A notes column a day keeps the doctor away. …
It’s September, Mike Shanahan. Do you know where your No. 3 wideout is? …
We recently told you the sad story of the Broncos’ field-position problems in 2004. According to STATS, Inc., they launched 49 drives inside their own 20, the most in the league. Now for the rest of the tale: The Bronx scored on nine of those 49 drives – six touchdowns, three field goals. The league average was 39 drives started inside the 20, which teams converted into seven scores – four touchdowns, three field goals.
Moral to the story: If not for their relatively efficient offense, the Broncos’ special-teams problems would have been exposed more than they were. …
Rod Smith on the Broncos’ special teams: “That’s the area that has been addressed, but honestly … some of the guys we’ve had didn’t understand how important that area was to us. They kind of took plays off, and you can’t do that. You just can’t do it.” …
Not that the states of the union aren’t what they once were at CU and CSU, but the two had a combined 0-7 record against ranked opponents last season – 0-4 for the Buffs, 0-3 for the Rams. …
Great news. Former CU quarterback John Hessler, critically injured in a hit-and-run in October 2003, will serve as the Buffs’ honorary captain Saturday. Hessler hopes to arrive at the meeting of the captains without the aid of his walker. …
No opinion, just fact: Nebraska was scheduled to play Houston on Saturday, only to have the Cougars bail out. The powers that be in Lincoln had a chance to schedule Iowa, but opted for Division I-AA Maine. …
Whodathunkit: Todd Helton tied with Ichiro Suzuki with 15 home runs. …
Trivia time: Which Big 12 football program has the longest current streak (10 years) of winning seasons? Answer several dots below. …
Enough already with the e-mails. The slimy critter in that picture on the back of Wednesday’s sports section was the fish, not me. …
Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press on the Rolling Stones playing Fenway Park: “We’re not saying the Stones are old, but they opened their first set with a song called ‘Jumpin’ Jack McKeon.”‘ …
OK, so there’s a reason my CU-CSU prediction is tucked away in the middle of this column. And what might that reason be? I don’t want many people to notice it because, after considerable exhaustive research, I haven’t figured out which team is going to win. Make it CU 27-24 on a 63-yard Mason Crosby field goal. …
Crosby, by the way, turns 21 on Saturday. In a related development, the guy with the chins at the beginning of this column will be celebrating the 27th anniversary of his 21st birthday. …
Trivia answer: Texas Tech, which has had 10 consecutive winning seasons and hasn’t had a losing season since 1993. …
David Wells claims Bud Selig is to blame for baseball’s steroids problem. Uh-huh. Either that or Wells has taken one too many line drives off the head. …
By the numbers: The AL East-leading Red Sox’s win percentage through Tuesday: .585. The second-place Yankees’ win percentage after taking away their 4-9 record against Tampa Bay: .593. …
You knew this was coming. With the NFL season almost upon us, PinnacleSports.com has come out with its list of coaches most likely to be fired first. The shortest odds on the board? Jim Haslett, at 7-1, followed by Mike Tice at 8-1 and Mike Martz and Norv Turner at 9-1. Mike Shana- han is 26-1, making him one of the more secure coaches in the business.
The most secure? Bill Belichick at 75-1, right behind Bill Parcells at 70-1.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM, and tonight on Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
