Horse Tracks 10/13/09 - It's Chargers Week. There will be no letdown.

by Douglas A. Lee on Oct 13, 2009 5:44 AM MDT in Horse Tracks

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These are not the Broncos of recent years. Bill Belichick's teams do not have letdown games, and certainly not against divisional arch rivals. They lose games occasionally, but it's not because they overlook their opponents. Josh McDaniels and Brian Dawkins will not allow this team to take the Dolts lightly; besides, there is plenty of motivational material on film. The Broncos may have upset the Pats on Sunday, but they did so with plenty of room for improvement; they must stop putting the ball on the ground and clean up special teams. Philip Rivers is 5-1 versus Denver (and should be 6-0, thanks to Hochuli). Which brings us to today's fun fact of the day - the 2008 Broncos allowed 52 points to the Dolts in closing out the season. The 2009 Denver Broncos have allowed 43 points in FIVE GAMES.

DB - Week 6 - Mon: McDaniels - Broncos TV

CHFF - All hail the Horseshoe
Cold Hard Football Facts loves Kyle Orton. Fascinating read. Thanks to Bear for the link.

DPP - Broncos' game at San Diego could be difference maker - Jeff Legwold
Pat Bowlen has added the hoodie to his wardrobe...where are the pictures?!?!?!

DPP - Broncos' receivers rediscover 2008 form - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Analysis: Broncos need to polish special teams - Jeff Legwold
"They are tied for last in the NFL, with the winless Rams, for average drive start after a kickoff (21.6-yard line) and they fumbled away one kickoff when Peyton Hillis committed a turnover on the opening kickoff against Cleveland."

NFLFH - Broncos' Talented Eddie Royal Slowly Adjusting to New Role - Thomas George
This is why Rod Smith is the man - "It's like a worker who one day walked into Microsoft and the next day walked into Mac -- the whole building and attitude and philosophy and structure have changed with Josh." Said D.J. Williams, "We have fewer players worrying about making the Pro Bowl and getting individual honors and more guys putting the team first." Thanks to Elizabeth for the link!

CBS4 - Elway Likes McDaniels' Style On The Sidelines - Matthew Buettner
"He just keeps going to the right guys, putting the ball on the money, and doing the right things, which wins football games," Elway said. "He outplayed Brady yesterday in his system and was just doing some great, great things."

DB - Confident While Committed - Zach Eisendrath
"Those guys fight for each other," Rod Smith said. "Talking to some of the players, they said, ‘The one thing I love about our team is that it’s unselfish.’ Everybody on this team is really thinking about the guy next to them, and they’re making some things happen."

CBS4 - Broncos' Chris Simms Encourages Blood Donation - Libby Smith

CSG - Celebration shows McDaniels' strength - Frank Schwab

CSG - Coach gives Broncos day off for hard-working win - Frank Schwab

DPP - Breakdown: Pats fail to adjust - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Q&A: Broncos prefer to wear throwback jerseys only twice - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Spotlight on: Broncos tight end Daniel Graham - Lindsay Jones

DP - Broncos now in fast company - Jeff Legwold

AP - Knowshon Moreno Overcomes Fumble With A Few Fine Runs - Eddie Pells

DPP - Former CB Crockett impressed with current team - Mike Klis
"That is probably about as poor as you can play in the kicking game and win a game in the National Football League," McDaniels said. "It was disappointing. Our special teams have been a strength of ours so far this season and certainly weren't yesterday."

DB - Ask Champ Bailey...

KDVR - Chris Tanaka: I was wrong about the Broncos

ESPN - Tedy Bruschi's thoughts on the New England Patriots' Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos

WEEI - Upon Further Review: A look back at Pats-Broncos - Christopher Price

ESPN - Will Denver's fast start reflect poorly on Shanahan? - Bill Williamson
Depends...is Bob Slowik still attached to Shanny's hip? Would YOU hire Mike Shanahan and allow him to bring Bob Slowik along as his DC?

LTC - Mile High five - Brian Howell

LTC - McDaniels can’t hide glee over beating former team

INDT - Drew Litton: Belichick gets schooled

DH - Orton gets my respect, but come on - Mike Imrem
What's that smell?!?! Sour grapes???

AFC West News

DPP - Broncos primer: The San Diego Chargers - Lindsay Jones

NCT - By any color, Chargers face a must-win game - Jay Paris

SDUT - Chargers feel urgency of Monday's game - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Chargers' real problems aren't Norv or A.J. - Nick Canepa
Mmm Hmm. That's because A.J. is always good for a quote...

KCS - Running game with LJ has ground to a halt - Adam Teicher

SFC - RAIDERS MELTDOWN / From Week 5 to futility - Ray Ratto

OT - Inman: Cable issue is at hand

NFL Results

NFL - New York Jets 27 at Miami Dolphins 31

NFL News

NFL - On second thought, 49ers CB Bly sorry for his showboating
What a clown. Anyone wonder why the 2007 and 2008 Broncos' defenses were so bad?!?! No, I know Bly wasn't a bad player for the Broncos. But with that attitude? That garbage can bring a whole team down...

NFL - Bills coach Jauron feeling pressure as injuries, losses mount

NFL - Titans CB Harper sidelined up to six weeks with broken right forearm

NFL - Concussions could end season for Niners' Lewis, Ulbrich

NFL - Niners release veteran Rossum to make room for rookie Crabtree

NFL - NFL opens probe into Browns rookie Davis' season-ending injury

NFL - Veteran OT Tauscher returns to Packers, who need help on line

NFL Opinion

USAT - Replay: McDaniels' Marshall plan bearing fruit for Broncos - Jarett Bell

CBS - Prisco Grades: Week 5
"Still doubting the Denver Broncos? Not anymore. Still questioning Josh McDaniels? Not now. You can't doubt them anymore like I have. I'm done. "

Y! - Love affair for Falcons' Ryan is growing - Mike Silver
"We won’t drink the kool aid!!!!" – Text Sunday evening from Broncos defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday, resisting the hype that will intensify after Sunday’s victory over the Patriots

NFL - Lopsided results show huge disparity between best and worst teams - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Tavern talk: A win for Vikki Zimmer - Mike Lombardi
"Knowshon Moreno is tough to tackle, and he made more yards after contact Sunday. "

NFP - Diner morning news: Trades are coming - Mike Lombardi

NFL - Six from Sunday: With four teams still winless, 0-16 is a possibility - Pat Kirwan
Kirwan thinks it was unfair the Pats didn't get the ball in OT. Waaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Y! - Jets assistant battled through cancer, leg ailments - Jason Cole

NFP - Is this Favre’s best team yet? - Matt Bowen

NFP - Three No. 1s, many millions spent - Andrew Brandt
"Josh McDaniels wanted Orton more than he wanted Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell or anyone else who was offered to him for Cutler."

NFP - Scout’s notebook: offensive review - Wes Bunting

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Comments

I've grown to hate reading the guys at the Chargers blog

so I’m very, very ready for this game. Constantly reading how lucky we are and how we haven’t played anyone ‘real’ yet gets pretty old. I’m pretty geared up for this. Please don’t let us get clobbered…again.

I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.

by A.J. Haefele on Oct 13, 2009 5:52 AM MDT reply actions

yeah, they remind me of Raiders fans...

Meanwhile we’re doing and saying all the right things. (V holliday, B Marsh etc)

I’ve been re-watching this last game and it wasn’t pretty but we beat a quality opponent by pulling together as a team in a a way I’m not used to seeing these last few years. It’s going to take that and more to overcome the talent they’ve got down in SD …down in SD. But if ever they were RIPE for the picking, it’s now!

What’s scaring me is the fact that I can fully imagine going 6-0 on Monday Night Football vs our sole division competition …in their house. Wow! It’s Koolaid by osmosis. It’s going to be a long week.

Fun year eh?

by Whidbey Bronco on Oct 13, 2009 6:11 AM MDT up reply actions

Now wait a second...

…and should be 6-0, thanks to Hochuli.

Didn’t Denver still have to get the TD after several more plays? And didn’t they have to get a two point conversion? Bad call? Yes. Gave the game to SD? Absolutely not. SD still had several chances to stop Denver, and didn’t get it done.

Great stuff NYC. It sure is nice to see a lot of the media types eating crow and talking about what a swell team we really have. MHR readers knew it all along (despite what one might get from Kisz…. well, let’s try to let that go. lol)

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 13, 2009 6:13 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

yeah i call that one a legit win too...

by Whidbey Bronco on Oct 13, 2009 6:16 AM MDT up reply actions

What is it about San Diego and feeling like they're "owed" something by Denver teams?

It started with Matt Holliday’s “phantom tap” on home plate in 2007, and continued last year with the blown call by Hochuli.

Suck it up, take your losses, regroup, and get better so this kind of crap doesn’t matter the next time. That’s all.

At this point in the season, all the Rockies' numbers are magic.
"If you do it right 51 percent of the time, you will end up a hero." - Alfred P. Sloan

by Duncan1800 on Oct 13, 2009 7:41 AM MDT up reply actions

I certainly understand that Denver made the plays; especially Cutler and Royal at the end there. But the Hochuli call wasn’t in the 2nd or 3rd quarter. There is nothing left to the imagination (if Hochuli makes the proper call, or even if that play occurred this year, they would review it and get it correct); the Chargers take a knee and the game is over. Simple as that. It doesn’t get much closer to a referee taking a victory away from one team. Notice I didn’t say he “gave Denver the victory” – he took it from San Diego. Only thing closer (in my mind) was that pass interference call at the end of the Miami/Ohio State title game a few years back.

by Douglas A. Lee on Oct 13, 2009 7:44 AM MDT up reply actions

5-1 against

Shanny coached teams. New dynasty starting here. PR isgoing to be 0-1 and counting against the new dynasty.

by papasteven on Oct 13, 2009 8:08 AM MDT up reply actions

What is he record against the Patriots I wonder????

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Oct 13, 2009 8:12 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks NYC!

by boydy2669 on Oct 13, 2009 6:50 AM MDT reply actions

Good Morning nyc, Thank You for all you do on Horse Tracks...

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Oct 13, 2009 7:01 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks NYC, now why the dolts hate us

they have never won a super bowl and the BRONCOS won one in their house. I bet smoke starts coming out of there ears every time they think of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

live and die blue and orange

by jerry251 on Oct 13, 2009 8:36 AM MDT reply actions

lol true

by Whidbey Bronco on Oct 13, 2009 7:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks Nyc

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing." -- George Bernard Shaw
Breaking jaws or the NFL in Oakland who cares? Fall on your pirate’s sword - Ponderosa

by KaptainKirk on Oct 13, 2009 9:18 AM MDT reply actions

NFL Opinion - Whitlock vs Limbaugh

I could have written Whitlock’s article in advance knowing Whitlock’s attitudes. He is a disgusting racist. So is Sharpton. I’m not sure because I don’t listen to Limbaugh, but I guess that he is at least perceived to be racist by many and the selected quotes by Whitlock certainly portray Limbaugh as a racist. But Whitlock then rips the Commissioner and says “Goodell primarily represents a consortium of rich white men who apparently can’t quite muster the courage to stand up to one of their own.”

Whitlock sets up his strawman Jay-Z and says Jay-Z’s brand of racism is OK compared to Limbaugh.

Racism in all its forms is unacceptable to me yet must be acknowledged. I do not believe that having a racial bias automatically disqualifies you from being a sports writer nor from being a sports owner. I will despise your hateful racist attitudes whichever side of the fence you are on.

by Endzone on Oct 13, 2009 10:19 AM MDT reply actions

article

Sorry….here’s the article: Goodell should say no to Limbaugh

by Endzone on Oct 13, 2009 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions

We must respect all opinions

…unless they come from a conservative.

Nice.

Limbaugh isn’t a racist. And if the NFL caves to this pressure, it will be yet another win for the professionally aggrieved.

by JeffG on Oct 13, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions

I think Limbaugh's offer is a trap.

He knows he’s not going to become an owner or co-owner of any team. He’s setting the NFL up for an anti-trust lawsuit. I don’t like him as a person and it has nothing to do with political views. He’s a dirt bag and a piece of crap. In my opinion anyways.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

by Joe Medina on Oct 13, 2009 12:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Thank goodness for Rod Smith

reading about how he has helped both Marshall and Royal adjust to the team-first type schemes after both of them had such impressive personal-pro-bowl stats last year makes me really appreciate him – and he’s not even on the payroll! There is a true Bronco for you, thru and thru. The more we win, the easier the team-first attitude and culture will be to accept for the guys like Eddie who just haven’t been as sparkly this season because of their new roles and schemes.

"Take what you can. Give nothing back!"

by Colorado_Kitten on Oct 13, 2009 10:29 AM MDT reply actions

Agreed

If Smith isn’t on Bowlens payroll, Bowlen should find a way to put him on there fast. He is and will be an asset to any team. A side note here, anyone else notice CBS Sports has Rod Smith on the PUP list. Can’t tell if there is reason behind it or just an error on CBS.

Denver rookie head coach Josh McDaniels doesn't have a grasp on how to build a team." - John Clayton, April 23rd, 2009

by diviesti on Oct 13, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions

The Paragon and Uber-Player List?

Well, be belongs there…so I don’t think it’s a mistake.

"Don't feed the trolls. Remember to be polite. And please show self-restraint in comment length!" -Me, to myself, because I need constant reminding.

by Disco_Stu on Oct 13, 2009 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

Lol, awesome

Denver rookie head coach Josh McDaniels doesn't have a grasp on how to build a team." - John Clayton, April 23rd, 2009

by diviesti on Oct 13, 2009 12:24 PM MDT up reply actions

At the height of the Marshall drama

I was watching the news and they showed a clip of Smith talking to Royal, just tossing a ball between them. And I sat there thinking “please, Eddie. Whatever he is saying to you, please let it sink in.” Looks like it’s working.

Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile

by frightened inmate #2 on Oct 13, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions

hear hear

by Whidbey Bronco on Oct 13, 2009 7:04 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks agan for your hard work, NYC!

I thought Bruschi’s thoughts on the game were very interesting, especially his first paragraph. Great coaching by McD and staff!

And concerning the question of hiring Shanny with Slowik in tow: I’ve been wondering that for a while. Also, shouldn’t Shanny’s personnel decisions the past decade also be taken in to consideration by teams? That is the big question to me. I just don’t know how that dynamic will work itself out when someone hires him on. I think he’s a proven X’s and O’s guy but in those other two areas leaves MUCH to me desired.

by Gristle McThornbody on Oct 13, 2009 10:44 AM MDT reply actions

Braylon Edwards

Edwards had a great game in a losing effort by the Jets against the Dolphins. Starting one week for the Browns one week and starting for the Jets the next….and performing! Gotta give the guy respect.

by Endzone on Oct 13, 2009 10:51 AM MDT reply actions

Mangini

What a waste. The “voluntary” rookie bus ride, the hotel water bottles…now reports that rookie RB Davis was injured while running with no shoulder pads, while the tackler DID have pads?

McDaniels is the anti-Mangini, in so many ways.

"Don't feed the trolls. Remember to be polite. And please show self-restraint in comment length!" -Me, to myself, because I need constant reminding.

by Disco_Stu on Oct 13, 2009 11:25 AM MDT reply actions