Horse Tracks 10/17/09 - Buckhalter and Jordan to play Monday; Savannah State to retire Sharpe's Number

I saw that one play against Miami and I realized how BS that call is. I mean when you are on the ground near the QB, I guess you just stay there.

http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/10/15/1086025/horse-tracks-10-15-09-buckhalter#22832896

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13562380

What’s going on with Alfonso Smith? I’ve watched every game and have noticed Jack Williams is playing as the nickel corner on most of the snaps. For a guy who we traded our 2010 first round pick for it seems he’d be on the field more.

— Steve, Atlanta, Ga.

Steve: Alfonso hasn’t been a factor so far. He has a handful of tackles; a couple of passes defended, and has been a complete bust as a punt return man (I think four returns for nine yards). I genuinely believe he and Robert Ayers, despite what some people shout, just haven’t advanced as quickly as the Broncos would like, and I’ve been told that by someone on the inside. It doesn’t mean either is a bust, but just that they probably won’t contribute that much until later this season, if at all. It’s too early to dismiss them, but not too early to say they won’t be on the all-rookie team.

It’s probably better to take up this issue in a future post since I doubt that many people will backtrack to discuss this issue now. Nonetheless, I’ll post the contentious column by Paige, which provides me with an easy way to trace these issues in the future — if needed.

There are several problems with Paige’s contention; Schwab of the C.S.Gazette had posted an article on Oct. 1(below), two weeks before the Paige column about the progress of Ayers, and that’s “progress” in a positive sense. And Schwab’s article contained some actual reporting and concretely discussed the coaching staff’s attitudes, which revealed that he had actually talked to someone. Paige doesn’t show the same level of concreteness in his Mailbag column, so “who” and “what” were said — (if anyone on the inside actually said something) — are open to question.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/ayers-63053-broncos-englewood.html

At first glance, the Denver Broncos’ first-round pick hasn’t lived up to expectations, with only one tackle and no other stats through three games. But linebackers coach Don Martindale explained that Ayers, who has played in the Broncos’ nickel defense on passing downs, has done plenty that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet and is making a normal progression for a rookie.

"He’s doing a lot of good things in our team defensive scheme that people don’t see and recognize," Martindale said.

Martindale offered an example: Against the Browns, Ayers’ responsibility on certain plays was to "set the edge," or keep the quarterback contained in the pocket. Ayers held his ground against Cleveland Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Dumervil benefited with a four-sack day.

"That was able to free up Elvis Dumervil, along with everybody else," Martindale said. "If he doesn’t play his role in that pass rush, in that situation, Brady Quinn is able to get out of the pocket. There’s things like that, times that we ask him to do a lot of different things other than just rush the passer or setting the edge of the defense. I’m really excited about him."

The Broncos admit Ayers isn’t a finished product. He’s still learning the nuances of the defense and of playing outside linebacker after being primarily a defensive end in college. Martindale said Ayers is working in a positive direction toward becoming a full-time starter, but all of Denver’s starting linebackers ahead of him are playing well.

The team is fine with how Ayers has fared so far as a rookie.

"I have nothing but good things to say about Robert Ayers," Martindale said. "I think he’s right on schedule."

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9476

The Broncos responded to Paige’s Oct. 15 column with their Oct. 16 story by Gray Caldwell on the subject.

In football, perception isn’t always reality.

Some perceived the Broncos to be a disappointing team before the season even started. Undefeated through five games, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In the same vein, some perceive Robert Ayers’ impact on the football field so far this season to be miniscule. As far as linebackers coach Don Martindale is concerned, that’s a short-sighted view.

“That’s what fantasy football has done — everybody’s looking at tackles, assists and sacks and all that instead of actually watching the game and seeing some of the things that he does,” Martindale said. “I think every snap, every play, he gets better.”

Andra Davis said teammates have noticed that Ayers’ improvement from week to week comes from a a strong will, a humble attitude and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get better.

“To come in as a first-round pick, to get thrown in that fire early and you’re expected to make a contribution, that’s tough for a lot of people, and I applaud him,” Davis said. “I applaud his efforts and his approach to the game.”

… ..(see rest through link)"

I go on at length here but the truly egregious aspect of Paige’s reporting is that Alphonso Smith, whose play erased any doubts about him at the beginning of the season immediately, has been injured. It’s hard for me to believe that Paige wouldn’t be aware of this fact — so, was he playing on the ignorance of some fans to generate a controversy?

I could go back and analyze Paige’s contribution to the McJaygate issue, too, but my point is simply that he’s ill-motivated. It’s not about having a different point of view. He’s using language in a particular way to achieve his goals. Paige is a practitioner of the “smack talk” style of sports journalism, which may have begun in radio where sports talk call-in programs were deliberately provocative in order to survive in the ‘here today; gone tomorrow’ world of radio. A segue — much of today’s media is focused on the personal lives of athletes, and this, too, could have been a development that’s explained by changes in the media. Think of it as a form of “real world” journalism, which is scandal-focused and doesn’t require writers nor content.

I try to read everything Colinski posts or comments on.

look at actual play instead of merely looking at box scores

Little helped legitimize the Broncos and build their attendance to justify the expansion of Mile High. Without Little, the Broncos would probably not have lasted in Denver.

I’m a “stat guy” myself, but you cannot make a case for/against players purely by looking at their numbers. However, I’m confused by your statement about Little getting “run into the ground.” Terrell Davis actually had more carries than Little. One must consider the context of the day – Little retired as the 7th-leading rusher in NFL history and went to 5 Pro Bowls, back when the Pro Bowl actually meant something.

Stats are not the end all be all. As SWG says, it’s best to look at the actual play than the box score, something you’ve clearly never done in Floyd Little’s case.

To minimize Floyd’s impact on this franchise, is to be entirely ignorant of the history of the Denver Broncos- entirely ignorant.