Nothin’ but notes …
Hidden yardage, Mike Shanahan calls it. It doesn’t get as much run as its big brothers, passing yardage and rushing yardage, but it has been a huge factor in the Broncos’ season.
Loosely defined, it’s yardage that determines field position. The Broncos had been crushed in the hidden-yardage game in recent years before the acquisition of punter Todd Sauerbrun. Now look at them.
In the half-season since Sauerbrun’s arrival, the Broncos:
Have had 14 punts inside the 20-yard line, the same as their opponents. Last season, the opposition won that game 36-19.
Have had 18 of 96 drives begin inside the 50, compared with 3 of 92 for their opponents. Three out of 92! Last season, the Broncos began 20 drives inside the 50, six fewer than the opposition.
Have started their average drive on their 31-yard line (30.7, to be exact) compared with their opponents, who have started at the 26 (25.7 for the stat geeks in the crowd), the lowest figure in the league. In other words, they’ve had to go 5 fewer yards to score every time they touch the ball. That’s called good rest if you can get it. It also explains the looks of the AFC West standings. …
Peyton Manning, when asked by The Sporting News about the Colts’ balanced attack, which has drastically reduced his passing numbers: “People are dropping me off their fantasy teams for Jets quarterbacks.” …
Then there’s Eli Manning. Not that people are getting a little ahead of themselves by anointing him the next Big Thing in the NFL, but Sunday’s win at San Francisco was the first road win of his career. …
Archie Manning, on Eli’s sophomore season: “He actually made progress last year. It was hard for the public to see it, but the coaches and players could see it. Now they’ve added some talent and he’s made that progression from the first year to the second. He certainly hasn’t arrived, but he’ll get there because he wants to be a good player.” …
The news gets worse for Earl Watson. Not only has he not broken a sweat in three of the Nuggets’ four games, he couldn’t wear a “Play Me or Trade Me” T-shirt if he wanted to.
Why? No collar. …
The Dove Valley assembly line rolls on: Mike Anderson, on pace for 1,208 yards; Tatum Bell, on pace for 1,124; Reuben Droughns, on pace for 1,292, and Clinton Portis, on pace for 1,240. …
Let me see if I have this straight. Matt Leinart is dashingly handsome, ridiculously talented and soon-to-be filthy rich, but he’s taking a ballroom dancing course at USC? That’s like insisting Pamela Anderson can cook. …
Amazing. The Nuggets have more guards than they know what to do with, and not a single one can guard Kobe Bryant. …
What a long, strange trip it has been for Justin Holland. To wit: Holland is 7-9 as CSU’s starting quarterback, but is about to become the Rams’ single-season leader in passing touchdowns. He’s at 20, which ties him with Moses Moreno and Matt Newton. …
Shocking, simply shocking. According to Stats, Inc., NFL quarterbacks have accounted for four five-interception games this season, and each plays in the NFC North – Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Kyle Orton and Brett Favre. …
What were the odds? A week after completing a pass to all seven of Terrell Owens’ personalities, Donovan McNabb completed a pass to seven different receivers. …
So you think the Broncos are home free in the AFC West? Not even close. Don’t look now, but they have the third-best road record in the division. …
News flash: Old pal Helene Elliot of the L.A. Times going into the writers’ wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame, thus becoming the first woman to receive a major sport’s highest honor. Way to go, girlfriend!
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.
