In the third weekly episode of Elway Access, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway and Broncos TV’s Chris Hall looked back on the team’s Week 3 loss to the Texans, and then moved forward to the Oakland Raiders.
The Broncos lost at home to the Texans on Sunday afternoon by a score of 31-25 after another comeback attempt fell short.
It was the second time in a row the Broncos fell behind early, and Elway will look for the team to stress consistency – in all quarters of the game – as they prepare for the Oakland Raiders in Week 4.
“The urgency has to be there from minute one like it is minute 55, 56, 57, 58, and (we have to) understand the urgency that it takes to be successful, especially against good football teams,” Elway said. “These last two games were good tests for us to see exactly where we are, and they’ve proven to us that we need to continue to work and get better.”
Houston’s first two touchdowns of the game came on deep pass completions. Discussing those plays, Elway first credited Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak and his personnel for creating opportunities off the run, in addition to Matt Schaub for throwing two perfect passes.
He also explained that a new, aggressive defense means that it takes a bit for players to become completely acclimated.
“It’s an aggressive defense,” Elway said. “The safeties are involved in the running game a lot of times. We do different things in coverage that it gets complicated at times. We just have to continue to get better at it and also be aware of not trying to give up these big plays.”
Elway also touched on the one-game suspension that linebacker Joe Mays was dealt on Tuesday in response to a hit on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.
Mays was flagged for the hit, and after the game he apologized to Schaub.
Elway said that purposely injuring someone on the football field just isn’t the type of player Mays is.
“This is a guy that plays the game fast,” Elway said. “He’s a very physical, strong, tough football player. I admire Joe by the way that he plays the game. I also know that Joe isn’t a guy that intentionally goes out there to try and hurt somebody. He was just playing football hard, and unfortunately he caught a piece of Schaub’s helmet with his head.”
While Mays is out against Oakland, it’s a possibility that Denver will welcome back a team captain in guard Chris Kuper, who has been out since suffering a forearm injury on Aug. 14.
“He’ll be practicing and get back into the swing of things this week, so we’ll see how the week goes,” Elway said. “Any time you have a guy that’s a team leader like ‘Kup’ is, it’ll be nice to have him back out there in pads and back involved.”
Looking ahead to the Raiders, Elway called the upcoming game “huge” because it’s a home game for Denver and it’s a divisional contest. He also pointed out that the Broncos haven’t beaten Oakland at home since 2007.
The primary focus for the offense will be on running back Darren McFadden. The Raiders running back has had success against the Broncos in years past, and on Sunday showed that he has fully recovered from a 2011 knee injury with a 113-yard performance that included a touchdown.
“It’s always about stopping the run,” Elway said. “Darren McFadden, no question, is back. He had a 64-yarder last week and is a big-play back. We did a good job against Houston stopping the run later in the game. We’re going to have our hands full with Darren McFadden because he’s one of the top running backs in the league.”
Though the team is coming off two straight losses as it faces Oakland, the way in which the club lost and the quality of the opponents provides Elway with some optimism.
“If we continue to do what we do, and not make the mistakes we’re making, and go play with consistency, then we can beat anybody,” Elway said.
Tags: Broncos TV, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Week 3, Week 4
And I’m nervous about not having Mays on Sunday. Who takes his place? Irving has a concussion.
Probably Steven Jackson.
@judybattista: Brace yourselves: a person with knowledge of the negotiations says NFL owners are dug in and opposed to further compromise.
Besides any bonuses, players salaries are paid out during the 17 week season in the form of game checks. Depending on the players salary, these checks can be very sizable, as they don’t get paid during the offseason or training camp. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do not think players get these game checks if they are suspended, and if this is the case, that could do wonders on straightening DJ out….
So let me get this correct….. Bill Belechick and John Harbaugh have physical contact with the refs and don’t get fined! John Fox and Jack Delrio yell at the refs and get fined!! That’s completely CRAZY!! Just about every other post on Facebook is about the sad refs and/or that Commish or Communist.
Caramelloo… They have not made a comment about Belichek yet.
I am going to be devils advocate. I’m way more made at the real refs than I am at the owners or the commish. The commish and the owners are trying to make the refs responsible for the mistakes they make and they’re refusing to compromise too. Ther Eli’s no one innocent in this.
Not very many know this but, the refs wanted to get some sort of deal done back in 2001, but put everything on hold because of, You guessed it; 911 had just occurred. The refs put everything on hold to get AMERICA back to some sort of normalcy. So now their wanting to get their fare share. I don’t blame them one iota. Once again, the NFL is fighting over pennys. Pay the damn refs!
cat I got a text update from my Bleacher Report app earlier that said the two of them avoided fines.
How the heck did they avoid a fine? And how the heck did Fox get fined?
Strand, I’m sorry, it’s not as simple as pennies. It’s just not.
You and me both are trying to figure that out!!
Man, Fox should refuse to pay so he’s suspended and Peyton can run the team on Sunday and do what the heck he wants without restraints. just my own opinion on the subject. This is egregiously unfair if this is true.
Huge is an understatement.
The NFL is a very huge money making machine and is a multi billion dollar industry year in and year out. What I mean by them fighting over pennys is like the average American fighting over pennys verses the NFL fighting over A BILLION DOLLAR MONEY TREE!! Thats what I mean when I say that. The NFL is being ridiculous. It chump change to them.
But the refs are also being ridiculous too. Sorry, it’s a two person fight and they have to compromise.
Hopefully they both come to a medium and soon.
I’d rather us get a new OC along with P. Man being able to have his own way with the O. Only problem with a new OC is that would mean more change, and we’ve had just about more change than all of our division opponents put together in the past few years.
We don’t need an Offensive Coordinator.
Caramelloo… Sorry bro, I’m really grumpy and right there I showed it. Eeek! Sorry dude!
I’ve just never liked McCoy so ignore my dislike for him
He is holding us back and Fox’s game plan is too conservative. Grrrrr
Prediction:
Broncos 38
faiders 9
We agree there cat! Sometimes I wish Fox would show the same emotions with the players that he show with the refs. Also I wish he would kickoff when we win the toss sometimes!
I think we should this week. But Peyton always wants his hands on the ball.
I think we’ll see Woodyard, Brooking, and Miller in the majority of the game. I’d really like to see Trevathan in action as well.
John Elway it is time to stop experimenting with Peyton and let him create Mile High Magic for us on Sunday. Please?
I’d like to see Trevathan play also.
You know, I actually like McCoy for coming up with a scheme and playbook. I think he’s good at helping talk with Peyton about what he saw and what McCoy saw so they can better help the offense. HOWEVER, I really do feel like Peyton should call the plays in the huddle and let McCoy focus on analyzing what the defense is doing so he can once again discuss with Peyton so he can run the offense even better next drive.
Unfortunately, I think Bay is right in that your vote and voice can’t be heard in the midst of the masses that patronize the NFL.
I don’t even think that the Bronco fans represented here could make a marginal dent in the money of the advertisers or the NFL owners.
My hope is in the marginal, un-football-educated, temporary, lacking in dedication, fans to fall off in viewership as this situation grows stupider. There’s millions of those folks and they can live without. LOL Here’s to wishful thinking and getting Cat back to the NFL network!!!
It looked to me that Brooking started over Woodyard??? Brooking sure played a lot of the game. Good thing Woody got in when he did!!!
Johnson and Trev are both great athletes. I think ‘next man up’ will be fine with the LB’s. Might even be an improvement! Unlike Ramirez on the Oline – Help me Kupe!!!
Let me disagree with Bay – sorta.
Bay made the comment that the NFL today is worse than NFL of former years.
(“I could sign this as a sad old timer fan, but I have gotten way over it, it has become what it is… and thank lord there is still so much more in life than football, today’s NFL version is second class to what I used to watch, period.”)
I think teams are closer in talent and coaching than at any time I can ever recall. In some ways – minus the stupid referee issue – I have found the games to be amazingly entertaining. Maybe the most entertaining ever. Teams are getting blown out one week and then coming back dominate.
Who woulda guessed it?
So…is the NFL worse or better?
http://i.imgur.com/1wpvl.jpg fine & suspend Brian cushing as well NFL… ugh so frustrating..
Caramello your text update was wrong. Belichick will be fined it will be announced later today
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066360/article/bill-belichick-to-receive-fine-wednesday-for-grabbing-referee
Even though I maintain that the 20th century version of the NFL is better than the 21st century one with all my heart (I love the play in the trenches to command a game and running it down someone’s throat way better than aerial attacks, not to mention the manly version that it used to be vs. the politically correct one it has become), I must admit I was a bit doom and gloom last evening. Has to do with the fact that yesterday I dug a grave in my backyard, and now I must put my dog of 16 years down. Tearing up about it.
Thanks AB. He should be suspended since he HAS DONE THIS BEFORE but what do I know?
The Packers will not be fined for going crazy on twitter after the game.
Well negotiations have got a bit closer while still far off. The NFLRA and NFL has agreed upon the backup officiating crews. They will have developmental programs. A lot of issues they are still far off on but that is a step in the right direction
AB I just read that too… And one of the biggest issues is the retirement plan. If you want to know more, follow Albert Breer on twitter today. He knows everything:
@AlbertBreer: Solving the retirement plan has been the issue all along. So it’s a significant hurdle. NFL brought benefits experts to Tuesday’s meeting.
Sorry for your loss Bay, losing your pet is a hard pain to get over. I lost my buddy two years ago and vowed not to get another. Just too painful.
Sorry for your loss baylin.
Curious to see who steps up in Mays’ absence. As a matter of fact, I’m curious to see who steps up this Sunday period. Our last home win against this team came in the form of timely timeout and that was 2007. Quite honestly, I can’t recall the last time we actually protected our home turf in division games. Outside the Hochuli call and that incident against KC where an accusatory post game finger was pointed. That trend needs to change.
Broncos Country Strong 2012!
Sorry to hear Bay!
What Up Sndvl and Wolfe!
Hurts the team real bad that Mays is banned and Irving has a concussion… Maybe Johnson is the answer! at least we’ll get to see him, and if he’s good then it’s SO LONG to Brookings (the Bum)
Turtle! How you been? Crazy week in NFLdom
PUM PUM PUM!!! WEEK 3 BLOG SCORING CONTEST RESULTS PUM PUM PUM
So, for the second week in a row our beloved Orange and Blue were soundly man handled by a better team. No shame in getting beat, especially when you play to the end but the Broncos have for sure been beaten the last two weeks… It was not a coaching issue at all in any regard as some have speculated, but moreso as some have maintained throughout the offseason, it is a matter of the Depth of Talent/Overall Level of Talent we have to actually put on the field…
Hou 31, Den 25
Same winner as Last week… Dy_NASTY_D (31-23) agian nailing the Opponents score dead on and missing ours by only two points this week… WHABAM, nice work Dy_NASTY_D!!! and for those who want to learn about football looks like we have a new resident expert, Dy_NASTHY_D has missed all three games by a combined 9 Points… you read that Correct, and if he had picked Denver the first week this wouldn’t even be a contest any more!!! Keep it up Dy_NASTY!!! and Plus 10 More Points/Double Cool guy bonus points for
Second Place this week is CARAMELLO with a Score Prediction of 27-23 (50)! Congrats Mello! Nice work and good luck again Next week… PLUS 7 Points!!!
Thrid Place belongs to the only other guy to pick Denver to lose and that was THE DANE! Congrats and Plus 5 Contest Points!!!
That was it as far Winners for this week, only 3 people on the Dark Side so for those of us on the Good Guy Side it is time to announce the BIGGEST LOSER and this weeks WALL OF SHAME!!! OSS the Week 1 Winner! with a final score Prediction of the Broncos Winning 16-10! FOR SHAME OSS!!! and Minus 7 points buddy!
That concludes our Results show for this week, please keep making those predictions and Tuning in at our Regularly Scheduled Broadcast times!!! Thank you all for playing
Thanks guys for the kind words.
Does any one have an update on McGahee or Moreno?
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Hey Monodono! This is a Bronco message board, not a ebay advertising board for baby dolls! Talk football and I say that as a chick!