Lonestar
08-26-2009, 12:12 AM
By Zach Eisendrath
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Broncos may be winless halfway through their preseason slate, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any signs of those losses lingering around Dove Valley these days.
While the team would certainly like to win every game -- preseason notwithstanding -- the club fully realizes that the exhibition season is measured by progress and not the win-loss column.
Despite an 0-2 mark after trips to San Francisco and Seattle, there is a sense of optimism making its way around team headquarters.
"It is always great to have a win -- preseason (or) regular season," Peyton Hillis said. "But we all know this team is on the right track. There is no doubt in my mind or anybody else on the team's mind. I think (Head) Coach (Josh) McDaniels has us going in the right direction."
That right direction includes positive numbers on both sides of the ball. On offense, the team has proven it can move the ball up and down the field, as it has amassed 623 yards of offense through two games. Meanwhile, the defensive unit has notched seven sacks through those same two contests -- showing the unit is making strides in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme.
While McDaniels said the team will do everything in its power to win its final two preseason contests, he said he won't let winning get in the way of evaluating his roster. After all, the team's number one priority during the exhibition schedule is focusing on itself and ironing out kinks associated with learning new systems on both sides of the ball.
When the regular season starts, then the priorities will certainly change.
"We are definitely going to do everything that we can to win the last two games within reason and the way we are going to play them," McDaniels said. "At the same time, we are going to try to get some things done and fixed that we need to do. Winning is certainly important, but I think winning in Cincinnati and going forward in the regular season is definitely the goal."
BRONCOS ACQUIRE HOCHSTEIN
One day after claiming defensive back Antwain Spann off waivers from Buffalo, the club made another roster move, acquiring offensive lineman Russ Hochstein from New England in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
To make room for Hochstein, the team waived rookie offensive lineman Stanley Bryant.
Entering his ninth-year in the pros, Hochstein should add some valuable depth to the offensive line. For his career, the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has played in 92 regular-season games and 14 playoff contests.
"Again, (we) just saw an opportunity to try to improve the competition on our team," McDaniels said of the acquisition. "Up front, there is a lot of competition in there right now, and this will only make that competition even better."
Hochstein's flexibility propelled McDaniels and Broncos brass to acquire the veteran. During seven seasons with the Patriots, Hochstein started 25 games at five different positions. He started 10 games at center, seven at right guard, five at left guard, and even two at fullback and one at tight end.
"He is versatile and has got a lot of different talents," McDaniels said. "Versatility is something that we praise and look for in every one of our players, and he will certainly add that to our offensive line."
DEFENSIVE GOALS
Mario Haggan sees plenty of positives when assessing how the defensive unit has adapted to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme thus far this preseason.
After evaluating game film, he likes how guys are picking up their assignments. And he is pleased with the intensity the unit has shown as a whole.
Still, Haggan acknowledges that he and his defensive counterparts have plenty to work out before the regular season kicks off. This week, he hopes to see the unit make strides in one area in particular when it takes the field against Chicago on Sunday night.
"The big key right now is trying to force more turnovers," Haggan said.
So far, the team's front seven has shown its tenacity by pressuring the quarterback and racking up sacks. As a whole, however, the unit has yet to create a turnover during the exhibition season. That will ultimately be one of the team's main priorities against the Bears.
Haggan said he believes if the defense continues to provide pressure and play heady football, forced fumbles and interceptions will come in due time.
"There is no particular way to force turnovers besides be around the ball and continue to flock and hit people hard," he said.
While the defensive unit as a whole will strive to create turnovers on Sunday, the secondary will be looking to keep the Bears out of the end zone through the air. After the Seahawks' first unit scored two early touchdowns in the passing game last week, the team's veteran secondary is looking to bounce back against Chicago, according to Andre Goodman. Goodman, who said he has been pleased with how the front seven has performed up to date, wants the defensive backs to make a collective statement against the Bears.
"At the end of the day, when the ball goes up in the air, the secondary has to hold up their end of the bargain," Goodman said. "We've been getting second and longs and getting third and longs and we're not able to get off the field. At the end of the day, when the secondary does their job, with the front seven playing the way they're playing, I think we're going to be okay. "
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9263
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Broncos may be winless halfway through their preseason slate, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any signs of those losses lingering around Dove Valley these days.
While the team would certainly like to win every game -- preseason notwithstanding -- the club fully realizes that the exhibition season is measured by progress and not the win-loss column.
Despite an 0-2 mark after trips to San Francisco and Seattle, there is a sense of optimism making its way around team headquarters.
"It is always great to have a win -- preseason (or) regular season," Peyton Hillis said. "But we all know this team is on the right track. There is no doubt in my mind or anybody else on the team's mind. I think (Head) Coach (Josh) McDaniels has us going in the right direction."
That right direction includes positive numbers on both sides of the ball. On offense, the team has proven it can move the ball up and down the field, as it has amassed 623 yards of offense through two games. Meanwhile, the defensive unit has notched seven sacks through those same two contests -- showing the unit is making strides in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme.
While McDaniels said the team will do everything in its power to win its final two preseason contests, he said he won't let winning get in the way of evaluating his roster. After all, the team's number one priority during the exhibition schedule is focusing on itself and ironing out kinks associated with learning new systems on both sides of the ball.
When the regular season starts, then the priorities will certainly change.
"We are definitely going to do everything that we can to win the last two games within reason and the way we are going to play them," McDaniels said. "At the same time, we are going to try to get some things done and fixed that we need to do. Winning is certainly important, but I think winning in Cincinnati and going forward in the regular season is definitely the goal."
BRONCOS ACQUIRE HOCHSTEIN
One day after claiming defensive back Antwain Spann off waivers from Buffalo, the club made another roster move, acquiring offensive lineman Russ Hochstein from New England in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
To make room for Hochstein, the team waived rookie offensive lineman Stanley Bryant.
Entering his ninth-year in the pros, Hochstein should add some valuable depth to the offensive line. For his career, the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has played in 92 regular-season games and 14 playoff contests.
"Again, (we) just saw an opportunity to try to improve the competition on our team," McDaniels said of the acquisition. "Up front, there is a lot of competition in there right now, and this will only make that competition even better."
Hochstein's flexibility propelled McDaniels and Broncos brass to acquire the veteran. During seven seasons with the Patriots, Hochstein started 25 games at five different positions. He started 10 games at center, seven at right guard, five at left guard, and even two at fullback and one at tight end.
"He is versatile and has got a lot of different talents," McDaniels said. "Versatility is something that we praise and look for in every one of our players, and he will certainly add that to our offensive line."
DEFENSIVE GOALS
Mario Haggan sees plenty of positives when assessing how the defensive unit has adapted to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme thus far this preseason.
After evaluating game film, he likes how guys are picking up their assignments. And he is pleased with the intensity the unit has shown as a whole.
Still, Haggan acknowledges that he and his defensive counterparts have plenty to work out before the regular season kicks off. This week, he hopes to see the unit make strides in one area in particular when it takes the field against Chicago on Sunday night.
"The big key right now is trying to force more turnovers," Haggan said.
So far, the team's front seven has shown its tenacity by pressuring the quarterback and racking up sacks. As a whole, however, the unit has yet to create a turnover during the exhibition season. That will ultimately be one of the team's main priorities against the Bears.
Haggan said he believes if the defense continues to provide pressure and play heady football, forced fumbles and interceptions will come in due time.
"There is no particular way to force turnovers besides be around the ball and continue to flock and hit people hard," he said.
While the defensive unit as a whole will strive to create turnovers on Sunday, the secondary will be looking to keep the Bears out of the end zone through the air. After the Seahawks' first unit scored two early touchdowns in the passing game last week, the team's veteran secondary is looking to bounce back against Chicago, according to Andre Goodman. Goodman, who said he has been pleased with how the front seven has performed up to date, wants the defensive backs to make a collective statement against the Bears.
"At the end of the day, when the ball goes up in the air, the secondary has to hold up their end of the bargain," Goodman said. "We've been getting second and longs and getting third and longs and we're not able to get off the field. At the end of the day, when the secondary does their job, with the front seven playing the way they're playing, I think we're going to be okay. "
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9263