New Broncos Wide Receiver D'Andre Goodwin Might be Forced into Impact Situation

by Sayre Bedinger on Jan 10, 2012 5:00 PM MST in Strictly My Opinion

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: Wdie receiver D'Andre Goodwin #16 of the Denver Broncos celerbrates with Dante Rosario #42 after a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals during the preseason NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 26-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

A year ago, the Denver Broncos' wide receiver position looked like it was leaking talent, and it actually was. The Broncos got rid of Jabar Gaffney for Jeremy Jarmon, a player who was cut and recently signed to a future/reserve contract.

The Broncos also traded away Brandon Lloyd for a fifth round pick, which isn't nothing, but it's close to it.

This team was satisfied enough with their depth at receiver to make moves, and it almost got them in serious trouble early in the season. With Lloyd out injured and Demaryius Thomas on the PUP, Eddie Royal got hurt and we saw Tim Tebow throw on a pair of gloves and play receiver.

Denver has had depth issues at receiver all year, depth issues that didn't reach the surface in the team's mid-season winning streak. Now, in the playoffs, with only four active receivers the Broncos lost another in second year player Eric Decker to a sprained MCL against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and they have promoted rookie D'Andre Goodwin to the active roster.

Goodwin was with the Broncos in training camp as an undrafted free agent, and was cut when the team went down to the final 53. They re-signed him to the practice squad when a spot opened up, and he might be forced into significant action on Saturday night against the New England Patriots.

The Broncos have gotten great production in recent months from new number one receiver Demaryius Thomas, who had the game-winner against Pittsburgh. They also got some much needed production from Eddie Royal, who made arguably his best and most clutch catch as a Bronco against Pittsburgh.

One player who has really disappointed in recent weeks is second year Bronco Matt Willis, who looked great in the 2010 pre-season but has not been able to re-kindle that chemistry with Tim Tebow.

Enter Goodwin, who nobody has any tape on. This is a guy who had injuries and a poor junior season at Washington, only to bounce back with one of his best college seasons as a senior. Here is a "Bio Blast," if you will, of Goodwin.

High School Class of 2006, 2 star CB prospect on Rivals.com out of Lancaster, CA
Spent five years with the Washington Huskies (RS as true freshman)
Career-high 60 receptions in 2008
Career-high four TD receptions in 2010
Part of a UW team that went 0-12 in 2008 as well as Holiday Bowl Champion team in 2010
Undrafted Free Agent signed by Denver Broncos
Ran a 4.37 40 yard dash at his pro day
5'11" 188 pounds
18 reps of 225 on bench press
32" vertical jump, 9'11" broad jump
6.66 three-cone drill (same time as Tim Tebow)

The Broncos are going to need some kind of impact from Goodwin on Saturday night. I will be shocked if they go into this game without making him active, despite the fact that he's arguably the most inexperienced player on the team. Now, he is going to have to help the Broncos' offense keep pace with Tom Brady and the Patriots.

His last meaningful catch in the NFL was in the pre-season for the Broncos, where he caught three passes for 49 yards in a loss to Arizona.

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I wouldn't say a 5th round pick is close to nothing, either. It's actually a very useful pick.

Tons of great players have been taken in the 5th. I miss Lloyd, and if the Broncos knew they’d be a playoff contender maybe they’d want a do-over on that (though Lloyd would not have gotten many opps with Tebow not throwing it much), but the 5th rounder for a guy who would’ve left in free agency anyway is pretty solid, imho.

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by underdog on Jan 10, 2012 5:03 PM MST reply actions

And yes, Goodwin could be important right away, if Decker can't go on Saturday.

Hope Deck can, of course. But Goodwin showed some promise in the preseason.

Willis has been disappointing lately, agreed, though he had his moments with Tebow a month or so ago. He’s still an inexperienced route runner and makes mistakes (like the offensive PI call on Sunday) but has the talent. Maybe let him fly and let it loose!

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

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by underdog on Jan 10, 2012 5:05 PM MST up reply actions

Deck isnt going.

by Scotty Payne on Jan 10, 2012 5:07 PM MST up reply actions

I know he does not get any love here

but we still have Royal out there and he could have/ has had good games. Doesn’t Royal already run most of the same routes Decker has been? Don’t forget Fells either, we could throw a lot of places.

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2011 AFC West Champions

by Sean in Pa. on Jan 10, 2012 5:14 PM MST up reply actions

Royal's going to be too tired

From returning so many punts for touchdowns :).

None of us go out and play for stats. You just do whatever you can to help the team out. -- Eddie Royal

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by Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan on Jan 10, 2012 5:42 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

You are exactly right underdog.

Lloyd was never going to re-sign here with Tebow as the QB and maybe not even if Orton was still under center. I don’t think the Broncos were ever going to offer him the money he was going to want. Additionally, whether they foresaw the playoff run or not, Lloyd was not happy. And we have seen with nearly every team T. Owens and R. Moss played for that an unhappy primadonna WR can ruin a team.

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by the_prodigal_fan on Jan 10, 2012 5:19 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs

So Lloyd is as disruptive as T.O. and Moss?

What are you basing that on? You don’t think Tebow would benefit from a probowl caliber WR that can catch anything thrown near him? Well you got your wish, here comes Willis and Goodwin. Something tells me we would be a better team against the Pats with Lloyd than we will be with Willis and Goodwin.

Where is your evidence of Lloyd being a primadonna?

"Pain don't hurt" - Swayze (Road House) -- We miss you man!

by bonaire on Jan 10, 2012 6:02 PM MST up reply actions

Lloyd

I agree w/bonaire. I have no idea who/what Bronco player you are talking about prodigal but it is not Lloyd. He never demonstrated anything like you are suggesting. A veteran receiver like Llyod that has had the career he has had (9 YEARS IN NFL) he is in no way a ‘primadonna’ ..You are confused sir!

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by timmaybronco on Jan 10, 2012 6:39 PM MST up reply actions

I am not saying that he was as disruptive as those two.

But he asked for a trade. And I am not saying that he would’ve destroyed the team, but given his trade request, the potential was there for him to become a distraction and if he did, that would have had a negative effect, to one degree or another, on the team’s chemistry. Why take a chance, especially when he made it clear he no longer wanted to be here? Get rid of the potential distraction, and get something for him, instead of letting him go for nothing in the offseason. It was a great move by the front office IMO.

And while obviously Tebow would benefit from a probowl talent at WR, I would much rather have someone who wants to be here. Lloyd didn’t.

Never let them see you bleed.
My shit always works sometimes.

by the_prodigal_fan on Jan 10, 2012 7:07 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Umm....reports at the time also said Royal wanted to be traded....

…..of course, after the trade deadline, Royal denied it…but not until after the trade deadline.

"Pain don't hurt" - Swayze (Road House) -- We miss you man!

by bonaire on Jan 10, 2012 7:53 PM MST up reply actions

Also, I'm not sure we make the playoffs with Lloyd. Moving Lloyd to the Rams before the season for much more than a 5th was the move to make in hindsight.

luckily im a bronco and a blazer fan

by chikndnnr on Jan 10, 2012 5:35 PM MST up reply actions

Wow. I'd like to hear your reasoning for the 1st sentence.

"Pain don't hurt" - Swayze (Road House) -- We miss you man!

by bonaire on Jan 10, 2012 5:59 PM MST up reply actions

I've wondered the same thing

How do you think he would have reacted if he took part in the 2 completion game against Kansas City? This is a guy who lives the Deion Sanders philosophy that he doesn’t care about wins, he just wants to feed his kids. That was the second game of the streak and we were all feeling great. One vet tearing us down from within could have done major damage to our psyche. Even if he said one dumb thing about the passing game, I’m really not sure that we beat the Jets the following week. And if we don’t do that, there’s not playoffs. And maybe I’m not giving the guy enough credit, but if stats are as important to him as I think they are, I can’t imagine him keeping his mouth shut after a game like our Kansas City win.

None of us go out and play for stats. You just do whatever you can to help the team out. -- Eddie Royal

Follow @BroncosFan1984

by Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan on Jan 10, 2012 6:40 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs

Pure speculation

He comes across as a me kinda guy. In a contract year. A contract that will be his first big one. Orton would help him make more money than the new QB would.

It would not surprise me if he has said some negative things to the media as an anonymous source.

We made the playoffs by the skin of our teeth. Any additional drama might have been just enough to be the difference.

The fact that they traded him for a 5th tells me something.

Again, just a hunch.

luckily im a bronco and a blazer fan

by chikndnnr on Jan 10, 2012 7:13 PM MST up reply actions

I liked him in the Preseason

will be the 4th WR against a weak Patriots secondary, could make an impact. I hope they also make Julius Thomas active too, if used correctly in the passing game, he could be a weapon

by Scotty Payne on Jan 10, 2012 5:04 PM MST reply actions

Here's looking at you kid

I’ve said this before, but I truly expect that you will see alot of Julies Thomas if Decker can’t go. I think Thomas matches well with NE, he won’t be asked to block much and he is a matchup nightmare for their S/LB corps. Hopefully he shakes off the rust and has some big plays, this kid looks like a Willis clone, I don’t know if they would target him more than a couple of plays to keep NE honest, I think Willis and Tebow have some good timing working together, so I might also expect Willis to get some looks early.

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by Broncoman on Jan 10, 2012 5:05 PM MST reply actions

Going to be some TE plays like this past Sunday

Would love to see us unveil J.Thomas, who there is no tape on either. He could be used in the slot as well as out of the backfield. I think we’ll see some creative use with Ball and JJ in the pass game as well.

Eddie in the #2 presents a very different look than what we should in week 15. Allows us to put someone like JT/Goodwin or JJ in the slot—forcing the Pats to spread the field.

Willis ran some great routes this past Sunday. Tim missed him in the end zone and on a deep post that he threw underneath. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them connect on a big play this weekend.

by shasta77 on Jan 10, 2012 5:21 PM MST reply actions

Goddwin may or may not contribute this week, but promoting him can't hurt...

I keep wondering if Eron Riley was still here if he would have made a difference…

Win, lose or draw, we are the Denver Broncos! 13-3 Baby!!! Until we ain't!

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by bfree2bronc on Jan 10, 2012 5:27 PM MST reply actions

Im sure

foxy is regretting not pulling him up before he got swiped by the jets

by Nelliott34 on Jan 10, 2012 5:47 PM MST up reply actions

I was disappointed when we lost Riley too

However, in his time with the Jets, he was active for only one game, the game against us. He registered 0 catches. No telling what he could/would have done with us. I hope he has a great career, hopefully he ends up back with us someday.

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by hcubed on Jan 10, 2012 7:27 PM MST up reply actions

18 reps 225 lbs strong for a WR .

Mabey he can beat the press coverage that the pats D will show him early and often.

by broncosfaninphilly on Jan 10, 2012 5:38 PM MST via mobile reply actions

All he has to do is make at least 1 or 2 clutch plays at a critical moment of this game .

Thats all we can really ask minimum from this guy . Ya know what I mean ?

by broncosfaninphilly on Jan 10, 2012 5:46 PM MST via mobile reply actions

sure hope

they get Fells involved like last week.

by broncosfan1129 on Jan 10, 2012 5:57 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Seems like when he is involved, the broncos win.

Also get Rossiaro going too. Those two always seem to come up with nice catches in the clutch. I also don’t see them drop many passes.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 11, 2012 12:43 AM MST up reply actions

Hey Shasta, nice call. I’ve been wondering where Julius Thomas has disappeared to. He could be outstanding in the slot with his size and ability to catch the ball. He could also figure nicely in the ‘throw it to the big guy’ wideout. I’m glad to see someone else is
thinking along the same lines. At 6’ 5", with speed and great hands, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of him. This might be a great time to take a look. Go Broncos.

by datguyski on Jan 10, 2012 6:02 PM MST reply actions

I think Goodwin will return punts/KO

Leaving Royal to concentrate on being a WR. Maybe they’ll use Royal more than usual in the backfield?

Definitely agree about JT. Hope he gets his number called. 6’5" 255-lb. Respectable speed (4.64 40yd) and can jump out of the stadium.

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by Schwerepunkt on Jan 10, 2012 7:03 PM MST reply actions

It would make me nervous

to have the new guy returning kicks in the playoffs. Let Royal do punts and either Royal or Willis do KR’s.

luckily im a bronco and a blazer fan

by chikndnnr on Jan 10, 2012 8:07 PM MST reply actions

There should be no holding back at this time of the year. Eddie needs to be the return guy on punts and ko's, AND be a receiver.

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by azbroncomaniac on Jan 10, 2012 9:04 PM MST reply actions