Broncos' joviality can wait - The Orange Mane

bloodsunday · 10-11-2005, 07:16 AM

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3104757

By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer

With the world champions coming to town this weekend and 11 games remaining, Mike Shanahan's team holds emotions in check.

The Broncos had just survived a grimy, gritty Sunday in a driving rainstorm to improve to 4-1 for the third consecutive season.

Euphoria?

Not exactly. Instead, of high-fives and a locker-room party, the Broncos dried themselves off and went through a constructive criticizing period. Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban was one of a few veterans who gave impromptu speeches, reminding his teammates they still have plenty of work to do.

"We can't get too excited," said Ekuban, who was joined by veterans Rod Smith and John Lynch in voicing their opinions after the 21-19 victory over Washington. "We're here for the long haul, and we have to know there are corrections to be made and we still have things to work on. We got the win, but it wasn't great. We still have to get better, especially with the team coming in."

The Redskins are out of the way after they failed on a tying two-point conversion with 1:09 left in the game. Now, Denver can concentrate on the defending world champion New England Patriots. Although the Patriots (3-2) have had some problems this year, they are still a measuring stick.

"We have to play great in that game," Ekuban said. "That's why we didn't have time to celebrate."

The self-cleansing seemed unusual to many in attendance. One would think a team would celebrate a victory, at least for a few minutes.

"It was shocking," rookie cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. "But it was a great lesson for a young guy. These veterans are so mature, and they are looking at the big picture."

Defensive line/tackles coach Andre Patterson put it this way: "It wasn't surprising. These guys' standards are through the roof."

Don't expect the Broncos to be drunk with glee over being in first place in the AFC West. They've been there before, and they know baseball season, not football season, ends in October.

The Broncos started 5-1 the past two years and began 4-1 in 2002. They finished a combined 15-16 in those three seasons. The Broncos qualified for the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, but failed to get a home playoff game.

"We're not going to get caught up in the hype," said left cornerback Champ Bailey, who is hoping to play against the Patriots after missing the past two games because of a hamstring injury. "We know winning early doesn't mean anything. We have to keep this up. ... No one is getting complacent.

"We know five games doesn't make a season. That's why I think you see guys with this type of attitude. We know we all have to get better."

That was ingrained in the team before Sunday's game when coach Mike Shanahan showed the Broncos the 2004 standings. Two teams that started 3-1, Detroit and the New York Giants, finished 6-10, and Jacksonville finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

So, the Broncos aren't spending the week thinking they have the season figured out.

"We really haven't done much yet," Ekuban said.

Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.

bloodsunday · 10-11-2005, 07:18 AM

I like the attitude of this team. I am happy with 4 - 1, but they need to get better. What is encouraging is that they have beaten some good teams to get to 4 -1. What discouraging is there a bunch more good teams on the schedule.

Ratboy · 10-11-2005, 07:20 AM

If we win this game, I think we should be mentioned as a top team.

rbackfactory80 · 10-11-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratboy

If we win this game, I think we should be mentioned as a top team.

Absolutely, they beat the Falcons and the Steelers on the road which is tough to do.

ro_50 · 10-11-2005, 08:49 AM

And they are the Pats, gosh. They are the league's standard bearer still.

Odysseus · 10-11-2005, 09:34 AM

This game is going to come down to who wants it most. If the Broncos play scared the Patriots are going to eat them alive. If a guy living in a pile of sand without aide of visuals can see this then it's really obvious.

The Broncos can cover this up, work with this guys daily, or pray it doesn't snow but in the end even the perfect plan comes down to execution. If the Broncos run the ball and chew up the clock they don't have to deal with Tom Brady. If the Broncos have to uncork Tatum Bell all they are doing is letting the next DC know that we're tapped.

Remember the Broncos fans have one job and that is to make noise and to treat every game like this the Broncos last. If we stop worrying about being so smart and just act like fans maybe we can help these guys get one more win.

Mediator12 · 10-11-2005, 11:10 AM

I am not surprised that the team is taking the game this way at all. Unfortunately, the majority of this board will ignore this perspective totally since it does not fit their perspective at all. Then they will argue that the team is wrong to even consider such thinking as it is obviously ludicrous.

The world comes in many different shades of gray, but if your shade is not close enough to theirs then you are wrong! Sorry fellas, I disagree with you.

I seem to remember a very flawed KC team opening up a 7-0 start two years ago and being a few lucky breaks from 4-3. They finished 13-3 and still lost at home. Moral of the story is to not count your chickens BEFORE they have hatched.

bronco militia · 10-11-2005, 11:12 AM

no doubt....

Cito Pelon · 10-11-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodsunday

. . . . . . What discouraging is there a bunch more good teams on the schedule. . . . . . .

"Discouraging"? "Discouraging"? Dis-couraging. Did you really mean to say you're losing courage? That's the meaning of "discouraged." It means losing courage. Stiffen up the backbone, dude. Sitting at 4-1 with a solid 3-phase team is nothing to be discouraged about. So what if there are still some good teams to beat. So look to kick their asses one play at a time, what's the problem? If you don't kick their asses on a play, well, that happens sometimes. So you look to kick the guys ass in front of you two three times for every time you get your ass kicked. If he doesn't like it, too bad. This team is capable of doing that - they have done that. Let's keep the ball rolling.

Cito Pelon · 10-11-2005, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiettiger

. . . . . .If the Broncos play scared the Patriots are going to eat them alive.. . . . . ..

I agree. Football is all about attacking at every opportunity. You can't play on your heels, you have to look to attack all the time. I liked those "7 rules for winning" - sorry I don't know who to give credit to - I particularly liked these two:

2. Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way - SCORE.

3. If at first the game - or the breaks - go against you, don't let up... put on more steam.

Just those two is football at basic. Denver is a team that has been doing that, and a team can go a long way doing that.

TheReverend · 10-11-2005, 02:22 PM

I like the attitude these guys are taking. Time for celebration comes on a late Sunday night in Detroit in February.

Ballhawk · 10-11-2005, 05:09 PM

I didn't realize EE was such a leader. I always thought of him as an easy going quiet guy. Teams can never have too many guys willing to speak up and keep the team focused.

Dukes · 10-11-2005, 05:43 PM

What i'm concerned with is did this team think this way the past two years? Or is this team different from the past two who were blown out of the playoffs?

epicSocialism4tw · 10-11-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O&B4Life

What i'm concerned with is did this team think this way the past two years? Or is this team different from the past two who were blown out of the playoffs?

It has some new contributors in significant roles. Bell, Adams, Brown, Warren, Ekuban, Myers, Okie Williams, Foxworth, Fergie, etc..

Throw Ian in there who is playing like an all-pro and a 2nd year DJ.

I think that the roster has changed enough to shake that mess off, but whether or not it happens is a different story altogether.

Cito Pelon · 10-11-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O&B4Life

What i'm concerned with is did this team think this way the past two years? Or is this team different from the past two who were blown out of the playoffs?

The team is just a bit more mentally tough this year. They get back to the huddle faster on D, stop the congratulations a little quicker and get their heads into the next play quicker. This team is a little more focused.

Let's not forget that the Broncos are a marked team on everybody's schedule. When the coaching staff and players state in camp that they are shooting for a Super Bowl victory, that tends to get other teams to make a mark on their schedule if they are scheduled to meet up with the Broncos.

And, this is important, the Broncos are the only AFC team that has six AFC Championships, and the Broncos are second only to the Cowboys in Conference Championships. Maybe that doesn't the hold the attention of Bronco fans, but I guarantee that HC's from top to bottom in the AFC are on that like chickens on crickets.

10-11-2005, 07:16 AM	#1
bloodsunday Ring of Famer Nothing lasts forever. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dove Valley Posts: 5,839 Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen	Broncos' joviality can wait http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3104757 By Bill Williamson Denver Post Staff Writer With the world champions coming to town this weekend and 11 games remaining, Mike Shanahan's team holds emotions in check. The Broncos had just survived a grimy, gritty Sunday in a driving rainstorm to improve to 4-1 for the third consecutive season. Euphoria? Not exactly. Instead, of high-fives and a locker-room party, the Broncos dried themselves off and went through a constructive criticizing period. Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban was one of a few veterans who gave impromptu speeches, reminding his teammates they still have plenty of work to do. "We can't get too excited," said Ekuban, who was joined by veterans Rod Smith and John Lynch in voicing their opinions after the 21-19 victory over Washington. "We're here for the long haul, and we have to know there are corrections to be made and we still have things to work on. We got the win, but it wasn't great. We still have to get better, especially with the team coming in." The Redskins are out of the way after they failed on a tying two-point conversion with 1:09 left in the game. Now, Denver can concentrate on the defending world champion New England Patriots. Although the Patriots (3-2) have had some problems this year, they are still a measuring stick. "We have to play great in that game," Ekuban said. "That's why we didn't have time to celebrate." The self-cleansing seemed unusual to many in attendance. One would think a team would celebrate a victory, at least for a few minutes. "It was shocking," rookie cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. "But it was a great lesson for a young guy. These veterans are so mature, and they are looking at the big picture." Defensive line/tackles coach Andre Patterson put it this way: "It wasn't surprising. These guys' standards are through the roof." Don't expect the Broncos to be drunk with glee over being in first place in the AFC West. They've been there before, and they know baseball season, not football season, ends in October. The Broncos started 5-1 the past two years and began 4-1 in 2002. They finished a combined 15-16 in those three seasons. The Broncos qualified for the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, but failed to get a home playoff game. "We're not going to get caught up in the hype," said left cornerback Champ Bailey, who is hoping to play against the Patriots after missing the past two games because of a hamstring injury. "We know winning early doesn't mean anything. We have to keep this up. ... No one is getting complacent. "We know five games doesn't make a season. That's why I think you see guys with this type of attitude. We know we all have to get better." That was ingrained in the team before Sunday's game when coach Mike Shanahan showed the Broncos the 2004 standings. Two teams that started 3-1, Detroit and the New York Giants, finished 6-10, and Jacksonville finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs. So, the Broncos aren't spending the week thinking they have the season figured out. "We really haven't done much yet," Ekuban said. Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.

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10-11-2005, 07:18 AM	#2
bloodsunday Ring of Famer Nothing lasts forever. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dove Valley Posts: 5,839 Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen	I like the attitude of this team. I am happy with 4 - 1, but they need to get better. What is encouraging is that they have beaten some good teams to get to 4 -1. What discouraging is there a bunch more good teams on the schedule.

10-11-2005, 07:20 AM	#3
Ratboy It's all over... ಠ_ಠ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 13,276	If we win this game, I think we should be mentioned as a top team.

10-11-2005, 08:49 AM	#5
ro_50 Ring of Famer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere in Jersey Posts: 3,782	And they are the Pats, gosh. They are the league's standard bearer still.

10-11-2005, 09:34 AM	#6
Odysseus Fan of the home team Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 12,107 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mark Schlereth	This game is going to come down to who wants it most. If the Broncos play scared the Patriots are going to eat them alive. If a guy living in a pile of sand without aide of visuals can see this then it's really obvious. The Broncos can cover this up, work with this guys daily, or pray it doesn't snow but in the end even the perfect plan comes down to execution. If the Broncos run the ball and chew up the clock they don't have to deal with Tom Brady. If the Broncos have to uncork Tatum Bell all they are doing is letting the next DC know that we're tapped. Remember the Broncos fans have one job and that is to make noise and to treat every game like this the Broncos last. If we stop worrying about being so smart and just act like fans maybe we can help these guys get one more win.

10-11-2005, 11:10 AM	#7
Mediator12 OM analyst REAL Front Seven Bandwagon !!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: INDY Posts: 9,701 Adopt-a-Bronco: Malik Jackson	I am not surprised that the team is taking the game this way at all. Unfortunately, the majority of this board will ignore this perspective totally since it does not fit their perspective at all. Then they will argue that the team is wrong to even consider such thinking as it is obviously ludicrous. The world comes in many different shades of gray, but if your shade is not close enough to theirs then you are wrong! Sorry fellas, I disagree with you. I seem to remember a very flawed KC team opening up a 7-0 start two years ago and being a few lucky breaks from 4-3. They finished 13-3 and still lost at home. Moral of the story is to not count your chickens BEFORE they have hatched.

10-11-2005, 11:12 AM	#8
bronco militia Ring of Famer THE GREATEST Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: colorado springs, co Posts: 22,575	no doubt....

10-11-2005, 02:22 PM	#11
TheReverend www.PatrickTurley.org ^ buy this... twice Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 32,977 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mike Shanahan	I like the attitude these guys are taking. Time for celebration comes on a late Sunday night in Detroit in February.

10-11-2005, 05:09 PM	#12
Ballhawk Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,132	I didn't realize EE was such a leader. I always thought of him as an easy going quiet guy. Teams can never have too many guys willing to speak up and keep the team focused.

10-11-2005, 05:43 PM	#13
Dukes Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 6,317	What i'm concerned with is did this team think this way the past two years? Or is this team different from the past two who were blown out of the playoffs?