Denver Native (Carol)
09-17-2009, 10:44 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9372
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When surveying the catches from Sunday's 12-7 victory over the Bengals, Brandon Stokley's game-winning touchdown stands out among the rest.
Lost in the final-second shuffle were Kyle Orton's 16 other completions, which landed in the hands of seven different receivers.
That type of spread distribution falls in line with what Head Coach Josh McDaniels wants from his offense. Tabbing a No. 1 receiver for each gameplan is not his objective.
"That creates turnovers," McDaniels said. "Defenses would love that if you would force the ball to one guy 10 or 12 times every game. They are double teaming him, and you are still throwing it to him. You are stacking the line of scrimmage on defense, and we are still running it. I don't think you can play good football consistently trying to do it that way."
Stokley believes the Broncos can consistently play good football by limiting their mistakes. Week 1 brought a few dropped balls and game-speed kinks.
But those mistakes served as a reminder for the 11-year veteran and the rest of the receivers of how deceiving an "easy" catch can be.
"Sometimes the easy ones, you kind of take your eye of it for whatever reason, just because you think it's easy," Stokley said. "So it's just focus and concentration."
That focus and concentration will be anything but broken when a stout Browns defense comes to town this weekend. Cleveland held Minnesota to 85 yards passing in their opener -- a figure which has the Broncos receivers hard at work to reverse that trend.
"I'm doing everything I can to prepare for this defense," Brandon Marshall said. "They're really physical, they're smart and they fly all around the field."
HOCHSTEIN PROVING HIS WORTH
When Russ Hochstein was acquired by the Broncos on August 25, McDaniels noted the versatility he adds to the offensive line.
One game into the regular season, that assertion became reality.
With Chris Kuper shelved with an ankle injury against the Bengals, Hochstein plugged the hole by starting at right guard. Despite having less than a month with the Broncos under his belt, McDaniels said he's made a natural transition to joining a talented line.
"I think he has meshed well with our group of linemen here. There are a few terms that he has got to change over in his mind that he has already done, but all the terminology, everything we are doing, he is very familiar with that."
Much of that can be attributed to Hochstein's consistency, regardless of the football situation. That in McDaniels' mind has established him a valuable piece to the Broncos' early-season puzzle.
"Russ plays the same way in practice as he does in the game," McDaniels said. "He will hit people in a walkthrough. He has got a great attitude. (I am) really happy that he is here."
BAILEY, DAWKINS BACK AT PRACTICE
The Broncos' Thursday injury report saw two changes in the starting secondary. After not participating in Wednesday's session, Champ Bailey (ankle) and Brian Dawkins (hand) were full participants. Bailey had seven tackles and a pass defensed in the opener, while Dawkins led the club with 11 tackles.
On the Browns side, after missing practice with a shoulder injury on Wednesday, running back James Davis was a limited participant on Thursday. Click here to view the full injury report.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When surveying the catches from Sunday's 12-7 victory over the Bengals, Brandon Stokley's game-winning touchdown stands out among the rest.
Lost in the final-second shuffle were Kyle Orton's 16 other completions, which landed in the hands of seven different receivers.
That type of spread distribution falls in line with what Head Coach Josh McDaniels wants from his offense. Tabbing a No. 1 receiver for each gameplan is not his objective.
"That creates turnovers," McDaniels said. "Defenses would love that if you would force the ball to one guy 10 or 12 times every game. They are double teaming him, and you are still throwing it to him. You are stacking the line of scrimmage on defense, and we are still running it. I don't think you can play good football consistently trying to do it that way."
Stokley believes the Broncos can consistently play good football by limiting their mistakes. Week 1 brought a few dropped balls and game-speed kinks.
But those mistakes served as a reminder for the 11-year veteran and the rest of the receivers of how deceiving an "easy" catch can be.
"Sometimes the easy ones, you kind of take your eye of it for whatever reason, just because you think it's easy," Stokley said. "So it's just focus and concentration."
That focus and concentration will be anything but broken when a stout Browns defense comes to town this weekend. Cleveland held Minnesota to 85 yards passing in their opener -- a figure which has the Broncos receivers hard at work to reverse that trend.
"I'm doing everything I can to prepare for this defense," Brandon Marshall said. "They're really physical, they're smart and they fly all around the field."
HOCHSTEIN PROVING HIS WORTH
When Russ Hochstein was acquired by the Broncos on August 25, McDaniels noted the versatility he adds to the offensive line.
One game into the regular season, that assertion became reality.
With Chris Kuper shelved with an ankle injury against the Bengals, Hochstein plugged the hole by starting at right guard. Despite having less than a month with the Broncos under his belt, McDaniels said he's made a natural transition to joining a talented line.
"I think he has meshed well with our group of linemen here. There are a few terms that he has got to change over in his mind that he has already done, but all the terminology, everything we are doing, he is very familiar with that."
Much of that can be attributed to Hochstein's consistency, regardless of the football situation. That in McDaniels' mind has established him a valuable piece to the Broncos' early-season puzzle.
"Russ plays the same way in practice as he does in the game," McDaniels said. "He will hit people in a walkthrough. He has got a great attitude. (I am) really happy that he is here."
BAILEY, DAWKINS BACK AT PRACTICE
The Broncos' Thursday injury report saw two changes in the starting secondary. After not participating in Wednesday's session, Champ Bailey (ankle) and Brian Dawkins (hand) were full participants. Bailey had seven tackles and a pass defensed in the opener, while Dawkins led the club with 11 tackles.
On the Browns side, after missing practice with a shoulder injury on Wednesday, running back James Davis was a limited participant on Thursday. Click here to view the full injury report.