Training Camp Breakdown – Wide Receiver

The Denver Broncos wide receivers have been decimated with injuries as of late. But so many of our new guys have been impressing both the coaches and the fans, it seems we may have more depth at WR than what first meets the eye. In my last installment of Training Camp Breakdown, I look at the names who are fighting to catch footballs from Jay Cutler. Of course, no discussion on the Broncos wide receivers can start without mentioning this guy…

Rod Smith

Rod Smith measures in at 6-0, 200 lbs., and is widely considered to be “on the bubble” for the Hall of Fame. I’m definitely on the “induct him” side of the debate, but more on that later… Smith being out with hip surgery is the catalyst to this entire wide receiver competition – without our long time number 1 target, the Broncos are relying on competition to find their starters. I’m optimistic that Smith will be seeing the field by mid-October, and helping us as we push for the playoffs and beyond.

Javon Walker

Brett Favre is going to get a rude awakening when he sees Javon Walker making plays from his sideline – this 6-3, 209 lbs. receiver is set to have his best year yet as a pro. Last year Javon had his second best totals in receptions, yards and touchdowns, despite everyone wondering this time last offseason if his knee was going to hold up all season long. Walker exploded for the team, giving us stability at the position that Rod Smith usually provided. I’m really high on Walker’s potential this year with Jay Cutler throwing the strikes – with a big arm throwing him the ball, Walker could even eclipse his monster 2004 season in Green Bay.

Brandon Stokley

One of the bigger surprises in training camp has to be the play of Brandon Stokley, who has been impressive coming off his Achilles injury last year. Stokley looks in practice like he did in 2004 – where he gained career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns. At 5-11, 197 lbs., Stokley’s injuries might be a result of his less-than-ideal size as a slot receiver, but his Achilles doesn’t seem to be hurting him lately – it’s his left thigh that has been keeping him off the field as of late. Before he got nicked, Stokley was making plenty of big plays and was looking to be a steal this offseason. He’s the frontrunner to be our opening day #2 receiver at this point.

Brandon Marshall

Once considered the shoo-in #2 guy, Brandon Marshall has been struggling to get on the practice field after his quadriceps injury in minicamp. Shanahan hasn’t been too thrilled about the situation, even seemingly calling out last year’s breakout fourth round pick. If Marshall can get on the field, it would seem the starting job opposite Walker would be his – at 6-4, 222, he is far and away the biggest target we have on the field, earning him the nickname in some Broncos forums as “Little T.O.” I’m hoping he can find his way onto the practice field in the next few days, giving him the chance he needs to develop chemistry between he and Jay and win back the starting job Stokley has long since inherited. He has the potential to be a real star this year, given the chance.

Domenik Hixon

Domenik Hixon had the support of Mike Shanahan since he went on the IR last year with a broken foot. It seems now, even Champ Bailey is singing Hixon’s praises. Count me among those really excited to see Hixon hit the field. First, he has the potential to really break out in special teams. This is exciting enough, considering the lack of explosiveness on that side of the field. But even more exciting is the work he is getting at wide receiver, where he is taking advantage of every opportunity. You get the impression that Hixon is a guy who is just thrilled to be able to play football, and is willing to work hard to do it for the rest of his life. I can’t wait to see this 6-2, 185 lb. receiver play on Monday Night.

David Kircus

David Kircus may or may not make the team this year, but if he doesn’t it will likely have more to do with his off field issues than any struggles on the field. The 6-2, 192 lb. wideout has been making plenty of big plays on the field, and he is one of the few receiver who hasn’t missed more than a practice with some random injury. A preseason star last year, Kircus has been fielding punts this year to some success, but he’ll have to step up his game for the coaches to overlook his character issues and get him on the field.

David Terrell

I’ve never been a big David Terrell fan – the former 8th overall pick in 2001 of the Chicago Bears never met his potential in any means. His career year was a 699 yard, 1 touchdown season that wasn’t enough to satisfy the Bears, and he was ultimately cut. He’s a bust, and I’m tired of hearing about him. If he earns a spot, good for him, but I keep hearing good things about him without seeing it on the field. I wouldn’t be surprised if the coaches tuck him away on the practice squad this year, giving him one more shot to revive his career in 2008.

Brian Clark

Brian Clark became our primary kick returner when he was signed from the practice squad in October of last year. He did a decent enough job, averaging 22.3 yards per return, but still leaves a team hungry for more. In the most recent depth chart, Clark was slotted 4th behind Hixon, Stokley and Walker. I think this is more an indication of the flurry of injuries at the WR position than glowing praise of the second year receiver. I’ve been hearing good things out of practices, with Clark making a few big plays, but it will still be difficult to make the team without really showing he can compete with Hixon for return duties.

Quincy Morgan

At 6-1, 215 lbs., Quincy Morgan has been just about everywhere in his short stint in the NFL. After spending his first four years in Cleveland, and finding some success as a wide receiver late in that stint, he moved to Dallas, then Pittsburgh, and now to Denver. For the past few years he has been primarily a kick returner, and with the desparate situation surrounding our special teams, he will be asked to contribute again this year. He didn’t have the success last year he had as a Steeler in 2005, but if he can return to that form he will surely make the team as a special teams contributer.

Marquay McDaniel

The Broncos signed Marquay McDaniel as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton just after the NFL Draft on May 2. In his college career, McDaniel set all sorts of records, including single season records for touchdowns and receptions in the process of earning second-team All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference honors his senior year. McDaniel has been sidelined with a left hamstring injury – I expect him to make the practice squad as one of the coaches’ “projects” in the season to come.

Glenn Martinez

A right thigh injury is the last thing Glenn Martinez needed, but it’s been sidelining this 6-1, 183 lb. longshot for the past few days. It was already going to be hard enough for Martinez to make the Broncos team or practice squad – with this injury sidelining him, unfortunately for Martinez, he’s probably the longest shot of all.

Predicted Depth Chart

If everyone with minor injuries is healthy, this is how I see the depth chart coming out. With Rod Smith out for what seems to be at least another month or two, I’m leaving him out of this predicted depth. If he comes back, look for him to push Marshall and Stokley for their jobs.

1. Javon Walker
2. Brandon Marshall
3. Brandon Stokley
4. Domenik Hixon
5. David Kircus
6. Brian Clark
7. Quincy Morgan

I would have ranked Stokley ahead of Marshall, but with his own little injury sidelining him, I expect Marshall can win back his starting job.