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Losing to the Ravens is hard. But the Sky isn't falling yet...

I have to give credit to Baltimore, their defense was ridiculously nasty and on the ball.  Now that my hopes for an undefeated season are now dashed let's take a look of what we have learned from yesterday's game.

1. Our defense is still tough.  The defense kept us in the game for 3 quarters and held the Ravens to 9 points going into the 4th quarter.  There was a letdown of the defense in the 4th quarter that added two more touchdowns, but even the best conditioned team can fatigue after being on the field for so long.

2. Special Teams kick coverage.  I've been on the Prater bandwagon this year but it looks like the problems of last year is happening again.  The kick that went back for a touchdown to start off the third quarter was fielded at the 5 yard line.  What happened to his booming kicks that generated all those touchbacks back in September?  He's had the past two weeks off, so now I'm concerned about our kicker.  The only bright spot was the return of Spencer Larsen, his hard hitting tackling assured that another kick would not be returned for another touchdown.

3. How to stop the Broncos offense.  In the Cincy game and this one, there was a common denominator in which to stop the Broncos Offense and that was to pressure Kyle Orton.  Baltimore completely dominated our supposed offensive line, Orton had no chance whatsoever. The last time I've seen Kyle running for his life like this he was wearing a different kind of Blue and Orange for Chicago.  Losing Ryan Harris was big for our run game, Tyler Polumbus did a good job filling in but he's no Ryan Harris.

4. The Offensive o-line.  Ben Hamilton, what has happened to you?  In the Mike Shanahan years Hamilton was always a reliable anchor in our o-line, but lately he's just been a doormat for incoming defensive lineman.  Rick Dennison and Josh McDaniels has to be concerned about the interior of our o-line.  Josh McDaniels likes to call runs up the middle in between the tackles but the opponents' line has already penetrated our line.  When Josh McDaniels was brought on he knew this line was built for zone-blocking and has been really successful at running ball.  Josh worked with Rick Dennison to switch the line from zone blocking to a "Gap and Pull" system similar to the one in New England.  It's a tried and true system that is successful if you have the right personel.  Asking Ben Hamilton who's at the most 270 pounds to pull a 330lb tackle out of the way for the RB is no easy feat, it's a matter of physics.  If Josh McDaniels really wants to establish the run game again we need to go back to Zone blocking, heck Knowshon Moreno is a really great one-cut runner that would thrive in Zone blocking.

Now while this loss stings, I'm just happy that it happened on the road and to a respectable team.  Remember last years home loss to the FREAKING RAIDERS?!  I hope the team and staff had their humble pie and are ready to beat down on some Steelers!

GO BRONCOS!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Chicago is black and orange.

Other than that, good post.

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Nov 2, 2009 11:13 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Sorry, I was thinking of the old school jerseys

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Nov 2, 2009 11:30 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

The little 'things' that swing a game like that didn't happen for us.

We will learn from those mistakes we made and play hard on MNF.

by bfree2bronc on Nov 2, 2009 11:17 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Chicago is blue and orange (really dark blue)

The Broncos were lucky the Ravens didn’t score another 10-21 points. Two Orton interceptions were dropped, and both had the potential to be returned, and Reed’s missed punt block (the ball went between his hands) would have been worth some more points.

The Ravens sure had the answer to the ‘bubble screen’ too. Orton’s worst play of the game was lobbing the ball to Moreno and almost getting the rookie killed. Just throw it out of bound!

The Broncos lost to a team much hungrier for a win.

by MTBroncoFan on Nov 2, 2009 11:24 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

I thought for a while that prater's sleeves were black even though I knew better. Must have been the lighting.

I think I might be losing my ability to distinguish color.

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Nov 2, 2009 11:27 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

ouch

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Nov 2, 2009 3:47 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Throwing a screen pass out of bounds

not sure but I think a variety of penalties are in danger of being called when screens, especially screens to the RB, break down.

I that case I think an illegal downfield block might get called.

Of course, given the results that we got, that would have been preferrable. :)

Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.

"That's MR.Styg..."

by Jeremy Bolander on Nov 2, 2009 4:16 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Good news, were 6-1

When Mike Ditka picked us to win on a pregame show, it gave me a bad feeling about the game. We lost to a team that wanted the win more than us, period. We took a two week bye week instead of one, I’ll blame that one on the coach’s and leaders of the team. Good news is I can’t imagine for the life of me how our captains will allow the team to be flat at a home game on primetime coming off of a big loss. The Steelers need to bring their A++ game Monday to have a chance.

Denver rookie head coach Josh McDaniels doesn't have a grasp on how to build a team." - John Clayton, April 23rd, 2009

by diviesti on Nov 2, 2009 11:32 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Actually, I'm glad

We got the loss over with. And if we lose against the Colts, it’ll still be alright.

We’ve been saying 13-3. And I picked them to go 11-5 at the beginning of the season. The boys are still alright!

I’ll get concerned when we lose three straight like the “best team in the NFL.” *cough*Giants*cough*

by Ace O'Dale on Nov 2, 2009 11:52 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed
Actually, I’m glad We got the loss over with.

I sort of hate to say it, but I was at least sort of hoping for a loss yeaterday. To lose on the east coast to a very good Baltimore team (they did go to the AFC Championship game last year) is not so bad. If you want bad, think about the Giants getting pasted by Philly; Arizona losing by thirteen at home, to the Panthers; or Green Bay losing to the Vikings and Favre ( a division game).
Being undefeated in a season is a heavy load for even a veteran team, and there was no way this young Broncos team was going undefeated this year. So, that’s over with, and I’m glad it happened.

IT is, and it's impossible for IT not to be.
Parmenides (5th Century B. C. Greek)

by bradley on Nov 2, 2009 1:27 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I am starting to think our offense is "soft"

And it will stay that way until we can find a power run game……

Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.

The guy formerly known as ZAPPA

by Tim Lynch on Nov 2, 2009 1:43 PM MST reply actions   0 recs

I think it is "soft", sometimes too "smart"

I’m missing the power running game, but have doubts it’ll resurface until Orton somehow improves his accuracy on deeper throws. Teams are realizing that the Broncos w/Orton aren’t the Patriots w/Brady, and are cheating their safeties up.

Noticed a bunch of the screen plays that were called were really blown up by the Ravens and not too effective. Screen plays would be much more effective also if they’d been worried more about downfield passes and not cheating their safeties up. [Orton needed to apologize to Moreno for about getting him killed on one of them.]

Thought the Broncos offense only really looked good when Scheffler got involved on their one scoring drive. I think the Broncos need to emphasize Tight-Ends more in the passing game to help back safeties off.

4 and 5 WR sets are pretty “soft” by default also.

by MTBroncoFan on Nov 2, 2009 3:04 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Think you're right

There are times when I see Buckhalter and Moreno “burst through” but I do not have the confidence that it is a consistent part of the offense or a reliable part. Although we have a very good offensive line (last Sunday being the exception) there does not seem to be the open holes for the running backs as we have seen in previous years. Perhaps it is a work in progress … but I agree with you, Tim, it is missing. We all know that a better running game makes a stronger passing game (unless you play in Oakland where …..)

by Hank44 on Nov 3, 2009 5:34 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs


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