Good Morning, MHR Friends! Just to clarify my standpoint on the Krieger/Legwold columns I challenge below - I'm not disagreeing with the premise that the Broncos need more big plays out of their passing game; of course they do. However, the way they went about trying to prove their point was sloppy and incomplete...
DB - Week 10 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV
DB - A Little Perspective - Jim Saccomano
"You have to look at the whole picture, all the time. Very tough to do, but that’s the challenge."
DB - Forward Thinking - Gray Caldwell
"Four players appeared on the Broncos' injury report on Wednesday. Josh Barrett (hamstring), Ryan Harris (toe) and Brandon Marshall (back) did not participate in Wednesday's practice. Ryan McBean (knee) had limited participation in the session."
DB - Getting the Ground Game Going - Chris Gentilviso
"The Broncos announced the signing of cornerback Rashod Moulton on Wednesday to their practice squad. That roster spot became available once the New York Giants signed cornerback D.J. Johnson off the Broncos’ practice squad and onto their active roster on Wednesday."
DPP - Briefing: Hochstein new starter, ahead of Hamilton - Lindsay Jones
"Running back Peyton Hillis was back at Dove Valley after spending several days with his family in Arkansas. His grandmother, Margaret Ann Justice, died Friday." Our thoughts are with #22 and his family...
DPP - Law willing to put off retirement for a nickel - Jeff Legwold
LTC - Right Track: Despite setbacks, Broncos strong at season’s midpoint - Brian Howell
LTC - Broncos’ recent slide no cause to say season’s been scrambled - Brian Howell
CBS4 - 'Terrible Towel' Doesn't Sit Well With The Broncos - Matthew Buettner
"One thing I noticed when they were walking off the field they had a huge crowd of people on their side by their tunnel. That doesn't sit well with me," said DE Kenny Peterson.
DB - Week 10 - Wed: Orton - Broncos TV
DB - Week 10 - Wed: Dawkins - Broncos TV
DPP - Krieger: Deep ball high on Orton's wish list
"I don't have the coach's game film, but it didn't look to me as if Polamalu and Carter were playing 35 yards off the line of scrimmage very often. In fact, we can document where they were the three times they intercepted Orton:" What a bizarre bit of research. As I recall it, 1 if not 2 of Orton's INTs came under duress. So how, exactly was Orton supposed to throw deep on these plays where (according to Krieger not watching film but considering where the actual INTs took place) the safeties were supposedly playing up? I'm baffled...
Next up - "That might help explain why more than half of the Broncos' pass plays this season — 54.7 percent — have gone for 10 yards or fewer, according to a breakdown by my colleague Jeff Legwold." This is also puzzling. You can't measure pass plays for aggression by looking at their result. You have to look at how far the ball was thrown. To wit, Kyle Orton has thrown 191 of his 269 attempts (71%) 10 yards or shorter, relative to the LOS. In 2008, Jay Cutler threw 380 of his 616 attempts (62%) 10 yards or shorter. When considering those players' personalities and skill sets, combined with the systems they play(ed) in, these numbers make sense to me. If Josh McDaniels wanted to chuck it downfield all day, he would have kept Jay Cutler.
DPP - Q&A: Orton needs new bodyguard - Jeff Legwold
DP - Woody's Mailbag: Tickets a hot topic
DPP - Analysis: Few big plays in Broncos' passing game - Jeff Legwold
"Most teams consider "big plays" to be runs more than 10 yards and pass completions more than 20 yards. In their eight games the Broncos have had 11 pass completions go for 21 to 30 yards, one play between 31 and 40 yards and one play between 41 and 50 yards." Come on Legwold - this is such incomplete research - these numbers don't mean anything without comparing the Broncos to the rest of the league!!! (I'm not saying his point is incorrect; I don't know the answer because Legwold didn't provide the proper evidence to support his theory!)
DB - Tough Night Under the Lights - Mark Cooper
DPP - Broncos game a big draw - Dusty Saunders
DPP - Numbers: Opposites attract
CSG - Poor running game creates turmoil on offensive line - Frank Schwab
CSG - Orton shaves beard in effort to help break losing streak - Frank Schwab
DB - Steelers Postgame: Report - Broncos TV
Sorry, Friends - forgot to post this link yesterday...
AP - Broncos' Low-Risk Offense Stuck In Low Gear - Arnie Stapleton
KDVR - Denver Broncos vs. Washington Redskins Preview - Chris Tanaka
TW - Was the 6-0 Start Just an Illusion? - Carlos Cagin
AP - Shanahan Chosen For Colorado Hall Of Fame
Redskins News
WP - Battered Redskins dig further down depth chart - Rick Maese
WP - Portis called 'very, very doubtful' for Sunday - Jason Reid
WP - Zorn rules out LJ; Haynesworth says he was fined - Cindy Boren
WP - Bailey's return puts new focus on old deal - Barry Svriuga
AFC West News
ESPN - Midseason AFC West Report Card - Bill Williamson
SDUT - No dash for cash - Kevin Acee
SDUT - Vick brings alarming talent - Chris Jenkins
KCS - Raiders won't gloat over Johnson's departure from the Chiefs - Adam Teicher
KCS - Goff will miss remainder of season - Kent Babb
SFC - Without Larry Johnson, Chiefs minus star power - David White
OT - Raiders DB Chris Johnson: 8-0 second half is possible - Steve Corkran
WOW.
OT - Raiders lineman Matt Shaughnessy improves despite adversity - Steve Corkran
NFL News
NFL - Quinn back at QB for Browns in Monday night game vs. Ravens
NFL - Bills QB Edwards will start vs. Titans, but ailing T.O. might not
NFL - Bengals' Lewis nixes Ochocinco's plan to send mustard to Steelers
NFL - Kampman played with concussion but absolves Packers of blame
NFL - League suspends Eagles CB Hanson four games for using diuretic
NFL Opinion
NYT - Thursday Matchup: Bears at 49ers - Mike Tanier
NYT - Looking at NFL Network’s Lineup of Games - Toni Monkovic
NFL - Manning-Brady duel leads a solid Week 10 list of matchups - Gil Brandt
FH - Dirty Dozen: Are Pats, Colts NFL's Best? - Dave Goldberg
FH - Coach Killers, Week 9: Packers ST - Tom Mantzouranis
SI - Marvin Lewis won't allow Cincinnati Bengals to rest on success - Paul Daugherty
NFP - Tavern talk: Phillips still has lots to prove - Mike Lombardi
NFP - Diner morning news: Quinn needs playing time - Mike Lombardi
NFP - Where is the love for Big Ben? - Matt Bowen
NFP - Wednesday whys: A string of losses for NFL - Andrew Brandt
NFP - Vick win is another issue for owners - Jack Bechta
NFP - ‘For cause’ termination: Last refuge of scoundrels - Robert Boland
NFL - Ware the key to Cowboys' resurgent defense
FH - Introducing an Athlete of the Rarest Kind - Kevin Blackistone
NFP - NFP senior position rankings - Wes Bunting
Midseason Awards, etc.
PFW - AFC midseason team reports
"Fearless prediction: Despite their thrilling start, the Broncos will have to fight off a late surge from the Chargers for the AFC West title and will finish just one game better than San Diego before exiting the playoffs in the second round."
PFW - NFC midseason team reports
SN - NFL Midseason Report: New Orleans dominates players' first-half poll
1. Josh McDaniels, Broncos (44) "I just don't think anybody expected that outcome from the Broncos in the first half. He just seems like a blast to play for and a great game-planner who puts you in great situations." — Bengals QB Carson Palmer
SN - NFL Midseason Report: 99 players provide take on league after 8 games
"I don't think anyone expected (Dumervil) to have this many sacks. He's played extremely well for them this year. He's given their defense a real presence on the edge." — 49ers C Eric Heitmann
SN - NFL Midseason Report: Tackling five big questions - Clifton Brown, Dennis Dillon, Vinnie Iyer and Russ Lande
Brown and Iyer expect the Broncos to keep sliding.
SN - NFL Midseason Report: SN's All-Pro Team - Clifton Brown
Y! - Midseason awards: Favre dazzles, Browns fizzle - Charles Robinson
FOX - Week 10 Cheat Sheet: NFL picks and predictions - Peter Schrager
FOX - NFL midseason report card: AFC grades - Alex Marvez
FOX - NFL midseason report card: NFC grades - Alex Marvez
ESPN - John Clayton looks at the best games of the second half
NFL - Best free-agent moves also were the most understated
USAT - Insider: Analysts' MVP picks split Brees, Favre, Manning - Jim Corbett