Broncos' 2nd-year receiver has Pro Bowl aspirations

ENGLEWOOD -- If you remember Brandon Marshall’s 71-yard touchdown catch against Seattle last season, forget it.

Marshall wants you to. He enters this season as the Denver Broncos’ starting receiver opposite Javon Walker. The flash of talent Marshall showed last year, including a phenomenal catch and run for a touchdown against the Seahawks, didn’t impress him.

“That wasn’t nothing,” Marshall said. “I had a couple catches. I had only two touchdowns. That was me going out there doing my job, catching the ball. But those big plays, dominating — that wasn’t nothing. This will be the year to show you guys.”

This is the first time since 1996 Rod Smith hasn’t been one of Denver’s starting receivers. Smith was put on the physically unable to perform list because of a hip injury and will miss at least five games.

Last season Marshall had 20 catches, 309 yards and two touchdowns — not a bad rookie season considering he had two catches for 22 yards through nine weeks. Marshall’s progress was slowed last year by a knee injury in the preseason.

Marshall’s goals for his second year are far beyond his rookie resume.

“My individual goals are to be a Pro Bowl player and make plays week in and week out,” Marshall said. “With that in mind, the No. 1 goal is a team goal: the Super Bowl.”

The Pro Bowl isn’t a realistic goal for many players with 20 career catches, but Marshall is convinced.

“Absolutely,” Marshall said. “I don’t think it’s going to take long for people to realize I’m an NFL guy, I’m a starter and I will make plays. It’s not going to take long. It’s not going to take until the eighth game of the season or the third game of the season. From the first play of the game, you’re going to see that.”

Broncos receivers certainly aren’t lacking confidence. Walker said this week that, another year removed from knee surgery, he figured 1,500 or 1,600 yards was feasible. Walker had 1,382 yards for Green Bay in 2004, the year before he was injured.

Walker also is interested to see what Marshall can do in his first full season.

“Nobody out there in the NFL knows what Brandon can do on Sundays,” Walker said. “But we know because we see him every day in practice. Right now he’s a sleeper, but we know and I’m excited.”

Marshall missed a lot of practice time in the offseason minicamps and at the start of training camp, but was back to full speed by the end of the preseason.

As a fourth-round pick brought in to learn behind Smith and Walker last year, Marshall probably wasn’t supposed to be this far along in his career.

New Orleans’ Marques Colston is the only other receiver selected past the third round of last year’s draft who is listed as a starter.

Marshall was disappointed to go so late in the draft and still feels a bit slighted.

“I feel like I’m a little behind, and that’s why I play with a chip on my shoulder,” Marshall said.

“Going back to the draft and going back before that in college, I didn’t get many opportunities to show what I can do.”

Marshall said he’s grateful for the chance to finally be in the spotlight, starting with Sunday’s season opener at Buffalo.

“I’m just excited and anxious to get out there opening day and show what I can do,” Marshall said.