Broncos report: Marshall takes right step with talk to Irvin

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 27, 2008 at 9:26 p.m.

Text size  

• 11 Comments
• Email
• Print

Darin Mcgregor / The Rocky/Darin Mcgregor / The Rocky

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall is all smiles on the sidelines after catching a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Invesco Field at Mile High. Marshall has called his play since the Sept. 21 game "as just OK, and good sometimes."

Broncos quick links

Drew on the NFL

Scores and statistics

• Broncos statistics
• Broncos schedule
• Broncos roster
• Broncos depth chart
• NFL scoreboard
• AFC standings
• NFC standings

Broncos inbox

• Submit a question for Jeff Legwold's inbox and look for the answer each Wednesday morning in the Broncos 24/7 blog.

Thanksgiving dinner wasn't the only memorable meal this week for Brandon Marshall.

He also got to break bread with Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, who offered career advice both about off-field and on-field matters.

Marshall on Thursday described his recent play "as just OK, and good sometimes."

He doesn't have a 100-yard receiving game since Sept. 21 and has scored one touchdown in the past seven games.

Irvin, the ex-Dallas Cowboys great, advised Marshall that he needed to get back to being aggressive with defensive backs instead of playing passive football.

"He put a lot of things in perspective for me," Marshall said. "'Whether they're rolling coverage toward or double-teaming, impose your will at all times.'

"Sometimes I found myself back-side on plays or if I see a double team, kind of taking it easy thinking Jay (Cutler)'s not coming to me," Marshall explained. "But I can give our offensive coordinator and Jedd Fisch, our receivers coach, and Jay confidence that it doesn't matter if they put two or three guys on me that I'm going to get the job done."

Marshall named players such as Cris Carter, Jerry Rice and Irvin as receivers who took that approach and produced startling career-long results.

Irvin tracked down Marshall through a friend and told the Broncos wideout he'd wanted to speak with him for awhile.

Marshall, in turn, expressed to Irvin that he never had watched a Hall of Fame induction speech but saw Irvin's in August 2007 and nearly was moved to tears.

"The things he was able to overcome and achieve, he's a Hall of Fame guy," the Broncos receiver said.

Like Irvin, at times a magnet for controversy in Dallas, Marshall has had his off-field missteps.

The Broncos receiver has worked hard to change his image by keeping his nose clean in recent months and by partaking in charitable endeavors.

Irvin told Marshall to continue on his current path and to continue to surround himself with the right people.

"I feel good the direction I'm headed," Marshall said.

Fox's worth

The free safety position in Denver has been so unstable as to have a Price Is Right feel.

"Come on down. You're the next contestant. . . ."

"Somewhat, that's what it feels like," Vernon Fox responded. "You never know when you come in on Wednesday what's going to be the new thing."

In that game of who's next, Fox could be it.

Denver's tried Marlon McCree (who's still nursing an ankle sprain and is likely out Sunday), Calvin Lowery on a few different occasions and Roderick Rogers, who started last Sunday and was promptly released.

Fox has the most experience of the remaining safeties, having started 11 games for San Diego and Washington while also playing for Detroit.

More importantly, he hasn't yet completely frustrated head coach Mike Shanahan, who this week said he's searching for a "difference maker" at the position.

For Fox, who was signed Sept. 23, that description means someone who's going to step forward and do the job as designed.

"That's what it's about," he said. "We've struggled tackling. That's definitely something that requires a lot of emphasis. When the ball breaks to the second level, we have to get the guys down. . . . It's not that you have many opportunities to get your hands on balls or to be there to break up plays. But when those chances come, you've got to make the plays."

Give it away now

The Broncos have the NFL's lowest total of takeaways through 11 games with 10.

That total includes just four interceptions. To put that figure in perspective, Green Bay's Nick Collins and Charles Woodson each have five.

Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas' pick Oct. 5 for Denver is more than the team's safeties and linebackers combined. And he immediately fumbled after gaining control of the ball.

"I don't think there's any magic formula. The first thing is you have to stop the run so you can rush the passer," said defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, whose defense was run on 41 times last week vs. only 12 passing attempts by Oakland.

". . . You've got to get into a mode where maybe you get a lead and you're stoning the run and they're throwing the ball up in the air a bunch."

Comfort zone

The Broncos will be facing a 3-4 alignment for the third time in six weeks and for the fourth time this season. Denver also held joint summer practices with the Dallas Cowboys, who feature a three-man front, and played against them in a preseason game.

"It used to be only be San Diego and New England and a few teams, but now it seems like everyone's running it," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said.

"We are comfortable with it, and we have the blocking schemes down. That's the hardest part of it, getting the blocking and the passing schemes down of knowing who the running back has . . . and where we're going to slide (protection)."

Denver has averaged nearly 4.8 yards per carry against the 3-4. But the Jets, with nose tackle Kris Jenkins controlling the middle and linebacker Calvin Pace and end Shaun Ellis dangerous off the edge, are third in the NFL in rush defense at 78.0 yards per game.

Five of the Broncos' eight sacks allowed have come against a 3-4 front, including a season-high three in the Oct. 20 loss to the Patriots.

Injury report

* Wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) was a limited participant Thursday after missing Wednesday's workout. "It does feel better," he said.

* Also taking snaps in reduced fashion were cornerback Champ Bailey (groin), linebackers D.J. Williams (knee) and Nate Webster (knee) and running back Selvin Young (groin).

* Webster, who has pushed for a return vs. the Jets, called his availability "a coaches decision" but liked the way he's moved laterally this week.

Etc.

* Shanahan waived Friday's player weigh-ins, allowing the players to load up on Turkey Day.

* Cutler needs two touchdowns to reach 50 faster than any quarterback in Denver history. Cutler, playing in his 33rd career game, is chasing Brian Griese and Jake Plummer, both of whom hit 50 in 34 games.

* Six of Brandon Stokley's last eight catches have resulted in first downs over the past two games. He's now converted 24 times on his 36 receptions, a 66.7 percent rate that ranks 31st in the NFL. San Diego's Vincent Jackson is first - 35 of 39 (89.7).

• November 27, 2008

  10:26 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Hopefully, Brandon takes everything Irvin told him and makes it work. Be more aggressive, but watch the flags.
  I hope Royal is ready to go? We need him in there.
  Cutlers taking care of business just fine, so for all of you Cutler headhunters, learn about football and talent instead of talking down on him. In another blog, one fool even compared him to Ryan Leaf? You have to laugh when people talk ignorant like that. They know nothing about talent because they have none within themselves.
  Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Hope everybody pigged out and enjoyed the football blowouts? Poor, poor Lions.

• November 27, 2008

  10:49 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  angryman1n writes:

  WHICH WAY TO THE YACHT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

• November 28, 2008

  12:05 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncoflow writes:

  Michael Irvin was arrested for possession of marijuana a few years ago. What a great idea this is. I want to vomit.

• November 28, 2008

  1:22 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  MATTP1 writes:

  Brandon you have the talent to be great but you have to limit the drops ,i believe we are 31st or last in dropped balls.Jay is one of the top QBs in the league he will be great for years to come.Lets get back some of the creative play calling we had early on.No drops or turnovers and we can win this game.Go Broncs

• November 28, 2008

  8:20 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hambone writes:

  Since you know so much about football and the rest of us don't, explain Cutler's tendency to stare down one receiver and not check off to another option. He does this disturbing regularity and is the reason for his many interceptions. And he needs to grow up.

• November 28, 2008

  9:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  tom3565 writes:

  Whether you like Irvin or not is not the question, yes he had drug problems, that is not exactly a news flash. The man could staight up play football, he was big and brutal for a wide receiver. If you watched him you were amazed how he did what he wanted to do on the field and defenses had a hard time controling him. That is just exactly what the Broncos need from Brandon, I think you can learn from him about football without getting envolved with drugs. Has Brandon become timid because he is afraid to fumble the ball, dropped passes have seemed to be a problem also lately. As far as the stare down I think most Qb's do that once in awhile, hard to make that judgement on bad games when tendancy is to hyperfocus trying to make plays or force things more.

• November 28, 2008

  9:27 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  krazy_kz1 writes:

  Irvin told Marshall to continue on his current path and to continue to surround himself with the right people. Uhm................How would Irvin know this?
  How about if Marshall goes and finds Eddie Mac or anyone on the Bronco superbowl teams and talks to them on how to become a leader for his team. He can take Cutler with him, maybe they both can get schooled.

• November 28, 2008

  9:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  tom3565 writes:

  Am I the only one that doesn't have a good feeling about Webster returning, leave Larsen in as the starting middle linebacker. It doesn't seem to me like Webster was playing that well before he got hurt. As I have said before, Webster would make a big hit followed by a big miss, and then be way out of the play next. Side line to side line play was off, gap control was hit or miss. Larsen has stepped in and played like Webster should been playing all along, after all he is been getting all the reps. Not a good sign when the guy behind you doesn't get the playing time and yet out plays you!

• November 28, 2008

  11:31 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  myerda00 writes:

  Tom3565, I am right with you on this one. If Slowik puts Webster ahead of Larsen to start at the Jets, then I think Slowik is just a coach that plays veterans ecause he does not want to lose his job.
  Webster plays out of control and does not know what gap responsibilty is.
  OH please let the coaches (Jim Ryan and Bob Slowik) see this one the right way.

• November 28, 2008

  12:42 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Hambone, Cutler needs to grow up, true, but since YOU know soooo much about football, YOU go coach him. He makes mistakes, yes, but he is also shattering all of the Broncos QB records. But, you only see the negative? If you think he is without talent, then I was right, you know nothing about football talent.
  Broncoflow, who better, then Irvin, who made mistakes, to teach Brandon a little thing or two about making mistakes? Yes it's good to surround yourself with positive people, but it's also ok to be around those who made mistakes and learned from them.
  krazy_kz1, what I said to Hambone, holds true to your comment, as well. People will make mistakes, but how they deal with them, is what is important. He also was a great WR. Good enough to become a HOF player. So your comment doesn't work. He can offer Marshall some encouraging advice. Both about life, on the field and off the field. If you and Hambone can't see that, then you are being overly critical and missed the point of their meeting.
  Tom3565 & myerda00, I agree 100%. Keep Larsen in. He has better instinct for the ball then Webster. Doesn't overshoot his gap. If Cutler can stay focused and the receivers can hold on to the balls, we can stay in the game. We need to get the RB's involved. Control the clock. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• November 30, 2008

  5:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  broncoslifer writes:

  I have to agree that the whole Irvin thing can help. He had some problems, but he was a great player. That being said, it would be nice for some of our own greats from the past step up and try to help the team as well. Eddymac would be a great one to do that.

  About the Larson-Webster debate. I have to agree with the rest of you, leave Larson in there. The defense as a whole is still in trouble, but Larson reads and reacts much better than Webster ever did.

  Again, as far as the mistakes the offense is making. If we had a defense that would play decent consistently, the offense wouldn't be trying to force things as much. Mistakes come when you have to try to force plays to stay in the game.

Featured

• Boulder Wildfire

  

  See photos from the Boulder County fire.

• Legislature Blog

  

  The Rocky's Lynn Bartels and Ed Sealover provide live updates from the Capitol.

• Rocky multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Who's next?

  

  Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.

• Weekend plans?

  

  Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's rant on what's next for the Broncos.

• Live updates

  

  Sign up for mobile alerts and breaking news e-mails to keep up with the latest news.