I did have a few notes

[Rock Chalk]

Most of my comments are pertaining to the defense. I had a couple for the starters on offense but most of this will be defensive based.

1) The lack of pass rush isn't surprising. We did nothing to improve our situation in the offseason other than Robertson which will be an upgrade in the middle but not help the pass rush. Thomas' second year with Robertson next to him has already shown that running up the middle on Denver is not going to be an easy task. Moss' progression is slower than most have anticipated but he was also injured all of last year making this essentially his rookie year. Patience.

2) Safety is a concern but more concerning is the continued trend of never ever bumping receivers at the line of scrimmage. I understand that Champ plays better when he plays off and perhaps Bly does as well but every now and then on obvious pass plays they need to get up there, bump the receivers, throw off timing and hopefully give us that split second extra for someone to apply enough pressure to force a bad throw.

3) DJ Williams just isnt very good people. He did get hosed on a bad PI call but he also gets blocked out of plays really easily. Our Linebacking corps needs help, lots of it. Hopefully they can gel a bit and someone out there shows some damn leadership.

4) Why is it our cornerbacks can have some great coverage and still get passes completed on them? Before Paymah got nailed with the PI call, the play right before that is, he had terrific coverage on his receiver and the guy still almost caught it. We need our DB coach to do a better job of teaching the nickle and dime guys to get their hands up. In the Dallas game, Foxworth had two passes completed against him that he had blanket coverage on.

5) Jay didnt play as well as he did against Dallas but he didnt play poorly. His deep throw needs a bit of tweaking. The long TD to marshall was underthrown slightly and the play right before where the PI was called on the defense was another underthrown ball. I think this has to do with the earlier deep pass that was 5 yards overthrown. Like I said, just a little tweaking on it, he should be OK.

6) Nate Jackson just catches the ball. If the dude could figure out a way to stay healthy, he could probably be a pretty decent player for us. You guys have wondered how he makes the team every year but its because he just does everything right except stay healthy. So far this year he hasn't been hurt. Id like to see what he can do in a real game for once.

Overall, for pre-season games not showing much offensively or defensively, I like where the team is at. Our first teamers have won every game and there are going to be times when we struggle this year. I said before the season that we could end up 7-9 again but we could probably do as well as 10-6. I think these are realistic expectations.

We might not be a great team this year but I think we will be a good team this year and most importantly, it will be much more exciting to watch than last year. Last year was teh first year since Griese's first year that I just did not look forward to the next week.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

[elsid13]

Not bad Alec.

On the defense pressure last night. I was surprise to see the lack of blitzing and it appeared that the line was playing wide (DE outside the tackles) and in 4 point stances. It appeared to be what Bates was teaching last year versus what Coyer did or Slowick (spelling) promised. There also didn't appear to be any stunts on the line or shifts.

And I agree about the CB playing off. Champ like it because he has the ability to drive on the ball and make plays. But the rest of the CB aren't good enough for that. Plus it appears that Bly is going to be busy man this season as QB looking to attack him and stay away from Champ.

[Spider]

good take alec , i would also add the lack of stunts , vanilla blitz packages , though I do understand the secondary playing off .......Maybe as the season gets closer they will tighten up .........

[Rock Chalk]

Thats why Im not worried about the pass rush just yet. Also I dont expect much out of them. Talent level isn't skyrocketing on the D-line overall, though we have spurts of it here and there.

[Spider]

Thats why Im not worried about the pass rush just yet. Also I dont expect much out of them. Talent level isn't skyrocketing on the D-line overall, though we have spurts of it here and there.

:thumbs: pretty much bro ....... man I cant wait until the season starts ........

[4th Amigo]

Yea, I am really hoping that Shanahan is purposely showing vanilla offensive/defensive packages. If not, we can expect another year of running up the gut constantly, and nothing special on def. It just seems like there is no creativity.....

[chickennob2]

Yea, I am really hoping that Shanahan is purposely showing vanilla offensive/defensive packages. If not, we can expect another year of running up the gut constantly, and nothing special on def. It just seems like there is no creativity.....

Well there generally isn't much creativity in the preseason.


I can't tell you how much I would love to watch the Oakland game and see numerous complex blitzes and Walker stonewalled on the jam every damn play.

[theAPAOps5]

Nice stuff Alec. I think you are wrong on DJ but other than that I agree.

[eddie mac]

Most of my comments are pertaining to the defense. I had a couple for the starters on offense but most of this will be defensive based.

1) Moss' progression is slower than most have anticipated but he was also injured all of last year making this essentially his rookie year. Patience.

6) Nate Jackson just catches the ball. If the dude could figure out a way to stay healthy, he could probably be a pretty decent player for us. You guys have wondered how he makes the team every year but its because he just does everything right except stay healthy. So far this year he hasn't been hurt. Id like to see what he can do in a real game for once.

Overall, for pre-season games not showing much offensively or defensively, I like where the team is at. Our first teamers have won every game and there are going to be times when we struggle this year. I said before the season that we could end up 7-9 again but we could probably do as well as 10-6. I think these are realistic expectations.

We might not be a great team this year but I think we will be a good team this year and most importantly, it will be much more exciting to watch than last year. Last year was teh first year since Griese's first year that I just did not look forward to the next week.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

For all the b/s that continually flows on these forums especially during pre-season it's great to read a different viewpoint from someone who actually knows something about the game and especially this team.

[Bronx33]

For all the b/s that continually flows on these forums especially during pre-season it's great to read a different viewpoint from someone who actually knows something about the game and especially this team.


Ohhhh just stop alecs head is big enough...:P

[wolf754life]

6 wins

[Rock Chalk]

6 wins

That may well be true, but Im highly skeptical we are a worse team this year than we were last year.

We have improved. The addition by subtraction of Jim Bates is proof enough of that.

[theAPAOps5]

6 wins

I guarantee barring injuries this team wins more than 6 games. They are far better on offense and the Defense at least has shown better against the run. I have been saying 8-8 but I am not going to say 9-7.

Care to wager on it? I have asked you several times but you ignore it are you not that confident.

[Bronx33]

wolf is the denver version of bob with a hint of telluride.

[theAPAOps5]

No don't lump Telluride in there anymore. He has completely changed his tune and is very objective. He doesn't post pointless crap anymore.

[elsid13]

No don't lump Telluride in there anymore. He has completely changed his tune and is very objective. He doesn't post pointless crap anymore.

"Can Moss clear waivers" ~telluride

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Most of my comments are pertaining to the defense. I had a couple for the starters on offense but most of this will be defensive based.

1) The lack of pass rush isn't surprising. We did nothing to improve our situation in the offseason other than Robertson which will be an upgrade in the middle but not help the pass rush. Should have stopped there.

2) Safety is a concern but more concerning is the continued trend of never ever bumping receivers at the line of scrimmage. I understand that Champ plays better when he plays off and perhaps Bly does as well but every now and then on obvious pass plays they need to get up there, bump the receivers, throw off timing and hopefully give us that split second extra for someone to apply enough pressure to force a bad throw.Safety positions are going to be a huge problem for us. And it's been obvious since last year Bly isn't a good CB.

3) DJ Williams just isnt very good people. He did get hosed on a bad PI call but he also gets blocked out of plays really easily. Our Linebacking corps needs help, lots of it. Hopefully they can gel a bit and someone out there shows some damn leadership.LB corp as a whole looks bad.

4) Why is it our cornerbacks can have some great coverage and still get passes completed on them? Before Paymah got nailed with the PI call, the play right before that is, he had terrific coverage on his receiver and the guy still almost caught it. We need our DB coach to do a better job of teaching the nickle and dime guys to get their hands up. In the Dallas game, Foxworth had two passes completed against him that he had blanket coverage on.Because we only have one player in the D backfield that can play and the Dfront looks like crap.

5) Jay didnt play as well as he did against Dallas but he didnt play poorly. His deep throw needs a bit of tweaking. The long TD to marshall was underthrown slightly and the play right before where the PI was called on the defense was another underthrown ball. I think this has to do with the earlier deep pass that was 5 yards overthrown. Like I said, just a little tweaking on it, he should be OK.
LOL
I guess that is as close as you can get to giving Cutler any praise.

6) Nate Jackson just catches the ball. If the dude could figure out a way to stay healthy, he could probably be a pretty decent player for us. You guys have wondered how he makes the team every year but its because he just does everything right except stay healthy. So far this year he hasn't been hurt. Id like to see what he can do in a real game for once.You got that one right

Overall, for pre-season games not showing much offensively or defensively, I like where the team is at. Our first teamers have won every game and there are going to be times when we struggle this year. I said before the season that we could end up 7-9 again but we could probably do as well as 10-6. I think these are realistic expectations.Offensively, yeah, defensively, hell no!

We might not be a great team this year but I think we will be a good team this year and most importantly, it will be much more exciting to watch than last year. Last year was teh first year since Griese's first year that I just did not look forward to the next week.
If you consider 500 ball as a good team than yeah, I guess so.

[theAPAOps5]

"Can Moss clear waivers" ~telluride

Touche but the way Moss has been MIA so far its valid to be wary but that was a dumb thread.

[Rock Chalk]

Should have stopped there.

Just curious as to what you think we did to improve our pass rush?

Safety positions are going to be a huge problem for us. And it's been obvious since last year Bly isn't a good CB.
LB corp as a whole looks bad.
Because we only have one player in the D backfield that can play and the Dfront looks like crap.

As has been noted by several, it was a very vanilla defense and we did not blitz at all. Doom still got pressure and even had an Alvin McKinley sighting.

LOL
I guess that is as close as you can get to giving Cutler any praise.

Hogwash, I give Cutler praise when he deserves it. Unlike many on this board, he CAN do wrong in my eyes, and HAS done wrong. I have given him no slack because he is young. Im a Bronco fan and expect to win every year. On the whole, Cutler looks greatly....GREATLY improved over last year.

You got that one right

Then why did you say I should have stopped in the first line?

Offensively, yeah, defensively, hell no!
If you consider 500 ball as a good team than yeah, I guess so.
I dont think the team will be .500. They will have a winning record but whether its 9-7 or 10-6 (which is the upper limit) I dont know. I do think the team will be good. I do not think the team will be great. I dont think they will be great even next year. 2010 is when Im pinning my hopes on. This is why I was upset with the Plummer situation. Its not that I hate Cutler, its that I knew a "rookie" QB is going to take time to take hold of the team and we could have been better immediately by improving both lines. Cutler took over for Plummer and suffered from a horrible offensive line (as did Plummer) that first year he was thrown into the fire. I dont care how good the QB is (and Cutler is indeed good), if he has no time to throw he is going to look bad more often than not.

Overall though, Im expecting less than most here but more than Wolf who is a douche of the highest order.

[Popps]

I actually thought the LBs looked O.K. last night. Maybe I need to watch again. I was more keyed on the DL... but they seemed to be all over the place.

Williams is what he is... a slightly above average guy who excelled when Wilson was in the middle leading the corps. Good athlete, but not an incredibly instinctive football player and in no way a play-maker.
Still, he's serviceable.

I actually think this group would be O.K. with some effective play up front.

[Sassy]

I wonder sometimes where this team would be if they still had Darrent...

[theAPAOps5]

I wonder sometimes where this team would be if they still had Darrent...

In the same spot he gave up plays just like bly and foxworth

[Ironlung]

Yes he did.

[TonyR]

2) Safety is a concern but more concerning is the continued trend of never ever bumping receivers at the line of scrimmage. I understand that Champ plays better when he plays off and perhaps Bly does as well but every now and then on obvious pass plays they need to get up there, bump the receivers, throw off timing and hopefully give us that split second extra for someone to apply enough pressure to force a bad throw.

3) DJ Williams just isnt very good people. He did get hosed on a bad PI call but he also gets blocked out of plays really easily. Our Linebacking corps needs help, lots of it. Hopefully they can gel a bit and someone out there shows some damn leadership.

4) Why is it our cornerbacks can have some great coverage and still get passes completed on them? Before Paymah got nailed with the PI call, the play right before that is, he had terrific coverage on his receiver and the guy still almost caught it. We need our DB coach to do a better job of teaching the nickle and dime guys to get their hands up. In the Dallas game, Foxworth had two passes completed against him that he had blanket coverage on.


Is there a worse "back 7" in the league? Our safties are atrocious, our LB's as a unit aren't very good, and other than Champ all of our CB's are ordinary at best. Am I being too harsh? Maybe the mediocrity of our DL makes everyone behind them look worse than they are? SO frustrating to watch this defense...

[cmhargrove]

Two positive points to add:

1. Welcome to the Broncos Peyton Hillis. He got us a huge play to break us away from our own end zone.

2. The TD pass to Marshall was an audible. They noticed no safety help and changed the route. I think they are going to challenge single coverage all year to Marshall - that's a great thing - I am liking Jeremy Bates.

[Sassy]

In the same spot he gave up plays just like bly and foxworth

But he also would have had more experience.

[theAPAOps5]

But he also would have had more experience.

True but he was a risk taker and you get burnt. No one can be champ bailey its just not possible. So thats why I say we would be the same. Not a slight on DWill just my opinion.

[UboBronco]

Did anyone else notice that in the second half the center was Alexander, and Kory Lich..... was at guard. I only saw Gandy on one series and do not recall seeing Holland at all. Did Holland even play? After our starting line left the game, things looked pretty weak on the blocking front.

[theAPAOps5]

Holland played right after the half started.

[orinjkrush]

sometimes i wish we could magically turn Moss into a LB and Woodyard into a Safety. both talented...yet....

but then pigs would be geosynchronous

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Just curious as to what you think we did to improve our pass rush?
Not much that I've seen yet, that's what I meant when I said you should have stopped there.