Lonestar
11-01-2008, 08:47 AM
Broncos WR facing double, sometimes triple coverage
Associated Press
Saturday, November 1, 2008
ENGLEWOOD -- Brandon Marshall does not shy away from being in the spotlight. Even to the point of wearing eye-catching sweat pants while teammates wore conventional blue shorts in Friday's practices.
The third-year Denver Broncos wide receiver welcomes extra attention at every opportunity that life allows. Except when it interferes with what he enjoys doing the most -- catching footballs.
After sitting out Denver's season opener at Oakland to serve a one-game suspension, the 24-year-old had a breakout game in Week 2, catching 18 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Opposing teams have paid greater attention to him since, escorting Marshall with double coverage and even a third defender on his pass routes.
The greater attention has limited him to 31 catches and two touchdowns in the five subsequent games.
"It is definitely frustrating when you are used to getting the ball nine or 10 times a game," Marshall said. "That is part of the process of being an elite receiver."
"Yeah, he is getting a lot of double coverage," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "We just have to find ways to get him the ball."
Cutler suggested picking up the running game when opponents choose to roll a safety over to help a cornerback deal with Marshall.
Marshall agrees.
“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 that Cover-2,” Marshall said. “It is imperative to get our running game going week in and week out.”
Marshall would also like to see foes punished by having Eddie Royal catch nine or 10 balls a game against single coverage.
Stokley update
Brandon Stokley maintained a poker face when asked about the possibility of playing Sunday against Miami.
“You have to show up and see for yourself,” Stokley said after Friday’s practice.
He suffered a concussion on Oct. 12 while making his first of three catches against Jacksonville. Stokley was inactive a week later in a 41-7 loss at New England.
“I did get in a good week of work,” Stokley said. “I think the team is ready to go and it will be a good game, a tough game.”
Stokley complained that the rehab process to overcome a concussion was anything but enjoyable.
“You ice it, you get rest and that’s all you can do,” Stokley said. “You can’t really do anything in the training room or in any kind of rehab to help you aside from just having to rest.”
Torain getting closer
Running back Ryan Torain took off a device that protects his left elbow and said the elbow feels better — but he had nothing to say about his playing status.
“I don’t know what all is going on,” Torain said. “All I can do is wait for them to come to me.”
Torain hasn’t been active at all this year. He suffered the elbow injury in training camp.
“I went through the same waiting my last year at college,” said Torain, who missed the final seven games of his senior year at Arizona State with a broken toe. “I’ve gotten to know everybody on the training staff there and here.”
Cutler said he was eager to see Torain contribute.
“I’m excited for him and I think he is going to help us out a lot,” Cutler said. “He adds a little juice to the backfield.”
Tight end Tony Scheffler, who has been inactive the last two games with a groin injury, remains a question mark.
“I do more and more each day,” Scheffler said. “I feel better and hopefully I can get back out there on Sunday.”
Getting to 400
Denver will be seeking its 400th franchise win since the team began play in 1960. The milestone has eluded the Broncos in the team’s last two games as they fell to Jacksonville and New England.
It’s escaped the players’ attention as well.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. “It isn’t something that we talked about.”
Safety Marquand Manuel had the quote of the day on the subject.
“I wasn’t around for the first win,” Manuel said. “If I was and I am still playing, you might need to give me a drug test.”
The Broncos, one of six charter members of the American Football League, defeated the Boston Patriots 13-10 on Sept. 9, 1960, for their first win.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/nov/01/marshall-frustrated-by-too-much-attention/?partner=RSS
Associated Press
Saturday, November 1, 2008
ENGLEWOOD -- Brandon Marshall does not shy away from being in the spotlight. Even to the point of wearing eye-catching sweat pants while teammates wore conventional blue shorts in Friday's practices.
The third-year Denver Broncos wide receiver welcomes extra attention at every opportunity that life allows. Except when it interferes with what he enjoys doing the most -- catching footballs.
After sitting out Denver's season opener at Oakland to serve a one-game suspension, the 24-year-old had a breakout game in Week 2, catching 18 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Opposing teams have paid greater attention to him since, escorting Marshall with double coverage and even a third defender on his pass routes.
The greater attention has limited him to 31 catches and two touchdowns in the five subsequent games.
"It is definitely frustrating when you are used to getting the ball nine or 10 times a game," Marshall said. "That is part of the process of being an elite receiver."
"Yeah, he is getting a lot of double coverage," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "We just have to find ways to get him the ball."
Cutler suggested picking up the running game when opponents choose to roll a safety over to help a cornerback deal with Marshall.
Marshall agrees.
“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 that Cover-2,” Marshall said. “It is imperative to get our running game going week in and week out.”
Marshall would also like to see foes punished by having Eddie Royal catch nine or 10 balls a game against single coverage.
Stokley update
Brandon Stokley maintained a poker face when asked about the possibility of playing Sunday against Miami.
“You have to show up and see for yourself,” Stokley said after Friday’s practice.
He suffered a concussion on Oct. 12 while making his first of three catches against Jacksonville. Stokley was inactive a week later in a 41-7 loss at New England.
“I did get in a good week of work,” Stokley said. “I think the team is ready to go and it will be a good game, a tough game.”
Stokley complained that the rehab process to overcome a concussion was anything but enjoyable.
“You ice it, you get rest and that’s all you can do,” Stokley said. “You can’t really do anything in the training room or in any kind of rehab to help you aside from just having to rest.”
Torain getting closer
Running back Ryan Torain took off a device that protects his left elbow and said the elbow feels better — but he had nothing to say about his playing status.
“I don’t know what all is going on,” Torain said. “All I can do is wait for them to come to me.”
Torain hasn’t been active at all this year. He suffered the elbow injury in training camp.
“I went through the same waiting my last year at college,” said Torain, who missed the final seven games of his senior year at Arizona State with a broken toe. “I’ve gotten to know everybody on the training staff there and here.”
Cutler said he was eager to see Torain contribute.
“I’m excited for him and I think he is going to help us out a lot,” Cutler said. “He adds a little juice to the backfield.”
Tight end Tony Scheffler, who has been inactive the last two games with a groin injury, remains a question mark.
“I do more and more each day,” Scheffler said. “I feel better and hopefully I can get back out there on Sunday.”
Getting to 400
Denver will be seeking its 400th franchise win since the team began play in 1960. The milestone has eluded the Broncos in the team’s last two games as they fell to Jacksonville and New England.
It’s escaped the players’ attention as well.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. “It isn’t something that we talked about.”
Safety Marquand Manuel had the quote of the day on the subject.
“I wasn’t around for the first win,” Manuel said. “If I was and I am still playing, you might need to give me a drug test.”
The Broncos, one of six charter members of the American Football League, defeated the Boston Patriots 13-10 on Sept. 9, 1960, for their first win.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/nov/01/marshall-frustrated-by-too-much-attention/?partner=RSS