The Mile High Report

Horse Tracks 7/18/08

mdierk — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:08 -0000

Here's a Friday edition of Horse Tracks. Enjoy!

Gary Zimmerman still stays loyal to the Broncos. See here and here

Guru's favorite player should look to John Elway's example of retirement. See here

Here's a camp preview. See here

Here's a guy in Vegas that thought the Broncos did well with thier draft, but still doesn't give them much respect. See here

Former Bronco Mark Schlereth's son was signed. Unlike his dad, it was in baseball. See here

Now for some comic relief.....

"HEY YOU GUYYYS! UH HUH HUH!" "CHUNK!!!!"

AFC West

The Missouri Indians cut Greg Wesley. Could he end up in Denver? See here

Way to keep it in the family....one of the Spanos kids is promoted to executive officer for Phyllis and his merry men. See here

Here's the camp preview for Phyllis and his merry men. See here

That's all I have folks! Have a good one!

Denver Broncos Training Camp 2008 - Fan Information GuideREVISED

TheSportsGuru — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:55:55 -0000

The offseason is over. It's time for the Broncos to strap on their helmets and hit the practice field to start preparations for the 2008 season at the team's annual training camp. And you're invited to come out and watch all the action, up close and personal. Practices are open to the public and absolutely free!

Get the first look at the 2008 Broncos
Take pictures
Get player autographs
Check out cool team memorabilia
Shop for your own Broncos gear at the team store
And much more!

The team will practice at its headquarters in Englewood, Colo., for a fifth consecutive year.

Parking: Parking at the Broncos’ facility is located on the west side of the practice fields and is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Because space is limited, please arrive early. The parking area is open one hour before the start of practice.

ADA: Admission to the Denver Broncos’ 2008 training camp will be ADA accessible.

General Seating: There will be no bleachers at the Broncos’ 2008 training camp, but fans will be able to stand and view the practices from selected areas that clearly will be marked on site.

Lawn Chairs: Lawn chairs will not be allowed at training camp.

Bag Policy: Soft-sided bags no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” will be permitted at training camp.

Cell Phones: Any cellular phones brought to the practice fields at the training facility must be turned off, and cellular phone activity of any kind is prohibited inside ticketed areas. Fans must be outside the fenced-in areas in order to place any cell phone calls. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cameras: Still cameras will be allowed at the Broncos’ 2008 training camp, but video cameras will not be permitted. Only members of the media will be permitted to bring cameras with professional lenses and tripods to training camp.

Autographs: A select number of players will be available for autographs after the morning practice on days in which the team does not practice special teams in the afternoon.

Food and Beverages: Food concessions will not be sold during training camp, but non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at training camp. Food and non-alcoholic beverage items will be permitted in small individual quantities.

Umbrellas: Umbrellas of any size will not be permitted inside the Broncos’ training facility. Please bring sufficient wet weather attire if necessary.

Team Store: The Broncos’ team store will be temporarily relocated adjacent to the practice fields during training camp. This area will be clearly marked.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE*

Friday, July 25
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Saturday, July 26
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Sunday, July 27
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Monday, July 28
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Tuesday, July 29
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Wednesday, July 30
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Thursday, July 31
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Friday, August 1
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Saturday, August 2
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Sunday, August 3
No Practice Scheduled

Monday, August 4
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Tuesday, August 5
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Wednesday, August 6
8:30 a.m.
3:50 p.m.

Thursday, August 7
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

Friday, August 8
8:30 a.m.
No Practice Scheduled

Saturday, August 9
Denver at Houston, 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 10
No Practice Scheduled

Monday, August 11
No Practice Scheduled
2:45 p.m.

Tuesday, August 12
8:30 a.m.
3:40 p.m. (Special Teams)

*Practice schedule subject to change

2008 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down The Roster #4 - Defensive End

TheSportsGuru — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:29:01 -0000

Dumervil will continue to crush opposing QB's in '08

A few days ago we took a look at the interior of the defensive line. We all know the problem the Broncos had stopping the run, and there has been plenty of talk about why. The Broncos have gone to great lengths to improve the interior, both on the line and at linebacker. Equally important to me is the ability to create a pass rush from the front four. As the New York Giants reminded us in Super Bowl XLII, it doesn't matter who the quarterback is, or how talented the offense is, if you can create constant pressure with your front 4 you are going to have a chance to win the game.

Let's look at the stats, shall we? Again, sack totals are not tied directly to the defensive end position, but I do believe an effective pass rush, generated by the front four, is directly related to a team's success. The D-End is a big part of that. When the Broncos were winning more games in a 3-year period than anyone ever('96-'98), they were consistently in the top-10 in sacks -

1996 - 40 sacks - #8
1997 - 44 sacks - #10
1998 - 47 sacks - #6

Fast forward to the past 5 years, and the Broncos haven't had the same success. Ironically, when the Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship in 2005 they had their worst season in terms of sacks -

2003 - 36 sacks - #13
2004 - 38 sacks - #14
2005 - 28 sacks - #28
2006 - 35 sacks - #15
2007 - 33 sacks - #16

Does that mean that getting to the quarterback isn't that important? Of course not. In 2005, the Broncos knew they didn't have a great pass rush up front so they sent the house, alot. Think back to the playoff game against the Patriots, the Broncos blitzed 8 or 9 guys almost every play. Finally we came up against a team, the Steelers, that handled that pressure. The result was....well...we don't need to talk about it.

The rebuilding of the d-line began, and it went into overdrive in the 2007 draft. The Broncos focused heavily on the defensive ends in last year's draft, taking Jarvis Moss in Round 1 and Tim Crowder in Round 2. The goal was to let the rookies come along slowly with veterans John Engelberger and Ebenezer Ekuban getting a majority of the reps, along with Elvis Dumervil. Those plans ended when Ekuban blew out his Achilles in the pre-season. The result was a struggling defense.

Heading into 2008, the Broncos look to be healthy and hungry up front and are primed to break out. If we are talking about a successful season in 6 months, the following group would have had a huge hand in it. Let's meet them.

EBENEZER EKUBAN (6-4, 275 / 10th Year)

Big things were expected from Ekuban heading into 2007. As one of the infamous "Browncos", Ekuban had actually been highly effective. Coming over from the Browns in the Reuben Droughns trade, his 63 tackles in 2006 were easily a career high, and the 7 sacks were his second best total. With a batch of rookies coming in, Ekuban was going to be the veteran presence the Broncos disparately needed. That all ended when Ekuban tore his Achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys. It continued a steamroller of injuries that paralyzed the Broncos during the pre-season.

An injury as significant as the one Ekuban endured is tough to come back from for a young player, let alone a 10 year vet. Ekuban went through it, and the Broncos saw enough to re-sign him to a contract. We really don't know what to expect from Ekuban, but one thing is for sure. Even if he cannot come back as the player he was before, his presence on the sideline, in the locker room, the meeting room, sitting along side Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder will be invaluable.

The Broncos are likely to take things slow during training camp with Ekuban, but I will be keeping a close eye on #91. I always pull for guys that battle back from injuries and something tells me Ekuban will be a solid contributer in 2008.

2007 Season Notes: Ekuban spent the season on injured reserve with a torn right Achilles’ tendon suffered in the Broncos’ second preseason game at Dal. (8/18)... Placed on injured reserve on Aug. 20.

JOHN ENGELBERGER (6-4, 260 / 9th Year)

I'll admit it. I have never been high on Engelberger, but it really isn't his fault. Engelberger is the type of player that every team loves to have. High energy, over achiever, doesn't quit. The problem is, the Broncos, at times in 2007, had a d-line filled with those types of guys. At some point you need pure talent. For that reason my opinion of Engelberger has changed.

Pressed into a lot more action than the Broncos would really like to see, Engelberger was a steady contributor on 2007. Engleberger's strength is stopping the run, and his 41 tackles were the second highest of his career. In three seasons with the Broncos, Engelberger has played 46 of 48 possible games and has provided stability. In 2007, Engelberger was a Ed Block Courage Award nominee after paying through a painful shoulder injury, starting 15 games. There is no doubting this guys toughness.

While Engelberger does play hard, the Broncos hope he doesn't play nearly as much has he had to in 2007. With Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, along with Elvis Dumervil, the Broncos hope to have the three guys that can get a majority of the snaps. Engelberger, at this point of his career, should be energy off the bench. That isn't a knock on Engelberger, but for the Broncos to be successful, they'll need their most talented players to be on the field making plays. If used correctly, Engleberger can provide solid leadership and energy. If pressed into a lot of action, look for him to wear down.

2007 Season Notes: Engelberger led the Broncos’ defensive line with 59 tackles (40 solo), starting 15 of 16 games played... Had at least a share of the tackle lead among the defensive linemen seven times... Added one sack (8 yds.), two pass breakups and one forced fumble... Earned the team’s nomination for the Ed Block Courage Award by starting its final 12 games despite suffering a fifth-degree separation of the AC joint in his right shoulder in Week 4 at Indianapolis... Led the defensive line with six tackles (3 solo) at Buf. (9/9)... Recorded five solo stops vs. Oak.(9/16)... Tied for the lead among the linemen with four stops (2 solo) at Ind. (9/30), the game in which he suffered a fifth-degree separation of the AC joint in his right shoulder... Recorded four tackles (3 solo), including a sack (8 yds.), on Sunday Night Football vs. Pit. (10/21)... Led the defensive line with five tackles (3 solo) vs. Ten. (11/19), giving him exactly 200 career solo tackles... Posted six tackles (5 solo) at Oak. (12/2), eclipsing 300 total tackles for his career... Made three tackles and forced a fumble that led to a Denver touchdown vs. Min. (12/30).

ELVIS DUMERVIL (5-11, 260 / 3rd Year)

Too short, too small, blah blah blah. Elvis Dooooooomervil has been hearing that his entire football career, at every level. And people wonder why I'm not a stats guy or combine guy. What Dumervil gives up in size, he makes up for 10 times over in heart, desire and of course, ability. After leading the team in sacks as a rookie, Dumervil did even better in 2007, registering 12.5 sacks, good for 6th in the NFL and 9th best in team history. Not bad for being too small.

Here's a solid breakdown of some of Dumervil's brighter moments from 2007 -

Dumervil is going to be a monster in 2008. I really believe it. Last season I predicted 10-15 sacks for Doom and he came in at 12.5. This season I expect even more, with Dumervil breaking the 15 sack barrier and making his first Pro Bowl Is that optimistic? Yes, but the Broncos need that type of dominant player on the line, and Dumervil has shown to be the closest thing. In his 3rd year, Dumervil should be entering his football prime, and he has been unstoppable getting to the quarterback at every level. The NFL will be no different.

2007 Season Notes: Dumervil was one of three Broncos defenders and the only defensive lineman to start all 16 games as the second-year player finished the year with a team-high 12.5 sacks (62.5 yds.), 56 tackles (43 solo), one interception (27 yds.), seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries... 12.5 sacks tied for sixth in the NFL and tied for ninth in club history for a single season... Sack total also represented the most by a Bronco since 1999 (Trevor Pryce, 13)... Tied for the NFL lead among defensive linemen and ranked second among all Broncos with four takeaways (3 FUM, 1 INT)... Three fumble recoveries tied for third in the NFL (tied for AFC lead)... Four forced fumbles were a team high and tied for ninth in the NFL with two of them being returned by teammates for touchdowns... Seven pass breakups were the most by a Broncos defensive lineman since 1995 (Michael Dean Perry, 8)... Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors with a three-sack game vs. K.C. (12/9)... Posted four multiple-sack games, marking the most by a Bronco since 2000 (Trevor Pryce, 4)... Started for the first time as a pro at Buf. (9/9) and recorded the first interception of his NFL career on a tipped pass against the Bills... Notched his first two sacks of the season vs. Oak. (9/16)... Contributed five tackles (3 solo), including a pair of sacks (10 yds.), along with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery vs. Jac. (9/23)... Registered three pass breakups at Ind. (9/30)... Led the defensive line with six solo tackles, including a pair of sacks (18 yds.), on Sunday Night Football vs. Pit. (10/21)... First sack forced a fumble that was returned 50 yards by Tim Crowder for a touchdown... Registered two solo tackles, one sack and one forced fumble at K.C. (11/11)... Sack against the Chiefs forced a fumble that Nate Webster returned 17 yards for a score... Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. K.C. (12/9) when he recorded five solo tackles while matching his career high with three sacks... Helped limit the Chiefs to 16 rushing yards on 17 carries (0.9 avg.) and totaled two of his sacks on consecutive plays... Led the defensive line with five tackles (4 solo) and added a sack at S.D. (12/24)... Recovered two fumbles, including one in overtime to set up the game winning field goal, while posting five tackles along with half a sack vs. Min. (12/30) in the season finale... Also drew a facemask penalty in the end zone in the fourth quarter against Minnesota that resulted in a safety.

JARVIS MOSS (6-6, 265 / 2nd Year)

Impact player or 1st round bust? One injury-plagued season doesn't definitively answer that question, but how Jarvis Moss fares in 2008 will go along way towards finding that answer. Moss came in with a lot of fan-fare when the Broncos traded up in the 1st round to select him. After an injury-riddled college career, Moss was hurt early in training camp, further slowing his progress. After looking solid for 6 games, Moss's season ended on a "freak" injury in practice. We'd be forced to wait to see if Moss could be the destructive force the Broncos need.

Fast-forward to 2008, and Moss appears healthy and ready to make an impact. Think about it for a second - Dumervil creating chaos on one side while Moss collapses the pocket on the other - a potentially deadly duo, IF Moss can stay on the field.

Moss is a freak athletically, so much so that he put tremendous stress on the lower half of his body. His mind wants his body to do things it simply cannot and it leads to pulls, sprains, and in the case of his 2007 injury, a broken ankle. Can Moss lasso all that talent and keep his body strong enough to compensate? That's the question that will get answered in pre-season. If Moss can somehow stay healthy, the Broncos are going to reap the rewards. If he cannot, Moss could go down as the next, latest bust in the 1st round of the draft.

2007 Season Notes: Selected by the Broncos in the first round (17th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, Moss played six games (1 start) as a rookie, posting 14 tackles (7 solo), one sack (7 yds.) and one forced fumble before being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 6 with a fractured right fibula... Totaled four tackles (3 solo) in his NFL debut at Buf. (9/9)... Forced a fumble on his first professional sack (Josh McCown) vs. Oak. (9/16)... Had three tackles in his first NFL start at Ind. (9/30)... Suffered his leg injury during practice preparing for the game at Det. (11/4) and was inactive for two games before he was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 6.

TIM CROWDER (6-4, 275 / 2nd Year)

Crowder didn't come in with all the attention that Jarvis Moss had, but in some ways I think that is exactly how he liked it. Quiet, but highly effective over 4 years at the University of Texas, Crowder a jack-of-all trades, master of none of the d-line. His rookie season played out that way and showed the Broncos have a solid contributer.

Crowder's 2007 highlight came in prime time
via cache.viewimages.com

An ankle inury slowed Crowder's progress early on, but even while battling through the pain Crowder was abe to tally 4.5 sacks, impressive for any healthy rookie. The highlight had to be the 50 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, in primetime, against the Steelers. Crowder got stronger as the year went on, something you always look for from a rookie, and with a full-year's experience under his belt Crowder should be ready to breakout in 2008. I felt last year that Crowder would be the most stable and effective of the D-Line rookies, and it turned out he was. I expect more of the same in 2008.

2007 Season Notes: Selected by the Broncos in the second round (56th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, Crowder played 13 games (1 start) for Denver as a rookie and totaled 22 tackles (18 solo), four sacks (39 yds.), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries... Tied for fifth among NFL rookies and ranked second on Denver with four sacks... Registered a sack in three consecutive games (Gms. 9-11), becoming the first Bronco to accomplish that feat since 2004 (Reggie Hayward, 4 gms.)... Scored on a 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown on Sunday Night Football vs. Pit. (10/21), becoming the first Broncos defensive lineman to score on a fumble return since 2002 (Chester McGlockton)... Declared inactive for the first three games of the season due to an ankle injury suffered during training camp... Started in his professional debut at Ind. (9/30)... Registered the first tackle of his career vs. S.D. (10/7)... Posted four tackles (3 solo) and the first sacks of his career with two takedowns (21 yds.) of Brodie Croyle at K.C. (11/11)... Added a 15-yard sack vs. Ten. (11/19) on Monday Night Football before recording one sack at Chi. (11/25) to extend his sack streak to three games... Recovered a fumble vs. K.C. (12/9) to set up a touchdown and helped Denver hold the Chiefs to the third-lowest yards per rush average (0.94, 17-16) in a game in club history.

Kenny Peterson (6-3, 300 / 6th Year)

Peterson's career with the Broncos has been nothing if not eventful. Peterson joined the Broncos midway through 2006, seeing action in 3 games. Peterson came into Training Camp in 2007 looking to compete in a deep D-Line pool only to get suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance. Peterson was cut upon his return only to be signed a month later when the Broncos D-Line was in shambles.

Upon coming back to the Broncos, Peterson was pressed into action the final 7 game sand actually proved to be a solid role player. WHile listed as a D-End, Peterson can slide inside as well and plays acceptably well, well enough for the Broncos to keep him around to compete for a job in 2008.

Whether or not Peterson can win a job remains to be seen. With Moss coming back and youth behind him, Peterson is assuredly on the bubble. But like a bad cold, Peterson seems to hang around and we'd be foolish to count him out. After-all, he is a Buckeye!

2007 Season Notes: After competing in training camp with the team, was suspended by the commissioner for the first four games. After serving his suspension, was released by the team on Oct. 8. Re-joined the team as a free agent on Nov. 13. Made season debut on Monday Night Football vs. Ten. (11/19), and assisted on a tackle. Led the defensive line with seven solo tackles, including a sack (8 yds.), and a pass defensed at Chi. (11/25). Dropped QB Rex Grossman for an 8-yard loss in the second quarter moving the line of scrimmage to Denver’s 43-yard line. The sack accounted for his personal most sack yards in a game. Played on defense and special teams, but did not record any stats at Oak. (12/2) and vs. K.C. (12/9). Posted two tackles (1 solo) and a pass defensed at Hou. (12/13). Played, but did not record any stats at S.D. (12/24). Posted three tackles (2 solo) in the season finale vs. Min. (12/30).

PAUL CARRINGTON (6-7, 270 / 3rd Year)

Carrington is in his 3rd year in the NFL, though his only game action came in 2006 as a member of the Falcons. After joining the Broncos as a free agent midway through the 2007, Carrington seemed to be a body to use on the practice field, never active for any of the 8 games the Broncos signed after his signing.

Carrington seemed to be on his way after playing in 15 games(2 starts) for the Falcons in '06, but under new coach Bobby Petrino, Carrington was cut at the end of Training Camp.

While a senior at Central Florida, Carrington recorded 46 tackles, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and an interception (20 yds.). In his junior season, he started seven of 11 games for the Golden Knights and registered 30 tackles, four sacks, three passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and an interception.

Unless the Broncos sustain a rash of injuries I think Carrington will experience a similar fate in 2008 as he did in 2007.

2007 Season Notes: Carrington joined the Broncos as a free agent on Nov. 6 and was inactive for all eight games with the club... Competed in Atlanta’s training camp to begin the year but was waived on Sept. 1.

NIC CLEMONS (6-6, 300 / 6th Year)

Officially, Clemons is entering his 2nd NFL season, when in reality he's been battling for a position on a NFL roster since 2003 when he entered the League as an UFA with the Washington Redskins. Since then, it has been a revolving door of Training Camp disappointments for Clemons -

2003 - Cut, then signed to the Redskins' practice squad

2004 - Cut after Redskins' training camp, signed to practice squad

2005 - Actually saw some action in 8 games, the only games day experience Clemons has seen.

2006 - Cut after Redskins' training camp and spends the year out of football

2007 - Cut after Falcons' training camp and spends the year out of football

Enter the Denver Broncos, who signed Clemons to a future-contract on 12/31/07. Clemons will come to camp, where he has a ton of experience getting released, and will probably suffer the same fate. Gotta love the fact the guy won't quit on his dream!

2007 Season Notes: Clemons participated in training camp with Atlanta but was waived on Sept. 1 and spent the regular season out of the NFL.

LARRY BIRDINE (6-4, 270 / 2nd Year)

Birdine was a rookie in 2007, spending 8 games with the Broncos, all of them inactive. After coming into the League as a UFA with the Packers, Birdine was signed to Tennessee's practice squad in September. The Broncos picked Birdine from the Titans in November.

Of all the roster fodder at the bottom of this list, Birdine is the most intriguing to me. While playing for Oklahoma, Birdine played in 41 games (14 starts) where he amassed 103 tackles (61 solo), including 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception among seven passes defensed. He helped the Sooners reach the BCS national championship game twice (2003 and '04). As a senior, Birdine played in 14 games (13 starts), compiling 39 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defensed. After a breakout sophomore campaign, Birdine missed the entire 2005 regular season due to a torn left biceps muscle, but returned to play in the Holiday Bowl against Oregon. As a sophomore, Birdine played in all 13 games (0 starts) and posted career highs in tackles (40), solo tackles (29), tackles for loss (11), sacks (7), passes defensed (4) and forced fumbles (2) to go with his only fumble recovery as a collegiate. Against Texas A&M, Birdine registered a career-high three sacks and forced a fumble. As a redshirt freshman, Birdine played in all 14 games (1 start), totaling 24 tackles (15 solo), four sacks, a forced fumble and his only collegiate interception. He made his first collegiate start at Colorado (10/25/03) and responded with a sack.

When coming out of Oklahoma, Scout.com had this to say about Birdine -

Pos: Exciting young prospect with tremendous upside for the next level. Explosive off the snap, outstanding in pursuit and makes plays in all directions of the field. Plays with good pad level and rarely off his feet. Knifes inside of linemen, getting through blocks to make plays against the run. Adequate job holding the point.

Neg: Must improve his playing strength. Not the most instinctive defender. Suffered a knee injury prior to the season and will sit on the sidelines this year.

Analysis: A defensive end who plays with great suddenness and consistently disrupts the opponents game plan, Birdine was an up and coming star prior to his injury. Needs to get back to playing form in 2006 yet a definite early round prospect to keep an eye on.

So, what the hell happened? An early round prospect to completely undrafted. Did he ever come back from the biceps injury? Will he?? It's obvious Birdine was a talented football player at some point. While chances are he'll simply become another roster cut in August, Birdine could be a diamond in the rough, someone to keep an eye on.

2007 Season Notes: Birdine, who entered the NFL with Green Bay as a college free agent on May 4, joined the Broncos on Nov. 6 after Denver signed him to its active roster from Tennessee’s practice squad... Declared inactive for all eight games on Denver’s active roster... Signed with the Titans’ practice squad on Sept. 4 after he was waived by Green Bay on Sept. 1.

Ok, your turn. Give your thoughts on the D-End situation, and remember to grade the unit in the MHR poll!

Poll

What Grade Would You Give The Broncos Defensive Ends?

Old Trouble Could Haunt Karl Paymah

TheSportsGuru — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:15:17 -0000

It's been almost 2 years since Broncos CB was found asleep at the wheel of his Range Rover, with the vehicle in gear and running, but the Broncos could find out soon if the incident will effect the DB's prospects in 2008. A jury in Arapahoe County found Paymah to be guilty of DUI and Careless Driving in the case that was finally decided yesterday.

Paymah was found asleep or unconscious at the wheel of his Land Rover 50 yards off Arapahoe Road at South Parker Road at about 5 a.m. on May 26, 2006.

via assets.espn.go.com

Paymah was unconscious when officers pulled him from his vehicle, with the SUV still running and in gear, authorities said.

His defense argued that the breath test was invalid. Officers in the case testified in the jury trial.

Paymah is set for sentencing Sept. 16. He faces up to a year in jail.

Now that a conviction has been handed down, Paymah could face discipline from the NFL as part of the Conduct Policy. I believe this was Paymah's first offense, and he has been "clean" since so a stern warning could be the only punishment.

The Story of Peyton Hillis

broncobear — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:52:19 -0000

With yesterday's signing of Peyton Hillis to a rumoured 4 year contract, I looked over my notes from draft week and considered what we saw of him through the early camps. For some reason, I have the impression that Hillis may turn out to be one of the Bronco’s best picks in ths year’s draft. I can’t prove this – it’s more the effect of a lot of little things that seem to add up to a heck of a player. But I digress.

Hillis was born on January 21, 1986 in Conway Alabama where he attended high school and where he resides to this day. In a sense, that greatly describes Hillis – if there is one word that sums up his life and his approach to football, it might well be ‘consistent’. He is a hard worker, a man who recognizes the gifts that he has been given and who works with single-minded determination to maximize them and to use what he has in any way needed to help himself and his team. Wherever you place him, he will attempt to excel. And this is the kind of character that the Broncos are filling the depth and range of this year’s team with – the kind that makes us pant for the start of training camp.

While he was still in high school, Hillis caught the eye of people across Arkansas and the nation. A powerful natural athlete, he earned All-State honors in baseball, but it was already in football that he had the greatest skills. As a SuperPrep All-American, Hillis was rated by Max Emfinger as the best fullback in the nation while at Conway High School in Conway, Ark. He was also listed as the third-best prospect in the state by The Morning News." A highly recruited player at Conway High School, Hillis was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. He received Fox Sports Net "All-South" first-team honors and won the Landers Award, recognizing the top high school football player in Arkansas. Hillis added consensus All-Conference, All-State and All-Arkansas honors as a junior and a senior. Highly sought after and recruited, Hillis decided to stay in state and closer to home.

College

During his time at Arkansas, Hillis was utilized as a fullback, H-back, tailback, tight end, wide receiver, kickoff returner and punt returner, but a couple of things stand out. His 118 catches broke the old Arkansas career-record for running backs of 94 receptions by Gary Anderson (1979-82). His 537 receiving yards in 2007 set a school single-season record for running backs. He added 12 rushing TDs, averaged 10.3 yards per punt return and amassed 2,624 all-purpose yards over 44 games. All of this while paving the way for Darren McFadden’s accomplishments and Felix Jones’ run at making All-American.

I noticed that in his draft information there was a contradictory emphasis on his blocking skills. Without question, to hear his teammates tell it, he got the job done. Kyle over at BroncoTalk noted, "his blocking ability leaves something to be desired." But I also heard, "A punishing blocker, a powerful runner and a natural receiver." "He gets into an opponent and gives movement with the ability to consistently seal the corner." His blocking paved the way for the Razorbacks to lead the South-eastern Conference and rank fourth nationally in rushing (286.54 yards per game."

From nfl.com: Can finesse block with good hand placement or hunker down and knock defenders back when leading on sweeps...Will get bounced around some lead blocking up the middle, but uses his shoulders well in attempts to widen the rush lane...Takes good angles into the second level to execute cut blocks...Can adjust on the move and is aggressive looking for targets to hit.

And yet there was: "Does a lot of unnecessary cut-blocking." "Lacks the pure strength to be a lead blocker." And so it went. This kind of contradiction would follow him into the draft rankings.

The Draft

The Broncos nearly didn’t have the pick that brought Hillis to them, receiving it from Tampa Bay in the Jake Plummer trade. While Plummer looks like he’ll never play a down for Tampa Bay, the 7th round pick they sent may, ironically, have given them one of Cutler’s main defenders.

Scott Wright, a former pro scout, wasn’t originally so high on Hillis, citing the oft-referenced, often debated lack of sufficient blocking skill and acumen and gave him only 2 stars out of five. However, Wright listed his strengths as, "Very athletic...Above average timed speed...A fantastic receiver...Smart with good awareness...Displays good technique...Has a non-stop motor...Extremely versatile weapon...Hard worker with top intangibles. Offers a lot of special teams potential" Later, in his post-draft review he added this,

"With their final pick of the draft the Broncos chose Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis, who in my opinion should have gone at least two rounds earlier. A super versatile player who is able to run, catch and block, Hillis is just what the NFL is looking for at the fullback position these days and if anyone is wondering what kind of impact he can have just go back and watch the Hogs upset win over L.S.U. last year. Hillis may be facing an uphill battle to make the Broncos roster in 2008 and he will probably have to beat out either Cecil Sapp or Mike Bell but make no mistake about it he has what it takes to play in the NFL and could be a steal."

Scout.com had Hillis as the 76th ranked player in this year’s draft. Ironically, Eddie Royal ranked 78th. But rivals.com offered this:

"Hillis is the best athlete at this position (FB) this year with an interesting combination of size, speed, hands and intangibles."

Hillis is the kind of high character, overlooked, solid kind of player that Shanahan wants to fill his stable with. He has added 10 lb. of muscle during the off-season, and seems to understand what it will take to succeed at the next level. A beast on special teams, highly versatile and willing to go anywhere and do anything that will give the Broncos wins, Hillis may well fill the FB slot for years to come. With a year to work in and learn behind Cecil Sapp, and a chance to let Mike Shanahan do one of the things he does best and play to Hillis’ undoubted skill at receiver, the Broncos 227th pick in this years draft could turn out to be one of their very best.

MHR RADIO -- LIVE at 9PM est/5PM in Alaska!

TheSportsGuru — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:56:32 -0000

MHR Radio is back with 2-Hours of wall-to-wall Broncos talk. We are 1 week away from the beginning of Training Camp and MHR Radio has you covered.

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Broncos Sign FB Peyton Hillis

TheSportsGuru — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:36:04 -0000

Hat tip to SirSam and his FanPost with the news. Here is the official release --

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed fullback Peyton Hillis, whom they selected in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of Arkansas. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hillis (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) totaled 2,624 career all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns as a three-year starter at Arkansas, where he helped clear the way for two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden. Hillis played 44 career games (29 starts) at Arkansas, posting school records for running backs in career receptions (118), receiving yards (1,195) and receiving touchdowns (11).

He also registered 203 career rushes for 959 yards (4.7 avg.) with 12 touchdowns while adding 257 career punt return yards and 213 career kickoff return yards.
In 2007, Hillis played 13 games (9 starts) for the Razorbacks and led his team in receptions (49) and receiving yards (537). He blocked for two individual 1,000-yard rushers (McFadden and Felix Jones) for the second consecutive season and totaled 886 all-purpose yards.

A SuperPrep All-American who was rated by that publication as the best fullback in the nation at Conway High School in Conway, Ark., Hillis was born on Jan. 21, 1986.
With Hillis' signing, the Broncos have signed five of their nine selections from the 2008 NFL Draft.

NFL Is Looking For Gang Signs; Players Beware

TheSportsGuru — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:27:28 -0000

The NFL has hired "gang experts" to review tape of touchdown celebrations to see if players are flashing any type of gang signs. Longtime NFL columnist Sam Farmer of the LA Times first reported the NFL is reviewing tape to see if players are flashing the signs.

While the NFL has always been concerned about any type of affiliation, be it real or perceived, between NFL players and gangs, the heat was turned up after the death of Darrent Williams. Williams was involved with in an altercation with suspected gang members prior to being gunned down. There were also pictures on Williams' MYSpace page where he is flashing known gang signs.

"There have been some suspected things we've seen," said Milt Ahlerich, the league's vice president of security. "When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist. Period."

The NFL also paid attention to the actions of the NBA, when in April Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics was fined $25K for flashing "menacing gestures" towards the Atlanta Hawks bench. After watching the gestures on tape the NBA acted swiftly and harshly.

Paul Pierce lost 25 Large for flashing gang signs

via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

"We were always suspicious that [gang-related hand signals] might be happening," said Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating. "But the Paul Pierce thing is what brought it to light. When he was fined . . . that's when we said we need to take a look at it and see if we need to be aware of it."

NFL Officials won't try to identify the gestures, but will notify the League office it they are suspicious of any activity.

"It will be dealt with harshly. The commissioner is not going to stand for gang signals on the field.", added Pereira.

While I think this is a valiant effort to try and keep the game "clean", proving such actions are going to be tough. Think about it, if I score a TD, and give the "W" gesture with my hand, can't I claim it stood for Washington or Win?? As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Poll

Do you think gang signs are a problem in the NFL?

MHR University - Understanding "Run Contain"

hoosierteacher — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:30:06 -0000

Thank God that the run contain system is behind us. It proved to be a disaster in Denver, and Denver fans will forever say the words "Jim Bates" with just a little snarl when the subject comes u

However, as football scholars, we should understand the system before we discard it as being a "bad" system. While I care little for the system, I have to acknowledge that it is a pretty good approach to defense. The key is to have the right players in place, and we didn't. Because we will be discussing the system for years to come whenever the "terrible '07 season" is brought up, I thought we should understand what it is we are talking about.

The system itself is popular at the middle school and even some HS levels (particularly in 4-4 formations). The complexity is obviously dumbed down, but it is a great system against run heavy teams. Bates took the system to a new level in Miami after tinkering with it in Dallas. Let's take a deeper look.

Read on...

From birth, football fans are taught that there are two types of coverages for a defense. One is "man coverage", which involves a player being assigned to cover another player. The other is "zone coverage", which involves a player beng responsible for an area. Welcome to the third way.

Contain is a system that is based on the idea of "vectoring" an opposing player into an area of the defense's choosing. The OLBs are responsible for herding running plays to the center of the field, where the MLB makes the tackles. It's a pretty complex concept, but one that is deadly when performed well.

The theory behind the system goes like this. No runner is allowed to go out of bounds. This means that he can only take a finite number of approaches towards the endzone. In zone or man coverages, we take chances with one-on-one tackles, but what if we could change the dynamics so that the lane the opposing player takes always leads towards the center of the field? In other words, back towards ten other defensive players?

The DTs must be big, and able to hold the center of the line (not penetrate). Because the opposition will be forced to run the center as the game goes on, the DTs are critical for stopping the run. They are also responsible for protecting the MLB, who will take out any runners being vectored from the edges. For this reason, the DTs ignore most pass situations and simply hold the center.

The OLBs have the strangest job. It involves not tackling an opposing player unless that player takes a cut back towards the center of the field. This means that the OLB must run alongside the runner as the runner heads towards a sideline to keep him from reaching the edge and tearing down the field along that sideline. When the runner realizes he can't get past the defender, he'll have to cut back. When he does so, he faces the other ten defenders (heading towards him) as well as the "container", who is now allowed to make the tackle.

Here, the runner tried to sweep right. When he realized he couldn't beat the SAM linebacker to the corner, he cuts back. He faces a swarm from the SAM, the #1 CB, as well as the MLB and SAFs. In the diagram, the MLB is still in the original position for simplification; in a real play, he is much closer to the runner because he has already taking an angle on the pursuit. He is the most likely defender to get the tackle if the OLB can't pivot quickly enough.

Most often, the MLB makes the tackle. Note that DJ Williams had the second most tackles in the NFL in '07 (even with the system only employed for part of the year).

Denver probably liked the system because it matched well in the AFC West. oakland uses the Zone Block system for running, and the Contain system is a terrific counter for two reasons. One, the DTs aren't making one gap moves, and aren't crashing to either side (making the blocks much more difficult). The other reason is that the "one cut" move by the runner plays into the hands of the defense's system (movement back towards the center of the field). SD also faced match up problems, as the system would have been a check on LT's agile running. Best of all, Denver was eager to take away the run game of any opponent, and force teams to throw towards CBs Bailey and Bly. The thought had to make the coaching staff salivate!

Alas, the DTs and OLBs (the hearts of the system) failed. The DTs weren't capable of holding the line (though Williams compensated well), and the OLBs were caught overpursuing and failing to anticipate the cutbacks. The tackling was poor all around.

System Advantages:

Takes away the outside run.
Meets the inside run with DTs and a MLB dedicated to run stopping assignments on most every play.
Swarm type defense creates multiple fumble recovery possibilities.
Speed is the emphasis for the DEs and OLBs, and this allows for effective blitzing in the pass game.
In general, takes away the run and forces teams to pass.

Disadvantages:

If the runner beats the defender to the sideline and turns upfield, it's a bad, bad day.
Requires the DTs to be above average 2 gappers, big, and patient.
Requires the OLBs to be fast, but also very intelligent and patient.
Sacrifices the thought of using the DTs in a pass rush.
Steep learning curve for the players.
In general, requires a perfect set of player types for the system to run well.

Like Travis Henry, perhaps we won't have to discuss this much in the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As always, if anyone has any questions about football systems, Xs and Os, plays, etc, this is the place. No question is too simple; we're here to help. Other experts on the site are available for questions on team history, salary cap issues, sports legal, sports medical, etc. Fans of other teams with questions are very welcome!

MHR University is found only at milehighreport.com, the only source you need for quality Denver Broncos reporting, analysis, and football education. If you've linked to this article from google, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, or elsewhere, we invite you to join our friendly community. Other football team blogs can be found at sbnation.com.

2007 Best and Worst Broncos' Moments #13

styg50 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:00:07 -0000

Moment #13 -- One of the Best

-- Marshall turns back the tide.

When Devin Hester tied the CHI game with his first return for a TD, it was up to the Broncos to find an answer, and try to re-establish momentum.

Cutler turned to his budding playmaker and on the first play from scrimmage following the return, he found BMarsh on a 68 yd that netted a quick 7 points and put the Broncos back in the lead.

The play showed just what Denver had in two of its young players: guys who could step up when the going got tough. Sometimes the best way to answer a playmaker like Hester is to show that you have a playmaker of your own, and Brandon showed exactly that. It is a combination of dependability and pure ability, and it amazes me sometimes how Brandon can exhibit it so clearly on the field but somehow shortcircuit and fail to apply the same skill off the field. Maybe he just doesn't take matters off the field as seriously as he takes his job. He wouldn't be the first, not would he be the last to lose his job because of an attitude like that.

But its moments like the CHI game when it becomes clear that whatever it is that this kid needs to do, he can do it. That is going to make for some exciting Sundays for Broncomaniacs for some time to come.

Is the big play threat alive and well?

The question really has two aspects, is Brandon Marshall a legitimate big play threat and is he the only one if he is?

While Marshall has not "officially" faced the top coverage of opposing defenses, a strong case can be made for the fact that it was rare for us to see him working in an offensive environment where other players were taking a lot of the pressure off of him. Stokely was the one player who consistently drew his share of the coverage, while Graham was relegated to a blocking status and Scheffler never really came on until the the first third of the season was over. Walker was nowhere to be seen starting with the PIT game, and our platooning RB squad could barely muster a combined 100yds in most games, and in pretty much all of their late season efforts.

It can definitely be argued that Marshall has been fire tested by NFL defenses, and the results are very promising, even if the case for other playmakers turns out to be that they are scarce. Stokely should certainly be considered a playmaker, but only as a slot, where he is a factor of 10 times more effective. Scheffler is ceratinly a playmaker, but his foot troubles are bothersome. Graham will have to wait and see if he is needed on the line before one can definitively speak for his playmaking ability, and our RB corp, while solid in the running game, may not prove to be the all around threats needed to take some of the pressure off of BMarsh.

And with extra pressure, will Brandon Marshall be able to keep up this impressive growth that has seen him catapult into star status before us? If that ear to ear grin doesn't disappear anytime soon, I would say yes.

Poll

The Mile High Report

Horse Tracks 7/18/08

Denver Broncos Training Camp 2008 - Fan Information Guide**REVISED**

2008 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down The Roster #4 - Defensive End

What Grade Would You Give The Broncos Defensive Ends?

Old Trouble Could Haunt Karl Paymah

The Story of Peyton Hillis

MHR RADIO -- LIVE at 9PM est/5PM in Alaska!

Broncos Sign FB Peyton Hillis

NFL Is Looking For Gang Signs; Players Beware

Do you think gang signs are a problem in the NFL?

MHR University - Understanding "Run Contain"

2007 Best and Worst Broncos' Moments #13

Moment #13 -- One of the Best

Is the big play threat alive and well?

Is Bmarsh our best big play threat on offense?

Denver Broncos Training Camp 2008 - Fan Information GuideREVISED