Tom Nalen
The Denver Broncos announced on Monday that both center Tom Nalen and tight end Nate Jackson have been lost for the season with injuries.
Nalen tore his right biceps muscle during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 41-3 loss to San Diego but remained in the game.
FULL STORY...
Team Report
as of Tuesday, October 09, 2007 4:26 PM.
(Sports Network) - With the Broncos heading into their bye in this, the sixth week of the 2007 NFL season, one thing is assured: this will mark the second consecutive week where Denver will not show up. Coming off a 41-3 drubbing at home against the San Diego Chargers - it was Denver's fourth-worst home loss in franchise history, by the way - it seems that if Mike Shanahan's club could somehow lose during this bye week, they would.
"I don't know if I've ever been more embarrassed," said Shanahan after the game. "I don't think our players have ever been more embarrassed, to put on that type of show. It starts with me. I did a poor job of getting them ready." After the 38-point loss - the worst at home in Shanahan's career - Denver has now dropped three straight and sits in the basement of the AFC's worst division. Considering that their two early season victories came on the final play of sloppy contests against the now 1-4 Buffalo Bills and 2-2 Oakland Raiders, one must question if Denver isn't simply a lower-tier team at this point.
"We're not winning football games, and that's what this game is about and that's what this town and that's what this organization expects," said quarterback Jay Cutler, who now has a sub-80 quarterback rating after throwing his sixth interception of the season on Sunday. "It's top to bottom, practice squad people, everybody. Everybody needs to take a look in the mirror and we need to get this figured out."
RUN DEFENSE IS STILL THE ISSUE
Despite the thoroughness of the man-handling put on them by San Diego, the Broncos may be in a position to start clicking if they can just get their run defense straightened out. After giving up 214 yards rushing to LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner and the rest of the Charger offense, the Broncos rank dead last in the NFL against the rush. Through five games, they are allowing more than 180 yards per contest.
"There's nothing easier for an offense to do, there's nothing more humiliating for a defense than for someone to turn and hand the ball off," said safety John Lynch, who returned to action Sunday after missing a game and a half with a strained groin. "We've got to find an answer for that."
Tackle Amon Gordon was back in the lineup Sunday, playing next to Sam Adams. Both had been inactive the week before. Once again, neither was effective. Gordon recorded two tackles and, if you look at the boxscore, you'd never know that Adams even played. Granted, his job is to occupy blockers, but San Diego's 214 yards rushing paint a fairly clear picture as to how well he - and everyone else - did in that department. Denver's entire front four wore down late in the game, which is partly why Michael Turner was able to rush for 147 yards on just 10 carries.
If the Broncos want to stop the bleeding, they must find better solutions in their front seven. Offensive linemen are reaching the linebackers with ease, and offenses are regularly shifting the line of scrimmage east and west against the Broncos front four, which creates easy cutback lanes for runners.
HENRY STILL FIGHTING SUSPENSION
There may not be an easier player to root against then Broncos running back Travis Henry. If you live east of the Mississippi River, there is a one-in- five chance that he is your estranged father (Henry has nine illegitimate children with nine different women.). And, if we are to believe Henry's NFL drug testing record, there is a pretty good chance that you or someone you know has gotten high with the 215-pound running back some time in the past few years.
Henry is facing a one-year suspension for his latest violation of the NFL substance abuse policy (he reportedly tested positive marijuana). He was able to play against the Chargers on Sunday (he rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries) because he is currently in a courtroom battle with the NFL over his drug test. Henry filed a lawsuit against the league last week, disputing the legality of his test on the grounds that NFL officials did not allow his experts to witness his test. (Never mind the obvious question, which is: There are actually people out there who are experts at watching someone urinate into a cup?)
Henry can remain with the Broncos as long as his lawsuit remains in the courts. He has agreed to take a polygraph test - something Denver did with former wide receiver David Kircus earlier this season - and has offered to submit a hair sample for testing. Neither Henry nor the Broncos are speaking publicly about the matter right now. All parties are, like the rest of us, waiting for the legal process to play out.
WHO'S HOT
After a 41-3 loss at home, absolutely nobody. Perhaps Javon Walker, only because he sat out Sunday's game with a bum knee and therefore, was not able to contribute to the catastrophe.
WHO'S NOT
Just about anyone in blue and orange right now. If you want to dial in on one player, go ahead and pick kick returner Brian Clark this week. It was Clark's first quarter fumble that resulted in San Diego's second touchdown in 11 seconds, putting the Chargers up 14-0 and draining the energy out of Invesco Field.
NEXT UP
The Broncos stay home for a much-needed bye.
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