Broncos' offense preview

Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 6, 2007 at midnight

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Stiff competition

Keeping opponents at arm's length is a specialty of new Broncos feature back Travis Henry.

In fact, he'll go so far as to say the stiff arm he uses to extricate himself from opposing defenders is the best in the NFL.

"It's lethal, now," he said. "It's just something I use a lot of times to get out of tough situations where it doesn't look like there's going to be any gain. And I turn it into a plus play."

It's also something that has become so much a part of his game he'll use it in practices without thinking.

Of course, the force he uses differs in game action.

Former teammate Bo Scaife recalled during the offseason Henry once lifted an opponent off the ground with the stiff arm.

Henry smiled at the memory of the play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He then explained the art of the maneuver:

"When they come up on you quick, you just wait until the last minute, just before they're going to make the tackle. I try to time it. Because sometimes you can stick it out there and they'll knock it down. You've got to know when to bring it up. And I'm really good at timing it."

He said it

"Jake (Plummer) had been proven here, won games, was in the AFC Championship, so I didn't know how it was going to work. I knew I'd get my opportunity sooner or later because of where they drafted me and what they were paying me. But I'm happy to be here now. And here we are."

Jay Cutler, Broncos quarterback, on ascending to full-time starter in his second NFL season

Hot pocket

Jake Plummer was called many things during his tenure with the Broncos — elusive being one of them.

Whether Jay Cutler can slither like "Jake the Snake" as the successor at quarterback is unlikely, even if the second-year player has some mobility.

That change, and perhaps a more pocket-based approach to the passing game, might put extra pressure on the offensive line to hold up just a tick longer to allow the second-year quarterback time to get rid of the ball.

"Last year, I was just fighting for my life," said tackle Erik Pears, who filled in for the injured Matt Lepsis on the left side in 2006 but is back at his more natural spot on the right this year. "I'm not thinking if the quarterback's going to bail me out. I just wanted to get my hands on that guy and hang on as long as I can."

Cutler was sacked 14 times in his five late-season starts in 2006. Overall, Broncos quarterbacks were sacked 31 times, well above previous totals in 2003 (25), 2004 (15) and 2005 (23).

Personnel changes might help up front. They'll have to, given the Broncos won't fully abandon play-action bootleg passes and keepers that are offensive staples. But the coaching staff also has worked with Cutler extensively on going through his progressions quickly and getting rid of the ball or dumping down to check-down targets instead of waiting for receivers to break loose.

"There won't be quite as much scrambling around," Lepsis said. "It's going to be drop back, you've got to hold on. But even when Jake was back there, he couldn't get out of everything."

Among the big boys

Broncos receiver Javon Walker is among the league leaders in yards per game since 2004 for players with at least 30 games played.

He hopes to pad his 75.5-yard average over a full season, with Jay Cutler's big arm and his own downfield speed seemingly a match. The two hooked up on touchdown passes of 54 and 39 yards in back-to-back weeks in December.

"It feels like we've played 16 games already," Walker said after going through an entire offseason and training camp with Cutler. "The timing's there. Now we just have to stay consistent with it."

Comments about how he was used early last season seemingly have Walker reticent to make any bold claims about his role . But his confidence is evident.

"Plays were made last year, or even before I got here. It's about how you use everybody's talents," Walker said. "(Jay) does have a strong arm. It's how the coaches let him utilize that — and I think they will."

Leaders in yards per game since 2004

Player, team G No. Yds Avg.

Steve Smith, Car 31 192 2789 90.0

Terrell Owens, Dal 37 209 3143 84.9

Chad Johnson, Cin 48 279 4075 84.9

Torry Holt, StL 46 289 3891 84.6

Anquan Boldin, Ari 40 241 3228 80.7

Donald Driver, GB 48 262 3724 77.6

Marvin Harrison, Ind 47 263 3625 77.1

Javon Walker, Den 33 162 2493 75.5

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