Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

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

Broncos' Royal had vision of success

Reality provides Shanahan options in chess match

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 9, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.

Text size  

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

Eddie Royal, left, and Brandon Marshall, right, present trouble for defenses.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Eddie Royal, left, and Brandon Marshall, right, present trouble for defenses.

Poll

Are the Chargers still a playoff-caliber team despite the loss of Shawne Merriman for the season?


Broncos quick links

Drew on the NFL
Drew Litton
Scores and statistics
Broncos inbox

Related Links

Related Stories

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

This was the stuff of dreams: opening night, national television, a breakout performance, a touchdown celebration.

Eddie Royal envisioned the whole shebang while lying in bed, pondering the possibilities before his wild NFL debut Monday night.

He then went out and lived his fantasy, with one twist.

"In my dreams, that double pass connected for a touchdown," a chuckling Royal said Monday night, referring to the attempt he was forced to throw away on the Broncos' opening offensive series of the second half against the Oakland Raiders. "So everything didn't go as planned."

Don't expect any complaints from the Broncos for that minor blip after Royal caught nine passes for 146 yards, the sixth-largest gain by a player in his pro debut dating to 1960, in a 41-14 victory.

The second-round pick out of Virginia Tech in April also was the first rookie to gain at least 100 yards in his NFL debut since Anquan Boldin's NFL-record 217 yards on Sept. 7, 2003, for the Arizona Cardinals.

But Royal potentially did something even more impressive - changing the defensive mind-set of future Broncos opponents.

The Broncos played without receiver Brandon Marshall, arguably the team's top offensive weapon. Now that Marshall is off a one-game suspension, defensive coordinators will have to take notice of what Royal did against man coverage by an established cornerback such as the Raiders' DeAngelo Hall.

"We still have other receivers, the running backs and even tight ends, so we can do so many different formations, so many different things to put pressure on a defensive coordinator," said receiver Darrell Jackson, who caught a 48-yard touchdown pass against Oakland.

"This just opens a lot of possibilities for us," quarterback Jay Cutler added after throwing for 299 yards.

One item that's sure to be stressed in opposing meeting rooms is the necessity of getting physical with Royal at the line of scrimmage because he already has demonstrated he can get into his route quickly and gain separation.

Yet the Broncos felt he was the top receiver in the draft because of his upper-body strength and ability to get off jams despite his relatively small size.

And while he plays on the outside, he also has the ability to be interchangeable with slot receiver Brandon Stokley to potentially take advantage of certain matchups.

"Whenever you're running next to him, you've got to get on your horse," Jackson said. "Then he's stopping on a dime, cutting out - that's tough to cover."

You can almost hear the wheels turning in coach Mike Shanahan's head as he tries to create mismatches with his current group, though there still is much proving to do, beginning with Sunday's game at home against the San Diego Chargers and their formidable defense.

At the same time, "Teams can no longer say we need to take Brandon Marshall out of the game and not worry about the other receiver," Stokley said. "You've got two guys now you have to account for. That's huge for us."

The skill-personnel options open the door for the kinds of chess matches Shanahan loves.

He can spread the field and perhaps force teams into five or six defensive-back looks and weaken their ability to stop the Broncos' rushing game, which didn't dominate Monday but still managed 34 carries for 142 yards.

Stack against the run, and one of the Broncos' receivers perhaps gets the opportunity to win single matchups while the other gets double-team attention.

"It's not a bad thing for us that Eddie came out and showed what he can do. Teams are obviously going to have to respect what he can do," said tight end Tony Scheffler, who had a 72-yard catch-and-run. "Brandon's our guy. He's our playmaker. And I think teams are still going to try to take Brandon out. But at the same time, they're going to have to think twice."

The starting point in defending the Broncos still has to be their running game. If that gets cranking, it sets up play-action passing in which Cutler is becoming extremely comfortable and can attack all areas of the field.

It also will be incumbent on defenses that they produce pressure, particularly up the middle, to disrupt Cutler's timing.

"You never know how teams are going to attack you and what they're thinking. There's great coaching," Royal said. "But we've got a great running game, plus the tight ends. It's going to be hard to cover this offense."

Certainly, the Raiders had their problems with Royal.

Oakland players talked about getting outschemed. But Cutler was having none of it.

"Eddie Royal beat DeAngelo Hall time after time after time. That's what happened," he said.

"Eddie's obviously an amazing talent, the little rookie," tight end Nate Jackson said. "We're all very excited about what he's going to do for this team."

Comments

  • September 10, 2008

    12:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jibbons writes:

    DeAngelo Fall gets called out, "Eddie Royal beat DeAngelo Hall time after time after time. That's what happened."

  • September 10, 2008

    6:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    hdfresh writes:

    I would like to see more Darrell Jackson in the mix. It seemed as if he was only thrown to once for that 48 yard touchdown.

  • September 10, 2008

    7:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    Good to have options. No team is going to leave Marshall 1 on 1, but if teams double Marshall, Royal is going to have 1 on 1. Or if they double Marshall and Royal, they have to take a man away from the line of scrimmage, and that opens up the running game and the short passing game. Our offense is going to be top 5 this year. Our defense is going to be middle of the road, and we're playoff bound.

  • September 10, 2008

    9:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    What a great sight it was.... Hall falling flat on his face as Royal beat him ONCE AGAIN!!! haha. And also the sight of Al Davis sulking in his luxury suite.

    Hopefully this Broncos team shows up next weekend as well. If so, it'll be a good game. Can't wait to see what Marshall and Royal do this year.

  • September 10, 2008

    9:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TONE writes:

    MAN!!!! I really enjoy watching the game. Especially watching the black & sivler FADE!!!! I would love for them to demolish the Charge-less... Slap that river for yapping last year.

    It sure feels good to see that we may have a dynamic duo again just like the super years....

    Rod & Eddie... now ...

    Brandon "BIG MAC" Marshall & Eddie "QUARTER POUNDER" Royal

    GO BRONCO... ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPER BOWL... SUPER BOWL CHAMPION!!!

  • September 10, 2008

    9:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Johnnyu writes:

    DP is the worst paper ever. Thank you RMN for actually posting articles about the home team. All DP has is an article on their man crush on philip rivers.

  • September 10, 2008

    10:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    NJBroncosFan writes:

    Cant wait till sunday.... Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (2-0)??
    >>Biggest NJ Bronco Fan<<

  • September 10, 2008

    12:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Finn writes:

    Why is Kimmie Meissner commenting on this article. Go back to figure skating!

  • September 10, 2008

    12:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BillBlack writes:

    Fast Eddie Royal is small, but his brain is large.

    For someone who arguably couldn't pick his own nose on draft day, I think it's safe to say Mike scored BIG on this particular pick. Indeed.

    Even a blind nut can find a squirrel once in a while, as the saying goes.

  • September 10, 2008

    1:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dirkle writes:

    lookin good so far: Monday after the Charger game we'll know what we've got.

  • September 10, 2008

    1:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mazekl writes:

    BillBlack, yes the Broncs have had major issues drafting lately. But Royal isn't just one nut to a blind squirrel. Have you checked the roster lately? Maybe the squirrel has had Lasik, but he found a bunch of nuts in this draft class...

  • September 10, 2008

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    azfan writes:

    Sure, corners will try to jam Fast Eddie at the line of scrimmage. But remember this...despite his diminutive stature, Royal had more reps of 225llbs bench (24) than any other receiver in the draft. He came out of a college that didn't pass his way a whole lot. If he learns to combine his quicks and strength with a little technique (ala Rod Smith) he'll fight off those jams and... Well, it's almost unfair.

    Now you have B-marsh stepping back into the fray at full strength, and let's face it, Brandon is developing into one of the best wideouts in the league. Both of these guys can run after the catch. Try and double both these guys and I see our slot WR and TE's streaking past outmatched defenders all day. That's before we even start talking about the running game taking advantage of that defensive formation.

    Yep, I think Shanahan's rubbing his hands together. We shall see on Sunday. Just stay healthy baby!

  • September 10, 2008

    3:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    TONE, can I assume you are referring to "Le Big Mac" & "Royale with Cheese?" I like that. Big Mac is a great name for B-Marsh.

  • September 10, 2008

    9 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    Broncos have good young players at every single position on offense. If we keep all these guys signed for the next 8 years there is no reason why the the Broncos can't be contenders for a decade or more. I'm am so excited for this season and many seasons to come. Maybe some youth at the center position but that is the only place I have any concerns. Agreed?

  • September 10, 2008

    9:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Broncody, We have youth at the C position. Don't forget, we drafted Kory Lichtensteiger. We are covering everything.