Calling Shots 2008

BroncoTalk’s week-long Denver Broncos 2008 Season Preview continues… Enjoy!

Yesterday, Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall sat down with Vic Lombardi of KCNC in Denver and said that he wants to make 140 catches this season.

Prior to that coach Mike Shanahan predicted that the Denver Broncos would make the playoffs this season.

And! Even before that Selvin Young predicted that he would rush for 2,000 yards this season.

Back to Brandon ‘The Beast’ Marshall for a moment, ‘The Beast,’ is what Mr. Marshall would like to be known as, by the way. He stated, “If the fans vote and they have something better, let’s go with the fans.” I don’t know if we have anything better (but keep reading for more), we called him ‘Baby T.O.’ for too long.

He wants 140 catches, but knows that the Indianapolis Colts Marvin Harrison has the record with 143. What we know is that he’ll be bunking up with Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler for the next eight days playing catch in the back yard. The two plan to game plan as if Marshall were going to be a part of the Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders on September 8th.

To reach 140 catches in 2008 Marshall will need to catch just over nine catches in every game (yes, it comes to fractions, sorry). However, if there’s two things that Brandon Marshall has taught us, it’s that; you don’t want to doubt him and you need him on your fantasy team, because the rest of the guys are catching on.

Marshall says 140, I believe him, granted, I wish that he had hoped for 140 touchdowns this season, but I will take what I can get.

Somewhere in their living rooms Dick Butkis, Jack Tatum and Jim Brown are simply shaking their heads. “Who the **** do these kids think they are?” They might say, and you know what? I don’t agree with them. Show me a receiver who caught ten passes a game consistently in their era. Jim Brown does have an extremely valid point regarding 1,000 yard rushers, in that he argues that seasons used to be shorter so 1,000 yards used to mean something. Now it means you went for 60 or so yards per game. Making 2,000 is the new 1,000. A fine little segue onto Selvin Young.

Selvin Young predicted 2,000 yards for himself this season and I don’t know, I just don’t believe him. Anyone see anything in training camp or the preseason that made you think Young was going to blow this season? Anyone draft Young in the first-round of their fantasy drafts? Why not? He’s rushing for 2,000 yards this season isn’t he? That’s 200 points right there. Exactly.

The new era of football is here and although Mike Shanahan didn’t actually patent running by committee, he has made it popular culture. I’ll tell you one thing though, between Young, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman and Ryan Torain they better run for more than 2,000 yards. If they do, I will guarantee the Broncos make the playoffs. There’s no denying it, partially because if a team is running it means that they have luxury of not passing. It also means that they have control of the game.

The bottom line, where this article comes full circle and wraps itself up nicely in a tight box marked, “Fans of Denver.” Mike Shanahan is correct to predict playoffs, the raw fact is there are only three other teams in the NFL that have an easier strength of schedule than Denver. New England of all teams has the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL this season, so while we’re making predictions, I’m going to make one and say that we beat the Patriots in New England, based off the fact that they’ve been sharpening their claws on the Chiefs and the Dolphins and won’t know what the hell hit them. Then the national media might start spelling our players names correctly.

I’m back in New York and Denver, I’ve got you covered. Don’t get all excited at once.

UPDATE:

Let’s keep this season preview rolling, let’s hold the official pick Brandon Marshall’s nickname contest. We’ll take nominations in the comments and hold a vote prior to Saturday. No guarantees that Brandon Marshall will agree, but someone in the Broncos will point it out to him.