely a receiver though.
• Pat Bowlen will introduce Gary Zimmerman at his Hall of Fame induction.

First Madden 2009 Denver Broncos scouting report published:

Maddenlist.com just featured the Broncos on their version of 32 teams in 32 days. It looks like you're going to have to work hard to get the Broncos up to the level to compete with some of the big dogs in Madden. Their offensive line isn't as great, Brandon Marshall's a beast and Josh Barrett may be on accident one of the best safeties in the game, if you're manually controlling him.

'08 Bronco Special Teams

We have been asked to discuss place-kicking and punting and we are nothing if not responsive to requests. In fact, see that little comment thing down there? No, not that, the comment ... yes, that's it. TALK US. WE LISTEN YOU. Sorry, just love speaking caveman.


Well, placekicking and punting are just a part of Special Teams (hereinafter referred to as ST). Kickoff Returners and Punt Returners are also just a part of ST. Basically it's any change of possession plus Extra Point Attempt (XPA) and Field Goal Attempt (FGA). We're talking: Punt (P); Punt Return (PR); Kickoff (KO); Kickoff Return (KOR). Kick coverage requires tackling so some equate it with defense although I think the NFL tallies ST tackles in a separate category. Kick/punt returns produce yards, but they are lumped with the returns of fumbles or interceptions (at least that's how I do it) as a change of possession.

In the NFL, and for the Broncos this season especially, ST are a place where players can showcase their basic football abilities: running, blocking and tackling. Last season most of the deficiencies on Bronco ST can be attributed to poor running, blocking and tackling. Yes, I know, that sounds repetitious, doesn't it? Sorry, but that's football ... running, blocking and tackling. That's what the guy whose name is on the NFL Championship Trophy always said ... Vince somebody ...? I know how fans like to blame all bad returns on the returner and all bad kicks on the kicker, but it's a team game ... ten other guys ... hello.

Bronco offseason acquisitions (not inquisitions) are bristling with players who can have an instant impact on ST: Nikos Koutouvides, Spencer Larsen, Wesley Woodyard, Marquand Manuel, Josh Barrett, Keary Colbert, Lorne Sam, Eddie Royal, Jack Williams, Brett Kern, Garrett Hartley, Ryan Torain and Anthony Aldridge. When you add that to Jordan Beck et al. from '07, that's a bunch of fresh legs. Speaking of which, If you haven't read "Do we or don't we want to fill our football pants?", look it up here to your right. It definitely has a bearing on ST.

As alluded to previously, ST is not rocket science ... , it's basic football. Kick coverage is, see the field? You know, that big green thing with white lines and numbers on it? Use that stuff (numbers, hash marks, etc.) as guidelines to ... guide you ... as you RUN TOP SPEED DOWN THE FIELD WITH NO REGARD FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. Each guy has his own lane ... no road rage now. Run your lane, run through blocks not around them, find the guy with the ball, break down, head (the thing with your eyes in it) in front, wrap up and drive your feet. By the way, here's a place where those 40 yd. times really mean something.

Kick/punt returns are also very simple: right, left or middle return; maybe some kind of reverse/fake reverse on KOR. Here's where that thing called b-l-o-c-k-i-n-g comes in. It doesn't have to be a pancake. A block consists of getting between the guy you want to block and your returner. You are wearing all that protective equipment though; why not HIT SOMEBODY? Got pads in your pants? No clipping! Watch out for fake punts and onsides kicks.

Here's something I've always wondered about in relation to the NFL roster limit. Instead of having a special long snapper (no fishing license required), have several guys, linemen, TEs, LBs, etc. prepared to do that. There's one roster spot (nothing personal, Mike). Then, how about you have one guy who punts and placekicks? He'll need to be be a regular sized football player, not one of those tiny guys. Remember, punter and kicker-offer must tackle. There's a second roster spot. Or, on KO, what if we find several guys on the team capable of hanging the kick up and have it consistently come down on the number 10? That way you could run jaws on KO coverage plus have a real headhunter in there instead of a kicker. Just wondering.

Going into training camp next month, the Broncos have two of each, punters and place kickers. P Sam Paulescu, Oregon State, is in his second year and his competition is Brett Kern, a rookie from Toledo. PK Matt Prater, Central Florida, is also in his second year and his rookie counterpart is Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma. Kick-o-rama is almost here! Guess I expected more candidates. There was another P, Danny Baugher, but he was released. The Broncos will be on the lookout for more guys. Mike Dragosavich was signed as a CFA by the Patriots but was released recently, if I'm not mistaken. Those punters need to take as few steps as possible and stroke it just like a golf swing or a baseball batter with good consistent contact and follow through. For XPA/FGA the hashmarks are lined up on the goalposts. Keep your head down and follow through. Kick the bottom of the ball on XPA for liftoff. It's not kicking/punting ... IT'S AN ADVENTURE! Punters will get reps holding for XPA/FGA. This is where the LS, the line (all locked up), and the wings must allow no penetration.

I know that many Bronco fans are still in shock and denial about Jason Elam. Some of our brethern have said that Elam's range has been decreasing. I don't know. All I can think of is all those winning clutch kicks. We need to realize that: Jason still wants to kick: Jason wants appropriate remuneration for his services; Jason wants to set unbreakable records before retirement; and, Jason thinks kicking in a building will help. Hey, Brett Kern is #1 now if that's any consolation ... no? I expect the loser of each kicking competition to be on the Practice Squad, just in case. Look for the Broncos to bring in more kickers and punters for tryouts until they find what they need: reliability and consistency. Hey, in '07 I was excited about Sauerbrun returning to Denver ... until the game at Chicago.

And finally, the returners. It's a cliche that you can't coach speed. You actually can in high school because a lot of kids just don't know how to run economically yet. That's why so many HS football coaches also coach track and field. By the time a player reaches the NFL, however, that cliche is pretty true. Some have criticized the Broncos' returners in '07. My own impression was the blocking wasn't there. At any rate, Shanahan has loaded up with some speed demons for kick/punt returns: Eddie Royal, Anthony Aldridge, Samie Parker, Jack Williams and Josh Barrett (maybe). Did I leave anyone out? Andre Hall?

Attention all diehard Bronco fans! During preseason games don't leave your seat! Especially during P, PR, KO, KOR, XPA, FGA because it will be exciting! A whole bunch of guys trying to make the team will be trying to get your attention. They deserve it.

Broncos Team Camp: Day 5 Notes

DenverBroncos.com just hit send on their Day 5 notes, but keep it here and I'll break it down for you, I'll do my best to keep it entertaining as well.

• Kicker Garrett Hartley [whom I mentioned yesterday] took the entirety of the field goals and extra points, as well as the kickoffs. Weird to only use up one roster spot on a kicker though, maybe we'll figure out how to make him count for two [haha].
  
  
• Tony Scheffler suited up! But only to stretch.
  
  
• While Hartley was kicking off Andre Hall, Anthony Aldridge, Eddie Royal and Glenn Martinez all saw time at kick returner. You know what I just realized, since the days of Darrien Gordon or Glynn Milburn I haven't felt comfortable with our kick returner. It seems like under Shanahan they have really had a solid one. Except the year that we did have a great returner we went to the super bowl (that may have just been a coincidence, but the Bears didn't go two years ago based on lack of field position)... Remember how random the kick returner used to be? Rod Smith go return this punt, Bradley Van Pelt you can run, let's put you in there, Brian Habib lets see how you do.
  
  
• DB.com also felt the need to point out that Daniel Graham and Nate Jackson caught a lot of passes during 7 on 7 drills. Maybe that's because we don't have any other tight ends, but I'm not sure. I know, I know, Mike Leech and someone else, but long snappers and someone else's don't count.
  

Also! Selvin Young felt the need to talk a whole lot about himself and by himself I mean as a starting running back. At least he doesn't talk in third person, here are the important parts-

On being a starter:

"I always had it in my mind," Young said. "I felt like I could go and be a feature back for any team in the NFL. I was just looking for a team to give me an opportunity and believe in me and allow me to push myself to get to that level of competition. I don’t feel like there’s anything I can’t accomplish if I put my mind to it.”

On Travis Henry being cut last week:

“It hasn’t affected me at all whatsoever," Young said [editors note: his depth chart position may have changed just a bit, we're waiting for preseason to end before we make any definitive statements]. "My job is to come out and be prepared and be ready to go. There’s no difference from whether I was behind a guy and the guy ends up getting hurt and I have to come in and step up and fill the position. My job is to come in and learn the plays and be prepared, handle it like a professional and when my number’s called, be ready to go.”

But Selvin, who's this guy screaming at everyone, coming in like a Tasmanian devil and just cutting everybody from the roster?

"He’s won Super Bowls, he’s one of the greatest coaches if not one of the greatest coaches of all time, [edit note: oh...] so I believe in everything he does and anything he says, and I’m going to go out and be a soldier for him," he said. "Any decision he makes I’m going to stand by it, and if that reflects on me it’s a decision that he made and his belief in me and myself, and the other guys that we have in our position."

Who is it up to to prove you can be productive, to the coaches, I mean?

"It’s up to me to prove to the coaches I can be productive in that sense, and it’s up to me to stay healthy and do the things off the field and in the weight room to combat those ideas,” Young said.

"I’m coming out and I’m taking the reps right now with the [first team], and I feel like it’s my job to go out and continue to be a leader and be an example for the guys behind me and continue to keep pressure on those guys like they’re putting pressure on me,” Young said.

Broncos Special Teams Improved?

Spencer Larsen warms up during Team Camp.

Yep... However, I was looking for a Matt Prater highlight for this very blog, let's just say it didn't go well. The only thing I could find was a horrible shank that he had last year for Atlanta. I want to pull for Garrett Hartley (OU Rookie F.A.) to make it as our Kicker, he was nominated for the Lou Garza Award (best college Kicker), but despite having the best statistics he did not win. Hey, if Jason Elam made it in Denver and he was from Hawaii, why not Hartley from Oklahoma?

A lot of our free agent/draft signees, I cannot see contributing anywhere else other than special teams. Look at Spencer Larsen or Wesley Woodyard. Those guys are here to bust some heads on Kickoffs and Punts. Obviously there's Eddie Royal, there's also Anthony Aldridge who should contribute on Kickoffs, as well as Jack Williams who could as well. Hell, maybe even Peyton Hillis will be out there (everyone knows the story of how Terrell Davis got noticed) cracking skulls as he chases down an opposing team's Punt Returner and blocking on Kickoffs.

Also, there's Defensive Tackle Josh Mallard challenging Mike Leech as the Long Snapper on Punts. If you watch the Chicago game, which many people did, because it was just on NFL Network last week, in both Touchdown returns Leech missed tackles on Hester very early on. If he could have simply got in the way, maybe we win that game and we're 8-8 instead of 7-9. Which at a certain point in the playoff hunt would have gotten us in.

Anyway, looking forward to see the new Special Teams this season, a little worried about the Kicker and the Punting situation... Even before Jason Elam left, I love him, but it was his time to ride off into the sunset. Our Punting may not have been great before we cut Todd Sauerbrun, but it was scary after.