Do you think Hillis is going to get a shot to make an impact in the 2nd half of this season? And, is Larsen going to get in the mix more since he’s back from his injury?

really informative info here. I had been wondering if the concussion Hamilton suffered would eventually be his undoing….Your explanation on head injuries and there long term effects really quantified what I was thinking. Quite frankly head injuries scare me, our brains are very fragile and it takes so little to damage them……

First of all, I wish Ben the best in the rest of his career, but more importantly, the years following. We’re only now beginning to see the data regarding the long-term effects of these serious events, and I truly hope that Ben is able to lead a fruitful life post-football.

That said, I mentioned in another post that it seemed that Ben was not only getting beat in physical matchups, but that he was also making some uncharacteristic mental mistakes. These mistakes go back into last season as well, especially in regards to penalties.

I wondered if that could possibly be related to the fact that Ben was concussed seriously enough to keep him out for an entire season. I truly believe that the positions requiring the greatest mental and physical prowess are those along the offensive line. IPS is a big part of their game, and perhaps Ben’s post-concussion state and subsequent repeated blows to the head have have a detrimental effect in that regard. Frankly, I think that may have been a part of the issue with his losing the physical matchups, too. If you’re not playing instinctively, you are far more likely to lose those physical battles.

I find the issue of NFL post-concussion issues both fascinating and tragic. Any thoughts from Emmett or Ponderosa would be appreciated.

Too many thoughts to handle all at once though! So let me ask just one. Hillis suffered a concussion, if I remember correctly, and showed some confusion this year. Did he have a concussion? If so, is that perhaps a reason for his seeing little playing time?

I would have been in complete agreement. Yes, we all knew we would be losing some games and if you had foreseen the likelihood of two of those losses coming against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, I would have acquiesced. If you had stated that a 6-2 record is a very agreeable point from which to go forward, I would have given you my full support and had you told us there is no shame in losing to these two teams, I would have been with you. There is some shame involved, however, in being demolished as was the case.

I strongly disagree with your assessment about the many fans expressing disappointment after these games as being vacillating band-wagoners. I don’t consider myself or anyone else a fickle fan for harboring serious concerns at this point. I think most of us have had an uneasy feeling all season long that the offense seemed to be sputtering in spite of the numbers looking pretty good. As long as we were winning, it was very easy to tell ourselves that there is no reason to worry, that it is a new system, that the players need time to gel and that they are getting better every week. The potential patience resulting from age can’t free you from a feeling that these arguments are beginning to look a lot like excuses.

While the wins have been very satisfying, pretty much all were uncomfortably close. It sure would be a welcome comfort builder if the Broncos would obtain one or two decisive wins for a change. They don’t have to be as one sided as what our opponents enjoyed the last two weeks. If only they could play a game in which the winning outcome is all but certain before the last quarter commences. Great teams have at least some games like that and if The Broncos could do that once or twice, it sure would go a long ways towards restoring faith in the team.

I keep seeing the Redskins as a potential trap games. 2 tough blowout losses to physical AFC North teams ,then facing the #1 ranked pass defense in their place the week before Denver has an AFC West showdown against San Diego and the short week
against the physical Giants.

No doubt about it, the 2-6 Redskins represent the worst team record wise in this 5 week stretch.However my fear is that Denver has difficulty getting the running game going with their OL woes and Orton will not have time to pass and more of the dink and dunk.Defensively Denver has shown some holes,Roethlisberger had all day to pass on Sunday even when he was sacked and Champ had his worst game of the year.At times when the blitz didnt get to Ben Denvers defense looked old,which they are.

Denver needs to ignore the upcoming challenges with the Chargers and the Giants and not overlook the Redskins or we could be witness to an upset on Sunday.

I think you could be onto something with the take on Hamilton. I also think he might have lost some aggressiveness. I mean, you suffer brain damage induced by a workplace activity, you might try to get your job done without further inducing damage in the future i.e. not attacking the D-Line as much. Nalen last year, Hamilton this year. Hard to lose such great Denver Broncos.

I don’t think Casey is falling apart, I think Interior OL work together and therefore, can make each other look bad. I think Ben might have a little to do with Casey looking bad. Kuper’s high ankle sprain may not be completely healed yet, but he looked better last game.

Quick quote:

"A 1994 study of 7,000 former players by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found linemen had a 52 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease than the general population. While U.S. life expectancy is 77.6 years, recent studies suggest the average for NFL players is 55, 52 for linemen."

Not brain related but the overall the life expectancy is very low.

Game worn jersey = $450
tickets on the 50 = $250
Broncobear = Priceless

Thanks doc.

… at least that was most likely in my college days. for all your football savy, mr. smith, i liked that little piece of writing best. very funny. make sure you copyright the idea—beer commercials are so bad they’ll steal it right out from under you…

“when you want to make out without feeling bloaty.” — miller lite

“regrets? maybe. but at 1/3 less calories than other beers.” — coors light

great stuff, doc!…

I, like many others here, greatly look forward to reading your stuff. You’ve been able to talk me in off the ledge many times.

Sounds like you’re feeling better these days?

I’m going to however, call for caution in assessing Ben Hamilton. We really have no idea how well or not his head is working. I think it’s just as likely that being one of the smallest guys on the line, he may have simply worn down (Father Time and lots of wear) or may in fact have some physical problem that we’re not aware of. He and Weigman (sp?) are the two ZB guys or the guys that benefit most from that blocking scheme. Combine age with change of scheme and I think we should expect that these guys will be most vulnerable. Of course, power blocking plays may result in more head trauma, etc. and so there may be a component, but I really hate to see this kind of speculation. I know concussions are no joke – I’ve suffered a couple playing ball and I don’t quite understand why guys like Hamilton and Stokely keep taking that risk, but we don’t really know anything.

Your comments on timing patterns are right on. But it goes even further than that – McD’s offense is so complicated because it relies on the QB and receiver to be on the same page regarding route options and then there’s timing on top of that.

On Jack Williams, he was beaten out by Bell last year, but that was last year. I thought he’d made some significant strides this year, but can only conclude that the coaching staff concluded that they’d seen the peak of his upside – I’m still a little uncomfortable with that one.

Once again, many thanks for your work! Go Broncs!

I too thought Jack Williams had made good strides on defense in the “nickel package”.. until the Baltimore game were he was continually beaten by a more physical receiver in the person of Kelley Washington (6’3", 215lbs). Washington ended up with 4 catches for 58 yards in the game. I think Nolan and McDaniel saw the same game plan coming in the Pittsburgh game (Ward or Wallace), and the SD game (Floyd or V Jackson) etc. So the alternative was to bring in an experienced DB in Ty Law. Even with the downside of Ty Law being at the end of his football career, he is a great one on one cover guy and with his years of experience McD knew that he would be able to use this experience in going against a more physical receiver.

Bear, thanks for your clarity of thoughts and simple writing style – what a Blessing you are to all of us.

your take on our beloved Broncos, the rest of the league, and the world at large.

You never disappoint, you always bring a laugh, and I always walk away with better
knowledge of the game, and feel better for it.

That said, your take on commercials, really makes my day. One of my first dates
( wow the sixties ) told me as long as my car had a radio and a heater….well, thats
all I needed.

Now that I have dated myself again. The issue that you brought up, and what seems
to be for lack of a better word " Fickeled Fandom ", or Bandwagoning. I have only
one thing to say…. Do you remember the first Bronco Super Bowl of John Elways.
We lost, but we still had so much love and respect for Our team, we gave them the
ticker tape parade in downtown Denver. As I remember their wasn’t a dry eye on
the team… Wow memories…
Go Broncos

You summed up all the recent mutterings, but I am interested in your (and the other Medical savvy members) opinion on Clinton Portis’ head injury. He lost consciousness on a play in the 2nd quarter of last weeks game against the Falcons. three days later, he still cannot recall the play he was injured on. I would say it is “Extremely” doubtful that he will play this week, but I wonder what kind of recovery time there is on something like that if he is considering playing as soon as possible. I know there is a set of tests that players in the NHL must pass before they are allowed to play. Does the NFL have any qualifying agenda in these cases?

I would hold him out, encourage lots of testing and worry like hell about him when and if he plays, much, much later. If he can’t recall the play (many of these guys cannot) days later, he’s got a pretty severe concussion. He needs to stop playing, stop working out (increasing the blood pressure can aggravate the condition), and get a lot of therapy. One of the best treatments is tons of rest, quiet surroundings and loving support from those in your family and group of friends. Any forms of mental, physical or emotional stress is to be avoided.

This is a great example of something our culture regales against – the importance of time and patience. Nothing else will do, and anything else will have consequences.

The Redskins are going nowhere this year and so patience should be a premium. Here’s hoping he takes the rest of the year off and then is in a position to intelligently assess his future in professional football in the offseason.

I’ll just respond now to the one about concussions. As much as I like watching football, I periodically turn away and have to stop watching because of the horrible injuries. I never watch the replays of injuries. I played contact sports in high school and a little in college, but had to quit because of being injured. There was, however, a glorious feeling that came from the rough and tumble of a game and the strains and bruises actually felt good. Where that comes from I don’t know.

But, how far should we take the violence of the game? In Roman times the “games” were played with death as the outcome for losing. It was even considered proper training for the children of Roman nobles to witness death in the arena ( they would have loved instant replay). In our own culture now, sports (the “games”) are considered proper training for young people to prepare them for life. Are we intrinsically different than the Romans in our approach with sports or are they just a toned down version of the same thing?

I wonder about that myself. There are things that I don’t watch boxing and MMA, for example because I’m too aware of the damage that they’re doing.

I think that I’d support a couple of rule changes – stop using the helmet, period and work on much better protective gear, for two. The new helmets are a move in the right direction – my own feeling is that they should be mandatory.

yeah if we lose i will be worryed but we are looking at 11-5 12-4 and a likey 1 round with SD at home

 just watch the Bears’ or Niners’ and then you’ll feel better. ;-)

Btw that was weird that there was no sound for the announcers for the start of this game on NFLN. It was like being at the game, except without the drunks.

So at least the skins won’t have their top RB (I think we will win either way though) My prediction is the Broncos 20-0

I’m just wondering why its just a bunch of white and non-colored diamonds……..does anyone know the answer????

Eddie Royal: Because he is versing DeAngelo Hall, remember Hall when he was with the Raiders week 1 last year…..lets just say eddie took out the shredder
DOOM!: Washington’s offense is abismal (Jason Campbell is just not comfortable with his O line or his WR’s it seems….it won’t take much to get him jumpy and making bad decisions) therefore there will probably be a lot of picks and, or a lot of coverage sacks…..hence DOOM! comes in

Any other thoughts would be appreciated

Glad to see Cutler showing the world that MC Daniels and Management made the right move!

So glad we have Orton

is that Thursday night changed the dialogue on the question of which QB we’d rather have. Love Orton or hate him, he hasn’t launched 20 turnovers on us. His red zone numbers were better last season and they’re better this one, too. I wish the Bears fans well, and I also wish I had an aspirin stand in the Loop. There’s gonna be a lot of hangovers tomorrow.

Orton threw three picks the other night but it isn’t all him. The Broncos had a number of issues, and were overpowered by better teams.

Cutler looked to me like the same guy who was here. Lots of talent and ability but poor decision making. One of those picks was not his fault, and its not the one you’re thinking of. Had Hester not slipped that looked like a pick anyway.

Cutler needs some coaching and discipline, and until he accepts that he’ll always be mediocre.

Orton just needs more consistent play from his offensive line and a running game (and they go hand in hand). He actually played pretty well in the first half Sunday when he had protection and the Steelers were under the impression we could run.

Let’s hope the Broncos shore things up in DC. I am still a little sore at Jay but I like the Bears and Lovie Smith. I wish them well.

In the mean time, we have the beginnings of a decent team here in Little D. Keeping my fingers crossed for a win against the Skins.

GO BRONCOS

I wonder if the Broncos’ running game is suffering because the O- line is trying to learn a new blocking scheme; and that’s putting the passing game in an untenable position.

It’s hard to say what’s the total issue, but I think that the changeover to a scheme more heavily into gap and power blocking is one issue. Age, perhaps injury with Hamilton, perhaps age with Wiegmann, injury with Harris. It’s complicated, but I think that you’ve pretty much hit on it.

I get tired of hearing this phrase trolling being thrown around. Why cant I go to another teams blog and do some good natured trash talking? Isnt that part of sports? Just because someone doesn’t like what you may have to say your some kind of mean spirited blogger. He must be banned for bad mouthing our team! Its not grade school, I believe most people are adults who post.

I know I trash talk with my friends about their favorite teams, that dont ban me from speaking anymore. Heck, my wife tells me my team sucks (Broncos) and that I should pick a good team for a change.

I just dont get it…..