dragondawg
09-11-2007, 08:35 PM
Shanahan says offense, special teams have work to do
By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD - Coach Mike Shanahan has 132 career wins, but he saw something new Sunday after the Denver Broncos’ dramatic 15-14 win at Buffalo.
“I think it’s the most excited I’ve ever seen a pro team, where everybody hits the field and it’s kind of like a college atmosphere,” Shanahan said.
Jason Elam’s 42-yard field goal as time ran out set off a euphoric celebration. On Monday, Shanahan tried to temper the enthusiasm.
Although the win was important for the Broncos, Shanahan said too much emphasis shouldn’t be placed on one game. He pointed to the past two years, when the Broncos followed an opening day loss with a winning streak.
“It’s a 16-round fight,” Shanahan said. “We won the first round, and we have a lot of rounds to go.”
Shanahan praised the defense, which allowed 184 yards and a touchdown, but said the offense and special teams had issues to correct. Denver gained 470 yards but scored only one touchdown.
“Usually with about 470 yards, you should have 40 points,” he said. “So we have some work to do.”
The special teams, which gained some redemption with the game-winning field goal, had some rough moments. Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and Terrence McGee had a 48-yard kickoff return. Elam missed two field goal attempts before he his final kick.
“Special teams, we didn’t play very well with the exception of the field goal,” Shanahan said.
The defense kept the score close Sunday after struggling in the preseason while learning a new scheme. Against the Bills, assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates unveiled a creative game plan. Denver often lined up seven or more players at the line of scrimmage in passing situations. Sometimes the extra players would drop into coverage and other times they would blitz, confusing the Bills. Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman had only 97 passing yards.
“People get caught up in preseason,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “Now we’re going to create our identity. We’re a tough defense, and we’re going to be like that every week.”
The defense held on until the offense won the game with Elam’s kick. Running back Travis Henry figured the last-second comeback was a sign of things to come.
“That last drive — I think that will define what we’re going to be, what we’re all about,” Henry said.
Shanahan’s outlook was more subdued. He saw all the faults when he studied video of the game, and he felt fortunate.
“The good part about it is you found a way to win the football game,” Shanahan said.
http://www.gazette.com/sports/shanahan_27108___article.html/game_field.html
Comeback Excitement Still Lingers
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Broncos players got a well-deserved day off Monday after seizing victory from the Buffalo Bills 15-14. For many, including Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the adrenaline and excitement of the final field goal were still fresh in their minds.
"I think it's the most excited I've ever seen a pro team where everybody hits the field. It was kind of like a college atmosphere. Since I've been coaching, I don't think I've ever seen that," Shanahan said. "The only time that we were ahead was when there was zero seconds on the clock. Todd Sauerbrun takes a look at the clock, and at three seconds, he gives the hand signal.
"It takes about a second there, so the ball is snapped with two seconds, and obviously, the rest is history. It sure is a funny way to win a game that way."
That may be the closest you'll hear Shanahan come to saying a game in Week 1 excited him. After spending a little more time discussing how much the team has practiced last-second field goal situations and reiterating he couldn't spike the ball because he wasn't sure if the team would get a first down, he turned his energy toward analyzing everything that happened before the two-minute warning.
"Any time you hold a team to 200 yards, you've got to think your defense played pretty good. Any time you get 470 yards of offense, you moved the ball quite well," Shanahan said. "Obviously when you have 470 yards, you should have about 40 points, so we have some work to do.
"Special teams, we didn't really play very well with the exception of the field goal, so we have some work to do in that area. The good part about it is you find a way to win the football game. A lot of mistakes were made, but we did some good things as well."
As the preseason morphed into a 1-0 start, fans seemed content with answers to a few of their questions unfurling. Simeon Rice was healthy and made plays while he was in the game. D.J. Williams played well for his first game at middle linebacker, finishing with a team-leading nine tackles and a sack. The vaunted secondary held Peerless Price and Lee Evans to three yards receiving.
Shanahan mostly agreed with the fans' assessments.
"After the first game, when you are No. 1 on defense (in the NFL), you can't complain, even though we made a lot of mistakes in the game. When you give up seven points, you have to feel pretty good about where you are at," he said. "We made some mistakes, some missed assignments and tackles, but at the end of the day they gave up seven points and 185 yards. That's not too bad."
Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly seemed particularly effective. Bailey made a touchdown-saving tackle on a big Terrance McGee return and snuffed out a screen pass to Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and Bly repeatedly locked up Evans when J.P. Losman challenged him. But Shanahan realizes at some point this season, the top receivers on the schedule are going to total more than a first down against the duo.
"It's the first game. Let's not get carried away. We will get tested a number of times, but I'm pleased with Champ and Dre's play, and overall with the defense," Shanahan said. "It's a long season. It's a 16-round fight and the first one we won, but there are a lot of rounds to go."
CONCERN FOR EVERETT: The Buffalo Bills are reporting that Kevin Everett, the Bills player who was taken by ambulance to a hospital during the game Sunday, has been diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture dislocation between his third and fourth vertebrae.
Everett had extensive emergency surgery to remove the pressure some of Everett's disc material and bone were putting on his spinal cord, which involved inserting a plate, eight screws, two small rods and a bone graft, the Bills reported.
Everett was conscious as he was carted off the field and gave permission for the surgery. He was having trouble moving his extremities after attempting to tackle Domenik Hixon, but it is unsure if any permanent paralysis will remain after the surgery.
"I just want to say prayers go out to Kevin Everett and his family. It's sickening to see something like that, especially in a game you love so much," Bailey said after the game Sunday. "I've never seen anything like that. I've never been on the field when somebody went down like that."
For the Bills, free safety Ko Simpson (broken ankle) and Jason Webster (broken forearm) also had possible season-ending surgeries Sunday night.
Domonique Foxworth (ankle), Rice (shoulder), Louis Green, and Ebenezer Ekuban (Achilles) were among those at Dove Valley receiving treatment for their injuries, although Shanahan specifically commented that Green should be OK and that Rice wasn't even listed on the injury report, meaning treatment is probably preventative.
The Broncos will resume their normal schedule Tuesday, which is the players' day off. They return to practice Wednesday.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7168
By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD - Coach Mike Shanahan has 132 career wins, but he saw something new Sunday after the Denver Broncos’ dramatic 15-14 win at Buffalo.
“I think it’s the most excited I’ve ever seen a pro team, where everybody hits the field and it’s kind of like a college atmosphere,” Shanahan said.
Jason Elam’s 42-yard field goal as time ran out set off a euphoric celebration. On Monday, Shanahan tried to temper the enthusiasm.
Although the win was important for the Broncos, Shanahan said too much emphasis shouldn’t be placed on one game. He pointed to the past two years, when the Broncos followed an opening day loss with a winning streak.
“It’s a 16-round fight,” Shanahan said. “We won the first round, and we have a lot of rounds to go.”
Shanahan praised the defense, which allowed 184 yards and a touchdown, but said the offense and special teams had issues to correct. Denver gained 470 yards but scored only one touchdown.
“Usually with about 470 yards, you should have 40 points,” he said. “So we have some work to do.”
The special teams, which gained some redemption with the game-winning field goal, had some rough moments. Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and Terrence McGee had a 48-yard kickoff return. Elam missed two field goal attempts before he his final kick.
“Special teams, we didn’t play very well with the exception of the field goal,” Shanahan said.
The defense kept the score close Sunday after struggling in the preseason while learning a new scheme. Against the Bills, assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates unveiled a creative game plan. Denver often lined up seven or more players at the line of scrimmage in passing situations. Sometimes the extra players would drop into coverage and other times they would blitz, confusing the Bills. Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman had only 97 passing yards.
“People get caught up in preseason,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “Now we’re going to create our identity. We’re a tough defense, and we’re going to be like that every week.”
The defense held on until the offense won the game with Elam’s kick. Running back Travis Henry figured the last-second comeback was a sign of things to come.
“That last drive — I think that will define what we’re going to be, what we’re all about,” Henry said.
Shanahan’s outlook was more subdued. He saw all the faults when he studied video of the game, and he felt fortunate.
“The good part about it is you found a way to win the football game,” Shanahan said.
http://www.gazette.com/sports/shanahan_27108___article.html/game_field.html
Comeback Excitement Still Lingers
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Broncos players got a well-deserved day off Monday after seizing victory from the Buffalo Bills 15-14. For many, including Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the adrenaline and excitement of the final field goal were still fresh in their minds.
"I think it's the most excited I've ever seen a pro team where everybody hits the field. It was kind of like a college atmosphere. Since I've been coaching, I don't think I've ever seen that," Shanahan said. "The only time that we were ahead was when there was zero seconds on the clock. Todd Sauerbrun takes a look at the clock, and at three seconds, he gives the hand signal.
"It takes about a second there, so the ball is snapped with two seconds, and obviously, the rest is history. It sure is a funny way to win a game that way."
That may be the closest you'll hear Shanahan come to saying a game in Week 1 excited him. After spending a little more time discussing how much the team has practiced last-second field goal situations and reiterating he couldn't spike the ball because he wasn't sure if the team would get a first down, he turned his energy toward analyzing everything that happened before the two-minute warning.
"Any time you hold a team to 200 yards, you've got to think your defense played pretty good. Any time you get 470 yards of offense, you moved the ball quite well," Shanahan said. "Obviously when you have 470 yards, you should have about 40 points, so we have some work to do.
"Special teams, we didn't really play very well with the exception of the field goal, so we have some work to do in that area. The good part about it is you find a way to win the football game. A lot of mistakes were made, but we did some good things as well."
As the preseason morphed into a 1-0 start, fans seemed content with answers to a few of their questions unfurling. Simeon Rice was healthy and made plays while he was in the game. D.J. Williams played well for his first game at middle linebacker, finishing with a team-leading nine tackles and a sack. The vaunted secondary held Peerless Price and Lee Evans to three yards receiving.
Shanahan mostly agreed with the fans' assessments.
"After the first game, when you are No. 1 on defense (in the NFL), you can't complain, even though we made a lot of mistakes in the game. When you give up seven points, you have to feel pretty good about where you are at," he said. "We made some mistakes, some missed assignments and tackles, but at the end of the day they gave up seven points and 185 yards. That's not too bad."
Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly seemed particularly effective. Bailey made a touchdown-saving tackle on a big Terrance McGee return and snuffed out a screen pass to Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and Bly repeatedly locked up Evans when J.P. Losman challenged him. But Shanahan realizes at some point this season, the top receivers on the schedule are going to total more than a first down against the duo.
"It's the first game. Let's not get carried away. We will get tested a number of times, but I'm pleased with Champ and Dre's play, and overall with the defense," Shanahan said. "It's a long season. It's a 16-round fight and the first one we won, but there are a lot of rounds to go."
CONCERN FOR EVERETT: The Buffalo Bills are reporting that Kevin Everett, the Bills player who was taken by ambulance to a hospital during the game Sunday, has been diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture dislocation between his third and fourth vertebrae.
Everett had extensive emergency surgery to remove the pressure some of Everett's disc material and bone were putting on his spinal cord, which involved inserting a plate, eight screws, two small rods and a bone graft, the Bills reported.
Everett was conscious as he was carted off the field and gave permission for the surgery. He was having trouble moving his extremities after attempting to tackle Domenik Hixon, but it is unsure if any permanent paralysis will remain after the surgery.
"I just want to say prayers go out to Kevin Everett and his family. It's sickening to see something like that, especially in a game you love so much," Bailey said after the game Sunday. "I've never seen anything like that. I've never been on the field when somebody went down like that."
For the Bills, free safety Ko Simpson (broken ankle) and Jason Webster (broken forearm) also had possible season-ending surgeries Sunday night.
Domonique Foxworth (ankle), Rice (shoulder), Louis Green, and Ebenezer Ekuban (Achilles) were among those at Dove Valley receiving treatment for their injuries, although Shanahan specifically commented that Green should be OK and that Rice wasn't even listed on the injury report, meaning treatment is probably preventative.
The Broncos will resume their normal schedule Tuesday, which is the players' day off. They return to practice Wednesday.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7168