PFW Says Coaches Unhappy With Lelie After Miami

[meangene]

This weeks Whisper section of PFW states:

WR Ashley Lelie drew the ire of the Broncos’ coaching staff after a Week One loss to Miami for the passive approach he showed in going after the ball and not finishing some of his routes.

This might explain why he looked better in week 2. Don't understand why they need to light a fire under him at this point.

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Nice try, PFT.

Fishing once again.

Did this really need to be written by anyone on their "staff"?

[Ray Finkle]

PFW = garbage.....I don't take one word of what they print as accurate...

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

PFW is reporting that footballs are brown.

I'm not buying it.

[NaptownChief]

This is Pro Football Weekly not Pro Football Talk that you guys are thinking.

[meangene]

This is Pro Football Weekly not Pro Football Talk that you guys are thinking.

Yeah, Pro Football Weekly! I find it pretty accurate.

[2KBack]

Some coaches were dissapointed that their player didn't play up to their potential? What a scandal!

[Ratboy]

I could have told you the coaches were unhappy with Lelie. It's common sense!

Your 1st round WR who is suppose to break out into a 1300+ season looked like a dud in week 1.

Will you be happy?

[meangene]

Some coaches were dissapointed that their player didn't play up to their potential? What a scandal!

Not playing up to potential is one thing - the whole team was guilty of that in Miami. But, playing passively and not finishing routes is something else. Particularly with Lelie because this soft play has been his problem. And, I agree - he looked soft in that game. Scandal no, just more of the same!

[Taco John]

I would like to make a startling announcement: The Orange Mane was very displeased with Ashley Lelie's performance after week one. If he doesn't improve, we're going to talk with Shanahan about firing Coyer.

[Kaylore]

I would like to make a startling announcement: The Orange Mane was very displeased with Ashley Lelie's performance after week one. If he doesn't improve, we're going to talk with Shanahan about firing Coyer.
Ha!... "Yavoon!"

[Rascal]

I think we should fire the water boy...clearly the performance in Miami was due to lack of hydration.

[Northman]

Not playing up to potential is one thing - the whole team was guilty of that in Miami. But, playing passively and not finishing routes is something else. Particularly with Lelie because this soft play has been his problem. And, I agree - he looked soft in that game. Scandal no, just more of the same!



For starters, the heat was getting to everyone. Bailey was pissed about hurting himself out there and your right, the team looked like ass. simply pointing fingers at one player for that game is just moronic and classless. it wouldnt have mattered if Lelie finished his routes off or not that day as jake had zero time to even get him the ball. face the facts, it was the Dolphins Super Bowl that day.

[Popps]

Lelie has been a let-down, but it has only been two games. At least last week he wasn't working against us. Maybe he can actually make an impact this week.

[Denver Crush]

If Jake could get some time in the pocket, Id bet we'd be singin a different tune about Ash. Until that happens, he's ****ed.

[DBroncos4life]

I thought he did pretty well last week when they had him do more then the run deep patterns. It would do us a world of good to get him going in the shorter routes.

[Goobzilla]

I still say Jammer got away with one on the 2nd play of the SD game woulda been a TD otherwise. Ash did look better this week, hopefully he can keep it rolling.

[Dudeskey]

I would like to make a startling announcement: The Orange Mane was very displeased with Ashley Lelie's performance after week one. If he doesn't improve, we're going to talk with Shanahan about firing Coyer.

Brilliant!
http://www.guinness.com/NR/rdonlyres/71BDE1E0-9531-421C-BF58-C47F7E1B676C/0/ads_suntan_grab3.jpg

[-Slap-]

Pro Football Weakly went straight in the crapper shortly after they buried Joel Buchsbaum. Now I find their analysis quite laughable at times. I reflex-bought their preview issue last year and their individual player rankings listed Tedi Bruschi 20th among MLB/ILBs. I left it on the rack this year.

[watermock]

Denver just traded Lelie for Ed Reed!

If Reeves hadn't been a fool and drafted Duckett, we might of drafted Reed. Yes, we have Lelie the shy, and the Claw, but now that our corner problems seem solved, we can't get the young WR's to do poop. And don't tell me Lelie has 1000 yards. He would make a play now and again long, but he isn't a guy to move the chains, we all hoped, but they aren't using him that way, or he just sucks at it. At this time, he looks like a Todd Pinkston to me. I don't even know what to say about the Claw. He's terrible.

[wabbit]

Nobody wants Aslie Lelie to live up to the hope than Ashlie Lelie.

The kid works his ass off, & will deliver as the season progresses.

Problem is; he isn't what the team wants him to be; a move the chains receiver. Frankly, I don't believe he ever will be.

Mock uses the Todd Pinkston example, although I personally believe he's a whole hell of a lot more than that.

He's dedicated, willing & still learning.

He's also a long ball receiver...it's what he was at Hawaii and if the Bronco scouts thought they were drafting something else, they weren't doing their jobs.

Elway would've killed for a receiver like Lelie...Plummer?...I don't know if it really serves the offense the way it's set up right now.

Charlie Adams & Rod Smith are more the ideal in a Plummer offense...maybe Devoe after he develops some.

That doesn't mean he can't be valuable...it just means the coaches are still hammering that square peg into the proverbial round hole, and all it really accomplishes in the end is frustrating everybody involved.

[watermock]

Well, the Pinkston example might of been an extreme, and an insult. Still, It's close to his performance. I don't even know how to insult Watts at this point. Miss Twiggy maybe.

[fontaine]

He's also a long ball receiver...it's what he was at Hawaii and if the Bronco scouts thought they were drafting something else, they weren't doing their jobs.

Elway would've killed for a receiver like Lelie...Plummer?...I don't know if it really serves the offense the way it's set up right now.

I agree that Lelie isn't the physical possession type WR right now but we have Rod/Adams/Watts for that.

But I still think that Lelie is vital to this offense. He might never catch 6-7 balls consistently a game, but his presence and deep speed, has opened up things for our TEs/WRs, and running game. It ensures that defenses can't just stack two safeties at the line of scrimmage. What I do want Lelie to do, though, is be more consistent in the red zone and at catching the long ball which we'll need going up against high scoring offenses like KC.

[meangene]

I agree that he is vital to the offense. He's our only deep threat. But, he has to do a better job of making the clutch move the chains type of catches because the offense is not good enough to overcome his short route and red zone failings. He has not done a good job in this area. Hasn't caught the ball in traffic and does appear passive on the tough catches. I thought this was going to improve this season with all the talk if him working on this area of his game. Up until this report, which you can believe or not, I had never heard of a complaint regarding his effort. If it is accurate, it might be an early indication that the coaches are losing some patience. I don't know that we have much alternative though I really like Adams. I thought Lelie noticably played more physically last week and I hope this continues because we really do need him - at least until next year.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Nobody wants Aslie Lelie to live up to the hope than Ashlie Lelie.

The kid works his ass off, & will deliver as the season progresses.

Problem is; he isn't what the team wants him to be; a move the chains receiver. Frankly, I don't believe he ever will be.

Mock uses the Todd Pinkston example, although I personally believe he's a whole hell of a lot more than that.

He's dedicated, willing & still learning.

He's also a long ball receiver...it's what he was at Hawaii and if the Bronco scouts thought they were drafting something else, they weren't doing their jobs.

Elway would've killed for a receiver like Lelie...Plummer?...I don't know if it really serves the offense the way it's set up right now.

Charlie Adams & Rod Smith are more the ideal in a Plummer offense...maybe Devoe after he develops some.

That doesn't mean he can't be valuable...it just means the coaches are still hammering that square peg into the proverbial round hole, and all it really accomplishes in the end is frustrating everybody involved.

Wabbit makes it sound like we may need to upgrade Ashlie's delivery system (Plummer) for him to flourish. Should would be nice to see some deep balls to Ash vs KC. I noticed Lelie's avg YPC is no where near what it was last year. Seems that would indicate they have altered his use in the system. More short and intermeddiate stuff. Let's air it our once or twice..... just to make them think we can. Hilarious!

[Garcia Bronco]

Not playing up to potential is one thing - the whole team was guilty of that in Miami. But, playing passively and not finishing routes is something else. Particularly with Lelie because this soft play has been his problem. And, I agree - he looked soft in that game. Scandal no, just more of the same!


This was my knock on him when we first drafted him....HTF do you draft a WR that played college ball in sunny Hawaii? Of course he's soft...but he should have toughened up by now.

[watermock]

Let's have Sonny Corleone beat him up some...toughen him up...

[Broncoman13]

This just in................... Coach Mike Shanahan was disappointed when Champ Bailey injured his shoulder vs the Miami Dolphins. The way we see it Coach Shanahan thinks Champ is an important part of the Broncos Defense. We also hear that he is considered the best CB on the Broncos Defense. This is big news and we are the first to report it.

-PFWeakly

[Broncoman13]

What Ash needs is to play the slot. Move him in motion and let him free lance a bit. Ash's biggest problem is his quickness. He has excellent speed but it's all straight line and he takes a while to get going. That will always hurt him. That's one of the reasons he can't be affective in the Red Zone. A guy like Darrius Watts has the feet to succeed. Too bad we can't put.....never mind, I was gonna say Ash's hands on Darrius' arms, but that could still frustrate some!

[Garcia Bronco]

Let's have Sonny Corleone beat him up some...toughen him up...


They killed that guy you know...but that's point...he's as tough as he's going to be right now. and that's the problem.

[Traveler]

Nobody wants Aslie Lelie to live up to the hope than Ashlie Lelie.

The kid works his ass off, & will deliver as the season progresses.

Problem is; he isn't what the team wants him to be; a move the chains receiver. Frankly, I don't believe he ever will be.

Mock uses the Todd Pinkston example, although I personally believe he's a whole hell of a lot more than that.

He's dedicated, willing & still learning.

He's also a long ball receiver...it's what he was at Hawaii and if the Bronco scouts thought they were drafting something else, they weren't doing their jobs.

Elway would've killed for a receiver like Lelie...Plummer?...I don't know if it really serves the offense the way it's set up right now.

Charlie Adams & Rod Smith are more the ideal in a Plummer offense...maybe Devoe after he develops some.

That doesn't mean he can't be valuable...it just means the coaches are still hammering that square peg into the proverbial round hole, and all it really accomplishes in the end is frustrating everybody involved.

This brings us back to trying to make someone fit into a particular scheme instead of tailoring it to fit the personnel. I don't fault Lelie. Yes, he had a bad game against Miami. But you can't change what you are. Lelie is not a physical player. Never will be!

The bigger problem is Plummer isn't an accurate long ball QB that puts fear into defenses, thus making Ashley even more one dimensional. And our rushing attack, although still formidable, just doesn't command the respect it once did.

Which brings me back to my point. The FO and coaching staff seem stuck in the past. The talent we now have isn't being used to it's fullest in some instances. Maybe they need to look more closely at how they are doing things before calling out a player, though sometimes justified. The Miami game is all the evidence needed to prove that there was plenty of blame to be laid at the coaches feet for that dismal performance.

It's almost like the FO doesn't realize they don't have the same type and quality of player we did during the SB years. They're running the team like they still have an Elway , Davis Sharpe, Zimmerman, Smith, Smith, Williams etc..

[fontaine]

he's as tough as he's going to be right now. and that's the problem.

I don't know about that. He laid a very Eddie-Mac like smackdown on some poor defender on Jeb's TD run.

He would have been too scrawny to do that last year. I think he is improving but the progress is more incremental than a break out we were all hoping for.

[bloodsunday]

PFW = garbage.....I don't take one word of what they print as accurate...
Not sure when the Maner's got so much smarter than the rest of the world. Just because we are homers doesn't mean that everything that is reported anti-Denver is garbage.

Lelie admitted that he was disappointed with Lelie after the game and during his Monday press conference. If anything this point was just redundant.

[bloodsunday]

I could have told you the coaches were unhappy with Lelie. It's common sense!

Your 1st round WR who is suppose to break out into a 1300+ season looked like a dud in week 1.

Will you be happy?
Exactly! If people around here hate these kind of comments, then A) don't post them and B) don't respond to them. It's an obvious statementent and its intended for a larger audience then Broncos fans.

So instead of calling it sensationalism or garbage, just move on. These thing are reported about every team out there and many probably have at least a seed of truth.

[bloodsunday]

Nobody wants Aslie Lelie to live up to the hope than Ashlie Lelie.

The kid works his ass off, & will deliver as the season progresses.

Problem is; he isn't what the team wants him to be; a move the chains receiver. Frankly, I don't believe he ever will be.

Mock uses the Todd Pinkston example, although I personally believe he's a whole hell of a lot more than that.

He's dedicated, willing & still learning.

He's also a long ball receiver...it's what he was at Hawaii and if the Bronco scouts thought they were drafting something else, they weren't doing their jobs.

Elway would've killed for a receiver like Lelie...Plummer?...I don't know if it really serves the offense the way it's set up right now.

Charlie Adams & Rod Smith are more the ideal in a Plummer offense...maybe Devoe after he develops some.

That doesn't mean he can't be valuable...it just means the coaches are still hammering that square peg into the proverbial round hole, and all it really accomplishes in the end is frustrating everybody involved.
Bingo. Good stuff Wabbit. How long will Lelie be in the league before we realize he is what he is? He's a good vertical threat, but not a great possession receiver. That means there may be many games where we are frustrated with him because he just won't have the impact that a possession guy has on every game. I don't have an issue with Lelie, but I think he may be under-utilized in this offense.