QUOTE: “Talent Is Obsessed with Renewal from Day #1 to Day #"R" (R = Retirement).” -- Tom Peters
BRANDON MARSHALL AND TRUST
The headlines often don’t match the real essence of what’s being said, and that was obvious this morning reading about Brandon Marshall and the Broncos. Marshall is one of the best wideouts in the NFL and wants a new deal, but his off-the-field behavior has made the Broncos wary about investing in a new contract (giving Travis Henry and Daryl Gardner big money would have made anyone wary). However, Marshall admitted there are mutual problems when he said, “There are trust issues on both sides and that's understandable. We've got to try our best to move forward.” At least he’s willing to do that, willing to learn the playbook and willing to acknowledge that he’s made his share of mistakes. For me, this is an indication of progress.
APBrandon Marshall
Watching the Broncos the other night in San Francisco, I thought their offense looked exceptional in terms of their design, and all I kept thinking was how good they’ll be when Marshall is added to the equation. He dictates coverage from the defense and is the kind of player who has to be respected, short and long. Opposing defensive coordinators must ask a very simple question when game planning against Marshall: Who is going to be able to tackle him when he gets the ball in his hands? Opponents can’t play a smaller corner on his side or they’ll throw him bubble screens and force the corner to tackle. Trust me, this will end after two bubble screens because the corner will have had enough. It’s no fun in tackling Brandon Marshall.
What makes the Broncos so exciting to watch on offense is that when Marshall is on the field, head coach Josh McDaniels will be able to move him around, shifting personnel groups as he lines up Marshall all over the field. Then it will become very difficult to roll coverage to him, double him and, most important, get the best tackler on him. Marshall will not shift or move when McDaniels wants the coverage to roll to him, thus allowing him to attack other parts of the opponent’s defense. Marshall is the kind of player that great coaches know how to use to help others make plays.
That’s why Broncos have indicated they don’t want to trade Marshall; they need him to maximize their offensive potential. Marshall can help Kyle Orton become a better player. He will not stop him from throwing interceptions, but he can make the reads easier, and his ability to run after the catch will be a huge asset for Orton.
If Marshall is willing to make this work, so are the Broncos.
DON’T COLOR THE RAMS BLUE
After doing my blue-chip profile the past several days, the one team that jumped out at me in a negative way was the Rams. Wow, do they lack talent. Even their good players – the ones I thought were going to be blue – were not, once I analyzed their past two seasons. However, what was alarming was their lack of up-and-coming talent. Maybe I’ve missed a few. Maybe Chris Long, Donnie Avery and Jason Smith will ascend to the blue level this season. Looking back over their drafts, they’ve missed on too many picks, and now coach Steve Spagnuolo is going to have to dig them out from the ruins and rebuild this team from the ground up.
APWill Donnie Avery go blue in 2009?
The Lions have taken so much heat as being the worse team in the NFL, in large part because it was easy to dump on Matt Millen, their former GM. Yet in fairness to Matt, the Rams in previous years have done as bad a job of collecting winning NFL talent as any team in the league. I have written this numerous times, and maybe one day it will resonate with NFL owners who constantly lose, but it takes talent to evaluate talent. The Giants are a talented team because they have an organization that has very good talent evaluators.
The other night on Monday Night Football, I heard Jon “Love You Bro” Gruden talk about how all the Giants players look alike -- how they have a team of big, long-armed players. Well, that’s not by chance and it’s not by hope; it’s purely by design. The Giants have a process of how they build their team. They have system to procure talent and they have talented evaluators. This is why they have so many blues and the Rams do not.
To regain their winning ways, the Rams must start collecting winning players in every round. What will help this along is that their head coach knows the right way to do things and the right kind of players needed to win consistently in the NFL.
I bet Spags has been shaking his head many days wondering how this team he now coaches got so bad. I know I am.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
michael do you think simms has a chance at starting over orton? surely he throws a better ball. his toughness issues, i think, have been answered. he's helped get a team that was bordering on good into the playoffs...and, generally, most of his teammates wherever he's been, yea even at texas, like him because he works hard and wants to win badly. throw in that orton looked TERRIBLE against the most vanilla of vanilla base defenses in the last preseason game while simms looked pretty dang good. thoughts?
I don't think Orton looked as bad as everybody is saying. The SF defense made some excellent plays. Royal took the wrong route on one. Orton was trying to lay one in over a defender's head, but he threw it too late - his receiver had limited space near the sideline.... Regardless.... the outcome is what matters and interceptions are not what Orton or the Broncos are gunning for.
Mike - I agree with you re: Marshall. McDaniels would do well to treat him with respect and keep him on the roster, at least this year. I'm not sure how much "trust" I have in Marshall to stay out of trouble, but I do trust him to create mismatches on the field. McDaniels needs to keep his eyes/mind on the field and let the GM deal with OFF the field.
The Rams? I don't know why they are so bad, but I think Donnie Avery is alright. Chris Long, though I like the kid and his work ethic - he didn't impress me last year. I saw him get to tackles late and saw him leap over piles after the play was dead - which is a great way to get hurt for no reason. Jump over, roll on the ground and pop up just to be cute.... whatever. Don't do that. Get to the tackle. If you don't make it - pull up and save your energy. You'll feel like a jerk if you roll into one of your teammate's knees or ankles.
Stephen Jackson really needs to step it up this year.
Also in "fairness to Millen", with the (perhaps) sole exception of 1991 when the Lions had both Barry Sanders and a QB who knew what he was doing, the Lions were mediocre to poor long before Millen got there and will likely be for some time to come. Millen's "contribution" was merely a pothole at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
@ Matt
I have thought the same things . I really think Simms is the better fit . I disagree about toughness issues though . I mean the guy did play though a ruptured spleen . Pretty tough IMO .
I have a question after reading this . Which is more important drafting talent or developing players? I'm starting to think so much of the NFL draft is just plain luck . Matt Millen's drafts were often graded quite high . It seemed more like the Lions talent just never developed whether because of the coaching or system changes .
"Marshall will not shift or move when McDaniels wants the coverage to roll to him, thus allowing him to attack other parts of the opponent’s defense."
Critical item there, the fact that he determines action by mere presence. Only great ones can do it.
Does Marshall's makeup in the matter of commitment to practice and planning match his upside for great play? Certainly his latest talk is meant to spur a trade or contract.
The Broncs are in the driver's saddle on this still. Time to pony up the dough!
Lombardi,
Thanks for the nice comments about my Broncos. Once Marshall pulls his head out (he really has no other choice at this time because as you said in Baltimore with Scott and Anita, the Broncos hold all the leverage). I also kind of like the Rams and it's disappointing that a team which was in consistent title contention at the beginning of this decade has now reverted to its form for much of the 90s. In any case, I have a link to your commentary on www.nationalfootballpost.com at http://midutahradio.com/mavriksportscorner. "Mavrik" is spelled wrong because my Web coordinator isn't known for his spelling prowess, but he does good work, nonetheless. Please visit if you have time and I'll be watching on NFL Network like always. GO BRONCOS!!!
Michael - one could make the argument Jason Brown is a Blue Chip/top-10 center. He certainly is paid like one...
Mike,
great stuff as always. As a Giant fan that comment from Jon Gruden was a huge compliment!!!
I truly appreciate your inputs, Michael, but when it comes to things even slightly related to the Patriots (such as the Broncos potent offense- McDaniel HC, former Pats OC) I think you're a little biased in your opinions.
The Pats can't do wrong. B. Belichick is a genius, they have 780 blue chippers, Mayo is an elite defender, McDaniel is a great young coach.. eh.. not so much.
Anyway, besides that, I am a fan and I do like to read your posts and hear your participations on the BS Report.
I truly appreciate your inputs, Michael, but when it comes to things even slightly related to the Patriots (such as the Broncos potent offense- McDaniel HC, former Pats OC) I think you're a little biased in your opinions.
The Pats can't do wrong. B. Belichick is a genius, they have 780 blue chippers, Mayo is an elite defender, McDaniel is a great young coach.. eh.. not so much.
Anyway, besides that, I am a fan and I do like to read your posts and hear your participations on the BS Report.
I like the positive outlook on the Broncos. What's with criticizing Lombardi for praising the Pats. They are a good team because they do a lot of things right. Lombardi was on the losing end of the Tuck Rule game so it says a lot about his character and lack of bias.
McDaniels coaching performance the last two years can't be dismissed and I think it'll Be very interesting to see what he can do with some nice pieces like Marshall. Let's see him coach through a season and see if the Broncos become.
Donnie Avery reminds me of Reggie Wayne. If Marc Bulger can be productive, I think Avery could easily have an 80+ catch season, 1200 yards, 9-10 TDs.
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Aug 20, 2009
11:08 AM
Willing to learn the playbook? Questionable.
Marshall is getting reps at second team offense and the scout team because he is not even close to learning the playbook (by Marshall's own admission).
One would think he would at least know the playbook better seeing as how he has not been practicing the past couple of weeks.