In Sunday’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the offensive line took pride in its performance.
Tim Tebow wasn’t sacked, the offense picked up 131 yards on the ground and the unit did it without one of its leaders.
“We miss Kup (Chris Kuper) terribly,” said Russ Hochstein, who took over Kuper’s right guard spot. “He was a phenomenal leader here and we miss him a lot. We wish (the injury) wouldn’t have happened, but I just have tried to step in and play the role that I’m supposed to and that’s to help out in situations like this. I’m just trying to play the best I can, trying to play mistake-free and help the guys out on both sides of me.”
Head Coach John Fox said Hochstein did “a great job” doing just that, and Willis McGahee agreed.
“Russ did an awesome job filling in for Kuper,” McGahee said Monday. “I don’t think there was really a dropoff even though Kuper is a big part of our offense.”
Part of that can be attributed to Hochstein’s experience.
The 11-year veteran has now started 42 games at five different positions during his NFL career, all of which have come in Denver and New England, though he started his career in Tampa Bay.
He was part of New England’s back-to-back Super Bowl-champion teams in 2003 and 2004, and played in all 16 games during the Patriots’ 16-0 season that led to a Super Bowl XLII berth.
That gives him a unique perspective on the Broncos’ opponent in the Divisional round of the AFC playoffs this Saturday.
“It will always be a great memory for me, no doubt,” Hochstein said of playing for the Patriots. “I was part of some great runs and great memories and I still have a few friends that play there. I have great memories and that will never go away – you can never take that away from me. But we’re here now and we’re trying to make them here.”
Hochstein described New England as a “very well-coached, disciplined team,” and pointed to the AFC East champion’s 13-3 record this season as proof.
While Hochstein didn’t want to compare the two teams, particularly New England quarterback Tom Brady and Broncos signal caller Tim Tebow — “apples and oranges,” he said — he did mention a few similarities.
“They are both good players and good leaders and both will find a way to win no matter what they can do,” he said. “(Brady) always has charge (of the huddle) and Tim always has charge. Never be too high and never be too low. Good quarterbacks have that.”
This week, Hochstein — like the rest of the team — is looking to bounce back from the team’s Week 15 loss to the Patriots.
“First and foremost, we got beat,” he said. “We have things we need to correct and fix and we’re currently working on those. We’ll do our best to run the ball efficiently, pass when need be and do what we have to do.”
DISCIPLINED DEFENSE
While Hochstein covered the offense, Quinton Carter talked about what the Broncos need to do on the defensive side of the ball to come away with a win this Saturday.
“If you watch film, there were a lot of big catches and guys wide open with nobody defending them,” Carter said of the Week 15 loss. “We have to play smart and can’t make mistakes. That’s the biggest thing. We can’t make mistakes against that team because they capitalize.”
Carter said a “busted coverage” and some missed tackles helped New England tight end Aaron Hernandez rack up 129 yards and a touchdown in the previous meeting, and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco found the end zone for New England’s first points with no Broncos defender in sight.
Those are things the rookie safety said the defense is working on extensively this week.
“We’re emphasizing that,” Carter said of sure tackling. “That’s something that needs to be played to the fullest. In the game, we have to really concentrate on that. So we’re focused on that at practice.”
As far as blown coverages, Carter said that Brady has a propensity to lead safeties astray with his eyes. While the secondary can occasionally follow his eyes to “go take a risk here and there (and) make a play,” the defensive backs can’t go outside the scheme.
“You just have to be disciplined in coverage,” he said. “Just don’t try to make the play if it’s in the area of the field that you’re not covering. Just be disciplined.”
Linebacker Wesley Woodyard echoed that sentiment.
“Brady, he’s a really smart quarterback and the thing he does is check audibles at the line,” he said. “You can’t be prepared for it, you just have to do your best to make sure you are down the field and make sure you’re in the right places and doing your job.”
TEST VS. AFC’S BEST
The New England Patriots are the No. 1 seed in the AFC for a reason, as the Broncos can personally attest.
But that doesn’t mean the Broncos are doubting themselves in advance of their opportunity Saturday in Foxborough, Mass.
“We’re confident, but not basically because of that (Week 15) game but because of the way our season has gone and where we’re at,” Head Coach John Fox said. “It’s a huge test, no doubt, to go up there against a very experienced team, a team that’s been playoff-tested. That’s why there are only eight of us left.”
Denver’s experience against New England earlier in the season has left them with plenty of things to fix for the rematch, along with plenty of knowledge of their opponent they can use to their advantage.
“This is an opponent that we’ve played about a month ago,” Fox said. “There is familiarity on both sides. It’s kind of like the second game in a division rivalry, so that’s kind of what it is. Whoever executes the best is going to win.”
The Broncos know they’ll enter Saturday’s matchup as the underdog, but that doesn’t faze them.
“Maybe for some people it is (motivation),” Tim Tebow said. “Just playing the Patriots is enough motivation for us. Going to Foxborough and playing Tom Brady, playing Bill Belichick, that’s enough motivation. Let alone, it’s a huge playoff game, so all those things add up. I’m sure there will be a lot of motivation.
“The one thing that I’ll be most proud of is our team will definitely go out there and play hard, play with a lot of passion, and emotion, and enthusiasm, which is all you can ask for.”
Below are photos from Tuesday’s practice.
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Divisional Round, Head Coach John Fox, New England Patriots, Quinton Carter, Russ Hochstein, Tim Tebow, Tom Brady
hochstein has filled in nice for kuper.
denver even with that last loss have gotten the better of bill and his pats since becoming hc there.
wow miller i agree.ill just talk to my self.lol
man so many posts to read i cant even keep up.
LOL @ Miller
Thats how I feel most of the time I post.
see hue later then
i love posting my opinion then reading my opinion then combatting my opinion. lol no i would rather talk to other people.
KEEP AN EVEN KEEL
CONTROL THE BALL
EAT GREEDY
BE DISCIPLINED
and
GOOOO BRONCOS!!!!!
Is what I think my sign will say on Sat.
Apprehensively opptimistic about Saturdays game.Feel we could win just as easily as we could get our hooves kicked out from under us.
WTG Hochstein.Keep it up!!!!!!!
EAT GREEDY should be the line after BE DISCIPLINED.Might even change BE to PLAY
Everyone has stepped up this year when needed. Hochstein is a quality player that we are lucky to have on our team. Congrats
Am I the only one not able to see pictures?
what pics isnt there just one at the top?
The end of articles said there were pictures from todays practice to follow.
ya i dont see them
Man I hope I’m workin’ myself up over nothing concerning my ticket purchase.Got um through StubHub so not worried about losing the money but worried about the seller backin’ out.
maybe champ can pick off brady and take it to the house this time instead of getting knocked out at the 1 yard line like in 05
Gotta agree with that miller.I might stay sober for the game so I can remember this stuff.That is a BIG might though.
wish we had john lynch like we did back then to if i remember right he had a pick on brady as well.
aww common maybe just a couple beers right lol
Only drink beer at home.Would be Captain and coke
ooow good drink if i drank to much of that i would be tebowing on the bar. lol
Wow – what a congenial group of bloggers all day today! What up??? We all get hit with a ‘WIN’!!!?
Where’s Lou been all day? That would stir things up! (miller wouldn’t have to argue with himself!) I vote for the Bay truce to be lifted for entertainment sake!
BT / LOU touch gloves – keep it clean – DING! LOL
lol whats up daddy
Got everything done and I have an hour before committee meeting.
Dr. says I have walking Pneumonia again. Hate that – but I most feel fine. I just can’t cough anything good outta my lungs.
Hochstien’s that MAN!!!
the MAN!!! LOL
bummer man. im out though im taking the kids to there grandmas so i can take the wife to dinner.
Sound like a great evening!! take care!
HEYYYYY BRONCO COUNTRY!!!!
I decided to take a few days off because I didnt feel very optimistic going into sunday…. What a difference a second quarter makes!! What a game obviously nothing I will say hasnt already been said so I will say this…. I love how everyone was voiceless like me after all of that…. Just another classic Broncos game this season!!!
So is that 4 ot wins this year???? how unbelievable is that…. I mean really, what are the chances of seeing any team do that again… especially after a 1-4 start…. I just love the character of this team and even though i consume a lot of kool aid myslef, I just was amazed watching TT torch the steelers again and again!!!
Very entertaining posts the last few days guys took me forever to get caught up! I cant wait for this Saturday I will be nothing but optimistic from here on out!!!! Lets roll the Pats baby!!!! GO BRONCOS!!!!!
I need to go make some dinner but blogging doesn’t cause dirty dishes.
SCORE PREDICTION….( couldnt predict a loss so didnt play last week lol)
Broncos 30
Pats 24
And jus for fun Im calling another overtime finish!!!!
havent been on in days! Well i got the steelers score right (23) BUT I was way off on ours (6). Last sunday was the best i felt since 2005!
That was an amazing game. I am so happy for Tebow. The refs need to start calling those face mask calls. I think we will lose McCoy. I think he has done ok . Not many OC would change their Offense for a young QB.
my prediction is denver 37 pats 34
I think every OC worth his salt is drooling to gt a chance to coach Tebow and a DB multifaceted offense.
What you think?
Really? with everyone saying it can’t be done?
All this Mc Denial talk makes me sick. Some one needs to get Bill’s hoodies from the cleaners and get him coffee. Mc Danial can bring his cancer back to the pats. He lost their SB, ruined our #2 offense, cheated and lost to the Niners! Gave away draft picks like candy on halloween, every trade was bad! Ruined the RAMS offense.
Dad i wouldn’t say every oc probably 5 out there
Hey 66 and Daddy, how are you guys?
My boss and his family are from NE. They all prayed for Pitt to win. They all know Denver OWNS them overall. (6-2) if I’m not mistaken. Also, it’s damn hard to beat any team twice in a year. BRONCOS ROMP ON!
When i pick against the Broncos on the blogs they win almost all the time. When i pick them they lose, so….. Pats 31 BRONCOS 22. The way the pats lost the last two years in the playoffs they lost to a team they beat earlier in the year and both ran the ball against them especially Baltimore.Willis Mc Gahee remembers it. So i think we can win IF we don’t turn it over. It would be nice to beat McDanial.
It was nice to hear that they wanted to win for Kuper. So now win for Decker!
FYI North Dakota State won the DI football Championship! So it was a great weekend for us Joes. Joe Mays and me.
Doing great! Bison win .. Broncos win..!
Okay it’s official…EVERYONE should thank me. I told you guys I wasn’t wearing my new jersey for the steelers game and I didn’t I left it hang over my chair so I could look at it LOL. I wore it the first time when we played the Patriots and again the following 2 weeks. Well that didn’t work out so well. Guess I only get to wear it on the of fseason LOL
I am so sick of hearing about the banged up / hurt steelers! Phil Simms etc… We were missing Kuper , Larsen ,Decker, Moreno on Offence. Both safeties . NT , Miller is not 100%.
Shaztah thanks for doing your part.
shes wearing it this week j/k lol
don’t want to burst the bubble but we beat the PATS twice 2005.
Shaz, keep up the good work. I am going to have to speak with Bay to see if two picks from the same household is legal. lol
Mr Suggs;
You were bashing Tebow and said how Flacco was so much better. WELL, Tebow did something that Flacco has never done…BEAT THE STEELERS IN THE PLAYOFFS and throw for over 300 yards against them.
whos coming to shaztahs and mine party after we win this week???