Over 400+ yards in the air and we couldn’t crack the RED ZONE. That’s where football games are won. WHY you might ask? Good question.
The field compresses and you have to have your A game. That’s where 3 points can kill you when you need 7. Especially when you can’t punch it in from inside the 5-yard line.
Even though we took it on the chin, I was actually pleased with what I saw most of the game. A turnover here or there and a few busted plays and busted routes, and we’re in this thing….really!!
Yes, I said we’re in this thing. I’ve said it before — TURNOVERS. Three types:
New players each year
Fumbles
Interceptions
The first as important as the other two. Time will cure the first. Discipline will cure the other two.
I’m impressed. I know a bunch of you will think I’m crazy and you want to win today. We need some time. Coach is molding his own team and if they keep this up. I like what I see. Only time will tell.
Now, yes we do need a big inside-the-5-yards back like one that left, but he’s gone so I’d personally like to see more inside trapping inside the 5, but that’s me. It keeps D-lineman guessing…advantage O-line. By the way…the young guys look good and Clady is at mid-season form….great feet and hands and body set, man I like that guy.
O.K. your turn…crank it up. I know there’s some upset folks but keeping it close against the Colts. I like it.
-Coop
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Mark Cooper, Ryan Clady
Red Zone visits, 0 points how do you like it, had many chances to win this one,
Red Zone try to kick 3 is better than zero, 3+3=6 same as a touch down
Go Redskins
Overturn the apple cart Bronco Blues…..
I will admit that I have been a staunch supporter of McDaniels. I have stuck up for the kid and keep trying to believe in him, but ….but….
I just heard that Tebow got demoted to third string??? What in the heck!!! What in the name of all that is holy is wrong with you JOSH!!!!!
He promotes and demotes guys like it doesn’t mean anything to the team or us.
I’m tired of Joshs’ indecision and second guessing and demoting and remoting and cutting and signing and huging and then benching… Boy does Josh have a major problem with people relations and human resources or what?..
Maybe he’s mad at Tebow for doing a 3 second Nike commercial or something ignorant.. I just can’t imagine what the kid did to get demoted JOSH!!!!! It couldn’t have anything to do with his playing because HE HASN’T PLAYED QB YET!
I am now completely fed up with his endless upssetting of the apple cart, the nonstop tinkering with the roster and depth chart, the promoting and demoting of players getting rid of guys half way through the season and replacing them with lesser tallent… It gets tiresome and makes me feel unsettled with our team and future…
I’M JUST SAY’N!!!
Coop, agreed, this season is about patience, but you gotta understand that after nearly five years of mediocrity patience runs thin, Bronco fans are just not used to that low a standard of records.
OC is one of the big McD backer on this site, and even he can come on here and make a bunch of valid points about McD’s shortcomings. It’s not all as rosy in my mind as you make it out to be, even though I agree that with time McD might get there, but how many players will he have alienated in the process and how will he field a team full of McD devoted players is the bigger question.
Time will answer all, that’s for sure. Nervously optimistic is how I could best describe my feelings about our future with McD at this point. He is no doubt in my mind riding a slippery slope in his handling of the troops, and super nervous that makes me.
Coop, it’s not like no one likes this blog, it just doesn’t pop up on the front page so no one sees it unless they take the long approach, and obviously only three did. Too bad they would of loved your positive approach, some are craving for it but on the other blog there is not much of that.
Orange_Crusher, baylinorcrush, vaild points and maybe I’m being demoted too?? Thanks for the heads up because I’ll ask the web folks that I talk to abut it?? News to me.
Well only you guys will read this story.
I agree with you both…… honestly. The simple truth is you have to give a head coach 4 years to figure out his team when he’s rebuilding. This is a rebuilding team, like it or not. Fan after fan around town has mentioned the turnover. That’s how obvious it is. Turnover is not uncommon in the NFL but in a rebuilding situation you have to let the coach either make his bed or he’ll have to sleep in it.
I think Josh McDaniels knows this. Tell you an interesting story. I was in Tampa. Ray Perkins was in his last year of his contract. I’m starting at right guard and it’s mid season. Our division wasn’t real good so we were still in the hunt mathematically until that weeks game and we lost to Green Bay on the late in the game. I walk into the locker room Wednesday foe practice after graded out in the high 80′s (great grade). I look at the depth chart and I’m 2nd string left guard.
I start laughing thinking one of my buddys changed the chart. Understand that a lot of antics go on in the locker room (another story sometime) Anyway, I walk over to Randy Grimes our center and tell him nice try and when he hears me he does a great fake job (so I thought). So after a few minutes he’s concerned and has me convinced he didn;t do so I go straight to the O-line coach who was a Grad Assistant at Alabama 2 years prior, the assistant line coach the year before and now the head O-Line coach (and not very good by the way) and he shrugs his shoulders like a puppet and says I have to talk to Ray…so off I go……. pissed off. Ray meets me immediately and basically says Coop, I’m in the last year of my contract and I have to mix it up and try some of the young kids we drafted to see if they can play and see what I can do.
Crazy as that sounds and as crazy as that is, I agreed to keep my mouth shut and practice hard and he shot straight with me so I respected him for being honest. (Plus I wanted a job) In those days if you ran off at the mouth you’d be packing your bags. If you weren’t a super star you better keep your mouth shut and most of them did too.
The reason for the story is this, I think Coach McDaniles is doing some of that and will continue to see what he has in molding either a winning team or his job will be on the line.
So the end of that story is the young guard who was to start that week against Houston has a panic attack all night before the game and (never even dresses out) I come down to breakfast and hear the story and actually start cracking up and Ray and the Trainer come over and we go out in the hall and they explain what happened and I can barely keep from laughing and so could they but they had to keep it professional and I start the remainder of the season until I blow out an ankle in the game prior to the last game of the season nd they finally play the kid in the last game against Pittsburg and they release him the following off-season.
Tampa was a rotating door and I hope that doesn’t happen here. Every Tuesday on our day off I’d be working out in the weightroom and there’d be guys trying out, out back on the field…very odd place at that time, but coaches have to worry about their jobs.
As usual, love the insight, a view of life in the NFL behind the sceens, priceless. Thanks once again for being frank about things, it’s so refreshing, someone saying it the way it is without being strictly guided by being politically correct. You are by far my favorite portion of this blog.
Back in the days in Tampa had to be some sort of nightmare, I can only imagine, if it looked like a nightmare on the field, it must of been worse behind close doors. Pulling jokes on eachother on the depth chart, haha, way to keep it light in the locker room, even when the ship is going down, no reason to lose your sense of humor about it.
About revolving doors, they’ve alredy been revolving at Dove Valley at roller coaster speed, if it takes 4 years to rebuild a team, how long does it take until you get stability on the roster? The weeding out should be done by now, but the promoting, demoting, promoting and demoting again, and the signing and cutting and resigning again and the placing on PS and bringing back out of PS, and back on the roster only to be cut out all together later is still going on weekly at a head spinning pace. At one point this will drive the other players crazy I would think. I mean during the season it’s kind of nice to know who is the guy in the locker next to you, right? It can’t be good for the morale to be on a team that’s run like a carrousel?
My gut feeling has it that McD thought he had the team all figured out after the draft and things are not evolving like he had planned it, and as he is inexperienced in his new HC job, he is impatient and he is making all kinds of move that he thinks on the surface will help but that I think long term will hurt his stock in having players truly 100% behind him. Short sighted is how McD seems to run this thing now, so it’s hard for me to buy that just because we give the guy 4 years eveything will be fine and dandy long term, it’s like a world of contradictions to me, if he wants to get it done in 4 years he needs to keep the good players in place even though it might be tough at the time, short solutions do nothing long term. Just my thoughts, hope I’m totally off.
Coop
Nice Story, that had me rolling and i liked the insight into what goes on behind the scenes. And finally your blog can be back traced from the tough running blog which i dont think could happen before.
I dont like McDaniels, thats not a secret, but when i say I truly want him to succeed i mean it. not because i like him, cuz i still dont, but because alot has transpiried since he came and I dont want all that to be for nothing (case in point losing my fave player in Brandon Marshall). If all this happens, and he ends up getting fired it would all have been for naught and I cant accept that. but at the same time I am very critical on him cuz he sold Bowlen and everyone a dream that sometimes i feel is getting farther to attain. Like we take one step forward and 2 steps back. But yea, theres still alot of season left, and while I dont expect much, every fan loves to see their team win. TRB out…
PS: “Now, yes we do need a big inside-the-5-yards back like one that left” yea, sure coulda, everyone saw this but the man in charge…..
lol I respond to coop before i read baylins post and i see our first lines are virtually identical. Hilarious.
O.k., I have to ask…OC why are you so upset that Tebow got demoted to 3rd string? No dissrespect my friend but by chance were you at practice? Do you not think Tebow’s playing stock rises and falls for performance in practice?
Tommy Harris got deactivated 2 days before the Bears/Packers game this week know why? Performance and attitude. Boman was pulled from the secondary (during the game) and replaced with Tim Jennings last night. Know why? Performance.
My point is this. Shifting and moving the roster is simply reflecting on how the coaching staff sees the roster shaping up prior to the upcoming week. Now before I get called out on Coop’s story that will negate my thoughts. I seriously doubt that McD’s job is in jeopardy.
With all do respect, I truely believe McD is playing the best players for that game to win! And let the Hillis thing go for gosh sakes! I loved that kid but he’s gone! Funny how no body is talking about the absence of Marshall right now! That’s right because the offense has more yards than they did with him. Can we give McD some credit for that? Can we give McD some credit for Orton? My gosh, we’re close….don’t you see that!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Hey Coop,
Sorry Sir, didn’t mean to dash off without saying hello and appreciating your post. Like Bay said, you put a “insider” spin on things that you just don’t get from other articles. Great post and as always, keep em’ coming.
With that said, Coop…can you give me your take on the “running game” issues we are having?
Everyone knows what McD is saying about it. Paraphrasing of course but “Everything needs to work together” theory. Not blaming any one player. So my question to you is what would you do? Do we have the back necessary to get it rolling? Do you like the OLine? I’m hearing fans blast McD and the RB’s but the Oline is left untouched with the exception that we have to get Harris back. Is it playing calling? schemes? Help me Coop LOL
thanks again for the time you take for us fans!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Broncfalls buddy, I don’t mean to step in but in case Coop doesn’t get back to you he partly addressed your question up top when he said:
Now, yes we do need a big inside-the-5-yards back like one that left, but he’s gone so I’d personally like to see more inside trapping inside the 5, but that’s me. It keeps D-lineman guessing…advantage O-line.
I agree with your sentiments Mr. Cooper. I think this young line is very good. Kuper and Harris are the two oldest starters and they’re only 26-27. I like the direction of this team. I like the attitudes of the players McD has brought in; it’s night and day from 3 years ago.
In my eyes we are set for several years on the offensive side of the ball. We will probably need to look for more depth at OG (specifically LG), but the future’s bright, and it should enable us to target more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball this next offseason.
Go Broncos!
I meant to say this offensive line is “going to be” very good (proof of why proofreading is important). They need time to develop and work together. The younger guys, including Clady, will get stronger. It’s hard to believe Clady is only 24.
And dont mean to step in either Broncosfall, but im not sure if u are aware of this but this OC post, was posted before the one on the tough running blog. He reposted it because access to this blog was limited and he didnt think anyone saw it. So your response to him on the other blog woulda sufficed lol
And as far as givign McD credit, credit is good, but if u have a son for example that is good at math but failing english and history or something, sure u give him credit for his math skills but that doesnt mean u dont talk about his weak points that he needs to improve to be a well rounded student. Same thing, we know he has made Orton effective, we know he had a hand in bringing some key defenders, but run game is still weak, draft is sometimes questionable, and personel movement, relationship, etc is also questionable….ergo, people asking questions. Cuz u gotta point out his weak points to make him a well rounded coach which in turn makes us a well rounded team. I dont think we are close the greatness btw, i think we are the same distance away as we were in shanahans last year only with different personel. Still moving the ball effectively, with redzone issues, running issues, and a defense that can only do so much….IMO
Bay thanks my fellow Bronco person!
Point taken but I don’t think a big RB that runs when we are inside the 5 yard line is going to stop the “we suck at running” campaign!
I guess my point is red zone running and open field running are completely different in my opinion. I bet if red zone trips turned into points last Sunday, Coop don’t even bring up Hillis! And…if we turned red zone trips into points without that “Hillis” type back we would still have a running game problem right? That’s what I’m hearing. So again, is the 20 yard line to 20 yard line running game going to be solved with the “Hillis” guy thing or is it bigger than that?
GO GET EM’ BOYS
That’s why I said he PARTLY addressed your question. As far as the running game overall is concerned I personally think that since we are stuck with McD’s scheme, like it or not, the only thing I rest my hopes on for this year is the O line to gel and the running backs we have to get healthy, that should start producing some results.
TRB, I actually saw OC’s post and responded but for some reason my post didn’t go up
I called on an appointment and when I returned I remember Bay talking about Coop’s blog that was hidden so I jumped on to read his article and the posts and there it was LOL! OC AGAIN! he was stalking me I think! 
LOL
Honestly TRB I do have a son he’s 7 so your point is taken. The only thing is my son is perfect!
Just teasing! Although he did lose his 3rd tooth in 72 hours….Seriously? kid looks like a human jack-o-latern! I told his mom am I the kids father or is he from the trailer park on the other side of town? 
O.k., enough of that…So let me pose this question. What now? Cuz I can certainly see your points but why do you think we are so far away? Is it fair to say that despite a defense that can only do so much if the red zone issues are corrected this is a dangerous team? Just asking. Is that a hurdle to far to even jump?
You know what I saw last Sunday? I saw a Colts team with arguebly one of the best QB’s to ever play the game concerened because we were moving the ball. Against the Colts. TRB, that hurdle isn’t so high is it?
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Bay, I got ya my friend! So it’s the scheme? what scheme are you refering to? Your last part of that comment is what I find more important.
“the only thing I rest my hopes on for this year is the O line to gel and the running backs we have to get healthy, that should start producing some results.”
We have a young Oline and RB’s banged up. How is that McD’s issues? That line will come together and the RB’s should be soon close to 100%…so why throw that hat on top of the “McD fire” that seems to be burning. It’s youth, it’ll work out….you’re like a football genius you can see that can’t you. That this Oline is young and we’ll pull together through the season. Moreno will get back, Buck, Maroney will get a little more comfortable….That’s enough isn’t it? I mean lets face it, this is clearly a pass heavy offense. Even if there was a running game of significant improvement we’ll still put up big yards in the pass….
hugs and kisses bay LOL
GO GET EM’ BOYS
Ok, this seems to be the platform to point out the negatives, haha, specially since I said I would leave the Rice blog to the forever optimists, so here we go with a few negatives of mine on our team for this year:
The O line is too young and it takes minimum a year for an O line to gel by any standards.
We don’t have a legitimate powerback to compliment the power blocking scheme.
We have too many dancers on the LOS for running backs.
We are very weak at the TE position, no worthy catching TE to even speak of, and Graham is getting up in years and don’t seem like his old self and Quinn is a bust for now.
We probably have one of the worse LB corps in the entire league, the Steelers alone have 4 LB’s that would put anyone of ours to shame.
On the front 7 on D we don’t have one single big name guy that can take on a game himself and turn it around.
Our only motivational player Dawkins is starting to lose quite an edge in coverage.
On ST we have shown nothing but being mediocre both in returns and specially in coverage, except for the non football players, Prater and Colquitt who are doing great.
I think that would be plenty to keep anyone from thinking we are close to an elite team, heck we are a ways from just being good, anyway that’s me I don’t drink the same orange kool-aid some of you guys drink I guess…
Broncfalls, you just make me repeat myself, you just enjoy it don’t you, haha. Last time: McD blew it because he is running a power blocking scheme O line with zone blocking backs. He refused to get help at running back in the off season when we all asked him to. The end result is in front of your eyes my friend, a combination that doesn’t work, Len Dale proved it can work with better fitted RB personel, that’s on McD either way you look at it.
You know, even so your motto is McD Genius or something, or used to be, it’s not the end of the world if he is really not, a good coach is all I want, one who has people skills, who can realte to his players and get 100% out of them, I’ll settle for that, forget the genius part, it’s like Einstein, nobody can relate.
, who can relate…
Bay, your to in depth for me I guess. You make some good points I agree. Just don’t see such the half empty glass you do so often is all. You just rattled off a laundry list of things. That’s fine but if you think you have to be great or above average in all of those things to be competitive I just respectfully dissagree.
And I don’t make you repeat yourself! You repeat yourself to us every time I have to be reminded of some sort of prediction you got correct when you predicted it 800 million years ago on an earlier post! So if you want to be considered the football guru as I suggest you are (seriously great football mind) then I expect you to respond to every post I ask you to LOL! buddy!
GO GET EM’ BAY!
I just did, but my fingers are getting mad at you, LOL.
Now you can respond to my laundry list, can’t you? You think it’s all in my head or any truth to any of it? Your fingers turn, haha.
lol at all you said about your son. that was hilarious. Sure redzone is one thing, but also not beating your selfs and like McD alwasy says , smart tough physicla football. All these sound like a mole hill in words but are more like a mountain in actuality IMO
I also tend to agree with bay on this one and we have clashed quite a few times. He does make a point for those who say its the oline, that Lendale white made short yardage downs look effortless. He still had some troubles but his build and the type of RB (power) he is made it work. When u(McD) saw what a powerback can do, and lost the pwoerback, somethign should go off in his mind like “MAN!!!, I really need a replacement powerback, not other backs THE same build and style of the ones u already have. Just saying lol. And to make matters worse he panicked and gave up a pick for a Rb we already have (in a matter of speaking) lol.
Well said Coopster… it will take discipline & patience for this team to stop losing the turnover battle. That goes for the rookies too, they need more discipline than anyone on the team. The turnovers have killed our chances at winning. Our biggest issues right now are turnovers and our so-called “running game”. I’m hoping Moreno is healthy enough to play Sunday and if not, I can only hope if Maroney is getting the nod to play, that he takes every chance he gets to gain more than 2 yards a carry. That’s sad stuff right there.
Oh and thanks for the “behind-the-scenes” story… I’m sure there’s a lot more where that came from. lol
Keep the faith Broncos Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!
I went on the Browns website to get all the statistics on Hillis, but they didn’t list any fumbles for any of their players despite fact that the +/- Turnover shows that they have had to have had some fumbles. I’m fairly cetain that Hillis has 2 or 3 fumbles. That’s why Mcd dumped him. Remember last year his kickoff fumbles?
Moreno fumbled like 4 times last year too and buck has one under his belt already this year and buck is a vet he should know better. Hillis was put in game time situation once in a blue moon forgive him if he is rusty lol. Plus his fumble last year (1 of em) came on KR. really?!? a power back as a returner?!? way to use personel right McDaniels lol. Not defending fumbles just saying.
Btw, Hillis has fumbled 2wice. both in the same game, the first game of the season, I dont believe he has fumbled since then, and even the ravens couldnt force one out of him. He wasnt perfect but he was worth the work in my opinion, a power back thats also a good receiver. But it is what it is, just another dumb move imo by mcd, but no need crying over spilt milk. plus only time will tell who was right. Go Broncos
Ps: Maroney, an avid goal line fumbler from what some NE fans have said. Just saying…
We shouldve easily won this game. I don’t care what we did well, we didnt finish drives, and thats the ONLY thing that matters. We killed ourselves with STUPID mistakes and poor execution. If we did this on my highschool team, we’d run until hell froze over, and then some more. and btw, did anybody see PEYTON HILLIS against the RAVENS??? we traded him for a freaken loser of a qb
Coop, thanks for your insight. I believe we are only going to get better. To tell you the truth I believe the Bronco`s are gonna be a good team this year, but next year I think we are capable of going deep into the playoffs. I`m going to enjoy every game this year. Love my Bronco`s and I`m excited about this year, but especially next year.
Wow, now the blog is rockin. Let’s touch base on a few things. On the goal line or inside the 5 yard line I hate the receivers in tight. They don’t/can’t block a linebacker…like simple math. Leave then outside with their skirts on.
I like spreading them out and let the men do what the men do best. Hit people in the mouth and run an inside trap or a QB draw, or a quick hitting dive.
A big back helps and scheme help. Either could change. It’s not like we have issues that can’t be fixed with schemes…just throw some orange cool-aide on it right, baylinorcrush. Had to go there as you made me laugh out loud and I don’t know how to make all those smiley faces and stuff that broncofalls does. How do you do that?
)
Timing of 4 years. Not set in stone, but at 4 years you really know what you have with a head coach, his schemes, his players, his style, his front and back office and his drafting and free agent abilities. It wouldn’t make any sense to do it any other way with what he had to work with when he came here and to build his own team and scheme.
The rotating door thing is tough on any team’s morale. We use to hate to answer the phone at home in case it was what (we called the Turk) the person that called you to come see the head coach. That’s was never a good call. Always cost you your job. That’s unfortunately the business side of the NFL. Perform or be gone and early on we’ll see a lot of that. Snoop around other NFL websites at the transactions and I think you’ll see more movement than you’d expect.
It is a fact: the longer guys play together the better they are. Heck I coach my 11 year old son’s Creek O-line and D-line and we get better every week (undefeated so far) (yea-oh yea!!) oops sorry got carried away there for a sec……..and killing folks with our blocking techniques. It is so fun to watch kids have success and see it in their eyes.
Hey, by the way, I never mentioned Hillis…….who guessed who I meant?
) That was pretty funny tooo. He’s gone. I liked him so I promise not to refer to him again EVER!!!! promise. 
)
baylinorcrush, you said: Just my thoughts, hope I’m totally off. We’ll yep. Patience grasshopper. We have fixables. The O-line takes the longest to get going. Always has, always will, but time will tell on many of these that’s why they don’t concern me to the point of pointing fingers yet. They need a little time and patience and I like what I see. They cut Tyler Polumbus and he’s now with Seattle. That says something about the guys that are here….oh yea, do you like DJ Williams? I do.
Infortunately we’re not a playoff team this year so we have things that can only get better for us and like strandoftds says above, I like next year already. I’m not ready to throw in the towel by any means because that’s not something that’s in my DNA. I like what I see so far.
It’s our depth that scares me to death though. And I’ll bust out a few more stories throughout the year. Sometimes comments or situations remind me of an event. Some the names will be changed to protect the innocent.
)
Good reading as usual Coop, you are going to take some heat about saying we are not a playoff team this year, many of us know that but some will be outraged over it, but heck you are probably like me, you’ve been stepped on, you’ve been stomped on, yet you are still kicking and being yourself, way to go Coop!
You make good points Coopster. I think all of Bronco Country misses Hillis except McD. That’s one BIG mistake he made that I hope he’s regretting right now. We might actually have a decent running game if we still had him. Just stuns me McD didn’t see the talent & potential he has… I honestly don’t know what he was thinking.
As for the playoffs, I won’t be saying we’re not a playoff team till we actually don’t make it. If these guys would just play like a team, get their act together and dominate games like they did against Seattle, we’d make it for sure. They are gonna get things turned around, just a matter of will, determination & time. I know we all want to see them make the playoffs, anything’s possible. Its all up to them if they want it bad enough.
Keep the faith Broncos Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!
Scoring TD’s in the Redzone is going to make or break a season. We were awful last year and in Cutlers last season we were just as bad. The fade route, lob pass on 3rd down was a bad call. Should have just pounded it on the ground on 3rd down. Also Maroney looks a little slow compared to most backs as does Moreno. Our backs are not explosive enough, they aren’t hitting the holes at top speed and that’s frustrating to watch. Maurice Morris who is the backup to Best in Detroit has more speed than any RB on our roster and he’s just one back I’m seeing who has better speed than ours. Orton is turning into a stud and I’m really liking our receiving corps but how about our TE’s? Graham is showing his age and if you look at the teams that are successful they all have reliable TE’s. We have some tough games coming up and if we don’t start executing in the Redzone and start putting some pressure on the opposing teams QB we could be 1-5 going into the Raiders game. I’m thinking 3-5 or 4-4 at our BYE week would be huge!
Go Broncos and please shut down the run this week and get to the QB!
Coop,
Great post as usual and I loved your follow up to the first few comments.
I’m with you in believing that we are headed in the right direction and that we need to give the coach time to sort out the last few missing pieces — the last thing we want is a coaching merry-go-round like what they’ve had until recently in places like Detroit and Oakland.
That said, when you mentioned that you’d like to see more inside traps in the red zone, it reminded me that I was thinking the other day something very similar — that McD needs to realize that it only takes one or two defenders making a great play to blow up a run when you’re trying to block man-to-man straight up but that it takes much more when you’re giving your big guys up front the advantage of better angles and the element of surprise (you know how much defenders hate being blindsided, right?). Whether it’s with the backside cutting in the zone scheme or trapping like the Redskins ran back in the days of the Hogs, great running teams always give the blockers every advantage they can and right now I just don’t see that that’s happening here — and I don’t think it would even if we were able to put the five best O-linemen in the league at each position. I mean, it’s not like the Patriots have ever been known for being a great running team either, right?
OK, now, aside from the (lack of) running game, I think you’d have to say that in the last two years the Broncos have gotten more talent and depth at just about every position — even in spite of the fan favorites (Hillis, Scheffler) and superstars (Cutler, Marshall) that have had to leave town. Sure, we’re 1-2 (probably going to be 1-3 come Monday — I hate those d*** early starts) and things aren’t exactly off to a flying start this season like they were last year — but we haven’t been blown out of any game yet and we haven’t given up huge rushing yards like we were at the end of last season. Add to that the fact that our starting QB is playing as well as just about any in the league right now and I’m pretty happy with things as they stand, yet so many fans are getting bent about the “demotion” of one of our backup QB’s?
I guess I just don’t get it on that score — but here’s hoping it won’t matter this season…
For now, though, I’m just hoping our D comes out of the gate and stuffs CJ, our offense scores early and often and Vince Young has a bad day like the one he had two weeks ago.
GO BRONCOS!!!
All good points you guys and 07Elway. kearly37, agree 100% with hating the early starts. Hate them now, hated them then, always hate them. You all make this fun. Your thoughts and comments and going after each other at times. I’m O.K. taking some heat…been there done that if you were around when we roasted the Greek downtown a few years ago and busted on Cutler. That was heat and I was so right I’ll brag.
Ohio, I’m not against the fade route. Matter of fact I really like it but like anything else it has to be executed flawlessly. We didn’t do that. A great WR wins evertime if executed correctly….same as the under throw or throw to the back shoulder….has to be executed flawlessly.
I was on the radio with Gil Whiteley today and we had a few laughs talking about the same thing. We could use more mis-direction, some traps. Our lineman are good enough athletes to pull it off and probably be pretty dang good at it. Keep the skirts outside for the glamour shots and let the real work get done inside by the fellas. Add another tightend to the mix and another lineman. Bet you didn’t know I’d move to the tight end spot often when I was here to block and did it in Tampa too….works great. Me at 275 against a LBer….easy pickings..win everytime. Even caught a pass against Seattle…now that was funny. Stop laughing.
Like chess, keep em thinking. By the way someone else put the smiley faces in there for me because I have no clue other than the keys I use on the keyboard to make then from a colon an o and a )…so I’m confused.
)
07elway…I agree 100%,nough said!!!!!!!!!!!
COOP,
Great post! Thank you.
I just wanted to let you know I’m still out here and I’m drinking the Koolaid.
I also know you like these yound guards, and I have high hopes for them but they gotta get into the deffensive side of the ball and make some contact with those linebackers or the running game will continue to sputter. I’d also like to see a little more of the play action pass on third downs to stall those linebackers a little. Controling the linebackers is the Key!
I would also like to point out The Broncos have a new Oline coach and a new runningbacks coach. Without Dennison and Turner, These new coaches are learning on the fly along with the rookies. Bottum line is this will take time. Maybe more time than fans want to wait for.
COOP,
I agree with you I see this TEAM coming together and competing with whoever comes thier way, it’s just a matter of when.
I Like what I see too…
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !