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Published on 09/14/2010 at Tue Sep 14 18:14.
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Broncos shuffle practice squad

Posted Tue Sep 14th by

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Jeff Stehle participates in the team's 2010 training camp (DenverBroncos.com)

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Jeff Stehle participates in the team's 2010 training camp (DenverBroncos.com)

The Denver Broncos have yet to announce who has been released in the wake of their acquisition of running back Laurence Maroney (technically, the trade is still pending Maroney pass a physical), but they’ve been busy making moves in other areas of their roster nonetheless.

The Broncos on Tuesday announced that LB Titus Brown and DL Jeff Stehle were added to the practice squad. LB Worrell Williams, brother of D.J., was waived.

LB Lionel Dotson was signed off the Broncos’ practice squad by the Miami Dolphins Tuesday, becoming part of their 53-man active roster.

Brown (6-3, 250) is a third-year player who spent the previous two years with Cleveland, playing five games (0 starts) after signing with the Browns as a college free agent from Mississippi State University in 2008.

Stehle (6-6, 310) is a rookie defensive lineman who was originally signed by the Broncos as a college free agent from the University of Wisconsin in April before being waived earlier this month. He played three games for Denver during the preseason, tallying seven tackles (4 solo) and a pass defensed.

Stehle was unemployed for all of 10 days; Worrell employed for slightly longer. Look for news on who Maroney will replace Wednesday.

  • LevonZevon

    Big mistake waiving Worrell Williams for these nobodies. If McD wasn't any different than Shanahan– and had the cujones to employ blitz packages– we wouldn't be giving QB's like Garrard all day to throw the ball. And Worrell– who could probably rush the passer if given the chance– is likely being waived since that skill isn't much needed in Martindale's alignments.

    But offensive-minded head-coaches are always gun-shy about using blitzes. And its for the simple reason that they view it as too risky due to the X-and-O's being prioritized over the elemental fierceness of the pass rush's eventual effect on quarterback's psyche's.

    In other words, if Orton wasn't pounded all day long, he may have found Gaffney open on the left sideline instead of hurrying a throw into tight coverage (that JAX LB Darryl Smith intercepted a harried Orton on).

    Yes, part of that is our injury-necessitated problems at the two OT positions (that aren't Josh's fault). But even without the Ryan's Hope factor, the Broncos are continuing Shanahan's evasiveness regarding blitzing, in favor of a faux-3-4 that really uses Robert Ayers as a fourth rushing DE (despite his jersey number being #56).

    Yes, the 3-4 is thankfully alive and well on rushing downs. But on passing downs, we are still running a 4-3 by another name (by not taking advantage of the LeBeau-like zone-blitz possibilities).

    Obviously it would be preferable to generate a pass-rush without risking an extra-blitzer. But this season won't afford us that opportunity.

    And well-scouted other teams know that McD considers blitzing not worth the risk. Which is probably why Garrard knew he had the time to look for his second and third reads's on Sunday.

    If McDaniels wants the Seahawks to feel pressure, he's got to instruct Martindale to bring it. Otherwise, we'll be looking for another D.C. every off-season (as another insecure head-coach casts about for a handy fall-guy for decisions that weren't ulitmately made by him.. as we've long since gotten used to in Denver).

    In other words, I believed McD when he said that Nolan's firing was more about too much run-blitzing and not sticking with the deep down-field zone-looks that had bedeviled Peyton Manning between the first and fourth quarters of the close loss at Indy.

    But if Martindale proves to be even-more conservative in stationing the Safeties too far off the line to be close enough for blitzing– or by not sending anyone other than Robert Ayers as a supplemental rusher– we are going to be seeing another long-season on defense (that will be inaccurately justified as the product of a mediocre rush defense).

    Which is reason #1 why some of us wanted to see Bowlen interview a Rex Ryan or Bill Cowher for the head-coaching job. For offensive “geniuses” always underestimate the intimidation factor when weighing the pro's-and-con's of blitzing. Which is especially necessary when teams lack the personnel to generate a blitz with their D-line alone.

    “Every QB will know how to exploit a blitz by finding the hot-read” they probably think to themselves. But its a lot easier on the sideline chalk-board than it is when literally standing in the pocket feeling the pressure (as actual pro QB's must get used to experiencing).

    That's the reason Rex Ryan brought in Cromartie and Kyle Wilson. And its the reason why we should capitalize on our defense's similar strength: the depth of our own CB talent (now that Cox and Thompson are on-board to supplement Champ and Andre Goodman).

    Otherwise, teams will be picking on our Safeties with passes to the TE's (like Jacksonville did). And Champ will continue to have one-third of the opportunities for INT's that he'd have received if playing behind an aggressive front seven (like Baltimore and the Jets employ).

  • LevonZevon

    Big mistake waiving Worrell Williams for these nobodies. If McD wasn't any different than Shanahan– and had the cujones to employ blitz packages– we wouldn't be giving QB's like Garrard all day to throw the ball. And Worrell– who could probably rush the passer if given the chance– is likely being waived since that skill isn't much needed in Martindale's alignments.

    But offensive-minded head-coaches are always gun-shy about using blitzes. And its for the simple reason that they view it as too risky due to the X-and-O's being prioritized over the elemental fierceness of the pass rush's eventual effect on quarterback's psyche's.

    In other words, if Orton wasn't pounded all day long, he may have found Gaffney open on the left sideline instead of hurrying a throw into tight coverage (that JAX LB Darryl Smith intercepted a harried Orton on).

    Yes, part of that is our injury-necessitated problems at the two OT positions (that aren't Josh's fault). But even without the Ryan's Hope factor, the Broncos are continuing Shanahan's evasiveness regarding blitzing, in favor of a faux-3-4 that really uses Robert Ayers as a fourth rushing DE (despite his jersey number being #56).

    Yes, the 3-4 is thankfully alive and well on rushing downs. But on passing downs, we are still running a 4-3 by another name (by not taking advantage of the LeBeau-like zone-blitz possibilities).

    Obviously it would be preferable to generate a pass-rush without risking an extra-blitzer. But this season won't afford us that opportunity.

    And well-scouted other teams know that McD considers blitzing not worth the risk. Which is probably why Garrard knew he had the time to look for his second and third reads's on Sunday.

    If McDaniels wants the Seahawks to feel pressure, he's got to instruct Martindale to bring it. Otherwise, we'll be looking for another D.C. every off-season (as another insecure head-coach casts about for a handy fall-guy for decisions that weren't ulitmately made by him.. as we've long since gotten used to in Denver).

    In other words, I believed McD when he said that Nolan's firing was more about too much run-blitzing and not sticking with the deep down-field zone-looks that had bedeviled Peyton Manning between the first and fourth quarters of the close loss at Indy.

    But if Martindale proves to be even-more conservative in stationing the Safeties too far off the line to be close enough for blitzing– or by not sending anyone other than Robert Ayers as a supplemental rusher– we are going to be seeing another long-season on defense (that will be inaccurately justified as the product of a mediocre rush defense).

    Which is reason #1 why some of us wanted to see Bowlen interview a Rex Ryan or Bill Cowher for the head-coaching job. For offensive “geniuses” always underestimate the intimidation factor when weighing the pro's-and-con's of blitzing. Which is especially necessary when teams lack the personnel to generate a blitz with their D-line alone.

    “Every QB will know how to exploit a blitz by finding the hot-read” they probably think to themselves. But its a lot easier on the sideline chalk-board than it is when literally standing in the pocket feeling the pressure (as actual pro QB's must get used to experiencing).

    That's the reason Rex Ryan brought in Cromartie and Kyle Wilson. And its the reason why we should capitalize on our defense's similar strength: the depth of our own CB talent (now that Cox and Thompson are on-board to supplement Champ and Andre Goodman).

    Otherwise, teams will be picking on our Safeties with passes to the TE's (like Jacksonville did). And Champ will continue to have one-third of the opportunities for INT's that he'd have received if playing behind an aggressive front seven (like Baltimore and the Jets employ).