Highlights from the Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks preseason game from August 22, 2009.

Gracias, Predominantly Orange

Denver Broncos' Kyle Orton throws down field in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Kyle Orton silenced quite a few critics Saturday in Seattle. A week after his disastrous three-interception debut, the Denver Broncos quarterback looked sharp, spreading the ball around and completing over 2/3 of his passes, including 16 of his first 19. However, Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle Seahawks just looked better, edging out the Broncos in the first half and dominating in the second en route to a 27-13 thumping at Qwest Field.

If it hadn’t been for a dropped pass in the back of the end zone, Orton’s night would have near-perfect. Orton’s first drive ended with his first touchdown as a Bronco. The Broncos marched 78 yards down the field as Orton delivered a fingertip grab to Brandon Stokley in the end zone on a three-yard fade route. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

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Broncos (0-1) at Seahawks (1-0)
Sat. Aug. 22, 2009 8:30pm MT
CBS4 Denver/NFL Network
Preview

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Broncos (0-1) at Seahawks (1-0)
Sat. Aug. 22, 2009 8:30pm MT
CBS4 Denver/NFL Network

Kickoff for the Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks Preseason Game 2 is on Saturday August 22, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. MT LIVE on the NFL Network, and we’ll be hosting a live blog (which now incorporates awesome twitter features). Here are some things I’ll be watching tonight:

1. FIRST TEAM RUN DEFENSE
Hawks Coach Jim Mora Jr. expects to play his starters for an entire half of football. Josh McDaniels already did that last week, so it looks like we can expect thirty minutes of first team scout-able football. Mora’s boys are banged up, especially on offense – they don’t expect to play LT Walter Jones or RB Julius Jones, among others – so there really isn’t any excuse for the defense not to step up and stop the ground game. If backup running back Justin Forsett is still able to chew up yardage behind a banged-up o-line, it’ll spell trouble for Mike Nolan‘s revamped defense. I’m looking for good disruption at the line of scrimmage and fast, crisp, accurate decisions by the linebackers. No excuses tonight, D. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Brandon Marshall, like a few other players, will not be playing Saturday night in Seattle. Marshall, unlike those players, is perfectly healthy.

Are you concerned? I’ve given you my point of view, but now I want to hear from you. Were Marshall’s comments after practice out of line? Do you see his participation on the scout team as some form of rebellion from Head Coach Josh McDaniels? Do you trust the player and coach when they say his scout team reps are part of his learning process, or are they just giving the company line?

Click here to read the rest and take the poll

Marshall, Lloyd and Dawkins

The Denver Broncos will be without three players for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Brandon Lloyd and safety Brian Dawkins did not make the team’s trip to Seattle, the Denver Post reports.

Marshall and Dawkins had missed two weeks with hamstring and hand injuries respectively, but returned to practice earlier this week. Marshall’s absence included a trip to Atlanta, GA, where he stood trial for misdemeanor battery and was acquitted. Dawkins has been wearing a non-contact jersey during work while he continues to wear a cast on his broken hand. Lloyd is absent with an unspecified injury after missing (at least) the last three days of training camp practices.

Surprising not to see the players make the trip at all, particularly Marshall, who is healthy. I’m not going to jump to conclusions just yet, but my fingers are telling me they’re tired of typing Marshall’s name already. Hope Lloyd’s alright.

Josh McDaniels has made his message clear and consistent to the players. Now, the public gets to see what the new Denver Broncos Head Coach is all about: winning.

“It’s all very simple what my motive is: winning. That is the only reason I’m here. I’m not interested in talking about anything else but. Every minute of this job is done with winning in mind. That’s all I talk to the team about. Winning is always the message. That’s the only message.”

Losing just isn’t an option for this guy. Terrific article by Bill Williamson. McDaniels’ confidence in this team is infectious, and has me pumped for the regular season.

McDaniels looks to continue winning ways [ESPN]

Got a link worth sharing? Email broncotalk AT gmail (dot) com.

• Drafting certain players – like Brandon Marshall or Jay Cutler – onto your fantasy football team could have dire karmic consequences.  [The Latest Word]
• Ryan Harris had a beastly 2008, but he won’t be satisfied until his sack total reads ‘0.’  [Longmont Times Call]
• Michael Lombardi says Marshall is willing to make it work, and so should the Broncos. [National Football Post]
• It’s deja vu all over again with Broncos running backs.  [Denver Post]

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That’s a wrap, folks – the Denver Broncos 2009 training camp has come to an end. The team held its final camp practice Thursday, which Head Coach Josh McDaniels said puts them firmly in “regular season mode.” After practice, McDaniels discussed the statuses (statii?) of Matt Prater, Brian Dawkins and Brandon Marshall, among other things. Full quotes after the jump!

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Wide receiver Brandon Marshall #15 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High in 2008. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Brandon Marshall may have been cleared in the court of law, but he is being crucified in the court of public opinion.  After hinting that things might be reaching a breaking point between he and the Broncos, and admitting that his lack of knowledge of the playbook is the culprit behind his scout team duties, many Broncos fans have gone up in arms.  Comments, not only at this site but at other Denver media and fan sites, have been hugely critical of Marshall.

“Trade him!”  “Get rid of him!”  “Dump him!”  I just don’t understand it.

I certainly don’t agree with everything Marshall has done this offseason, but as far as disgruntled star athletes go, the Broncos have hit the jackpot.  Marshall isn’t holding out.  Marshall isn’t badmouthing the organization to the public.  Marshall isn’t ignoring owners’ phone calls.  He’s out there, he’s practicing, and he says he’s committed to learning the playbook and continue to excel this season. Click here to read the rest of this entry »