24champ
10-08-2007, 03:47 AM
By Pat Rooney, Special To The Rocky
October 8, 2007
There will be ample time for the Broncos to address the boundless number of questions surrounding their beleaguered defense during the team's upcoming bye week.
Linebacker Ian Gold, one of the veterans of the unit battered so mercilessly by the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, sought out some of his own before the final whistle finally ended the team's misery at Invesco Field at Mile High.
In brief, between-play conversations with quarterback Philip Rivers, Gold learned why the talented Chargers regained their form against the Broncos after uncharacteristic struggles during their first four games.
Gold might not have learned exactly why the Broncos surrendered nearly 500 yards, but he did learn a thing or two about the psyche of their opponent.
"I talked to Rivers a bit out there and he said, 'You know what? It's just taking us a little while to get used to this new offense, this new system,' " Gold said. "I think things over there are starting to settle. That's what he was telling me.
"And I think, honestly, the same thing is happening with us. We have a new defensive coach (Jim Bates). We've got a few new guys on the staff, and I think it is going to take us a little bit more time to kind of settle in with the new defense and system. Hopefully, we can get this thing settled during the bye week."
It was not just the raw numbers that were ugly - although the 484 yards by the Chargers were alarming - but the Broncos defense also could not generate stops, big hits or turnovers against an offense that came into the game averaging 290.3 yards a game.
Rivers completed 13-of-18 passes, did not suffer a sack and averaged 20.8 yards a completion.
LaDainian Tomlinson had another pedestrian game on the ground, gaining 67 yards on 21 attempts, but he caught three passes for 73 yards.
And reserve running back Michael Turner added insult to injury by gaining 147 yards on 10 carries, including a 74-yard touchdown jaunt that allowed San Diego to average 5.8 yards a carry.
"Ultimately, it falls on everyone in this locker room," safety John Lynch said. "Coming into this year, we had great expectations. We felt like we had a squad that could compete for a championship. To go through a game like this, a stretch like this, a mentality like that can be broken. But we can't let it be."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5717269,00.html
October 8, 2007
There will be ample time for the Broncos to address the boundless number of questions surrounding their beleaguered defense during the team's upcoming bye week.
Linebacker Ian Gold, one of the veterans of the unit battered so mercilessly by the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, sought out some of his own before the final whistle finally ended the team's misery at Invesco Field at Mile High.
In brief, between-play conversations with quarterback Philip Rivers, Gold learned why the talented Chargers regained their form against the Broncos after uncharacteristic struggles during their first four games.
Gold might not have learned exactly why the Broncos surrendered nearly 500 yards, but he did learn a thing or two about the psyche of their opponent.
"I talked to Rivers a bit out there and he said, 'You know what? It's just taking us a little while to get used to this new offense, this new system,' " Gold said. "I think things over there are starting to settle. That's what he was telling me.
"And I think, honestly, the same thing is happening with us. We have a new defensive coach (Jim Bates). We've got a few new guys on the staff, and I think it is going to take us a little bit more time to kind of settle in with the new defense and system. Hopefully, we can get this thing settled during the bye week."
It was not just the raw numbers that were ugly - although the 484 yards by the Chargers were alarming - but the Broncos defense also could not generate stops, big hits or turnovers against an offense that came into the game averaging 290.3 yards a game.
Rivers completed 13-of-18 passes, did not suffer a sack and averaged 20.8 yards a completion.
LaDainian Tomlinson had another pedestrian game on the ground, gaining 67 yards on 21 attempts, but he caught three passes for 73 yards.
And reserve running back Michael Turner added insult to injury by gaining 147 yards on 10 carries, including a 74-yard touchdown jaunt that allowed San Diego to average 5.8 yards a carry.
"Ultimately, it falls on everyone in this locker room," safety John Lynch said. "Coming into this year, we had great expectations. We felt like we had a squad that could compete for a championship. To go through a game like this, a stretch like this, a mentality like that can be broken. But we can't let it be."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5717269,00.html