I waited until I read the papers this morning to see what the press was going to say about the Cowboys game before I posted today. They didn’t let me down.
Hey everybody, it’s preseason. Yes, preseason. We have a lot of beat-up guys so remember the media sells newspapers and looks for ratings. The Broncos try to get our guys some reps and get a look at some of the young players and (TRY) to keep from getting too many guys hurt while preparing for the REAL SEASON.
I think Wade Phillips was a little ambitious with the blitz package he ran against us but honestly, the linemen need to see it and so does Jay. It will benefit us in the long run, promise. That was a great test against a team that was one play away from possibly being in the Super Bowl last year. Games like that are great learning experiences. You look at film and learn from games like that and work to get better. Kind of like life — make a few mistakes and learn, right?
We’ll take a few licks now so it benefits our guys with the long-term pay off that they’ll need during the REAL SEASON. So like my Dad used to say, “Don’t believe everything you read.”
COOP
Tags: Preseason, Wade Phillips
COOP…you are right that it is preseason…however, i’m tired of hearing “its only preseason”, it’s an excuse for a lost, no matter if it is preseason or not… but it’s our first team vs. their first team, we need to worry about…if it was the second team, then yes we can say “its only preseason”… i mean it’s not like we were NOT trying to make plays…but we didn’t score any touchdowns (especially on the run) or any big plays from the first team except for that interception and that catch from graham…our second team scored twice…but “does it really matter???” during the regular season…NO, not at all…no pressure at all to the cowboys’ offense….yea it is a big concern for the regular season if we cant execute the play on offense and stop the run on defense…the game was basically over by halftime…however, you are right that we going to learn from this in the regular season, it will make us a better team…i amit, Cowboys is a really good team and could go far this season…with the injuries we have, i hope we have good season enough to reach the Super Bowl though…go broncos!!!
Yes, it was first-stringers v. first stringers. But look, how many times did you see the Broncos defense mix it up and give Dallas’ ‘O’ different looks?
Zero, Zip, Nada. In fact, the D-Line lined up with the same gaps every play; The Backers were lined up in the same position every play; it looked like the secondary was in Cover 3 every play. Pre-season is the last place you want to tip your hand. Plain and simple.
coop,
thanks for the balanced perspective. the thing that worries me the most in preseason is injuries. losing ekuban for the season was huge.
They lost the battle in the trenches that is where games are won and lost.
On one of the touchdowns Sam Adams got pancaked by Davis there new offseason signing. The Broncos lost the field position game just like last year. The first team struggled again against a physical 3-4, just like San Diego. Why is John Engleberger playing the guy stinks, go get Strahan or Rice.
Thanks for the blog Coop!
The NFL should do away with the preseason. Just go to a 20 game schedule. Start training camp in June then you will have two months to get ready for the first game. This schedule will make everyone happy. The owners of teams will have four more REAL game to sell tickets, the players will play only MEANINGFUL games & the fans can start getting fanatic in June !!! It’s a win-win-win situation. As far as the Broncos go, Shanny never tips his hand in the preseason. It’s just basics until the real games start. We’ll kick butt against cleveburg & scmarizona and be ready to ride the bills !!!! The first half of the schedule should produce something like 6-2. If we can win four in the second half, we should make the playoffs. Go Broncos !!!
You guys are GREAT. I love it. The points you made are valid which tells me what great fans you are and your perspective of the game is excellent. Keep them coming.
Pre-Season is a neccesary evil for learning a new offensive or defensive system or scheme and to get some reps against competition what looks like (WARP SPEED) versus college. Believe me when I say that as I came from “The U” as in University of Miami and we had speed there. The funny thing is, the regular season speeds up even more and the playoffs are even faster if you can imagaine that kind of intensity level.
It takes a bit of time to gel, working with different guys next to you on both sides of the ball, I promise. The Ekuban loss hurts but unfortunately there will be more, so the pre-season gives the new guys reps for the coaches to see and evaluate as they may have to step in at any time when an injury occurs.
Hey Knuther, we had a saying for pancakes. Sometimes you’re Hammer and sometimes you’re the Nail. The more times you can be the Hammer, the longer your career
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DJ, you called it right, plain and simple. With a lot of injuries sometimes that’s the best way to go in pre-season. Check out bronncohowie’s prediction to the playoff’s above, it works!!
There hasn’t been an undefeated team since the “77 Dolphins” and I doubt that will happen again. But you did notice, I didn’t say “never”.
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vamos broncosssssssssssssssssssss
Our defense stunk!!!! We were in the top 10 last year and get rid of, Wilson, Meyers, and the tragedy of Darrent and now, Warren!! What the hell, we get nothing if he doesn’t make the Raiders roster? And if he does, he’ll be out to hammer us, that will intense his play against us! I agree, we need Strahan or Rice! the o-line also stunk..I said in the beginning, we paid way too much for Henry, should have taken a young one in the draft and saved money. I don’t think Bates d-fense fits our guys, so looks like we’ll sit out this years playoffs, because it’ll be a learning season, so guys like Lynch, Nalen, Smith and Lepsis, will be salary cap loses next year won’t be around to see it grow..So Coop, i am worried, we don’t look confident this year like we did last year, i went to a few practices, i saw it there and in the first 2 games
I like the preseason in ways and hate it in ways. Its a good practice for the players to get them ready for game speed so they are not rusty during the season. It can also be bad for having hurt players like Ekuban, Henry, Holdman and others. And learning the new defensive schme of Jim Bate’s will seem challening at first for the Broncos but I have a feeling that they will master it and that it will work out in the end and everyone will be glad the Broncos hired Jim Bates. So I’m asking Broncos nation to be patient and see if it works out. Maybe the Broncos will pick up a defensive lineman in free agency. Simeon Rice is still a free Agent so I think they should go after him and see how he does since we are in need at the moment. Hey Coop, thanks for signing my shirt at the 2005 fan fair
Matt
Shannahan gets paid milions of $$$$ to coach so he is good, any changes he has made in the past have not really haunted him to bad. I am fully confident that the 2 rings will speak for themselves and we will go out & kick some ass this yr. Let the guys play football they’re not out there to loose,so let’s be fans and try to not to be what were not “coaches”.
steve
For all those who are tired of hearing it’s just preseason, are you telling me then that the Patriots will be the last team in the league this year? They have lost to Tenesee and to Tampa Bay, although they have been one of the most talked about teams that’s supposed to go to the superbowl.
Thing about preseason is IT DOESN”T COUNT, we have a new defense strategy, and we need these 3 weeks to see what does and doesn’t work, and how certain things are supposed to work. These guys aren’t going to put themselves in a position to miss the entire year, we aren’t playing the starters the entire game because we don’t want them hurt. I don’t disagree that there are things to work on, but in the end, if we are going to loose some games in trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t, than now is the time to do it, not after September 9th! I would rather see these guys learn and loose all 4 preseason games, than to win them all, and suck just as bad in the regular season.
Two names, Trotter and Rice!
JARVIS MOSS WELL COME THOUGH BUT THE KEY IS WE HAVE TOO STAY HEALTHY ! AND PRESEASON IS A BIG JOKE !!!
Remember the saying “PATIENCE GRASSHOPPER,” well that’s my motto in pre-season. The first team gets 12-18 maybe 24 reps and then they get guys reps at different spots to see how they respond.
We’re all fans, but think about it as if this was your personal team, wouldn’t you want to experiment a little, get a look at different guys and get some guys some reps now rather in the heat of the AFC battle in coming weeks, when it REALLY counts…………..? Thought so.
I played ever position on the line except center in a game against the Oilers one year, so I understand why they get guys reps at different positions. I started at right guard, moved over to left guard as Bishop went out for a quarter, then moved to left tackle as Studdard got dinged and went down for a few series and played a couple snaps at right tackle when Lanier had a equipment issue, then back to right guard, so you can see how that helps the team.
Mr. Cooper,
Thanks for mentioning the names above. (Bishop, Studdard) It brings back memories of the snowy Sundays watching my favorite show. BRONCO’S FOOTBALL.
Hey, I’ll buy off on the “it’s only preseason” but I sure would like to see the linebackers step up against the Browns (speaking of good memories). They seem a little slow. Hopefully Coach Bates will open up the playbook and see what they can do. Fill some gaps and give the shoulder pads some exercise. Seems like they are just sliding down the line and making tackles 4-5 yards down field. I’m not used to seeing this happen and really dont like it. (even if it is preseason) I know D.J. Williams has the speed coming from the U. (Go Buffs, sorry Coop) Stop the run and let us see Champ and Dre go to work! Let see some blitz packages and rattle that chump from Notre Dame. (but dont show too much. Still need some suprises for Buffalo).
Keep up the good work Mr. Cooper!
Oh yeah, thanks Wade Phillips for giving away your playbook after the second game. Nice to see most of your tricks.
Coop,
I understand where you are cooming from and that we weren’t tipping our hand and running very basic defense, but that doesn’t explain our defensive linemen’s poor excuse at rushing the passer. We shouldn’t have to use blitz packages in order to get to the QB. Our d-line had ZERO pressure on the QB. That is quite concerning in my opinion.
Concerned fan.
COOP, you’ve been out there. I’m listening, the same way I am listening to the defensive players being interviewed and saying that they “are not showing anything” except basic defensive formations and having to make plays on that alone. I think I will be learning more about defensive playmaking this year watching the Broncos with a defensive new coach and defensive playbook. Thats what its all about. I think the team will be a fast learning and improving team when the season gets started and moves foward.
You guys are right about the pass rush, we need a little more push up field and we’ll start seeing a corner blitz off the edge and Lynch through the guard and tackle gaps as they incorporate more of the blitz package. (once the season starts).
You might laugh but I have to admit, I didn’t even watch the Cleveland game (It’s Pre-Season) and I honestly don’t get excitied about it as a fan because, like I mentioned, I understand what they are doing as a team in pre-season in preparing to win the division, then the AFC, then the Superbowl, one game at a time. It really is, a one game at a time, season.
The Bills game is only two weeks away and that’s what I’m looking forward to. I’ll be back in my old backyard where I grew up as a kid fishing with my Dad in the Florida Keys for tarpon, bonefish and permit on fly. No I’m not retired, believe me. I work to go fishing!!
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After leaving the NFL it took me a while to find something that gave me that same gameday “adrenaline rush” and I found it in saltwater flyfishing. I know a couple of you are laughing, but it’s true. After playing it was hard to replace that every Sunday rush. Think about it……..that was the toughest thing after leaving the league.
I was invited to a charity celebrity fishing tournament and now fish about 10 tournaments a year and host a tournament in Aspen where we raise $50K-$75K a year for Cysric Fibrosis. You can see all the details at my website if you like to fish, at http://www.come2colorado.com.
Cooper, you rock man. Thanks for the insight. Keep the comments coming.
Sports Illustrated
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
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