Official Denver Broncos Thread

[kehlis]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

I keep hearing about how Manning is 1-5 against Rivers. I don't care. Different match-ups.

It's just an argument people use when they have no other argument to make.

Yea but........Manning is 1-5 against the Chargers.

[Broncos86]

The only way the Broncos lose this game is due to turnovers. Eliminate the turnovers, and the Broncos win.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

You have to think that this offense is right there, ready to kick it into gear.

[Broncos86]

You have to think that this offense is right there, ready to kick it into gear.

Exactly. Turnovers have killed us. Otherwise, this team is going to put up solid numbers.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Porter is out and it sounds like Brooking is going to start over Mays tonight.

Neither bothers me. Chris Harris and Tony Carter will be fine. Brooking may be a big positive just from the standpoint that he is much more capable at 'QB'ing' the defense that Mays is.

Tonight is such a huge game.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Just.....WOW!!

I didn't think it was that possible to go that low and finish so high.

Unbelievable.

I guess Harris and Carter were just fine.

[Broncos86]

Once again, without turnovers, we would've obliterated them. But we can't count on a SD self-destruction. We have to clean this stuff up. Thankfully, the errors were caused by younger players, and mostly on special teams.

We don't need some explosive punt returner. We need someone who will catch the ball so that Manning can go to work and our defense can catch a breath.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

We don't need some explosive punt returner. We need someone who will catch the ball so that Manning can go to work and our defense can catch a breath.

They already have him...his name is Jim Leonhard.

The pick-up of Holliday appears to be a big mistake. They picked him up to return punts, but the book on him was that he has a history of muffing them. Why take the risk, especially when stupid mistakes are what's hurting this team to begin with?

I agree. Just have somebody back there to safely field the punt and get it back to Manning so he can do his thing. The odds of Manning driving them down the field are way higher than getting a big return. The odds of Holliday muffing a punt are also higher than him getting a big return. What's the upside?

I'm not feeling it with Bolden returning kicks either. If Holliday is better at returning kicks, let him do that.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Yup, agreed. And especially with kick-offs. Most of the time, the kicks will be 7 yards deep in the end-zone anyways. Or out of the endzone at Mile High. Just take your knee and avoid injuries and fumbles.

And yeah, Leonhard is the one who should be fielding punts. He didn't drop a single ball, thus far.

You know one trend we might see more of? Teams throwing against Champ Bailey. I think Champ is still one of the better corners, but how often does he really get tested? I think teams might start testing him.

Clearly, the move to put Brookings in at MLB was a solid choice. The Broncos' defense looked prepared and did a good job against the run. 10 points scored against them were due to fumbles in our own red zone. I guess Brookings is going to make his signing make sense after all.

To go along with that, Wesley Woodyard saw more time on the field because of it. The result was 6 tackles for him. I think the move makes sense. Woodyard is explosive.

This game was a tale of two halves. The first half saw our offense try to dink and dunk their way down the field. Once in a while, it worked. But typically, the screens and quick outs were sniffed out. The second half, our offense attacked down field, and they were rewarded. A BIG part of me says that McCoy is to blame for the first half woes. I still think he needs to step aside. He clearly still has that Josh McDaniels mentality.

It was also nice to see Decker atone for the trip. On his TD, he willed his way into the endzone. This game was proof of concept that both Decker and Thomas are threats in their own ways. The touchdown catch by Thomas was a nice route. And boy did Manning put some zing on that pass.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

That's funny. I was just talking about the kick returns and how aggravating it is to watch Denver routinely start drives inside their own 15 when they bring the kick out. I agree - just take a knee - especially when you are 5+ yards deep in the endzone. Then throw in the holding call and you are under your own goal post's shadow.

Yeah, Bailey is no doubt on the downside of his career and it wouldn't surprise me if he is picked on more and more. I thought it was so great seeing Carter and Harris step up and make plays. Confidence is huge at cornerback, and I hopefully their performances will catapult them further. I don't know about Porter anymore. He looked good against Pittsburgh, but only average since. He got his hands on a lot of balls that he could have picked...but didn't. I loved that pick by Harris where he dove in front of Royal (the one prior to his pick-six). That was huge and a play Denver's secondary has been unable to make in the past.

Brooking is solid, and hopefully he holds up. He really only over-ran one play. Mays consistently does that. The defense as a whole really stepped up. Props to Dumervil...now just do it on a regular basis. What he was doing to disrupt plays is exactly what Denver needed.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

When Dumervil is in a situation that he knows he can just pass rush, he seems to really shine. I think his issue is the running game. When the offensive line is attacking him, he loses his speed advantage and suddenly he's taken off the line. He can't maintain gap control or the edge.

When we saw that San Diego was in a passing situation, Dumervil really pinned his ears back and went after Rivers. Hopefully, the team can stop digging holes and start getting some early leads. Then Dumervil and Miller can just go to work.

[Jonsco28]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

But I think that's what has been really frustrating about this defense. People talk about how Denver plays better when they are ahead and put the teams in known passing situations. For the most part, what is 3rd and long (6+ yards)? It's primarily a passing down. Why can't they shine then, even if you don't have the lead? They did better this last game, but getting off the field on 3rd and long has been the achilles heel of this defense. Luckily, the three man rush has not been used near as much as it has it the past. Denver has done a very good job at getting teams into third and long, only to go soft and play conservative. It's frustrating. Play aggressive...get a sack / fumble ....force a quick throw that could result in a turnover, or at least an incompletion.

That's the continued improvement I want to see. Quit waiting for the lead to play aggressive in situations that call for it.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

Great point about 3rd and long. That should be when the pass rush overtakes the offense and we get off the field. This is just my own memory, but it seems like a lot of converted third downs came from underneath routes. That would place the focus on the linebackers.

I'd say with Woodyard on the field more, we'll see some improvement in pass coverage. I don't think Joe Mays is capable in pass coverage. I recall on Monday, MNF highlighted Keith Brookings' pass coverage, and he was doing a very good job of covering the RBs and TEs that were trying to give him hitch and go routes.

I noticed, against the Chargers, that Von Miller was dropping back in pass coverage a bit more and limiting those underneath routes. That could also be a contributing factor as the season goes on. Von Miller's development as a complete linebacker will be key. And if DJ Williams comes back fresh and can be the type of linebacker he is, that will really help bolster the defense and add some depth.

But a big spotlight has to be on Dumervil and his inability to get to the QB this season. Monday, he had some solid success. But he should've had success. He went up against a rookie LT, and analysts all over have been critical of San Diego's tackles. That was a game where Dumervil was expected to dominate, and he almost didn't make it happen when he got shut down in the first half. If Dumervil lives up to his expectations, and starts creating more pressure, our defense is going to get off the field. With Von Miller often getting double-teamed, someone else on the line needs to step up and make a play. I was happy to see Derek Wolfe getting in on the action. But if we allow QBs to sit in the pocket on 3rd and long, they're going to complete passes. If our pass rush can force the QB into making a rash decision, we're going to see more picks. Rivers was clearly uncomfortable in the pocket, and he knew the pass rush was going to get to him. If we can do that to other QBs, we're good.

[TDenverFan]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

To be fair, DVille helped switch the momentum in this game to Denver with that strip sack.


Also, I'm really liking Tony Carter and Chris Harris. They stepped up big.

[Broncos86]

Re: Official Denver Broncos Thread

And with the money he's getting paid, that's what he should be doing. Harris and Carter are "nobodys" who picked up the slack and then some. Dumervil is one of our highest paid players, and he's expected to be a force. For someone like that to be held in check for most of the year, many times with single blocking, is unacceptable. Especially when a rookie LT held him at bay for half the game.

Dumervil was supposed to demand double-teams so that opposing offensive lines would struggle when both Dumervil and Miller blitzed. The question was supposed to be: "who do you double team?" He was supposed to force running backs to stay in and block, or TEs. Instead, the answer has been clear: let the tackle take him on, and double-team Miller.

So if Dumervil doesn't want to be in that group of Broncos linemen who were over-paid and underperformed, he needs to start demanding double-teams with his play. Yes, he was a game-changer in that second half, and that's what he's getting paid to do. Thus far, he hasn't earned his pay check except for 1/2 a game.