Denver Native (Carol)
10-07-2009, 03:17 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81339d3c&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
(video on link)
After his 51-yard touchdown helped defeat the Cowboys last Sunday, Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall called the play one of the "most emotional" of his career.
It was a 13-second eruption of athleticism from one of the biggest physical freaks in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Marshall simply overmatched 5-foot-11, 195-pound cornerback Terence Newman and cut through Dallas with ease.
If anyone else was asked to describe the play in a word, they might say "ridiculous," "amazing," or "electric," but probably not "emotional."
For Marshall, though, the play had a back-story and was the culmination of a long, tumultuous offseason.
As the season approached, Marshall's contract dispute got ugly and public. Meanwhile, new coach Josh McDaniels was determined to build a win-now team with strong veteran leadership and unselfish, hard-working players. So when the team's disgruntled receiver was airing his dirty laundry for the world to see, and intentionally dropping passes at practice, McDaniels suspended him.
It was a hard-line precedent that served as a wake-up call for Marshall and the Broncos. Their new coach wasn't going to tolerate bad behavior or a rotten attitude and there was a stiff price to pay if anyone separated themselves from the team-first mold.
After Marshall was back from suspension, McDaniels didn't feature him in the offense. A guy who caught 206 passes over the last two seasons was left out of the starting lineup twice in 2009. And before his touchdown in Week 4, Marshall was a non-factor in the Dallas game.
How many teams get better by not including their most explosive offensive player in the game plan? Not many, but Denver did. Its 4-0 start has shocked a lot of people and given credence to McDaniels' approach.
When Marshall walked up to the line with two minutes left in a tie game and saw Newman in press man-to-man coverage, he was ready to show McDaniels exactly what he was worth.
Newman is a good cover guy, but he should have thought better than to jam Marshall, who has longer arms and superior strength. Marshall won at the line of scrimmage, grabbing Newman by the shoulder and propelling himself forward. By NFL standards, he was wide open.
The Cowboys blitzed, rushing six defenders, and the Broncos had six players to pick them up. The key block was made by rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, who read the blitz and aggressively cut-blocked linebacker Keith Brooking.
Secure in the pocket, quarterback Kyle Orton simply put the ball up in the air in the direction of Marshall and allowed his massive target to do the rest.
All Marshall needed was a chance at the ball. He snatched it out of the air and made countless Cowboys whiff as he danced through the Dallas secondary on his way to the end zone.
The fans went berserk. Marshall and McDaniels embraced. Emotions ran high. All was forgiven.
(video on link)
After his 51-yard touchdown helped defeat the Cowboys last Sunday, Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall called the play one of the "most emotional" of his career.
It was a 13-second eruption of athleticism from one of the biggest physical freaks in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Marshall simply overmatched 5-foot-11, 195-pound cornerback Terence Newman and cut through Dallas with ease.
If anyone else was asked to describe the play in a word, they might say "ridiculous," "amazing," or "electric," but probably not "emotional."
For Marshall, though, the play had a back-story and was the culmination of a long, tumultuous offseason.
As the season approached, Marshall's contract dispute got ugly and public. Meanwhile, new coach Josh McDaniels was determined to build a win-now team with strong veteran leadership and unselfish, hard-working players. So when the team's disgruntled receiver was airing his dirty laundry for the world to see, and intentionally dropping passes at practice, McDaniels suspended him.
It was a hard-line precedent that served as a wake-up call for Marshall and the Broncos. Their new coach wasn't going to tolerate bad behavior or a rotten attitude and there was a stiff price to pay if anyone separated themselves from the team-first mold.
After Marshall was back from suspension, McDaniels didn't feature him in the offense. A guy who caught 206 passes over the last two seasons was left out of the starting lineup twice in 2009. And before his touchdown in Week 4, Marshall was a non-factor in the Dallas game.
How many teams get better by not including their most explosive offensive player in the game plan? Not many, but Denver did. Its 4-0 start has shocked a lot of people and given credence to McDaniels' approach.
When Marshall walked up to the line with two minutes left in a tie game and saw Newman in press man-to-man coverage, he was ready to show McDaniels exactly what he was worth.
Newman is a good cover guy, but he should have thought better than to jam Marshall, who has longer arms and superior strength. Marshall won at the line of scrimmage, grabbing Newman by the shoulder and propelling himself forward. By NFL standards, he was wide open.
The Cowboys blitzed, rushing six defenders, and the Broncos had six players to pick them up. The key block was made by rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, who read the blitz and aggressively cut-blocked linebacker Keith Brooking.
Secure in the pocket, quarterback Kyle Orton simply put the ball up in the air in the direction of Marshall and allowed his massive target to do the rest.
All Marshall needed was a chance at the ball. He snatched it out of the air and made countless Cowboys whiff as he danced through the Dallas secondary on his way to the end zone.
The fans went berserk. Marshall and McDaniels embraced. Emotions ran high. All was forgiven.