Despite a 2-3 start, the Broncos find themselves in the thick of the AFC West title race.
Denver will travel to San Diego for a Monday night showdown this week that gives the Broncos a chance to tie the Chargers for the division lead. The team’s place in the standings is helping it stay positive and focused after a 31-21 loss to the Patriots.
“That’s the good news,” tight end Jacob Tamme said. “We’ve got a chance to get right there at the top of the division lead again. Nobody’s real happy around here right now, but no one’s discouraged at the same time. It’s time to get back to work and get ready for this week.”
Each of the Broncos’ first three losses of the season have come against quality competition in Atlanta and Houston, who are both 5-0, and the defending AFC Champion Patriots. Week 6 will be no different, as Denver takes on a 3-2 San Diego squad. Tamme said the team should expect to win week in and week out, regardless of the opposition.
“We feel like we should be able to go strap it up with anybody, and we’ve missed some opportunities to kind of prove that,” Tamme said. “We’ve played good teams. Every team in this league is pretty good. At the end of the day, you’ve got to win. You’ve got to win against good teams. We’ll go back to work and try to get a little better this week.”
Though the Broncos know how important it is to get back to .500, Tamme said the team’s record is not a source of added pressure.
“I haven’t really heard ‘2-4’ until you just said it,” Tamme said. “The goal is to find a way to get to 3-3. We’re playing a good team again, a division opponent who’s at the top of the division right now, and we’ve got a chance to get back up there with them. We’ll have to be ready for it.”
One problem for the Broncos through the first five games of the season has been fumbles. Denver currently leads the NFL with seven, including three against the Patriots. Doing a better job holding onto the ball is important, but it’s not something that can be perfected. It’s simply a matter of squeezing the ball tight and hanging on, Tamme said.
“Sometimes you’re going to get unlucky,” Tamme said. “Guys make a great play and get a hand right there on it. We’ll continue to put an emphasis on it. As an offense, it’s something we work on hard, and we’ll get a couple of those bounces too.”
“Just try to protect it with everything you’ve got,” Tamme continued. “That’s about it.”
One other area where the Broncos are looking to improve is in how they start games. Falling behind has been an issue in each of Denver’s losses, but Tamme said better first quarters are not far from the team’s grasp.
“I wish we had a little magic potion,” Tamme said. “I don’t know the exacts. I think just little things with ball security, with missing a block here and there, or being just a tad off in different parts. I think the slow start maybe is a little bit overrated at this point. We were pretty close to going up 7-0 there early (against New England), but at the same time, we didn’t. It’s a matter of just taking care of all those little things. We’ve all got to individually get better. I can play better. We can all do a little better.”
Tags: Jacob Tamme, Week 6
As far as patience I think we all have the right to be a bit impatient. It’s not like Manning is a rookie if you know what I mean. While he does have a 4 year contract we’re looking to win a SB sooner rather than later. If anyone should be impatient it should be guys like Champ and Manning. Those guys don’t have too many years left to win a SB. I’d sure like Champ to get one!
As far as JJ Watt and Derek Wolfe go, they do play the same position(s), DT and DE. Let’s not forget that this is Watt’s second season, and while he has 7.5 sacks so far this season, he only had 5.5 in his rookie campaign. He also has 8 passes defended this year, compared to only 4 in all of 2011.
If you go back and look at the play where Decker got hurt, Tebow’s pass was high without any zip on it. Decker had to go up and wait for it, leaving himself vulnerable. Decker still would have got hit, but if the throw was quicker and to his chest, he wouldn’t have left himself vulnerable to serious injury, and frankly he was lucky it wasn’t worse than what it was.
Brian. I understand why you feel that way. I just realize that we cant expect the team to be amazing because our QB is. That doesn’t make sense. It takes chemistry and time and they’ve only been together for six months. That’s my perspective.
OT don’t bring high passes up because the next high pass Peyton throws everyone wi dissect it. Decker got hurt and Harrison made a legal play.
QB play is not our problem, we don’t need patience with that position, as it’s our most complete position on the team. Where we do need patience is with our defense to get their act together. Whether people want to admit it or not, DJ Williams is a big void, and Hunter was a very good rotational player. I think it’s a bit premature to form judgement yet of what this defense is capable of, with the sample size we have, and against the opponents we’ve played against.
High passes are fine and have their place, like in the end zone, but NOT when it puts your receiver in a defenseless position in the middle of the field or through traffic. Just my opinion, not everyone has to agree.
Hey LPCat06 with woodyard hurt and Brooking out do you think we finally see Steven Johnson start? and how do you think he will do?
and whats up with Knowshon!?! Is He going to be inactive for fourth game in a row? Why isn’t anyone else asking this question about our former first round pick sitting on the bench? actually He’s not even on our bench… Ball is not the answer! and Hillman is not ready for a regular work load.
What is up with Knowshon!?!
I’m also curious about Moreno. He did have that fumble, but I think it’s more of a function of wanting to give the rook some work, and the coaching staff obviously loves Ball. So much so, that they gave him the carry on that 3 and 4….. I’d like to see us make a real commitment to the run, and make all 4 RB’s active on Monday, instead of carrying a FB. We can use a TE for the few plays that call for a FB.
OT, I agree though.
Mono, I don’t know. I hope that Wes is doing better and can play, he has been very consistent for us. I would like to see Johnson.
I don’t know about Knowshon. It’s like he fumbled and has been benched since, but if that’s the case, Willis deserves that too, which won’t happen. I like what I see from Hillman though. He’s gotten better every week he’s played.
All I’m saying with the patience thing, is things take time. I’ve been teaching for six years and we just started a new reading program and I am having a heck of a time with it. It’s going to take me time to adjust even though I had the materials through the summer to prepare. It’s not easy. It’s not a good comparison, but I guess that’s how I see it.
And back to JJ Watt, he didn’t record his 2nd sack until week 7 of his rookie year (last season), and Derek Wolfe got his 2nd sack in week 5 of his rookie year. Obviously WAY too early, but that’s encouraging IMO, and there’s nothing saying that Wolfe couldn’t follow suit.
If we beat the Chargers this week will we be first in the division?
We’d be tied for first, with a better division record, and a head to head win over SD. It’s a pivotal game, but believe it or not, I could still see us recover if we lost. Most people wrote off the Giants last season as the year went on, and they peaked at the right time, and played their best football when it mattered most.
@DaddyBronc
You mentioned % of playing time while defending Mays. I wanted to adress that a little bit.
The patriots perposely schemed it. When they would see Von sub out to catch his breathe for even one play, they would up the tempo. What this does is forces to the Broncos to have Miller on the sideline. The patriots were sometimes recieving 2 playcalls at the same time with shortened college-type verbiage. The patriots were snapping the pall with well over 25 seconds on the play clock each time.
Belicheck out schemed us and he did it perposely to keep our best defender off the field.
RH709, your right Belicheck did out scheme us but it appeared to be the same play over and over how do you not recognize what they were doing and stop it.
I’m beginning to wonder about Fox for the first time. It’s well known he’s a “players coach” and that could be the problem. Given all of our little mistakes, and lack of attention to detail, that falls on the coach IMO. He’s too nice, and I wonder if we need more of an authoritative coach to get these guys in line…
Maybe they did recognize it and tried multiple things to stop it but were just out-manned.
@OT coach fox is too nice but I would never fault him for that as a coach. different people are motivated in different ways. I for one could not play for a hard nose dictator type of coach (McD for example). I know my personallity type and I would have put a foot up McD’s @$$. On the other hand, I would have respect for Fox and would thus be willing to put every part of my body on the line for every play because I wouldn’t want to let him down.
Anyway, Manning is the field general and I think our guys are motivated to get a ring right now. We are still 2 years into what was called a 3 year rebuild and the changes have been impressive.
Someone mentioned that they wrote off Rahim Moore at safety. I don’t know about anyone else but Rahim has made insane strides to becoming a great Safety. He is night and day different from last year. He tackles better, is in position more often and takes better angles to the ball. He has dropped some possible INTs and thats unfortunate. If he had caught those, I think everyone would be singing his praises right now. I think he just needs to spend some time with the JUGGS machine so the next time he is in the right spot, it doesn’t slip through his fingers.
Right now our biggest problem has been fumbles. That is a fixable problem and trust me, it will get fixed soon. As we speak DMT is carrying around a football everywhere he goes. holding it high and tight with his fingers split across the tip.
I’m even confident that this team could win out its schedule with Baltimore being the toughest thing left on our schedule.
REALLY..DB…..REALLY????????????
Philip Rivers has been sacked 14 times in five games; Jared Gaither and Jeromey Clary, meet Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
I guess I was referring to a Jeff Fisher type coach – tough, no nonsense, and well prepared, but not crazy like McDaniels..
I agree about Moore. Safety is a tough position to transition to in the NFL, and he’s made solid strides IMO.
PFM has 1500 yards-11 tds-3 ints-passer rating of 101……that’s freaking AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
He’s on a pace of 4800 yds-35 tds-10 ints………..we have NEVER seen #s like that from a Broncos QB EVER!!!
Those are a few facts about PFM……DB!!!!!!!!!
Have a Great Day Broncos Country!!!!!!!
ILMSDB…..and……ILMSPFM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fox has his issues. He plays the safe old school type of ball. The punt on 4th and 2 from the positive 39 yard line. Instead of trusting Manning to get it done.
Anyway, I find his faults to me minor in the grander scheme of things. He is basically .500 as a coach and has been coaching a long time. He has never had a true top tier QB like Manning so it makes sense that he has always played it safe.
I think that will change some as he realizes he can trust Manning.
I still think this team is pretty much a MLB away from greatness.
MLB is usually the QB on defense, and we are essentially playing without one, which is a major handicap. Communication on defense is an issue right now. We might have to try to find a MLB in FA during the offseason. While I prefer to build through the draft, we’re working with a limited time frame with Manning.
What are your non biased, football thoughts on DJ? Will he be in shape? Do you think he will play this season? If so, what spot? And do you think he’s in our plans beyond this season?
You are a knowledgable person OT. I got mad respect for that.
D.J. may play with Denver this year. Personally I think D.J. is overrated as a player and he isn’t worth the off-feild headache. However, we have a young LB group chosen mostly from later rounds in the draft.
Woodyard has been at least as good if not better as the starting will linebacker. I think he is even on pace to break the tackle numbers that D.J. has had. Woodyard also doesn’t drag tackle the way D.J. would and seems to be better in coverage.
I’m thinking D.J. will be in at least decent shape. He has been tried at MLB before and I think when he comes back they might try him there one last time. I find it hard to imaginge D.J. being around beyond this year. Little upside and a huge headache.
MLB is by far the largest single need on this team. Mays is a great guy but far too often he goes for a knockout highlight real hit instead of just wrapping up like he should. He is great going downhill and when he chooses the right gap he can stick a guy good. He just doesn’t have what it takes to cover, not even to zone cover.
I’m sure Denver is well aware of it’s need at MLB. I am sure they are scouting the college prospects right now. Manti Te’o from ND would be awesome but he will be long gone before we pick at 32 (hey, a guy can dream right?!
). I wouldn’t be shocked if Denver took one in the draft as well as look for a Vet in FA.
You are very correct that the MLB is the defensive QB. That is exactly why Brooking is still a better option than Mays. Brooking is slower but has the experience and football IQ to make a good playcall and to get guys in the right positions.
Right back at ya RH.
DJ is a major headache, especially over this past year, and I agree he might even be a tad bit overrated. However, he hasn’t been paid since the last game he played, and given his lifestyle, I’m sure he is beginning to feel it, or at least notice it. That could be a sobering experience for him, but even if he comes back in great shape, with a massive chip on his shoulder, he won’t be in football shape, and will be prone to injuries. I realize it’s most likely a pipe dream at this point to expect him to come back and contribute this season, but I’m still hoping he does.
It’s too bad Irving hasn’t taken hold of the MLB spot, and he still might, but as more time goes by, it’s looking less and less likely. I think we definitely need to draft a proper MLB (not a project, or a change of position), as well as look to FA for one.
The rhyme and reasoning was that this would be a three year project under John Elway as VPofFO, and so far it has held the road, but not without it’s bumps and curves. We have young players who are starting to get the hang of it, and have played better even against high-classed teams such as the Falcons and Patriots, and the addition of the veteran presence at certain positions that were in dire need of repairing. Two drafts won’t fix everything, and fans should know that by now, look at the Texans and how they have been building their team, or the Falcons, hopw long has Matt Ryan been their field general? I know, patience is a devilish word to any fan, because we are spoiled into thinking that we should do it right now and get it done, well folks you might as well show your palms because your in for a little yellow rain before that happens. Will we get better? I really believe that is already happening with our team, can’t you see the improvements over last year? I do. and I still think we’ll take our division when it’s all said and done, but I won’t be disappointed have hissy-fits if they don’t, I’m a man not a sissy!
Not that it would have mattered all that much, but if DJ had taken the reduced 3 game suspension offered to him, together with the 3 games added, this would be his last game, and we’d have the bye week to get him up to speed..
Broncos need to play Williams as soon as he can come back and i say that only because he is hurting the team right now and needs to contribute while he is here. I would start looking to replace him for next year though.
IMO: I sure hope that Fox learned a few things here in the last five games. Part of being a coach and a leader is being a innovator knowing how to keep the enemy on their heels constantly or you will get run over. He will gain the respect of his players and the NFL, even if he is a hard @$$ or a nice guy.
I truely believe that what Denver has done to recondition the training center and to hire a very respected and talented strength and conditioning coach is the single most underrated piece of the 2012 offseason. This one thing shows the commitment and knowledge needed to achieve new heights in the NFL.
It has pain dividends too…when was the last time you heard of a hamstring or groin pull from this team? Broken bones have happened but the health and the condition of this team has been vastly improved over previous years.
I trust Elway! This team is on its way, maybe this year, maybe the next but greatness is on the horizon for sure.
Good discussion between Tsunami and RH, two very sensible bloggers here, but instead of addressing that in the details I’m going to put in my two cents in generality if I may:
As an organization as a whole we are not grabbing the bull by the horn sort of speak.
We are not aggressive enough in our decision making, we do not go out a limb and make the hard decisions that need to be made on the spot, we are too deliberate over analyzing things and taking the safe route way too often.
Case in point:
We get Manning so we let Tebow go when we knew all along Elway was never going to keep him no matter what.
Moreno has been unhealthy or incapable of producing consistently for us for going on 4 years and he is still on the roster even so we don’t even play him.
DJ has been basically a disgrace to the organization character wise yet he is still there because we are short at LB talent.
Fox is so conservative in nature that he has yet to understand a Peyton led team and allow it to perform at its full potential.
Basically we are not taking chances with much, we play it too close to the vest, on the field and off the field.
You get the results you shoot for, you don’t take chances in life and go out on a limb you might be good but you will hardly ever achieve great things.
So what if by making tough decisions you sometimes might make the wrong one, at least you are trying and if you happen to be right the payoff will be that much greater.
To me it’s all a personality trait and everyone is different, I understand that. Personally I took chances throughout my life, big ones too, and it paid off. I just hope Elway can grow into his position comfortably enough to start taking chances and instill that go for it mentality all the way throughout the organization. We have big potential, we need to realize it and much of it would be wasted if we don’t go for it, take a leap, like move Moreno out, cut ties with DJ, let Peyton do the talking and demand better execution about the mental mistakes or else…. No one has ever gotten to the top of anything without making the tough decisions.
Let’s get that fire we have burning unaltered, leave it all out, GO FOR IT, don’t suppress it, YOU CAN DO IT!
GO BRONCOS!
It reminds me of Legwold the other day who said the team on the field is still searching for an identity, and I couldn’t agree more, I just took it a step further and said the the organization as a whole right now is still searching for its identity.
Hey bay. Fundamentally, I agree with what you’re saying. High risk, high reward. But there’s also something to be said about taking calculated risks, and not just random risks for the sake of taking risks. We are only a few years removed from the McDaniels era (error), where the chips were flung all over the table without any regard. I would agree with you that we are perhaps a bit too conservative now, possibly an over correction of the last regime, and I think we need to find that happy medium. As for DJ and Knowshon, I agree we should have done something with them, like a trade during the draft, or even a flat out release, with suitable replacements, but to cut ties now (not sure if you’re suggesting that) wouldn’t make sense IMO, unless we had better options, which I don’t see at this point. We’ve shaped the cards in our hand up to this point, and now we have to live them, win or lose…
@Bay – I think your right in your assessment about personalities and the personality of this organization. I just see it the same way I have seen the Texans become an outstanding team. I think the organization is taking risk and reward but on a lesser scale. Meaning the overall path is slower yet steadier (smaller deviations). I think there needs to be a stronger foundation before attempting larger risks otherwise recovery may be impossible.
Multiple paths to greatness none of them are wrong or right or better or worse, just different.
The McD hangover, but eventually that needs to go away, it actually should be gone already, it’s more than 24 hours, right? LOL.
And DJ and Moreno are still dealt with poorly, even right now, Moreno not played therefore not even showcased so we can get something in a trade, maybe, so in essence they have given up on him and his value but he still takes a roster spot, and DJ, don’t get me started about him, lying openly to the league about his non human urine or something as stupid as that plus the driving drunk at 2 am without the lights on, the non commitment to the team every off season… I mean the guy is the definition of a character you need to get rid of at all cost fo the benefit of all other players on the team who are trying to become better men, no excuse, weak at LB so what, we are a weaker team with DJ overall, a mentally damaged team.
What can I say, I’m b@lls to the wall, snow skied at 118.794 mph, just a go for it kind of guy, in business too by the way, but I sense that careful approach in you and yeah it’s all fine, we are all different, wished for more wattage at Dove Valley is all.
The McD hangover was a doozy, WAY more than your average 24 hour recovery time needed… LOL!
John Fox is probably the most conservative coach in the entire NFL, but then John Elway has taken some pretty big risks in his business life, so it’s actually an interesting pairing, and I’m curious to see how it will play out.
Not sure if your last comment was directed at me bay, but I’ve actually taken some big risks in my life so far, most notably career wise, and location, but I’ve also played it pretty conservative at times as well.
That’s cool about your skiing career. I have a cousin who was a serious mogul skier, and had two knee replacements when he was in his thirties..
No, the second reply was for RH, I thought that was implied, sorry, you guys take care.
Later on..
You know Bay, when I was younger (and Im not even old), I was the risk taker. The laugh at danger type.
I have a ton of respect for that mentality and the potential benifits. I wish mine hadn’t diminished with age and kids.
I ride a ton of Motocross so its sad that I have become more mellow. I will still jump a 60-70 foot gap but I am much more calculated in my attempts. First I find a guy on the track jumping it. Then I check to see if I can even keep pace with that guy on the track. If I can, then I follow him and pace the jump speed multiple times but without jumping. Finally I pace the guy again and commit to the jump. So the risk is there but it has been midigated as much as possible.
Again, I respect the full open style. Mad props to you Bay, it is truely a gift.
And I should add, from conversations with him, my cousin wouldn’t change any of his decisions if he could do it again.