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Marshall back at right time for Broncos

Receiver could help avenge past two Chargers routs

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 10, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.

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Wide receiver Brandon Marshall keeps thing light with his teammates as the Denver Broncos practice at Dove Valley on Wednesday.

Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall keeps thing light with his teammates as the Denver Broncos practice at Dove Valley on Wednesday.

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While the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers said goodbye to a couple of their biggest stars, the Broncos were reintroduced to one of theirs.

Receiver Brandon Marshall wore his trademark headband, a Barack Obama T-shirt bearing what might actually have been a life-sized portrait and a wide grin as he returned to Dove Valley on Wednesday off a one-game, league-mandated suspension.

"It went by pretty fast," Marshall said of his absence, the result of violating the NFL's code of conduct. "I did my best to stay in shape mentally and physically."

Marshall noted he spoke frequently with quarterback Jay Cutler to keep up with the playbook and the happenings around the team. He did some charity work. And he stayed sharp by training in Golden at Next Level Sports Performance with Jim Keller, who previously worked 10 years as a Broncos assistant athletic trainer.

Marshall also watched some TV - specifically, the Broncos' 41-14 road victory against the Oakland Raiders on Monday night without him.

"I was a true fan," he said. "I was throwing things."

Now, he's back to catching. And despite the Broncos' scoring barrage in the opener, which included 441 yards and a breakout performance by rookie receiver Eddie Royal, Marshall's a welcome addition.

"We got by without him. Eddie had a great game. We kind of attacked one guy, so we didn't have to have 'B' out there," Cutler said, alluding to Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who covered Royal. "But this game, we're going to need him, definitely."

The Broncos scored only six points last season in two blowout losses against San Diego, even with Marshall available during his 102-catch, 1,325-yard receiving season.

Having Marshall back at least puts the Broncos in a better position than the Patriots, who must adjust to life without quarterback Tom Brady, and the Chargers, who must move on without Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman. Both players are gone for the season.

Marshall has 15 games, if healthy, to recover from his self- inflicted setback, which he insists is behind him.

"Hopefully, he'll be playing at the same level that he was playing in the preseason," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Marshall made 10 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns in nine quarters with the starting offense in August.

But he demonstrated daily during training camp he might be ready to improve on his 2007 star turn with his ability to get deep and fight through press coverage.

"Every guy that's a playmaker, every explosive player you can put on the field, is to your advantage," Chargers coach Norv Turner said of Marshall's return. "And with Royal coming out and playing the way he did the other night, it just gives you another guy you've got to contend with."

Watching at home, Marshall was ecstatic about Royal's performance, which he said makes the Broncos offense "dangerous."

"The good thing about it is we've got an O-line that's strong and a running game that's successful and a bunch of tight ends that can go the distance," Marshall said.

"Now, teams can't roll coverage to my side or double me. And if they go Cover-2 (splitting two safeties deep), we're just going to pound the ball. So I'm excited to have him. But I've been saying that from the first time I've seen him. He's a great talent."

Marshall's no slouch himself.

He led the league in yards after contact last year with 319. He had 37 receptions in the final month of the season. And his 102 catches overall were the second most in Broncos history for a season, trailing only Rod Smith's 113 in 2001.

Marshall already has promised record-breaking numbers, even while missing one game.

"I'm just excited about this year," he said. "And there's a lot of excitement to come."

Comments

  • September 10, 2008

    8:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Let the good times roll. This week, let it roll right over Rivers and the rest of his rat pack. Man I want to see him eat "humble pie" after his garbage trash talking, last year. I want to see him pulling grass out of his facemask, OFTEN!

  • September 11, 2008

    7:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    KneeDeep writes:

    D-Dave
    The Chargers will see a different Cutler this time! With ER emerging, Marshell returning and steroid M-Man gone, I see the Bronco's putting up some points-- 31-17 Broncos.

  • September 11, 2008

    8:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Geezeroef writes:

    As long as the defense does their part, this should be a big jump in the division. At least we have something to be excited about and we are injury free, knock on wood...

  • September 11, 2008

    9:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CoJeffry writes:

    Our offense, although young, appears to be on its way to "unstoppable" status. This game will surely spotlight how good we truly are and how far the younger players are in their development. I still have a few concerns about the defense but the offense seems set.

  • September 11, 2008

    7:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cutlers_the_bomb writes:

    I agree.The offense looks absolutely amazing. However, a lot of experts say that it was just because we played the Raiders, and saying that Cutler's success was "partly due to lack of competition". Notice, however, that these experts also picked the Raiders to win, saying they were better than us. Sounds like they realized they screwed up, but now they make it worse by accusing Cutler, who almost ANYBODY, including Shawne Merriman, says will become one of the best qb's to ever play, of only playing well due to lack of competition. What kind of an expert is he? Also, I don't have anywhere near the questions I did have at the beginning about our defense. I think that we did well moving Webster back to the middle, DJ Williams outside, and getting Boss Bailey, who didn't play to help him get even healthier to take on Antonio Gates this Sunday. Also, I think that this offense will become one of the best to ever take the field, and certainly is one of the deepest offenses in the league. We have a number four and five receiver who could actually be a number two and three receiver on other teams, and 3 quality tight-ends as well as running backs. This offense is going to take us places, as well as keep pressure off of our defense, because we'll be able to control the ball and clock. Also, we have been stepping up on 3rd down, and I'm not upset about the idea of having a Patriot styled "bend don't break" defense, because it works for them.

  • September 11, 2008

    9 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DIEHARDCANADIAN writes:

    I like our offense too but I wouldn't go so far as to say they are one of the best ever just yet. Cutler, Marshall, Royal and Scheffler are unbelievable. But our running game is just o.k. Our offense in the 90's with Elway, Smith, Mcaffery, Sharpe and Davis is in my opinion one of the best if not the best offense ever. I find it hard to believe that this group is better than them.