SB Nation - Nate Jackson

Roderick Hood is the Surprise Cut as Browns Trim Roster to 78

Chris Pokorny — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:57:54 -0000

The Cleveland Browns trimmed their roster from 80 players to 78 players Monday morning, with one of the cuts standing out: CB Roderick Hood. When the Browns first signed Hood, he was expected to compete with CB Brandon McDonald for a starting role. If he couldn't beat out McDonald, then the former member of the Arizona Cardinals seemed to be a lock for the nickel back position.

Hood did not come on strong enough in camp to unseat McDonald, but the cut is still a surprising one. It was expected that either Corey Ivy or Hank Poteat would be released before Hood. Perhaps the fact that Hood had a bad game this past Saturday against the Tennessee Titans, coupled with the emergence of sixth-round CB Coye Francies, led to the decision.

Here is the list of the cuts the Browns made this morning:

LB Roderick Hood
LB Robert McCune
TE Nate Jackson

None of the other cuts are very surprising.

Also among the news this morning is that OL Ryan Tucker underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last Wednesday. Tucker probably won't be ready for the opener, meaning our depth against the Minnesota Vikings will be slim with Rex Hadnot not scheduled to return until Week 2 at the earliest.

OL Branndon Braxton was re-signed, presumably due to the offensive line situation. Mangini also declined to name a strarting quarterback at this point.

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Day 24 - Pool Absent, Foster Waived

Chris Pokorny — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:50:10 -0000

It doesn't really feel like training camp anymore, but a few sessions still remain. The team hit the field Monday for one of their final three public sessions; after that, everything will be closed off and geared especially towards preparing for the regular season. Rapid Reports indicates that only about 300 fans attended practice on Monday.

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 24 (8/24/09)

Pool's Injury: If you recall, S Brodney Pool left Saturday's exhibition game after getting dinged. Let's hope it wasn't a concussion, but it wasn't a good sign that he was no where to be found on the practice field Monday. The team did not offer any comment on his absence either. Veteran S Mike Adams took Pool's place on Monday. Safety Hamza Abdullah has a broken finger and sat out of practice too, so the roster odds of S Bret Lockett just shot up.
Getting Some Depth Soon: It was good news to hear that OL Rex Hadnot was out on the field again. He wasn't practicing, but him being on the stationary bike is an encouraging sign that he's on schedule to return from his MCL injury within the first few weeks of the season.
Goodbye Foster: The Browns waived offensive tackle George Foster after he had a disappointing camp. It was clearly evident why the former high draft pick could not stick around with other teams. This past Saturday, he completely failed to block a rusher that caused Brett Ratliff to get drilled and fumble the football.
Purcell Gone Too: After suffering an injury, DL Melila Purcell was waived/injured. If he clears waivers, he'll revert to the injured reserve. The team also released TE John Madsen, who rarely appeared in training camp reports.
Roster Replacements: With three people gone, three people were signed, presumably only to be waived in a few weeks too. They are OT Corey Hilliard, TE Nate Jackson, and S Tra Battle.
Massaquoi's Role: He got early reps in Saturday's preseason game, and rookie Mohamed Massaquoi was lined up opposite Braylon Edwards as the No. 2 receiver Monday. The race continues between him and Joshua Cribbs, with Mike Furrey likely seeing consistent action at No. 2 and No. 3.
QB Edge to Anderson: For Monday's session, Brady Quinn had some struggles while Derek Anderson was fine. On Quinn's first attempt in a game simulation, he was intercepted by S Mike Adams on a pass intended for TE Robert Royal. Later on, he had a pass batted away from DB Rod Hood. Anderson, on the other hand, was able to roll out and fire a touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi. Later on, on perhaps the play of the day, he completed a 50-yard pass to Brian Robiskie. Robiskie laid out on the play to make the reception.
Bubble Watch: As Jerome Harrison continues to sit out with injuries, RB Noah Herron is doing well, seeing some action near the goal line in drills.

Monday's Links/Camp Sources

Pool absent, Hadnot spotted (Akron Beacon Journal, Ridenour)
QB leader in the clubhouse? None yet. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cabot)

With three Tight Ends down, the Bengals will likely look to the free market

Kirkendall — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:42:18 -0000

Now that the Bengals are down three Tight Ends, the question becomes, what now? Reggie Kelly is out for the year after having surgery on Wednesday. On the same day, Ben Utecht suffered a nasty concussion which knocked him out for nearly ten minutes before regaining consciousness and was taken to the local hospital. Daniel Coats is listed as day-to-day after the third-string Tight End twisted his ankle. With Chase Coffman and Darius Hill as the only healthy Tight Ends available (both of whom are rookies), the Bengals are looking into the market for another.

The Bengals were talking about signing another tight end even before they went out to practice Wednesday night with former Packer and Jet Bubba Franks the most well known. Head coach Marvin Lewis acknowledged that Franks "was a very, very good player for a long period of time." He's also 31 and has played in just eight games in each of the last two seasons.

Typically when the Bengals went through a spell of injuries, we'd question the training staff. However, it doesn't seem right this time. The injuries that our Tight Ends are suffering are freak injuries that are unpreventable, placed in the category of "it happens."

Scout.com lists best available free agents at Tight End -- Bubba Franks among them.

George Wrighster - The Giants recently released him.
Bubba Franks - The New York Jets recently released him. Franks fits in as a second tight end at this point in his career.
Mark Bruener - May retire, but if he wants to play, he would fit in as a blocking/third tight end
Daniel Wilcox - Decent blocker who fits in as a second or third tight end.
Jerame Tuman - Fits in as a third tight end.
Courtney Anderson - One very highly regarded by the Raiders, but has bounced around quite a bit the past few seasons.
Nate Jackson - He was selected recently in the UFL draft.
Martrez Milner - Just waived by the Jets and fits in as a third tight end.
Adam Bergen - Former undrafted free agent who fits in as a third tight end.

Likely, the Bengals will rely heavily on Chase Coffman to carry the position banner. However, there's things he must adjust to. Like lining up in a three-point stance, for instance, and blocking. Coffman knows the sudden opportunity he's given.

"It does leave an opportunity for me to step up, make more plays and get more reps in practice and do the things that I need to be doing to be a great player," Coffman said Monday after Kelly was injured. "I have to step up now a lot more, learn quicker and do a lot better."

Satisfied enough that Coffman is doing the right things, head coach Marvin Lewis does see improvement.

"The offensive coaches comment that every day you see improvement," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "It's kind of like riding a bike; the more you do it the quicker it's going to come back to you. I thought tonight he (Coffman) did a good job of both hanging in there physically and being one of two guys for an entire practice."

There's still a decent chance that Coats returns within the month. Who knows about Utecht -- concussions are tricky things and there's no time-table chart. Either way, the Bengals will likely sign a Tight End in the coming days to replenish the ranks -- at least temporarily.

Broncos Dreams and Musings

Emmett Smith — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:30:10 -0000

via www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Today I decided to give in to the weaving flow of the Web and pass on some items that should interest you. If you have children, work with children or if you're an older athlete yourself, I've gathered and included some items that matter. I also had to give a brief nod to Denver's playoff basketball team.

Broncos Dream 1

Is there a Broncos fan out there that isn't dreaming of seeing Wesley Woodyard, David Bruton and Spencer Larsen chasing down kickoff- and punt-returners together? The three of them together should go a long way to getting the Broncos past the nightmare that has been special teams of late. Bruton's obvious grasp of the special teams role and his love of doing what he's been involved with since he was young is especially laudable.

"I've always taken special teams seriously," he said. "It's a way to get on the field and get my feet wet and get some experience." Every Broncos fan has known since Terrell Davis made 'The Hit' how important it can be, for both the team and your career. I want to give a big "Thank You" to the guys who know how to play that third of the game right.

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in - Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory, ch. 1

The Pressure's On

Recently, nightly@msnbc.com did a pair of articles on our young athletes and physical training. What they found was disturbing - repetitious motion injuries in children ages 8 - 12 and up. At that age, the bone and connective tissue hasn't solidified yet. One common injury is Osgood's Schlatter, in which the tendon from the kneecap (patella) which attaches to the top of the tibia (shinbone) begins to tear the knob of that bone off the shaft. It's usually caused by excessive training - over strengthening and overworking the muscles of the thigh beyond the capacity of the young bones and joints to endure. While you see this most often in the vulnerable knees, over-training can affect nearly any of the joints.

The second part of that article emphasized the issue of sports for our young women. Their rate of injury is escalating due to the same bad training that is affecting our young men being applied to the faster-growing joints and bones of young women. As young women are learning to enjoy soccer, field hockey and other sports (even wrestling!) they are falling prey to the same over-emphasis on ‘winning' and working hard that the young men are.

What's the central culprit in this? Surprisingly, the number one cause is the parents. Most of us have seen or heard of parents who come to sporting events and have to be restrained. The slightly gentler versions are the parents who, often through good intentions, pressure their children to do too much too soon. Overachiever's syndrome usually begins at home. What can be done?

The answer to this also has to lie in the parents themselves, as well as in the teachers, instructors and coaches. They need to be aware of how easily young bodies can be hurt, and how long can last. Coaches must be willing to rest even their top performers. The idea that an early teenager needs to learn to ‘work through the pain' is archaic. Kids need to learn to be kids. There will be time enough to handle greater responsibilities later in life.

If you, your son or your daughter is involved with a program, spend some time with the coach. Ask how he or she monitors their young charges. Some of these injuries are causing lifelong damage, as Osgood's Schlatter often does. Make sure that they warm up before they stretch, stretch before they train and warm down afterward. Insist that if they have ANY pain that they sit out that day, and that they stay out until they don't hurt. Don't worry that some might have ‘phantom' pain - most kids, given a good program, enjoy the activity, the camaraderie and the experience. Kids also need to know that they are believed and trusted to make their own decisions on what hurts and what doesn't. Give them a good grounding in sports and give them the lifelong gift of enjoying them. And keep the door that ends childhood closed for as long as it should be.

Broncos Dreams 2

I was perusing the player turnover for the Broncos listed on the USA Today Broncos home site. One thing that quickly struck me was that it's hard to feel bad about nearly any of the players we lost. Some folks will argue the Cutler deal, so I'll give you that one. Like a lot of folks, I hated letting Mike Leach go.

Then we're down to sentiment - Nate Jackson got me on sheer grit. After that, it's Jamie Winborn, on whom I once did an article. If you know his story, it's impossible to root against the guy. But he's had the luck of the Bangladeshis, having Mike Nolan come in and fire him twice. I still hope that he catches on with someone, preferably as a Will, which he's far better suited for (in a league filled to overflowing with Wills). John Engelberger was our best DE over the past two years, and what does that tell you? Bly? Might have lost that needed step - very expensive for what we got. Alex Haynes? Adam Bergen? Who?

One thing I learned from healthcare - opening a wound is painful. Leaving the team in the state it was, on the other hand, would be fatal to the squad, just as not lancing a wound could be to the patient. It was time for a big old housecleaning. Although many felt that we just needed some better defense, our offensive depth and special teams were deeply flawed as well. Win now? Laudable, but unlikely. Rebuild the team as quickly as possible? That's a goal I can get behind.

"Greatness knows itself" - William Shakespeare, King Henry IV Part 1

Whither Greatness?

Congratulations to Dwight Howard on his NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He told a great story about talking to NBA great Dikembe Mutombo (who was injured with a tear in the leg three weeks ago; our thoughts are with him) at the All-Star game. Dikembe asked him if he wanted to be remembered for a great dunk in a Superman cape or as a great NBA player. Howard replied that he wanted to be remembered as a great player and Mutombo told him that it all started with defense. Howard took it to heart and showed it this year. He's a brilliant young man with a great career in front of him.

Mutombo's words were prophetic. Howard's defense is a big reason that the Magic are still in the playoffs. In a similar vein, the Nuggets went from a playoff joke to a good, contending team, by learning that same lesson. The Cleveland Cavaliers are putting the same lesson to good use, holding their opponents to a mere 76.8 points per game. For both clubs, the decision, by coaches and players alike, to make the less flashy part of the game a key to winning has elevated them to new levels.

I asked TSG what had finally launched the Cleveland Cavaliers into a stratospheric level and he had a one word answer - Focus. That incendiary inner fire that evolved for both Nuggets and Cavs after LeBron hung out with Kobe and talked about what it takes to be a champion came about as a result of mentoring. The end result is one of the most exciting playoffs in years.

Carmelo Anthony decided that the playoffs were more important than individual stats and his nearly 8 rebounds a game are a career high, as are his average assists. Chauncey Billups is responsible for making that possible. Because of Billups, Carmelo's blocking more shots, getting a lot more steals, making far fewer turnovers and playing, remarkably, good defense. The Olympic experience was good for him - hanging out with Kobe, LeBron, Kobe and company taught him what was really important: a great all-around performance and a shot at the title, rather than individual stats and a quick trip home. Congratulations to him and the Nuggets team. Dahntay Jones is a great defender - that was also a tremendous pickup for the team. There are a lot of great stories on that squad.

But what might be even better for Broncos fans are the two smaller lessons contained here. Rather than ‘defense' specifically, the emphasis for the Broncos will need to be on elevating each player's game by doing the less-flashy things that require grit, determination and selflessness - training, film and playbook. Although a new emphasis on defense is essential if the Broncos want to win next year, all players in all three phases of the game need to be winning to put personal flash aside in favor of working as a team.

The second lesson is this: The guidance of talented mentors can change around the play of a professional sports team by bringing out the fire and motivation in the younger ones and the rookies, as well as improving the understanding of all of the younger players. With 10 draft picks and a large contingent of undrafted free agents coming to camp, the ability of the coaches to transmit their teachings and of the older players/mentors to gain the trust, respect and dedication of the younger players may make the difference between a poor record and a better one. It's likely that more than one game will depend upon a player who looks to those mentors to amp his game up a notch.

Broncos Dreams 3

Despite the turmoil that accompanied the selection of Alphonso Smith, a debate that will probably endure for years, after his first mini-camp two things were apparent from photos and media sources. First, Alphonso is spending his time, when he's not playing, talking to and listening to Champ Bailey. There is little doubt as to the eventual position that Josh McDaniels sees him playing in the Broncos defense. Denver has two good corners ahead of Smith, but both have left their 30-year mark behind. Smith will start out as the nickel back, but when either Bailey or Andre Goodman eventually falters, Smith will be the heir apparent. Jack Williams will have this year to prove that he was worth the 4th-round pick that brought him to Denver.

The second thing that stood out to numerous sources was that Smith was always around the ball. Whether he's scorching a QB sack or chasing a pass in flight, Smith showed in college that he runs to the ball like a premenstrual gal runs to chocolate. You don't want to be caught in-between in either situation. How this will play out in terms of pick value might be a hot debate for years to come, but the issue of whether he can play in this league will be answered a lot earlier.

"For this relief much thanks; t'is bitter cold, and I am sick at heart " - W. Shakespeare, Hamlet

Having a Heart

The NFL Cardiovascular Screening Program took place two Saturdays ago at the San Diego Imaging Center in Kearny Mesa, and about 60 former professional players who have been around awhile will take part. Among those scheduled for screening are the likes of former Chargers Ed White, Chuck Muncie, Pat Curran, Billy Shields, Billy Ray Smith and more, not to mention Jackie Slater, the Rams' Hall of Fame tackle.

They're at risk, especially big people. Many NFL players are big. But the risk isn't limited to players or athletes. Many men and women 50 years and older in this country are at risk of a cardiovascular problem. It's just that the NFL is doing something about it, trying to get former players tested before it's too late.

"They've been doing this for three years now and the results are compelling," says former Chargers kicker Rolf Benirschke, who has overcome serious health problems in his life and is deeply involved in this project. "There was a belief that NFL players die early. The truth is, bigger men, in general, die early.

"Although NFL players are in better health than most big men, what we've found is that 78 percent of former players whose average age is 48 are at risk of a heart attack, 41 percent are at risk of a stroke, 50 percent are on their way to heart failure, 57 percent have high blood pressure and 90 percent have abnormal cholesterol readings. The average weight is 239 pounds. The average age of their arteries is 69."

Too often, those are the numbers of individuals who learned power without developing and maintaining appropriate cardiovascular health - which is how you get endurance. If you're training for power, getting older as an athlete or just over 30, learn the lessons of this situation. Take care of your health and your heart, and give the ones around you a gift by getting yours checked.

Final musings

I took a little time recently to watch Chris ‘The Birdman' Andersen of the Denver Nuggets in his first game playoff game against Dallas. His is an incredible story. Physically abused by his grandfather and now estranged from his mother, he turned to recreational drugs to fight the inner pain that haunted his daily existence. He was suspended from the NBA for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy.

During his suspension, he decided that nothing would stand in the way of turning his life around. He chose to break down film of NBA games and increased his knowledge of basketball. Now a key player in the Denver 8-9 man rotation, I watched in amazement as he hammered 6 blocked shots away in a single game against Dallas - as a reserve - and added 11 points, a steal and 6 more rebounds. Unlike a lot of big men, he also shot 5 of 6 from the foul line. A constant force coming off the bench, Andersen ranked 2nd in the NBA in blocked shots last season, yet he wasn't even in the running for the 6th-Man of the year award (teammate JR Smith, who is also turning his life around, got a few votes, though). Andersen turned the tide of this game and frustrated perennial All Star Dirk Nowitzki. He was also a force in Game 2 and returned in Game 5 as a solid defender.

Coach George Karl says that when Andersen wanted to be a Nugget after the suspension, they sat down and had a 45-minute conversation. Chris held nothing back and poured his heart out, taking responsibility for what happened and explaining exactly how he had handled it and where his life was going to go. Karl walked away from the meeting with a high level of respect for the unusual young man, and a great deal of interest in how Anderson would help the team. There's a lesson here for each of us. We don't know what demons haunt a man. We have no righteous place in judging them prematurely. And as to the ability of the human heart to rehabilitate itself and finding its salvation - there is nothing that a man cannot achieve, if only he can find it within himself.

With players like Robert Ayers, Everette Pedescleaux and Chris Baker, we in the MHR community have reason to believe that they have recognized, admitted, and have learned from their earlier mistakes. We don't really know what demons possessed, haunted or tormented them, but we can offer sincere hopes for them, not just as players, but as men. Given all that they could offer the Broncos, I mean it on several levels when I willingly give them another chance. As TedBartlett905 shared so eloquently, and as I've learned from my own life - it's the least that we can do.

Bring on Training Camp!

Chiefs Not the Busiest but Having the Best Off Season in the AFC West

Chris Thorman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:59:08 -0000

I know it's always fun to give Broncos, Raiders and Chargers fans a good ribbing now and then about their respective teams but the joke is really on the AFC West.

The Chargers, 8-8 last year, won their final four games of the year to snatch the divisional crown away from the bumbling Broncos. The Chiefs and Raiders were never in it. As a whole, the teams of the AFC West averaged about 5.5 wins each last year and no team's record was over .500.

So, you'd expect a lot of changes in personnel in the AFC West after such a poor showing by, well, everyone. The Broncos have been by far the busiest AFC West team in free agency and the activity dwindles as you go from the Chiefs, to the Raiders and to the Chargers.

The Chiefs cut a few salary cap heavy veterans and traded for a franchise quarterback and a defensive leader. Not too shabby for the first three days of free agency.

Let's see how the rest of the AFC West fared in the first wave of free agency.

Denver Broncos

Cap space before free agency: ~$37 million

ADDITIONS (8)	SUBTRACTIONS (15)	RE-SIGNED (0)
RB J.J. Arrington (FA, ARZ) RB Correll Buckhalter (FA, PHI) WR Jabar Gaffney (FA, NE) FS Renaldo Hill (FA, MIA) G Matt McChesney (waivers, MIA) LS Lonie Paxton (FA, NE) DT Darrell Reid (FA, IND) S Brian Dawkins (FA, PHI)	RB Anthony Aldridge (waivers, WSH) CB Dré Bly (cut) DE John Engelberger (cut) CB Domonique Foxworth (FA, BAL) RB Alex Haynes (cut) TE Nate Jackson (cut) LB Niko Koutouvides (cut) S John Lynch (retired) S Marquand Manuel (cut) TE Chad Mustard (cut) RB P.J. Pope (cut) DT Dewayne Robertson (cut) WR Cliff Russell (cut) DT Josh Shaw (cut) LB Jamie Winborn (cut)

It says something about how unhappy your new head coach is with the team when there have been 23 transactions on your team and nobody was re-signed. New Denver head coach Josh McDaniels wants no part of Mike Shanahan's legacy, even QB Jay Cutler.

Brian Dawkins is a decorated safety who will turn 36-years old in October. J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter are the exact type of running backs you'd expect the old Broncos to sign (and subsequently get injured). Considering Denver was down to it's 7th running back or something close to that last year, it's probably a good idea to nab at least two of them in free agency.

To add to those sub par signings, WR Brandon Marshall was arr ested over the weekend and charged with disorderly conduct. ESPN is speculating that an 8-game suspension in 2009 could be in order for Marshall. Whatever the punishment is, it's good to see a great rival WR go down the tubes. Even if nothing comes of this latest arrest, you know Marshall is going to get arrested again. And again. And again. He's that stupid.

Verdict: Lots of movement by the Broncos but little of it was in a forward direction.

Oakland Raiders

Cap space before free agency: ~$8 million

ADDITIONS (1)	SUBTRACTIONS (5)	RE-SIGNED (3)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (waivers, CLE)	WR Ronald Curry (cut) DE Kalimba Edwards (cut) FB Justin Griffith (cut) OT Kwame Harris (cut) S Gibril Wilson (cut, MIA)	CB Nnamdi Asomugha CB Chris Johnson P Shane Lechler

If it wasn't for the whole winning thing or putting together a solid football team, it wouldn't be that bad to be an Oakland Raider. CB Nnamdi Asomugha was re-signed in mid-February to a deal that guarantees him $28.5 million in the first two years of his contract. I mean, if you hang around in Oakland for a couple of seasons and keep your mouth shut, Al Davis is going to throw you a bunch of cash.

Right now, the Raiders don't even enter my thoughts as AFC West competitors. And they probably won't until Al Davis leaves his ownership post. Despite putting together a Super Bowl team in the early part of this decade, Davis has fallen even further off of literal rocker in the last few seasons.

Verdict: Still the Raiders, which is like being the Keystone Cops of the NFL.

San Diego Chargers

Cap space before free agency: ~$14 million

ADDITIONS (0)	SUBTRACTIONS (1)	RE-SIGNED (1)
	LB Anthony Waters (cut)	G Kynan Forney

The big news isn't about any of the Charger's moves but only about one potential move- LaDainian Tomlinson. Rumors have surfaced mentioning the New Orleans Saints as a potential LT landing spot but nothing concrete has occurred. Moving LT would be contract related, as the Chargers will have to re-sign QB Philip Rivers to a huge contract next season.

The Chargers were the most stable team personnel wise in the AFC West, which may account for part of their lack of activity in free agency.

Verdict: Still the most talented team in the AFC West but the gap is closing quickly.

Poll

Which AFC West team did the best in the first wave of free agency?

Chiefs

930 votes

Raiders

4 votes

Broncos

160 votes

Chargers

7 votes

1101 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos Release Six

Jon Tollerud — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:20:25 -0000

The Broncos on Monday announced the release of the following six players: John Engelberger, Nate Jackson, Niko Koutouvides, Marquand Manuel, DeWayne Robertson and Jamie Winborn.

hat tip to RiG for the news!

Engelberger started six games for the Broncos in 2008, recording 51 tackles, and had spent the previous three seasons with the club. He began his career with the San Francisco 49ers.

2008 was Jackson's fifth year in the NFL, having spent every season with the Broncos. He started three games in place of the injured Tony Scheffler and caught 11 passes before being placed on injured reserve on November 20.

Koutouvides was a first-year Bronco after spending four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He saw action in 14 games in 2008, playing mostly on special teams.

Manuel was also a first-year Bronco after having played for the Bengals, Seahawks, Packers and Panthers. He started 14 games at strong safety for the Broncos in 2008.

Robertson joined the Broncos via trade with the New York Jets on April 24, 2008 and started 15 games at defensive tackle. He spent the first five years of his career with New York.

The Shift - Evaluating the Offense Weeks 1 - 4

nickt84 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:00:10 -0000

During the course of the season, like many of you, I noticed our team had shifted numerous times both offensively and defensively. Not only did our formations change, but our scheme, our game-plans, our plays, who started, who was injured, etc. Symbolic of the Presidential race, our team seemed to be in flux and a major change was occurring and even more change was destined (allegedly). When I decided to put these statistics together and analyze how there was a shift from week to week on all sides of the ball - the team had direction. We all knew months before the regular season began that this was going to be a rough year defensively but a good year offensively; maybe we didn't know just how bad our defense would be or how good our offense would be - but we had an inkling.

via web1.denverbroncos.com

My point is that there was direction. We knew what Shanahan was doing and what would happen this year in the rebuilding season - defense, defense, defense. However, we didn't know that our team was going through as much change as it did as Shanahan was shortly fired and a new leader was installed. Is our offense set? Will McDaniels call the same type of plays that Bates did? What about the offensive scheme - before we didn't need a stellar running back; just someone to pick up 3 or 4 yards and come up with 100 yard games and keep the defense's honest. With McDaniels, will we suddenly need a stud running back that we have to invest a high draft pick into?

What about defensively; we now have more questions about the defense then we did before. We do know that it can't get much worse than it was in 2008 and while there seems to be a buzz about switching to a 3-4, will that really be what we do? What kind of a 3-4 will we run if we do switch? What about personnel? Studs like D.J. Williams were considered a shoe-in to make the team in 2009, if nothing more than the drama we've put him through; but what about now? Does D.J. really fit into a 3-4? Everyone is clamoring for Elvis Dumervil and Jarvis Moss to be moved to OLB in our 3-4 which would indicate that everyone wants a blitz heavy 3-4 defense; will this happen?

By analyzing this shift that our team went through this year; we have as much information as our new coaches do. What decisions they decide to make are up to them; however we will be just as informed as them. It's easy to be an armchair quarterback and talk about what the Bronco's should have done during the year; now we are no longer armchair quarterbacks. We are the individuals who are just as informed as our new coaches and our opinions and decisions are as informed as theirs.

Weeks 1 through 4 were arguably our best of the season. Our offense was stunning everyone, bloggers and commentators were struggling to update their outdated notes, we were climbing in power polls; life was good.

Week 1 saw us dismantle the Oakland Raiders. We all knew that we would win this game but the spanking we distributed to the faders was great. I spent most of the game standing on my feet in front of the TV, jumping up and down, beer in hand, my free hand raised above my head in a fist of jubilation most of the time, and thinking that Eddie Royal should be running for President. Jay Cutler was on fire, proving the talking heads wrong about his diabetes, our offense was shining, and the faders couldn't find their heads from their butts. Some of the game stats and notes from Week 1:

Denver trounced Oakland 41 to 14.
Jay Cutler had an almost perfect night throwing for an even 300 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, a solid 66% completion percentage, and an outstanding 137.5 Quarterback Rating.
6 different players touched the ball rushing for 141 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an OK 4.1 rushing average.
The world met Eddie Royal as he torched the Raiders' precious off-season acquisition DeAngelo Hall for 9 catches, 146 yards, and 1 touchdown.
While we only boasted a 50% third down conversion rating, we averaged almost 7.5 yards per offensive play - mostly inflated for some of the big plays we had.
Denver's offensive lined, christened the Secret Service, allows no sacks.

Week 2 saw arguably one of the most exciting games of the year as the Broncos scraped by the Chargers 39 to 38. While this game will always be overshadowed by the Ed Hochuli call, the Denver offense again showed up for the comeback of Brandon Marshall. After being suspended for 1 game, Marshall showed everyone that he was here to stay as he caught 18 passes and ran rampant in the San Diego secondary. The game went down to the final wire, the excitement amplified by the blown call by Hochuli that kept a Denver fumble recovered by San Diego on our game winning drive in Denver hands. While Ed did make an initially bad call, mistakes happen, and everyone could see how he made the call standing behind Cutler and the rules did not permit him to correct his mistake:

Jay Cutler showed everyone that he was an undeniable leader of the team. With his shoulders burdened with responsibility and hope, he throws the ball 50 times, throwing only 1 interception, 350 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a studly 109.6 Quarterback Rating.
Our running game again finds a way as 3 running backs and Jay rush for 145 yards, 1 touchdown, a very respectable 6 yards per carry average, and even Selvin Young showed up breaking a 49 yard run loose.
Brandon Marshall runs freely through the secondary challenging anyone to cover him as he catches 18 passes for 166 yards and a very exciting touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone.
Eddie Royal shows that he wasn't a fluke as he catches the game winning touchdown and then the 2 point conversion on the next play running the exact same play and route as he did on the touchdown pass.
The Denver offense seems in control the entire day as they possess the ball a solid 8 minutes more than San Diego.
Denver struggles on third down efficiency boasting only a 40% conversion rate.
One of the chronic problems of the Broncos last year, their red zone efficiency, seems to be a distant memory with an impressive 83% efficiency rate and a solid 100% Goal-to-Go rating.
The Secret Service again allows no sacks although an official sack is recorded as Jay scrambles out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage.

Week 3 was another nail-biter on home field. Perhaps a little distracted from the coverage of the Hochuli call during the San Diego game, the Denver offense is not the crisp, mistake free, scoring machine they were in the previous 2 games; while Denver wins the game 34 to New Orleans' 32, Denver only boasts 3 offensive touchdowns and 369 yards:

The Denver offense starts off in a hurry throwing up 24 points in the first half but only 10 in the second half and none in the 4^th quarter.
Jay Cutler struggles a little bit compared to his statistical dominance in the previous weeks; 61% completion percentage, 264 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 93.3 Quarterback rating.
The running game struggles a bit rushing for only 105 yards, 31% of which came on 2 plays, rushes for 1 touchdown, and boasts a very average 4.4 yards per carry.
The Red Zone efficiency struggles a bit at only 40%.

The Secret Service continues to shine allowing no sacks.

Week 4 was a total collapse offensively and the talking heads and bloggers quickly jumped and declared Denver's offensive dominance a mistake as it fails to show up against Kansas City losing decidedly 19 to 33. Everyone expected Denver to win the game and Week 4's loss would start the trend that Denver cursed themselves' with; losing easy games and listening to the media too much. Perhaps it was the effect of a young team, lack of strong vocal and veteran leadership, a lack of preparation by the coaches, or a combination of all; but this was easily Denver's worse game offensively in the first quarter of the season:

Denver rushes for only 94 total yards, 0 touchdowns, a 4.4 yard per carry rushing average, and inconsistency as we receive 38% of our rushing total on 2 plays.
Jay Cutler struggles and while he throws for 361 yards, his highest total yet, all other categories are his worse yet: 59% completion percentage, 1 touchdown to Brandon Marshall, 2 interceptions, and a 71.9 Quarterback Rating.
Denver seems to think they can win without having the ball as they gladly give it to Kansas City 4 times during the game.
Denver allows Derrick Johnson to record 6 tackles, a ½ sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.
The Secret Service falters allowing their first legitimate mistake and allowing a single sack.

The following are Jay Cutler's statistics over the first quarter of the season:

Jay Cutler Statistics Weeks 1 - 4
	Attempts	Completions	Comp %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions	Long	QB Rating
Week 1	24	16	66%	300	2	0	72	137.5
Week 2	50	36	72%	350	4	1	34	109.6
Week 3	34	21	62%	264	2	1	35	93.3
Week 4	49	29	59%	361	1	2	40	71.9
Average	39	26	67%	319	2	1	72	103.1

The following are arguably one of the best receiving corps in the NFL through the first 4 weeks:

Reception Statistics Weeks 1 - 4
	Receptions	Yards	Average	Long	Touchdowns
Brandon Marshall	31	398	15.3	35	3
Eddie Royal	27	298	9.5	29	2
Tony Scheffler	12	194	16.2	72	2
Brandon Stokley	15	181	12.3	32	0
Daniel Graham	6	72	12	21	0
Michael Pittman	3	53	17.6	40	0
Darryl Jackson	1	48	48	48	1
Selvin Young	2	15	7.5	8	0
Nate Jackson	4	12	3.2	6	1
Peyton Hillis	1	4	4	4	0
Total	102	1,275	12.5	72	9

The following are the rushing statistics of the Broncos through weeks 1 through 4:

Rushing Statistics Weeks 1 - 4
	Attempts	Yards	Average	Long	TD
Selvin Young	37	228	6.2	49	1
Andre Hall	27	131	4.9	16	0
Michael Pittman	23	80	3.5	18	4
Jay Cutler	10	28	2.8	11	0
Eddie Royal	3	15	5	7	0
Peyton Hillis	3	14	5.7	5	0
Brandon Marshall	1	-11	-11	-11	0
Total	104	485	4.7	49	5

Finally, some team offensive statistics for the first 4 weeks of the 2008 season:

Team Offensive Statistics Weeks 1 - 4
	Total Yards	Passing Yards	Rushing Yards	Yards per Play	3rd down conversion %	Rushing 1^st downs	Passing 1^st downs	Red Zone Efficiency	Goal to Go %	Field Goal	Turnovers	Time of Possession
Week 1	441	300	141	7.5	50%	10	10	3-4-75%	3-4-75%	2-2	0	29:50
Week 2	486	341	145	6.5	40%	9	20	5-6-83%	4-4-100%	1-1	1	34:00
Week 3	369	264	105	6.4	60%	7	11	2-5-40%	2-3-67%	2-2	2	27:12
Week 4	446	352	94	6.2	43%	5	17	1-4-25%	0-1-0%	4-5	4	26:37
Average	436	314	121	6.7	48%	8	15	11-19-58%	9-12-75%	9-10	2	29:24

I think that it is hard to establish any kind of trend after only 4 games; while this series is called ‘The Shift' it's hard to establish any kind of shift after 4 games. It is possible to notice a trend from week to week and if there is any one word that describes our offense, both on an individual and team effort, it is decline. Did opposing teams start to figure out how to slow down our juggernaut offense after watching us dismantle Oakland on national television? Or did the Broncos start to do what they seemed to do all year and beat themselves? The Quarterback is the field general and commands his troops on the field, as so eloquently described by the late, great, George Carlin.

While Jay Cutler's statistics declined, are his statistics the rewards of how his team performed around him or are the team's statistics the rewards of how Jay Cutler performed for them? Weeks 1 - 4 were the high of the high for our season with a sharp pain in the final week of the first quarter of the city. Kansas City was supposed to be one of our easiest games of the year but we shot ourselves in the foot; over and over and over. Sound indicative of any other time during the season?

Next week we will analyze how our defense played over the same span of the season and set the groundwork demonstrating ‘The Shift' that they displayed during the 2008 season.

Poll

Weeks 1 - 4 saw the Denver Broncos take off like a round out of a high powered rifle then slow down to a mediocre 9mm. What happened?

Jay Cutler came in as the underdog, then the attention got to him.

11 votes

The Denver Broncos (players) came in as the underdog, then the attention got to them.

30 votes

The Denver Broncos (staff) came in as the underdog, then the attention got to them.

5 votes

Teams started to gameplan against us well - it was time to shift.

167 votes

We got lucky then not so lucky.

50 votes

The 10th planet, Dysnomia, aligned in mathametical disposition to the sun affecting the gravitational pull on the skulls of the players thus making them stupider.

34 votes

If I knew, I'd probably be working for the Denver Broncos.

40 votes

Something else (please explain below).

29 votes

366 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos place Nate Jackson on I/R, re-sign Chad Mustard

John Bena — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:46:48 -0000

Nate Jackson is headed for Injured Reserve.......again.

The Denver Broncos on Thursday signed free-agent tight end Chad Mustard to take Jackson's place.

Jackson was placed on the reserve/injured list with a right hamstring injury suffered in practice on Wednesday. Jackson, a sixth-year player, appeared in all 10 games (3 starts) for the Broncos this season and caught 11 passes for 84 yards (7.6 avg.) with one touchdown while posting four tackles on special teams.

Mustard (6-foot-6, 277 pounds) is in his fifth NFL season and third year with the Broncos, who waived him on Nov. 4. He saw time in three games (vs. Jac. 10/12, at N.E. 10/20 and vs. Mia. 11/2) for Denver this season after signing with the club on Oct. 6, and he also competed in its 2008 training camp.

In 44 career games (6 starts) with Denver (2006-08) and Cleveland (2002-04), Mustard has totaled 12 receptions for 123 yards (10.3 avg.). He entered the NFL with the Browns as a practice-squad signee in 2002 following a stint with the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League.

Mustard played two seasons of football at the University of North Dakota after competing on its basketball team for two years. He finished his collegiate basketball career ranked eighth all-time in UND annals with 1,568 points scored.

Born on Oct. 8, 1977, Mustard attended Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus, Neb.

MHR Chalk Talk -- Week 6 - Jacksonville at Denver

Steve Nichols — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:00:05 -0000

YOUR SOURCE FOR THE VERY BEST

IN DENVER BRONCO PRE-GAME ANALYSIS

MILEHIGHREPORT.COM

For Everything Jags Related, Check Out BigCatCountry

What a difference a few weeks makes! Teams that looked tough going into the season have suffered injuries (Brady in NE) or declined (SD and INDY) while other teams have shot ahead (TENN and DEN). If you had asked me before the season what my thoughts were on JAX, I would have told you that the only thing holding them back was INDY. But their offensive line was decimated by injuries, and the team has never bounced back.

As for Denver, I expected them to sweep KC this year, but to win two of four games against SD and OAK. I also thought that either TB or NO could sneek up on DEN. But KC managed to beat Denver, while Denver beat the other four teams. Denver's offense is playing at a SuperBowl level, and while the defense has looked weak, it showed a lot of talent in week five.

Let's take a look at the Denver / Jacksonville match-up this week, and discuss some if the issues surrounding the game.

Read on...

Denver's progression in the first five games have been instructive.

In game one, a Monday Night Football showdown in Oakland, the Broncos destroyed the Oakland secondary with a rookie receiver, while the number one receiver was under suspension. Denver fans enjoyed beating their arch-rivals, but they enjoyed the air show too.

In game two, Denver was treated to the return of Brandon Marshall. Denver not only repeated a masterful pass game, but beat a division rival that the media was crowning as SuperBowl contenders. But now Denver fans were becoming concerned. The defense declined towards the end of the Oakland game, and seemed absent during the SD game.

In game three, fans were thrilled to beat the Saints. The Saints have a terrific QB, big names on both sides of the ball, and a smart, young coach. But Denver fans began to see a disturbing pattern. The 3-4 was being used quite a bit, but with only three men rushing much of the time. Just as problematic, the CBs were playing zones, and the defensive line was being pushed around. Questions arose about the coverage teams. Some observant fans felt good about going 3-0, but worried that the team would have a hard time winning without a defense.

The KC game came along, and the house came crashing down. Despite a respectable 3-1 start to the season, most fans came together to express concerns about the state of the defense.

Week five (against TB) seems to have answered a lot of questions. Denver played one of the best practioners of the Tampa-2 defense, and did it the right way, by being patient with underneath throws and running the ball. More importantly, the defense looked much improved, and moved away from a vanilla zone scheme to a true zone blitz system (one of the two systems predicted for Denver right here at MileHighReport). Special teams also looked solid on coverage and with several touchbacks. A new hero was born, as Denver fans started to realize they have a star for a kicker.

Now, against Jacksonville, the prime thing to watch is whether or not the defense just had a good week against TB, or whether the defense is for real. This week can go far towards predicting how far Denver can go this year.

Jacksonville in Decline

The first thing you should know about Jacksonville is that they have two seperate identities, something like Jekyl and Hyde. On the one hand, Jacksonville worked hard to build a reputation for running the ball with two solid RBs, Taylor and Drew. But this year, Taylor ranks 31st among RBs and Drew ranks 38th. Jacksonville is also known for their fearsome defensive line and exotic blitz packages. This year Jacksonville is having problems stopping runs, is ranked 21st in the NFL for defense, and will likely be without a starting CB and a starting SAF for this game.

Denver on Offense

Denver can't take Jax lightly. While Jax isn't performing well, they still have the playmakers to turn around a suffering defense. Jax's defensive line remains very physical, as much or more so than TB's. While the OL of Den has demonstrated an ability to protect Cutler from anything, Jax (if playing at their best) will be perhaps the second best test of the year (with the NE defense being first). Denver has the QB and the receiving threats to rip apart the Jax secondary (even without the above mentioned injuries), but an effective pass rush or blitzing would be a new wrinkle for Denver. The line must protect Cutler.

Another consideration is the run game. WHich Jax DL will show up in this game? Is it the one that plugs gaps and wraps runners as they hit scrimmage, or the one Jax fans have been seeing lately? Denver's OL has a reputation this year for being 100% on pass protection, but only "improving" in run blocking. The answer? It may be Pittman.

Denver has a terrific opportunity to wear down the defense this game. The best way to beat a powerful DL is to run at it and wear it down, and with Coach Shanahan talking about mixing Pittman in the rotation instead of just playing short yardage, this may be the time.

Expect Graham to be used often in the pass game, but as a pass blocker. Expect him to be used even more often in the run blocking program. This is the kind of game where Graham earns his money. Many fans love the flash and fireworks of a Tony Scheffler (as I do), but this match-up begs for run and pass blocking skills more than a receiving TE. (Scheffler is likely out with an injury anyway). While Jackson is the likely TE for receiving, Mustard has just been activated, and may have even more value as a blocking TE.

In the passing game, there is some question as to whether Royal will play or not. Recent comments from the team look hopeful. However, with a banged up secondary for Jax, Denver should do well even if Stokely is forced up to #2.

If healthy, I would prefer for (WR) Jackson to play as the #2. In football depth charting, a "sandbag" refers to the clever practice of promoting one man up the chain, instead of bumping several people up. By playing Stokley at #2, we make him play a tougher CB and make Jackson play a tougher CB. By just jumping Jackson, Stokley remains a dangerous threat at slot. Keep in mind that Martinez has been recently activiated by the team, and could see time also.

I expect Denver to run very few 2-TE formations. Denver will keep a FB in (likely Larson over Hillis) to give added protection to Jay, and to hep the inside runs. Denver may also try to stretch the defense by running to the edges. Denver should also try to establish a lead they can protect. Jax will likely try to establish a run game to keep Cutler off of the field.

Denver on Defense

Here again, the trenches should determine the game. Denver has the secondary to stop Jax in that air, but as we have seen through the season, it must be paired with a pass rush. The strength of the Jax offense has been running, and the OL of Jax is built for that purpose. Denver must not get pushed around like last year's game. EIther the defensive line will have to stop the runs at the line, or the LBs will have to tackle effectively.

Jax is built to run, but hasn't been getting it done. Denver's defensive line has been questionable this season, and even in the improved TB game didn't prove that they are ready to stop runs outright.

Will Denver use the zone blitz to slow down the Jax pass game? It was used in the TB game with great effect, and the LBs have the speed to stop QB breaks from the pocket. A good indication of Denver's intentions is to watch formations this week. If Denver plays a 3-4, they will probably make this their base formation. I say this, because a 4-3 would likely be more effective against Jax. Using a 3-4 shows a strong commitment to the system we saw last week. Using a 4-3 may indicate the team is not yet finished establishing their identity.

Special Mention: Special Teams

I don't often include special teams in the break downs. This week I will, because Denver has slowly morphed into a special teams threat.

Kickoffs are becoming touchbacks. I believe I heard that Prater is practicing from 60 or 70 yards for FGs? And our coverage units are quickly improving too. Our kicker is perfect from over 50 yards (four times so far). This means several nice things.

We have an excellent opportunity to win the field position game.
Third and long can become 3 points on the board instead of punts from more places on the field.
Opposing teams may have less of a chance for good returns.
Good special teams coverage can be good for a few turnovers in a season.

Keys to the Game

Den

Protect Cutler.
Limit interceptions.
Stop the Jax running game.

Jax

Either get to Cutler or control the clock.
May have to double cover Marshall.
Must convert 3rd downs (currently the worst in the NFL).

Overview

I see this game as being won in the trenches. The biggest match up to watch is Denver's OL against Jacksonville's DL. The next area to watch is to see if Denver's defense is for real, or if last week was a flash in the mist instead of being part of an improvement in stages.

If Jax plays the way they have been, Denver should win in a blowout. If Jax plays to the potential of its current roster (particularly at HB and DL), this game could be very close. If the latter is the case, Denver's special teams may be the cavalry.

Jacksonville's incentive is to get to the .500 mark, and have a bye and three teams with losing records ahead. Denver's goal is to establish confidence in the defense and special teams, and to establish a record that can't be denied. Currently ranked as the third best team in the AFC (by tie-break), a 5-1 record would clearly establish Denver as a first tier team.

Poll

Prater (Kicker)

We don't have to miss Elam now.

268 votes

I'm still not sold.

37 votes

He's a kicker. Who cares?

19 votes

324 votes | Poll has closed

The State of the Denver Broncos

Steve Nichols — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:34:37 -0000

It's time to take an honest self evaluation. There are a lot of good things to take comfort in if you are a Broncos fan. There are also some things that need to be faced that should keep you awake at night. I want to look at both.

Coming from a coach's perspective, folks shouldn't panic over one game. On the other hand, folks shouldn't get too excited over the 3-0 mark we were at before the KC loss. What we have on our hands is a very, very good team that has some terrible flaws. Yes, we beat SD and NO, but the games were close enough to be decided by a two point conversion and missed FGs. We beat Oakland, but that's not much to brag about. We also lost to KC, and that's a concern.

We'll look at what can be adjusted for and what probably can't, and where this puts the team as it continues The Quest.

Read on...

The Negatives

1) Pass rush

More than any other factor, Denver's lack of an effective pass rush is allowing opponents to score against Denver. Thanks to MattR (who has very kindly sent me DVDs so I can break down the games) I have watched and rewatched the front four and front three. There is a lot to examine.

First, the DTs are not effective. If one factor could turn around this team on defense, it would be having one, dominant defensive tackle. The tackles are not demanding the kind of double teaming that allows the DEs to do their jobs. As I've written before, one great DT makes the other DT look great too. Neither of our DTs is threatening the pocket enough.

Second, the DEs are better than what I expected, but still falling short. I noticed in the TB game that the outside rushers often got through, but were always a second or two too late. Dumervil's finger is a part of the problem, but a very small part. He can't use his hand as well when he has to fight off offensive linemen, and his tackilng should be less then desirable. But this is a minor excuse that falls flat. Despite the talents we have at pass rushing DE, the best rushers seem to be the guys who are built to stop the run (such as Ekuban).

Fans love flashy, speedy DEs. I like them too! But when the DTs can't occupy at least three OLmen, the DEs are going to struggle. At times like these, more powerful (albeit slower) DEs like Ekuban are more likely to fight through the trash than the speedsters. Unfortunatley, they will be slow.

Third is play calling. I'm always the first to jump in to defend a coach (go figure). But I can't do it here. On 3 man fronts with one gap linemen, a fourth rusher has to come in from one of the LBs. Denver shows a LB near the line to come in, but that LB ends up (more often than not) falling back into coverage. This creats two problems.

Why is the defense telegraphing the LB? In a one gap 3-4 set-up, the whole point of the fourth rusher is that the offense doesn't know where the LB is coming from.
Having said that, the telegraphed guy doesn't even rush! Worse, nobody else comes in either! You don't get pressure in the NFL with 3 rushers alone.

Some aspects of the pass rush can be fixed. Slowik is a "teaching" coach, and can improve on some shoddy play by the DL. Our best DE (Doom) will heal up and improve. But the thing we may have to face moving forward is that this team continues to lack a full time, durable, effective DT.

2) The Secondary

First, let's cut the corners some slack. Bailey and Bly are terrific corners, Paymah is good enough, and Williams has potential. But without the pass rush we just talked about, these guys can't be expected to cover receivers for more than a few seconds on their own. That said...

Bailey made a comment I found disturbing. He mentioned the importance of keeping plays "in front" of ourselves. This is zone thinking. Bailey is a lock down corner, and Bly is a gambler. Both CB types require an attacking mentality, and a focus on disrupting the reception (through a break up or an INT). Instead, reading Bailey's words and watching game tape I'm shocked at what I'm seeing. Our CBs are playing over the receivers instead of being used aggresively. Why is this? I think I have the answer, and and it is ugly.

Denver wants the LBs focused on the run. For this reason, there isn't a lot of blitzing. Also, Denver uses a SAF in the box, or even zoned mid range to cover for the run. Fearing the big plays, Denver's CBs are being asked to act like safeties, and to keep the plays in front of them. This causes two problems.

Denver is likely to give up short and medium range passes, because the CBs are playing over the top.
Denver also gives up the big plays, because the CBs are playing without deep zone coverage from two safeties.

This approach is too cute for my tastes. I was never a pro level coach, and I'm sure Coach Slowik would wring my neck for being a know it all. But I am having a hard time understanding a defense that gives up everything to fix one problem. Afraid of the run? Focus on the front seven!

This problem can be fixed. Let the secondary focus on the pass like they should. Let the CBs play "on" or "underneath" coverage, and let the SAFs ignore the run so they can play over the top of the receivers. INTs and break ups will start happening, and the SAFs will now be in position when a CB isn't. Even if a run gets through the front seven, there will be two safeties waiting. Then you can fix the front seven, which leads to my next point.

3) Stopping the run

The fear of every defensive coordinator is the inablitly to stop a team from jamming the ball down one's throat with the run. One can over compensate for this fear to the detriment of pass defense, and this (in my opinion) is what is happening. Worse, the run defense is still not getting the job done.

Several folks have expressed little concern for the defense, stating that the first 3 teams Denver played were offensive power houses. I disagree. Oakland is a basement team, and SD and NO (while very good) where banged up before the games. Still, when a team sacrifices a safety into the box to stop the run, and can't stop that run, the run defense is in serious trouble.

To be effective in a one gap defensive line system, each DLman has to shoot a gap, forcing the OL to clear them. If wildly succesful, the DL penetrates and blows up the run in the backfield. If succesful, the RB has nowhere to go. If moderately succesful, the LBs are untouched by the OL, and make the tackle near scrimmage.

Denver isn't getting these results. I see two reasons.

Again, the DTs just aren't being effective.
Denver's desire for pass rushing DEs doesn't place enough emphasis on having the less sexy (but more powerful) run stopping DEs in place.

We just had a wonderful reloading season, and brought in at least two solid performers (Clady and Royal). What we didn't bring in was a dominant DT (Robertson doesn't look bad, he just doesn't look good).

The LBs actually don't look too bad to me. They are fast, they are swarming, and they are tackling well enough. The problem is that opposing RBs can get enough penetration with the OL and enough momentum that the LBs are getting hit instead of having the time to do the hitting. They aren't getting the protection that they should, and they aren't getting the extra quarter of a second to respond that the DL should buy for them. I entered this season with concerns for the LBs and the DL. But from watching game film, I feel the LBs are alright, and not getting the partnership they need from the DL.

Let me take a moment to stress a few things I've been writing about that have provoked debate at MHR, but where I feel vindicated.

The realoading season was terrific, but we failed to address the heart of the problem on defense - defensive tackles.
Folks love speedy, pass rushing DEs. Some at MHR even wanted one on each end. Guys, we have to have more power on this line, and that means we need more Ekubans to go with the Dumervils.
We must get both of our safeties in deep zones if we are going to stop deep passes. It allows our CBs to do more, and it protects the deep field by more than half (even though only one additional player is brought in to cover it).

4) Jay needs to work on a few of the small things

Jay is a great QB. I would put him in the top 5 right now (and in only his seconf full year). But he is not yet a Peyton Manning, a Tom Brady, or a John Elway. Some will take my remarks as critisicm, but I'm in good company with Guru's latest grades.

Jay has two or three minor faults. Correct these, and Jay goes from great to legendary.

Jay telegraphs his throws by watching his primary target for far too long. Jay will get better, and this will fall to the wayside. But for now, it leads to a loss of down here and there.
Jay can take chances because he is so good. I see him throwing balls off balance that still go right on target. But he needs to trust his check downs too. This means watching the whole field.
Jay needs to spread the ball. The stats can be deceiving. It looks to me like Jay gets the ball to different receivers because different receivers are the primary targets for a specific play, and not because he is spreading the ball on his own. This is one observation I am not fully confident on, and I may be reading the game film wrong.

Jay is one area of the game that I wouldn't do a thing about. Telling him to scale things down will take him out of his element, and cost a little confidence. He'll find the right balance in taking chances as his career goes on. Good coaching will correct the telegraphing issue.

5) The run game

Our YPCs are decent. I disagree with the observation that "If you take away this big run and that big run our run game isn't so great". I disagree because the little runs set up the big runs, and you can't take away something that happened, good or bad.

However, there are some major flaws in the run game.

First, we just aren't running the ball enough. We spent the first three weeks entertaining the fans with a wonderful airshow. That will win a few games, but it won't get you far. I always preach that a balanced offense is a requirement to win games. We didn't close out the SD and NO games because we wouldn't run the ball and control the clock. We just flat out didn't protect comfortable leads. This means we aren't doing a good enough job wearing down defenses over the course of a game either.

We also aren't using much in the power run game dept. Rotating RBs is fine with me. I even endorse such a course. But why aren't we rotating in Pittman (our power guy)? First we don't wear down defenses by running more often, and when we do run we don't use any element of power to help ensure that the defense gets tired.

Here again, what we do pleases the fans (everyone likes big run plays here and there), but isn't sound football (consistently racking up medium yards each running play).

6) Turnover issues

This issue reared it's ugly head in KC, but in a big way. No matter how good a team is, the odds drop dramaticaly if you lose the turnover battle. Think about KC. We were still in the game up until the end, but multiple turnovers over the course of the game kept us from being in the lead. Jay is forcing the ball a lot, but he's good enough to get away with it most of the time. But the guys fumbling the ball have little excuse.

7) Coverage teams on special teams need to improve

We can't give up TDs and yards like we have been. It's a terrible sign that we have to risk Champ Bailey on our coverage teams because the coverage teams can't do it on their own.

The Positives

1) We are 3-1

This means that we have bought ourselves time to fix our problems. We have a good record, we lead our division, and have a winning record against the team most likley to challenge us in our own division. We control our destiny. With the loss to KC, we are still on track for the 10-6 (or better) season that I predicted.

2) The Offensive line is great

Jay finally gets sacked in the fourth game. WIthout Nalen, the OL still looks great. They give Cutler time, and they keep him safe. Rookie Clady looks like he's been playing in the pros for years, and Harris (playing in his full full season) at the other tackle position has been rock solid. Wiegmann has stepped in filled Nalen's shoes without missing a beat. Could the run blocking be better? Sure. But overall the line is doing a superb job, and the run game will pick up over time with the new faces.

3) We have youth and amazing talent all over the offense

Not only is the youth movement on the OL ahead of their time, but we finally have the QB in Cutler that can stop the Elway comparisons. This kid is good on his own.

Marshall is making a household name for himself, and seem to be on the straight and narrow in his personal life (doing an amazing job with kids in the community where he has purchased thanksgiving meals for each family and spends hours being a role model).

Rookie Royal has proved me wrong. I thought he would be perfect as a slot receiver and returner, but he has proven himself to be a terrific threat across from Marshall. This is the receiver that many of us wanted. A speed demon who can stretch the field and prevent Marshall form double coverage.

Graham is older, but the best blocking TE in the League, and is proving several skeptical Broncos fans wrong about his ability to catch the ball. Scheff and Jackson remain credible threats. (Stokley at slot isn't young either, but he's always reliable).

Pittman is a good RB who may not be getting enough playing time (if you buy my points earlier on). I believe Young and Hall could do better if they had enough carries to get in a rhythm.

4) Most of our problems can be fixed

We have the players that we have. I'm not a big fan of making changes mid stream, and am skeptical of making a trade at this point (though it might help). DT is the one position we most need help at.

For better or worse, here's what a former HS coach with no business telling the pros what to do, would tell the pros:

When using three defensive linemen, please send a fourth player in to rush the passer
Don't telegraph who that fourth player is
Give our corners a chance to do what they do best. Play both safeties deep to stop the big plays and allow the CBs a chance to gamble a little
Run the ball more. Wear down the defense. Control the clock. Make Cutler's job even easier than it already is. Just run the ball more!
If the pass rush doesn't work, blitz a little. But at the end of the season, make some changes. Blitzing should be a convienence, not a neccessity. We need a consistent pass rush from the front four. Lack of sacks is ok, but pressure must be consistent.

5) A tough part of the schedule is behind us, and we came out looking good

My thoughts before the season started were that we would win one game against Oakland, with a 50/50 shot of winning the other game. I felt we would lose a game to SD, with a 50/50 shot of winning the other game. I picked New Orleans as a team that matched us well, and could be a problem on our schedule. Well, we beat all three.

I believe I picked us to beat KC in one game, with a better than even chance of winning the other game. Oops. (GIve credit where it is due. KC played a good game, and earned the win).

Frankly, I didn't expect us to be 3-1 at this point. Down the road we face NE without Tom Brady, and a JAX team that is getting decimated by injuries. (TB, CAR, and ATL may be better than once thought though, and BUF and NYJ look better too).

6) Most of our problems on the defense are scheme, not player related

This means that most of the players on the defense will look better with some tweaks. Despite the problems I see on offense, I actually like what I see from the SAFs, the CBs, and the LBs. I think they are put out of position too much because of calls coming in from the sideline. I think this will get addressed.

7) We are a young team

The young guys are playing better than expected for young guys. Where there are issues with play, the guys will only get better. I don't like the calls coming in from Slowik and Bates on the side of the field, but both coaches are good teachers that can improve individual techinique issues. Now if only Shanahan would call a coaches meeting to discuss the playcalling a little...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So where are we? We're not as good as our record (winning close games), and we're not as bad as our loss to KC. We as fans get excited by wins, and depressed by losses. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

In my mind, we are doing a lot as a team to please the fans. Everybody loves the pass happy game. Everybody loves to see rushers play on the ends of the defensive line. Everyone prefers speedy running backs over slow but strong power backs. But that's not a formula for winning. Teams that go deep in the playoffs have to be able to run the ball and stop the run. We are doing neither with any consistency.

We are playing better than other teams in the AFC West (except KC in the KC game). We are likely to finish with a winning season, and I think we make the playoffs (as a low seed or wildcard). But we are not a dominant team on both sides of the ball, and we need more balance if we hope to go deep this year. In short, we are good, but one dimensional.

We need better defense to go with our offense, and we need a running game to go with our passing game.

What is the Quest? If it is to make the playoffs, or to be a better team than last year, I think we're in good shape. I also think we are only one or two players away from a SB caliber, dynastic team. Zappa seems to think that this is a 13-3 year, and I think Guru might put us in the third year of a five year plan. I think we're one year removed from a great shot at a SB. We have the core in place, but need a playmaker or two on the defense (DT and perhaps a LB) to take off.

Or maybe Torain will come back and shock the NFL in few weeks. Don't leave La La Land yet. It's still early in the season, and even with close games we are still off to a good record.

Poll

Denver's record at regular season's end:

13-3 or better baby! La La Land rules!

35 votes

11 or 12 wins. We are a terrific team. KC was a bump.

222 votes

9 or 10 wins. We are good, but still need to fix some things.

364 votes

7 or 8 wins. This team is in trouble.

29 votes

7 wins or less. Here comes the big collapse! (this option is also for the trolls out there)

6 votes

656 votes | Poll has closed