Who thought on draft day that first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno would become Mr. Inside to Correll Buckhalter’s Mr. Outside?
Although the veteran Buckhalter is 223 pounds and the rookie Moreno is 210 pounds, it’s been Buckhalter who has been the Broncos’ big-play back, while Moreno has run tougher than expected.
In the past two games, Buckhalter has rushed for 184 yards on 23 carries (8.0-yard average) while Moreno has 165 yards on 38 carries (4.3).
“Knowshon might be a little bit more powerful inside running the ball,” said Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, “but they both ran extremely well, and both of them, if you just give them that little seam, they can turn them into a 40- or 50-yard run.”
Dinged up.
Not practicing Wednesday were left guard Ben Hamilton (hamstring), running back Peyton Hillis (concussion), cornerback Alphonso Smith (ankle), right tackle Ryan Harris (shoulder) and fullback/linebacker Spencer Larsen (shoulder).
“No big deal. I’m fine,” Hillis said.
Returning to practice with limited participation was receiver Brandon Stokley, who appeared in only three plays Sunday against Oakland because of a deep thigh bruise.
Just before the media viewing period ended, receiver Eddie Royal appeared to suffer a groin pull that drew the attention of trainer Steve Antonopulos. Royal was seen limping back into a drill as the media period ended.
Dumervil vs. DeMarcus.
One of the most amiable, light-hearted Broncos is also their most ferocious pass rusher.
Elvis Dumervil was asked if he expected the Cowboys, the NFL’s top-ranked rushing team at 193.7 yards per game and 6.8 yards per carry, to run the ball Sunday against the Broncos.
“I don’t know,” Dumervil said. “We don’t have a contract with them so we don’t know what their game plan is going to be.”
He then answered seriously, saying: “We’ve got to buckle down and eat a lot of steak and potatoes this week.”
Dumervil has six sacks in his last two games, or six more than the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware has in three games. Ware led the NFL last season with 20 sacks, 15 more than Dumervil had.
Although he won’t be lined up against Ware, Dumervil said he is excited about playing in the same game with one of the league’s preeminent pass rushers.
“As a rusher, whenever you go against an opposing rusher, we do kind of look at each other and see what’s he doing that I can’t do,” Dumervil said. “There’s a competitive spirit and I’ll definitely be watching how he moves.”
If the glove fits.
In recent years, “game manager” has gone from a flattering way to describe a quarterback to an insult. Orton has no problem with anyone describing him as a “game manager.”
“It’s my No. 1 job description as a quarterback, to manage the football game,” he said. “It’s tough to win games if you beat yourself.”
Orton has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-0, and a 3-0 record. Not bad, considering his injured right index finger and its protective glove has cost him some accuracy. His 55.7-percent completion rate ranks 27th.
“Yeah, I threw a couple low balls I wish I would have had back,” Orton said. “But on the majority of the throws it hasn’t been an issue.”
Orton was still wearing the glove at practice Wednesday.
Backing Shanahan.
During a conference call Wednesday, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said just because the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan after last season doesn’t mean Shanahan can no longer coach.
“You can’t judge yourself on whether you get fired or not because you’re going to get fired,” Phillips said. “There aren’t many coaches that retire.
“I got fired, we were 11-5 (in 1980 with the Houston Oilers). We had been to two AFC championship games and we got fired. I thought I was a good coach, and they fired me. So after that, I said, ‘Hey, I’m going to do the best I can do and if somebody else says they don’t want you anymore, that’s fine. I’m going to do my best. And that’s what Mike did.”
