Tonight performance a D minus

[Ballhawk]

You can throw out what thr first string D did in this game. Alex Smith is just plain horrible at this point.

ST coverage was as bad as it ever has been.

We still have no reliable third WR.

We can not tackle worth a damn.

Our Oline is struggling badly.

Browner is now out for the season.

Is Elam now a concern?

Last but definately not least we still can not get a turnover to save our butts!

I hope Nate Jackson can come back and give us three solid TEs, because we are going to need to be running a lot of 2 TE sets to help the Oline and get someone to come up big on third downs. We also better hope that Fergy and Lynch can play every down this year as we are getting thin and LeSewer is just not going to cut it.

[Garcia Bronco]

Super Bowl here we come

[Ballhawk]

Super Bowl here we come

Oh of course...but I do not see us being favored.

[Bronx33]

Super Bowl here we come

I'am wit ya dog!

[Bronco LB 59]

If Herrian pulls through his ugly ordeal, I might actually give a s*it about the Broncos' performance tonight. For now, I really don't care.

[Tredici]

Aw, C'mon. The running game alone should net us at least a C-.

[Bronx33]

Preseason games such as this are to be expected......

[Cito Pelon]

A D- is a stretch. Everybody wants to see progress each week, and there was some this week. If I was a player or coach, I'd be happy tonight, but I'd recognize there's a lot more polishing to do. If a Div Title is the minimum objective, there's going to have to be less breakdowns, more making a play when it's available.

I still see 1-2 players on any given play missing their assignments. That means a little more polishing. The stadium was filled, the crowd was into it. So next week is the big week, on the road. It won't be a horrible year, I'm confident of that. A little more polishing has to be done, though.

[Jason in LA]

You guys need to stop reading so much into these meaningless games. I wouldn't give a grade to a preseason game.

[RhymesayersDU]

You guys need to stop reading so much into these meaningless games. I wouldn't give a grade to a preseason game.
Agreed.

I mean come on, like 2 years ago the Cards went 4-0 in the pre-season, and won like 5 games the whole regular season.

Pre-season means jack, for the most part.

[Jason in LA]

The Cards used to go 4-0 every year and then suck. The Bills would go 0-4 and go to the Super Bowl. Ryan Leaf looked like a Pro Bowler in the preseason. Lelie sucked ass last preseason, and so did the entire offense. People just want to have something to analyze. Analyze training camp, not these money making games.

[Kaylore]

You can throw out what thr first string D did in this game. Alex Smith is just plain horrible at this point.
Yes, but they mostly ran, and the run stopping was ok until the second quarter.

ST coverage was as bad as it ever has been.

I agree it started out terrible, but It actually got better after each go, and by the end of the game we were coming through so fast that they had to clip/block in the back to stop us - to say nothing of the blocking to let Adams get those big gains. That they sucked still says something, but that they got better by the end says even more.

We still have no reliable third WR.
I saw more in Watts that I liked tonight than I didn't. He put a nice block up to let Dayne run for the needed yardage, played great defense against that crappy throw to stop the pick and had some decent catches. Does he have ways to go? No doubt. Do I think he'll ge there? Yes.

We can not tackle worth a damn.
I know you're using hyperbole, but you are right. They need to work tackling basics. We could get defenders in possition most of the time, but awareness adn tackling fundamentals need a redux.

Our Oline is struggling badly.
Are you kidding me? They protected long enough and we averaged a little over 4 yards per carry. We had some nice goaline penetration, too. They called holding on us more, but they always throw tons of flags in the preseason.

Browner is now out for the season.
He is? I hadn't heard this. If it's true, that is terrible news. You can't blame the Broncos for this, though. Its just football. Besides now we can keep him on IR.

Is Elam now a concern?
Oh, come on. Now you're being silly.

Last but definately not least we still can not get a turnover to save our butts! This bugged me too, but we still haven't had our main guys throw or cause any, so I'd rather have this than anything else.

I hope Nate Jackson can come back and give us three solid TEs, because we are going to need to be running a lot of 2 TE sets to help the Oline and get someone to come up big on third downs. We also better hope that Fergy and Lynch can play every down this year as we are getting thin and LeSewer is just not going to cut it.
I'm excited about Nate. One thing you didn't mention is Lynch's helmet-to-helmet. He's likely to get fined and maybe for a lot considering his history. I hope he isn's suspended.

Here's what I saw.

1. Good drives and good throws. Penalties hurt us but we still got points on most of our drives.

2. We scored in the endzone and look generally better there all around.

3. One turnover and

4. None taken

5. Weak against the run. It looks like we played the pass a lot, but there was some crappy tackling.

6. ST looked poor. It got better, so that's good.

7. The fans need to get off BVP's jock. He's got so far to go and there were actually fans shouting "Put Van Pelt in! He'll score for us!" Of course he's the only QB in the past two games who hasn't.

[gunns]

You can throw out what thr first string D did in this game. Alex Smith is just plain horrible at this point.

ST coverage was as bad as it ever has been.

We still have no reliable third WR.

We can not tackle worth a damn.

Our Oline is struggling badly.

Browner is now out for the season.

Is Elam now a concern?

Last but definately not least we still can not get a turnover to save our butts!

I hope Nate Jackson can come back and give us three solid TEs, because we are going to need to be running a lot of 2 TE sets to help the Oline and get someone to come up big on third downs. We also better hope that Fergy and Lynch can play every down this year as we are getting thin and LeSewer is just not going to cut it.

I don't know that Alex Smith is horrible at this point, that SF O line is like swiss cheese. That's why I'm pleased our D didn't let them look like more than they are. Our O line scares me to death. Bradford needs to go and before the season starts.

[Kaylore]

I don't know that Alex Smith is horrible at this point, that SF O line is like swiss cheese. That's why I'm pleased our D didn't let them look like more than they are. Our O line scares me to death. Bradford needs to go and before the season starts.
He will: Camp fodder.

[Jason in LA]

Kaylore, since you were at training camps, you could probably answer this question. Are the preformences in these games different from what you've seen on the practice field? Which players are preforming differently?

[Kaylore]

Kaylore, since you were at training camps, you could probably answer this question. Are the preformences in these games different from what you've seen on the practice field? Which players are preforming differently?

Rice catches more in practices. He's dropped two balls in games now.

Bell looked really good in this game; better than camp.

Other than that, what you see is what you get. They were struggling against the run in camp, but at the time you don't know if its because "its the broncos" or because the run defense sucks. The backup QB's all have trouble with blitzes (Van Pelt is getting better though.)

The one difference is Special teams looked a lot better by the end of the game and they've looked terrible so that's something different.

[Jason in LA]

Are they running the same stuff in these games? Or is it more vanilla?

[Kaylore]

Are they running the same stuff in these games? Or is it more vanilla?
It's a bit more vanilla but everything they played with the exception of the end around play I saw in camp this week. They ran a lot of QB draws w/Van Pelt and you saw a lot of that tonight. Lots of PA passes to the TE or Full Back. They didn't use as many of the defensive packages. I also suspect that some of their run blocking schemes are being saved for when it matters.

[Ballhawk]

[QUOTE=Kaylore]Yes, but they mostly ran, and the run stopping was ok until the second quarter.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

Still think the run D was a product of being unconcerned about the QB


[QUOTE=Kaylore]
I agree it started out terrible, but It actually got better after each go, and by the end of the game we were coming through so fast that they had to clip/block in the back to stop us - to say nothing of the blocking to let Adams get those big gains. That they sucked still says something, but that they got better by the end says even more.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

It got better, but against scrubs, Im not saying they will not be ready just that ST overall had to be an F blocked kick, Elam missing FG, Bad coverage.

[QUOTE=Kaylore]
I saw more in Watts that I liked tonight than I didn't. He put a nice block up to let Dayne run for the needed yardage, played great defense against that crappy throw to stop the pick and had some decent catches. Does he have ways to go? No doubt. Do I think he'll ge there? Yes. [QUOTE=Kaylore]

Not throwing Watts under the Bus here but I am just grading tonights game, not the team.

[QUOTE=Kaylore]
I know you're using hyperbole, but you are right. They need to work tackling basics. We could get defenders in possition most of the time, but awareness adn tackling fundamentals need a redux.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

[QUOTE=Kaylore]
Are you kidding me? They protected long enough and we averaged a little over 4 yards per carry. We had some nice goaline penetration, too. They called holding on us more, but they always throw tons of flags in the preseason.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

We are talking about the 49ers front line, and we got very inconsistant play. The penalties did nothing more but remind me of scoring drives stalled in Indy. This is a veteran laine that has experiance playing together, I would like to see that on the field.

[QUOTE=Kaylore]
He is? I hadn't heard this. If it's true, that is terrible news. You can't blame the Broncos for this, though. Its just football. Besides now we can keep him on IR.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

Man I was high on him too.

[QUOTE=Kaylore]
Oh, come on. Now you're being silly.[QUOTE=Kaylore]

Do not ask me why kickers suddenly lose it, call it the shanks. I know Elam will find a grove, but I do not want to see it a couple losses into the regular season.


Just graing out this one game as a very subpar performance. The starters were decent against a very untalented 49 squad. Hope to see major improvement by next week.

[Pezman]

Damn it, I missed the entire game since I have friends in town this weekend. From what it sounded like, we had a decent series with Jake at the helm and our run game was better. How did the offensive line look against their starters by chance?

By the way, was there any better punting this game? I really hope we have shored up our problems on special teams but methinks it could be a long year if we are struggling now...

[Cito Pelon]

Are they running the same stuff in these games? Or is it more vanilla?

You make good points about about not showing all the stuff you have in store for the reg season. But all that fancy stuff only goes so far. Granted, the Broncs don't gameplan in preseason. And I could care less if they win the game. But preseason is a chance to see how individuals perform, and especially the first teamers. It's a big deal to me to see how the first teamers perform.

It's crazy talk to read too much into preseason performances, I agree. The same goes for practices, also. The perfect example is KJ. The guy was cut in the first cut last year. Then the staff found out MA was out for the season, so they brought KJ back. And here's KJ now a solid contributor to the O. Go figure.

[ScottXray]

7. The fans need to get off BVP's jock. He's got so far to go and there were actually fans shouting "Put Van Pelt in! He'll score for us!" Of course he's the only QB in the past two games who hasn't.

Lets see.. If Watts hadn't dropped one TD and stepped out of bounds on a second he would have had two TDs. If Elam hadn't blown two FGs add those. At least one anyway.
.
Don't get me wrong...BVP needs some work. But to say he didn't move the team is bogus. It was Team play, and BVP made some great throws..and some bad ones. He didn't kill any drives though. I like this kid. He makes things happen.

Overall, I thought the 1st string O did pretty well tonight. The D needs to fine tune...they still gave up too many plays. Of course we didn't have all the starters in again. But the run D looked porous.

i think they made progress overall though.
:spit:

[Kaylore]

Don't get me wrong...BVP needs some work. But to say he didn't move the team is bogus.
Indeed it woud be. Let me know when someone posts that he didn't move the team. ;)

[ScottXray]

Indeed it woud be. Let me know when someone posts that he didn't move the team. ;)

I didn't mean to take you out of context. Of course BVP isn't a replacement for Jake right now. Maybe someday he will be. But he did move the team well.
He got a lot of time in the game tonight. I think Shanny is seeing just how long he can keep the intensity up. Seems like a bout a quarterand 1/2..then he got a little ragged with his throws. Of course by then the third stringers were in mostly.

Well, lets hope he continues to develope. :spamattac

[Kaylore]

Well, lets hope he continues to develope. :spamattac
He will.

[TheReverend]

Rice catches more in practices. He's dropped two balls in games now.

Bell looked really good in this game; better than camp.
Other than that, what you see is what you get. They were struggling against the run in camp, but at the time you don't know if its because "its the broncos" or because the run defense sucks. The backup QB's all have trouble with blitzes (Van Pelt is getting better though.)

The one difference is Special teams looked a lot better by the end of the game and they've looked terrible so that's something different.

Im telling you... Bell is a gamer. He needs to be the #1 back with Dayne spelling him. End of story.

[Popps]

Only saw the cut-aways on NFL network, but funny enough, the highlights were all good outside of a fumbled snap and a stall at the goal line. (Holding.)
Jake looked good, the run game looked solid. Anderson looks fresh, Bell looked good.
Van Pelt made a couple of nice throws, but I didn't see most of his action. Adams had a great return. He needs to be our 5.

Didn't see any of the D, but the feedback doesn't sound great.

[baja]

A D- is a stretch. Everybody wants to see progress each week, and there was some this week. If I was a player or coach, I'd be happy tonight, but I'd recognize there's a lot more polishing to do. If a Div Title is the minimum objective, there's going to have to be less breakdowns, more making a play when it's available.

I still see 1-2 players on any given play missing their assignments. That means a little more polishing. The stadium was filled, the crowd was into it. So next week is the big week, on the road. It won't be a horrible year, I'm confident of that. A little more polishing has to be done, though.

I think it is amazing you can see one or two players missing their assignments on every play on TELEVISION.

Do have house fly eyes?

[Rock Chalk]

NFL Network is showing a reair of the game tomorrow sometime.

[Garcia Bronco]

I'd just like to see some highlights of the game....and I have to watch ESSSSSSpin...amazing...a guy drops dead last night...and they still aren't showing the highlights in tadem

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Im telling you... Bell is a gamer. He needs to be the #1 back with Dayne spelling him. End of story.


http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20050821/capt.cojd10608210223.49ers_broncos_cojd106.jpg

Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson (38) is congratulated by teammates Stephen Alexander (82) and Rod Smith (80) after Anderson scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)




http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20050821/capt.cojd10208210213.49ers_broncos_cojd102.jpg

Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson breaks away for a gain against the during the first quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

[Rock Chalk]

And yet Tatums total rushing yards and rush gained per average was higher than MA's.

Tatum had a high of 18/19 yards (one or the other, I heard both quoted) on a run. MA had a high of 23.

MA had no other good runs really that night AND Tatum had a great run that was called back due to holding.

Tatum wll be the starter.

[Bronco9798]

And yet Tatums total rushing yards and rush gained per average was higher than MA's.

Tatum had a high of 18/19 yards (one or the other, I heard both quoted) on a run. MA had a high of 23.

MA had no other good runs really that night AND Tatum had a great run that was called back due to holding.

Tatum wll be the starter.

We can only hope.

[2KBack]

And yet Tatums total rushing yards and rush gained per average was higher than MA's.

Tatum had a high of 18/19 yards (one or the other, I heard both quoted) on a run. MA had a high of 23.

MA had no other good runs really that night AND Tatum had a great run that was called back due to holding.

Tatum wll be the starter.

Bell played alot against the scrubs though, plus was stopped cold several times, while MA fought for extra yards. I want Bell to be more consistant if he's going to start.

[Cito Pelon]

I think it is amazing you can see one or two players missing their assignments on every play on TELEVISION.

Do have house fly eyes?

I am pretty amazing. Silent as a shadow, quick as a thought, tough as titanium, and handsome too.

[wabbit]

The only things I really took from this game...besides the obvious sadness...is that Mike Shanahan made at least five very good draft choices this year

...& two very excellent 7th rounders last year

[Bronco_Beerslug]

And yet Tatums total rushing yards and rush gained per average was higher than MA's.

Tatum had a high of 18/19 yards (one or the other, I heard both quoted) on a run. MA had a high of 23.

MA had no other good runs really that night AND Tatum had a great run that was called back due to holding.

Tatum wll be the starter.
Only if you can't count past 5. Bell ypc =6 .... MA =8

And MA had another TD called back. MA's work was against nothing but 1st team people, not Bell.
He also caught 2 passes. Bell also fumbled at the goal line.

[Mile High Shack]

as usual

seems like a rite of passage for Denver Bronco fans

after preseason games, telling how bad we are

geez

it's preseason

[SoCalBronco]

Only if you can't count past 5. Bell ypc =6 .... MA =8

And MA had another TD called back. MA's work was against nothing but 1st team people, not Bell.
He also caught 2 passes. Bell also fumbled at the goal line.

Yes, although Tater had a 14 yarder called back. While MA was up against the 1st team he also had the 1st team OL, while Tatum didnt. On the whole I am happy both did well but I still will be disappointed if Tatum cannot even beat MA out for the job.

[Bronco9798]

I just hope we don't go to an alternating RBBC approach.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Yes, although Tater had a 14 yarder called back. While MA was up against the 1st team he also had the 1st team OL, while Tatum didnt. On the whole I am happy both did well but I still will be disappointed if Tatum cannot even beat MA out for the job.
I didn't get to see the game but a friend, who has been a Bronco fan as long as I have said MA is running HARD and looks to be on some kind of a mission. He, like me, wants to see Bell run with the first team.

[TheReverend]

Yes, although Tater had a 14 yarder called back. While MA was up against the 1st team he also had the 1st team OL, while Tatum didnt. On the whole I am happy both did well but I still will be disappointed if Tatum cannot even beat MA out for the job.

Everyone knows he already has. Its a motivational thing to the second year guys that we need to brea out... like sticking Jerry Rice in front of Darius Watts.

[TotallyScrewed]

I thought the running game looked quite good from all the backs perspective. K. J. picked up right where he left off last year...no runs but good years on the catch in the flat.

Kaylore, does he get any attempts from the LOS??

First string O-line looks solid. But I can only hope that they are healthy all year. Spikes, Clements and Watton and the second team look slow, lost and weak. Not that there's anything wrong with that, so long as they are little ol' ladies.

I'm very happy with the starting first team offense and defense. Special Teams is a different story. Botched snaps leading to blocked punts...that has to be fixed, even if it means keeping Leach over a better back-up guard.

Why can't a guy kickoff consistantly into the endzone when nobody is rushing him?? Ernster needs get THAT down or it's over.

I'm pleasantly surprised by Adams. He may take punt returning away from Darrent Williams. He seems strong enough to break a few tackles and a real gamer who sticks his nose in there and likes running over the punter.

Final football thought...the 49ers are pretty bad. A. Carter had what one tackle?? I'm not feeling too bad about the pick-up of Engleberger.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Im telling you... Bell is a gamer. He needs to be the #1 back with Dayne spelling him. End of story.


Which running back had the best game against the 49ers?

» Mike Anderson - 37.5%
» Tatum Bell - 34.8%
» Ron Dayne - 27.9%

TOTAL VOTES: 4419
http://www.denverbroncos.com/index.php

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Which running back had the best game against the 49ers?

» Mike Anderson - 37.5%
» Tatum Bell - 34.8%
» Ron Dayne - 27.9%

TOTAL VOTES: 4419
http://www.denverbroncos.com/index.php

That's proof that 90% of fans dont know WTF they are talking about.

[TheReverend]

That's proof that 90% of fans dont know WTF they are talking about.

The reason that the Mane was created.

[DBroncos4life]

Dayne could have 400 yards rushing and still end up in last with the fans voting. People seem to forget that even though the RBs are going up against weaker players on D they also get weaker players helping them.

[Kaylore]

I thought the running game looked quite good from all the backs perspective. K. J. picked up right where he left off last year...no runs but good years on the catch in the flat.

Kaylore, does he get any attempts from the LOS??

I've only seen them run a Fullback handoff twice in camp and both failed. The reason is that our D is really good about neutralizing the lead blocker (in camps, anyway) so the FB is one of the first guys to get attacked. Against another team that doesn't have such tendecies...who knows? ???

[watermock]

The DenverBroncos.com site is for nintnedo players. (Shanny, keep that PS2 out of Pubiaks hands).

They should of put Q in there, he would probably get 26 percent.

Or MoC. Shanahan said all three did well in his opinion, at least post game. I don't see Anderson going anywhere now. Q seems hobbled, Clarett isn't well, whateve he is. Anderson stays. Looks like he is working hard.

Dayne is a lock barring injury. He was the leading rusher and seems to be getting into the gig. Surfing the official site is like surfing a giant pond.

[Atlas]

Lets see.. If Watts hadn't dropped one TD and stepped out of bounds on a second he would have had two TDs. If Elam hadn't blown two FGs add those. At least one anyway.
.:

The problem is that Watts has been dropping passes for two years now.

I wouldn't be So concerned about his drops if he didn't have that injured arm where he doesn't have any sensation. When Denver drafted him Kiper said that he can't catch. Maybe he was right.

[SoCalBronco]

I will try and put up a detailed post of my thoughts tomorrow after watching the replay on NFL Network in the morning. It did seem from the clips they were showing on saturday during the game and from the radio that our 1s were markedly better than last week although it is the 49ers we are talking about.

[Atlas]

our 1s were markedly better than last week although it is the 49ers we are talking about.

A good poll question would be what team is the worst in the NFL this year. I'm torn between Cleveland and S.F.

[Cito Pelon]

Bell ran with the first team OL, and didn't look bad. Nothing special, though. MA looked like what he is, the starter. Overall, after watching the tape, the first teamers looked great, but having the 49'rs as the test with Smith as the starting QB was anti-climactic. Rattay came in and moved the chains against the first team D. Naturally, the first team D was looking forward to taking the pads off.

So Indy is the game where everybody expects the first teamers to really get after it like it's a real game.

[Kaylore]

No one's mentioned this, but I think it was a classy move letting Chad Friehauf take the kneel down at the end of the game. That was great and a good way to tip the hat to all 4,000 School of Mines football fans.

[Cito Pelon]

. . . .although it is the 49ers we are talking about.

You'll probably say that again after you see the full game.

[Cito Pelon]

No one's mentioned this, but I think it was a classy move letting Chad Friehauf take the kneel down at the end of the game. That was great and a good way to tip the hat to all 4,000 School of Mines football fans.

Agreed.

[24champ]

No one's mentioned this, but I think it was a classy move letting Chad Friehauf take the kneel down at the end of the game. That was great and a good way to tip the hat to all 4,000 School of Mines football fans.

didnt know that classy indeed