Official Denver Broncos Thread

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Is Cosby Bill's son? I think he's in the league somewhere.

I'm not sure if that's a joke or if you are serious. At any rate, Bill Cosby's son was killed over a decade ago.

[wwharton]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I'm not sure if that's a joke or if you are serious. At any rate, Bill Cosby's son was killed over a decade ago.

I'm a sick guy but I wouldn't even make a joke like that. I thought he had a son in the NFL.

Just did a search... I'm thinking of Denzel. His son. RIP to Bill's son.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I'm a sick guy but I wouldn't even make a joke like that. I thought he had a son in the NFL.

I didn't think you were making a joke. I figured you just didn't know. Sad deal, really.

[wwharton]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I didn't think you were making a joke. I figured you just didn't know. Sad deal, really.

Yeah no kidding. I completely forgot too. I need to make sure I don't make that mistake again.

BTW, it looks like Moreno may give it a go this week too. Haven't heard anything about Champ. Don't know how bad he's hurt.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Things might be looking up on Denver's injury front:

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_18945133

I'm not sure what to think about Moreno anymore. I've been in that guy's corner for awhile now, but he just doesn't seem to get it done. I was happy with McGahee's performance last week, and it wouldn't bother me if he shouldered most of the carries. I'm concerned about whether or not he can handle that work load. I wish Moreno would get it going and they could use McGahee as intended...a short yardage power back.

Champ is still a huge question mark, and I think getting him back this week is a key for how well they do against Tennessee. Although, a pass rush wouldn't hurt either. However, if they can't stop Chris Johnson, I'm not sure it matters.

wwharton, you're a Ravens fan. What happened last week? I watched a little of the game on my DTV game mix, but I didn't have a feel for what was going on. Was it a let down after ripping Pittsburgh, or is Tennessee perhaps better than expected? I was shocked at that game. I never would have guessed the Titans would move the ball like that against Baltimore.

[wwharton]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

It was that exactly. They were clearly too happy about beating PIT, but TEN played great also. It was their home opener and that used to be a rivalry as big as BAL/PIT (before BAL/PIT got to the level it is today) so it was a big game. But that was only part of it. The Ravens put all their eggs in the basket of stopping CJ, and they did. But when Ringer came in they took the foot off the gas, and when CJ was in they didn't have the talent to contain Britt. Hasselbeck still has some game so he made some great decisions to Britt and Washington. The Ravens couldn't stop them on 3rd and long. Titans D did a good job also, but the play calling was suspect for the Ravens too. Our starting right guard was out too and that caused a ton of problems.

I expect the Titans to have a bit of a let down this week bc it was a huge win and I don't think they have as much motivation to play like that against the Broncos. They will be at home though, and they are better than they're given credit for. Hasselbeck is proving that the offense can be productive with a smart QB with some accuracy. I think if Champ doesn't play, Britt will go nuts. The D is the question. I don't know if it's completely real or if it was pumped up a bit and the Ravens played into their hands a bit.

I think the best situation for your running game would be for McGahee to be the bruiser and Moreno to be the change of pace pack. Not a traditional change of pace back though. More like a 55/45 split, but roles determined by play calling. If you've gotta ride McGahee all season I can see him getting hurt. It's been a while since he carried that kind of load.

I also don't know the extent of your injuries but you should be able to get a better pass rush than the Ravens got. CJ will probably be better but I think he's still got some rust so I don't think he'll go nuts even if you play him like you would anyone else. I'd worry more about Britt than CJ at this point to be honest.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I didn't get a chance to re-watch the game, but did anyone else notice that McGahee was doing a lot of cut backs? i.e. the one-hop cut and go runs? It appeared to me that the offensive line was using more zone blocking against the Bengals and allowing McGahee to cut against the grain.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I also don't know the extent of your injuries but you should be able to get a better pass rush than the Ravens got.

The Ravens' pass rush was that bad?

I have yet to see the Broncos pass rush show up as I thought it would this year. It's only been two games and to be fair, Dumervil has been either out or not at 100%.

I hope you're right and the Titans do have a bit of a let down.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I didn't get a chance to re-watch the game, but did anyone else notice that McGahee was doing a lot of cut backs? i.e. the one-hop cut and go runs? It appeared to me that the offensive line was using more zone blocking against the Bengals and allowing McGahee to cut against the grain.

I noticed that as well. Denver is employing some zone blocking, but it's nothing like it once was. Denver's running game has never been the same since Alex Gibbs left. In fact, you could make a strong case that the demise of the Broncos began about that time.

[wwharton]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

The Ravens' pass rush was that bad?

I have yet to see the Broncos pass rush show up as I thought it would this year. It's only been two games and to be fair, Dumervil has been either out or not at 100%.

I hope you're right and the Titans do have a bit of a let down.

Pass rush has been a concern for the ravens. They only had about 27 sacks last year. People complain about the secondary (which is why they drafted Jimmy Smith) but the real problem is not getting pressure on the QB. Suggs is a beast but that's all we've got, and has been since Pryce took that final turn for the worse and then left. Hopefully Kindle can grow quick, and Kruger can show what he did in the preseason but they weren't very good last week. They were great week 1 but that was mostly Suggs, and the team being collectively pumped to beat down the Steelers.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I noticed that as well. Denver is employing some zone blocking, but it's nothing like it once was. Denver's running game has never been the same since Alex Gibbs left. In fact, you could make a strong case that the demise of the Broncos began about that time.

Well, I dunno about that. Even after Gibbs left, we were spitting out 1K yard RBs every year. Offense was never really a major problem with the Broncos. What got Shanny fired was his inability to solidify the defense. Which is why hiring McD was so perplexing. Imagine if John Fox had come in with Cutler and Co. waiting for him. He shores up the defense, commits to the run as usual, and Cutler has a team that can support him.

Mike Shanahan made several key mistakes with the Broncos:

1) Handing the offense to Griese in 1999. He was third string and hadn't earned the position. Because of that, the team didn't support Griese, and he was quickly alienated. He wasn't ready to take on the position of succeeding Elway and the team didn't support him. It should've been Brister's team to start.

2) Using washed-up veterans on defense. Too many times, he would sign washed-up veterans to big contracts. He kept trying to repeat the success he had with Neil Smith, and the results were terrible. He didn't put emphasis on creating a strong front four, and releasing Trevor Pryce was a monumental mistake.

3) Reeling in Jake Plummer. He kept trying to turn Plummer into a pocket passer the way he got Elway under control. The difference was that Plummer wasn't the same type of QB, and it greatly hampered the QB to a point where animosity between Plummer and Shanahan developed. He effectively killed the Plummer in Jake Plummer.

As for our defense:

Watch the Titans' passing game and see if they use a lot of quick passes. It seems to me that teams this year, even in preseason, understand that our defense is going to be aggressive and are using a lot of quick passes to thwart it. Playing aggressively is fine, but if you blitz on every down, teams will destroy you with screens and slants.

[wwharton]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Well, I dunno about that. Even after Gibbs left, we were spitting out 1K yard RBs every year. Offense was never really a major problem with the Broncos. What got Shanny fired was his inability to solidify the defense. Which is why hiring McD was so perplexing. Imagine if John Fox had come in with Cutler and Co. waiting for him. He shores up the defense, commits to the run as usual, and Cutler has a team that can support him.

Mike Shanahan made several key mistakes with the Broncos:

1) Handing the offense to Griese in 1999. He was third string and hadn't earned the position. Because of that, the team didn't support Griese, and he was quickly alienated. He wasn't ready to take on the position of succeeding Elway and the team didn't support him. It should've been Brister's team to start.

2) Using washed-up veterans on defense. Too many times, he would sign washed-up veterans to big contracts. He kept trying to repeat the success he had with Neil Smith, and the results were terrible. He didn't put emphasis on creating a strong front four, and releasing Trevor Pryce was a monumental mistake.

3) Reeling in Jake Plummer. He kept trying to turn Plummer into a pocket passer the way he got Elway under control. The difference was that Plummer wasn't the same type of QB, and it greatly hampered the QB to a point where animosity between Plummer and Shanahan developed. He effectively killed the Plummer in Jake Plummer.

As for our defense:

Watch the Titans' passing game and see if they use a lot of quick passes. It seems to me that teams this year, even in preseason, understand that our defense is going to be aggressive and are using a lot of quick passes to thwart it. Playing aggressively is fine, but if you blitz on every down, teams will destroy you with screens and slants.

I think the sell for McDaniels was that he had Nolan with him. I'm just guessing but that does sound like a good combination on paper, and wasn't bad for a first year when they were together. I also don't know if you'd ever have Fox with Cutler bc people forget that Cutler was barking as soon as Shanny was let go. From then, it really seemed like he was just looking for excuses to bitch his way out of town. Also, outside of losing Nolan, it seems like you guys have had SERIOUS injuries to players on D every year... kind of crazy. This year is no exception. Could say something to the depth also, but seeing the big names that go down on a yearly basis is kinda crazy.

Something else about the BAL/TEN game... they seemed to pick up on what the WRs were doing pretty early in the game (the commentators that is). They'd run maybe 8 to 10 yards and stutter step. Then from there they'd either do a quick come back or continue on deep. The Ravens corners are young (even the ones that are decent) and I don't think they ever got a grasp on it. I don't know that the Titans were doing THAT good of a job of selling it EVERY time, but maybe. In short, I don't see that working too much on Champ... if he plays of course.

[TDenverFan]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I think Lance Ball deserves some more carries. There's something about him I like...

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Mike Shanahan made several key mistakes with the Broncos:

1) Handing the offense to Griese in 1999. He was third string and hadn't earned the position. Because of that, the team didn't support Griese, and he was quickly alienated. He wasn't ready to take on the position of succeeding Elway and the team didn't support him. It should've been Brister's team to start.

2) Using washed-up veterans on defense. Too many times, he would sign washed-up veterans to big contracts. He kept trying to repeat the success he had with Neil Smith, and the results were terrible. He didn't put emphasis on creating a strong front four, and releasing Trevor Pryce was a monumental mistake.

3) Reeling in Jake Plummer. He kept trying to turn Plummer into a pocket passer the way he got Elway under control. The difference was that Plummer wasn't the same type of QB, and it greatly hampered the QB to a point where animosity between Plummer and Shanahan developed. He effectively killed the Plummer in Jake Plummer.

Good list. I believe Plummer had the best winning percentage among any Bronco qb's. Trevor was a HUGE mistake. So was letting Bertrand Berry and Monsanto Pope go.

I have one to add:

4) Shanny throwing the defensive coordinator under the bus each year as a scapegoat. Not much chance of establishing any defensive continuity with that going on each year.

This has continued for six straight years now, including the McD era. It has to stop. How can the defense begin to rebuild if it is constantly being torn down from the top? I liked Coyer and Nolan. Hopefully Allen works out and they can start to put something together.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Well, I dunno about that. Even after Gibbs left, we were spitting out 1K yard RBs every year.

Fair argument and I somewhat agree, but they have only had three running backs to eclispse 1000 yards since 2003. That's not very good. To me, the dominant run attack seems to have slowly disappeared into what it is now. I was thinking Gibbs left after 2005, but it was 2003. Plus, when Gibbs was here, Denver was using primarlily one feature back. To be fair, it's pretty much been tandem for several years now. However, they haven't rushed for over 2000 yards as a team since 2006, which is also the last year they had a back over 1000 yards. They did almost had two 1000 yard backs in 2005 with Anderson and Bell. My vantage point is that their running game has gotten progressively worse since Gibbs stepped down.

I'd just like to see that vaunted running game come back. Hopefully Fox can deliver.