Plummer was terrible but he certainly wasn't alone.

[eddie mac]

Jake had a horrific game apart from 2 drives where we scored 14 points. But he was harried all game because of shoddy offensive line protection and a weak-ass running game. I'm not excusing the way he played but I'm just as concerned about an offensive line that was terrible in pass protection today and more worringly has been terrible in the run game in the last 2 weeks.

Against Pittsburgh and Oakland our running backs have combined for a total of 40 carries for 94 yards. Just over 2 yards per carry which is absolutely pathetic and certainly not what us Broncos fans are used to and thus puts more pressure on Plummer to move the sticks via the air.

Mike Shanahan is running out of ideas at running back and offensive tackle hence the promotions of Nash and Meadows today.

IMO that is just as worrying as Jake Plummer's piss poor decision making.

[denver5459]

Nice take. Our running game is terrible right now.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by eddie mac

IMO that is just as worrying as Jake Plummer's piss poor decision making.

Yeah...my server at Denny's sucks too...dissapeared 40 minutes ago with a $20 and I'm still waiting for change...doesn't change the fact that Jake sucks and we're going nowhere with this guy.

I think it's safe to assume Fake has some compromising pix of Shanny stashed somewhere...

[Northman]

Jake was erratic all day and he certainly wasnt pressured the entire game. A lot of his missed throws were when he had a lot of time in the pocket to deliver the ball.

[Broncos4tw]

1. Not only does a solid running game open up the passing game, but it's true in reverse. If you can't pass consistantly, they will shore up against the run. That is why a team tries to force another into being "one dimensional," it's much easier to beat them. If Jake can't pass, we can't run either.

2. Jake on two of his ints was not "harried" whatsoever. I watched the replays to see if he had someone in his face. There was NO ONE NEAR HIM. He threw horrible throws because that's what he does, no other reason. Hell, when he is "harried" is when he seems to deliver a better ball, or make a good scramble. Give him plenty of time and a 5 yard buffer, and you can start chewing your fingernails off.

[yhova]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

...doesn't change the fact that Jake sucks and we're going nowhere with this guy.

I think it's safe to assume Fake has some compromising pix of Shanny stashed somewhere...

If you consider nowhere the playoffs or for that matter the AFC Championship game, then i guess you're right...

[bpc]

So lucky... next week, it will not be the same. Denver Organization, top to bottom needs to get its ish together. That is the truth.

Sad performance today that was saved only by the fact that we played the worst team in the league.

How else can you justify that last fumble?

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

Yeah...my server at Denny's sucks too...dissapeared 40 minutes ago with a $20 and I'm still waiting for change...doesn't change the fact that Jake sucks and we're going nowhere with this guy.

I think it's safe to assume Fake has some compromising pix of Shanny stashed somewhere...

Jake prolly paid up the nose after Cutler was drafted to get those pics from Travis McGriff.

[eddie mac]

Both Kyle Johnson and Rod Smith commented on the poor running game during their interviews on CBS4 after the game. Both said it'll have to get back on track for SD.

Rod also said that Al Davis will never pay Mike Shanahan the money he still owes him.

[fontaine]

Before all the negativity starts around Plummer I just wanted to give him major Props for playing like a champion in that one drive where he was near perfect and got the TD.

His obvious mistakes (he wasn't under pressure on all four of those ints), erratic play are there for the world to see, but when we had to score or lose he did his job.

I'm not excusing him for this ugly play. As a matter of fact I think Shanahan is at his wits end with him. On the drive after the TD we were facing a 3rd down which would have gone a long way towards killing the game so Shanahan right called a timeout to settle Jake down. You could see Mike trying to relax Plummer for that big pass to Walker and what happens? Jake goes out and promptly underthrows an int to Washington which the refs amazingly ruled out.

Jake's career might soon be finished as a Bronco, but I for one want to thank him for his great work on the drive that sealed the deal with a TD. That was Jake at his best.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Anubis

Jake was erratic all day and he certainly wasnt pressured the entire game. A lot of his missed throws were when he had a lot of time in the pocket to deliver the ball.

Agree. Jake's problems were his own today. He did have some heat on him, but made his two worst throws without much pressure on him. He resorted to not throwing the ball away when he should.

Also agree with the thread... what an awful performance by our O-line. Our backs simply don't have holes to run through, and Plummer DID get harassed way too much.

The D-line was garbage until the end of the game, where they came out of their funk with a few very key plays. This game turned around on a big play from one of our DEs. Not often we can say that.

We've got a lot to figure out, and no time to do it. Let's just hope this was a oversight game, and that the real Broncos show up next week.


That said.... 7-2 is a great place to be, and a sweep of the rai_ers is ALWAYS worth celebrating.

Crappy win, but I'll take it!

[Garcia Bronco]

I bet we put in so Charger game plan last week so we can put in some Chief plan this week

[Northman]

Originally Posted by Popps

Agree. Jake's problems were his own today. He did have some heat on him, but made his two worst throws without much pressure on him. He resorted to not throwing the ball away when he should.

Also agree with the thread... what an awful performance by our O-line. Our backs simply don't have holes to run through, and Plummer DID get harassed way too much.

The D-line was garbage until the end of the game, where they came out of their funk with a few very key plays. This game turned around on a big play from one of our DEs. Not often we can say that.

We've got a lot to figure out, and no time to do it. Let's just hope this was a oversight game, and that the real Broncos show up next week.

I simply dont understand it. When i see him play against New England and Indy he makes smart decisions. But, in other games ( especially inferior competition ) it seems he is sort of sleep walking or in a daze out there. Like he is just going through the motions. Why can he not just focus from week to week?

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by fontaine

Before all the negativity starts around Plummer I just wanted to give him major Props for playing like a champion in that one drive where he was near perfect and got the TD.

His obvious mistakes (he wasn't under pressure on all four of those ints), erratic play are there for the world to see, but when we had to score or lose he did his job.

I'm not excusing him for this ugly play. As a matter of fact I think Shanahan is at his wits end with him. On the drive after the TD we were facing a 3rd down which would have gone a long way towards killing the game so Shanahan right called a timeout to settle Jake down. You could see Mike trying to relax Plummer for that big pass to Walker and what happens? Jake goes out and promptly underthrows an int to Washington which the refs amazingly ruled out.

Jake's career might soon be finished as a Bronco, but I for one want to thank him for his great work on the drive that sealed the deal with a TD. That was Jake at his best.

That's a very charitable perspective, Fontaine.

Today's ballgame reminded me of the Brian Griese era at its most hopeless.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I simply dont understand it. When i see him play against New England and Indy he makes smart decisions. But, in other games ( especially inferior competition ) it seems he is sort of sleep walking or in a daze out there. Like he is just going through the motions. Why can he not just focus from week to week?

He pulls it together a little bit when he knows his job is on the line.

[Rock Chalk]

The defense early didnt help the offense out by giving up just enough yards for Lechler to pin us at the ****ing 1 yard line.

This bend but dont break **** against the WORST OFFENSE IN THE LEAGUE is hurting our offense. Jake played poorly, no denying that, but good ****ing God, he got little help through most of the game. No run game, crap pass blocking, key penalties on third and short to put us in third and long (THREE ****ING TIMES!).

We got the ball on one drive, Jake throws two great medium range passes getting us like 15 and 11 yards. Run for 5 yards, incomplete, third down and 5 and meadows with the 3rd down false start to give us a 3rd and 10. That **** hurt us. Where we had good odds of picking up a first down and keeping a drive alive and getting Jake into a groove, the penalties at inopportune times killed us.

To put it in perspective, Denver today was less disciplined that the woeful Raiders.

Jake had some erratic throws, three of which I saw without pressure (one was a pick and one should have been a pick), but I gotta give the Raiders some credit. They had a far more consistent pass rush than any other team has had against us EXCEPT St Louis. What happens? We have 4 turnovers and nearly lose the game against an inferior opponent.

Look like a pattern here? Jake scrambled out of at least 3 pressures but twice got sacked trying to scramble away because pressure was everywhere.

Good God, the whole team played poorly today in that first half. Second half was better on both sides of the ball, but the defense was bending in that first half way too much to give the best punter in football a great opportunity to make us drive the length of the field.

One bright spot: Kircus seems to be a good return guy, lets stick with him. Sans that fumble which we got lucky there was a penalty on, his returns when he had a chance looked better than anyone's all year.

Defense needs to play more physical at the line. I dont care what mediator says, our CBs need to come up and jam receivers. We are the only ****ing team in the league that NEVER does this.

Oh, Champ Bailey is awesome. You see that deep pass he defensed thrown to Moss? I thought for sure he was beat, but good God he just makes up ground unbelievably fast.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I simply dont understand it. When i see him play against New England and Indy he makes smart decisions. But, in other games ( especially inferior competition ) it seems he is sort of sleep walking or in a daze out there. Like he is just going through the motions. Why can he not just focus from week to week?

I'm not saying I understand it, either. I've always described Plummer this way..

1. He'll make a few boneheaded throws per game.

2. 90% of the time, he'll do enough to make up for it.

Today was more of 1 and less of 2. But, he still hung in there enough to make the minimum amount of executed plays to win.

Now, don't take this as spin... but 2 of the 3 INTs really didn't amount to much more than short punts. So, despite him being as bad as we've seen him in a while, it was only his first INT that ended in points. So, that was part luck... maybe part Jake taking a chance when he figured there wasn't as much to lose. Who knows.

The reason Jake didn't totally cough up the game today is that he's mobile.
We had ZERO running game today, none... and _aklan_ was coming hard on nearly every play. His ability to get out of trouble, run a little... and run the boot gave the offense just enough opportunity to make plays, DESPITE Jake's arm being way off today.

Look at it this way, dude. This is the last year you'll have to deal with it. Just root for the team and enjoy being in a great position at QB. Like Jake or not, he DOES manage to find a way to win games like this, even when he's stinking it up. (See Cleveland) I'm still convinced that if the ball hadn't taken a fluke deflection in STL, or P-chuk doesn't take that penalty, we would have beaten them, despite Jake's poor play. Even when he's having a **** day, he manages to dial it in long enough to make plays when he has to.

So, I've given up trying to figure him out. I'm just enjoying the many, many W's he's put (putting) on the board for us. When Cutler takes over, I'll be stoked to root for him, and will have nothing but good will towards Jake for several years of winning football.



Outside of all of that, we still have other issues. First things first... why can't we run the ball AT ALL, all of a sudden? I guess Lepsis being gone and Foster sucking is having an impact.

[freak6]

Originally Posted by Alec

The defense early didnt help the offense out by giving up just enough yards for Lechler to pin us at the ****ing 1 yard line.

You are such an ignorant clown.

Jake sucked. His first INT led directly the Raiders only touchdown. A terrible pass thrown a full second to late, that is an eternity on a skinny post. As soon as Javon makes the break the ball should have been in the air. Just a TERRIBLE throw.

The other ball he forced to Javon late in the game was a joke as well, he totally overthrew him.

Jake Plummer's arm is so ragged, it is like a beat up pitching machine that you have idea where the ball is going but forward.

And yet again he turned Rod into a defensive back with another TERRIBLE overthrow. He is so bad. This season is a waste.

[-Slap-]

Alec, one reason we can't run the ball is because teams are daring us to throw the ball. You'll notice how many tackles Huff and Schweigert made this afternoon. That's because teams can cheat their safeties up to the line of scrimmage with impunity. Why? Because we have a castrated playbook and a shaky quarterback who won't, or can't, make them pay.

[Northman]

Originally Posted by Popps

I'm not saying I understand it, either. I've always described Plummer this way..

1. He'll make a few boneheaded throws per game.

2. 90% of the time, he'll do enough to make up for it.

Today was more of 1 and less of 2. But, he still hung in there enough to make the minimum amount of executed plays to win.

Now, don't take this as spin... but 2 of the 3 INTs really didn't amount to much more than short punts. So, despite him being as bad as we've seen him in a while, it was only his first INT that ended in points. So, that was part luck... maybe part Jake taking a chance when he figured there wasn't as much to lose. Who knows.

The reason Jake didn't totally cough up the game today is that he's mobile.
We had ZERO running game today, none... and _aklan_ was coming hard on nearly every play. His ability to get out of trouble, run a little... and run the boot gave the offense just enough opportunity to make plays, DESPITE Jake's arm being way off today.

Look at it this way, dude. This is the last year you'll have to deal with it. Just root for the team and enjoy being in a great position at QB. Like Jake or not, he DOES manage to find a way to win games like this, even when he's stinking it up. (See Cleveland) I'm still convinced that if the ball hadn't taken a fluke deflection in STL, or P-chuk doesn't take that penalty, we would have beaten them, despite Jake's poor play. Even when he's having a **** day, he manages to dial it in long enough to make plays when he has to.

So, I've given up trying to figure him out. I'm just enjoying the many, many W's he's put (putting) on the board for us. When Cutler takes over, I'll be stoked to root for him, and will have nothing but good will towards Jake for several years of winning football.



Outside of all of that, we still have other issues. First things first... why can't we run the ball AT ALL, all of a sudden? I guess Lepsis being gone and Foster sucking is having an impact.

No worries mate. I may complain about our lackluster Qb play but i never stop rooting for my team.

[freak6]

Jake manages to win games like this...

pfffffffffff

[SteveTensi13]

I guess we'll have to deal with Plummer being the QB for the season and just deal with it. His play has been absolutely pathetic for a 10 year vet and still Shanny keeps him in. I think Shanny has given up on going to the Superbowl this year and is saving Cutler for next year.

Shanny knows damn well we aint going to the Superbowl with Plummer so he's holding the rook out just to learn from Plummers mistakes.

[2KBack]

I'm personally pretty psyched that in back to back weeks, against top defenses, on the road, and with no running game, the team has still pulled together wins.

Half this board talked about how this was no gimme game and the Raiders had a habit of upsetting Denver even in their down years, yet when Denver pulls out a win that wasn't pretty, the season is over. Seriously, I'm pretty sure this is the only team sitting at 7-2 that has fans positive that the season is a lost cause.

[dsmoot]

Originally Posted by Broncos4tw

1. Not only does a solid running game open up the passing game, but it's true in reverse. If you can't pass consistantly, they will shore up against the run. That is why a team tries to force another into being "one dimensional," it's much easier to beat them. If Jake can't pass, we can't run either.

2. Jake on two of his ints was not "harried" whatsoever. I watched the replays to see if he had someone in his face. There was NO ONE NEAR HIM. He threw horrible throws because that's what he does, no other reason. Hell, when he is "harried" is when he seems to deliver a better ball, or make a good scramble. Give him plenty of time and a 5 yard buffer, and you can start chewing your fingernails off.

The NFL has figured Jake out. Rush 3, Contain the boot, add an additional DB and wait for Jake to throw it to you.

[Kaylore]

I'm so sick of the "Plummer does enough to win" argument. That's a bunch of crap. The rest of the team does enough to overcome his crap play. He's an anchor on this team and this offense. It blows.