Lonestar
08-16-2009, 10:41 PM
by Woody Paige Denver Post Columnist , The Denver Post
SAN FRANCISCO
- Take a deep breath, take a hot bath, take medication if you have to, but don't take a good look, and repeat after me this Broncorian Chant: "It's only an exhibition. ? It's merely the first exhibition. ? Exhibition games don't count. ? It's Kyle and Josh's first game. ? It's only an exhibition."
It was a public display that should have been kept private.
The Broncos were beaten by the 49ers in the XXX-hibition. The garlic fries were great; the teams were not. Stay thirsty, my friends.
In an anti-hat trick, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions, one in the end zone.
Dr? Bly, who was released in the offseason by the Broncos because he couldn't play, may have been the best player on the field. He got the second pick.
The Broncos lost their No. 1 draft choice, Knowshon Moreno, who was taken from the field late in the first half with a "leg injury."
The Broncos' first-team offense scored zero points.
And the first-team defense didn't look so hot, either.
Coach Josh McDaniels, in his debut, was not a happy camper.
Other than that ? it was only an exhibition.
When the Broncos recently held a public scrimmage at their home stadium, Orton, your new quarterback, was booed soundly by the loyal (?) fans when he threw two interceptions.
On Friday night at Candlestick Park, Orton was cheered loudly.
By the San Francisco fans (in a stadium with probably 35,000 empty seats).
Everybody loves a quarterback from the opposition who is intercepted three times in two quarters.
Chris Simms may be the most popular man in Denver today. He is the Broncos' backup quarterback who threw a touchdown pass with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter, in his first appearance of the game and in a Broncos uniform.
Welcome to a QB controversy, just like the bad old days in Denver.
It's only an exhibition, Auntie Em.
The defensive line, a major concern heading into the regular season, was not spectacular, not special, not solid. Ronnie Fields, at nose tackle, contributed about as much as he did last year - when he was a reserve with the 49ers.
All that talk about the new 3-4 defense, and, truth is, the Broncos actually are playing a 5-2 defense. The two outside linebackers were up on the line of scrimmage rushing the quarterback, leaving the two inside linebackers to handle the middle and the underneath routes. Elvis "The Hybrid" Dumervil had a sack from his defensive end/linebacker position.
On offense, the Broncos opened with a four-receiver set - Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson.
Their best wide receiver ran his best out pattern earlier in the day. Brandon Marshall was found not guilty. Now he can return to his main tasks - trying to get out of Denver or get a new contract.
In his absence, the Broncos' receivers caught Orton's first four passes (a fifth was erased by a penalty) - short right, short right, short right, short right.
However, at the San Francisco 3-yard line, Orton threw too short right. Short wrong.
Interception - which has been rather typical of Orton's practices and scrimmages.
In the old Ballyard By The Bay before the game, several Denver supporters wandered about in "Cutler" jerseys. One guy was wearing a "Plummer" jersey. Not an "Orton" jersey or a dry eye in the house.
During pregame warmups, McDaniels paced from the 20 to the 30 yard lines. For those wondering about his fashion statement, the coach was outfitted in a white jacket, a white cap and blue pants.
Orange certainly has gone out of style, and even on a cool night, there were no hoodies in sight on the sideline.
McDaniels had stated emphatically on the eve of the first training camp practices that the Broncos must improve their point production in the red zone; they had to decrease turnovers by the offense and increase turnovers by the defense.
On their opening possession, the Broncos got in the red zone - and failed to score. They gave up three turnovers in the first half; they got none.
O-for-3.
Meanwhile, Orton had luck only a buzzard's mother could love.
His quarterback rating for the night was 32.6.
After the second interception - a bad Bly blot when Orton didn't have a hint of what the defense was doing - McDaniels sent his "No. 1" quarterback back into the fire. Orton handed off twice, there was a false start and the Broncos were forced to pass. "It seems like another pick waiting to happen," I muttered. It was.
Meanwhile, Moreno's first carry as a pro advanced the ball 9 yards, his second 5 more yards. Although most people didn't notice, he limped back to the huddle. The Broncos should have removed Moreno. Instead, he was given the ball again. A few minutes later he limped into the tunnel, and who Knowshon?
Orton returned one more time. On his last pass, offensive pass interference was called.
It was only an exhibition ? only a nightmare.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9944246/Broncos-induce-chant-of-worry-
SAN FRANCISCO
- Take a deep breath, take a hot bath, take medication if you have to, but don't take a good look, and repeat after me this Broncorian Chant: "It's only an exhibition. ? It's merely the first exhibition. ? Exhibition games don't count. ? It's Kyle and Josh's first game. ? It's only an exhibition."
It was a public display that should have been kept private.
The Broncos were beaten by the 49ers in the XXX-hibition. The garlic fries were great; the teams were not. Stay thirsty, my friends.
In an anti-hat trick, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions, one in the end zone.
Dr? Bly, who was released in the offseason by the Broncos because he couldn't play, may have been the best player on the field. He got the second pick.
The Broncos lost their No. 1 draft choice, Knowshon Moreno, who was taken from the field late in the first half with a "leg injury."
The Broncos' first-team offense scored zero points.
And the first-team defense didn't look so hot, either.
Coach Josh McDaniels, in his debut, was not a happy camper.
Other than that ? it was only an exhibition.
When the Broncos recently held a public scrimmage at their home stadium, Orton, your new quarterback, was booed soundly by the loyal (?) fans when he threw two interceptions.
On Friday night at Candlestick Park, Orton was cheered loudly.
By the San Francisco fans (in a stadium with probably 35,000 empty seats).
Everybody loves a quarterback from the opposition who is intercepted three times in two quarters.
Chris Simms may be the most popular man in Denver today. He is the Broncos' backup quarterback who threw a touchdown pass with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter, in his first appearance of the game and in a Broncos uniform.
Welcome to a QB controversy, just like the bad old days in Denver.
It's only an exhibition, Auntie Em.
The defensive line, a major concern heading into the regular season, was not spectacular, not special, not solid. Ronnie Fields, at nose tackle, contributed about as much as he did last year - when he was a reserve with the 49ers.
All that talk about the new 3-4 defense, and, truth is, the Broncos actually are playing a 5-2 defense. The two outside linebackers were up on the line of scrimmage rushing the quarterback, leaving the two inside linebackers to handle the middle and the underneath routes. Elvis "The Hybrid" Dumervil had a sack from his defensive end/linebacker position.
On offense, the Broncos opened with a four-receiver set - Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson.
Their best wide receiver ran his best out pattern earlier in the day. Brandon Marshall was found not guilty. Now he can return to his main tasks - trying to get out of Denver or get a new contract.
In his absence, the Broncos' receivers caught Orton's first four passes (a fifth was erased by a penalty) - short right, short right, short right, short right.
However, at the San Francisco 3-yard line, Orton threw too short right. Short wrong.
Interception - which has been rather typical of Orton's practices and scrimmages.
In the old Ballyard By The Bay before the game, several Denver supporters wandered about in "Cutler" jerseys. One guy was wearing a "Plummer" jersey. Not an "Orton" jersey or a dry eye in the house.
During pregame warmups, McDaniels paced from the 20 to the 30 yard lines. For those wondering about his fashion statement, the coach was outfitted in a white jacket, a white cap and blue pants.
Orange certainly has gone out of style, and even on a cool night, there were no hoodies in sight on the sideline.
McDaniels had stated emphatically on the eve of the first training camp practices that the Broncos must improve their point production in the red zone; they had to decrease turnovers by the offense and increase turnovers by the defense.
On their opening possession, the Broncos got in the red zone - and failed to score. They gave up three turnovers in the first half; they got none.
O-for-3.
Meanwhile, Orton had luck only a buzzard's mother could love.
His quarterback rating for the night was 32.6.
After the second interception - a bad Bly blot when Orton didn't have a hint of what the defense was doing - McDaniels sent his "No. 1" quarterback back into the fire. Orton handed off twice, there was a false start and the Broncos were forced to pass. "It seems like another pick waiting to happen," I muttered. It was.
Meanwhile, Moreno's first carry as a pro advanced the ball 9 yards, his second 5 more yards. Although most people didn't notice, he limped back to the huddle. The Broncos should have removed Moreno. Instead, he was given the ball again. A few minutes later he limped into the tunnel, and who Knowshon?
Orton returned one more time. On his last pass, offensive pass interference was called.
It was only an exhibition ? only a nightmare.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9944246/Broncos-induce-chant-of-worry-