Denver Native (Carol)
10-14-2010, 01:27 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16338538?source=rss
Josh McDaniels freely admits that his team got pushed around by the Baltimore Ravens in last week's 31-17 loss. So the challenge McDaniels posed to the Broncos this week is this: Will you let it happen again?
The Broncos on Sunday host the New York Jets, a team known for its nasty, physical defense and its No. 1-ranked running game.
"I'm not calling our team a team that went in there and laid down or anything like that, but when you give up a certain number or rushing yards and don't rush the football very well, there's reason to say they were the tougher team," McDaniels said Thursday. "That was the case last Sunday, and we'll see if that's the case this Sunday or not."
McDaniels said his team practiced well on Wednesday, their first session since Sunday's loss.
While preparing for the Jets, the Broncos are also trying out plans for replacing several injured players on defense and special teams. The Broncos will play Sunday without safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Andre Goodman and outside linebacker Robert Ayers, as well as two of their top special teamers, Wesley Woodyard and Darcel McBath.
McDaniels said there is a possibility the team could make roster moves late in the week to add depth to the defense and add players to the coverage units. Likely candidates would be practice squad players like safety Kyle McCarthy or linebackers Kevin Alexander or Diyral Briggs.
"We're looking at a few different concoctions of alignments," McDaniels said, smiling. "So there are holes in more than just the defensive side of the ball. We're looking at who can contribute in the kicking game and guys that can help us in the short term. Everyone's an option."
McDaniels said the team is also continuing to test our various options on the offensive line. Rookie Zane Beadles has taken some first-team reps at right tackle (where Ryan Harris is the starter) and Stanley Daniels and Russ Hochstein continue to compete for the starting job at left guard.
Josh McDaniels freely admits that his team got pushed around by the Baltimore Ravens in last week's 31-17 loss. So the challenge McDaniels posed to the Broncos this week is this: Will you let it happen again?
The Broncos on Sunday host the New York Jets, a team known for its nasty, physical defense and its No. 1-ranked running game.
"I'm not calling our team a team that went in there and laid down or anything like that, but when you give up a certain number or rushing yards and don't rush the football very well, there's reason to say they were the tougher team," McDaniels said Thursday. "That was the case last Sunday, and we'll see if that's the case this Sunday or not."
McDaniels said his team practiced well on Wednesday, their first session since Sunday's loss.
While preparing for the Jets, the Broncos are also trying out plans for replacing several injured players on defense and special teams. The Broncos will play Sunday without safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Andre Goodman and outside linebacker Robert Ayers, as well as two of their top special teamers, Wesley Woodyard and Darcel McBath.
McDaniels said there is a possibility the team could make roster moves late in the week to add depth to the defense and add players to the coverage units. Likely candidates would be practice squad players like safety Kyle McCarthy or linebackers Kevin Alexander or Diyral Briggs.
"We're looking at a few different concoctions of alignments," McDaniels said, smiling. "So there are holes in more than just the defensive side of the ball. We're looking at who can contribute in the kicking game and guys that can help us in the short term. Everyone's an option."
McDaniels said the team is also continuing to test our various options on the offensive line. Rookie Zane Beadles has taken some first-team reps at right tackle (where Ryan Harris is the starter) and Stanley Daniels and Russ Hochstein continue to compete for the starting job at left guard.