Terrible Performance

[Bronoc57]

Many of us in Broncoland had high hopes for Sunday's opener against the Miami Dolphins. Alas, it was not to be, as the Fish dominated Denver from the opening kickoff and won going away 34-10. The Broncos offense was, well, offensive. Jake Plummer didn't complete his first pass until well into the second quarter. The defense managed to keep the game close until the second half, when the heat and the fact that they had been on the field most of the game wore them down.

I think it is fair to say that most Broncos fans assumed a more enthusiastic performance from the team, but they looked listless as well as clueless. The team never generated anything remotely resembling a running game, failed to get a score after 5 tries inside the Miami 5 yard line, and were clearly dominated at the line of scrimmage by the Miami defense. The Dolphins showed energy, desire, and effort-the Broncos did not.

Defensively the Broncos had to resort to repeated blitzes in an attempt to pressure Miami QB Gus Frerotte, but he made the hot reads and completed passes for sizable gains. The Bronco front four simply could not generate pressure on their own; in spite of Coach Mike Shanahan's pronouncements to the contrary, there was no noticeable improvement in the pass rush from last season to be seen in this game.

On the statistical front, the vaunted Bronco offense was outgained by the supposedly woeful Dolphins 426-312. The turnover battle ended up even at 3 apiece. The Broncos did recover two fumbles and pick off one Frerotte pass, but were unable to do anything with them due to chronic offensive inteptitude.

Bronco QB Jake Plummer's performance was consistent with the Bronco team as a whole; he was 22-48 for 242 yards, but did not look comfortable for any measurable stretch during the game. Plummer overthrew receivers, threw passes behind receivers, and threw a couple of uncatchable dead ducks.

The Broncos did suffer two injuries of potential major import: Champ Bailey left the game with a sprained shoulder, and Mike Anderson sustained a rib cartilage injury. :injured:

So much for being 1-0 in the 2005 season opener. Once again we see that preseason performance has little real effect on the regular season. If anything the Broncos 4-0 preseason record may have had them on their high horse a bit...that's the only explanation for why they seemed to have their heads stuck in the sand for this one.

[ludo21]

Agree with that for sure. A loss is what we needed to get our rear end in gear.

[NYBronco]

I wasn't able to watch this game and from the sounds of it I spent my time wisely in the backyard digging up and removing undesirable trees and shrubs.

Here's wishing MA a quick recovery, this man deserves a good solid year. He's overpaid his injury dues now its his time to play.

[broncobum6162]

Sorta reminds me of about half of our losses last year. Mike still hasn't figured out how to get these so called professional football players motivated for EVERY game. We come out flat and stay flat. No improvement and no change of game plan. We also like to make ex-Bronco players look like superstars.

[Bronoc57]

Sorta reminds me of about half of our losses last year. Mike still hasn't figured out how to get these so called professional football players motivated for EVERY game. We come out flat and stay flat. No improvement and no change of game plan. We also like to make ex-Bronco players look like superstars.

Frerotte did look like Superman today-especially when the Broncos blitzed.

[bloodsunday]

At least we aren't dealing with a hot start and fading team. They'll either have to improve or we may have two top 10 picks.

[db56]

I can't believe that Denver never brought in four of five wides and tried to stretch Miami's defense at all. Do we not have Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie, Darius Watts, Todd Dovoe, and so on? I just cant understand why the wouldn
't try it, its not a discrace to win a game passing the football. The patriots came out on Thursday night and attacked the weakness of Oaklands defense, their secondary and Shanahan didn't even try.

[No1BroncoFan]

At least we aren't dealing with a hot start and fading team. They'll either have to improve or we may have two top 10 picks.
If we've got two top-10 picks next year it better be someone other than Shanny deciding who to use them on or they'll just be wasted picks.

Ben

[bloodsunday]

The OL continues to be my biggest fear. They were awful. Anytime our zone blocking scheme is shut down, our whole O goes in the toilet. Our offense is too finesse and it starts up front. Yeah there will be teams that we can push around this season, but when we run into teams that play physical in the front 7 (San Diego, Baltimore, Philly, New England), look out.

[bloodsunday]

If we've got two top-10 picks next year it better be someone other than Shanny deciding who to use them on or they'll just be wasted picks.

Ben
Your preaching to the choir. I got a bad rep saying this before the season even started. Wonder how many would agree with me now? It's easy to hate in hindsight, but I had a feeling watching the cuts that we were cutting too many picks which either meant we were making poor choices initially or that we were making bad roster decisions.

[eddie mac]

If we've got two top-10 picks next year it better be someone other than Shanny deciding who to use them on or they'll just be wasted picks.

Ben

I doubt if we have 2 top 10 picks and I doubt even more that we'd keep them considering this team is so cap f@cked for next year it'll struggle to afford 1 1st rounder let alone 2 top 10 choices.

[Rock Chalk]

At least we aren't dealing with a hot start and fading team. They'll either have to improve or we may have two top 10 picks.
Way to look at the positive! :)

You know, from teh start, with Jake going Oh fer 7, I just felt like the team was in quicksand. The harder they tried, the worse it got, culminating in the fourth quarter.

Everyone here was concerned about not scoring quick and getting out big because of the 4th quarter heat would wear our guys down. When we went into the locker room at 6-3 I knew then the game was over.

Man, Agassi is still amazing.

Anyway, the way they just laid down there at the end, except Rod who is the god damn man, Im just upset about that. That was horrible.

[broncoblue]

wow....went straight to bed after the game...i think thats the worst performance from the broncos ive ever seen...pittiful.

[sirhcyennek81]

obviously you dont remember the last game of the 1999 season against san diego. jermaine fazande. that was pitiful.

[watermock]

The OL continues to be my biggest fear. They were awful. Anytime our zone blocking scheme is shut down, our whole O goes in the toilet. Our offense is too finesse and it starts up front. Yeah there will be teams that we can push around this season, but when we run into teams that play physical in the front 7 (San Diego, Baltimore, Philly, New England), look out.

Awful? In the toilet is a compliment.

[Hulamau]

Way to look at the positive! :)

You know, from teh start, with Jake going Oh fer 7, I just felt like the team was in quicksand. The harder they tried, the worse it got, culminating in the fourth quarter.

Everyone here was concerned about not scoring quick and getting out big because of the 4th quarter heat would wear our guys down. When we went into the locker room at 6-3 I knew then the game was over.

Man, Agassi is still amazing.

Anyway, the way they just laid down there at the end, except Rod who is the god damn man, Im just upset about that. That was horrible.

Totally agree maybe it was the heat and hallicination, but when we squandered all those 3 and outs in the first half and the D has gaging by half I knew we were in trouble. And at the end I was just hoping we'd make a game of it and play with like we wanted it, but it only got worse quick.

One thing about Tater not doing so well. He has been running with the second team all preseason and hasn't had as much time to get in sync with the first team. In fact, the whole first team has less that one full game under their belt before this one and it obviously wasn't enough.

I just hope we have no more games in Florida this Century in the month of September ..... Oh except for the damn Jaqs game in 3 week, but its bound to be 15 degrees cooler on the field by then!

[Liquid Courage]

Three noticeable things stood out for me WRT this game:

1) Denver's OL and execution of the zone running scheme floundered. No discipline. No push. No heart. They out-hustled and out-gameplanned EVERY step of the way.
2) Brandon Jacobs looked amazing for the Giants today. Really ran hard and look very mobile for a HUGE back. Sure would have been nice to have that option inside the 5 yard line instead of the man we took 9 picks earlier - MoC. What a waste.
3) I recall the Patriots starting the 2003/2004 season losing 31-0 at Buffalo. They took the adversity, owned up to the challenge and destroyed people the rest of the season; losing only one other game. With that in mind, embarrasment can be a great motivator. Let's see what the next few weeks have in store for these boys and see if Shanny & Co. can turn this into a positive.

[Sassy]

[q]...embarrasment can be a great motivator. Let's see what the next few weeks have in store for these boys and see if Shanny & Co. can turn this into a positive.[/QUOTE]
Remember how many games we lost at the end of 97....blown out by the Steelers...granted we don't have Elway and TD but...

[CBF1]

REP to the 10th power

[Macnut]

This game was worst than last year playoff lost to the Colts.

[-Slap-]

I can't believe that Denver never brought in four of five wides and tried to stretch Miami's defense at all. Do we not have Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie, Darius Watts, Todd Dovoe, and so on? I just cant understand why the wouldn
't try it, its not a discrace to win a game passing the football. The patriots came out on Thursday night and attacked the weakness of Oaklands defense, their secondary and Shanahan didn't even try.
Perhaps Mike was stung by the catcalls of "Nintendo" from the peanut gallery.

[Raiders Rock]

Agree with that for sure. A loss is what we needed to get our rear end in gear.


A loss never helps anything, just helps you understand the flaws in your game and helps other teams learn how to exploit your weaknesses

[yavoon]

I can't believe that Denver never brought in four of five wides and tried to stretch Miami's defense at all. Do we not have Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie, Darius Watts, Todd Dovoe, and so on? I just cant understand why the wouldn
't try it, its not a discrace to win a game passing the football. The patriots came out on Thursday night and attacked the weakness of Oaklands defense, their secondary and Shanahan didn't even try.

I'm not sure "having todd devoe" is a reason to run 4wide. its the real season now.