Kyle Orton put up Huckdort-like numbers this year, but without the massive amount of picks. Look at all them game killing, momentum shifting dorts by Hucky, unbelievable – or believable, if you’ve been following my expert analysis. Huckdort is who I’ve said he is all along: A poor man’s Favre. He ain’t no Hall of Famer, that’s for damn sure.

But stats schmats. The hell with stats. Every year is different. For example, Huckdort had great stats (besides the massive amount of game killing dorts) in 2008 with the Broncos. We still ended up 7-9. You hear all this nonsense about how the offense was just spectacular, how it wasn’t broken.  The key to the great stats that year is our defense: it absolutely sucked. You thought it was bad at the end of this year? Not hardly in comparison, the 2008 defense got absolutely shredded with consistency. We relied on Huckdort winging the ball around all overconfident, usually while we were trailing behind on the scoreboard trying to play catch up.  Not to mention we struggled running the ball then as we do now.

The stats appear to look pretty decent for Kyle Orton after this season. But the problems with Kyle Orton, (besides that fact that both him and Huckdort don’t look quite right) the problems are his limitations. First, he is not athletic – a two legged goat may in fact have more pocket evasion skills. Second, his deep throws in the thirty-plus yard range sucked. They sucked because: a) His deep throws float, he can throw far, but not hard. They hang up there like a damn punt. b) The Denver Broncos do not have a blazing, deep threat wide receiver. We have very little speed at this position.

Orton is indeed a game manager who excels at short and mid yardage throws. However, you can win with Kyle Orton, you just gotta do some things.

1. You have to run the football.

You have to have a running game to compliment Orton. You cannot have this guy throwing 55 times in a game. You cannot get stuffed on third and one time and time again. Our running game killed us this year, you see these playoff teams, the Jets, the Ravens? They ran the football, they made those third and 1′s that we didn’t make time and time again. When we ran the football with some consistency, earlier in the year when our offensive line wasn’t worn down, we won games.

2. You have to catch the football.

How many times did a Broncos receiver drop a perfectly thrown pass for a first down on third down this year? It was a disgrace. Tom Jackson was right: The Broncos had no margin for error. Catch the football. When I say we need playmakers I don’t mean pro bowlers necessarily, we need guys who can just make the damn play. Catch the football when it’s right there for crying out loud. Every first down is important when you’re a game manager. It’s tough to make up huge chunks of yards.

3. Protection.

This goes for any QB, losing Ryan Harris wasn’t good for us but I noticed in the ass end of the year, not only did the interior of our offensive line suck at run blocking, they were getting smoked by opposing team’s tackle’s even in pass protection. Want to stop the Broncos 2009 offense? Attack the middle, teams started to blitz us right up the middle tirelessly, and it worked.

Despite the limitations, anyone hoping Orton doesn’t come back this year has to be kidding. Yes he has limitations, but they can be overcome with good protection, receivers who catch and a running game. What he does, he does well and that is make accurate short/mid passes. Most important of all, he protects the football. Except in the Chiefs game. Hell everybody farted in that game even Dawkins. We don’t even have the receiver speed for the mystical “deep ball” that wasn’t even that great when Hucky was in there. Most of Hucky’s deep balls got picked. Remember him forcing it to Marshall time and time again? At least Orton’s passes actually got to Marshall most of the time and didn’t end up in the hands of some defender. If we had some guy who could get some really good separation down the sideline at times, then we could try some of them deeper throws.

Ignoramus’s sometimes wonder what if we still had Huckdort? I don’t think we would be that much better. He’s a me first prima donna. He’s got a million dollar arm, but a ten cent head and a five cent haircut. He is erratic and inconsistent in the extreme. Nineteen picks last year, twenty six this year. Game killing, momentum shifting picks at the worst possible time.

Blaming Orton for our running game woes? Irrational. Didn’t they have a running game up in Chicago in 2008? Shouldn’t it have gotten much better with Hucky Dorts in there? After all, he can throw the deep ball. The safety’s had little to do with our insipid running game. No, when you’re running back is getting tackled in the backfield by two of the opposing teams tackles something is wrong with your guys up front. Especially in short yardage situations, that interior line was nonsense.

There was one game this year I felt we could have won if we had Huckdort in there. One. It was the Eagles game, Orton’s deep throw to an open Brandon Marshall was pitiful. That was about it though. People say Chicago’s receivers stink.  That’s true, however where the hell was Royal this year? Scheffler? Our receiving corps didn’t play that great either. Gaffney and Marshall were it for the most part.  Can you imagine that Huckdort getting bored and forcing the ball where it just won’t go in McDaniel’s system that focuses on precision and protecting the football? I can.

At times, Orton threw the ball with confidence and zip. At times he looked downright aloof. What did Brady say, this offense took three years to get comfortable in?

A QB that can win in this league and protect the football is nothing to scoff at.

Kyle Orton is a team first player. Not some me first prima donna loser. Kyle Orton is not a punk. When this guy was out there and we were losing with thirty seconds to go, he was hurrying us up to the line of scrimmage. He is a Bronco, and he wants to win and does not quit.

Maybe we draft a QB in the mid rounds this year. Fine, if he were to supplant Orton, great. Because if he supplants Orton in this system it means we drafted one hell of a player.

I’ll bet you anything Kyle Orton won’t throw a fit if that happened. I bet you he won’t act like an absolute punk if we draft a QB early. I bet you he won’t cause a bunch of crap if he’s not the starter.

Furthermore, you people booing him, still wishing for this thing below (which was surely airbrushed), you people ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

Eh, beeb?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i691y3Y98Y

That’s right, Huckdort Jay is killing the team up there in Chicago. Probably three losses due to dorts. Huckdort could’ve been the hero, he could’ve been John Elway in the fourth quarter but instead: he dorted.

The last one was the immaculate dort. Not a receiver around for miles and no chance in hell of being a touchdown to win the game.

According to Woody Paige’s indisputable logic it’s time for the Bears to bench Cutler and start Caleb Hanie. The great Caleb Hanie is waiting in the wings, they don’t pay him and keep him on the roster for nothin.  Surely Huckdort Jay has been a detriment to the team, surely he can’t throw the deep ball with accuracy and surely he’s been killing the team’s chances of winning games.

Paige, who has called for the benching of Kyle Orton after two bad games for the offense and two bad throws.

Up there in Chicago, they’re up to 17 bad throws.

I told a friend of mine four dorts just before the San Francisco game last night, he predicted two. I don’t t know why I went so high, the 49ers ain’t all that, but I just had a feeling.

Huckdort even out dorted my prediction.

You see them analysts after the game? Bending over backwards to point out some of the throws were definitely, absolutely, positively not the fault of Jay Huckdort Cutler? What the hell was that?

You think they’d do the same for Orton? I doubt it, after all, Jay Huckdort Cutler is a Pro Bowler. Let’s not forget that one folks. If Orton threw 17 picks he would be the laughing stock of the league, hell McDaniels would have benched him well before that number of picks. Unacceptable.

Ron Turner's new strategy: "Don't throw to the fat guys."

Well not so for Huckdort, Huckdort Jay is a Pro Bowler with a golden arm. Huckdort Jay is the franchise we traded away to the Bears and deserves excuse after excuse for almost single-handedly killing the team.

This year and last.

A million dollar arm with a ten cent head. A ten cent head and a five cent haircut.

Lovie realizes Jay Huckdort Cutler doesn't look quite right at a press conference, Friday, April 3, 2009, in Lake Forest, Ill. AP Photo

I don’t know how Lovie keeps a straight face when they look over some of these picks on the sidelines. You see that first dort? Just throw it away, but he can’t help himself. This is probably why McDaniels knew he had to go and was going to have a hell of a time working with this gooned out pick thrower. He don’t learn.

18 dorts last year and how many fumbles? He don’t protect the ball.

He don’t protect the ball, don’t look right and he ain’t no John Elway.

He is killing the Bears team and it’s time to start Caleb Hanie. Give this Hanie a look and if it’s a disaster just put Huckdort back in at halftime, right Woody Paige?

In Paige’s miserable, babbling, flawed universe we’d bench Orton and create a bona fide quarterback controversy at the midway point of the season with a 6 and 2 record.

If anyone deserves to be benched, it’s Jay Huckdort Cutler for his unbelievable interceptions that are piling up and may even reach an inconceivable but possible thirty dorts.

Paige is so demented, I bet he still thinks Huckdort is our quarterback. I bet Paige has been watching Chicago every week instead of the Broncos, since they got our franchise and has the two teams mixed up. It must be. The 4 and 12 record and calling for the quarterback to be benched are genius if you’re talking about the Chicago Bears.

Someone's crazy uncle, tongue lapping about, gets paid for this nonsense

I read an article from that Kyle over there at BroncoTalk. He knows. He effin’ knows Paige’s sordid game. Kyle thinks Paige may have had that article to bench Orton just waiting to run since the preseason. Just waiting to pounce, and he’s probably right. Paige’s deception and distortion, trying to make himself look like a genius and it always blows up. I’ve come to the conclusion that Paige isn’t serious. He’s not serious.

The problem is Paige has poor tact, he peddles distortions and poor logic left and right, but yet he’s given a pedestal to do so and is considered a “prominent voice in the Denver sports media.” That is a joke, and a disgrace. This guy, who is perennially wrong, this guy represents you and me the fans? What a joke. The rest of the media picks right up on it, “Denver media already calling for the benching of Orton.” What an absolute disgrace.

Paige needs to go, I don’t need to list how many times he’s been plain wrong. He needs to go, he is guilty of conduct detrimental to the team and his columns have spiraled into laughable tabloid nonsense. Especially this year since they didn’t get the coaches, players or quarterback he wanted. Maybe it’s time to cover a new team?

The reason I was pissed at this Pittsburgh game, besides the fact that the town has an odor, poor service, and inadequate everything, is that it tempered the enthusiasm of these dorts a bit. We have our own problems, we can’t run the effin’ football. I’d like to hear the analysts point out that Moreno ran into the referee, that the team can’t run the football and the receivers aren’t doing a good job of getting open. I’d like to hear them comment on our poor offensive line play as of late. They probably won’t, since Orton isn’t a golden armed Pro Bowler that poses for GQ. Buit no, our problems are clear: it’s just that Orton can’t throw downfield. He can’t throw the deep ball. He ain’t no winner.

How’s that deep ball up there in Chicago, eh? The same as it was last year in Denver I suppose. And that’s coming from the supposed master of deep balls with better receivers and a better offensive line. What was it 18 picks last year how many fumbles? Weren’t the Bears surely on the road to the playoffs?

We need to run the damn football and pass protect better. Our offense as a whole has been decrepit the last two games. They need to get their heads out of their asses. I said last week was a must win game, a statement game and I was shamed because of this decrepit offense. The playcalling was also unimaginative. The defense showed up, at least. These last two games have been close up until the fourth quarter, because of the defense, but with no help from the offense whatsoever they broke down. You can ask only so much of your defense, so many times, and without any help from the offense you can’t win like that.

Now we will see if the running game and the offense as a whole has been remedied in Washington. This Redskins team’s offense sucks. However, they have a good defensive front seven. This is exactly what the Ravens and Pittsburgh had, it was a big key in shutting down the Broncos offense the last two weeks so we’ll see how they’ve adjusted. I said we better win the Pittsburgh game or lose close. Well, we better damn sure win this Washington game. Then, taking San Diego to task will give the Broncos an 8 and 2 record, and should shut the pie holes of losers like Paige at least. The Baltimore and Pittsburgh game showed the Broncos Achilles heel, the way to attack them on defense, it is better for it to happen now, during midseason and fix it, than the first game in the playoffs. The playoffs which I fully expect to see the Broncos enter and be competitive after years of misses and mediocrity under the ass end of the Shanahan era.

But whatever, the room erupted last night, especially on the final game breaking dort and on the fourth dort where I almost blew out a disc when I jumped up after seeing Huckdort got rolled for good measure in addition to getting picked off. More importantly, they lost and our draft pick is looking better by the minute.

The Broncos released the oft injured Boss Bailey and signed Casey Wiegmann through the 2010 season. Champ’s brother wasn’t much of a factor in Denver, then again not many defensive players were last season overall. He’s one player that just can’t seem to stay on the field for any great length of time. Glad to see Casey Wiegmann signed, he certainly solidifies the middle of the offensive line now that Nalen is retired.

In other Brandon Marshall news,  it seems Marshall and his agent Kennard McGuire state Bowlen will “accomodate Marshall’s wishes” to be traded, and wished him good luck in the future. Later, McDaniels is quoted as saying ““We met after Pat’s meeting with Brandon and we are going to continue our dialogue with Brandon and his representative,” and  “We look forward to having Brandon at training camp.”

Since McDaniels supposedly had a lot to do with Cutler’s trade request, my guess is that Marshall will be traded, if they can, and McDaniels is simply trying to distance himself from this situation.  Bowlen in the past said he doesn’t want players that don’t want to be a Bronco, Marshall doesn’t have anything bad to say about the organization it seems, but he sure seems to want out of Denver.

The Bronco released this statement:

Broncos agree to trade Jay Cutler to Chicago

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – “The Denver Broncos have agreed in principle to trade quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears. Terms of the deal will be disclosed at a later time.”

Source: Bill Williamson ESPN

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Bears are sending two first-round draft picks (2009 and ’10), a ’09 third-round pick and former starting quarterback Kyle Ortonto Denver in exchange for Cutler and an ’09 fifth-round pick.

Wow, the bears pick 18th, Kyle Orton? but who knows the Broncos may not be finished making moves. It looks like that fifth round pick of the Broncos in the deal is actually a 3rd rounder. My mistake, we’re receiving Orton, two first rounders and a third round pick for Cutler and a fifth round pick this year.

After losing Ryan Torain, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman and since Selvin Young is banged up, running back Tatum Bell returns to the Broncos. Traded to the Lions by Denver as part of the Dre Bly trade, Bell was released by Detroit in early September. As a Bronco, Bell had great break-away open field speed but seemed to have trouble breaking tackles and fumbled in a few key situations. Denver also picks up free-agent running back Alex Haynes. Haynes is 5′ 10″ 230 lbs and played his first season in Carolina last year where he saw only a few actual carries. He was waived by Baltimore in August.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports Champ Bailey will test his groin injury today to get a feel for whether he can play against Atlanta this Sunday.

RMN has a write-up on kickers Jason Elam and Matt Prater and the transition from the Elam era in Denver.

Our own Horvil Tiki has some encouraging words for the Broncos backup linebackers in the comments section of Lindsay H. Jones latest article. (Denver Post)

The Mile High Report links to voting for Eddie Royal (Pepsi Rookie of the Week) and Jay Cutler (Fedex Player of the Week)

As you may know the site was hacked and after a few days finally I am able to get the admin accounts back into the site and all seems well (so far) I appreciate, and I’m sure Horvil does as well, your patience and thanks to some of you for firing back at that guy “PP” whatever that stands for. Hopefully they are satisfied with the attack and will leave the site alone, we’re taking every measure to bolster the site’s security.

Now for some quick Broncos notes:

Three Broncos players were hit with fines from last Monday’s horrible event. The article mentions wide receiver Chad Jackson and safety Chris Crocker may be new additions to the Broncos roster. The Post’s Mike Klis puts forth what he believes are some Broncos keys to success for after the bye week. Last Monday was the first time in a long time I actually decided not to watch the second half of the Broncos game after 10 minutes or so in. Talking with Horvil about it, he thinks there should have been more fines which I’m sure will come up in his belated analysis.

RMN’s Bernie Lincicome wonders who the real Jay Cutler is due to Cutler’s recent less than stellar performances in light of his almost flawless start to the season.

Andrew Joynt writing for CBS4Denver seems optimistic that the Broncos will make the playoffs citing weak AFC west opponents.

It’s old news, and it’s painful, but just because we weren’t able to get to it, Boss Bailey and Patrick Ramsey out for the season while Champ Bailey will sit at least a month with a groin injury.

Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette looks at the current injury situation in Denver and mentions Brandon Stokely looks to be recovering well after his concussion.

Lastly, John Elway lays the smack down on the Raiders organization claiming JaMarcus Russell needs to get out of Oakland if he wants to find any success in the NFL.

It looks to be an exciting year for Denver fans as the 2008 Broncos seem like a team on a positive rebound from a 7-9 season that featured key injuries, a sputtering red zone offense and a new but ineffective defensive scheme in which the players did not look comfortable with from the get go.

Its true that winning games in the preseason doesn’t really matter (unless you’re Horvil), but the way the team is playing, the starters in particular, is certainly telling. The Broncos offense has looked impressive in its ability to move the chains and score often with Jay Cutler at the helm. In his third season, Cutler is really beginning to live up to his potential as one of the game’s elite quarterbacks. He is mobile, he can make every throw and is a “student of the game” according to Mike Shanahan.

The offensive line, while not the dominating force of the late 90′s Broncos, looks solid and will improve with rookies Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris who is basically a rookie since he was injured last year. Ben Hamilton seems to be fine after his awful concussion last year and center Tom Nalen… well… while I wish Nalen, being the perennial Pro Bowler he is, I wish he could contribute as much as possible this year, but I feel Casey Wiegman may end up being one of the most necessary free agent pickups in the offseason next to Marlon McCree and Boss Bailey. Going into this preseason, I expected Clady to be where he is, good enough to start but not great, not yet at least so no surprise there but Ryan Harris really caught me by surprise. I remember the Broncos were high on him last year and viewing him in the preaseason, he’s big and athletic and I believe Shanahan’s claim that Clady and Harris will be a very good pair of tackles for years to come.

The Broncos will enter this season with a bevy of receivers for Cutler to utilize. The emergence of rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal is huge, if he stays consistent and improves the Broncos will add to an already strong cast of receiving targets with the likes of Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokely, Tony Scheffler, sure-handed Nate Jackson, Daniel Graham and of course Brandon Marshall who’s rise to stardom is right on par with Cutler. The Broncos running backs Selvin Young, Michael Pittman even catch well, in addition to rookie fullback Peyton Hillis.

The running back situation is an interesting one since Andre Hall has played so well and run with such fierce determination. If Selvin Young’s offseason conditioning and bulking up doesn’t pay dividends and he falls short of his goal as an every-down-back the rotation is in pretty good hands with Hall and the veteran Pittman. Andre Hall even seems like he could take over Selvin Young’s starting position if Young were to falter. Ryan Torain is a bit of an X factor, I have heard praise from coaches and fans who watched him in college yet have seen nothing of him on the field to form an opinion as of yet. If he comes back from his elbow injury in October and plays really well, thats yet another weapon in a very capable offense.

On the defensive side of the ball the Broncos seem to have shored up against the run but continue to serve up an anemic pass rush. As Horvil points out often, the lack of pass rush provides the opposing quarterback with enough time to read those second, third and fourth receivers or better yet, halt his aim until the cornerbacks -no matter how talented- are beaten. So much falls on the shoulders of Jarvis Moss to be the guy Broncos fans hope he will be, the sack specialist who can be counted on for at least 8 sacks or so. The more the merrier really. As it stands I feel John Engelberger is a great backup, a decent guy to have in the rotation, but not a force to be reckoned with. The Broncos need to upgrade the starting defensive end position opposite Dumervil. Until then, I feel this team will be hard pressed to make any havoc in the playoffs without a lot of luck and creative blitzing.

The defensive line seems to hold its ground and even get some penetration this preseason. Last year’s line seemed to get manhandled and oft beaten at the point of attack. One player in particular I’ve noticed playing well is Dewayne Robertson. He doesn’t seem to get pushed around and I’ve witnessed him on many occasions keeping his position at the line of scrimmage and riding the offensive lineman parallel to the line to get in on the running play. While perhaps unspectacular this is a much better showing than getting blown off the ball or being eaten up completely by the offensive linemen.

The defense seems to be an adequate one with few big names besides Champ Bailey, Dre Bly, Elvis Dumervil and D.J. Williams. Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel may not be all-world but they do seem to be very consistent and McCree in particular just seems to have that knack for constantly being around the ball. The linebackers are improved with D.J. Williams, Nate Webster (playing at his best with heavy competition) and the quickness and athleticism of Boss Bailey who hopefully can stay on the field. The defense seems adequate in just about every way besides cornerback which is certainly above average. The real exception I feel is the Broncos have shown me nothing thus far that the glaring issue of a terrible pass rush won’t continue on this way. It hasn’t been addressed much besides trumpeting a “waiting period” for Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder to finally emerge.

If the Broncos offense manages to put up 24+ points a game, I don’t think you need an all world defense. However, I think you do need a pass rush to prevent the opposing team from keeping things close with quick strikes through the air and shootouts that often boil down to a “whoever has possession last wins” type scenario.

Special teams looks surprisingly good to me after consistently lousy play last year which amounted to horrible field position more times than not. The loss of Jason Elam doesn’t sting so bad with Matt Prater playing pretty well and the punter battle was… as epic as a punter battle can be to say the least. There are some good young players like Wesley Woodyard and Niko Koutovides to help control the return lanes as well.

I predict the Broncos will reach the playoffs on a 10-6 or 11-5 record, nothing more, nothing less. Barring injuries I think it’s a pretty easy conclusion. They have an excellent and potentially explosive offense, an adequate defense and a somewhat lighter than usual schedule. I feel the Broncos will reach the playoffs but will be eliminated in the first or second game especially due to their Achilles heel: no or little pass rush. It seems like this one piece of the puzzle that eludes the team. The playoffs are the time when a pass rush is critical, and if not much changes and no one emerges, I think the Broncos will be left wanting.

The Rocky Mountain News discusses how the Broncos may have to alter their game plan during Brandon Marshall’s upcoming three game suspension. RMN also takes a look at WR Clifford Russell and other players who are on the bubble this week to make the roster and RMN’s Sam Adams points out the Cutler to Marshall connection could be unique.

The Denver Post claims rookie tackle Ryan Clady is fitting right in as a Broncos lineman on and off the field. The Post also reports legendary Broncos Randy Gradishar and Floyd Little are snubbed once again as Hall of Fame nominees.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson quickly weighs in with some quick notes after visiting the Broncos facility, in addition to a glance at the teams lower profile rookies.

The Rocky Mountain News looks at Jay Cutler’s excellent quarterback statistics this preseason.

Yahoo Sports posted its most recent Broncos team report. The rather meaty article serves up  many different tidbits about the team on its way to the final preseason game, addresses the Brandon Marshall suspension and reveals that NFL films president Steve Sabol will probably ask the Denver Broncos to be featured in next year’s “Hard Knocks” HBO reality show. When asked about it, Pat Bowlen stated “I’m not averse to it, but I’m not all that into it.”

Bad news for the Giants as defensive end Osi Umenyiora will have season ending knee surgery. The Raiders WR Drew Carter and FB Oren O’Neal are also done for the season due to injuries.

The Broncos made a good showing in their 23 to 13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in preseason action last night. The Rocky Mountain News article states “Cutler shines in Broncos win over Cowboys” and mentions rookie WR Eddie Royal certainly looked good as well. CBS4Denver states “Marshall Gets Best of Jones as Denver Tops Dallas.”

The official site of the team, Denver Broncos.com offers up a piece entitled “Offense Astounding” that is loaded with quotes from the players. Also appearing on the website is an article “Steadily Improving” that centers on the offense, Eddie Royal’s emergence as a starting receiver and the somewhat embarrassing end to cornerback Jack Williams 4th quarter interception.

This Denver Post article praises the first string offense, while another commends an improved defense and yet another reveals backup QB Patrick Ramsey braved last nights game shortly after his grandmother died on Thursday and his wife gave birth to his second child on Friday. In other news, a couple Denver Post stories mention John Lynch’s migration to the Patriots, and the second found here receives commentary from our own Horvil Tiki:

Maybee Lynch forget Bronco own patrot, send packing for school lunch in afc titel match Baily pict off goal line pass run all way back guy, all way. That with dude where my car plumber now Shanhan has have protegee propeller arm Cutsler pict 11 steal of draft. New eggland fan rejoyced last few year they rejoyce they say Shanhan is out of play off! I hears them guy, they say that. Litle genral beats the bellycheck. Makey him mumbel and so disgrunt. Bellycheck so disgrunt he try to throw heavied flash light at Shanhan car in parkig lot try to dent the shanhan car.

I look into magic bag. New eggland will be the lucky if the lynch play more than 8 week for guy. Good guy, good carreer but guy cant even stay on feeld.