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Chargers Scouting Report: Denver Broncos
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
Kickoff: 5 p.m. Monday at Qualcomm Stadium
Series: Denver leads 52-42-1. The Chargers won the last meeting, 41-3, on Oct. 7 in Denver and have won three straight games over the Broncos for the first time since 1981-82.
Player to watch: WR Brandon Marshall
Remember all those superlatives you heard about the top receivers from the 2006 draft class? It turns out that the best receiver wasn't drafted until the fourth round. Marshall, the 16th receiver picked that year, has broken out in a big way this season with 86 receptions for 1,136 yards. Both marks rank seventh in the NFL. Marshall, who also played safety at Central Florida, leads all receivers from the 2006 draft with 106 career receptions. The only other members of the class with more than 50 career receptions are Green Bay's Greg Jennings (95) and Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes (93). Marshall has excelled the past two weeks, becoming the first player in Denver history to catch 10 or more passes in back-to-back games. Marshall caught 10 passes for 115 yards against Kansas City and followed that with 11 receptions for 107 yards against Houston. Marshall needs 14 catches to become the fifth player in Denver history to catch 100 passes in a season.
Offense
QB Jay Cutler has topped the 3,000-yard mark in his first full season as a starter. Cutler has passed for 3,096 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He's completing 64.6 percent of his passes, a figure that John Elway (63.2 in 1993 was his high) never reached during his Hall of Fame career. Only Brian Griese (66.7 in 2002) completed passes at a better clip in team history. RB Travis Henry has a team-high 680 rushing yards despite missing time with knee and rib injuries. Henry's absence opened for the door for rookie Selvin Young, an undrafted free agent from Texas who has 603 yards and an impressive 5.6 average. Only two first-round picks, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch, have more yards among this year's rookie class. While Marshall emerged this season, WR Javon Walker has battled knee woes, and his start in Denver's most recent game was his first since mid-September. Walker has just 22 receptions. WR Brandon Stokley has caught 40 passes, with a league-best 85 percent (34) going for first downs. TE Tony Scheffler (40 receptions) had the first 100-year game
of his career against Houston, which was also the first by a Denver tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 2003.
Defense
The fourth round of the 2006 draft also yielded a steal in DE Elvis Dumervil. Downgraded by scouts because of his 5-11 height despite leading the nation with 20 sacks in his final season at Louisville, Dumervil has stood tall with his play. He has 11 sacks this season, which ties him for ninth in the NFL, including four multi-sack games. He also has forced four fumbles and has an interception. Rookie DE Tim Crowder has been a surprise on the other side with four sacks. MLB D.J. Williams has a team-high 149 tackles in his first season inside after three campaigns at outside linebacker. Denver's pass defense is sixth best in the league. That's partly because it's easy to run against the Broncos (29th against the run) and partly because of CBs Champ Bailey (42 career interceptions) and Dre' Bly (38 career picks). Bailey (three interceptions in '07) was named to his eighth Pro Bowl on Tuesday, and Bly has a team-leading five interceptions. FS John Lynch, the 15-year veteran from Torrey Pines High, is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection but has been hampered by neck and groin injuries this season. He
has just 48 tackles, his lowest output since 1995 with Tampa Bay.
Noteworthy
K Jason Elam has scored 103 points, giving him 15 straight 100-point seasons, the best streak in NFL history. Elam's 1,775 career points rank sixth in NFL history. Ö Elam will play in his 235th career game against the Chargers, breaking a tie with Elway for most games in Denver history. Ö This is the third straight season the Broncos have played on Christmas Eve; they beat Oakland in 2005 and Cincinnati last season. Ö Denver is just 2-5 on the road this season. Ö This is just the second time the Chargers and Broncos have met on "Monday Night Football." The Chargers won the only other meeting, 17-7 in 1979 at San Diego to clinch the AFC West title.
BoltDan wrote on Dec 19, 2007 8:40 AM:This will be a tough game... The Donkeys will want revenge for the whooping we put on them. We should be able to kill them at home so lets hope the play calling (Norveritius) gets creative... and Cro gets a few more picks... No Merrieman is scary though. All in all.. should be a fun game to watch Christmas eve. GO BOLTS.
Steven wrote on Dec 19, 2007 11:27 AM:I've seen other teams wear all solid colored uniforms. Like for example: The Broncos wear their dark blue jerseys with the dark blue pants. Same with the Arizona Cardinals with the red on red. I think the Bolts would look good with the blue on blue. They would even look crisp and clean with the white jerseys and the white pants.
Fan Maybe wrote on Dec 19, 2007 11:31 AM:No sacks last week? Rivers, has been mediocre at best all season. No time o let down. Norv and his coaches need to stay flexible, especially on defense. I hope they, the coaches, don't screw this up.
BoltDan wrote on Dec 19, 2007 11:56 AM:AMEN brother... Norv beter not Norv this up... and Cotrell better unleash the hounds that he has... NO bend don't break D... send them in and sack'em.
Tx-Bolt wrote on Dec 19, 2007 1:13 PM:All the Charger players have to remember is how Denver played when they last won the West...They came to our house and literally broke Brees off...Time to return the favor...I am not saying that we should injure any player just play hard every down and if anyone on their team gets hurt so be it...to bad to sad....Go Chargers..I sat at that game and watched them have fun in our house at our expense....Payback / retribution / tit for tat what ever you want to call it go get some baby... By the way just something I noticed about Brees after that game and upon his return from that injury...HE IS THROWING THE BALL REALLY WELL BETTER THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN HIM THROW...HE HAS SOME ZIP ON IT NOW...THE NFL SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THAT DOCTOR INSTALLED IN HIS SHOULDER MAN...IT MAY BE AGAINST THE RULES TO HAVE A BIONIC SHOULDER INSTALLED.//:)
Raider Hater oh and the Chargers wrote on Dec 19, 2007 1:27 PM:Broncos are gonna win...just watch
James wrote on Dec 19, 2007 1:52 PM:Fanmaybe?...what's that?...either you are or you aren't...dude you sound like a chick!
BOLTBACKER wrote on Dec 19, 2007 2:28 PM:donkeys are not going to come in the Q on Christmas Eve Monday night football and win with the way we are coming together, Plain and simple. Congrats on the ocho making the pro and see y'all in the playoffs! GO BOLTS!
Gail wrote on Dec 19, 2007 3:16 PM:Sounds like a chick? I am a chick and I do not agree with that comment at all... I can watch a game and KNOW what is going on and with who... I KNOW football better than most guy's I know... so there! :o)
Jimbo wrote on Dec 19, 2007 4:11 PM:All the Chargers need to do is play consistently and protect the football. Just beat these guys on the ground and get the W. No need to risk unnecessary INTs and keep them in the game.
PAL52 wrote on Dec 19, 2007 6:13 PM:By all means, Boltdan, let's just ignore 51 points, an 8-2 run and make sure to bash Norv. Really, it's got to be said. I was at that game too, Tx-Bolt, and I didn't see a cheap shot on Brees (tho' I've seen PLENTY of Bronco cheap shots over the years including one on Jamal that still makes me grind my teeth every time I think of it). No need to retaliate. Just beat their butts again so they'll be thinking of their four-game losing streak next year. And, yes, indeed, Brees is MUCH stronger than he used to be. He makes throws now that would have skidded or floated away when he was with SD.... Now, if we could just get Philip to go through the same rehab program without getting hurt.... :) As for no sacks last week -- what, the five picks, 3 by linebackers, Phillips' TD -- not enough from the LBs with the Pro Bowler out?
BoltDan wrote on Dec 20, 2007 9:04 AM:Yes 5 picks are nice against the worst passing team in the league which I expect is why Cottrell was playing his drop back D... HENCE my comment on send them against the Donkeys... they will not be able to play that type of game vs. any good teams (see first game this year vs. Patsies) then see what we did vs. Colts... Albeit Sproles won that game. PAL52...all I am saying is NORV had little to do with 8-2 in the last 10... the team came together and Norv just got out of the way... This much talent and he NORV'ed it up the first half of the season. Plus all star CRO started... finally (as I have been saying and half of the city has known for ages our corners have stunk for a long time)they are getting it that Flo is a no go and soon maybe they will listen and move PI Jammer to safety. Go Bolts!!!!!
BoltDan wrote on Dec 20, 2007 9:28 AM:PS...has Jammer ever been to the Pro bowl??? enough said...Toast and Jam on your shoe???
jmoney wrote on Dec 20, 2007 3:49 PM:this game is already over the bolts have only been getting better since the donkeys and bolts last met and the broncos have gotten much worse so expect this to be a major blowout. and once again the chargers stars will dominate this game
Chris in bmore wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:48 AM:I hope Phillip Rivers ... What a blowhard. Beware Charger fans...The BRONCOS will be back next year ready to destroy your boy phillipe.
All that smack will be rammed down his throat...p.s. Jay Cutler is already better than Rivers could ever hope to be.
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