September 21, 2008 7:00 PM
Broncos dodge Brees, Saints
Be honest. You want to see more of the Broncos offense because it means their defense is not on the field.
The Broncos won on Sunday in another shootout at the Invesco Field at Mile High Corral, 34-32 against the New Orleans Saints. The teams combined for 871 net yards on 132 plays -- 74 of them by the Saints.
The Saints' Drew Brees completed 39 passes and racked up 414 net yards passing -- both records for an opposing quarterback at Invesco Field.
New Orleans had 502 net yards against Denver's defense. To the Broncos credit, they bent, but avoided the breaking point by making three gigantic stops -- two by linebacker Nate Webster.
The first was a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The second was a stop at the goal line that denied a fourth-down run in the second quarter.
The third was linebacker D.J. Williams' tackle for loss on third-and-one which led to the Saints missed 43-yard field goal try late in the fourth quarter.
Saints coach Sean Payton said he wanted to keep the ball "and kick that field goal with four seconds instead of two minutes."
Williams' clutch stop changed the strategy and helped Denver remain unbeaten.
"The object of the game is to win," Broncos linebacker Jamie Winborn said. "It doesn't matter if they score 100, as long as we score 101 we're fine with that."
Payton said the Broncos used more zone coverages than expected. At times Denver used four linebackers in alignments, with hopes of confusing Brees.
Brees was sacked once in 48 attempts and never seemed confused -- even when the Broncos led 21-3. For the second week in a row Denver allowed an opponent to turn a 18-point lead into a late-game nail-biter.
The Broncos now have allowed an opponent to reach the 30-point mark in consecutive home games for the first time since 1990.
Next week's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, have scored 32 points in 12 quarters.
Sounds easy, but right now the Broncos' defense is in no position to take any offense lightly -- not even the worst in the league . . .
I thought Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said he'd burn those alternate orange jerseys. Let's hope the Broncos don't go ugly duckling on us -- ala the University of Oregon football team -- and create some funky orange pants to with the orange tops . . .
Last week's record in NFL picks was 4-11. OK, that was awful. This week? How 'bout 9-5 before kickoff of the Cowboys-Packers game. It's called rebounding from adversity . . .
The Broncos' offensive line has been hit with only one holding penalty in 192 plays this season -- and the call (on guard Ben Hamilton last week against San Diego) was offset by a hold against the Chargers' defense . . .
More praise for the O-line: Broncos QB Jay Cutler has been sacked only once in 108 attempts . . .
Running back Michael Pittman has four rushing touchdowns in three games. Last season Travis Henry led the Broncos running backs with four touchdowns . . .
How 'bout we put the Broncos and Crush in the Pepsi Center, turn on the scoreboard and, you know, see what happens . . .
The Chiefs punted six times on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos' Brett Kern has punted seven times this season . . .
Opponents have punted against Denver only eight times in '08 . . .
K.C. coach Herm Edwards has a bad situation at starting quarterback. There's second-year QB Tyler Thigpen, who completed only 14 of 36 passes against Atlanta. Veteran Damon Huard is a possibility against Denver, and third-year man Brodie Croyle still is out with a shoulder injury. Would it have hurt to call Daunte Culpepper? . . .
Did I mention 9-5 on today's picks? Make that 10-5 - Dallas just knocked off Green Bay 27-16 in Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood . . .
September 22, 2008
8:28 AM
gofastgo writes:
Question, just who made the call with 23 ticks in the half and no time-outs for NOLA, you know the 4 yard deep handoff stopped for a safety? This didn't look like Bates, looked more like Shanny to me. All anyone in football land wanted was for Cutler to sneak the ball and end the half, but no a deep handoff with no real reward even if the play worked, what, out to the 3 yard line? Doesn't make any sense to me and shouldn't to anyone else either.
The defense? Cut it out, they're awful, in crunch time we're toast!
September 22, 2008
9:51 AM
Clint writes:
I really feel bad for the Kiffen of the Raiders (and I am a Raider hater through and through BUT).. He has had no chance to put HIS team together and good ole Al has been worse then a Jerry Jones could ever be. The rumor is that he is suppose to be fired today. I wish that we could let him come on over to the Broncos and finish out the season with us.. that way the kid can get his shot to stick it to the Old Man. Al needs to figure out that we are working towards the future while he is still stuck in Middle ages. Im really amazed that he hasnt tried to come out on his electric cart and take a few snaps. 8-) I have a standing bet going for a lunch every time the Broncos Kick the Raiders around and at this pace Im going to eat a lot of free meals. LOL
Clint
September 22, 2008
11:43 AM
Tom Olbrich writes:
How about we change the name of the 3 and Oh team to the Enver Broncos ... No "D"
September 22, 2008
12:06 PM
Scott writes:
Can we just blitz like crazy? Atleast we might get a turnover! Our defense are just fans with really good seats! I've never seen a worse D line in the history of the NFL! Seriously, EVER! I have never seen a D that is automatic in giving it up on 3rd and 18! The dam is going to burst!
September 22, 2008
12:21 PM
Kevin writes:
LOVE THE ORANGE JERSEYS!!!
September 22, 2008
2:29 PM
IKONOS writes:
SamAdams - Couple of questions.
1) Will the broncos keep using 3-4 scheme more often and if they do why was Jamie Winborn used and not Niko Koutuvides? I thought Niko was almost starter quality. He stock has fallen that much?
2) We now know for sure that broncos D-line can not generate any kind of pass rush. What are the realistic alternatives they have? Is there a trading partner you see that can give a quality D-man to the broncos for draft pics?
Thanks
Ik.
September 22, 2008
3:04 PM
SamAdamsSportsTalk writes:
IKONOS: I think the Broncos will continue to mix in the 3-4 look, but I doubt it'll be their base D ... Winborn moves better than Niko ... Looks like Denver overestimated Niko as a starting LB ... As for D-linemen, the good ones are hard to get ... Maybe Carolina continues a tailspin, and the Panthers trade Julius Peppers (we can all hope, right?) ... I don't think Peppers has signed an extension - he'd be a free agent in '09 ... Roosevelt Colvin still is out there, but I hear he wants $$$$ ... He'd be a gamble, after last year's big zero from Simeon Rice ... I'd say look at the teams that already appear to be headed nowhere (like Detroit or St. Louis) ... See if you pry their best rusher ... Rookie Derrick Harvey is making a lot of money (HUGE signing bonus) . He'll be a starter soon, which leaves vet Reggie Hayward (remember him) playing backup role with a big contract ... Just sayin'
September 22, 2008
6:28 PM
ralph writes:
Sam do you think the broncos can go all the way this year?
September 22, 2008
7:27 PM
nuggets217 writes:
Tom Olbrich ,
The Enver Broncos, how creative, no one has thought of that before. Thank you for your great contribution to the forum.
Sam,
your still after Julius Peppers? What has he done again this year?
September 22, 2008
9:58 PM
SamAdamsSportsTalk writes:
Well, 217, who would you acquire right now for Denver's D-line, and what would you offer to get the deal done? ... By the way, I haven't forgotten what you wrote about Michael Pittman before the season opener (you wrote he'll be a zero factor). He's already scored four TDs
September 23, 2008
6:08 AM
nuggets217 writes:
Sam,
Pittman should not be the goal line back, unless the line makes a hole larger than I-25 on christmas day he is not getting through as you saw the Broncos not convert on a 3 and 1 in the 4th qtr that could have put the game away earlier. He has no drive in his legs, I would rather see Andre Hall get the ball near the goal line because he his more of an explosive back. I don't think anyone around the league sees that Pittman has four touchdown and wish they had him right now. I'll get back to you on the D-line situation.
September 23, 2008
8:30 AM
ANTONY54 writes:
WHY IS ENGLEBERGER A STARTER? EKUBAN SHOULD START OVER HIM!! I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT WEBSTER LAST WEEK THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE.. HE'S NO AL WILSON BUT I LOVE HIS ENERGY.. I THOUGHT WE BROUGHT IN BOSS 2 COVER THE T.E. WHATS UP WITH THAT.. & A MESSAGE TO J. MOSS, D. ROBERTSON, & M. THOMAS; STEP YOUR GAME UP SO DUMMERVILLE CAN GET SOME 1 ON 1 LOOKS!! 1 MORE THING, I GUESS HALL ISN'T AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE, S. YOUNG GETS TACCLED 2 EASY, & PITTMAN DOSEN'T HAVE THE BURST HE ONCE DID!! WAITING 2 SEE WHAT THIS TORAIN FELLA BRINGS 2 THE TABLE..
September 23, 2008
4:01 PM
Spider writes:
Sam,
Believe it or not I never had a doubt about the outcome of the Saints' game, even after the Scheffler fumble. I had a gut feeling that they would miss the field goal but felt that had they made it, JC would still have just enough time left to get the team in close enough for the Broncos to get the winning TD. (The three and out after the missed FG would have had more urgency to the play calling had the FG been made).
Sam, what's the scoop on Hamza Abdullah? Why was he waived? And is this Vernon Fox an upgrade or just filling a hole?
September 23, 2008
4:04 PM
Spider writes:
Sam,
Believe it or not I never had a doubt about the outcome of the Saints' game, even after the Scheffler fumble. I had a gut feeling that they would miss the field goal but felt that had they made it, JC would still have just enough time left to get the team in close enough for the Broncos to get the winning TD. (The three and out after the missed FG would have had more urgency to the play calling had the FG been made).
Sam, what's the scoop on Hamza Abdullah? Why was he waived? And is this Vernon Fox an upgrade or just filling a hole?
September 24, 2008
8:30 AM
SamAdamsSportsTalk writes:
Spider,
It seemed as if Abdullah injured his groin as soon as he officially was penciled in as a starter in training camp ... If you're Champ Bailey with a groin injury, your job is secure ... If you're Hamza Abdullah and you've got competition breathing down your neck (vet Marquand Manuel, draft choice Josh Barrett, you better get well in a hurry to come back on the field ... He didn't do that ... When they signed the kid from Tennessee (Calvin Lowry), that was the warning shot ... For what it's worth, I had one reader suggest that Abdullah's religious beliefs might have had something to do with this (apparently it's the month of Ramadan, and Muslims fast during this time) ... To be honest, I haven't heard that as being a reason for his slow recovery from the injury -- or his release from the team
September 25, 2008
7:05 PM
nuggets217 writes:
Sam,
Who would I aquire to improve the D-line. Right now no one. I would get Jarvis Moss out there and Tim Crowder out there for a few games and let them learn by fire. I think more of the problem than individual skill of our DE's is our defense is too predictable. Certain defenses like the Giants, Eagles, Steelers try to give the QB and offensive lines different looks when they are blitzing or fake blitzing, the key being the offense doesn't really know when it is coming. In the Broncos case you know that they are playing a 4-3 with no blitzing or a 3-4 with no blitzing. The line backers are 3-5 yards off the line of scrimmage so the QB has an easy read and the Offensive lineman don't really have to adjust. I can't really think the Giants are that stock piled at D-line that they can lose their two best DE's and still bring it. I think the coaches philosophy has a lot to do with creating pressure. So far the Broncos opponents get easy reads all game. When the Broncos do blitz its very easy to tell that they are blitzing.
As far as a trade I would wait a few more games to see what teams go in the tank or might be ready for rebuilding mode and see what we can get out of them. I just don't think Carolina is going to have a reason to give up Peppers.
September 28, 2008
2:38 PM
elusiveone writes:
Boss Bailey needs to stop celebrating after one good play, when the
five before then were awful. I don't understand that mentality? Lets see: I was burned several times and then had decent play and so I am the greatest???