Denver Native (Carol)
10-02-2010, 12:26 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16230524?source=rss
Welcome back. Today's question comes from Ed Davis in Detroit:
Q: Who do you expect to get the majority of the carries Sunday? Will Knowshon Moreno be healthy? If not, do you think the Broncos will turn more toward (Correll) Buckhalter given (Laurence) Maroney's short-yardage struggles last week against Indianapolis?
A: Ed, this has easily been, other than Tim Tebow, the most-asked question of the week about the Broncos.
Moreno, who suffered a left hamstring injury in practice last week and did not play against Colts, has not practiced this week, having missed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he'd like to give Moreno the "benefit of the doubt" Saturday and perhaps even Sunday to see where he is health-wise, but the Broncos are making other plans for their backfield in this one.
Maroney, because of his history in McDaniels' offense in New England, figures to get the start again and do the bulk of the early-down work. McDaniels sees Maroney as more of a run/receiving option than Buckhalter.
Buckhalter will play in the team's third-down package as well as in most hurry-up situations. Buckhalter was in the hurry-up drives against the Colts just before the half and at the end of the game when the Broncos stayed in their three-wide-receiver set.
McDaniels likes Buckhalter as a runner, but the Broncos have been careful in monitoring his workload given how much time he missed in training camp because of a neck/back injury.
Fullback Spencer Larsen also won't play because of an ankle injury, so tight end Dan Gronkowski will line up as the up back when the Broncos go to a two-back set. Gronkowski will at least have had a little more time to prepare for that role this week.
In the days leading up to the Colts' game, Gronkowski was told Friday he would play at least some at fullback, so he had plenty of cramming to do in the playbook before the game.
He then played 13 snaps at fullback, while also lining up in the team's two-tight-end set 19 times.
The main concern for the backs against the Titans will be their pass-protection duties. The Titans like to add linebackers and safeties to the pass rush, usually right up the middle of the formation, right after the offensive linemen have engaged the Titans' defensive linemen.
That means Gronkowski, Buckhalter and Maroney have to be on the lookout for defenders coming free on the way to quarterback Kyle Orton.
Welcome back. Today's question comes from Ed Davis in Detroit:
Q: Who do you expect to get the majority of the carries Sunday? Will Knowshon Moreno be healthy? If not, do you think the Broncos will turn more toward (Correll) Buckhalter given (Laurence) Maroney's short-yardage struggles last week against Indianapolis?
A: Ed, this has easily been, other than Tim Tebow, the most-asked question of the week about the Broncos.
Moreno, who suffered a left hamstring injury in practice last week and did not play against Colts, has not practiced this week, having missed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he'd like to give Moreno the "benefit of the doubt" Saturday and perhaps even Sunday to see where he is health-wise, but the Broncos are making other plans for their backfield in this one.
Maroney, because of his history in McDaniels' offense in New England, figures to get the start again and do the bulk of the early-down work. McDaniels sees Maroney as more of a run/receiving option than Buckhalter.
Buckhalter will play in the team's third-down package as well as in most hurry-up situations. Buckhalter was in the hurry-up drives against the Colts just before the half and at the end of the game when the Broncos stayed in their three-wide-receiver set.
McDaniels likes Buckhalter as a runner, but the Broncos have been careful in monitoring his workload given how much time he missed in training camp because of a neck/back injury.
Fullback Spencer Larsen also won't play because of an ankle injury, so tight end Dan Gronkowski will line up as the up back when the Broncos go to a two-back set. Gronkowski will at least have had a little more time to prepare for that role this week.
In the days leading up to the Colts' game, Gronkowski was told Friday he would play at least some at fullback, so he had plenty of cramming to do in the playbook before the game.
He then played 13 snaps at fullback, while also lining up in the team's two-tight-end set 19 times.
The main concern for the backs against the Titans will be their pass-protection duties. The Titans like to add linebackers and safeties to the pass rush, usually right up the middle of the formation, right after the offensive linemen have engaged the Titans' defensive linemen.
That means Gronkowski, Buckhalter and Maroney have to be on the lookout for defenders coming free on the way to quarterback Kyle Orton.