Entering last Monday’s contest with the Steelers, the Broncos were aware of the potent run defense on the Pittsburgh sideline.
That awareness did not translate into results on the field, as Denver finished with a season-low 27 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh’s front seven maintained its No. 1 tag, squelching any chance for a balanced attack from the home team.
“We’d love to get balance,” Kyle Orton said. “It’s tough when you have 20 yards rushing or whatever we had. It’s tough. Saying that, there’s games where it’s going to happen and you’ve got to rely on the passing game.”
The Broncos got their passing game into gear early, leaving the first quarter of the contest with a 3-0 lead. Orton and the offense ran 15 plays, completing 9-of-11 passes for 89 yards and racking up five first downs.
None of those first downs came out of the backfield, as Denver’s ground game mustered four first-quarter carries for one yard. The struggles persisted into the second half, as the Broncos were held to one total rushing yard over the game’s final 30 minutes.
Rookie Knowshon Moreno said corrections for the Washington game will start with better cohesion from both sides of the offense.
“We’ve got to work together,” Moreno said. “The running game has to help the passing game, the passing game has to help the running game. I think we weren’t really able to get the running game established and that hurt us – definitely.”
Correll Buckhalter had the best flashes of fluidity against Pittsburgh, finishing with 24 yards on nine carries. To establish that togetherness, the nine-year veteran said all members of the offense have a part in the process.
From the offensive line playing penalty-free, to the running backs hitting holes quickly, every player has their job in turning the running game into a juggernaut.
“That is all that it boils down to,” Buckhalter said. “There is no finger-pointing at anybody. We are all in this together as an offense. It takes all 11 guys to get the running game going.”
MOULTON ADDED TO PRACTICE SQUAD
The Broncos announced the signing of cornerback Rashod Moulton on Wednesday to their practice squad.
That roster spot became available once the New York Giants signed cornerback D.J. Johnson off the Broncos’ practice squad and onto their active roster on Wednesday.
Moulton is a first-year player who spent the latter half of last season on Denver’s practice squad. He competed in Broncos training camp earlier this summer, before being waived on Sept. 4.
Here are some more photos from the start of Wednesday’s practice.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Correll Buckhalter, Knowshon Moreno, Kyle Orton, Washington Redskins, Week 10
Let Hillis run a few this week, but run the screen for him. he’s got good hands and can run over CB’s that are out there. I think i would work if orton was doing more with a full back field. having hillis lead blocking will help with the running game, and he is athletic enough to block outside the tackles if needed.
In a perfect world it would great to have Hillis in as fullback, but McD’s scheme hardly ever calls for that formation, rather he uses the two TE’s set. If Hillis wasn’t multi tasked, we might not even have a FB on the roster. I still think the problem in the running game is not the personnel, even so Moreno is behind the 8 ball, but the new McD scheme. With the old zone blocking scheme we used to run, we used to hardly ever be bottled up like we have been of late. That is hard to understand. One thing I am pretty sure of, and I am no expert, is with the power up the middle game that McD is trying to run, we need a power back. We have two on the roster, Hillis and Jordan, and neither is playing, so call me stupig, but I’m dumbfounded.
The only thing I am gald about the running game, is both McD and Orton addressed it heavily in yesterday’s press conference. Now comes the important part, what is McD going to do about it? Unfortunately, McD seems to have a stubborn streak as how he does things, one thing he always says in his press conferences is how he won’t change how he does things, not even a tiny little bitty bit. So, how he is going to turn this running game around, running a power scheme without using power runners, I don’t have a clue.
I do know that he will have to change something to get it going, or at least have a shot at it, either use our power runners with the current scheme or revert back to the zone blocking scheme with our current RB’s, or a combination of both, which would probably be best to keep defenses off balance.
Just my opinion, yes I am debating the bad and the wrong in our team and too bad for the ones here who don’t like it, get used to it, I am doing it anyway and I am proud of it. LOL.
While the ball is not in the correct hand for playaction it doesn’t always need to be to be effective, especially if your running a playaction screen or an end around. During the game the commentators were talking about how well Orton extends the ball to let the defense see it.
Lets not take the Redskins lightly. Honestly this season has showed not to take any team lightly. Cough* Philly* coach* Oakland*. I can garuentee you they thought they’d just waltz into Oakland and dominate…well they were mistaken. We should be playin’ every game like it is against the best. Any given Sunday, Monday or Thrusday. LOL!
I think that Hillis is our most powerful back. I’m surprised he doesn’t get a few touches and hit the defense right in the mouth. Not sure what McD does or doesn’t like about him carrying the ball, he’s not fumble prone.
I didn’t say this at all yesterday my sincerest apologies, Thank you to all who are serving or have served for this great country.
Even after a tough physical game I love to see those pads on.
I am still WAY super happy to be 6-2.
I TOTALLY believe in Coach McD and my JULY prediction of 10-6 and to the playoffs is well within the Broncos grasp!
TEAR IT UP COACH MCD! I STILL BELIEVE!!!!!!
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!!!!!!!
Brandon Mashall is going to be on ESPN First Take this morning on ESPN2.
BTW, uub, greatness007, 6:00 pm tonight Cutler and the Bears at the 49ers, go 49ers! LOL. They could fall below 500 at 4-5 and have tough games coming up, smelling a good first round pick…
Bears tough games left:
Philadelphia
at Minnesota
Green Bay
at Baltimore
Minnesota
Easy games left:
Rams
at Detroit
Assuming they lose tonight, which I think they do, Singletary has something to show his old team, they probably end up
6-10, we should get around a #10 pick for that, or in that neighborhood. We got the 12th last spring with an 8-8 record.
This is off the subject, but do you guys remember one of the announcers on MNF said some of the Pittsburgh players were sleeping in “hyperbaric chambers” to help them get ready for the game? This should be looked at by the league IMO as being a performance enhancer. These chambers actually increase the oxygen in the blood and body tissues by increasing blood capillaries and thus improving the ability of blood to transport oxygen to body tissues and organs. If that is not performance enhancing, I don’t know what is. I mean you can enhance performance without using drugs if you use a hyperbaric chamber. The Steelers flat out cheated if they really used these things IMO.
I guess it’s all about whether it’s included in the non allowed performance enhancing methods in NFL policy, which I am quite sure it isn’t, but you make a valid point and the NFL should probably look into it for future policies.
Yeah. And they were using these in horse racing but I think it was banned from that as a performance enhancer, so what’s the difference with human sport?
As I’m having fun looking into remaining schedules, let’s talk about the one we are all concerned about, or should be, the Chargers’ (of course winning takes care of everything, but we all know we are not going to win the remaining of our games):
At 5-3, they got three they could lose,
at our house
at Dallas
Cinci
and 5 they should win,
Philadelphia (they had way too many injuries in their division battle against Dallas last week)
KC
at Cleveland
at Tennessee
Washington
So, they could end up 10-6 if we beat them, 11-5 if we don’t.
The way I see it it’s what we are up against to win the division. So if we beat them, 10-6 would win us the division because of the head to head match up record, if we lose to them, IMO we’ll need 12-4.
HENCE I BELIEVE IF WE WIN SUNDAY THE DIVISION TITLE SHALL BE DECIDED AT INVESCO THE FOLLOWING WEEK. We have entered the critical phase of the season, November/December). I am not even going to address the if we don’t win Sunday, I don’t think anyone here would be too happy, including I, to contemplate a 4 game losing streak.
WARNING! This is not gloom and doom. LOL. Just analyzing the records and the schedules, I know everyone says one game at a time, but as long as the team does that, I can look at the bigger picture from my neck of the woods, it’s so much fun.
Sorry, meant “we are not going to win ALL the remaining of our games”. LOL. Misplaced the “all” in the sentence.
I don’t think they’ll ban it for a few reasons:
1) It’s not a steroid or used to cover up steriods
2) It’s actually natural, allowing your blood cells to obtain more 02 is the same as yawning. When you yawn it’s because the brain and blood cells are getting enough 02, that’s why it happens most of the time when your tired or just waking up.
3) They don’t damage your body like steriods and some of that other stuff does
I bet there are some guys even on our team that have those chambers. I could see Dawk and Champ both havin’ one.
on madden 10 all they have r power o running plays it is in the same play over n over
Baylin i think Tennessee could beat the chargers since they are at home.
I think we will go 5-3 at worse and finish 11-5 or 12-4 and win the Division. But unless the O gets fixed I don’t see us doing anthing in the playoffs.NE Indy Pitt Cincy I think are better than us at this point. Our D is gettin tire cuz the O does nothing. Reminds me of the 2006 team. Started great w/ D and 7-1 start then the D was tired and injured and we finished 9-7.
Might as well finish with how I see our team remaining schedule:
three we should win,
at Washington
Oakland
KC
and five maybe’s,
SD
Giants
at KC
at Colts
at Philadelphia
Love to be in control of our destiny, HATE not to be in control of our destiny, hoping other teams do this and that, it hardly ever works out. We need to win the SD game and at least the three “should win” games and I think we win the division.
If we lose the SD game, we need to win the three “should win” games plus at least three of the “maybe” games.
I know you are all real confused by now, LOL, but as long as you got the message how critical it is for us to win this week game and next week against SD, then my message got through.
There is no doubt in my mind the rest of our season is riding on the next two games.
hello, can someone from the blog management please let me know why I can’t blog anymore?
Am I kicked off of the blog? I heven’t recieved any warnings or anything. I love the Broncos and really like it here.
OC, you are not kicked off, you’re here!
Hey wow it worked! I’m back again!
I promise not to say anything negative again. Thanks!
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
We all had problems posting earlier this week, they obviously had problems with the site, many guys guys talked about it. You are not that important to be singled out, LOL.
bay,
Some of my posts got deleted and then I was blocked out. I didn’t get any explaination? I’ve tried to comment since yesterday. Maybe it’s a glitch in the system or someting? I really like it here and hope I didn’t make the Blog monitor mad?
the reason we cannot run is the system. if shanny was still coach or Gibbs coaching the line, Moreno would dominate but its hard on delay draws and weak counters. just saying..look at the pats…they use 3 guys Morris,Moroney,faulk…none really a star. i wish we would have went Defense with that pick.
Gosh, I hope thats all it was. I thought I made someone mad with my underzealous critique on the QB.
Using a hyperbaric chamber is not cheating. Its actually a really smart thing to do for any athlete to do (especially if your going to Denver). Its been around for many years and is a common practice used by many athletes, including olympic athletes. All that did was even the playing field for the steelers players who slept in one. If using one is illegal, than so should be living in Colorado. I understand the feelings of being cheated in the last game, but the facts are simply that the Broncos played a very good team that was more physical, and performed better with more consistency. If anyone on the Steelers is using something like steroids, my money is on Harrison. Practice squad to defensive league MVP? I don’t want to hate on him, but it is a little suspicious. Not to say he didn’t just put in hard work for his recent achievements. I’m just saying if we all find out he was doping a few years from now that I would not be surprised.
When you had the run around with 07, many bloggers said way worse things about her than you did, no way you would be singled out. At the very least there would be no fairness in it if you were singled out, that’s the way I see it. Anyway, just move on and never mention it again would be my suggestion.
First of…..like to agree with Baylin post wayup high…first on this page…Amen , brother.
Broncos 504, I pointed that out too….barely any runs and the few we have are power runs all looking the same in different packages.
WE WILL WIN OUR DIVISION!!!! now that I have positive thinking out of the way lol, Yup next two games important….we have to winn all our divisional games…PERIOD…..thats why we didnt make playoffs last year….cuz last year we were both 8-8, they beat us once, we beat them once. but they had more divisional wins and we payed for it
Also I think its whack how we have to play two power houses patriots AND colts and they got the random titans and the potentially good dolphins…at least we have one one of them (patriots)
titans dolphins
Maby Orton is the moderator! LOL
TRB, glad you mentioned “the one way up”, I would of never known which one you were talking about, LOL, I’m on a roll here, hope the Broncos get on one too. LOL.
Its starting to get cold.. This is usually the time wen the run game becomes a VERY important factor. especially come playoff time. Im hoping knowson really turns those lights of his on and show everyone why the broncs drafted him 12th overall. GO BRONCOS
My money is on Bucky for now.
Moreno woulda excelled in our old run scheme….he will get his act together…look at rashard mendenhall…drafted 08 finall just learned to block better, be more patient and be an overall good RB
I agree, his time will come, but he has been given plenty of opportunity and has shown he is not ready yet, that’s why I think McD started Bucky over him last game, and I think that will be the trend until Moreno can prove him wrong.
hyperbaric chamber!!! Wow the steelers must have read my post the day before the game about the vistors locker room sign reminding them about being a mile above sea level-LOL
Like many have said…Moreno does ok as a runner but sucks on blocking assignments…Hillis is tough and a full back…he is used to bloocking and he is good recieving so he can go on delayed routes after blocking…all im saying is Hillis blocking will make ortons pocket better…Moreno has to learn it eventually but thats what practice is for…not saying start hilis but as far as blocking goes for the QB…he is more than likely better…utilize all his personel or what not….but like we all know….McD is hard headed
I really think that McD needs to give Hillis a try. I feel it will be one of those things where “man we had him all this time and never used him correctly” type of things. He can block, catch, and run. He’s a well balanced back, he isn’t a speed demon but he can get it in the endzone we all saw that last season. Please give him a chance McD.
I totally agree about Hillis. He is our best back and we don’t use him. I have scratched my head on some of Mc D desions. Give A 1ST round Draft pick for a 2nd round corner who can’t be the nickle corner. Cut Kern for Berger. Keep the best back off the field.Mabe we should do a half back option and throw it DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone said my name 5 times. I’m not the new Candymanam I?? Just calling me out like I’m sexy or something? I’m Handsome! Should not happen. lol I never had a problem talking about Cutler. Just had a problem listening to his press conferences.
Mike Simms ( oh yeah n)-Walker lol Was talking of how they be having fist fights ova basketball games. The thing is that people on the inside of the media. Always though it was a fight with Walker that hurt Marshall’s arm back then. It was just kepted quiet. He didn’t slip on w MCD(Mc Donald’s) Bag. He got crossed and elbowed Mike. lol Lets get ready to rumble. Went to the house and continued. Then someone fell through a glass table. I for got who! lol
McD is hard headed we know this, once he makes a decision he feels changing it is makes him look weak or admitting a wrong is a sign of weakness…he steal has that young man ego…I should know….im young lol….Plus hillis didnt help things messing up with fumbles on kickoff and penalties early in the year. i do think we are udner utilizing a weapon…he was amazing last year and I dont care if we run him, pass to him, or bring him in on pass downs to block for Orton….Just use it
It was funny, as I was watching Marshalls interview on first take about playign basketball against Mikes Simms-Walker and it always ending in a fight…I figured thats how he hurt his arm too lol
My thing RoyalBeast is(wait for it) WHY THE HELL WAS HE ON KR? With Royal, Smith, Gaffney, McKinnley, Moreno,and Lloyd. Why was he even there? Just to get touches. lol He made a move on the O-line. Now if that don’t work. The O-line was not cohesive enough to make it work. “It a work in progress guys” Is What the quote is gonna be.
LOL I forgot the the guy’s name on first take. He said “Jay Cutler is the new Jeff George” LOL Only the older fans understand that one. Some of these young bucks just remember (If they even see him) at Washington. They missed what happens when talent is now used or channeled properly.
O-line talk is about McD! going to fast for my own good.
Discussing the same point we posted 2 blogs back: Use different RBs to do different things and the offensive game will open (plus the passing game). Simple as that.
baylinor, I’ll cheer in favor of every remaining SD’s rival. For me, the steelers L was bitter because SD won.
I’ll let our players focus in 1 week at a time, that’s what they need to do. But as a fan, I like to get into the big picture, and that includes how are SD, Raiders, Colts, Steelers, Baltimore and even Chicago (of course!) doing.
Go Broncooos!
And before anyone comes out here and says……
“yall are not coaches, MCD is..thats why he gets payed the big bucks, and has 3 superbowl rings and blah blah blah blah”
…we we may just be fans, but fans is short for fanatics so I think we know a little bit about the game to comment on blogs which are opinion based. Sure we might not know what goes on behind the scenes but we go on what we know. AND check our resumes, some of us are experts in Madden, so take that!!!!…how u like them apples lmao
Good start, 6-2. To the Bears/SD record talks.
SD schedule.
Skins
at Cle
KC
Philly 50-50
at Tenn 50-50
at Dal
at Den
Cincy
Bears schedule is pretty rough. We should have a good pick this year. They could go 6-10, but i think they will win 7-8 games. I hope SF wins tonight.
at SF
Philly
Minny x2
at Balt
GB
at Det
Rams
I agree with TRB like I’ve posted before Moreno would have done good in our zone blocking schemes,but we don’t do it anymore, so if McD was going to change blocking schemes, why didn’t he draft Beenie WELLS(power back) instead of Moreno(quicker cutback runner)????I personally would rather have Moreno, but he’s use to different type scheme than what we are running.He will adjust I’m sure he’ a great athlete,needs to block rush a lot better though.
Oh yeah GOOOOOOOOOO 49ERS!!!!!!!!!!!LOL
We have to get our running game tuned up this week and have it ready for them Deadbolts the week after.The Deadskins have the #1 pass defense in the NFL so we’ll HAVE TO be able to run effectively to be able to pass,just hope we can get the run going,don’t really seem like the Broncos I know and love, cause we’ve always been a good running team,well the past 15 years or so anyway.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tell Orton the dink and dunk might work this week.LOL
Heres the way I see it.
games we should win.
Deadskins
Chargers
KC
KC?
Oakland
maybe games.
Indy
Giants
Philly
One game at a time my friends,one game at a time.
I believe we will go at least 11-5,but we need to beat Deadskins,and Chargers first,then,and only then can we afford to lose one,not trying to offend anyone,that’s just my modest opinion..GO BRONCS!!!!!!!! 7-2
So u say but the redskins are number one in pass defense, if they focus on trapping our run and forcing us into one dimensional football again…our weak pass offense will have to go against their number one pass defense and I dont like like those odds…we own the ground…we win….simple concept but so hard to ensure…..but im sure they are diligently working at it this week