December 22, 2008 11:07 AM
Jeff Legwold on the Broncos-Bills game
Mark_Wolf Welcome Jeff.
TPSFL I think SD will do their best to run up the score next week. I'm thinking 41-14 or thereabouts...
TPSFL Hi Jeff.
Jeff_Legwold Greetings, happy holidays and fire away...
TPSFL How bad do you see it next week?
TPSFL Nine picks next year, seven on D?
Jeff_Legwold Broncos have one matchup in their favor and that is Jay Cutler against the league's 31st ranked pass defense. But without the run game, the Chargers will come after him as well.
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Mark_Wolf Lot of Broncos fans thought the game effectively shifted to the bills when Denver tried and failed to kick a long field goal at the end of the half, giving the Bills a short field.
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Mark_Wolf Welcome CoBillsfan.
Charlie77 I missed the game yesterday because of work. What happened to Pope? According to the stats he started hot. Does Denver even have an option at RB right now?
TPSFL Who returns on the defense next year? Needs complete rebuilding.
COBillsfan Good morning
Jeff_Legwold That was a big moment, but the defense didn't hold there either. But the Broncos have had their share of troubles just before halftime this year.
Jeff_Legwold Running back right now if Pope's hamstring injury keeps him out -- and it likely will since he didn't return to the game -- is Bell and Young and perhaps they bring Cory Boyd up from the practice squad again.
tparfet Pope looked great for the 1st Qtr. He left early in the 2nd with a hamstring injury.
tparfet When he left so did the running game
tparfet What about Cecil Sapp?
TPSFL How about the defense next year Jeff?
Charlie77 Denver seemed to catch all the breaks the first few games of the season, see Triplett call. Lately the breaks seem to be going the other way.
Jeff_Legwold The Broncos need a lot more pop in the pass rush. A lot of what they are trying to do on defense is based on the fact they do not consistently get to the passer and create turnovers because of it.
COBillsfan Many of the Broncos big runs early came on an end around by Eddie Royal and Cutler's scrambles too
tparfet We need a strong RB to make it work. Neither Bell or Young can do it.
Charlie77 Defense and Special Teams have been dissapointing this year, again. How much is coaching and how much is lack of talent? There has been a lot of turnover in the coaching ranks on defense lately.
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TPSFL Nine picks next year, seven on defense and a couple of running backs maybe? What do you think?
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COBillsfan Special Teams was huge yesterday. The Bills seemed to be able to start up around the 40 on virtually every kickoff
Jeff_Legwold Defense is a pass rush. Their sack totals compared to other teams is revealing. Steelers linebacker James Harrison for example has forced seven fumbles on his own this season.
tparfet New Def coach is not the answer. We need some consistancy and some more telent.
TPSFL Looking for a MLB also to stop the run?
TPSFL Nate isn't the answer...
tparfet Agreed
therick Put larsen in there
Charlie77 I don't think denver needs to draft a RB. They just need a couple of healthy ones, see Torrain and Hillis.
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tparfet Torrain will good next year - if healthy
COBillsfan And the Broncos had their share of breaks yesterday. The no call on the face mask at the 10 yard line was one..and the defensive holding call at the line on the pick by McKelvin was another
Jeff_Legwold Torain will be a question mark early in the year because he's had ACL surgery. Hillis, too, will spend a lot of the offseason recovering from a torn hamstring...so they'll miss a lot of the offseason work or all of it.
Mark_Wolf Jeff, what' was the problem with kickoffs yesterday? Champ Bailey called it the "hidden yardage."
Charlie77 I recently moved to San Diego from Colorado and the mood is pretty high around here. What's the feeling like in Colorado right now?
tparfet Haw many teams have had the injuries at RB that Denver had? Ever?
tparfet Charlie, I have been a long time Bronco fan and I do not want to play SD for the spot. I have very little confidence that Denver can win.
TPSFL It seemed as though Cutler kept forcing it to Marshall yesterday. Did he forget his TE's, or were they covered that well?
Jeff_Legwold Because the Bills are the best special teams in the league the Broncos tried to keep the kicks short and not give the ball to McKelvin, who came in leading the league in kickoff returns. However, they didn't place the short kicks or get them high enough, so the Bills ended up with good field position anyway.
bob49 Why won't anyone admit that this Broncos team is just bad? They've been bad all year. The last thing I want to see is this team get a playoff game and get totally smoked!!
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Jeff_Legwold Deep down they want the young guys to go through a playoff week so that when they are ready to get serious in the postseason mix again those will know what it feels like.
tparfet Bob, I agree this team is average best. But the playoff experience for the young team, Cutler & marshal would be huge to make them better.
qbcoach pass attack should be on fire i anticapate a denver blow out.
Jeff_Legwold I don't think a quarterback who is "forcing'' the ball to Marshall by-passes him on the last two plays of the game to throw to Stokley. Marshall was in single coverage on those plays and didn't get himself open. He needs to be more aggressive in his routes and do a better job getting off the jam.
Charlie77 I don't think SD has fixed all of their problems, they've played a lot of bad teams lately; Oakland, KC and a slumping Tampa which has lost their last 3 in a row.
TPSFL I'm in SFL Jeff, they didn't show the game here, internet was the best I could do.
bob49 I don't think one playoff game would make Cutler and Marshall any better.
Charlie77 Jeff, didn't you used to cover the Titans? How deep do you see them going in the playoffs?
tparfet Denver needs a power RB. Bell & Young can't do it. Is Sapp still available?
Jeff_Legwold Just making a point about Brandon, it was a good question....
Jeff_Legwold Running backs out this long have a difficult time staying healthy through even one practice week.
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tparfet How about Alexander?
Jeff_Legwold If the Redskins didn't keep him and Jim Zorn is one of his biggest supporters, he isn't ready to play.
bob49 How bout' a head coach??
TPSFL No worries, that being said, I'm guessing Royal was doubled up, and if Marshall couldn't break free from single, TE (Scheffler) should have been out there. Was it play calling or a miss on Cutler?
Jeff_Legwold If you look at the play, Cutler has two guys in his face who came free right up the middle. a miracle he got the ball even close to Stokley on the last play.
TPSFL Got it.
tparfet Bob, get off the coach. You loose 6 RBs to injury and see how good you are. Denver is one dimensional because of the RB injuries.
Mark_Wolf From Tone: Oh man do I miss the old staduim...'Mile High'. Do any off you think that it is the staduim? It is sitting on where the Nugget use to play. Could those bad karma be coming to the Bronco's way?
tparfet This team is rebuilding. It is young and needs some time.
bob49 Why does everyone want to protect Shanahan
Jeff_Legwold 4-4 at home, they would have clinched the division a while ago if they would have simply taken care of business downtown.
TPSFL It needs a defense.
Charlie77 San Diego's defense is ranked 2nd to last in pass defense, allowing over 240 yards per game. Denver is ranked 3rd. I think they can throw all over the Bolts.
TPSFL Champ, Boss, Thomas, Dumerville, return. Everything else is "under review"...
bob49 I think it's time for new faces and a new direction. If you are going to rebuild, start at the top!
tparfet The coach has kept this team competitive. He is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Who would you hire to replace hime?
Mark_Wolf Jeff, do you think home field advantage has dissipated a bit in the NFL. Some people think the homogenization of stadiums has hurt the advantage of playing at home. Only Carolina is perfect at home this year.
bob49 Competitive?
Charlie77 I think Denver is close to being an elite team. They have the offense, just need to shore up the defense and they could be dominant.
TPSFL They need a defense, period.
tparfet Look at Fischer. He had some tough years, but now he is back on top. Shannahan took this team to the AFC Champ game 3 years ago with no telent.
Jeff_Legwold There is some of that with club seats and folks who buy tickets and stay inside by the flatscreen TVs. the atmosphere is different most places I go now compared to even 10 years ago...
bob49 Elite team? Are we talking about the Broncos here?
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Charlie77 What's the situation with Prater? He has cost the team a couple of games this year.
TPSFL Is it time to install a 3-4?
tparfet I agree they are a year or two away from being an elite team. They need to be allowed to go through the growing pains. Remember 1996. Denver dominated the season and lost in the playoffs to JAX. Same thing - these guys need to learn how to win.
Arn I wasn't a fan of letting Elam go. Now he's in the playoffs with a team that was 4-12 last year.
COBillsfan Funny how missing a 54 yard field goal would say he cost them the game..A bigger issue would be the length of his kickoffs..
Jeff_Legwold Talk about teams and coaches is often semantics. I always ask people who has the better franchise over the last decade Cowboys or Broncos. Most people answer Cowboys and that team hasn't won a playoff game since 1996.
TPSFL Jerry Jones is a nut job.
Mark_Wolf In a fur coat. Dangerous combination.
Jeff_Legwold Especially for the mink.
TPSFL LOL!
tparfet Broncos have owner support, fan support and great coach who wants to win
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COBillsfan The Cowboys are still treated as America's team. They are the Yankees of the NFL, who haven't been to a world series in a while either
TPSFL Jeff what do you think about going to the 3-4 next year?
Charlie77 I see a lot of resemblance between Denver and the Colts of a few years ago. A very strong offense with a great young QB, but defense is undersized and has trouble stopping the run. Dungy shored up his defense and Indy made it to the Super Bowl.
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Jeff_Legwold I think they need to pick a scheme, whatever it may be and stick with it for a few seasons, draft to fit and get some consistency playing it. the flopping back and forth prevents them from getting any kind of personnel consistency.
tparfet Denver needs to focus on Defense and this team will go deep into the playoffs
COBillsfan The defense really needs personnel. They need to find their Dwight Feeny an Bob Sanders
Charlie77 Jeff, how did you grade DJ Williams on his game yesterday?
TPSFL Yea, I'm just rying to think of a way to revitalzie the D, and they do have three or four good LB's...
Jeff_Legwold I think D.J was OK...isn't 100 percent in his movements and he also has a sore shoulder, so he isn't physically at the top of his game and he's trying to play through it so that shows up from time to time.
TPSFL Elivs is Feeny light...
Arn Jeff, I have to keep coming back to the running back situation. Does the team think there's some reason why they've had so many injuries or just bad luck. Seems like a lot of hamstrings. Is that just coincidence?
Charlie77 Dummervill = Freeney, but no one on the Broncos is close to Sanders in stopping the run. Denver really misses a John Lynch type of safety. Doesn't Dennis Smith have a son ready for the pros yet? LOL
Jeff_Legwold Probably a coincidence. Hillis was flipped upside down with his leg planted. Most often a fluke thing, but some supplements are believe to de-hydrate people a little bit so they may need more fluids to prevent pulls, but this is looking like one of those fluky years. When I covered the Titans one year they had a rash of hamstring injuries and they brought in an Olympic team strength coach to measure flexbility, etc...and his analysis was ... it was probably just one of those years.
bob49 To be quite honest, I don't think the broncos have a chance on Sunday. With the game being moved to prime time and all. The fans in SD will be out of their minds and Jay will be running for his life. I'll watch it but I'm not holding out much hope. But, stranger things have happened.
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Mark_Wolf Jeff, do you think having an 8-8 hosting a playoff game will cause the NFL to re-think their seeding rules? I know you have to reward a division winner but seems like an 11-win team having to go on the road isn't quite fair.
Charlie77 I'm not sure about that Bob, the game was moved to prime Surfing time, so there will be a few distractions.
TPSFL 40-14 in that area or so. SD will be on fire after the bad call in Denver.
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bob49 True. I think dancing with the stars is on!!!!!!!
Jeff_Legwold There's always some talk of that, as well as adding another playoff team, but in the end they leave the divisions alone. That it evens out. The Broncos were a wild card team in 1997 and probably didn't think that was fair so this is their flip side.
COBillsfan I wouldn't change the seeding. Given the unbalanced schedule, a division winner shouldn't have to go on the road to face a wildcard
TPSFL I really believe Denver's going to get smoked...
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bob49 I think smoked pretty well sums it up.
tparfet If Denver can survive the initial SD push and let the game settle in, they can hold with SD. If they get caught up in the emotion at Kick off, they are done.
TPSFL I hope it isn't over by halftime. I can't play golf in the dark...
Mark_Wolf From Discer: From an old Bronco fan this is what I see: It's pretty hard to play Quarterback effectively when you absolutely do not have a running game. Anybody in their right mind knows that when you are down to your sixth, seventh or eighth running back you are in serious trouble! I
bob49 Or in the snow!!
Charlie77 San Diego has been lucky recently. They have played 3 teams with a combined record of 15-30.
TPSFL 77 degrees in balmy South Florida at the moment...
Jeff_Legwold Have never seen a team have a season at one position like the Broncos are having at running back.
Arn Keep going back to that field goal attempt before halftime. What were they thinking?
bob49 don't rub it in!
tparfet 54 yards is within Prater range. Good decision to kick it.
Jeff_Legwold He made them in pre-game from that distance and had the wind. That's what they go by. The K ball is like a stone when it gets that cold, however.
COBillsfan No wind yesterday either..
TPSFL I agree with that Jeff. Since I've been watching football I've never seen this (Floyd Little and Bobby Andersen were the RB's back then)...
Charlie77 Back in 2000 the Broncos went through a few RB's before they discovered Mike Anderson.
tparfet that was 2 RBs. Not 6
COBillsfan I've seen teams go through injuries like that an Defensive Back or D-Line, but not at RB..
nineover so then ask yourself why so many injuries? just bad luck? seems like there's more to it than just luck
Charlie77 I was impressed with Peyton Hillis this year. It's a shame about the injury. He was running over people, showed good hands in the flat. He was tough, just what this team needs.
TPSFL Exactly. Not even college teams go six deep at any position.
Arn I've never understood this K-ball stuff. It'd be like the NBA using a separate ball for free throws.
Jeff_Legwold That is the question league wide every year. Don't think it's some flaw in their strength program or anything or you would see a more representative sample across a broader spectrum of positions.
TPSFL Somebody suggested the curse of the chicken Mc Nuggets....
Charlie77 The Patriots had a rash of injuries like that at D-back a few years ago. They ended up starting Troy Brown at Corner. I think they won the SB that year.
tparfet Just bad luck. This week "Guy in Stands" will be starting for the Broncos.
nineover Offense is not this team's problem. It's defense and maybe more importantly, special teams.
Jeff_Legwold He was supposed to, but he pulled a hammy.
Charlie77 +1
bob49 If the Broncos had 5 Peyton Hillis type players, they would be undefeated right now
Mark_Wolf Jeff, what is with the K-ball?
Charlie77 Jeff, how deep do you see the Titans going in the playoffs?
Jeff_Legwold The competition committe put it in to keep the kickers from doctoring the footballs so they would fly farther. They also wanted more returns instead od touchbacks.
TPSFL Good question, Jeff, who do you like in the SB?
tparfet K-Ball is a bll that used only for kicking. It is brand new never been used and really a pain in the ...
Jeff_Legwold The Titans are going to be a tough out at home, that was a big win and they did it without their best two defensive linemen. They get to the passer, defend the run and pound the ball on offense. That's a trophy profile.
Jeff_Legwold I like Titans-Giants at this point, with a slight nod to Carolina. They all fit the same mold, however....
tparfet Titans defense is amazing. Offense just has to do enough to win. Titans are going t the SB
Charlie77 I'm leery of Kerry Collins. He's a 4 interception day waiting to happen. Providing you can stop their two RB's
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TPSFL LOL! I agree, but don't count out the Steelers...
COBillsfan So you see the #5 seed winning the superbowl streak finally ending this year?
Mark_Wolf I like the same teams but a different winner.
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Jeff_Legwold I covered them too in years past and they too fit the physical profile I think is proven....
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Jeff_Legwold Indy always has a puncher's chance because of Manning and Dungy.
tparfet OK... Jeff, thoughts on the Denver San Diego game.
COBillsfan And in the NFC there is a good chance it could be Dallas..
TPSFL Any chance Denver drafts the LB from USC?
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nineover peyton manning is playing out of his mind lately. he can carry that team deep into the playoffs
Jeff_Legwold It's on Cutler so the Broncos have to protect him better than they did Sunday and their receivers have to do better to get off the jam than they did Sunday. It's time for the guys who say they are playmakers to step forward be those playmakers.
TPSFL Or the LB from Ohio State?
Charlie77 The sportsbar next to my store in the local SD mall was roaring everytime the Bills made a play. SD fans were high fiving each other after the game. The SD fans will not be "classy" this Sunday.
Jeff_Legwold They won't be picking that high, even if they miss the playoffs.
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nineover i'd rather get the new defensive coordinator from Tennesee
Mark_Wolf Think the Cowboys can beat the Eagles and get into the playoffs? If they don't, is Wade finished?
COBillsfan I was thinking the same thing, that those guys would really have to fall in the draft or the Broncos trade up to have any chance to draft them
FalconFan Thanks for sending us Domonique Foxworth. He is by far our best corner. Meanwhile the Broncos couldn't stop a Pop Warner team on third down.
tparfet Charlie, I agree. WIth Rivers at QB there will be nothing classy about this game.
TPSFL Jeff think Tim Crowder and/or Jarvis Moss will pan out?
Jeff_Legwold Going to be tough for Wade, especially given all that's happened with the team and the fact the owner was openly talking about being a Super Bowl team before the season. Owners don't fire themselves, they fire the coach.
Charlie77 Wade Phillips is a good defensive coordinator. Although I don't think Denver should fire another one. They need some playmakers on defense first.
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Jeff_Legwold Crowder has been a gameday inactive most of the season, proof he isn't showing them what they want to see. Moss had an uptick in the middle of the year, but he's had trouble escaping opposing tackles since. He needs some more variety in his rushes because linemen are just waiting for his outside move and he doesn't have the elite speed to get the corner anyway.
TPSFL Last time Wade was a D-cord here, SF dropped 55 on him during a SB.
Charlie77 SF was dropping 55 on everyone back then.
TPSFL Not in SB's....
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rocketman17 Now that Champ is back, what excuse does Dre have for getting torched yet again
TPSFL Jeff it sounds like two wasted picks then. Is that the way you see it?
Charlie77 Yeah, Crowder looked good last year, but at this point him and Moss look like busts.
Jeff_Legwold I understand people's frustrations, but folks don't spend a lot of time talking about the Titans and Steelers corners because the quarterbacks are on the ground before they can pick on them. The Broncos need more in the rush or it won't matter how many Pro Bowls their corners have been to.
tparfet It all starts up front. Denver has had this problem since the SB teams of the late 90's. If you can't get pressure, you can't stop them.
Charlie77 Top d-lineman are usually only available in the first 5 picks of the draft.
TPSFL Dre will be a free agent after the season would be mmy guess. Expensive corner. Spend the money elsewhere on D.
Jeff_Legwold Quarterbacks, as a whole, are far more accurate now in these offenses than they were 15 years ago. so disrupting them is more important than ever and a defense has to do it more quickly as well because the pass drops are shorter too a lot of the time.
rocketman17 I understand that.. but come on, you know you are in trouble when on 3rd and goal Buffalo picks on Bly with a rookie receiver. It wasn't even a good fade route, just bad positioning
TPSFL Blaming this mess on Bill Walsh, Jeff? Just kidding.
Jeff_Legwold Perhaps so...so are roughly 26 defefensive coordinators.
TPSFL LOL!
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rocketman17 While I wouldn't want the Broncos to back into the playoffs, it is sad that San Diego is only alive because Dwayne Bowe got butter fingers on an onside kick
Charlie77 Mouse Davis would love this season's Broncos.
Jeff_Legwold He'd say they run too much....
TPSFL Whay? This season's Brocos are the shoot and shhot, not the run and shoot...
cm Fire Shanahan
Jeff_Legwold Thanks for the questions everybody. I have to go...all the best for the holidays and in the new year...
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rocketman17 Bronos +9 says it all.. Vegas thinks Broncos get crushed.
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