Horse Tracks - 12/19/08

by John Bena on Dec 19, 2008 9:10 AM MST in Horse Tracks

DENVER POST

Standing inside the Broncos' locker room, with an Ace bandage big enough to mummify Eddie Royal wrapped around his left hand, guard Chris Kuper insists he doesn't know what the big deal is. His team has a game Sunday, so the guard is playing.

"There was this scrawny little kid at quarterback, and, anyway, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to him until the first game. He returned a couple of kicks for touchdowns, played every down and threw a bunch of touchdown passes, and we were ahead 60-something to nothing, and I turned to somebody and said: 'Oh, my gosh. Jay Cutler is going to be something very special.' "

Another day preparing for what could be the Broncos' biggest game in two years. Another practice working in Tyler Polumbus and Kory Lichtensteiger with the Broncos' first-string offensive line.

The weather is supposed to be frigid Sunday, with a forecast high of 13 degrees and overcast skies, but Pittsburgh native Brandon Marshall isn't wasting any time worrying about it.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

So you think Jay Cutler gets an earful as quarterback? Try repeating this three times without tripping over your tongue. Falcon left shift to weak left tight wide left H2 X bingo wide smash.

There are things the Broncos know. They know the Buffalo Bills are among the league's top three in almost every major special-teams category.

Barring a late setback, Champ Bailey finally might be ready to return to the Broncos lineup after a seven-game absence because of a severe groin injury.

OTHER

The Denver Broncos are ignoring San Diego, coach Mike Shanahan forbidding his players from watching the contest on television in the locker room.

Daniel Graham is shedding his reputation, along with tacklers. Known as a great blocking tight end, the Denver Broncos seventh-year pro is becoming one of quarterback Jay Cutler's most reliable targets, a 257-pound hulk who's tough to corral after the catch.

With temperatures expected to plummet into the single digits Sunday in Denver against the Buffalo Bills, Broncos tight end Daniel Graham has already pledged to go sleeveless

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The article about what goes on during the 40 seconds befoer the play

was awesome.

The neatest thing to me was seeing how Bobby Turner decides which players go in. I knew that he was responsible for determining the RB rotation, but it appears that he also decides which TEs, FBs, and WRs go out on offense. I am sure certain plays are drawn up around certain players, but on the whole the offense needs to be designed for anyone to be in there, so I thought it was pretty interesting to find out he had total conttrol of that situation.

All in all a very cool article, and a tremendous use of a press pass.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 19, 2008 10:26 AM MST reply actions

I agree completely

I guess that maybe your average football fan wouldn’t care too much (they’re just getting another beer?), but I really appreciated the opportunity to “step into the huddle” so to speak.

by hai17 on Dec 19, 2008 7:05 PM MST up reply actions

That was a nice article

I remember watching NFL coaches talking about this on NFL Films. Gruden and other coaches were explaining in Layman’s terms about why a call is so long. The terminology and the words they use is insane and for a QB to know every single one in a playbook that isn’t small and know exactly what the play is, is quite impressive. I know the next game I watch I will be thinking about this. Also, not to forget the pressure of changing a play after the 15 second mark.

The pressure of being an NFL coach is quite demanding and you better be on your toes…….because you only have three timeouts per half.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9

by weazel on Dec 20, 2008 10:25 AM MST up reply actions

You really need to check out the article "without tripping" at the link above.

I agree with you styg50. It’s a fascinating piece about how complicated it is to get a play called. I have a profound new respect for what the coaches are doing while the game is going on.

Good job Guru, recommended.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Dec 19, 2008 10:59 AM MST reply actions

I agree with both you and styg

That article was very fascinating. I always thought the 40 seconds between plays was more than enough time. Now I amazed they ever get a play off correctly.

The Bobby Turner info was interesting as well. This is just a guess, but I am thinking that Turner’s control over the RB personnel is still greater than the receivers. I think Turner can put any RB in there for any play based on his feel for how they are playing, how rested and/or banged up they are, the game situation, etc. But for WR/TE I am guessing it is a bit more structured and that Turner’s decisions are based more on the player’s physical condition at that moment. (ie. The base WRs are Royal and Marshall. If either of them needs a breather, Turner has been told not to use Stokely and will send in one of the Jacksons even though Stokely is the 3rd reciever in a 3 WR formation)

by MattR on Dec 19, 2008 12:38 PM MST up reply actions

that makes sense

And on a lot of teams there really aren’t as amany options as we have anyway, so what he does at WR and TE is probably similar to what a lot of teams do, in terms of switching out players.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 19, 2008 3:04 PM MST up reply actions