Jacksonville, Fla. – A penny for your notes. …
Only Jake Plummer, who once threw an interception left-handed, could pull this off.
The Snake has thrown four touchdown passes this season – two to a guy who weighs 300 pounds, two to guys who don’t. Tight end-turned-tackle Dwayne Carswell caught both of Plummer’s touchdown passes Sunday, one from 2 yards out, the other from 1. And to think, he never caught two in a game during 11 seasons as a tight end.
“Crazy, isn’t it?” Carswell said. “I’m hardly a secret weapon. You’ve got certain plays you’ve got to make, and those were my plays to make today.”
Carswell, who is carrying 300 pounds since moving to tackle, lined up as a tight end in the Broncos’ goal-line offense. Truth is, though, he prefers the anonymity of the offensive line. How can that be? Simple.
“I can eat like I want to.” …
Think Carswell was pumped up? You don’t know the half of it. He’s from Jacksonville and had about 40 family members and friends in the stands. …
The Broncos are at the quarter pole of their season, and an offensive lineman leads them in touchdown catches. Not that the Broncos’ receiving corps hasn’t produced some other bizarre numbers. To wit: Plummer’s longest completion of the season is 26 yards – to Mike Anderson. The longest catch by a wideout is 23 yards by Rod Smith. …
The Ashley Lelie stakeout continues. Lelie, who caught at least one pass for 30-plus yards in 14 of 16 games last season, grabbed one ball Sunday for 13 yards. He hasn’t caught a pass longer than 16 yards in four games. …
Mamas, let your babies grow up to be golfers. If you need more convincing, listen in on Al Wilson talking about being knocked unconscious in the third quarter. Said Wilson, when asked how he felt in the immediate aftermath: “You tell me. I don’t remember a darn thing. I was out. I didn’t wake up until I heard Gerard (Warren) yelling in my ear.” …
Surprised the Jags were held to a touchdown at home? Don’t be. They haven’t broken the 30-point barrier since Dec. 23, 2001, when they beat the Vikings 33-3 at Minneapolis.
That’s a span of 54 games, the longest dry spell in the league. Detroit has the second-longest streak without scoring 30 – 19 games. …
The Broncos have scored 30-plus 16 times – an entire season – since the Jags’ last 30-point effort. …
Broncos P.R. man Jim Saccomano, leaving no statistical stones unturned after Carswell’s second TD catch: “That’s the first two-touchdown game by an offensive tackle in team history.” …
Jason Elam missed five field-goal attempts in 2004, the same number he has through four games in 2005. He missed one and had another blocked against the Jaguars, leaving him 8-for-13. …
And you thought Roger Clemens had a low ERA: The Broncos through four games have allowed three points in the first quarter. …
Domonique Foxworth came up with two turnovers Sunday. Not only that, he writes a column for The Post and his teammates still like him. …
Almost lost, but not quite, in the Broncos’ big win: Todd Sauerbrun had four punts for a gross average of 48.5 yards and a net of 42.5. Micah Knorr during last year’s 7-6 loss to the Jags averaged a net 24.6 yards. …
A tale of two pass rushes: The Broncos had no sacks in the first six quarters of the season. They’ve had eight in the past 10. …
The D word – dominant – was floating around the locker room, but let the record show the media were the ones saying it. The Broncos’ defensive players aren’t going there.
Said Wilson: “I’ve been through this before, where we’ve said the Orange Crush is back and all that. I’m not going to get caught up in it. I just feel like we’re playing together, we’re playing sound football, and we’re not making mistakes.” …
Trevor Pryce, when asked if he was ready to roll out the D word: “No. Nope. Not yet.” So what word would he use? “Pretty darn good.” …
The biggest difference between last year’s Broncos and this year’s? That’s easy. Said John Lynch, “We’ve got a front four now that can take over a game.”
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
