Broncos report: Royal special on punts, as well

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 2, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez

Eddie Royal returns a punt against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter for the season opener.

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Lost in Eddie Royal's fast start at wide receiver is the rookie's fast start on punt returns.

It's ironic, too, since Royal's primary role was supposed to be on special teams before he demonstrated his offensive proficiency.

With his 16.6-yard average, he ranks No. 2 in the NFL, trailing only New England's Kevin Faulk (17.4). And he has energized his blockers, who know he is a threat to take it the distance.

"Just by seeing him run his routes, you know what kind of player he is and how, when he breaks away, he can make people miss," Broncos linebacker Niko Koutouvides said. "On his return last week, we went to block the punt and it was just him against probably seven Kansas City guys and he put a couple moves on guys and took it up the sidelines."

Royal's season-best 36-yard runback against the Chiefs gives him three returns in excess of 10 yards already on only five runbacks.

"In college, I went through a phase of going east-west and realized that didn't work too well," Royal said. "These guys are fast. There's great athletes out here. So you want to make the first guy miss and get upfield for as many yards as you can get."

Royal's contribution on offense has resulted in him being removed from his anticipated dual role of kickoff returner so he can get additional rest.

Special teams coach Scott O'Brien has said Royal could make an appearance deep in a pinch if there were a critical situation when a big return was necessary.

"It's cool. We're not missing a beat with 'Dre back there," Royal said, referring to Andre Hall, who's averaging 22.9 yards on nine tries on kickoff returns. "It's all good spreading the wealth around."

The ties that bind

How's this for starters - get your first NFL job at the ripe old age of 26, then immediately win a Super Bowl ring.

That was the career trajectory of Broncos quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates in 2002-03, when he was Tampa Bay's offensive quality control coach under Jon Gruden.

"It's kind of like your first kid. You never forget your first job," Bates said. "And I learned a lot of football."

Bates eventually moved on to become the Bucs' assistant quarterbacks coach before heading to the New York Jets for one season, then landing to Denver, where he has become a primary play-caller on game days in only his third season.

Bates said he still watches tapes of Gruden's offenses and "stealing ideas from him."

On the flip side, Gruden labeled Bates a "promising, rising star" in the coaching ranks that he knew had a bright future ahead of him.

"I think he was ready to call the plays shortly after he got here," Gruden said. "But I've been one of those guys that has been reluctant to relinquish that. That is something I enjoy more than anything."

Off on a technicality

A bad case of the drops is terrible for a receiver.

It isn't so hot for a punter, either. And that's what the Broncos' Brett Kern maintained has affected him lately.

Two weeks ago against New Orleans, the rookie mis-hit a 49-yard attempt but was helped by a lengthy roll. He followed it up with a booming 56-yarder at a critical time.

Then in Kansas City, he shanked a 26-yard punt out of bounds before rebounding with a high-arcing, 51-yard punt.

Kern's inconsistency, he believes, can be traced to the point he's striking the ball.

"I'm just dropping it a little too low, which is throwing off the timing of my leg swing. If it's low and your leg is coming through, you're going to hit it off your shin, and if you're too high, you're going to hit it off the top of your foot and it'll go almost straight up. It's just finding that consistent drop every time, and your leg swing will swing the same and get the perfect impact."

Kern noted he has had the problem every year in college but fortunately twice experienced the issue during the offseason. He didn't have the problem during training camp, when he won the job.

"I've got to get back on rhythm quickly," he said, adding that has been the scenario in past instances in trying to correct the flaw.

Etc.

* Defensive end John Engelberger (knee) returned to practice after missing a day, but along with receiver Darrell Jackson (calf) was a limited participant. Defensive tackle Josh Shaw (groin) already has been declared out.

* The Race for the Cure will necessitate road closures Sunday around Invesco Field at Mile High until about 11 a.m., after which, roads will be reopened to traffic. Federal Boulevard and Colfax Avenue will be affected. Fans are advised to use Interstate 25 if planning to arrive before 11 a.m.

* The Buccaneers have returned 300 tickets for the game, which are available through Ticketmaster outlets.

Numbers game

7,544 combined career receiving yardage by Tampa Bay's Warrick Dunn and Denver's Michael Pittman. The two are 1-2, respectively, in that category leaguewide among active running backs. Dunn has 473 catches for 4,091 yards since 1997; Pittman has 418 receptions for 3,453 yards since '98.

He said it

"Excuses are a tool of incompetence used by those who have nothing better to say. I have something to say. So I'm not going to make excuses. And what I have to say is, we'll get it done this week. We'll come to play."

Brandon Marshall, receiver, apparently delving into a psychology text, on the Broncos' need to rebound off their four-turnover performance Sunday.

• October 2, 2008

  7:29 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  4shortofa100 writes:

  Don't necessarily know if I'd like to be Ronde Barber right now.

• October 2, 2008

  7:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  4shortofa100, isn't that the truth. I like what Brandon had to say. I hope the rest of the team feels this way. We need to be fired up.

• October 3, 2008

  12:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  deezBroncs1127 writes:

  We need to get our S**T together on defense and play with MILE HIGH PRIDE !!! Whatever happend to the players playing to win. Our defensive line looks like a High School JV squad at times. Your telling me that everyone else has D-Lines in the NFL that can get to the QB, but WE THE BRONCOS CAN'T. It's just fustrating to watch the pathetic effort week in and week out getting to the QB. If we can get to Griese, and make him uncomfortable he will make mistakes, its a given.

  Offensively, we just need to be patient. Last week against KC, Cutler tried to put the ball in tight places that he shouldn't have. Dump the ball to the Backs, TE's and Stokley. Marshall will get his 7 + balls but Cutler can't look at him first on every play. TE's are gonna be the "X" Factor in the game.

  Denver 24 Tampa Bay 17

• October 3, 2008

  12:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  myshkin writes:

  I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but Eddie Royal has a high punt return average because our defense never makes anyone punt! Am I right that Royal only has 6 returns on the year?

• October 3, 2008

  3:06 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  denmex writes:

  brandon has something to said and he say it its time for that d 2 step up and play with some pride they havent stop any body they havent play as pros, kc put 32 points on the score bord and the raiders could put 30 points if it wasent 4 their mistakes, we most have a plan B because honestly that front 4 is the worts not only in this yr but its the worts i remember and i been seeing football for 25 yrs, we need u d if we want 2 be special we need u guys please please please dont blew it

• October 3, 2008

  8:49 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  denmex, I agree with what you said (After rereading it 3 times. Try capital letters at times and puncuation, otherwise it makes it difficult to understand). Anyways, remember that Dewayne didn't play and he is the main part of the front 4. He will play this Sunday so I expect a better job against the run. By doing that, it will put the pressure on Griese. The offense will be fine on our side of the ball.

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