Rascal's thoughts on the SD game, rest of the year, and next year [Archive] - The Orange Mane

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Rascal

12-10-2006, 07:52 PM

Offense:
QB:
Cutler showed today why he was worthy of a high pick, and deserving of being inserted as the starting QB. He made some mistakes and took too long in his reads occasionally, but that will improve with experience. The future looks bright with him at QB.

WR and TE:
Marshall and Scheffler look good for the future as well, and we have some young talent that is being developed. The future looks bright at those positions as well in addition to Walker.

O-Line:
Hopefully Lepsis can come back to full strength, as we need him desperately at LT. Pears was just no match today, and needs TE support to be effective. Unfortunately we couldn't afford to do that because of the POS at RT in Foster. Foster needs to be traded for a used condom, with Pears and Meadows battling it out at RT next year. Carlisle missed the block on that one play, and him and Kuper should battle it out next year. Other then that our interior line looked like they did good against a good d-line and LB's.

RB:
Bell had another good game, and when healthy it's obvious how much better he makes our offense. Not sure if we need to get a stud RB in draft or FA though. If he can stay healthy I think Bell is legit, problem is he doesn't. I don't know what happened to Kyle Johnson, but we need to use the FB more.

Coaching:
Our play calling was horrible at first as was Shanny's game management in the fourth (going for it @ the 11 minute mark was not smart IMO). Either Dennison or Herminger needs to go IMO. I think Shanny eventually took over the play calling after half time and it became obvious. I don't think the coaches realize what they have yet in Cutler, and are still thinking of the game plan in terms of Plummer. That needs to change.

ST's:
Our ST's continue to be absolutely horrible. We can't kickoff, we can't kick return, we can't punt, and we can't return a punt. Fire the damn coach, and find a legit ST's coach. Then get a better punter/kick off specialists.

Defense:
The defense was exposed again, and hopefully now people will finally agree those of us that have been screaming about it all season. It is overrated. The d-line is absolute joke, D-will can't cover Foster, and Lynch can't cover either. Injuries have taken their toll without a doubt, but even 100% this defense had major holes which nobody noticed because everybody was focused on Plummer. I'll give Coyer another year, but no matter what we need to bring in at least 2 d-line starters (either draft or FA I don't care), and we need to get a safety for the future. I think Foxworth at safety was a nice experiment, but his lack of size is just asking for too much. Sam Brandon I think will be a good SS, but we need a legit FS. If only we had Ed Reed.

Rascal

12-10-2006, 07:59 PM

Rest of the Year:
I think we will finish 9-7, maybe 8-8 depending on the defense does. I think the season is pretty much over, disagree or not I don't care.

Offense:
IMO we should continue and let Cutler develop and get our rookies (primarily Marshall and Scheffler) get experience on offense. Hopefully Pears can improve with more playing time as well. The potential is there, but he is very raw IMO. I also think we should run Tatum into the ground and make a decision as to whether he will be our primary back next year. If not at least get him some good stats to increase his trade value.

Defense:
I think we should put Cox back at safety, and put Foxworth in D-will's CB position. Darrent has been used and abused all year, and teams go to him at will and usually get big dividends. We need to search the waiver wire for any D-lineman available and give them a work out, it can't hurt.

ST's: Continue to try to find anybody that can return kicks, because Clark sucks.

Barry Ramey

12-10-2006, 08:02 PM

Tatum has been running better lately, though can he be trusted for a full season? That's the big question with him.

Foster clearly does not fit the OL.

Shanahan is calling the plays and has been all year. He has done a poor job with that and with soem of the decisions, the Elam run for a TD play the biggest idiotic one.

The special teams have been average at best for a few years now. This year it's even worse than that. Other teams seem to be solid there at least some of the time, but it seems rare for the Broncos.

And I stand by my belief this team can not get to a Super Bowl with Coyer as the DC. Yes, they have a crap DL, but I hated that soft zone crap since September when yeah, it worked against the poor offenses, but the good ones can and will pick it apart.

But the biggest concern I have is the draft. The Broncos the last say 3-4 years, have not drafted well at all and you can't keep having bad drafts and having to sign average free agent players to play key roles and think you can keep winning every season. It will come back to bite you eventually and this year is the year.

Rascal

12-10-2006, 08:10 PM

Rascal

12-10-2006, 08:15 PM

We haven't had good drafts the past 3-4 years?

The past two years have been solid drafts.

Coyer may have had no choice to play a soft zone with a crappy d-line and a liability in D-will. The chicken or the egg? I don't know, but I'm going to leave that up to Shanny's judgement.

Elam is fine so that play call didnt' bite us.

bloodsunday

12-10-2006, 08:18 PM

Rest of the Year:
I think we will finish 9-7, maybe 8-8 depending on the defense does. I think the season is pretty much over, disagree or not I don't care.
I wish it weren't true, but its hard to disagree. This team has completely barfed all over themselves. One of the most disappointing times in my years as a Broncos fan (since 85). I just cannot understand how it has all gone soooo bad soooo fast. I am really worried about how bad a psychological punch like this can linger in the off season.

Offense:
IMO we should continue and let Cutler develop and get our rookies (primarily Marshall and Scheffler) get experience on offense. Hopefully Pears can improve with more playing time as well. The potential is there, but he is very raw IMO. I also think we should run Tatum into the ground and make a decision as to whether he will be our primary back next year. If not at least get him some good stats to increase his trade value.
The one-two punch of Bell and Bell seemed to do well today. I don't think anything will change the fact that we need a stud.

Defense:
I think we should put Cox back at safety, and put Foxworth in D-will's CB position. Darrent has been used and abused all year, and teams go to him at will and usually get big dividends.
Your best point, IMO. Let Darrent watch from the bench for a while and see what you got in Cox and Foxworth.

SureShot

12-10-2006, 08:25 PM

I'm curious to see hope Lepsis comes back from his injury. He wasn't exactly playing up to form this year.

baja

12-10-2006, 08:28 PM

We need to hire who ever is in charge of San Diego's drafts.

bloodsunday

12-10-2006, 08:28 PM

O-Line:
Hopefully Lepsis can come back to full strength, as we need him desperately at LT. Pears was just no match today, and needs TE support to be effective.

You know Lepsis had microfracture surgery right? Its a long road back for him.

OrangeShadow

12-10-2006, 08:34 PM

i agree with most of what you said

Offense:
QB:
Cutler showed today why he was worthy of a high pick, and deserving of being inserted as the starting QB. He made some mistakes and took too long in his reads occasionally, but that will improve with experience. The future looks bright with him at QB.

agree 100%
WR and TE:
Marshall and Scheffler look good for the future as well, and we have some young talent that is being developed. The future looks bright at those positions as well in addition to Walker.

agree again

O-Line:
Hopefully Lepsis can come back to full strength, as we need him desperately at LT. Pears was just no match today, and needs TE support to be effective. Unfortunately we couldn't afford to do that because of the POS at RT in Foster. Foster needs to be traded for a used condom, with Pears and Meadows battling it out at RT next year. Carlisle missed the block on that one play, and him and Kuper should battle it out next year. Other then that our interior line looked like they did good against a good d-line and LB's.
i really hope lepsis comes back strong. i think kuper will be the RT next year so its sets up lepsis ham nails RG Kuper

RB:
Bell had another good game, and when healthy it's obvious how much better he makes our offense. Not sure if we need to get a stud RB in draft or FA though. If he can stay healthy I think Bell is legit, problem is he doesn't. I don't know what happened to Kyle Johnson, but we need to use the FB more.
i dont think tatum is as bad as people think. Hes running a lot tougher and doing well with a average offensive line. Id like to see us focus on defense more than RB this offseason

Coaching:
Our play calling was horrible at first as was Shanny's game management in the fourth (going for it @ the 11 minute mark was not smart IMO). Either Dennison or Herminger needs to go IMO. I think Shanny eventually took over the play calling after half time and it became obvious. I don't think the coaches realize what they have yet in Cutler, and are still thinking of the game plan in terms of Plummer. That needs to change.
dennison needs to go and fast. i hated the long pass to marsahll on 3rd and 2. i didnt like going for it with 11 minutes left either. Maybe hes got to get use to having a real qb again?
ST's:
Our ST's continue to be absolutely horrible. We can't kickoff, we can't kick return, we can't punt, and we can't return a punt. Fire the damn coach, and find a legit ST's coach. Then get a better punter/kick off specialists.
please bring back todd s. i dont care if he got suspended. then sign BJ sams in the offseason(or try to anyway)

Defense:
The defense was exposed again, and hopefully now people will finally agree those of us that have been screaming about it all season. It is overrated. The d-line is absolute joke, D-will can't cover Foster, and Lynch can't cover either. Injuries have taken their toll without a doubt, but even 100% this defense had major holes which nobody noticed because everybody was focused on Plummer. I'll give Coyer another year, but no matter what we need to bring in at least 2 d-line starters (either draft or FA I don't care), and we need to get a safety for the future. I think Foxworth at safety was a nice experiment, but his lack of size is just asking for too much. Sam Brandon I think will be a good SS, but we need a legit FS. If only we had Ed Reed.


agree here to

loborugger

12-10-2006, 10:53 PM

We need to hire who ever is in charge of San Diego's drafts.

Before I jump on that bandwagon, lets think about some of those picks in the 90s.... Wow, I can think of 2 Chargers from the 90s. Seau and Harrison. Oh, wait, there was Craig Whelihan.

They have had some nice trades recently that they really capitalized on. They gave up Mexico for Brees and LT. Then they gave up little Manning for Rivers, Merriman, and Kaeding. And in both cases, the dudes they gave up arent as good as the guys got.

Well, lets see. They have had a nice run, no doubt. BUT... name a SD RB before LT (Chuck Muncie??) ... name a SD Wideout since the Fouts years, or a TE. Name a SD CB. How about an O Lineman.

SO, I think I will pass. There is a reason why they have been non-contenders over most of the last 20 years.

Rascal

12-10-2006, 10:59 PM

You know Lepsis had microfracture surgery right? Its a long road back for him.

Quit being such a pessimistic. You are making me look optimistic.

Lepsis had microfracture surgery before on his other knee and made a fine recovery, I expect the same from this one.

Mile High Shack

12-10-2006, 10:59 PM

We need to hire who ever is in charge of San Diego's drafts.

drrrr, it helps when you have high draft picks year after year after year

theAPAOps5

12-10-2006, 11:00 PM

Rascal I like your thinking. I want to be optimistic and say we go 10-6 but the way DWill and our Safties played today I am not sure about our coverage on the Bengals. That with no pass rush it could be another long day.

I am officially off the Darrent bandwagon. He just keeps getting burnt over and over again. Its not like he is just missing. Too many times you would see the ball in the air and D Will scrambling to try to get back.

dsmoot

12-10-2006, 11:13 PM

[QUOTE=OrangeShadow;1397323]i agree with most of what you said

Offense:

O-Line:
Hopefully Lepsis can come back to full strength, as we need him desperately at LT. Pears was just no match today, and needs TE support to be effective. Unfortunately we couldn't afford to do that because of the POS at RT in Foster. Foster needs to be traded for a used condom, with Pears and Meadows battling it out at RT next year. Carlisle missed the block on that one play, and him and Kuper should battle it out next year. Other then that our interior line looked like they did good against a good d-line and LB's.
i really hope lepsis comes back strong. i think kuper will be the RT next year so its sets up lepsis ham nails RG Kuper

Not trying to be personal or critical, but this analysis is fairly typical of what I see on OM. Underline the word HOPE. We are hoping for a RG and we are hoping Kuper is a solution at RT. We need some talent not hope. Has Kuper played at all this year? If he hasn't, how can we have much hope. If he possessed significant talent he would be activated and filling in for Foster. This line needs significant upgrade across the board not just a player or two. Nalen has seen his better days, not that he isn't still better than anyone else starting. This is exactly what I mean. A guy at the end of his career better than everyone else. If we don't find answers here soon, we are going to be talking about why Cutler is throwing interceptions off his back foot and why the running game disappears for a half or full game.

ST's:
Our ST's continue to be absolutely horrible. We can't kickoff, we can't kick return, we can't punt, and we can't return a punt. Fire the damn coach, and find a legit ST's coach. Then get a better punter/kick off specialists.
please bring back todd s. i dont care if he got suspended. then sign BJ sams in the offseason(or try to anyway)

DWill takes balls on the 10 yard line and then goes backwards trying to make a play ... you aren't Dante Hall. Where are you Todd? I will personally be responsible for your prescription medicine. Mr. Clark, you have signs of potential but why do your teammates hold or push in the back on about 65% of your returns. Jason, you have been the best kicker in Bronco history but the leg isn't what it used to be. You are the only consistant player on ST. The coverage teams are scary ... a big play waiting to happen. Who is the special teams coach anyway (Bradford or Dennison)

want2bAbronco2

12-10-2006, 11:15 PM

i want lynch. a big back to just beat the sh!t out of the D, and then let tbell take it to the house. i hope lepsis can come back, but i think we need to take a big 6'5" 310lb LT in the first 3 rnds next year and move pears to RT.

BigBoltIke

12-10-2006, 11:21 PM

Before I jump on that bandwagon, lets think about some of those picks in the 90s.... Wow, I can think of 2 Chargers from the 90s. Seau and Harrison. Oh, wait, there was Craig Whelihan.

They have had some nice trades recently that they really capitalized on. They gave up Mexico for Brees and LT. Then they gave up little Manning for Rivers, Merriman, and Kaeding. And in both cases, the dudes they gave up arent as good as the guys got.

Well, lets see. They have had a nice run, no doubt. BUT... name a SD RB before LT (Chuck Muncie??) ... name a SD Wideout since the Fouts years, or a TE. Name a SD CB. How about an O Lineman.

SO, I think I will pass. There is a reason why they have been non-contenders over most of the last 20 years.

AJ Smith has been in charge of the Charger's drafts since 2004, his first full offseason as GM. Since then the Chargers are 32-13, swung the Manning heist, and picked up enough talent to be SB contenders for the next five seasons. I'm just curious about what we're going to do when it comes time to try and replace (like it can ever be done) LT when he retires.

Den needs to take a RB with a legit chance at being a featureback this coming season.

Atwater His Ass

12-10-2006, 11:24 PM

I'll still cut Darrent some slack because I think he still an above average, playmaking CB, but he needs help from the DL. I'd like to see what he could do with a solid pass rush; I think he could have a very solid season with that support.

As far as Tatum goes, it is obvious the jolt he gives our offense. Even if Shannahan decides he is not "the guy", I still think you keep him as the backup. He is deadly coming in that role as he proved last season.

More than any secondary help, we need to focus on the DL with this upcoming draft. Generating pressure will help our entire secondary. Second priority, imo, is shoreing up our OT posisition. Foster is toast, Pears is playing well but we can definatley upgrade him, and who knows what Lepsis status will be. Even if he recovers, I would be surprised to see him play the entire year without injury.

I just can't realisticaly see us spending a first day pick on a RB when we have Tatum that is above average, and Mike Bell who could develop into a quality back. We have too many other needs on this team and can't afford the luxory of drafting a RB until our other needs are met.

Mile High Shack

12-10-2006, 11:25 PM

AJ Smith has been in charge of the Charger's drafts since 2004, his first full offseason as GM. Since then the Chargers are 32-13, swung the Manning heist, and picked up enough talent to be SB contenders for the next five seasons. I'm just curious about what we're going to do when it comes time to try and replace (like it can ever be done) LT when he retires.

Den needs to take a RB with a legit chance at being a featureback this coming season.

who cares

go away

boltaneer

12-11-2006, 01:17 AM

SureShot

12-11-2006, 01:29 AM

Any chance we go after Turner?

Rascal

12-11-2006, 01:30 AM

They will probably put a first round tender on him basically making him untouchable.

theAPAOps5

12-11-2006, 01:34 AM

As the cliche goes, "football is won and lost in the trenches". I know this has been talked about for a couple of years now but if Denver can upgrade their d-line in the draft or free agency, they could become very scary. I still think they're a solid defense though and I think a lot of you guys get down too much on them when they give up a lot of points to a good offense.

Cutler showed a little something today but I wasn't too impressed but I think he is clearly an upgrade to Plummer but he just needs to be given time to develop. My view of him has come down a lot since watching him light it up in preseason (yeah, I know it was only preseason).

See I don't see how you can come down on him. He made some throws today that were just wow. He has virtually little time in the pocket and its only his second game. Yeah he is raw but my opinion has actually gone up since preseason. He needs to stop staring down WRs and he has this weird double clutch thing going on that has to be corrected.

SureShot

12-11-2006, 01:34 AM

Give them the Washington picks.

*Edit I know they won't deal with us. I think he would be a good fit.

Rascal

12-11-2006, 01:35 AM

We won't have any washington picks in the first round. We would either switch first rounders with them or get their third rounder. And no way in hell is Turner worth a first rounder.

bcbronc

12-11-2006, 01:49 AM

Tatum is the biggest question mark, imo. If he could stay healthy, there's no worries there. But can he be depended on to stay healthy for 16 games? I'd like to see a first day pick brought in (not a 1st, unless BPA was a guaranteed stud) just to keep the stable full.

DWil gets some slack from me. He's a second year player opposite the best corner in football, with no pass rush and slow safeties. He's having some growing pains, but he's battling and has made some plays this season. Did have a tough game today though.

I consider safety to be priority 1 (or at least 1a with a pass rusher). When's the last time we had a safety make a game-changing play, especially that didn't include blitzing on his part?

I'm also thinking it might be time for a change at the top. I'm definately not calling for shanny's head or saying Bowlen should can him, but things might have gotten a little stale...for shanny and the organization. I love Shanny and all that he's done for the organization, but everything eventually runs its course. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Shanny walks away at the end of the season.

BigBoltIke

12-11-2006, 02:00 AM

I think that with where Den will likely be picking (19-21) there might not be a RB with the kind of quality that Turner offers. He's a one-cut runner, he finishes plays, can catch out of the backfield, and is big and powerful enough to grind the tough yds.

Does that make him worth a first rounder? Maybe, but that really depends on how the DT market looks out there. I haven't been following too many college players (too busy following the Chargers) so I don't know who's likely to be there at 20.

theAPAOps5

12-11-2006, 02:06 AM

Anyone worth taking will be taken early. I still think that Tatum can be good, just needs to stay healthy damnit!

boltaneer

12-11-2006, 02:10 AM

See I don't see how you can come down on him. He made some throws today that were just wow. He has virtually little time in the pocket and its only his second game. Yeah he is raw but my opinion has actually gone up since preseason. He needs to stop staring down WRs and he has this weird double clutch thing going on that has to be corrected.

I'm not really coming down on him although I guess I made it sound like that.

He's got a cannon for sure, but there are some things that would have me concerned as a Bronco fan. His delivery seems long and slow, he seems to throw off his back foot a lot though he seems to be improving on that already. And as you mentioned, he stares down receivers too much but that's not surprising for a rookie quarterback and all of those things can be corrected.

It's just way too early to say. All the football experts now say it takes thirty two starts or some number before the "light switch" turns on for the average NFL quarterback.

theAPAOps5

12-11-2006, 02:19 AM

Back foot comes from taking 4 steps back and having a rusher in his face. If we can get the oline fixed that fixes that a little. His delivery is not long and slow per se. He has this weird double pump and I think Phil Simms put it best when he said he is trying not to rush the pass and let the play progress. Hopefully he learns to keep that hidden. My only concern is his penchance to fumble. All I know is I saw some passes today that were thrown so well that only one person could catch it and that was his guy. He needs some touch on the pass but that all comes with playing. He improved from last week that is the big thing.

Odysseus

12-11-2006, 02:51 AM

Next Year:
Priority #1 is to get at least TWO new defensive line starters next year. Ekuban or Brown at one DE is okay along with Myers, but we need a legit DT and DE that can generate a pass rush.

Priority #2 is to address the RB situation. Decide if Tatum is it or not. If not trade him for some draft picks, and take a RB in the second round (first round being a D-lineman IMO).

Priority #3 is to fire the ST's coach and get a legit punter/KO guy (Ernster is not it) and a kick returner.

Priority #4 is to get a safety of the future. Brandon might be a good SS, but we need a ball hawking FS. I will curse Lelie till he dies for us not getting Ed Reed instead of that POS.

Priority #5 is to address the o-line. Foster is a POS and should be traded. Either we have our RT in Pears or Meadows, or we need to find one in FA. Personally I think we will be okay with either Meadows or Pears. Carlisle and Kuper can battle out RG, and Myers, Hamilton, and Nalen can battle out center.

Dream Draft and FA:
Draft we get a legit DT/DE, stud RB, safety of the future, kick returner, and more DT/DE depth.

FA: Get a legit DT/DE, punter/kick off guy, and if my wet dream comes true sign Daniel Graham. He would be huge for our running and passing game.

Great list. The problem with any great list is execution. There is a fundemental problem with the way the Broncos go to market that they are going to have sit down and analyze. Are they not responding quick enough to changes that are happening real time? Are they not anticipating teams game plans?

I think a fundemental shift is about to happen with this team. I'm not sure how but Shanahan does not like to lose and despite knowing the needs and evaluating talent well they need to have a better mid season adjustment attacks. They seem to get so bogged down in detail that they can't execute and then in the absence of focus they make up crap which is often badly thought out.

Broncos brought in a lot of good players over the years with the same results. They might have to figure out how to do more with less despite the salary cap. They are missing the mark on the one detail that matters which is winning on all three phases of the game. Simple things are making this very good team SEEM mediocre.

Needless to say everyone jobs on the line this off season.

TheChamp24

12-11-2006, 03:36 AM

I honestly think that the future looks to be pretty solid, we have a relatively young team at certain key positions. Champ, Jay, Tater, Hamilton, Lepsis, Pears, Al, DJ, Gold, Darrent, Warren. Just need to finish putting it together.
Or maybe we need to be like the Chargers, finish last in the NFL, get the #1 pick, rape a team in trade, and get players from those drafts to make us Super Bowl champions.
I will say though this, does anyone really care about the TD record? Its a nice number and all, but seriously, I guess I don't have a hard on for records like some other people do.