BowlenBall
09-17-2008, 09:04 AM
Given Ted's ex-insider status, I'd say that this is pretty good stuff. The comments on the OL and Royal sound all the sweeter considering the source, and his only negative comments (about the questionable speed of the linebackers / safeties) seems spot-on to me.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/16/ted-sundquists-week-two-game-reviews-chargers-at-broncos/
[Editor’s note: Ted Sundquist, former G.M. of the Broncos, provides us with three scouting reports and game reviews each week. In Week Two, one of the three contests on which he focused involved his former team, the Broncos, and the Chargers.]
Wow! Could this have been the game of the season already in Week 2? The NFL has to be scratching their collective heads as to how to handle technical difficulties with instant replay and a last-second admitted blown call that ultimately gave the Broncos an early two-game lead over the Chargers in the suddenly Wild, Wild West.
KEY #1 almost immediately became a non-factor after Denver won the coin toss. The Broncos effectively moved the ball off the opening script and had driven to San Diego’s 31-yard line when two back-to-back false start penalties put them in a third and 15 situation. Denver was forced to punt, and after a LaDainian Tomlinson one-yard pickup the Chargers were hit with their first snafu of the day. Champ Bailey broke on a throw to Chris Chambers and the two went to the ground in what appeared to be a Chambers’ reception and down by contact. Bailey wrestled away possession as the two rolled over and the ruling on the field was an interception. Technical difficulties with the replay equipment took the official’s review over the allotted two minutes and the ruling on the field stood. Denver took the ball in from the San Diego 29 yard line and the race was on.
I had felt that to keep Denver’s explosive offense off the field, San Diego would have to come out with a physical running game and create some ball control on the ground. The ensuing drive featured Tomlinson to a degree, but it was clear that Norv Turner’s offense was going to have to put the ball in the air to keep up with Denver in the first half. By intermission the quick-strike Broncos held a 31-17 lead and Tomlinson appeared hampered by the toe injury that had kept him out of practice for most of the week. The first-half rushing summary showed 7 carries for 10 yards. San Diego did a good job of working TE Antonio Gates into their plan (KEY #1 ½). Gates was able to haul in four passes for 61 yards and created some separation from SLB Boss Bailey on a few incompletes. The mismatch was there, the Chargers just didn’t capitalize on it quite enough.
I felt the play of San Diego’s corners would be paramount in shutting down Denver’s passing game (KEY #2). They obviously came up way short. WR Brandon Marshall (coming off a one-game suspension) set a single-game record for the Broncos with 18 receptions. He flat wore out CB Antonio Cromartie, who with his physical attributes should have done a much better job in blanketing the physical Marshall. Denver looked content in getting the ball into Marshall’s hands off the quick slant or hitch route, and then letting him use his size/strength to break the initial tackle and get upfield for extra yardage. Except for a second-quarter 34-yard grab that set up Denver’s second TD, Marshall picked at the Chargers offense with plays at or around the chains. He was literally supplementing the Denver rushing attack in an effort to control both the ball and the clock. Rookie Eddie Royal was limited most of the day, but came up big with two late grabs that put the final 8 points on the board. Quentin Jammer and rookie Antoine Cason forced the issue a little better. Cason came up a big interception to thwart a fourth quarter scoring drive and added two other pass defenses. Jammer led all tacklers with 11 and had a pass defense of his own. Where San Diego’s defense really let down was putting pressure on Cutler. Rookie OT Ryan Clady and second-year OT Ryan Harris put the clamps on the Chargers outside rush. I was very impressed by this young tandem, and San Diego must find a way to replace the lost production of the injured Shawn Merriman and take some pressure off their secondary if they want to climb out of the hole they’ve dug.
KEY #3 was the running back by committee of Selvin Young and Andre Hall. The two combined for 109 yards on 15 carries. Adding in Michael Pittman’s 30 yards on 7 totes, the Broncos did a good job of keeping the Chargers off balance. No doubt the Denver coaching staff is absolutely giddy with the early production of Cutler and the receiver corps. Cutler’s display of playmaking ability and capturing early leads will put the Broncos running game on the back burner to a degree. Look for Denver to continue to pile on the points, then to try and close out the game with their traditional zone attack. That’s not to say you’ll see a major shift, but getting the ball in the hands of Marshall and Royal will become the primary focus as the weeks wear on. Charger OLB Jyles Tucker (replacing the injured Merriman) lost contain when he slammed down into the line off the backside and Selvin Young broke back to the outside on a 49 yard scamper (second and 24) to set up a second-quarter Broncos field goal.
KEY #4 was to be the play of Denver’s defensive front. With the game turning into an all-out “blitzkrieg” affair, San Diego shifted away from the run in the first half. They did, however, mix in a good compliment of the ground game with the pass in the third and fourth quarters and were able to shake free RB’s Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert (Tolbert on a short pass he turned into a 67 yard gain). Though not able to really blow Denver’s front four off the ball, the Chargers O-Line tied them up just enough to allow their backs to get to LB level. I thought the Broncos were then exposed with some bad inside fits, questionable speed in the open field, and poor tackling in space. Sproles showed susceptibility of the Denver defense in corralling his quickness and speed at the second level. However I continue to like the move of D.J. Williams back to his natural weakside position. His short-area quickness and ability to flow to the ball created some nice plays behind the line of scrimmage.
KEY #5 was the tackling of Bronco coverage units, and they didn’t let me down. Sproles took back a kick return 103 yards for a score that tightened things up after Denver jumped out to a 21-3 lead. But. in fairness, the Broncos were without special teams standouts LB Louis Green and S Hamza Abdullah. San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding out “touchbacked” Denver’s Matt Prater, 6 to 1.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/16/ted-sundquists-week-two-game-reviews-chargers-at-broncos/
[Editor’s note: Ted Sundquist, former G.M. of the Broncos, provides us with three scouting reports and game reviews each week. In Week Two, one of the three contests on which he focused involved his former team, the Broncos, and the Chargers.]
Wow! Could this have been the game of the season already in Week 2? The NFL has to be scratching their collective heads as to how to handle technical difficulties with instant replay and a last-second admitted blown call that ultimately gave the Broncos an early two-game lead over the Chargers in the suddenly Wild, Wild West.
KEY #1 almost immediately became a non-factor after Denver won the coin toss. The Broncos effectively moved the ball off the opening script and had driven to San Diego’s 31-yard line when two back-to-back false start penalties put them in a third and 15 situation. Denver was forced to punt, and after a LaDainian Tomlinson one-yard pickup the Chargers were hit with their first snafu of the day. Champ Bailey broke on a throw to Chris Chambers and the two went to the ground in what appeared to be a Chambers’ reception and down by contact. Bailey wrestled away possession as the two rolled over and the ruling on the field was an interception. Technical difficulties with the replay equipment took the official’s review over the allotted two minutes and the ruling on the field stood. Denver took the ball in from the San Diego 29 yard line and the race was on.
I had felt that to keep Denver’s explosive offense off the field, San Diego would have to come out with a physical running game and create some ball control on the ground. The ensuing drive featured Tomlinson to a degree, but it was clear that Norv Turner’s offense was going to have to put the ball in the air to keep up with Denver in the first half. By intermission the quick-strike Broncos held a 31-17 lead and Tomlinson appeared hampered by the toe injury that had kept him out of practice for most of the week. The first-half rushing summary showed 7 carries for 10 yards. San Diego did a good job of working TE Antonio Gates into their plan (KEY #1 ½). Gates was able to haul in four passes for 61 yards and created some separation from SLB Boss Bailey on a few incompletes. The mismatch was there, the Chargers just didn’t capitalize on it quite enough.
I felt the play of San Diego’s corners would be paramount in shutting down Denver’s passing game (KEY #2). They obviously came up way short. WR Brandon Marshall (coming off a one-game suspension) set a single-game record for the Broncos with 18 receptions. He flat wore out CB Antonio Cromartie, who with his physical attributes should have done a much better job in blanketing the physical Marshall. Denver looked content in getting the ball into Marshall’s hands off the quick slant or hitch route, and then letting him use his size/strength to break the initial tackle and get upfield for extra yardage. Except for a second-quarter 34-yard grab that set up Denver’s second TD, Marshall picked at the Chargers offense with plays at or around the chains. He was literally supplementing the Denver rushing attack in an effort to control both the ball and the clock. Rookie Eddie Royal was limited most of the day, but came up big with two late grabs that put the final 8 points on the board. Quentin Jammer and rookie Antoine Cason forced the issue a little better. Cason came up a big interception to thwart a fourth quarter scoring drive and added two other pass defenses. Jammer led all tacklers with 11 and had a pass defense of his own. Where San Diego’s defense really let down was putting pressure on Cutler. Rookie OT Ryan Clady and second-year OT Ryan Harris put the clamps on the Chargers outside rush. I was very impressed by this young tandem, and San Diego must find a way to replace the lost production of the injured Shawn Merriman and take some pressure off their secondary if they want to climb out of the hole they’ve dug.
KEY #3 was the running back by committee of Selvin Young and Andre Hall. The two combined for 109 yards on 15 carries. Adding in Michael Pittman’s 30 yards on 7 totes, the Broncos did a good job of keeping the Chargers off balance. No doubt the Denver coaching staff is absolutely giddy with the early production of Cutler and the receiver corps. Cutler’s display of playmaking ability and capturing early leads will put the Broncos running game on the back burner to a degree. Look for Denver to continue to pile on the points, then to try and close out the game with their traditional zone attack. That’s not to say you’ll see a major shift, but getting the ball in the hands of Marshall and Royal will become the primary focus as the weeks wear on. Charger OLB Jyles Tucker (replacing the injured Merriman) lost contain when he slammed down into the line off the backside and Selvin Young broke back to the outside on a 49 yard scamper (second and 24) to set up a second-quarter Broncos field goal.
KEY #4 was to be the play of Denver’s defensive front. With the game turning into an all-out “blitzkrieg” affair, San Diego shifted away from the run in the first half. They did, however, mix in a good compliment of the ground game with the pass in the third and fourth quarters and were able to shake free RB’s Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert (Tolbert on a short pass he turned into a 67 yard gain). Though not able to really blow Denver’s front four off the ball, the Chargers O-Line tied them up just enough to allow their backs to get to LB level. I thought the Broncos were then exposed with some bad inside fits, questionable speed in the open field, and poor tackling in space. Sproles showed susceptibility of the Denver defense in corralling his quickness and speed at the second level. However I continue to like the move of D.J. Williams back to his natural weakside position. His short-area quickness and ability to flow to the ball created some nice plays behind the line of scrimmage.
KEY #5 was the tackling of Bronco coverage units, and they didn’t let me down. Sproles took back a kick return 103 yards for a score that tightened things up after Denver jumped out to a 21-3 lead. But. in fairness, the Broncos were without special teams standouts LB Louis Green and S Hamza Abdullah. San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding out “touchbacked” Denver’s Matt Prater, 6 to 1.