Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Broncos report: Marshall getting extra attention from defenses

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 30, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.

Text size  

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall is seeing a lot more double coverage. "Brandon is still going to get his catches. He's still going to get his yards," quarterback Jay Cutler said.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall is seeing a lot more double coverage. "Brandon is still going to get his catches. He's still going to get his yards," quarterback Jay Cutler said.

Broncos quick links

Drew on the NFL
Drew Litton
Scores and statistics
Broncos inbox

Related Links

Related Stories

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

With all the giveaways recently plaguing the Broncos offense, there has been a takeaway, too.

Teams are putting two defenders on Brandon Marshall to dull his impact and taking their chances elsewhere.

"He's getting a lot of double coverage," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "We've kind of struggled running the ball a little bit, and whenever that happens, if they want to (double cover), we have to take advantage of that and run the ball. Brandon is still going to get his catches. He's still going to get his yards. We just have to find ways to get him the ball."

Marshall hasn't completely disappeared.

He still managed nine catches for 98 yards against Jacksonville on Oct. 12 and six catches for 77 yards at New England the next week.

Those are respectable numbers. But he hasn't scored a touchdown for three consecutive games and hasn't cracked triple digits in yards since Sept. 21.

"It's definitely frustrating when you're used to getting the ball nine, 10 times a game. But it's part of the process of being an elite receiver," Marshall said.

Injuries at tight end and the other receiving spots have been a factor.

Eddie Royal, coming back after a one-game absence, helped pick up the slack against the Patriots, making nine catches for 71 yards.

The Broncos should get third receiver Brandon Stokley (concussion) back this week and also might welcome back tight end Tony Scheffler (groin), though he's practicing only in limited fashion.

It'll be up to those players, in part, to help draw attention from Marshall by making defenses pay in single-coverage situations.

"Those are big pieces to the puzzle," Marshall said.

The recent defensive approach against Denver, which has included a hefty dose of Cover-2 with two safeties split deep, also has resulted in fewer explosive plays.

The Broncos have only one pass play of 20-plus yards in each of the past three games.

The Dolphins have been spotty against the pass and have been exploited badly at times by other teams' top targets, and especially big-bodied types. Houston's Andre Johnson (10 catches, 178 yards, one touchdown), Buffalo's Lee Evans (7-116-0) and Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald (6-153-0) and Anquan Boldin (6-140-3) had big games against Miami.

"If they want to go Cover-2 to stop our passing game, then we should be able to run the ball to get them out of it. It's imperative we get our running game going, week in and week out," Marshall said. "And if they want to double me, that's fine. We've got guys like Eddie Royal and Brandon Stokley that can get the job done as well. We all do different things well, but in the end, we're all playmakers."

Waiting and watching

Tim Crowder doesn't mince words: He's in a funk.

After a rookie season in which he played nearly 40 percent of the snaps, had four sacks and had a fumble return for a touchdown, Crowder barely has been able to crack the defensive line rotation.

Crowder has been deactivated twice and only been a part of three total tackles.

"I feel like I'm stuck in a rut, to be honest," the 2007 second-round pick said. "It's just one of those years, I guess. I still think there's time."

Crowder received some of his playing time in his first year as a result of Ebenezer Ekuban's season- ending Achilles' tendon injury. Now that Ekuban is back, Crowder is fighting for snaps with him and veteran John Engelberger.

A frequent switch to a 3-4 alignment probably hasn't helped, either.

"They keep telling me to be patient and keep . . . working hard," said Crowder, who has continued trying to refine his technique and pass-rushing moves in practices.

Bill Johnson, one of two Broncos line coaches, said Crowder has been caught in a logjam because he hasn't stepped forward enough to distinguish himself.

"He can be perplexed all he wants," Johnson said. "We've got a group of guys where there's not a nickel's difference between the rest of them. You want to know the truth? We want to see some separation.

"It is what it is. We've had some bright spots. We've had some down spots. We're looking for consistency and when we have the right combination and feel we have the right matchup. . . . It's as simple as that."

Hack the backup

By Sunday, Darrell Hackney will be on the active game-day roster for the first time as the Broncos' backup quarterback.

Hackney, currently on the practice squad, was declared inactive for the final eight games last season as the No. 3 option. But with Patrick Ramsey's season-ending right elbow injury, Hackney is one Cutler injury from going behind center for the first time as a pro.

"I think I can lead the team as well as Jay and Patrick. I've learned a lot from those guys," Hackney said. "Jay's taught me the offense; Patrick's taught me what to look for in different situations. . . . And If I happen to get in, I don't want the team to miss a beat."

Hackney has played extensively the past two preseasons, completing a combined 34-of-60 passes for 398 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked three times.

"The exhibition, preseason games are a lot different," Hackney said. "You don't see many blitzes. So I think they're confident in my abilities to make plays. But what they don't know is what I can do in a regular-season game when I'm getting blitzed and having the ups and downs."

Scuffling along

The Broncos defense is getting an earful. The offense is trying to find its way again. But things have been pretty quiet for the special-teams units since San Diego's Darren Sproles raced 103 yards with a kickoff return in Week 2.

Since Week 3, Denver is ranked fifth in punt-return average (13.9), fourth in gross punting (48.1), 14th in net punting (38.8), tied for 21st in kickoff-return average (21.8), 20th in opponents' punt-return average (9.8) and 18th in opponents' kickoff-return average (23.1).

Special teams coach Scott O'Brien believes the group has learned from early mistakes - Oakland's Johnnie Lee Higgins had a 58-yard runback of a kickoff in the opener - but needs more big plays.

"Ultimately, our goal is to put our offense and defense in good field position," O'Brien said. "That's what we do. And making big plays along with that is what you look for, too. We haven't had enough of those."

Injury report

The Broncos listed four players as limited participants in practice Thursday: Scheffler, Stokley and running backs Selvin Young (groin) and Andre Hall (ankle). But it appears Hall might be inactive Sunday.

He hurt his ankle Wednesday, then missed work Thursday. The Broncos should have Ryan Torain available for the first time, making Hall a game-day inactive even more of a possibility.

Numbers game

5 consecutive wins after the bye week for the Broncos. Only two teams currently possess longer active streaks. Philadelphia has won 10 straight, New England six.

rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com

Comments

  • October 30, 2008

    9:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    This will be an interesting game, to say the least. Many questions will be answered as far as offense. Defense is going to have to really get it together. Soul-searching time.

  • October 31, 2008

    5:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    Hmmm Hall might be inactive... don't believe too many fans will be disappointed. I don't want to blame injuries as hard as it might be. Happens to every team every year. Same with a few bad calls, every team gets helped and hurt, and we got some our way. So, in the end the Broncos just need to look in the mirror and say, I have to do better. It is on me I need to produce. I think they have done that with the bye week and we will see a team more motivated, agressive, and a little bit nasty even, than we have the first half of the season. That is my hope at least, but I'm an optimist.

  • October 31, 2008

    8:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Broncody, as am I. Always stay positive. It's good for the soul. Don't need ulcers like many of the fair weather fans will get throughout their years. This is the point of the season where the team needs to pull together "as a team" if they want to win the division.

  • October 31, 2008

    11:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SE7EN writes:

    Turnovers. Turnovers. Turnovers. That's what beat us against KC, J-ville and the Patriots. In the 4 wins (although we got other breaks too) we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot with turnovers. Plus having 3 healthy WR's and 2 healthy TE's, and a healthy RB rotation with Hall, Young and Pittman, we were putting up points in a hurry. Since then, Stokely, Scheffler, Royal, Jackson, Young, Hall and Pittman have all had injury issues in one way or another.

    If this offense is healthy and not turning the ball over, the odds are that we'll put up some big numbers and give this team a chance to win every week.

    The Defense on the other hand...that's a whole slough of issues. Basically the D has to depend on the Offense to be productive or we'll get blown out every game.

  • November 1, 2008

    6:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:

    This game should be a good test for the Broncos as far as how the rest of their season will go...IF the Broncs can get their running game going, than that will be a huge factor as it will keep their defense off the field, and control the clock...This Miami club has the trademark of Parcells all over it...Control the clock by running the ball, or short passes, and then turn their defense loose on an opponent who is forced to catch up...So the Broncos defense will be tested to control the line of scrimmage....

    I look for Pittman to have a good game....He should benefit from the 15 scripted plays that Shanahan starts the offense off with....

    If the Broncos can beat Miami, and follow it up with another win on Thursday, that would be a HUGE factor in how the rest of their season will go, as nothing cures a teams ailments more than victory....

  • November 1, 2008

    4:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    ColoradoSportsFaninTexas, yes, Pittman will be used, but don't forget that Ryan Torain will debut. Lets hope for some special things to happen. Don't expect the world on his first game, but a "spark" if you will, would be sweet. Also, They listed in other articles that Sheffler and Stokley will play, then Lee Rasizer says they are "questionable"? So who knows? I wish somebody would get the right information so I can place a proper bet at the Sports Book.