Promising Broncos’ Keep On Truckin’, and Runnin’, Through Opponents

One of the golden rules in the NFL is that teams who take care of the ball on offense and create turnovers on defense will usually find a way to win the game. That’s a rule that the Broncos haven’t followed for a while now, and it may have very well cost them a playoff berth each of the past three seasons.

Actually, there’s a lot of reasons why they missed the playoffs each of the last three years, but that was the one that sounded the best in an opening sentence. Don’t judge me.

Often times an opening sentence is followed by a thesis statement, and whether you have any clue what a thesis statement is or not, just know that I believe that this year’s Broncos are for real. And yes, so far they are strictly adhering to the golden rule I mentioned before.

Through three games, the Denver defense has given up just 16 points. Kyle Orton has yet to throw an interception. The running game has its swagger back thanks to the two-headed monster of Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter.

The best part? Josh McDaniels has yet to wear a hoodie with the sleeves cut off on the sideline. Yes, that annoys me that much.

One of the things that stands out to me the most about Denver so far is that there are no glaring issues on the team. Kyle Orton isn’t a superstar, but he’s a proven winner. The offense isn’t fancy, but they are efficient and nearly mistake free.

If there was a coordinator of the year award, Mike Nolan would be the early favorite. He’s taken the worst Broncos’ defense in over 30 years and transformed them into a physical unit that, *gasp*, can actually stop the run and force three-and-outs. 

Some of the so-called “experts” will argue that the Broncos haven’t played anybody yet, so their good start is meaningless; but aren’t good teams kind of supposed to manhandle bad teams? Just last year this team gave up 31 points to the Browns and 45 combined points to the Raiders.

Not only that, but they held the same Bengals offense that put up 31 points on the Packers and 23 points on the Steelers to only a mere 7 points.

Progress is progress. 3-0 is 3-0.

If you’re surprised or pissed off at the lack of recognition the Broncos are getting outside of Colorado, don’t be. The reality check is that no one will really believe in them unless they take down some of the media’s darling teams. They’ll get their first chance next week against Dallas. 

And while it is still early, I feel that it is time for me to eat my words. While they may regress as the season goes on, the Broncos’ defense is not nearly as dreadful as I predicted them to be. This is why Josh McDaniels gets paid to make these decisions and I have to pay to go to school.

I’m sorry, Broncos fans. I admit that I was wrong and I hope that I can be forgiven. If they keep playing how they’re playing, I won’t be the last one to say that.

Now, it’s John Clayton’s turn.

 

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Broncos and Fans Buying Into McDaniels’ System: They’re Lovin’ It

If the 2009 Denver Broncos were fast food, I would call them a “Happy Meal” thus far into the campaign. Pleasant. Satisfying. Fun. Making their fans, you know, happy.

Oh, and yes I did mean those Denver Broncos.

Six months ago the Broncos were a franchise in turmoil.  The team had fired its stalwart head coach, Mike Shanahan, who led to the franchise to its two Super Bowl titles. Then Denver replaced him with a 33-year-old offensive whiz kid, Josh McDaniels, who had never been a head coach at any level. 

To make matters worse, franchise quarterback Jay Cutler was trying force his way out of town after hearing McDaniels and the team listened to offers for another quarterback, presumably sending Cutler to another team.

Once Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Brandon Marshall suddenly demanded a trade, saying he didn’t trust the Broncos. McDaniels had no choice but to suspend Marshall for a good chunk of the preseason for conduct detrimental to the team. 

What a way for McDaniels to start his NFL head coaching career.

He had more pressure on him than anyone, and he had not even coached a single game.  People were calling for his head before the season started and others thought he’d be one (year) and done.

It’s amazing what a 3-0 start can do for your image, isn’t it?

During all this drama, McDaniels kept saying his players were ignoring the potential distractions and focusing on doing their jobs and making sure everyone was putting forth a “team first” attitude.  The suspension of Marshall proved McDaniels meant that.

However, many fans and media types blew that off as McDaniels saying what any coach would say—regardless of what was really going on in the background. Thanks to these distractions, said the critics, the Broncos would be lucky to win five games.

Well, we’re not even a quarter of the way through the season and the Broncos are already past the halfway point to five wins and many people are in shock.

Why?

Because the players actually are buying into McDaniels’ system.  Everyone is focusing on doing their jobs and trusting their teammates to do theirs.  McDaniels’ a system that has paid off in the form of three Super Bowl rings for the Patriots and it’s one that has the Broncos starting fast out of the gate.

The players believe. They’re smiling on the sidelines, and McDaniels even got a Gatorade shower after Denver’s victory over the Browns last week.

See, the players notice the little things.  McDaniels let the top participants in offseason workouts to create a playlist on an iPod to be played during practices in training camp.  Instead of simulating crowd noise, the players heard all kind of music from country to the late Michael Jackson.  It was a touch the players definitely appreciated.

Now, what about the fans?

Those who were calling for McDaniels’ job from the onset of the Cutler situation have been mysteriously silent as Cutler leads the NFL in interceptions and Orton has yet to throw a pick after three solid games.  Fans are jumping on the Broncos bandwagon by the bunches.

That saying that “winning cures everything”?  True, in this case.  Very true.

Now, we shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves.  The Broncos face a killer schedule the next few weeks, starting this weekend with a battered but potent Cowboys team coming to Invesco.  

However, if the Broncos remain as tight knit as they seem to be right now, they will weather this storm.  They enter this tough stretch as a team, and they will emerge from it as a team.

Buckle up, Broncos fans.  It’s going to be a fun ride.

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The AFC West: How Big of a Mess Is It?

It has now become very apparent that my Raiders have quite a few problems. But I’ve decided if I’m going to bash my own team I might as well bash the rest of the division.

Here’s my best shot at bringing down all the teams in the division with my Raiders.

So lets start off with my Raiders of course.

Aside from the Monday Night opener, the Raiders look horrible.

Not only that, but based on this season’s performances thus far the Raiders’ last three first round draft picks look like busts. JaMarcus Russell can barely hit the broad side of a barn and the only players he can occasionally hit in stride are Zach Miller and defensive backs.

Darren McFumble…I mean McFadden not only has the lowest yards per carry of the three Raider running backs but he averages a fumble about once every 10 carries. Definitely not living up to the hype.

And then there’s Darius Heyward-Bey. He can run very fast but that’s about it. So far this season he has one reception and two interceptions while he was being targeted.

To make things stranger the first round draft pick from four drafts ago, Michael Huff, who we were all convinced was a bust is now playing like a man on fire with four take-aways.

And then there’s Tom Cable.

Well he motivated the team and got them to buy into the “team first” and “53 men committed to one purpose” philosophy, blah blah blah.

But motivation and hope can only get you so far. Try hoping in one hand and shitting in the other and see which one fills up faster.

Unless Tom Cable can learn how to call an offense or finds someone who can, all that motivation will turn into false hope as team morale drops. 

Now onto the Chiefs.

Well the Chiefs aren’t just bad. They are horrible. And at 0-3 I would be surprised if they can match last years win total of two.

They are actually so bad that despite playing against the worst QB performance I have ever seen, the Chiefs failed to come up with a win or even a single interception.

The Chiefs also have three backup QBs and have already fired an offensive coordinator this preseason. Plus, they traded away possibly the best tight end in NFL history and their biggest offensive weapon.

Then there’s the consensus Super Bowl favorite of the last three years—the Chargers.

As of right now I would put them in second in the division but with the Raiders and Chiefs not far behind. And with the Chargers roster beginning to look like an ER, I wouldn’t be surprised if if they end up in third or even fourth in the division.

Despite being the most over-hyped team in the NFL three years running, the Chargers were dominated in nearly ever facet of the game by the Raiders. Funny, the Broncos did the same to the Raiders.

But in the end the Chargers were able barely skate by with a win. No thanks to some questionable officiating and a lead changing touchdown drive leaving 28 seconds on the clock.

Also in reality the Chargers have yet to defeat a quality team. Raiders are 1-2, and the Dolphins are 0-3.

Wow I just had deja vu.

Now, finally, onto the AFC west leading Denver Broncos. Or should I say AFC worst. Yes congratulations Broncos fans, your team is in the lead of the worst division in the NFL.

Oh wait, sorry. As a Raider fan I am not allowed to refer to them as Broncos.

Guess what horse riders? Despite being 3-0, every power ranking list to come out this week will still list the Chargers above your donkeys.

And of course you guys already know why. You have yet to even play a good team. You barely beat the Bengals. The Browns, despite scoring 20 against Minnesota, have still scored only one offensive TD in the last 36 quarters.

Notice how in the last week that 32 rose to 36. The Browns are horrible, and next week it will probably rise again to 40 quarters.

Then you played the Raiders. Well as you’ve read, the Raiders aren’t very good. Not to mention prior to this loss most NFL power rankings had the Raiders somewhere between 25 and 29.

 

 

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Broncos Show There Is Dominant In Team: Theme Crushes Raiders

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

William Shakespeare – “Hamlet”

 

A Contending Early Autumn Wind

A new autumn’s dominant theme is changing the colors of the season from coast to coast. It’s absolutely caught up in the changing leaves and trees—it happens this time every year.  The change in green color to this season’s theme: it’s white, surprising purple, a myriad of orange with amazing black, and even blue.

These colors appear to be for real in this early autumn theme, turning pretenders into contenders in the early stages of chasing the dream.

In the autumn wind there is the ringing breeze of forceful winds that are cousins of the new cold fronts that bring them. Within that same gust of the new coming are some of the traditions of the past.

Football teams and their rivalries carry out those recurring dreams of rising up to their constant rivals. In this the young 2009 NFL season, we have seen the leaves change colors and maintain the theme of newness and unexpected results.

We are finding out that there are some new up and comers—teams that are proving they are for real.

The New York Jets sported their old New York Titans jerseys against the Tennessee Titans—who donned their old Houston Oilers jerseys.  In the end, the Titans of New York won the game behind rookie sensation Mark Sanchez.

In Minnesota that age-old staelwierthe (stalwart) himself, Brett Favre, in his new purple adornment, proved he could still get it done when it mattered most. The Minnesota Vikings are now a serious contender for the Super Bowl. 

Carson Palmer and the Bengals proved they are tougher than most had given them credit for. They beat the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers with last second heroics and altered the outlook of their season. So add them to your list of contending teams.   

Out west it was Raider Nation taking on the Denver Broncos. It beckoned a number of questions for the football minds who could see.

The Raiders local telecast was blacked out because the game was not a sellout. These are peculiar times indeed. The current economical situation has affirmed that, but if it’s Raider Nation—tell us all, why do they flee or fail to show?

 

Oakland—Raider Nation Has a Problem

Anytime you can beat a team at home it’s a great thing.  When it’s your archrival, better yet.

There was apparently a spirited exchange prior to the on-field battle that sent along a needed message this fall. Regardless of the change at the helm for the Denver Broncos the Raiders are still the ultimate team rival, whether for good or ill.

So they call it Raider Nation?  However, it has proven not to be. A once intense and great rivalry started to slip with fan apathy on an eminence front.

The devastated local economy coupled with obsolete NFL rules aimed to sell more tickets to home games is backfiring and weaning fans off NFL products in one of the league’s most legendary markets.

An archive of NFL films has stated that the autumn wind is a pirate or even a Raider, like a legendary tale of yore.

No matter to the Broncos—who somewhere along the line decided they were only concerned with themselves. They knew the domination that they sought was in shutting down the pirate ship.

A little secret to pass along when it comes to beating down the Raiders: the Broncos know the old pirate fable that “dead men tell no tales.”

In football terms this translated to the objective that was to make the Raiders one dimensional with a simple philosophy. Make Jamarcus Russell beat them. The response was just as simple—he couldn’t.

Meanwhile the Broncos offense racked up 215 yards on the ground courtesy of Correll Buckhalter and rookie Knowshon Moreno.

Moreover, Brandon Marshall brought his best against the Raiders and caught five passes for 67 yards and caught his first touchdown of the season. Marshall proved his issues off the field are behind him at least for now.

The defense was its now solid, usual self. It yielded only three points by racking up two interceptions and one key fumble recovery, and had three sacks on the day.

So it’s now well known what happens when the pirate ship gets pillaged. 

It’s a blackout in the black hole with the Broncos going home in first place atop the AFC West—a game ahead of the San Diego Chargers.

 

The Denver Broncos Are For Real

Call it a welcomed surprise or a hopeful premonition. 

The Broncos have found a way to move their record to 3-0 on this young season.  Regardless of the personal views and takes in the offseason—reaching this record the way they have could not have been easily predicted.

The Broncos deserve to be undefeated.

The Cincinnati Bengals also deserve to be undefeated with their last minute drive to seemingly ice the Broncos. Somehow the Broncos escaped week one with a deserved victory.

The following week the Bengals promptly beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field and came home only to upend the World Champion Steelers.

The Bengals are for real and deserve to be undefeated.

Strangely enough, so are the Broncos.

Denver’s dominating defense has set the tone in all three of its games. The Broncos are physical on offense and defense. A surprise for many, but the team on paper appeared to be heading in this direction during the offseason.  It’s just a sight for sore eyes to see in action. 

The Broncos have quelled the opposition to the tune of less than 215 yards per game, outdistancing the next closest defense by a full 30 yards.

They are the top rated defense in the NFL. 

The most impressive stat is the one that matters most. The Broncos have yielded a total of 16 points over three games for an average of 5.3 points per game. 

The Broncos rate fifth in the NFL in interceptions with a total of five.  They also have 10 sacks, which ties them for first in the NFL with the Bengals and the Eagles. They have also recovered three fumbles.

Meanwhile, the offense is finding ways to protect the ball and control the battle of field position and time of possession. 

Currently they only rank 14th, but they do have an average of nearly 21.0 points per game. The team is rated ninth in total yards with an average of 374.0 yards per game. They boast the fourth best ground attack in the NFL, which may be the mortar of their physical team approach to the game. 

The special teams haven’t been incredibly special.

They have fumbled one opening kickoff return and missed three field goals due to wind. This aspect of the game should improve throughout the season. 

The point here is that the Denver Broncos are not beating themselves—they are beating their opponents into submission.

Thus far, this team is proving they are for real—there really is no question.

 

Regarding This Week’s Film Study Segment

Due to some technical problems last week’s film study vs. Cleveland and this week’s vs. Oakland will be combined for offense and defense.

Next up on the schedule for the Broncos is the Dallas Cowboys in Denver on Sunday afternoon.

 

Chaz Mattson

sportsmanagement@gmail.com

 

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Broncos 23, Raiders 3: Denver Dominates in Oakland Once Again

For the second consecutive year, the Denver Broncos went into the hostile environment of their bitter rivals the Oakland Raiders and absolutely dominated from start to finish, and they did it with power football all the way to a 23-3 victory

 

Quick Hits

• The Broncos ran for a season high 215 rushing yards while holding their third straight opponent under 100 yards (95).
• Denver committed its first turnover of the season on a fumble in the third quarter by running back Correll Buckhalter.
• Kyle Orton continues to play smart football, going three games as a Bronco without throwing an interception.
• Brandon Marshall had his first touchdown of the season.
• Knowshon Moreno scored his first rushing touchdown in the NFL.
• The Broncos’ defense has decreased in points allowed with each game, holding Cincinnati to seven, Cleveland to six, and Oakland to a mere three points.
• Renaldo Hill and Andre’ Goodman, both acquired this offseason from Miami, had their first interceptions as members of the Broncos.
• Elvis Dumervil had two more sacks, increasing his season total to six.
• Bronco punter Brett Kern did not see the field until the fourth quarter.  Denver’s offense controlled the game with nearly 13 more minutes of offensive possession.

 

Scoring Recap

First Quarter

The Broncos drove the ball right down the field on their first drive and failed to convert on a fourth-and-goal from the one yard line.

On their next possession, they did much of the same, driving the ball down the field and this time, they were able to capitalize.  More specifically, Kyle Orton threw a short pass across the middle to Brandon Marshall for a touchdown.

Denver capped off the scoring in the first quarter with a 48 yard field goal from Matt Prater, increasing their lead to 10-0.

Second Quarter

The Raiders started the scoring in the second quarter, much to the dismay of Denver fans who saw a forced fumble by Mario Haggan that could have been recovered by Elvis Dumervil turn into a 3rd-and-16 for the Raiders, and Zach Miller caught his longest pass of the day to put Oakland back in field goal range. 

Sebastian Janikowski connected from 48 yards to put the Raiders on the board, and cut the lead to 10-3.

After an impressive 11 play, 76 yard drive, the Broncos were forced to settle for a Matt Prater field goal, but they took a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was fairly quiet for both sides, but Knowshon Moreno was able to cap off an eight play, 80 yard Denver drive with his first touchdown in the NFL.

Fourth Quarter

The Broncos had arguably their best drive of the season, lasting 16 plays and 88 yards but they were only able to get three points out of it, increasing their lead to what would eventually be the final score at 23-3.

 

Analysis

Although not impressive offensively, this was probably the best Bronco performance of the 2009 season.  Their defense was suffocating, allowing a season low 137 total yardage and three points. 

The Bronco offense was not staggering by any means, but they kept their defense fresh, and made only one mistake all game, their first of the season.

In my preview to this game, I discussed that the biggest key to the Broncos winning this game was establishing a dominant run game while also stopping the run.  They did just that, and not only were they able to control the ball for over 36 minutes, they out-gained the Raiders 215-95 on the ground.

The Broncos also forced three fumbles of Raider starting running back Darren McFadden, who was held to a mere 45 yards.

My second key to victory for the Broncos was defending JaMarcus Russell and forcing him to win the game for Oakland.  Well, in stopping the running game, they forced the issue with Russell, and he was not able to capitalize. 

He threw two interceptions in the early stages of the game, and was sacked three times.  He completed only 12 of his 21 passes for a laughable 61 yards. 

My third key to the game was Kyle Orton’s efficiency, and his smart play continued in a big way.  Orton threw a touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, and even without leading receiver Brandon Stokley, he seemed to have a firm grasp on the timing with his receivers, especially Marshall and Jabar Gaffney, who combined for nine receptions.

Orton also continued to benefit from great pass protection, avoiding a sack for the second straight week, and also continuing his interception-free streak.

The Broncos established a run game early, and Orton was only asked to throw the ball 23 times.

Denver held Oakland to nine first down plays, and only one appearance in the red zone which was the result of a Correll Buckhalter fumble, and the Raiders fumbled the ball away anyways.

Buckhalter had his most impressive game as a Bronco, leading the rushing attack with 108 yards on only 14 attempts.  He continues to provide the Broncos with excellent speed off the edge, and he is one of the more underrated offseason additions to any team so far.

Defensively, the Broncos were also very impressive, forcing three turnovers while committing their first of the season, increasing their turnover margin to +6.

Elvis Dumervil earned his fifth and sixth sacks of the season, all of which have come in the second half of games.  He has made a very smooth transition to the new 3-4 defense being implemented by Mike Nolan.

Another player making a seamless transition is middle linebacker D.J. Williams, who continues to be around the ball on every play.  He made a couple of great tackles on screen passes today, and led the team with seven tackles.

As an overall unit, the Broncos have not allowed a touchdown in eight quarters of play.  With Dallas coming into town next weekend, they will surely be tested a bit more than they have been so far this year defensively, but this unit has proven that it is capable of breaking the 2006 team’s record of most quarters without allowing a touchdown. 

The Broncos still sit alone on top of the AFC West, now with a record of 3-0 as the Chargers improved to 2-1 with their victory over Miami, Oakland moving to 1-2 with the loss to Denver, and Kansas City in last place with a record of 0-3.

Denver was expected by many fans to begin the season 3-0, but they could not have expected it to be behind the play of their resurgent, No. 1 defense.  Now they head into an eight game stretch where they will play Dallas, New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the New York Giants.

If their defense continues to play as they have, the Broncos and their fans have no reason to believe they cannot handle that competition, and maybe even vault into the AFC elite by winning games.

The Broncos were called the “worst 2-0 team ever” by one analyst, and John Clayton predicted they would win three games.  Sorry John, it just does not seem like this team is going to go on a 13 game losing streak anytime soon.

Denver is well coached, disciplined, smart, and they play smash mouth football by controlling the clock and making timely defensive stops.  This game against Oakland is not going to silence the Bronco haters by any means, but a win at home against the Dallas Cowboys next week could go a long way.

The Broncos remain one of six undefeated teams in the NFL with this big road victory, and are doing it with a whole new brand of football.

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Denver Broncos in a Must-Win Game in Oakland

Like it or not Donkey Fans, Denver is in a must win situation on Sunday, against a team that is playing their third straight divisional game, and has good confidence going into a home game.

Why is it a must-win? It’s a must-win situation because their schedule is brutal after the game at Oakland. They play Dallas, New England, at San Diego, at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, at Washington, San Diego, and the New York Giants in a row before they visit the Chiefs.

The fans just can’t help but talk themselves up after a lackluster performance at Cincinnati, and their 11th straight home opening win against Cleveland. What makes their team so special?

You can’t argue with stats, right? Denver is ranked first in points given up this year, allowing only 13 points. They are second in yards allowed, which has their fans praising Mike Nolan.

What they may realize, but fail to mention in their articles is that Oakland’s defense is much improved as well. Oakland defense was on the field against Kansas City, in Kansas City, for 38-plus minutes, and only allowed 10 points.

Still, Denver fans will insist that they can run to glory against this defense. They say that running against Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis is a surefire way to slow down the pass rush. I think that it is running game suicide and three and out series’ waiting to happen.

Denver fans are also quick to point out that Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell is a bust in progress. However, their head coach disagrees.

Josh McDaniels has been quick to point out JaMarcus has the highest average per completion in the league, at 16.6 yards per completion.

He also is bright enough to realize that some of the blame falls on the shoulders of Oakland’s rookie pass catchers, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy. While both have blazing speed, 4.25-40 and 4.32-40 respectively, McDaniels states that wide receiver is a tough transition in the NFL.

“That’s a hard position (WR) to come into the league and just immediately play, do all the little things well, because you see so many things you don’t see in college football,” Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said.

While JaMarcus is willing to throw himself under the bus, with the understanding that when things get good, he will be the one taking credit, he is also saying that he will intentionally throw balls away, and let the superstar punter Shane Lechler do his job while his receivers progress.

Many people are calling Russell out, saying his accuracy is to blame, and that “you can’t teach accuracy.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Right from the time JaMarcus was drafted, though they said he needed to work on his footwork, draft experts said that one of his strengths as a passer was “accuracy and touch.” One even said his physical skill set was “the best I’ve ever seen in my life.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0VxSOCXTjE

JaMarcus completed 61.2 percent of his passes down the stretch of the final seven games in 2008, and that includes a 35.7 percent performance in his final 2008 game against KC. Eerily similar to his numbers this year. In that game, he was 10 for 28 passing, while in his last effort against KC, he was 7 for 24.

If history is telling of the future, then JaMarcus should have a great game against Denver. I know Donkey fans will dispute this, because their defense is “so improved” this year. Last season, JaMarcus was nearly flawless in both games against the Broncos.

In the two games combined, he threw 27 completions in 37 attempts (78.1 percent), had 332 yards, had three touchdowns and no picks, and had a QB rating of 130.1.

The fact that the Donkey fans even have the fortitude to call JaMarcus out is something you have to give them credit for.

However, when they say that the Oakland secondary is no match for the Broncos wide receivers, that’s where I draw the line.

To say that Champ Bailey is as good as Nnamdi Asomugha may not be an overstatement, but to compare Chris Johnson to Andre Goodman is no match. The Broncos used to have Dre Bly, maybe you could make that argument, but Goodman is no Johnson.

Johnson is one of the most underrated DB’s in the league, so you can’t blame Donkey followers for making a mistake like this.

In game one against Oakland in 2008, Eddie Royal smoked DeAngelo Hall for nine catches, 146 yards, and a touchdown.

In game two, man to man against Chris Johnson, Royal had just two catches for 14 yards. This year, Royal is an under-achiever, with only five catches for 38 yards against two of the worst defenses in the NFL last season.

In addition to this, Johnson was ranked seventh on WalterFootball.com’s list of free agent defensive backs earlier this year. That was before he set his season goal to make the Pro Bowl this year.

Pony fans are also always quick to jump on the Brandon Stokley bandwagon when you point out the flaws of Brandon Marshall and Royal. Stokley is a great possession receiver, and I will not deny him that accreditation.

However, if you think he has the skills necessary to be your best receiver against Oakland on Sunday, I will tell you I hope you’re right. He will get nine catches for 45 yards and one touchdown.

I don’t think there is any need to address the reversal; I can attest that our receivers will probably not beat the Broncos’ defensive backs.

Our defensive line is superior to theirs, in spite of what you’ve heard from the pony riders. They will tell you that Elvis Dumervil is better than our entire line, and he has four sacks. The part they *DUH* don’t realize is that Dumervil actually is playing outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s scheme.

Speaking of Linebackers, donkey fans would want you to believe that Andre Davis, the Cleveland Browns reject is better in the middle than Kirk Morrison. They say, “Davis compiled 90 tackles last season, and is looking solid in the middle.”

Ha, I laughed when I read it too. Oakland’s middle linebacker, Kirk Morrison has averaged 124 tackles since his rookie season.

For you pony riders who have no math skills, that is 34 more than Davis had last year in a 4-3 scheme like Morrison. It is also 57 more than Davis had the year before that, playing in all 16 games.

Thomas Howard is greater than or equal to DJ Williams. Williams has averaged 98 tackles a year as a Bronco. Howard has averaged 100 tackles a year as a Raider. This year Howard has 17 tackles, Williams has 15.

As far as linebackers go, you pony riders don’t really have another worth mentioning, although you are supposed to have four. We have Ricky Brown, who is a very passionate player, with a strong skill set, who can lay the wood and bring the pain.

Your halfbacks are a group of journeymen, and a rookie, who may not play because of a bad groin. Our halfbacks are widely considered one of the best young groups in the entire league.

Like it or not donkey’s, or pony riders, or whatever it is you are calling yourselves these days, Oakland is just as good, or better than your team.

They are also as well coached as your team, as well as they are playing their third straight divisional game, and it is at home.

This game will be closer than you’d like to think, or even admit.

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Broncos-Raiders: Week Three Gameplan

The Denver Broncos are undefeated so far this season.  After conquering coach McDaniels’ home state of Ohio, Denver faces a challenge with greater implications this Sunday as they square off against their division rivals the Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole.

As far as football rivalries go, Broncos vs. Raiders has to up there with the best of them.  There is no team that Denver fans love to hate more than the Raiders, and no team that Oakland fans enjoy despising more the Broncos.  

Many Broncos and Oakland alike don’t care if their team loses every other game they play in a given season, as long as they win these games.

In fact this hate-hate relationship is arguably the most intense rivalry in all of football. The reasons are many and varied, but they have stood the test of time and like the Hatfields and the McCoys; it is a feud that will never find its end. 

These two teams know each other very well, and always come to play each other.  But both teams face many challenges this week because both squads have changed significantly since they last met.

The Raiders Offense

Quarterback

No. 2 JaMarcus Russell

This is the year that Russell gets to prove whether or not he is a boom or a bust, and I have to say that right now it doesn’t look so good for JaMarcus. 

Even Raider Nation, who has steadfastly supported their young QB is beginning to believe that Russell, who signed a six year $61 million dollar contract in 2007 as the first overall pick in the draft, is just another overpaid under-performing talent.

This conclusion is not an emotional one at all, but rather one based on reason.  Russell’s passer rating so far this season is a 46.6 and he has completed less than 36 percent of his passes. 

Russell’s performance has nothing to do with pressure or coverage either, he simply has no accuracy with the football, often missing his receivers by what might as well be a mile.

JaMarcus needs to get his stuff together and fast if the Raiders are to have a hope that their ragamuffin team has final turned a corner and can once again hang with the rest of the league.

Wide Receivers

During the preseason Russell seemed to be in sync with one receiver in particular, Chaz Schilens (6’4″, 225 pounds). 

Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury before the season began and has not been able to be the go-to guy Raider fans thought he was going to be.  Schilens will be out again this week against the Broncos.

The Raiders also have decided not to start Javon Walker (6’3″ 215 lbs).  Walker, who coincidentally signed a six year $55 million dollar contract last year,has not been able to show coach Cable that he can run fast enough to even be on the depth chart for the Raiders.

So the Raiders will once again start a pair of wide receivers who were playing ball in college last year.

 

No. 18 Louis Murphy, 6’2″, 200 pounds

This fourth round pick has been a huge surprise to the Raiders.  In two games Murphy has six catches for 118 yards and one touchdown.  Murphy who was often overlooked in the shadow of Percy Harvin at Florida has been the only bright spot in the Raiders receiving corp this season.

 

No. 12 Darrius Heyward-Bey 6’2″, 210 pounds

The seventh overall pick of the 2008 draft who signed a five-year, $38 million dollar contract, of which $23.5 millions in guaranteed, has caught just one pass for 18 yards.

Both of these players are big play threats because of their lightning speed.  Murphy ran a 4.43 second 40 yard dash at the combine, while DHB ran it the fastest clocking in at 4.29 seconds. 

Both of these receivers have the disadvantage of being rookies trying to adapt to a whole new level of play and have been thrown into the fire expected to perform in their first year. 

And unfortunately their quarterback’s passing accuracy has not really given them the chance to make a lot of plays either.

 

Running Backs

Now here is the bright spot for the Oakland Raiders.  They have some great running backs.

 

No. 20 Darren McFadden, 6’2″, 210 pounds

McFadden was the fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft and signed a six year $60 million dollar contract (are we starting to see a trend here).  McFadden who ran a 4.33 second 40 yard draft at the combine is a promising young talent who has shown flashes of brilliance as a running back for the Raiders when he hasn’t been hurt.

McFadden has all the skills and is a very versatile back who can hurt a team in many ways and is quite elusive in the open field.

 

No. 29 Michael Bush, 6’1″, 245 pounds

Bush was a steal for the Raiders in the 2007 draft.  He was drafted in the fourth round because he had broken his leg.  Before his injury, all signs pointed to Bush being a first round draft pick.  Now that he is healthy, he is playing up to that first round standard. 

Bush is a punishing hard and fast runner who has a motor that won’t stop.  He fits the Raider ideology of pounding the rock up the gut perfectly and is a dangerous weapon for Oakland.   

Both backs will be getting carries for the Raiders this year, and thus far Bush has been performing better out of the two of them running for 4.3 yards per carry over McFadden’s 3.6 yards per carry. (In my personal opinion, Bush is the better back)

 

Offensive Line

The Raiders O-Line is built to run the football, and they are good at it.  Anyone who saw their first game of the season against the Chargers saw an O-line that imposed their will on the defense.  They were knocking the defense back with bad intentions that paid a unique homage to their head coach. 

Unfortunately the Raiders lost one of their starters on the O-line this past week.  Second overall pick in the 2004 draft Robert Gallery broke his leg, leaving Paul McQuistan to take his place at Left Guard.

Offensive lineman need to communicate and they develop chemistry with one another.  Gallery’s absence may be obvious this week if McQuistan fails to communicate well with his teammates.

 

Tight End

No. 80 Zach Miller, 6’5″, 255 pounds

Miller is the biggest receiving threat on the Raiders offense.  Miller hauled in six catches for 96 yards against the Chargers and helped the team march down the field on several drives. 

The Chiefs knew he was a threat and made sure he was covered all over the field last week.  That combined with JaMarcus’ accuracy shut Miller out of the game as a receiver.

 

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

The Denver Broncos have a new identity this year as a team.  Last year, the Broncos were an offensive juggernaut and finished the season with the second most prolific offense in football, while having one of the most pathetic defenses in the game.

Denver got a complete overhaul in the off-season though and now boast a very formidable defense and a more high percentage than prolific offense.

The defensive gameplan is against the Raiders this week is twofold.  

1) Stop the Run

2) Cover Zach Miller

The Raiders have proven they do one thing well, and that is run the football.  They get a great push off the line and move the line of scrimmage and their running backs pound the rock up the middle.  

So Denver needs to be run oriented on defense.  Stop the run and make JaMarcus “accuracy” Russell with his 36 percent completion percentage beat us through the air. 

Denver’s secondary is one of the best in the league.  Though older and slower than the Raider wide outs, they know how to play the game and should have no problem handling a couple rookie receivers.  This frees up the other seven guys to stop the run.

Denver also needs to make sure that Zach Miller does not get to roam freely.  Make sure he is covered because he is the most sure handed receiving threat the Raiders have. 

Take him out of the equation and the Raiders won’t be able to get anything going in the passing game, and their drives should stall like a K-car.

The Raiders Defense

The Raiders defense is no joke.  Their front four are all big guys who play equal to their size.  Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, and Greg Ellis. 

Each are capable of disrupting the backfield, racking up sacks, and stuffing running lanes.  Each of them has played well thus far this year and need to be taken seriously.

Linebackers Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are two very underrated linebackers who wreak havoc all over the field.

And we all know that Nnamdi Asomugha is a shutdown cornerback who is right at the top of the list with Champ Bailey as the best cornerback in football.  Chris Johnson has come into his own opposite Nnamdi to make them one of the best tandem of corners in the league.

After Nnamdi and Johnson though, the talent tapers off.  Stanford Routt is fast, but is not great in coverage.  Kansas City exposed him by exploiting him in coverage last week when he was called to action while Nnamdi was dehydrated late in the game.

Michael Huff has also recently come into his own at safety, and had two picks last week in Kansas City.   

The Raiders defense is strong at every level, and poses a real problem to game plan against.

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver’s offense played better last week than they did the week before, and I hope to see them continue to play better each week.

The Broncos showed they can run the ball well, and Buckhalter has had the opportunity to show that he can make things happen as a running back in Denver.

Moreno may be out with a groin pull, so that may hamper the running game somewhat, but a healthy dose of Peyton Hillis pounding the football should fill in nicely to this game plan in his absence.

The Raiders can be run on and Denver needs to establish the run early in order to wear down Oakland’s pass rushing lineman and keep them honest.  If Denver runs right at Seymour or Ellis it will run them down and hamper the energy and mental burst to attack the pass.  

Denver has a great Offensive Line which benefited greatly from week one to week two with Kuper being back from injury.  It will be a battle up front, but one that is evenly matched.

Nnamdi and Johnson are so good in coverage that the Broncos are going to need to rely on Running backs, tight ends and slot receivers more as passing targets this week. 

Hillis or Moreno (if healthy) should see some balls fly their way on screens and check downs.  Tony Scheffler should see some more action this week too as he is a mismatch target no matter who is covering him. 

Brandon Stokley out of the slot is no secret after his week one heroics. Stokley should easily take advantage of Stanford Routt’s poor coverage skills and catch a good many balls this week.

As long as Denver continues to protect the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalties, I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Raiders this week in their home Stadium.

I give Denver the edge in this game because of Oakland’s lack of a passing game on  offense, and the Broncos improved defense.  Though it is usually loud in the Black Hole, the game is set to be blacked out in Oakland so that shouldn’t be an issue.

My prediction: Denver wins, 20-6.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Raider Fan Trash Talk: A Premonition

To save Broncos fans some time, I thought I would provide a quick synopsis of Raiders’ trash talk for the next three years. This way you can ignore the Raider Nation and go about your business.

Dec. 2008–Sept. 27, 2009: “The last time the Raiders played the Donkeys, JaMarcus Russell tore you up. He was 10-for-11 for 152 yards. The horses had no answer for his rocket arm. He will do the same to you this time. Never mind that he has a 35 percent completion rate. Disregard the 7-of-24 performance against the Chiefs because he was 10-of-11 last time…in your own house. Raiderssssss”

Sept. 28, 2009–Dec. 20, 2009: “Last December, the Donkey made JaMarcus Russell look like a pro bowler. Ten-for-11, choke on that Donk fans. JRuss is going to tear the Horses apart. Raiderssss”

Dec. 21, 2009–Early 2010 football season: “Three games ago JaMarcus Russell didn’t have any trouble with your weak ass Donk defense. JRuss has come into his own, and he will shred you guys again this time around. Raidersssss”

Early 2010 football season–late 2010 Football Season: “Remember two years ago when JRuss went 10-of-11. Remember when he didn’t suck? Raidersssss”

Late 2010 Football season and beyond: “A couple years ago…JRuss…no picks…10-of-11…no picks, did I say that?…152 yards…I hate the Donkeys…JRuss…Raidersssssss.”

 

Please God, let this nonsense go on forever. I know that someday Raiders fans and management will wake up and realize Russell is passable at best and horrendous at his worst, but it is so fun to watch the train wreck while it is still in slow motion.

Go Broncos!

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Raiders Preview: Keys To Victory For Denver in Week Three

On Sunday, the Denver Broncos (2-0, first place AFC West) will make their annual trip to the “Black Hole” to take on the Oakland Raiders (1-1, second place AFC West) who are playing their third straight divisional opponent.

This game, although not hyped much by the national media, is a huge game for both teams and their fan bases, who are both beaming with optimism and confidence. The Broncos have enjoyed a thrilling, one of a kind victory as well as a dominant performance, and the Raiders have been on either side of two close, hard fought games.

This is a fairly new rivalry for most in the Broncos’ camp, and head coach Josh McDaniels thinks it is going to be a lot of fun.

“It means a lot to us. They are our—if you want to call them arch rival or what you want to categorize them as—but we get to play them twice a year. I think there are a lot of players on our team that are very familiar with their players. Sure, that is the same on their sideline and then their coaching staff.

We have got a guy or two from that organization here now. It is special when you get to play these division games early in the year on the road against a team that historically, you are no supposed to like. We know that, and they know it. It will be exciting for us to go there and meet the challenge.”

A lot of fans will discount either teams statistics heading into this game simply because of the rivalry, but the facts are too difficult to ignore.  The Broncos are superior statistically in every major team category.

Offensively, the Broncos average over 100 more yards per game than the Raiders, 86.5 more yards through the air, and 23 more rushing yards.  The Broncos also have a higher points per game average, third down conversion percentage, and lead in time of possession.

Defensively, the Broncos have allowed over 100 fewer yards per game in their first two games, 54.5 fewer passing yards, 55 fewer rushing yards, and 10.5 fewer points per game.  They also allow opponents a third down conversion roughly 27 percent of the time whereas Oakland’s opponents convert on third down 37 percent of the time.

This is an intense rivalry, and statistics have a very long time to change throughout the course of this year, but at this point, it is hard to ignore given the fact that each team has played two teams with bottom 10 defensive units.

I have no doubt that the Raiders will bring their “A” game to the Colosseum on Sunday afternoon, but the rivalry did lose a bit of luster when Mike Shanahan left town.  It was my understanding that the rivalry between the Broncos and Raiders became heated when Oakland fired Shanahan and despite Al Davis’ desires for Shanahan to not coach the Broncos, he went ahead and did so anyway.

Now that the Shanahan saga is over, new head coach Josh McDaniels has changed the culture in Denver, and the players are buying into his methods.  Perhaps the most underrated move made this off-season by any NFL franchise was McDaniels luring Mike Nolan to be the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.

Nolan has brought credibility to the most surprising defense in the NFL, which is currently the number one defense in terms of points allowed at 13 over two games.  His blitzing schemes are complex, and the beef up front has gone from lean to mean in seemingly no time.

Similarly, the Raiders have made some very solid additions to their defensive front in free agent acquisition Greg Ellis and blockbuster trade acquisition Richard Seymour.

Here are what I think are some of Denver’s keys to victory when they head to Oakland for this week three rivalry contest.

 

1.  Running the Ball and Stopping the Run

The Raiders’ biggest strength is clearly running the ball, and how could it not be?  They took Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and got a steal in 2007 in Michael Bush.  They also have Justin Fargas, who may be the most complete overall back on the team’s roster.

All hands are expected to be on deck for the Raiders this week, and they are facing stiff competition in Denver’s revamped run defense.  The Broncos added a bunch of pieces this off-season to beef up their front line, and so far the new group has done a tremendous job, allowing only 140 yards rushing over the first two games of the season.

If the Broncos can take away the big play from the Raiders run game, they will force the game over to JaMarcus Russell, and as many Raider fans will tell you, they have not done the greatest job of keeping their defense off the field so far this season.

It is absolutely critical for the Broncos to maintain their gaps on defense and keep the blitz packages surprising for the Raiders.  As long as the big play is eliminated, the Broncos should be able to keep the Raiders offense off the field.

It is also key that the Broncos run the ball effectively.  Correll Buckhalter leads the AFC West in rushing yards so far this season, and is second among starting running backs in yards per attempt at 7.2 yards per carry.

The Broncos would also love to see rookie Knowshon Moreno find a groove. After a disappointing game one we saw significant improvement against Cleveland last weekend.  Denver needs to get Moreno more involved in the offense, and now that he is fully healthy, it seems as though they will.

 

2.  Broncos Pass Defense vs. JaMarcus Russell

As was one of the keys against Cleveland and Brady Quinn, the Broncos need to force the issue with Russell, who is not nearly as athletic as Quinn.  Russell has outstanding arm strength, and has proven over the first two games that although his completion percentage is the worst in the NFL, he is capable of leading his team down the field when it matters.

Still, Russell has been somewhat of an Achilles heel for the Raiders.  He is extremely inaccurate unless the receiver is wide open, and unfortunately for him, the Broncos are tops in this division and third in the NFL overall in quarterback sacks.  They are also going to be without veteran lineman Robert Gallery, and will have to count on second year player Mario Henderson to keep JaMarcus’s blind side clean.

The Broncos need to put pressure on JaMarcus Russell, and it would be smart to attack from the left side with Elvis Dumervil, similar to the approach they took against Joe Thomas last week.

The oft-penalized Cornell Green is really no match for the quicker Dumervil, and if Dumervil can provide consistent pressure, the Raiders drives will be derailed by sacks and holding penalties.  This is a matchup the Broncos really need to take advantage of.

Of course, along with pressure comes poor decisions by the quarterback, and Russell can ill afford to make mistakes against Denver’s secondary which is veteran laden, very athletic, and very smart.

 

3.  Kyle Orton’s Efficiency

Orton has the 11th best quarterback rating in the NFL so far this season, and has yet to turn the ball over.  His fourth quarter quarterback rating of 152.1 is the best in the NFL, and he has done a great job so far for the Broncos.

The Raiders will be his toughest test of the season so far, as they have a very athletic group of linebackers and a defensive backfield that is underrated.

Nnamdi Asomugha leads a group that includes Chris Johnson, Michael Huff, controversial rookie Michael Mitchell, Hiram Eugene, and Tyvon Branch.  Each and every one of these players has one common denominator: speed.

The Broncos counter with a top tier group of receivers and tight ends led by Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall, who oddly enough are being outdone by the elders at the receiver position.  Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney lead the team in receiving, and Tony Scheffler provides a mismatch at the tight end position.

Unlike Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton does not seem to force the issue to his receivers and simply takes what is given to him or throws the ball away.  The Broncos have not been stellar offensively in the first half of games, and Orton needs to get on the same page as his receivers. 

If the first key can prove true and the Broncos are able to run the ball effectively, all Orton will have to do is make good decisions with the ball and continue his solid but not spectacular play.

 

Here is my positional breakdown of the two teams

Quarterback:  Broncos

Running Back:  Raiders

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight End:  Raiders

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Push

Linebacker:  Broncos

Defensive Backs:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Raiders

Coaching:  Broncos

Advantage:  Broncos

 

As is common in these matchups, this game could be won in the early stages based on momentum and whoever can quickly establish the most consistent run game.  I think the Broncos have the decided advantage up front offensively, and both defensive fronts have played well this season.

This should be another exciting chapter in the Broncos-Raiders rivalry.

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Why the Broncos and Raiders Rivalry Is One of the Greatest

In Denver they call it Raider week. It happens twice a year at a minimum whenever these two football rivals play. Since 1977 the Denver Broncos have a slight edge in the rivalry, but it is a rivalry even at it’s valley. Check out some of the biggest reasons why this is probably the NFL’s most overlooked and yet best rivalry in the last 30 + years.

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