But here is the bottom line, IMO: The defense must begin to stop some of those long drives and get the hell off the field. The answer to quick scores is more quick scores, and that is on the defense.

A 1-3 minute drive may have given the defense a 15-20 minute rest depending on the situation(such as, end of quarter, commercials, time outs, ect), while a 5-6 minute drive may only give the defense a 10 minute rest.

I think there might be a better correlation between freshness and tiredness. It seems we play better in the first part of each half and then fall apart towards the end of each half…

I am not sure.

Good work studbucket, rec’d!

…we’d like to be able to control the ball through long drives, preferably later in the game when need to keep it away from the opponent’s offense, but you can’t always get what you want. The most important metric is ‘efficiency,’ a measure of the percentage of drives that result in scores. On that front, we’re doing quite well. And other measures of offensive output, such as Points Scored, First Downs, Third Down Efficiency, Total Yardage, Red Zone Efficiency, etc., indicate that we’re doing very well. In particular, our Red Zone Efficiency and points scored/ yardage gained show great improvement from a year ago.

However, we’re not where we could be on rushing yards, although yardage totals don’t tell the complete story. I attribute that to a new OL but it’s also a function of our passing efficiency / running efficiency — our ability to succeed passing V. running. Choosing to run might stop our drives, so we’re using the most productive strategy — passing — even though it consumes relatively less clock. It’s still the best strategy, as long as we’re scoring.

Improvements in the running game will allow us to choose between two successful strategies, and balance the running v. passing attempts while also dictating to the opponent’s defense rather than having their defense dictate to us. As the running game improves we’ll be able to further improve on our TOP, but we’re not doing badly right now although our defensive shortcomings have drawn attention to the importance of TOP.

Be careful what you wish for. The Chiefs had a potent offense, but couldn’t stop anyone not that long ago. In came Herm Edwards with a philosphy that said we needed to “play more as a team.” Translation: Offense: You need to take longer on scoring drives so that the defense doesn’t get so tired. What do the players hear? Slow down. What happens? You end up where we are now.

I do think that there is something to the idea of not getting worn down. But as AZD said, the defense can get off the field as soon as it make three stops. And while I’m not saying this is the case with the current Broncos, I think a blazing offense and porous defense also can happen at the same time when the front office favors one side of the ball over the other when getting players. Chiefs have drafted defense since Herm has been there. Which is why it isn’t so hard to see our offensive production suffer, as much as it hurts to see the defense not step up and become solid yet. But they’re young. It’s rebuilding. And while people avoided the term for a while, it’s our only source of comfort at the moment.

Before you throttle an offense back, ask yourself if you really want to take points off the board.

about our team’s level of conditioning?
Seems like the defense does get worn out during other teams’ drives, and when we face a capable no-huddle offense that can keep us from our usual substitutions (on the d-line, especailly) it seems like we get stuck seriously back on our heels….

however I would like to see us mix up run and pass plays to keep the defense honest. I don’t think this will happen when we play the Chiefs because they can’t keep up in a shootout……still can’t take them lightly though. Let’s get a quick lead and hold it for once.

I think they’re scoring too slow. We should be putting up fiftyburgers every week.

I don’t buy a high-scoring O as an excuse for our D. They (coaches and players) need to step it up, particularly on 3rd downs, and get the heck off the field.

it’s like too much money…you can never have too much

are scoring enuff. I mean Shanny tried to speed the clock up in the 3rd against SD. He needs to attack and attack. Denver should have put 50 up on SD, and probably could have added 14 more against NO. There is no reason Denver should not be averaging 40 a game right now. I say score everytime they have the rock. The Defense IMO is built to be good enuff so Denver wins games 38-24.

Your stats give me hope that the reason we can’t stop anyone is that we have scored (early in the game) too many points. I am not making lite of your stats—I think you are right. Defense is a funny creature that can run into the ground—or stand ground.

The problem I have with your thought is that: In three games, our defense should have seen ‘execute and kill’ and instead we get ‘roll over and give.’ Cutler and Crew have kept us in games—and luck (which I’ve never seen before) (at least for this team) can you say luck?.

I have reason of hope just because of our offense. Our offense will keep us in games—but how long—with no defense can we win games? …….I think not.

and the running game will improve throughout the season. but time-consuming drives may end up in more field goals/stops, and less big plays/scoring. right now we need td’s more to help this d, because we are giving up big early leads, and we will give up small ones, too. we need defensive balance, here. the d just needs to stop allowing easy pass completions, and force the issue, one way or the other. running the clock down, even if successful, to rest the defense isn’t the answer for a unit that doesn’t really assert itself in getting off the field, anyway. in other words, if the approach doesn’t change, neither will the results. it’s play-calling, not fatigue itself, holding them back. they’re gassed because of the continuous drives by the opposing offense, not the quick ones by ours. when we get more aggressive/successful on defense, and make a few stops(a 3-and-out!), then we can control the clock more and put games away with the lead. at least that is what i am hoping for

I am worried though that our running game will not be up to snuff come later in the year when the weather will start affecting games. We will HAVE to be able to run the ball in the wind, snow, rain or what have you. Looking at the schedule, the running game needs more emphasis quickly. The first potential bad weather game is right around the corner at New England 10/20. Of course Mile High can get bad weather at any time.

I don’t feel comfortable going into the winter months having to rely on a passing game.

I like to score fast while my girl likes for me to score slow.