Getting the Berger Picture: Why Josh McDaniels is Smarter Than You
If you were inside the head of Josh McDaniels, you might be tempted to tell everyone how smart you really are.
Then again, if you were Josh McDaniels, you'd be smart enough to shut up and keep your knowledge to yourself. Al Davis has spies everywhere (look behind your bushes right now if you think I'm lying), so there's really no need to give up trade secrets.
During the bye week, McDaniels waived Punter Brett Kern and replaced him with (let's just say it) journeyman punter Mitch "Where's the Beef?" Berger. In a seemingly puzzling move, Denver's starting punter was on the street. We can all sleep well, however, knowing Kern was picked up by Tennessee in a few days. The bad news for Kern is that he's not going to the playoffs this year. The good news? He'll get plenty of practice kicking with Vince Young under center.
Things looked even stranger after the Baltimore game last week. Berger didn't exactly shred it up like Keanu Reeves on a tasty wave. He was criticized for his slow delivery, and his lack of leg strength, averaging a paltry 38.4 yards/punt. And it's not as if this average was skewed. Berger had 8 punts. He punted so many times they are considering waving his entrance fee to the next Ray Guy kicking camp.
So why did McDaniels do it? Why, Josh? Give us an explanation.
63 comments | 17 recs |
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos; Friday Injury Report
| DENVER BRONCOS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Thur. Participation | Fri. Participation | Sat. Participation | Saturday Status |
| Josh Barrett (S) | Hamstring | Did Not Participate | Limited Participation | ||
| Ryan Harris (T) | Toe | Did Not Participate | Did Not Participate | ||
| Ryan McBean (DL) | Knee | Did Not Participate | Did Not Participate | ||
| David Bruton (S) | Groin | Limited Participation | Full Participation | ||
| Jack "MF" Williams (CB) | Illness | Limited Participation | Full Participation | ||
| Peyton Hillis (RB) | Not Injury Related | Not Listed | Did Not Participate | ||
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Thur. Participation | Fri. Participation | Sat. Participation | Saturday Status |
| Travis Kirschke (DE) | Calf | Did Not Participate | Did Not Participate | ||
| Lawrence Timmons (LB) | Ankle | Did Not Participate | Did Not Participate | ||
17 comments | 0 recs |
Broncos add Ty Law, pending physical
Now this is a weird move. The Broncos have agreed to a contract with CB Ty Law - who was once one of the better corners in the League with the New England Patriots, pending a physical tonight.
Law and the Broncos have reached agreement on a contract that will add another former Patriot to Josh McDaniels' stable of them in Denver.
Law confirmed the developments when contacted Friday.
He is scheduled to fly to Denver on Friday to take a physical. Assuming he passes, Law will join the Broncos at a similar time to when he joined the New York Jets last season.
When the Jets signed him early in a week last year, Law suited up days later and participated in more than 50 plays covering Randy Moss.
He had wanted to return to football again and will now have the chance. Law, Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey will give Denver arguably the most decorated defensive secondary in the league.
Decorated, yes - but is there a need? It is true that rookie Alphonso Smith and Jack Williams have been up and down as the Nickel corners, but will the addition of Law help that?
**Hat Tip to those who created Fan Posts and Fan Shots!
108 comments | 0 recs |
MHR Chalk Talk - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos MNF ('09, wk 8)
Folks, this is the game I've been waiting for all season. There is an awful lot to look at between these two teams, and from a purely Xs and Os standpoint, this game should be a feast for football lovers.
The Steelers are the defending SB champions. Their young coach had to start under the shadow of a big name. This is a team that has excellent players in just about every facet of the game, and they are used very well by the coach.
The Broncos have emerged from a few years wandering the wilderness, and have a near perfect record. Their young coach had to start out in the shadow of a big name. Excellent players? Check. Great coaching? Check.
And this game will be on Monday night. Does it get any better?
Read on....
120 comments | 10 recs |
Horse Tracks 11/6/09 - McBean, Barrett miss practice again; Roethlisberger lobbying for no-huddle
Our thoughts go out to everyone touched by yesterday's tragedy in Texas...
NFL Films - Week 9: Steelers vs. Broncos Preview - Video
DB - Week 9 - Thu: McDaniels - Broncos TV
DB - Week 9 - Thu: Baliey - Broncos TV
DB - A Familiar Foe - Zach Eisendrath
Ryan McBean spent the last two season on Pittsburgh's practice squad, so his familiarity with the Steelers is helping his new teammates practice for Monday. However, McBean (knee) and Josh Barrett (hamstring) again joined Ryan Harris in missing practice yesterday.
DPP - Broncos lineman feeling at home - Lindsay Jones
Tyler Polumbus is expected to make his first NFL start on Monday, and he'll basically be doing so in his hometown and in front of family and friends.
NFLN - WK 9 Playbook: Steelers vs. Broncos - Video
Baldinger thinks the Broncos need to challenge Pittsburgh deep, while Theismann sees improvement in the Steelers O-Line.
101 comments | 1 recs |
The Curious Case of Matt Prater
Editor's Note - More great stuff from the Fan Posts. You guys and gals are a talented group. Great post, and keep 'em coming! - Guru
Hey everyone, I have been an MHR member for a few months and am a life-long Broncos fan from Virginia. I love the site and try to comment as often as I can. However, up until now, I had not created my own post, but something I heard on Sirius NFL Radio this morning got me to thinking about our hot, cold, and everywhere in between kicker. Randy Cross, co-host of the Morning Drive, was talking about touchbacks and how a special teams coach often will tell their kicker a few weeks into the season to favor hang time instead of going for the touchback every time. He suggested that this saves the kicker's leg from getting too tired over the course of the season and helps to prevent a low line drive kick from being returned. This is an interesting point and could, note that word, have something to do with Prater's recent performance. Let's hope so because the alternative is not all that promising.
Now, there has been a lot of discussion about Prater's apparent struggles as of late. Touchbacks in the past few weeks are rarer than a Raiders fan in a college class. Hayooo. His field goals? Well, let's just say there is room for improvement, but how much? Is Prater already fading like he did down the stretch last season? Let's look at the numbers, but let me first be up front and tell you all that I am not a stats guy and don't even play one on TV. I made my analysis on the basis of simple logic and not sound statistical principles that I undoubtedly furrowed my brow at in a vain attempt to understand in some college stats class.
49 comments | 4 recs |
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos; Thursday Injury Report
| DENVER BRONCOS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Thur. Participation | Fri. Participation | Sat. Participation | Saturday Status |
| Josh Barrett (S) | Hamstring | Did Not Participate | |||
| Ryan Harris (T) | Toe | Did Not Participate | |||
| Ryan McBean (DL) | Knee | Did Not Participate | |||
| David Bruton (S) | Groin | Limited Participation | |||
| Jack "MF" Williams (CB) | Illness | Limited Participation | |||
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Thur. Participation | Fri. Participation | Sat. Participation | Saturday Status |
| Travis Kirschke (DE) | Calf | Did Not Participate | |||
| Lawrence Timmons (LB) | Ankle | Did Not Participate | |||
13 comments | 0 recs |
Horse Tracks 11/5/09 - McBean, J. Williams, Bruton miss practice; Clark unlikely to play for Steelers
Thanks for all of your votes and input yesterday, folks! I think it provided enough feedback/encouragement to help make Horse Tracks a tighter ship, and I truly appreciate it. But just to be clear, I'm not looking to make Tracks easier/faster for myself. I'm just trying to cut the fat so I can add back in some commentary/snark where it's called for (ironically, not much today).
DB - Week 9 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV
DPP - Briefs: Broncos a big zero on opening drives this season - Lindsay Jones
OT Ryan Harris (out w/two dislocated toes), DE Ryan McBean (MCL), CB Jack Williams (unkown) and S David Bruton (ankle) missed practice.
CSG - Broncos notes: Altitude likely to sideline Steelers' Clark - Frank Schwab
DB - Déjà Vu All Over Again? - Gray Caldwell
DB - Ecstatic To Enter The Locker Room - Chris Gentilviso
Carlton Powell is thrilled to be back with the Broncos, while Lance Ball found a couple of familiar faces in Denver.
CBS - Rating big trade winners, losers at midseason - Clark Judge
"The move was supposed to say more about McDaniels than Cutler, and maybe it did. Maybe it said he knew what he was doing." My, how things have changed...
35 comments | 1 recs |









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