The bottom line is always the most important factor in the NFL. The bottom line is wins and losses.
From that standpoint, it was a tough day for the Broncos in Jacksonville.
But I don’t think it is the entire story. Because the bottom line tends to dwarf everything else, some of the things the Broncos did well get overshadowed by the fact they lost the game. I understand, that is the nature of the beast and it likely always will be.
At the same time, I don’t think there is any need for the Broncos to think they won’t, at the least, be a pretty good team this year. Sure, I could break down the Broncos’ struggles on Sunday. It was pretty clear they committed some costly turnovers and penalties. They need to do better executing in key situations. The offense, defense and special teams all had breakdowns and some of them came at crucial times.
I’m not, however, going to harp on those things. It’s just too early in the season. That’s not to excuse the bottom line from Sunday. It’s just to say that I’m choosing to accentuate the positive.
I realize that the Jaguars are not a juggernaut and, heading into the season, they were not a team that most people considered among the elite in the AFC.
Still, they are talented. It was a road game for the Broncos on the east coast. And Denver had a great opportunity to win the game.
What did I like?
1 – THE OFFENSE CAN MOVE THE BALL. No doubt they have to be more efficient in the red zone. No doubt they have to clean up the turnovers and the penalties. But the Broncos moved the ball fairly consistently against a Jaguars’ defense that is always talented and physical.
Kyle Orton played well on Sunday. He continues to show me that he can be a very good quarterback and I fully expect him to have a great year.
2 – THE RUNNING GAME WILL BE FINE. Given that he missed the entire preseason, Knowshon Moreno actually played both more and better than I thought he would. That is a great sign. The guys up front have to clean up some things, but Moreno averaged 4.0 yards per carry. That is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Assuming the offensive line stays healthy, it should only get better. That will bode well as the season progresses.
3 – I’M STARTING TO THINK THE WIDE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE MIGHT WORK OUT. I never thought it wouldn’t work but it isn’t the way most teams go about it. The trio of Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal looks like it could be a potent one. Getting Royal more involved this season is critical for the Broncos and eight catches for 98 yards is a terrific start.
Gaffney has shown he can put up numbers and Lloyd is giving signs that he is going to take full advantage of the opportunity to be a starter. Granted, it’s early but it was a good start.
4 – THE DEFENSE IS A BETTER TACKLING UNIT THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS. There were numerous times when the first Broncos’ defender who got to the ball carrier made the tackle. And on several occasions, that prevented the Jaguars from making a first down.
I also saw guys rallying to the football. When the first defender made contact, it wasn’t long before others were there. That was good to see.
Hopefully these traits become a part of the identity of the Broncos’ defense.
The Wednesday before the game against the Jaguars, Kyle Orton said he really didn’t know where the Broncos stood. He couldn’t get a true feel for the team because it is difficult to do that when all they have played is preseason games.
Based on week one, the Broncos are about where I thought they were. They certainly are not a bad team. At this point, they aren’t a great team.
They played well at times against the Jaguars and they struggled at times. I figured the Broncos would improve as the season goes along. Nothing I saw in game number leads me to think the Broncos can’t, and won’t, have a good season.
What things stood out for you from the first game? Thanks for reading and posting your comments.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos, Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Jacksonville Jaguars, Knowshon Moreno, Mike Rice
np broncos20
heres a link if u need it. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/09/report-broncos-acquire-rb-laurence-maroney-from-patriots/1
another thing. wouldnt mind if it was at least a healthy back but no an injured one with history of injuries and we clearly havent learnt not to get injured players especially RBs when ours already drop like flies. Wasnt that Brown guy from the giants just gotten? he was banged up as well.
Thanks TRB
hei, what ever happened to LSU’s Charles Scott, was it? one powerful runner…do the coaches see something in Maroney we dont? he is still unproven, why not pick one of those rookies that didnt make the cut on other teams..though unproven too, young and healthy would be good…IMO..
Hopefully Harris gets back on the field this week, or Beadles shakes off the rookie butterflies soon
I thought McDaniels was stringing the Jaguars along the whole time. I thought he was lulling them into thinking Tebow would run every time, then he would take a huge downfield shot with Tebow. I don’t think that would be a bad idea.
it wouldnt Maniac, whats the point of bringing him in the game if teams already know we will only run with him and not pass. messes with the idea of that formation being a dual threat.
Maybe Maroney will have a resurgence here like Benson did in cincy, DOUBT IT!!!
We got Maroney
That’s what I’m saying TRB- they know (at least think they know) that we will only run with Tebow, then we take a huge downfield shot
and was it his hamstring that made moreno look slow sunday. last year he had the ankle thing and this year the hamstring thing. I think thats why he looks slow cuz in college he looked faster, or maybe competition was just slower…..yea yea, i know, im complaining about alot. deal with it lol
broncos20: Charles Scott was traded to Arizona from the Eagles. The Cardinals placed him on their practice squad and the Giants signed him. Scott is now on Giants practice squad.
Sheesh. I’m always behind on the times.
Ok wait wait wait! We traded for a dude that’s already injured?! Man what seems right about that besides nothing!
broncos20 you are right, where is Charles Scott! He was a beast at LSU and way better than Keiland Williams from LSU who the Redskins kept. Ok I’m a little biased towards Charles Scott bc I’m in Louisiana.
I understand I’m not in Denver and I’m not @ Dove Valley but why do we keep signing injured RB’s?! I hope it works out, I really do!
I don’t understand why we don’t give Lance Ball a chance to tote the rock?? I thought he played really well in preseason…
I wonder who is going to be the unlucky chap that gets the boot heel from the roster???
Someone has to make room for Maroeny??
Maroeny and Moreno the Itallian stallions…. lol
the unlucky chap should be buckhalter but it wont be. maybe brown, the other injured rb they got. so they shall replace an injured rb with an injured rb lmao.
caramelloo, lmao @”Ok wait wait wait! We traded for a dude that’s already injured?! Man what seems right about that besides nothing!”
Also liked scott, thought we shoulda drafted him in later rounds. big and powerfull but has an INSANE burst. good game speed. oh well….
Hahaha what’s up 1nOnlyTRB, man I just can’t wrap my mind around that. All but ready to fight these Saints fans down here if they even say something bad about our Broncos and they go and do this. How in the wide world of sports do I defend that move?!
You’re right Scott is tough with a burst that shocks you. Would’ve been nice seeing him and Tebow one day bc both have that same toughness and work ethic.
Also not to change subject but is it me or….. Does the KC Thiefs look like the SEC West. The AFC West is starting to look like the SEC in general.
Funny you mention that caramelloo – I was thinking the same thing last night– Chiefs are now SEC West….lol.
thanks royalbronco,
its a long shot but I’d stoked if we signed him off the Giants PS..thats hidden talent.
true caramelloo..Scott was destroying DBs on his way,,very explosive.
No prob broncs20.
We needed a back that can see the holes and actually go through them without tripping all the time. Moreno seems like a really good third down back somebody who can get one or three yards or even get a touchdown at times but we need a quick back that can get us like 5 yards on the first down. Moreno always slips and falls down somehow. Not trying to be negative but we don’t have a quick back that can make a defender miss.
Meant to say we need a quick back..not needed
Go Broncos!!!
Great minds think the same crazy things royalbroncofan1, hahaha.
broncos20 – yeah he was soooooo tough to bring down.
I feel sorry for Lance Ball bc they just don’t wanna give him a chance. I hope they don’t release the guy bc then that means I have to delete him off my facebook friends list. Hahaha, but really why did we go get another injured RB? If that’s the case they could’ve got Ryan Torrain. Go get Tatum Bell bc he’s tired of celling cell phones I’m sure!
I was talking about Charles Scott for the whole draft period. Now we have an opportunity to get him and we instead choose to sign another ex-Patriot with a track record of injuries and underachievement.
Exactly footballMANIAC!!
Maroney, 5’11″, 220, smaller than Brown and a little bigger than Moreno, but nowhere close to LenDale, which as we saw is exactly the kind of power back we need, so I don’t see the big upside here, specially since he is hurt and we had to give up a fourth round pick next year for him. There is definitely a sense of desperation slowly permeating the Bronco ranks, and I can’t blame McD for starting to freak out a bit already, not only was he yelling at players on the sidelines Sunday but he was yelling at coaches too, scary indeed.
But everything is just fine and dandy, it’s just the first game, all bad things can be fixed, nothing fundamentally wrong, at least that’s what the team wants us to believe… I hope they know what they are talking about, because obviously I’m not wearing the same colored glasses they are. However I do think we will beat the Seahawks Sunday, so that’s good stuff to look forward to. Winning that game against Pittsburgh made me feel so good even so it was only a preseason game, there is something magical about winning and I really need to experience that again.
3-12 now if we go back to last year, that’s some lowly bottom of the barrel record no matter how you slice it and I’m sick of it.
FIX whatever is wrong with this mess, thank you, LOL.
New blog with even less significant personel changes if anyone is interested.
Exactly bay, when does loosing and average becomes a problem to them like it is for us. I to felt AWESOME after we beat the Steelers, and I to was saying it’s only preseason but felt good anyway.
If McDani wants to act like New England then throw the ball down field like them, use the slot more like them, and score points like them. I need a win bad! I’m like a addict over here and a Broncos win is my fix!!
Bill Cower…..?
I’m just sayin…..
From the McD Defender, wow!
sndvl will be stunned, LOL.
Or Bowlen could send an army of fans begging Cutler, Shanahan, and Marshall to come back.
Man… I’m trying real hard to kepp believing in Josh but knee jerk reactions like trading next years 4th rd pick for a guy who has never really produced in the NFL and is injured…just doesn’t seem like a well thought out move… It’s like tossing the food overboard because our ship is taking on water…
I’m trying to hold back my Broncopanic until I see how we perform at HOME-INVESCO this week…
If we can get a win then the ship will be afloat again….lol
ILMSDB!!! W or L….
MANIAC, Don’t look back……
Ask Boston….lol
We have to try to keep positive until we see what happens Sunday…. Then we can unleash the Ultimate Skepticism…lol
Hey I have a bad knee and used to play running back. Can I get a contract?
Alphonso Smith, a pick from the Bears for Cutler is gone to Detroit for tight end Dan Gronkowski. Lendale White, a Seattle cast off is now injured and could only have contributed after week four anyway. Tony Scheffer is gone to move up 2 rounds in next years draft. Demaryius Thomas has not played a down yet. Richard Quinn, supposedly a Cutler draft steal sits at 3rd string behind Gronkowski. Kevin Vickerson, another Seattle (draft) bust is now a player? Marshall nets two 2nd round draft picks. Josh Barrett is snatched away off waivers. Two draft picks and fullback Peyton Hillis for our new 3rd string QB Brady Quinn. – Is it me, or does this look like Brian Xanders does not have a clue? It’s 100% Xanders team now though. If we stink this year, or if we look like superstars, It’s all on Xanders.
Excellent input 360, we often overlook Xanders as he is in the background but he has a lot to do with personel issues, but in the same token, nothing is done without McD and Xanders both agreeing on it, I remember hearing McD talking about exactly that last year, so they are both at least equally at fault in all personel related decision, actually McD is probably more responsible for chosing what players to let go, while Xanders is probably more sticking with the task of acquiring players, but in the end as McD said all personel decisions are discussed between the two until they are agreed upon by both.
You know in 2007 when he actually did really well he had a fullback named Heath Evans who blocked for him alot. So now with one of the best fullbacks in the league gone to another team, you see the production go down. If no one gets my point here it is, Heath Evans who helped the run game in New Orleans, who won the superbowl last year is the reason Maroney ran so well. He blocked well for him not only that the offense in New England when maroney ran so well which was what somewhere close to 900 yards really wasn’t as fantastic that year as most think. Not really an extrodinary pickup to me. But maybe he has his best years to come. \
Go Broncos!!!
i think it was a pretty good move…maroney’s just insurance. we don’t wanna end up like we did a couple years ago with all of our rb’s on IR…maroney will pry pass his physical and rest up for a week or two so we have some fresh legs in the middle of the season…not the worst idea in the world
Using Maroney as insurance would be a good idea if Maroney himself could stay healthy.. Hope it works out.. It’s becoming more and more difficult to watch our broncos play.. I can definitely see a 4-12 record in our future
Maroney is a quality back up god call !!!! Second u all whine like a bunch of school girls u expect to win every game ! U want to discuss the real problems good lets do that ! Only in idiot gives up 30 yards in personal fouls in the 4th quarter that looses games and it did !!! next why cant Hill cover a tight end ? those are the glaring problems the rest is growing pains and will work its self out we are changing the culture in denver deal with it were getting better !!!!!
Powerful message.
We’re getting better?? Once you’ve hit bottom, there is only one way to go.. UP.. Not sure we’ve hit bottom yet, and the only reason we’re going to reach bottom, is because he’s taking us there. Have to like your attitude though, once we’re among the worst, eventually we’ll get better..
Go Redskins