O.K. folks…….feeling better? Was that fun or what? I loved watching the defense flying around having fun making plays. Could you tell the difference? I could. The defense looked like they were reacting and not thinking so much.
Pittburgh came in here with one of the better offenses and we matched up pretty well and did a great job. We still have a long way to go to be where we need to be but baby steps are first.
It’s fun to see things we’ve all been talking about come together. The offense seemed to get in gear too and I really like what I saw from the guys filling in because it’s a long season and we need them to keep getting better and better and I think we’re on track to keep improving.
The first call I made at 7 am this morning was to a buddy of mine, Gary Dunn who we’ve talked about in the past, who played 12 years for the Steelers. I have to admit I did a little trash talking and had a few laughs about the old days, “funny-funny stuff.”
So what did you all think? I’m anxious to hear.
COOP
Tags: Gary Dunn, Pittsburgh Steelers
Coop! What’s happening big guy? It was great to see some people hitting and making tackles. I was anticipating a huge game by Willie Parker and he didn’t do a whole lot. A sarcastic remark by a friend of mine at the bar was, “He just might have 1000 yards against the broncos.” Well, Parker didn’t and I was very happy with that.
Cutler looked great despite the interceptions. He’s putting it together and becoming a presence on the team and on the field. That’s exciting. What’s even better is he’s only had 11 starts in the NFL.
I don’t know what your insight with the team is, but is there anything you saw from the guys in the “trenches” that would suggest that Bates “scheme” was put aside? There’s an article on fox sports saying that during the bye week Bates system was put aside and the defensive front went back to more of what we were doing last year. I’m guessing they’re referring to techniques and gap assignments by the front four or seven.
I dont’ know if Bates’ scheme was tossed, I think the LB’s and Linemen finally caught on to the gap assignments, and had the patience to stay in their gaps. The few big plays we gave up were again because of overpursuit.
I tell ya though, I loved 3 Td’s on 3 red zone trips. And I loved seeing turnovers again.
i feel as if i am complete again! i went to work this week whistling and smiling, knowing that i had several “friends” to speak to.
The offense looked very solid for the most part and I loved that Cutler really took the bull by the horns and crammed the ball down the field inspite of Palomalu flying at him. The two picks were just plain old inexperience and i doubt that will happen too much more by the look on Cutlers face after they happened. You could tell he was mad at himself for trying those passes.
The defense looked a hundred times better except for the fourth quarter when they felt comfortable with a three score lead and let off the gas a bit. I loved the changes in the way the linebackers were flying around and really putting the hurt on rothlisberger. (I especially liked the sack in the third quarter where all the linebackers and three of the front four dog piled rothlisberger)
All in all it was a great game and it really renewed my spirits to see the orange and blue triumph again.
This past Sunday’s performance was reflective of who our Broncos really are. I honestly believe that. The key is, as it always has been to seize the lead early and to dictate to our opponent. If we do this, we are an upper echelon NFL team and have a great opportunity to be a darkhorse contender in the AFC. It’s just like Jamie Dukes is saying on Put Up Your Dukes tonight, Pittsburgh Steelers: Shame on you!!! Let’s pound the Pack this Monday evening as well.
I liked the way the linebackers played. They got into the backfield and disrupted the run. The o-line played well with the loss of Nalen. A very good game. Defense forced turnovers too.
The entire team as a whole looked much improved over the first 5 games of the season. D.J. Williams really stepped it up, and looks good at the middle linebacker position, after struggling the first several weeks of the season after making the transition from OLB to take over for Al. Lynch was in on a bunch of hits as we expect him to be, but to be able to do that with Bailey on the sideline injured, and Bly playing hurt, really is a testimate for the depth of this team.
In all I think for the injuries we have sustained, through a tough first 5 games, these guys played excellent, and need to continue to build off this play.
Looking forward to seeing them carry this momentum into the Monday night game against GB.
GO BRONCOS!
Hey Coop,
What do you think about the Broncos not being able to hold a lead when it looks like we have it in the bag and then they have a way of giving the other team chances to come back. What do they need to do to be able to put the nail in the coffin? There killiing me slowly I can’t take these close games.
Discipline and trust in your fellow player goes along way to better team play. They looking better every game just like everyone thought they would, on both offense and defense. Now we need to hang a big game on the packers.
Awesome game ! Bronco football ! That 30 yard run by Cutler early in the game set the tone for the offense. Passing game was very crisp with mostly very good protection. Running game was good when we were rolling along in the first half. Travis got hurt and the run pretty much went by the wayside. Defense looked like a different team altogether ! We got pressure, we got sacks, we got TURNOVERS !!!! That’s the real Bronco football right there. I wouldn’t worry about losing the lead in the 4TH qtr., that’s kinda the way we’ve played ever since John retired. As long as we have Elam, we’re in it all the way. I have to particularly commend Mr. Jay Cutler on a heck of a game. Passing, running, leading, he is rapidly becoming The Man. I like Marshall’s potential and I just love Stokes !! If we can get #80 back = look out AFC !!!
Hey Coop,
As a former player in the big time, is there a players mentality that says to let up a bit when you have a big lead so that you can save some for the next week?
I have noticed that ALL teams seem to do this about the time the “three” score lead comes around. I know that every coach will say in front of the press that “you don’t let up and keep hammering”, but most evidence points to the contrary. Is this just bravado when in front of the camera, or is there really a disparity between coach mindset and player mindset?
( Can’t wait to show Favre the soft floor of Invesco this monday!!!)
The job of the o-line was paramount to our success. Rick Dennison did a helluva job patching the line.
All I can say was that I was very encouraged with the way this team stepped it up and played at a high level while there were all of the excuses in the world for them not to. It is always special to know that if you have guys go down, you have a multitude of talented players ready to step up, fill in and maintain the level of play that the starters were.
Case in point.. Did anyone notice that there were no fumbled exchanges between Myers and Cutler and the entire overhauled OL played one of the best games of the season against a strong and complicated Steeler Defense..
Makes me very proud to have been in attendance and to be a Bronco Fan.
Joe (from virginia)
Yardo, all’s good here after that win!!!
I like what I see in Cutler and like you, the more games under his belt the better. Regarding the defense, it’s tough to read an analyze a scheme unless you’re on the inside or have game films or tapes to study for tendencies (you know the drill) so as a fan it’s tough to recognize. But they did seem to have much better gap control and were able to fill the running lanes and turn things back into the field.
Bronco_hyde, sometimes back to basic’s is a good thing but I agree what a difference a week off made in the defensive scheme.
Thundersrevenge, gotta love the dogpiles
). I agree with your comments, we’re on the right track, now we just need to build on the momentum. The “D” was swarming.
BradJamesBroncoFan, Yea baby!! We’re on the same page. Big “Monday Night” game!!
#80fan, Hey, Rod’s back hopefully #80 can recover 100%, I love that guy…what a winner….O-line did a great job. I called a buddy of mine that played for the Steelers the next morning and asked him if had flashbacks of the way we use to c–p block him. Fill in the other two letters, (hint) h o. Not sure I’m allowed to say that……….shhhhhh!
Jkwilloughby, with the injuries this team has to date, frankly I haven’t said this before because I wasn’t sure how it’s turn out, but they are doing one heck of a job………..and I really mean it. The press hasn’t said it yet, you did and you’re absolutely right!!!
Tonydrummer, the NFL is a tough place to hold a lead period unless you’re the Patriots and if you watched the Cowboys game against them it was like a tennis match, scoring back and forth all night. That’s parity.
Bronco47rockurworld, hanging a big game on the packers would really help.
Bronncohowie, your right, it was a fun game to watch and the poise Cutler showed taking it down the field was a flash of what’s to come.
Thundersrevenge, good question, as a player there’s no such thing at that level as letting up because the competition will embarrass you in a nano-second and it’s on film for the whole world to see. What I think you see is a prevent defense (bend don’t break) or a conservative game plan kicked in to protect a lead or wear time off the clock to keep the other offense off the filed (and when it doesn’t work,) it looks like a let down to the fans and public or a softening of play. Make sense??
Supercho7, Rick Dennison is becoming one of the premier offensive line coaches in the league and he was taught by Alex Gibb’s one of the all-time best. I know I played for Alex.
Broncocane, Joe I like your handle, broncocane, I should have thought of that one as a former CANE from the U. Meyers is a former cane too. I like him a lot, smart kid!!!
I think it shows a lot of the depth this team has, as well as spirit, when we can pull off a win against Pittsburgh with so many key players on the bench. I liked the way the d-line played as a unit, with the linebackers getting inside a lot and busting up the plays. Good coverage by Foxworth and Bly kept the pass game manageble. Definately an improvement in the run defensive moves. All around good defense, and Cutler looked more like a pro in that game, not getting rattled.