Horse Tracks 7/27/09 - Broncos have 8 of 10 picks signed; awaiting Knowshon and Ayers

by Douglas A. Lee on Jul 27, 2009 4:37 AM MDT in Horse Tracks

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DP - Paige: McD wants defenses' hate
Woodrow shares a lengthy interview with Josh McDaniels, who points out that he hasn't been part of a team with a losing record in his entire life. He says the offense will feature many looks to confuse opponents, with main goals of reducing turnovers, increasing takeaways, improving field position and scoring more in the two-minute drill. Interestingly, he points out that the Broncos only scored 3 points on 17 drives in the two-minute offense. Is that really an elite offense?

DB - Broncos and Three Picks Agree to Terms
Denver came to agreements with Darcel McBath, David Bruton and Tom Brandstater. This leaves only Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers unsigned at this point.

DB - Broncos Sign Alphonso Smith

DP - Broncos sign rookie CB Alphonso Smith
Alphonso reportedly will receive $2.85 million in guarantees as part of a four-year deal.

DP - Moreno deal appears far from imminent
Only 4 of the league's 32 first-rounders had contract agreements as of last night.

KDVR - Robert Ayers' contract stalls, may not report on time

DP - Broncos' rookies carry report cards
Legwold tells us what to expect this week.

CBS4 - New Broncos' Boss Moving Past Offseason Of Drama
Hmm...McDaniels may be moving past the drama, but apparently Arnie Stapleton isn't. This reads like a cheat sheet for the DP comment writers...

NFL - Denver Broncos - Training Camp Article
Wow. Looks like Dukes and Wilcots teamed up to write this one...

KUSA - Super Bowl champion coach offers advice to Broncos coach
Joe Gibbs says all first-year coaches struggle. I didn't get a chance to watch the accompanying video.

CBS - Training camp battles: AFC West
Prisco thinks Knowshon will be the starter Week 1, expecting him to achieve instant stardom.

SDUT - English won't be at camp's opening

SDUT - Continuing to grow - Q&A: Chargers head coach Norv Turner

SDUT - Apology to Norv - Kevin Acee

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Precamp breakdown: DBs

CCT - Kawakami: What to watch as 49ers, Raiders head to camp

NFL - Bills WR Owens wants NFL to reinstate QB Vick without suspension

NFL - Veteran LB McGinest open to NFL return if situation is right

Y! - Ravens WR Bennett retires 2 days after signing
Wow, that didn't take long...

PFW - Barber, Bucs' new defense may not mesh - NFC Whispers

SI - Peter King on Michael Vick, Brett Favre, NFL camps, draft - Peter King
As he heads out for training camps, PK catches up on all the news he's missed while on vacation.

NFL - Top 10 intriguing training camp battles to watch - Pat Kirwan

NFP - Sunday at the Post - Mike Lombardi

SI - Confused? I've got this Brett Favre thing covered - Norman Chad
A Favre column absolutely worth the read.

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Comments

Thanks, NYC.

"Keel?"

by Tempestuous Binary on Jul 27, 2009 4:41 AM MDT reply actions

Lol at Drew Bennett's retirement (no offense)...

That is really unlucky.

"Keel?"

by Tempestuous Binary on Jul 27, 2009 4:45 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks for all you do NYC

I had to change my shirt after reading the Woody column . . . I spit up coffee everywhere. Could someone from the MSM finally be coming around? Oh my!!

"The men who have done big things are those who are not afraid to attempt big things, who were not afraid to risk failure in order to gain success."
- B.C Forbes

by HSFBCoach on Jul 27, 2009 6:37 AM MDT reply actions

He's not coming around...

He is just taking a moment to do some access-management. As soon as they lose a game, he’ll be back to his muckraking ways.

"I am not one of those who think that coming in second or third is winning." -- Robert F. Kennedy

by Ted Bartlett on Jul 27, 2009 6:46 AM MDT reply actions

This is pretty good coming from Woody, tho

After three extended interviews with the coach, the third lasting two hours Friday, the observer knows Josh is engaging, self-assured, likable, oft-times funny at his own expense, serious about his profession and goals, an NFL historian, highly intelligent, a dedicated husband and father and a clever, gifted football coach.

We do not know if he can do things that have been done six times with three coaches (one in his first season) — lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

Of course that last point is the one that matters — to Woody, to Bowlen, to McDaniels, to us. But it appears that, as a man, Woody is judging him fairly.

"Talk about the Broncos and I'm gonna 'put my dukes up'. I'm gonna hit you with these rings." -- Rod Smith giving the Kennison rebuttal to Jamie Dukes

by broncosmontana on Jul 27, 2009 7:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Woody

I was shocked at Woody’s column today. It was actually pretty good. I think he has been miffed that he did not have the same access to McD as he did with Shanahan and has been spewing garbage in a childish temper tantrum. Maybe now he will settle down and do some serious reporting.

by Endzone on Jul 27, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks Nyc

Extra bonus thanks for the tip on Norm Chad’s take on Favre. That was a great Monday morning laugh.

"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
"No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."

by KaptainKirk on Jul 27, 2009 7:44 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks for the time and effort nyc...

Here’s to hoping the X-Man gets Moreno and Ayers signed by the time Camp starts this afternoon…Go Broncos and let’s all pray for our boys to have good health this year.

by BroncoSense72 on Jul 27, 2009 8:43 AM MDT reply actions

Wait Doom and Reid are in a training camp battle?

FYI NFL network, this is why you will NEVER succeed if you try to take over all the broadcasting of your games. You can’t even read local blogs and newspapers to learn about players changing positions.

And when did Woody stop being Woody? Creepy.

Thank you as always NYC.

by Arimaris on Jul 27, 2009 8:52 AM MDT reply actions

I like this bubble.

I’m amused by the continued befuddlement of the MHR readers towards the main stream media.

As the MSM has ALWAYS done, they provide the most in depth coverage of glory boys like Farve and TO. There will always be a bias for teams in the North East and Dallas. They’ll emphasize the obvious contenders like Indy. (notice I didn’t include Pre season champs, but post season fodder aka the San Diego Dolts).

The MSM doesn’t think Denver is going to be very good this season so don’t expect them to give our team much attention. If Denver turns out to be winner in 2009, you can expect to get decent coverage around November, but more likely December. I live in Florida so I saw this play out with the Dolphins in 2008, Jacksonville in 2007.

If you guys ever read the stuff the MSM writes about teams like KC, Seattle, New Orleans, St. Louis, Jacksonville, you’d discover the MSM does a terrible job covering these types of teams as well (i.e. they don’t know starters, who plays where, all the off-season moves, etc).

The MSM has to cover 32 teams and as is the case every year, there will be at least 20 teams with completely forgettable seasons. Get over their reporting or just ignore NFL Network , CNNSI, ESPN, PFW, etc. if it bothers you that much. On this site, you can continue to get Bronco coverage from Bronco fans that is second to none.

by McGeorge on Jul 27, 2009 9:13 AM MDT reply actions

I take your point, McGeorge...

Still, there’s nothing wrong with continuing to express amazement that professional journalists can’t be bothered to get their facts straight before filing — and that their editors don’t seem much to care, so long as the writers hit the word count.

The MSM doesn’t have to cover all the teams; the choose to. And once they choose to, they should have enough pride in their work to do it competently.

But no worries. Eventually the market finds a way to fill the void created by apathy and incompetence.

This site being a case in point.

by JeffG on Jul 27, 2009 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions

My thoughts exactly

And I’ll just add that the fastest route to positive coverage for a small market team is for that team to exceed expectations.

"Talk about the Broncos and I'm gonna 'put my dukes up'. I'm gonna hit you with these rings." -- Rod Smith giving the Kennison rebuttal to Jamie Dukes

by broncosmontana on Jul 27, 2009 10:18 AM MDT up reply actions

I agree philosphically, McG

It’s just the pure, unbridled— and usually factually deficient— contempt. Case and point: I decided to start thinking about FFL rankings this morning. I’m a little skeptical about Steve Slanton, so started doing a little research. Now Denver and Houston sport the exact same running scheme, which were respectively installed— philosophy and all— by Alex Gibbs. In both publications I read this morning, there are overt references to to knee busting cut blocking when talking about the Broncos. They basically call Broncos scheme effective and DIRTY. However, when applied to the Texans, rather than knee ripping and cut blocking, its described as a ‘stretch zone blocking scheme’ that gives the RB great options. Thus, Denver has a dirty running game, while Houston’s is highly effective and sure to turn Steve Slanton into a national star. Its shameless, overt…and increasingly institutional.

But, you are right…I go three places in the morning— MHR, NFP, and PFT. MHR and NFP because they have my respect…PFT because I can see what’s happening and chose which links I want to follow. I gave up NFL.COM, SI, ESPN, DPO just because I realized that becoming annoyed is inevitable…and this is suppossed to be fun.

Anyway…I agree with your sentiments to the tee, but I lack the discipline to not bite now and then.

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
-- Herbert Spencer

by PredominantlyOrange on Jul 27, 2009 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions

The MSM can't be bothered with facts when in it comes to policy and things that matter

Why should we expect major media outlets to give good sports coverage when a majority of them don’t understand how marginal tax rates work?

by Chibronx on Jul 27, 2009 10:18 AM MDT up reply actions

Don't confuse the issue with facts, folks

You’ll just scare people.

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Doc Bear on Jul 27, 2009 10:21 AM MDT reply actions

Re: Yesterday's Horst Tracks, interesting follow-up on Burke's statistics

I heard him discussing Jay Three-Chins on Chicago radio this morning. Burke’s estimate that Cutler added two wins to the Broncos last year was mis-explained. He ran a decompsition analysis of what contributes to a football win. His finding was that the Broncos’ passing game — that is, all of its parts, including the blocking the receivers and the schemes — aded two wins last year. His statistics pointedly do not attempt to disaggregate individual contributions. Which, hey, how could they? Football is awesome and has too many moving parts to ever be available to baseball levels of statistical analysis.

When put on the spot by the talk show host, he pointedly said that for Cutler to be worth two wins to the Bears, he’d have to import the entire Broncos’ passing game with him.

The guy sounds like a smart and serious analyst. FWIW.

by Chibronx on Jul 27, 2009 10:23 AM MDT reply actions

In Fairness

Burke wasn’t saying that Cutler WOULD be worth 2 more wins. Only that his statistical analysis MIGHT provide some support. Unfortunately, as pointed out in yesterdays discussion, his statistics were completely bogus and did not account for the contributions of the team. I’m glad to hear that he backpedaled on his prediction. He admits mistakes. That’s always a good sign for a smart and serious analyst.

by Endzone on Jul 27, 2009 10:28 AM MDT up reply actions

I’m actually more favorably inclined to him than that. The dude got on the radio and started talking about regression analysis. There’s no way he runs a decomposition analysis without understanding its limitations. In fact, I think it’s the right approach. He separates out the question of who’s responsible for a good passing game, and focuses instead on what a good passing game is worth. It seems to me that he either hammed it up for the newspaper, or, more likely, lacked the communications skills necessary to explain his regression.

by Chibronx on Jul 27, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions

Discussion Link

Yesterday’s discussion re Burke

Burke’s Article

by Endzone on Jul 27, 2009 10:56 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm glad to hear this

I was one who was uncomfortable with the analysis as it was presented. I’ve liked a lot of his work in the past, but there was far too much missing to make that good analysis. It’s good to hear that he understod the limits and discussed them. Thanks for following up on that guys – you especially, ChiB

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Doc Bear on Jul 27, 2009 10:51 AM MDT reply actions

I'm glad to see that

the website supposedly dedicated to the NFL can get players position(s) in competition correct.

If only the rest of us got paid for such shoddy work in our everyday jobs. There’d be a lot of mis-information, but work would be a lot easier if you only had to give a quarter of the effort for the same pay.

"You can make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you blame others for those mistakes." -John Wooden

by Randall15 on Jul 27, 2009 11:19 AM MDT reply actions