TotalBroncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos were counting on  Ty Warren  to anchor their run defense after sitting out the previous two seasons with injuries. That plan lasted all of five snaps before the veteran defensive tackle re-tore his right triceps in the opener and went on I.R., ending his season and likely his career. Filling the void for the Broncos (1-1) are a beefed-up  Kevin Vickerson , 11th-year pro  Justin Bannan  and Colorado native  Mitch Unrein , a second-year pro who went undrafted out of the University of Wyoming. “Tremendous,” is how coach John Fox described their play, quickly adding the admonition that “we’re two tests into a 16-test exam, but so far, so good.” The Broncos held the run-oriented Pittsburgh Steelers to 2.9 yards a carry in the opener and the Atlanta Falcons to 2.4 yards a carry. They thwarted Steelers running back  Isaac Redman  (20 yards on 11 carries) and Falcons running back  Michael Turner , who gained just 27 yards on 16 carries before a 15-yard scamper on his final carry. New defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was more interested in talking about the Houston Texans (2-0), who visit Denver on Sunday. “Two games is too small of a sample,” Del Rio said. “We’ve done a good job of starting the year, but this week coming up is a huge test and you’ll  learn  more about us in that phase and us in general as we go through the year.” Texans running back  Arian Foster  has 189 yards and three TDs so far. “They’re one of the top rushing teams in the league, and we pride ourselves in stopping the run, so it’s a good test for both of us,” Vickerson said. Foster was equally impressed with the Broncos. “From what I’ve seen so far, they’re one of the best defenses in the NFL,” Foster said. “They’re so  quick . They’re fast. They ran to the ball and they’re just … honestly, they’re exciting to watch.” Vickerson is a load in the middle after adding 40 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame in the offseason once Del Rio arrived and told him he needed to put on weight. Vickerson now weighs 330 pounds, 30 more than Warren. “Yeah, because a year ago with the lockout and everything, he came back and looked like a wide receiver,” Fox quipped. “That’s a little extreme, but he had lost a lot of weight. So, we just had to get him back ready to play what we’re asking him to play and he’s doing a great job with it.” Vickerson said the weight gain is paying off and so it’s not too early to take pride in the job the Broncos’ run-stuffers are doing. “The first two games, that’s what we put on tape. The preseason, that’s what we put on tape, that we’re going to play good against the run, that we’re going to come out and establish our run defense,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a misstatement, I mean, teams got to build something, right? That’s how we started, that’s how we’re going to go.” The Broncos spent the week correcting lots of things that didn’t go right in their 27-21 loss at Atlanta, when Peyton Manning  threw three interceptions, including two wobbly ones, in the first eight minutes before settling in and nearly pulling off the comeback from a 20-point deficit. Manning mentioned earlier in the week he was miffed at the thought he looked dejected on the sideline at the end of the game, insisting, “I think it was more of a determined look.” As for lack of zip on some of his passes, he shrugged off questions about his arm strength, saying if it’s not what it used to be, “It is what it is.” On Thursday, Manning flashed a sense of humor. During a passing drill near the end zone where reporters gathered to watch the start of practice, he admonished everyone to pay attention. “Hey, those wobblers still hurt (if) they hit you in the head,” he cracked. Notes : LB  Von Miller , who was limited a day earlier with a sore hip, was a full participant in practice Thursday. … CB  Chris Harris  (right ankle) practiced for the first time since spraining his right ankle in the opener. … CB Tracy Porter  (neck) was added to the injury report but participated in all the workout. By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer (© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

See original here:
Broncos Filling Void Left By Ty Warren’s Absence

I’m a proud alumnus of UCLA and equally proud of some of the NFL greats that the school has contributed to professional football. Legendary names like Troy Aikman, Kenny Easley, and Jerry Robinson all wore the Bruins blue and gold.

Read more from the original source:
UCLA Players in the NFL: Top 5 All-Time Busts (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

In “Start or Sit,” we make a call on players who merit strong starting consideration — and players who might be best on the bench. However, owners should tailor their own lineup strategy to their roster constraints, league rules and other relevant factors.

See the original post here:
Start or sit: Don’t give up on Bryant (Pro Football Weekly)

By Rich Kurtzman Following two prime time games against big time opponents, the Denver Broncos have another tough test this weekend against the undefeated Houston Texans. Houston is on a roll early in the year–they rolled over both the Miami Dolphins (30-10) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (27-7) to start the season spectacularly. The Texans have been known as an offensive-minded squad, predicated on the play-action pass and running the rock roughly through the tackles, and they’ve excelled in that department. But this year’s team is different. The men from Houston are the most dominant defense in the league through two weeks, allowing a by-far best 196 yards per game and a miniscule 124 yards per through the air. On top of that, they’ve allowed opponents only 24 total first downs, while keeping them to an incredibly low 2-19 (11 percent) on third down. Wade Phillips should be commended for his scheming and getting the Texans to play to an elite level as their 3-4 defense looks to be legit. Inside linebacker Brian Cushing has been crushing opposing players, racking up a team high nine tackles while forcing one fumble and intercepting a pass as well. He’s one of the hardest hitters in the NFL today, a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. Second-year defensive end J.J. Watt has been all over the quarterback, as he sits with a team leading three sacks, and strong safety Glover Quin has a forced fumble as well. And while the defense has been noteworthy—albeit against terrible offensive teams—no one can discredit the Texans’ offense, either. Matt Schaub, now in his ninth season, has started off hot with a 69.7 completion percentage. Although he’s only thrown for one touchdown, Schaub has been incredibly efficient with protecting the ball, as he’s yet to throw an interception or fumble. Veteran receiver and tight end Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels have been Schaub’s two favorite receivers through two games, compiling nearly identical numbers, with Johnson having the only receiving score on the year. Make no mistake about it though, this team is built on running the rock. Houston utilizes the zone blocking scheme, which head coach Gary Kubiak has been running since his days in Denver, and they do so exceedingly well. The Texans’ five rushing touchdowns are a league best, while they come in sixth for rushing yards at 299. Arian Foster is possibly the most dangerous back in the game, running ferociously through the tackles and taking off outside. He’s started the season somewhat slowly, with a 3.5 YPC average that’s the lowest of his career, and he’ll be looking to break out of that slump Sunday. Behind him sits a profoundly powerful runner in Ben Tate, who is beefier and seen as a short-yardage back. Tate was a complete non-factor in Week One, but he bounced back last Sunday, running for 75 yards and two scores on the Jaguars. Overall, the Texans are currently one of the best teams in the NFL—coming in as a 9-2 odd to win the Super Bowl this week—and they protect the ball and force turnovers. They’re a +5 in the turnover differential department. It’s going to be an arduous task for the Broncos to win this week, but there’s no doubt they’re hungry after losing last Sunday. Notable connections: Houston’s head coach is Gary Kubiak, who was once John Elway’s backup quarterback in Denver, and later, his offensive coordinator under Mike Shanahan during the back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Wade Phillips, who heads up the Texans’ defense, was the Broncos’ head coach in 1993 and 1994. With all the connections–not just with coaches, but many players too over the last decade–Houston has been dubbed “Denver south” by some analysts. Also, current Broncos’ tight end Joel Dreessen played with the Texans from 2007-2011, with a career-best six touchdown receptions last year. For more Local Football Bloggers and the latest Broncos news, see  CBS Sports Denver . Rich Kurtzman is a Denver native, Colorado State University alumnus, sports nerd, athletics enthusiast, and competition junkie. Currently writing for a multitude of websites while working on books, one on the history of the Denver Broncos and Mile High Stadium. Find more of Rich’s Denver Broncos pieces on Examiner.com .

Go here to see the original:
Houston Texans’ Complete Team A Tough Test For Denver Broncos Sunday

The NFL and its locked-out officials met the last two days but remain far apart in settling their dispute, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday.

See the original post:
Big gaps remain between league and officials – report