Marshall Goes from Rookie to Starter

When Marshall arrived at training camp, he impressed some of his teammates so much that they thought he should have been drafted in the first round. Among the impressed was star cornerback Champ Bailey. Although Marshall was not a starter he earned additional playing time as the season progressed. Then in 2007, Brandon Marshall became the starting wide receiver opposite Javon Walker for the Denver Broncos.

Brandon Marshall after the Catch

Brandon Marshall is a beast on the football field. Standing 6’ 4” 230 pounds he is a nightmare to tackle for defensive backs. Marshall gets more yards after contact than most of his contemporaries in the NFL. Here are some defining moments in his career.

On December 3, 2006 against the Seattle Seahawks, the Denver Broncos trailed 20-13 with the clock dwindling away in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jay Cutler dropped back to pass and found Marshall on the right side of the field. After securing the pass, Marshall took it up the field breaking tackles and spinning away from a defender for a 71-yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 20-20.

Marshall in the Running Game

Few wide receivers can put fear into opposing linebackers in the NFL, but Brandon Marshall is one of those players. I have seen him pancake several linebackers on running plays this year and it is starting to become a recurring event. When he isn’t cracking back against linebackers, Marshall does an excellent job of blocking downfield, which is a critical task in the Denver Broncos running game. Brandon Marshall is a complete wide receiver in the NFL and is on the verge of stardom.

Marshall Breaks Out in 2007

At the start of the 2007 season, Brandon Marshall won the starting wide receiver job for the Denver Broncos. As the season progressed, he became quarterback Jay Cutler’s favorite receiver and ended the season with 102 catches for 1325 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has quickly developed and Coach Mike Shanahan noted that if he were to be drafted now, he would be a top ten pick in this league.

Brandon Marshall Has 18 Catches

After missing week one of the 2008 NFL season, Brandon Marshall didn’t waste much time making his mark in week two against the San Diego Chargers. Marshall who caught 18 passes came up just two short of the NFL record of 20 held by Terrell Owens. Brandon Marshall broke the single game Broncos’ reception record of 14 held by Rod Smith. Marshall finished the game with 18 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos 39-38 victory. “I knew he had a lot. I went to him a lot,” Cutler said. When Marshall was asked about his battle with Antonio Cromartie, he said, “You know what, I thought we were buddies. But from the first play, he kind of bent my helmet back and tried to - I don't know what he was trying to do - but I didn't like that.”

Brandon Marshall’s Career

Brandon Marshall is off to a fine start to what could be a special career in the National Football League. If he stays healthy, he will become an all-time Broncos great player.

By A. Goodin, 20Yardline.com
September 20, 2008

Brandon Marshall Bibliography