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View Full Version : Stokley, not Marshall, stars in new Denver offense



Lonestar
08-12-2009, 03:36 AM
Associated Press
Updated: August 12, 2009, 3:52 AM EDT
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Sure enough, a flashy receiver named Brandon with a knack for making tough catches and evading tacklers is turning heads at the Denver Broncos' training camp.

But the man making new quarterback Kyle Orton feel right at home is Brandon Stokley, not Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall.
While Marshall makes all his news off the field - he's asked for a raise and a trade and skipped offseason workouts in protest of his contract and medical treatment - Stokley has established himself as Orton's top target.

Day after day they hook up for big plays, Stokley hauling in tough passes over the middle one minute and touch passes in the end zone the next.

"We really worked hard this offseason to get on the same page and when we came out to training camp we were kind of a step ahead of everybody else," Stokley said. "And I think it's showing that we put in a lot of work in this offseason."

Unlike Marshall, who worked out on his own in Florida after recovering from hip surgery rather than participate in the team's offseason training program and mandatory minicamp.

Marshall made it clear when he reported to training camp that he was only doing so to avoid the $15,888 daily fines he otherwise would have faced.

But is Marshall, who will make $2.2 million this season, an "unofficial holdout"?

He's missed every practice since pulling up lame while running a deep route Aug. 2.

New coach Josh McDaniels doesn't talk about injuries and won't allow his hurt players to attend practice, two policies that have helped fuel speculation about Marshall's status.

McDaniels tried to dampen the notion that Marshall was either seriously injured or dogging it this week when he said he was confident his recalcitrant receiver will be ready for the regular season.

"Mentally, he's in all the meetings, he sees all the film sessions, sees all the corrections, so I'm not concerned with that - we still have over a month left for that to come into the fold," McDaniels said.

Stokley was listed as a starter on the team's first depth chart Monday, along with receivers Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney on the outside, with Marshall listed as a second-stringer.

McDaniels insisted Tuesday that the depth chart wasn't legit, that he only submitted it because the league requires him to, and said the reason Marshall was listed as a backup is because he won't make the trip to San Francisco so he can tend to a "personal situation."

That's his misdemeanor battery trial in an Atlanta court on Thursday, where a conviction for striking his former girlfriend could land him in jail and/or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's doghouse.

Goodell informed Marshall last year, when he suspended the receiver for the opener over a series of domestic disputes with his former girlfriend, that a negative outcome in this case could lead to another suspension.

McDaniels also listed safety Brian Dawkins as the starter even though he has a broken hand and reportedly underwent surgery last week. But it was Marshall's relegation to backup status that had the Broncos bloggers abuzz.

"That's not our depth chart," McDaniels said. "We don't have any starters right now. We have competition right now. The league mandates that we put out a roster for who's going to start in the first preseason game and Brandon has a personal situation that he's going to attend to and won't be able to make that preseason game. And Jabar Gaffney's going to start in his place. It's very simple."

His consternation aside, McDaniels has been effusive in his praise of his other receivers, especially Stokley.

"Brandon Stokley is one of the toughest slot receivers that I've coached against and he's everything I thought he was when I came here: very crafty, smart, tough, physical, quick," McDaniels said. "He just has a knack of how to get open and that's an invaluable skill for a receiver to have, especially on third down."

McDaniels is instilling an intricate offense modeled after the one he ran in New England as Bill Belichick's offensive coordinator that employs a three-receiver set at its base.

So, Stokley can expect an even heavier workload than he had last year, when he caught 49 passes, the second-highest total of his career after his 68-catch, 1,077-yard season for the Indianapolis Colts in 2004.

"We'll play Brandon probably more than they did last year," McDaniels said. "Brandon's got a great role. Great teammate, great attitude, great work ethic and I love having him out here."

Things that he just can't say right now about Marshall.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9926672/Stokley,-not-Marshall,-stars-in-new-Denver-offense

Northman
08-12-2009, 04:27 AM
Although stokely is a great player for us i wouldnt really go out of my way to say he will be a star this year. Its still just TC yet and we havent seen how they will work in game situations. But its good to hear they are building chemistry.

anton...
08-12-2009, 04:58 AM
gotta love stokley!

but he gets injured far too much...

i hope he can stay on the field this year...

Dreadnought
08-12-2009, 05:35 AM
gotta love stokley!

but he gets injured far too much...

i hope he can stay on the field this year...

Agreed - that would be my concern. I'd rather have him available for all 16 games, and I'm just not sure his body would hold up as a full time starter

BroncoTech
08-12-2009, 06:46 AM
"Mentally, he's in all the meetings, he sees all the film sessions, sees all the corrections, so I'm not concerned with that - we still have over a month left for that to come into the fold," McDaniels said.

Stokley was listed as a starter on the team's first depth chart Monday, along with receivers Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney on the outside, with Marshall listed as a second-stringer.

McDaniels insisted Tuesday that the depth chart wasn't legit, that he only submitted it because the league requires him to, and said the reason Marshall was listed as a backup is because he won't make the trip to San Francisco so he can tend to a "personal situation."



McDaniels talks too much. He can just say BM hasn't practiced and can't play. I'll be lmao when BM gets 30 days in jail for smakin' his bitch up. Maybe the judge will sentence him to community service picking up beer cans on the side of the road on Sundays for a year. Who knows.

T.K.O.
08-12-2009, 11:13 AM
"brandon stokely......the new wes welker"
i would say he can definately be "a star " in this offense.
i just hope marshall and royal out shine him !
i got a feeling our running attack will be the talk of the town anyway.
and marshall wont do any jail time ,community service most likely

silkamilkamonico
08-12-2009, 12:22 PM
Stokley? Well that sucks....


...and here I thought Eddie Royal was having a great camp and being the stud WR. I was hoping he would be the gu this year.

Requiem / The Dagda
08-12-2009, 01:02 PM
Stokes should be able to last a year or two more playing in this offense. His precise route running and the ability to get through the seem and catch the ball well is exactly what McDaniels is looking for. Same goes for Royal, and Kenny McKinley will be able to excel down the road as well. Jabar will be fine as well. If Marshall is able to compete, that's just gravy.

T.K.O.
08-12-2009, 01:08 PM
Stokes should be able to last a year or two more playing in this offense. His precise route running and the ability to get through the seem and catch the ball well is exactly what McDaniels is looking for. Same goes for Royal, and Kenny McKinley will be able to excel down the road as well. Jabar will be fine as well. If Marshall is able to compete, that's just gravy.

mcdaniels appears to have enough BALLS to keep everybody busy !:D