Add another play to the Broncos’ offensive repertoire – the quarterback option.
Denver used the play three times Sunday in its 15-14 win at Buffalo. The key to the play is the fact that Jay Cutler has some experience in an option system. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Vanderbilt used an option attack in Cutler’s first two years in college. Thus, it gives the Broncos another wrinkle, although they may not use the play much from this point because the surprise factor no longer is there.
“You usually don’t do it with a guy unless they have done it in college,” Shanahan said Monday. “When the guy has done it a couple of years at the collegiate level, it’s pretty easy for him to run it at the pro level.”
Shanahan joked that he didn’t think Cutler was overly excited about using the play. But the Broncos did it successfully. Cutler flipped the ball to tailback Travis Henry for a 33-yard gain in the first quarter, and Cutler ran for a key fourth-quarter first down on the play.
Raiders owe Broncos
Oakland will send the Broncos a fifth-round pick for next spring’s draft because defensive tackle Gerard Warren was on its roster Sunday for the season opener against Detroit. The condition of Denver’s trade with Oakland was that if Warren was on the Raiders’ roster for any game this season or if he was traded by the Raiders before the season, the Broncos would get the fifth-round pick.
Report: Johnson’s son killed
According to an Associated Press report, the son of former Broncos receiver Vance Johnson was killed Sunday in Westminster when a sport utility vehicle turned into the path of his motorcycle. Vaughn Edward Johnson, 19, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police said the driver of the SUV, 26-year-old Melissa Mondragon, was not hurt. The crash was under investigation.
Vance Johnson played for the Broncos from 1985-93 and again in 1995. He had 415 catches for the Broncos, the fifth-most in team history.
Hamilton update
The team is still waiting on left guard Ben Hamilton’s recovery from a concussion. The team is expected to evaluate him again soon. Hamilton will miss Sunday’s game against Oakland, and probably more, because he will have to get back into football shape once he is cleared.
Footnotes
Shanahan said newly signed defensive end Simeon Rice played 17 plays Sunday, and the coach expects Rice to play more against the Raiders. … The Broncos had the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL going into Monday’s games after giving up 184 yards against Buffalo. … Shanahan said star cornerback Champ Bailey will continue to play on special teams. Bailey, who had not played on special teams in the past, had two special-teams tackles Sunday. … Nickel cornerback Domonique Foxworth will be re-evaluated this week as he recovers from an ankle injury that knocked him out in the second quarter Sunday. He said he will be fine. Shanahan also said linebacker Louis Green will be OK. … The team continues to monitor free-agent linebacker Jamie Winborn, who passed a physical with the Broncos. … Former Denver receiver David Kircus is trying out for the new All-American Football League in Detroit. … The Broncos could bring back offensive tackle Adam Meadows this week, but a final determination has not been made. He was cut Saturday. … The Broncos expect receiver Ashley Lelie to repay the $440,000 he owes them as soon as this week. The team sued Lelie, now with the San Francisco 49ers, for the past-due money in federal court on Friday. If Lelie pays it, the suit will be withdrawn.
EYE ON … THE RAIDERS
OAKLAND AT DENVER, 2:15 p.m. Sunday, KCNC-4
For the record: The Raiders are 0-1 and tied with Kansas City for last place in the AFC West.
Last week: The Raiders lost to visiting Detroit 36-21. In the six previous years, Detroit was 6-42 on the road.
Streaking: The Broncos have won seven consecutive home openers.
Who’s hot: Oakland quarterback Josh McCown completed 30-of-40 passes against Detroit. McCown was a surprise starter ahead of Daunte Culpepper last week and is likely to start again this week.
Who’s not: The Oakland defense. It was a ballyhooed group, but Detroit had no trouble with it on the road.
Key stat: The Raiders are 15-50 since playing in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003.
FYI: One more win against Oakland would give Denver coach Mike Shanahan 20 victories against the Raiders. Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is the only active coach to have 20 victories against an opponent; Gibbs piled them up against the Cardinals.
Coachspeak: “It was right there. We popped back, took the lead. We just didn’t finish.” – Oakland coach Lane Kiffin, after the loss to the Lions
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
