Broncos report: Team has size over 2007 squad that lost to Jacksonville

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 8, 2008 at 9:30 p.m.

Text size  

• 7 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky/2007

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler laments a sack by the Jaguars' Reggie Hayward in a game in September 2007 at Invesco Field at Mile High. The Jaguars visit the Broncos on Sunday.

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.

In many ways, the first domino that was tipped in a disappointing 2007 for the Broncos, a year that concluded with Denver finishing 7-9 and out of the postseason, was shoved over by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars return Sunday, a little more than a year after they "manhandled" - Broncos coach Mike Shanahan's description - the Broncos in a 23-14 victory at Invesco Field at Mile High in September 2007.

"Yeah, they beat us up pretty good," Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley said. "They came in here and beat us up pretty good."

It meant that after a 2-0 start, the Broncos went 5-8 the rest of the way after the loss.

The Jaguars rushed for 186 yards in that game on 47 carries - by contrast, the Broncos had only 47 rushing yards - their first scoring drive went 80 yards in 18 defense-numbing plays and consumed 11:44 on the clock.

Quarterback Jay Cutler ended up in the training room the next week because of a sprained ankle after being sacked by former Broncos defensive end Reggie Hayward. Former safety John Lynch was injured in the game. And former fullback Paul Smith suffered a pinched nerve in his neck that day as well.

"They manhandled us," Shanahan said. "I'd say that'd be pretty close, manhandled, outphysicaled us. We know they're going to run it."

And the Broncos' 21:12 time of possession was their lowest total since 1992.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, used up more than 38 minutes of the clock and after the game, running back Fred Taylor said he had challenged his offensive line to "knock the little guys out of the way."

This year, Taylor said, he sees a little different Broncos defense as Denver has used a 3-4 a great deal of the time - at least 21 snaps - in two of the past three games.

"They are not the group that was the smaller bunch up front last year," Taylor said Wednesday.

"We came into that game saying 'OK, we're going to run the ball,' treat them like the Colts with the smaller guys. But now with (Dewayne) Robertson and Marcus (Thomas), they're playing outstanding in the middle, they've got some size now."

At 19th in the league in rushing and already missing three starters in their offensive line - guards Maurice Williams and Vince Manuwai and center Brad Meester - the Jaguars have not been nearly as consistent running the ball as they were last season when they were second in the league. Williams and Manuwai are out for the season.

The Broncos, having surrendered 198 rushing yards to Kansas City's Larry Johnson two weeks ago, are 25th in the league in run defense.

"They've put together a very good defense, a lot better than they were last year . . . ," Taylor said. "They're young, very energetic and they're flying around."

One more time

Chad Mustard has gotten used to waiting for the phone to ring, used to hoping for another slice of NFL life.

Mustard, who was released at the end of training camp, is back because of concerns about Tony Scheffler's groin injury. Scheffler is out, at the minimum, for Sunday's game.

"You just kind of separate the two lives," Mustard said. "When I'm not in football, I train because I want to be prepared to get back in, but I live as if I'm not. My wife and I spent time in Nebraska . . . been back and forth. We just keep it separated.

"It used to be somewhat frustrating, but now it's just kind of part of the routine."

Mustard, in his fifth season, has been waived nine times. He has spent time with Cleveland, Carolina and the Broncos to go with a stint in the now-defunct NFL Europe as well as spending time with the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League in 2002.

He also has been a teacher part of the time he has been out of the league, including a stint at an Omaha high school in 2002.

"It's cumbersome at times, but better than the alternative," Mustard said. "I'm looking forward to someday teaching, working with kids, coaching, but it doesn't quite match what the NFL does right now, and I just feel like I've got a few more NFL games left in the body."

Scheffler will miss Sunday's game, but Shanahan said Wednesday that Scheffler could play the next week in New England.

News flash

Shanahan floated the idea earlier this week of playing defensive end Jarvis Moss at outside linebacker some of the time when the Broncos play their 3-4 look on defense, but the idea appeared to surprise Moss.

"I know nothing about that," Moss said Wednesday. "I haven't heard from the coaches or anything on that one."

Moss, who was the Broncos' first-round pick - 17th overall - in the 2007 draft, has been a game-day inactive three times this season, including Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Listed at 265 pounds, Moss has struggled at times against bigger offensive tackles and has five tackles in limited duty. Shanahan described him Monday as being "in that 240 (pound) range."

"Whatever the coaches want me to do, I'll do, 110 percent," Moss said. "I'll do it."

Etc.

* In addition to Scheffler and running back Selvin Young (groin), who will not play Sunday, the Broncos also held defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (groin) and receiver Eddie Royal (ankle/foot) out of practice.

The Broncos believe Ekuban will play against the Jaguars and continue to hope Royal will as well.

* The Jaguars held defensive tackle Rob Meier (knee), cornerback Brian Witherspoon (thigh) and safety Reggie Nelson (knee) out of practice. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Nelson was the one "there is the most concern about."

Nelson and Meier are starters, while Witherspoon started for the injured Drayton Florence on Sunday. Florence (groin) practiced on a limited basis.

* The Jaguars are the only team in the league to have every one of their games this season decided by seven points or fewer. Their three losses have come by a combined 16 points and their two wins are by a combined five points.

He said it

"That's probably the last person I'm going to hit like that this year."

Jay Cutler, Broncos quarterback on plowing into Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber to finish a run.

Numbers game

13-2 combined record of the three teams that have beaten the Jaguars this season. The Titans are 5-0, the Bills 4-1 and the Steelers 4-1. All three also lead their respective divisions.

• October 9, 2008

  12:10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  angryman1n writes:

  It's gonna be a great week.......

  For the J-ville fans.

• October 9, 2008

  7:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  incognitoboy writes:

  oh, GAWD!

  here come the trolls......angrypunk is back!

  go back to oakland, troll.

• October 9, 2008

  8:21 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  cutlerscannon13 writes:

  agreed angrymann is a whiner
  go support your scrub of a team instead of beating down our young GOOD team
  its honesty just hilarious

• October 9, 2008

  9:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Yeah, he probably comes home from his McDonald's job, kicks the dog, slaps the wife and beats the kids. His "handle" explains him pretty accurately. I imagine he doesn't have many friends, including himself. But, look at the bright side, guys, we get the pleasure of seeing Denver proving him a moron, week after week.

  Now, on to business. Looks like we dodged a bullet and will have our DE's playing as well as Eddie Royal. Chad Mustard might as well enjoy that one paycheck (which I'm sure is decent). Scheffler is slated to return next week. Jags team is pretty beat up so Denver needs to strike and strike quick. The Jags have had a lot of luck in our house, in the past. Time for that to change.

• October 9, 2008

  9:21 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  SE7EN writes:

  Yeah, a great week for J-ville fans... Sure, if you're talking about this week, you're right, from now until Saturday it will be a fantastic week. But it will be a bad start to the week for J-ville fans on Sunday.

• October 9, 2008

  2:58 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  zachm219 writes:

  No Reggie Nelson= Big day for Cutler and Angryman being nothing more then a sadchild

• October 9, 2008

  6:37 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bbrown writes:

  Angry-giner, you smell as bad as you think! How can you possibly think J-Ville has any chance in this game. The Broncs are mad as heck about last year I garuantee it. This game will not be close. Denver 27-13.

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.