Horse Tracks 11/22/09 - Vonnie Holliday says Broncos have lacked "fire and attention to detail"

by Douglas A. Lee on Nov 22, 2009 6:25 AM MST in Horse Tracks Comment 24 comments

DB - Matchup: Broncos vs. Chargers - Broncos TV
You think BDawk will become a motivational speaker when he hangs em up? Holy smokes...

DPP - Look for Simms to be starting QB - Mike Klis & Lindsay Jones

DPP - Broncos QB Simms welcomes start if Orton can't play vs. Chargers - Jim Armstrong

DPP - World of hurt just a QB's life - Mike Klis

DPP - Late start doesn't hinder Goodman - Lindsay Jones

FOX - Broncos could be headed for another big slide - Alex Marvez
"We didn't come back with that same fire and attention to detail," Holliday said. "You hate to say it, but you know the old saying, 'You drink the Kool-Aid?' We got full of it. When you look at our roster, we don't have all the Pro Bowl players. We're not the Dallas Cowboys, where they say they have all the talent. We're just a group of hard-working, blue-collar guys who work together to get it done. When we win games, that's the way it's going to be. For the past three weeks, we have not done that."

DPP - Look who's talking Hall - Mike Klis
"It's doubtful an outpouring of fan support for Shannon Sharpe today will influence Hall voters Kent Somers and John Clayton into squeezing the former Broncos tight end on their final five-man — and only five — modern-era ballot in a year when Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are locks, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, John Randle and Aeneas Williams are deserving, and Charles Haley, Richard Dent and Russ Grimm have been waiting."

DB - A Closer Look: San Diego Chargers - Gray Caldwell

DP - Perhaps a break for Peyton Hillis - Mike Klis

DPP - Huge rematch way too early - Woody Paige

CSG - Sunday looms as de facto title game for Broncos - Frank Schwab

DP - Taking a stand on Orton ankle injury: hurt vs. hero - Mark Kiszla
"OK, riddle me this: If there's a severe ankle injury to be treated, why did Orton stand on it in his uniform and watch Denver lose to the Redskins? Was the Broncos' training staff saving the bags of ice for soft drinks on the plane ride home? It made zero sense. I'm not questioning this quarterback's courage or integrity, but Orton's judgment was iffy."

KDVR - All Charged Up? - Zubin Mehenti

GJS - Broncos won't be able to slow San Diego - Rick Jussel

Chargers News

SDUT - Chargers, Rivers ready for blitzing Broncos - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Chargers at Broncos: Five things to watch - Jay Posner

SDUT - Predictions: Chargers vs. Broncos

NCT - Bolts, Broncos face a must win - Scott Bair

AFC West News

KCS - Chiefs' Haley coaches by the book - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs-Steelers scouting report - Adam Teicher

KCS - Bowe a victim of the win-at-all-costs pressure - Jason Whitlock

SFC - With Russell benched, critics focus on receiver - David White

SFC - Chargers are masters of the strong finish - David White

SFC - Raiders could wind up in Santa Clara with 49ers - Phillip Matier & Andrew Ross

NFL News

NFL - Saturday Injury Reports

NFL - Retired coach Holmgren 'absolutely would love' to chat with Browns

NFL Opinion

PFW - Chiefs' Smith will see role grow soon - AFC Whispers
"Broncos RB Correll Buckhalter, a ninth-year veteran, told PFW he's been impressed with rookie Knowshon Moreno, and the two have already formed quite a bond. "I feel like I'm his big brother," Buckhalter said. "I like him because I feel like he listens and he doesn't act like he knows everything, like some rookies do coming into the league. He wants to be good.""

PFW - Will Jackson push Eagles for more money? - NFC Whispers

CST - Bears' history with QBs indicates systemic problem - Carol Slezak

NYT - Under Mangini, Cleveland Browns Are a Team in Turmoil - Judy Battista

NYT - Why Are Interim Coaches More Successful in Baseball Than In Football? - George Bretherton

Picks/Previews

NFL - Points made: Potent offenses help mask defensive deficiencies - Pat Kirwan

NFP - Weekend Notes: Key NFC battles - Matt Bowen

DPP - Road warriors keep chalking up wins - Jeff Legwold

FOX - Countdown: Previewing the Week 11 games - John Czarnecki

FH - The Once-Over: Week 11 - Knox Bardeen

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Comments

Thanks

I think the comment from Buckhalter really says a lot about KnoMo… nice!
Vonnie Holliday’s comment worry me a little, but I think he hits the nail right on….I just didnt imagine our team would be so quick to drink the koolaid…. I hope the last 3 weeks will be enough motivation to beat the Chargers today!

Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands

by BroncosNL on Nov 22, 2009 6:57 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good Morning Doug, Thank You for all you do on Horse Tracks...

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Nov 22, 2009 7:17 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I second that Doug..... I eagerly anticipate these every morning

I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. Coach Norman Dale "Hoosiers"

by dmitchell624 on Nov 22, 2009 8:38 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

better late(r) than never

thirded !

by Jenna Talia on Nov 22, 2009 1:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow… Rice and Emmitt Smith in the same Hall of Fame class. This will be a tough year to get in to the HOF. I loved Emmitt Smith as a player, but it would be painful to hear Emmitt try to make an HOF speech because that man does not have a handle on the English language.

I agree with BroncosNL that the Vonnie Holliday comment was something to digest. We got cocky at MHR. After the SD win, I can remember several of us foolishly discussing the 2010 1st round as if Denver didn’t have any holes to fill on the roster. Fast forward three weeks. To me, Pitt and the Ravens both looked quite a bit more talented than Denver. Guys like Hagen, LeKevin Smith, Hamilton/Hoch and Renaldo Smith haven’t played well during this losing streak. Neither has Champ, DJ or Dawkins for that matter. Some of this should have been expected though since we were tragically disgusting on D in 2007 and 2008. One offseason can’t bridge that gap. For my money, the D has vastly outperformed in 2009. They haven’t played one game yet where I felt they let the team down or lost the game. They may have read too many of their press clippings, but I forgive them for that. We all did the same thing.

For me, the O has been far far far more disappointing. Offensively, I don’t think we are any better this season than we were in 2008. We are not scoring enough points. McDaniels has not impressed as a play caller. The running game has fallen off and we are not properly utilizing guys like Hillis, Scheff, Stokley and Royal. The Orton injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. Last week’s game was the first game where our O looked like they could score 35+ points. With top shelf talent like Marshall, Royal, Clady and Harris as well as above average NFL starters at several other starting positions (TEs, RG, RB, QB) our O has no excuse for why they struggle.

I’m avoiding talk of ST, but I think everyone knows I blame the ST and ST alone for last week’s loss. Thinking about how much I dislike Priefer and Berger makes my head hurt.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Nov 22, 2009 7:28 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

I remember that conversation. When they were 6-0 and crushing teams in the second half, I felt like great coaching trumped all. We knew the front three on the defense was unwanted by other teams for a reason, but results are results.

Think about the 2011 Broncos. When I look on the defensive side of the ball, Doom, Ayers and DJ (problems with his play aside, his enormous contract means he’s staying) are the only 3 current starters I picture still being over the team. All three members of the D-Line, Davis, and the 30-something secondary shouldn’t be around by then.

Another way to put this is that the talent base got so low, there’s no way to escape it in the short term. Look again at what things looked like last year. I think the new regime has done a fantastic job of drafting non-busts and plugging short-term holes without blowing up the salary cap long-term. But the Broncos still lack talent, and will next year, too.

by Chibronx on Nov 22, 2009 7:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Emmett Smith better as a writer

than Emmit Smith as a RB.
Thanks Doug.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Nov 22, 2009 8:18 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt here at MHR right!

I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. Coach Norman Dale "Hoosiers"

by dmitchell624 on Nov 22, 2009 8:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You know McGeorge

I honestly expected McDaniels to have the O far ahead of the D this time of the year. I look at our weapons and say we should be able to score with anyone.

I am less angry at Berger, because he has had a good career not allowing TO’s and I ma hoping he can shake off whatever his issues are, than I am at the ST coach for allowing that play to happen last week after he got a chance to see exactly what they were going to do. He should be glad I am not the HC cause honestly, i would have fired him as soon as they scored. That was so bush league and unprepared I was startled.

We should be scoring more….plain and simple.

I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. Coach Norman Dale "Hoosiers"

by dmitchell624 on Nov 22, 2009 8:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

When I expected a quick improvement on offense, I didn’t anticipate Ben Hamilton and Casey Weigman declining quite so quickly. And I think we’re all surprised at the problems in the running game. I mean, I understand going to gap blocking long-term, but there really haven’t been a lot of holes this year.

But all that said, I have seen progress. The offense looked very good in the Patriots and Chargers games. Baltimore and Pittsburgh were ugly, in large part because Hamilton got abused. And they actually did establish the run against the Ravens. The Redskins are a very good defensive team, and the first-team offense played fantastic against them. If Orton stayed healthy the whole game, I think we’d see this very differently.

It’s disappointing in the aggregate, but I still see how this will be a very good unit in time, provided that they do something about the interior offensive line.

by Chibronx on Nov 22, 2009 10:23 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m more disappointed in the play calling. McDaniels has shown the ability to do several things well as a head coach, but his play calling is not one of them.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Nov 22, 2009 12:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Whats the weather like in Denver today?

And Let’s get behind Simms, guys, he’s our horse today and we need him.

Also, off topic, but not to whine or anything but just the Broncos luck to face the Steelers with Polamalu healthy, given he’s been out before and after for much of the season.

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos fan in Niners/Raiders country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on Nov 22, 2009 9:27 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Not bad

Partly cloudy, maybe 50 or so at gametime. Great day fer football!

No kidding about freakin Polu, eh? Guy comes back to play well against us, then promptly gets hurt the game after. WTF!! Talk about bad luck, for sure.

by AllBroncsallday on Nov 22, 2009 9:35 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs