Thoughts on the game

[Rascal]

First, some of you know that I'm an ex-line guy, so that is what I always focus on. Ramirez did a good job of pass blocking. Beadles struggled all night long when 1-1 against Canty. Franklin had some moments, but was solid. Clady and Vasquez were steller. I won't go into the run blocking as it was awful. Any time you can't run against a 2-4-5 (which is what they were basically running) you have problems. Unfortunately, I expect that to be a problem all year.

Second, our secondary is awesome. I was going to the kitchen during the game to get a beer and I was hit by Nacho. Thankfully, I managed to save the beer. He needs work in pass defense though. DRC and Champ is going to be a great combo. I love Chris Harris. Rahim Moore was invisible, which is a good thing.

Our LBs, sans a dumbass play by Trevathan, were solid but still struggled a bit with defending the pass. Woodyard had a great game, although I could tell he isn't a MLB. To many times he tried to get around a blocker to make the tackle instead of plugging the hole. With a steller secondary I expect to see offenses having to go intermediate/short routes against our LBs a lot this year.

D-line was great against the run, but as expected struggled to apply consistent pressure forcing Del Rio to blitz. Thankfully our secondary, and the fact their WRs/TEs are awful, was up to the task.

WRs/TEs....obviously a great game by everyone not named Eric Decker who I happen to own in fantasy. WTF dude? Julius is obvioulsy in the game for his receiving skills as he is below average in blocking.

Peyton...not enough adjectives to describe my love. But then I realized my opponent this week in fantasy has DT and Peyton. MF

[SportinOne]

First, some of you know that I'm an ex-line guy, so that is what I always focus on. Ramirez did a good job of pass blocking. Beadles struggled all night long when 1-1 against Canty. Franklin had some moments, but was solid. Clady and Vasquez were steller. I won't go into the run blocking as it was awful. Any time you can't run against a 2-4-5 (which is what they were basically running) you have problems. Unfortunately, I expect that to be a problem all year.

Second, our secondary is awesome. I was going to the kitchen during the game to get a beer and I was hit by Nacho. Thankfully, I managed to save the beer. He needs work in pass defense though. DRC and Champ is going to be a great combo. I love Chris Harris. Rahim Moore was invisible, which is a good thing.

Our LBs, sans a dumbass play by Trevathan, were solid but still struggled a bit with defending the pass. Woodyard had a great game, although I could tell he isn't a MLB. To many times he tried to get around a blocker to make the tackle instead of plugging the hole. With a steller secondary I expect to see offenses having to go intermediate/short routes against our LBs a lot this year.

D-line was great against the run, but as expected struggled to apply consistent pressure forcing Del Rio to blitz. Thankfully our secondary, and the fact their WRs/TEs are awful, was up to the task.

WRs/TEs....obviously a great game by everyone not named Eric Decker who I happen to own in fantasy. WTF dude? Julius is obvioulsy in the game for his receiving skills has he is below average in blocking.

Peyton...not enough adjectives to describe my love. But then I realized my opponent this week in fantasy has DT and Peyton. MF

Agree with everything except your assessment on Moore. he had some good plays and had an amazing play on a 3rd down where he demolished the receiver who would have had a 1st down reception. Moore is a good player and I'm glad that he didn't let his mistake crush him.

[socalorado]

Agree with everything except your assessment on Moore. he had some good plays and had an amazing play on a 3rd down where he demolished the receiver who would have had a 1st down reception. Moore is a good player and I'm glad that he didn't let his mistake crush him.

The destruction of Dwight Clark must have been the best feeling Moore has ever had. If you played football, then you know what that feels like.
Of course, if you played football, you more than likely know how both players felt after that hit. Giving out a hit like that is just the best feeling ever.
Moore played great.

[barryr]

Manning took a few more hits than I would like, but overall, the pass protection was quite good. The running game wasn't much, but when they could pass like that, it wasn't really needed.

Manning got sharp as the game kept going. Welker had some shaky spots to say the least, but he will be a tough matchup for most teams.

Julius Thomas is really impressing. Great size and speed to get down the field at TE. A TE that can do that has been missing from this offense for years.

The Bronco defense had their moments. They will have to manufacture and scheme a pass rush until Miller comes back. I did like how the CB's played and safeties as well. Nacho looks like a player and hard to believe wasn't drafted.

But if Woodyard is out, then big problems on defense, so let's hope he is going to be ok and ready to go.

[MABroncoFan]

The destruction of Dwight Clark must have been the best feeling Moore has ever had. If you played football, then you know what that feels like.
Of course, if you played football, you more than likely know how both players felt after that hit. Giving out a hit like that is just the best feeling ever.
Moore played great.

Dwight Clark is playing again? What is he in his 60s?

Though Dallas Clark didn't look like Dallas Clark last night, wearing a number in the 80s. He has Dwight's number, doesn't he?

[broncosteven]

I finally figured it out this is not a 1st half team. With Shanny he would study the opponent leading up to the game, draw up his script and on the weeks he didn't take off (mostly against NFC teams) we would be up 14 points and had taken the other team out of their gameplan.

With Manning, it is more like lets show this play and see how they react, it is all about reaction to the D. It is usually close at the Half (even 24 points is close these days fellas) and they go in to the locker room make their adjustments then come out in the 2nd half and run the court on them. Ravens were wiped out, guys on both O and D were not able to finish plays because they were tired, the D guesses, comes up into the box like on the last TD and we are able to have 2 OT's making blocks well down the field out running smaller faster guys on D.

It is a thing of beauty but we have to be as patient and calm as Manning is. Peyton is so professional that he keeps his head in games we should be out of and because of that he is able to slowly come back and make games close if not outright wins.

[Rascal]

I'm a fan of his, but Vasquez was far from "stellar" last night.

OL performances week 1:

1. Ramirez (just needs to get his snaps higher)
2. Clady
3. Franklin
4. Vasquez
5. Beadles

His pass blocking was, at least from what I remember, but he, like everyone struggled run blocking.

[Rascal]

Ngata kicked the **** out of him. Such is life. He'll bounce back strong next week against much less dominant DTs.

Ngata kicks the **** out of everyone, but I don't recall him beating Vasquez when rushing the passer. I may be wrong.

I won't go into the run blocking as it was awful. Any time you can't run against a 2-4-5 (which is what they were basically running) you have problems. Unfortunately, I expect that to be a problem all year.

The vast majority of our runs in the game came against an eight man box when we were trying to eat up time. Seriously, we had what, eight attempts all game outside of those situations? We had some decent runs on those very limited attempts by the way.

[Rascal]

The vast majority of our runs in the game came against an eight man box when we were trying to eat up time. Seriously, we had what, eight attempts all game outside of those situations? We had some decent runs on those very limited attempts by the way.

Wrong. 66% of our rushes came before the fourth quarter. Prior to the fourth quarter we had 14 runs. Finished the game with 21 attempts.

[Rascal]

Thanks to Manny, no big passing impact plays beyond pressure. I don't THINK any hits/knockdowns, but I havent rewatched yet.

I don't know the breakdown of how often Manny helped.

[broncocalijohn]

The destruction of Dwight Clark must have been the best feeling Moore has ever had. If you played football, then you know what that feels like.
Of course, if you played football, you more than likely know how both players felt after that hit. Giving out a hit like that is just the best feeling ever.
Moore played great.

It would have been a really weird feeling and criminal to demolish an old man like Dwight Clark. Dallas Clark on the other hand.......

[OldschoolFreak]

Seriously, we had what, eight attempts all game outside of those situations? We had some decent runs on those very limited attempts by the way.

I thought Ball's first carry (the eight or so yard run in the redzone) was a respectable first NFL carry. The second one was too (good effort to get the first for 1st and Goal).

Normally I'd say I would have liked to see him get more than one call to punch it in but given Manning's historic game I'm ok with it.

Wrong. 66% of our rushes came before the fourth quarter. Prior to the fourth quarter we had 14 runs. Finished the game with 21 attempts.

You are right about the ratio but let's actually go look at those runs:

First the runs that came within the normal flow of our offense:

1st quarter:
Moreno for 1 yard
Moreno for 7 yards
Moreno for 6 yards
Hillman for 1 yard

2nd quarter:
Moreno for 3 yards
Moreno for -1 yards
Moreno for 2 yards
Moreno for 2 yards

3rd quarter:
Hillman for 7 yards
Hillman for 3 yards
Ball for 9 yards
Ball for 4 yards
Moreno for 1 yard
Hillman for 4 yards

4th quarter:
Moreno for 7 yards

That is 56 yards on 15 carries. Not spectacular but considering the ravens stout front not all that terrible either.

Now here is where we start showing Foxball tendencies with our run game (ie obvious power sets that allow the defense to key on the run):

Ball for 2 yards
Ball for 7 yards
Ball for -2 yards
Ball for 2 yards
Ball for 1 yard
Ball for 1 yard


I look at the breakdown above and I don't see a terrible run game. I see an average run game that met a stout defense, and then totally bombed its numbers to eat the clock at the end of the game. And really, as Ball improves so will our run game. I really wouldn't worry about it. Our run game is plenty good for what this offense needs.

[pricejj]

Problem with Ball is he doesn't have the speed to turn the corner. All teams have to do is key on the cutback lane in between the OT and G to defend him well. He's going to have to get a lot craftier in his ability to pick open lanes at NFL speed.