The victory on Monday Night Football was a great way to start the season, but now the Broncos face an even bigger test — the San Diego Chargers.
Besides being the division champs the last two years, they also beat the Broncos in both contests a year ago, outscoring them 64-6. That has fueled the Broncos’ desire to come out firing against the Chargers and move to 2-0, getting a jump on the division in the process.
Dre’ Bly talked about the motivation he and the rest of his teammates have before he took to the practice fields Thursday.
Photo: Eric Lars Bakke
“It’s very motivating,” Bly said. “Those guys basically came out and dominated last year. I think we scored a total of 6 points and gave up, it seemed like, 100.”
If the Chargers plan on marching into Denver for a repeat performance however, they had better think again, says Bly. That was 2007, and now it’s an entirely new year.
“We’re a different team now,” the 10th-year veteran cornerback said. “Ever since Coach Slowik took over the defense and we made a few moves in the offseason, the chemistry and everything has been flowing again.”
And that’s just the defense.
On the other side of the ball, the offense looks markedly improved as well. Putting up 41 points while racking up 441 total offensive yards definitely shows that something has clicked on offense, regardless of who the opponent is.
But the Chargers have a few offensive weapons themselves in Pro Bowlers LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. This is not lost on Bly and his teammates, and they look forward to the challenge. Facing off against the some of the best players in the league adds even more motivation and makes it all the more fun.
“That’s what we look forward to,” Bly said. “Gates is arguably one of the best receiving tight ends in this game right now. LT is one of the best backs. Philip, he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. We look forward to going against the best, competing against the top guys. Competing against the best guys brings out the best in us. We’re not backing down.”
“We know we’re going to have our work cut out for us, but we look forward to the challenge. We look forward to getting back to the top of this division, but it goes through the Chargers.”
MORE TO IMPROVE UPON
Though Jay Cutler was not sacked in the season opener at Oakland, that doesn’t mean the offensive line played a perfect game. There are always things that can be done to get better, and the offensive line looks to take care of those things.
“He got hit a couple of times late,” Wiegmann said. “Those are the things we can’t have happen. He is a valuable player for us and the less hits he takes every game the better.”
Photo: Eric Lars Bakke
One hit Cutler took came as he tried to run for a first down and could not have been prevented by o-line play, and thankfully Cutler quickly jumped up off the turf, no harm done. But Wiegmann was right there to see it occur.
“He jumped up in the air so it kind of took a lot of the blow off. If he would have had his knee and leg planted it might have been different.”
STAT CHANGE
The original stat line for Cutler against the Raiders said that he completed 16-of-24 pass attempts for 299 yards and a touchdown. Turns out that wasn’t completely accurate.
The NFL has now announced that Cutler actually threw for 300 yards.
THE TOUGHEST MONDAY NIGHT
One player at McAfee Coliseum on Monday night was carrying so much more on his shoulders than just his pads.
Andre Hall’s mother passed away shortly before the game, but he went out there and played anyway, leading the Broncos running backs with 10 carries for 61 yards.
“She was a wonderful woman,” Hall said of his mother. “She raised all of us good. There’s 11 of us, and she made sure she stayed around long enough to make sure that we got old enough to take care of ourselves.”
After practice Thursday, he answered a few questions about his tough weekend.
“It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Hall said. “But once I stepped on the field, it was all about football. When I got off the field, I got back to that and talked to my family back home.”
And he has had no shortage of support from his teammates.
“Hundreds of texts, everyday from the offense and defense. Shanahan is really supportive of me.”
And though the funeral is on Monday, he will be on the field Sunday with his teammates to take on the Chargers.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Adam Zinser, Andre Hall, Casey Wiegmann, Dre Bly, San Diego Chargers, Uncategorized
Sorry to hear about that hall let my prayers be with you. Lets go broncos get a win for Hall and lets get at rivers all day, 24-31 broncs.
Man, im sorry to hear that Hall. My best wishes go out to you and your family.
I know we are going to be a good team this year! I just know it!
The offense looked great and the Defense was o.k.
Now its time to take it to the Chargers!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
damn Bly
i didnt kno u had a blog
man i cant beleive how the Broncos have two Hall of Fame cbs on the team
Champ learned from Darrel and Deion and even Shawn Springs
while uve wona superbowl and r like right behind champ in picks
its special it rele is
and my ? is
i watched u the whole way Monday
and u played rele good
made tackles and deflected a pass
u played like the Dre Bly u r
but wat happend in the end
where u tripped
i was so shocked when it happend
i was hoping since i saw champ behind u he try and make a save on ur part
but i think he was playing a cover 2 zone or was just wacthing the guys on the goaline
and u had curry but u tripped
the only flaw i spotted that whole game from u
and one more thing is
i never rele saw champ thrown 2 once in the game
he only ahd 2 tackles so i kno he was seriously suffocating his target
and also
with Brandon and eddie
they have everything going 4 them
as they get to face u and champ in practice
that is like a huge honor and thats rele gonna help them out in their carrer
and they can thank u and champ
because i kno yall show no mercy on them and that makes them rethink evey route and step they take as they are having to be more aggresive
to even make it to the ball
and then when its game night
since ther r no other corners liek u and champ who can cover anything due to yalls amazing quick thinking and foot speed they can go all out on the poor cbs that have to line up against them
and i kno for sure
ther aint but one or 2 (being u and Champ) that can cover these guys on juss bump and run or man coverage
coaches have to chooses so many zone coverage plays against these two that mike shannahan’s run game will juss throttle the opponent due to how they have to play conservative against brandon and eddie
not to mention
hpw since u and champ r on d
recievers can never rele show thyre stuff becus u suck it outa them making it impossible for the qb to have a first or second read making them wind up throwing it to the tightend or hb , fb
thatll will eventually get blasted by Denvers amazingly athletic backers in Dj , Boss, and the always Tenacous Nate Webster
i love our team this year
and good luck in every game Dre
peace
I feel bad for Andre. It would suck if my mom or dad died. Nevertheless, he is a gamer and as such is my favorite Bronco. Dre and his defensive cohorts will be much more difficult for the Chargers to solve than they were last year and the Broncos can pull out a big win to go to 2-0. It will be difficult, but it can be done.
We will show that LT can be human in Denver. He will be stopped!!!!!
Broncos 31- Chargers 17
GO Broncos
pinoy-bronco-fan
My thoughts are with Andre Hall. Losing my mother at roughly the same age he is now was, by far, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure. I’ll be cheering extra loud for him at the game. (not that my voice could carry all the way down from the top row… But it’s the thought that counts, right?) I know that’s not much, but really it’s the only thing I can do to show my support for him through this difficult time.
andre our thoughts and prayers are with and your family you are the man . lets win this game sunday for mr. hall . go broncos.
As awesome as Royal and everyone else was how come no one is talking about how great Clady played? His man never got near cutler. You never even had to say his name, which like Corners is really the best compliment you can have for a Tackle.
I’m terribly sorry to hear about the loss Andre Hall had to endure, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Andre I thought you played spectacular on Monday night, cutting through the holes and defenders like you always do. I never would’ve thought you were carrying something much heavier on your shoulders. I loved watching Andre play ever since I first saw him last year, but now I have a tremendous amount of respect for him for what he did on Monday night. Lets win this Sunday for one of the bravest players in the NFL.
Way too stay tough Andrea. OK i really don’t care if LT gets his I just don’t want Rivers to break a 100 passing yards. Damn I hate that guy and this is the perfect chance for our D to make a statement DOOM! DOOM! DOOM! DOOM! DOOM!
i realy hope our defense puts rivers on his ass the whole game
Mr. Zinser or anyone for that matter… Does anyone know if the Broncos will be wearing the white or blue pants on Sunday?
Thanks.
So very sorry Andre. You are in my prayers. Take care, West Coast
my prayers go out to Hall and his family.
i wont say anymore…I hope the bois in orange and blue get the game of their lives and electricute the chargers @$$3s…..
OH! did u guys hear????our “ROYAL-ty” has been named ROOKIE OF THE WEEK……………