Frustration is starting to seep into the Denver Broncos' locker room.
Pleased with a 4-1 record but upset with how the offense has played this season,
receiver Javon Walker expressed his frustration. Denver, which plays at
Cleveland this week, has scored only five touchdowns in five games this season.
"We're happy to get the win but it's frustrating," Walker said. "I know I'm
frustrated. I'm used to scoring points, I'm used to having a little more
opportunities to put us in position to score, myself, Rod (Smith) and the other
receivers."
Walker has been one of the few players on the Broncos offense that has been
productive. He has 20 catches and 388 yards, and his 54-yard catch against
Oakland last Sunday set up Denver's only touchdown.
That's not enough for Walker. He said he thinks he can help the Broncos score
more points if he gets the ball more.
"I know the attitude I take towards the game, and when I'm out there playing I
know sometimes I'm in the zone where I can make plays and I feel like if we take
advantage of that, I think big things could happen," Walker said.
In a roundabout way, Walker insinuated the play-calling has been too
conservative. He said after taking on Denver's defense, which has allowed one
touchdown in five games, every day in practice the offense is ready to make
plays in games.
"When you're already going against the best in practice it makes the game even
easier, (which is) why I think we could attack more," Walker said. "That's just
my opinion. I'm a competitor so I feel like anytime I'm out there and I can make
a play, I feel like it will put us in position to score."
When asked directly if the play-calling isn't taking advantage of his abilities,
Walker clammed up.
"I just work here," Walker said.
The Broncos have been more conservative than usual on offense, especially after
a five-turnover game in an 18-10 loss at St. Louis in Week 1. Against Oakland,
Denver took an early lead and didn't attack much after that. The Broncos had
only 35 passing yards after the first quarter in a 13-3 win.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he didn't mind Walker wanting the ball more. He
said he has dealt with that issue many times in his career. He also didn't think
Walker venting his frustrations was out of line, because he's also frustrated
with the output of the offense.
"That's fine, Javon is as class a guy as you can ever be around," Shanahan said.
"He wants the ball. Rod Smith wants the ball, but he handles it a different
way."
Smith was asked after Sunday's game about his role in the offense and avoided
taking a shot at the coaches, but he did say he wanted the ball and the coaches
already knew that. Smith has only 136 yards receiving this year.
Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said the play-calling hasn't been a problem and
hasn't hamstrung the offense. He said he had no plans to tell Shanahan to open
up the offense.
"I'm not going to tell a guy -- Mike Shanahan's been a genius in this league on
the offensive side and as a coach -- to tell him what to do," Plummer said. "As
a team you have to stick together and that's what we're doing."