Broncos brace for Marshall's absence
Three-game suspension to put onus on other Broncos receivers to fill the void
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 5, 2008 at 9:51 p.m.
Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky
Brandon Marshall makes a catch during Broncos training camp Monday.
How limited will the Broncos be with Brandon Marshall suspended for at least the first two games?
Practice times and dates are subject to change without notice. Gates open to the public at 7:30 a.m. for morning practices and one hour before afternoon practices.
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
| Aug. 5 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 6 | 8:30 | 3:50 |
| Aug. 7 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 8 | 8:30 | None |
| Aug. 9 | at Houston | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 10 | None | None |
| Aug. 11 | None | 2:45 |
| Aug. 12 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 16 | Dallas | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 22 | Green Bay | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Arizona | 8 p.m. |
The Broncos will practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 at their Dove Valley facility, but those sessions will be open to the media only.
* Special teams only; ** Media only
Take Brandon Marshall out of the offense and the math turns ugly for the Broncos.
After all, Marshall had 31 percent of the team's receptions last season (102), 35 percent of the team's receiving yards (1,325), 31 percent of the team's receptions of 20 yards or longer (13) and 33 percent of the receiving touchdowns (seven).
And unless others can pick up the slack, that's 100 percent trouble.
"We know what he means to the offense," Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said. "That's a big blow. It would mean it's on all of us to try and fix it because he's had three or four big plays every day in practice."
After weeks of waiting to hear his fate, Marshall was suspended Tuesday for the first three games of the regular season for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.
League officials said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will consider reducing the suspension to two games if Marshall complies with counseling, as well as other conditions with the suspension.
Marshall will appeal the suspension, but that raises the possibility the penalty would begin later in the season if he doesn't win the appeal. An appeal must be filed to the league within 10 days of the suspension, and league rules state a player would get "a prompt" hearing.
But there are only four weeks until the start of the regular season. Neither Marshall nor Broncos coach Mike Shanahan were available for comment.
"He's a good kid," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. "It's unfortunate. . . . I know everybody here wants him in the lineup. He's a big part of what we do."
Barring any changes, Marshall's suspension would begin just after the Broncos' Aug. 29 preseason finale in Arizona. He would be eligible to return Monday, Sept. 22, in preparation for the Sept. 28 game at Kansas City.
Denver's first three games are at Oakland and home against San Diego and New Orleans.
That would leave the Broncos offense searching for the kind of impact Marshall has flashed daily on the practice field in training camp. Darrell Jackson, who has lined up opposite Marshall in the starting offense, has three career 1,000-yard seasons, the third being in 2004, and had a 10-touchdown season as recently as 2006.
But most personnel executives contacted Tuesday night said they weren't sure Jackson could operate as a No. 1 receiver in his ninth year. Jackson said he's ready for more, having been mired in the league's lowest-rated offense last season in San Francisco.
"I know what I can do," he said. "I feel like I can produce in this offense. Last year (in San Francisco) was tough - we were at the bottom all year. It was hard for everybody."
Rookie Eddie Royal has lined up as Marshall's backup at that receiver spot and almost certainly would get more time with Marshall on the sideline. Royal has shown the ability to make some space for himself coming in and out of his routes and he consistently has caught most everything thrown his way.
Royal would get more time because the Broncos want to keep veteran Brandon Stokley in a third receiver role, citing the injuries he suffered last season when he had to start for the injured Javon Walker.
Scheffler, who caught 49 passes on a chronically sore foot last season - he fractured it in preseason workouts in May 2007 - is expected to be a bigger contributor in the offense as well.
Keary Colbert, who has caught more than 32 passes in only one of his four previous seasons, and Samie Parker, who has one 40-catch season in his career, also are veterans the Broncos sought in free agency to pump up the passing game.
The Broncos also could lean on their running game more. Selvin Young and Andre Hall have worked as the No. 1 and No. 2 backs, but the Broncos like what rookies Ryan Torain and Anthony Alridge have done as well.
"I like our group," Hall said. "I think we're going to run the ball better than we did last year. We've got size, we've got speed, we can do a lot of things. So we know as backs we have to step up if they need us. We can carry it as many times as they need us to."
Marshall is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
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August 6, 2008
12:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
kerrdawg writes:
This could turn out to be a positive for us in the long run. Marshall being out the first two to three games will allow Cutler to establish trust with one of the new recievers. Being that this will happen in the beginning of the season we'll still have plenty of time to get Marshall in the flow of things. I could see us go 5-5 to start the season then hit our stride in the final stretch and carry it through the playoffs like Pittsburgh did a couple years ago.
August 6, 2008
6:08 a.m.
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hdfresh writes:
Marshall is a big part of our offense but if we can't win without him than we are in deep trouble.
August 6, 2008
6:21 a.m.
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CaptainObvious writes:
You won't win with him, and won't win without him. Cutler is going to be throwing passes from his back foot all season long. You'll be lucky to win 5 games this season. But, you know, keep the blind faith.
August 6, 2008
6:22 a.m.
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jvill writes:
Agreed. I'm a huge BM fan, but last I heard there were a some other talented people on the team.
August 6, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Go Chargers!
August 6, 2008
8:25 a.m.
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turtle writes:
Ummm, Charger fans why are you trolling the Rocky Mountain News? Please feel free to comment when you win a SuperBowl, until then, don't go away mad...just go away.
I'd rather have a competitor like Cutler than a whinny little girl like Rivers. If you don't have LT you'd be a .500 team. Should've kept Breese.
August 6, 2008
8:31 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Maybe because I live in Colorado. Did that ever enter your brain?
August 6, 2008
9:01 a.m.
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RustyWon writes:
Those first two games will be critical for the Broncos, and having Marshall out will be a big thing to overcome.
We'll need the rest of the offense to step it up in order to make up for his absence. The defense too for that matter.
I like the receiver depth and we continue to hear good things about Royal, so it isn't inconceivable that we could do it.
I've said it before, but the Broncos have had a good, if not exciting, offseason. We will be better than last year.
Ding a Ling is an instigator. Always has been.
She probably has a patriots and colts jersey hanging in her closet too.
Her posts are always lacking thought and reason, and are just meant to inflame the rest of us into a response.
Best to ignore her.
Rivers has made so many teams mad, he will get his. No doubt about that. I would never root for anyone to get hurt, but I will enjoy seeing him get nailed a few times this year.
August 6, 2008
9:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
dano writes:
Being a ticketholder since '62 gives me the right to say "we are going to be rotten".
I see a 1-6 start and then it's all down hill from there.
Absolutely zero offense. The most offensive thing on the offense is that we have poor talent.
We need a GM. Clady will be a bust as will Cutler. Clady will be the cause of Cutler getting hammered. Hard to throw when your on your back.
WE WILL BE STINKIN UP THE JOINT...... Oakland is going to win our opener. That's how bad it is. I'm still going to the games like a dumba--. Nothing else to do but whine.
August 6, 2008
10:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
sbhchawk writes:
Hey Dano, I'll take those tickets off your hands at cost. You can save yourself the game experience. I'll come in to work horse every Monday from cheering on the Broncos and you'll save all that money on parking and dogs. Win-Win don't you think?
August 6, 2008
10:15 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Usually takes until about week 4 to figure things out.
August 6, 2008
11:50 a.m.
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bchiper writes:
It still takes 11 players to make a team on the field. Marshall's talent is not in question, but it isn't like no one will fill the spot at all.
In addition, it will cause the Raiders and Chargers to plan for something that is an unknown giving a slight advantage to the Broncos. I believe the talent and experience is there to fill for two games. I really like the flexibility of this offense so far this year, go Broncos
August 6, 2008
12:14 p.m.
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turtle writes:
This may a re-post - but Lingling for prez, this is the internet so you can access Chargers as easily as the Broncos. I gues I'm saying I don't care where you live on this forum it doesn't matter, you're trolling, now once your Chargers win a SuperBowl then you can post.
August 6, 2008
12:14 p.m.
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mxt writes:
I tend to agree with Dano - mostly. We're not going 1-15, but the offense will struggle all year long - with or without Marshall. Our offensive line (and defensive line, for that matter) is just not going to be very good. I'm glad we picked up Wiegmann since we don't even know if Nalen can play anymore, but starting a rookie at left tackle? I'll wait to pass judgement, but it's a very risky move if he does end up starting. One missed block could result in an injury for Cutler, and being a rookie he's likely to end up having several missed blocks.
As for the RBs, I can't see Young being an every down back. He's just not big enough to take the pounding on the inside. We don't know how good Andre Hall or Ryan Torain is, or if Pittman can still play.
As for receivers - besides Marshall, we have a bunch of question marks. Darrell Jackson could be great - or awful. Samie Parker was just OK for KC. Stokley is a 3rd down WR and is coming off an injury. We don't even know how well Cutler can deal with his diabetes while playing. The entire offense is a question mark, but I can't see them being very good.
The defense looks great on paper - but will go as the D line goes. If we continue to get no pressure or run stopping from the guys up front, the defense will be poor again.
August 6, 2008
4:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Jar74 writes:
First off, athletes need to take full responsibility for their actions, marshall needs to deal with his punishment and learn from the consequences, this is a big wake up call that has been needing to happen, this behavior is unacceptable, stop acting like children broncos, you are grown men. marshall will get more respect if he just shuts up and deals with it, yes it is bad that he will be gone from rival games --oakland and san diego, but each team needs to learn to survive at times without key players. Marshall's goal shouldn't be to stay out of trouble for the summer but for his whole career, learn now and grow up and hopefully no more problems will arise.
August 6, 2008
6:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
dano, move to Oakland because you are NOT a Bronco fan. Heck, even the Raiders fans talk less smack then you just did. You don't deserve those tickets. Sell them to someone who understands football and appreciates the Broncos because your 1-6 pick is a huge joke.
August 6, 2008
6:39 p.m.
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Dynamicdave writes:
Jar74, I have to agree with you. Yes, it's a sore blow to the fans and to his own teammates, but hopefully, his selfish, poor decisions, will make him realize that it's not all about Brandon. That others suffer from his poor judgement. If Royal is as good as we've been hearing, I think we will get through this suspension relatively still in good standing. We have a whole season ahead of us.
GOOOOOOOOO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 6, 2008
7:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
mxt, Where did you base this decision that Denver won't be any good? Did you watch a game this year that the rest of us missed? Must have, because you have it all figured out. There are question marks every year for every single team. That's normal. But I can never understand a person who not just questions a couple of things, but questions EVERY ASPECT of the team. No, not questions, but comes up with such negative thinking about EVERYTHING the team has to offer. Come on, jump on board the positive Bronco team bus. I don't know about you or dano, but I like to go into the season positive, happy and not bringing down the crowd around me with negative talk at the Bronco bar that I go to for the games (I live in Vegas). We ALL frown on that type of negativism and complaining at our bar. Win or lose, we support our team because we have no choice as to who the coaches pick. We have a choice though, on how we'll enjoy the season and it's not by going into it thinking we don't stand a chance when a down has not even been played in regular season.
August 8, 2008
8:12 a.m.
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swissbronco writes:
There are a lot of question marks about the Broncos. So, hopefully, we'll get a few answers @ Houston! As for now I like what we have and am quite optimistic!
Go Broncos!