My Weekly "I'm Tired" Rant... Raving Style!

Greetings fellow MHR maniacs!  Glad to be back in the Saddle after a little break...  so, let's all Saddle up... it's time to ride!

Instead of ranting about what I don't like, I want to rave a bit about the play of the team last night.  Here are a few things I am absolutely NOT tired of...

1.     I am OH SO THANKFUL that the Defense returned to the form we were so "NOT TIRED" of in the first 6 games of the season.   It was clear that the Defense settled down and each player started "doing their job".  You could see.... especially in the front 7, that they stopped trying to do their own thing... and just simply filled their role.  It truly was a thing of beauty... as they finally returned to playing "Team Defense".  It was awesome!

     One play last night seemed to illustrate the "Team Defense" concept better than any other play I had seen so far this year.  I believe it was late in the 3rd quarter... and the Giants attempted a screen pass to the right side with Ware... obviously a very good play against an aggressive defense that is getting good pressure on the QB.  As the ball was snapped, Vonnie Holliday got penetration and knocked Ware off of his progression to the right flat... obviously throwing the timing of the screen off.  As Ware tried to get back out into the flat, Wesley Woodyard broke through an offensive lineman's block to pursue Ware in coverage.  After identifying the play, Woodyard came up and delivered another shot to Ware, knocking him again off his route and completely disrupting the flow of the play.  However, Woodyard didn't quit... but turned his pursuit toward Manning, who could have had time to get the ball down field had no pressure been put on him.  That pressure then forced Manning to  quickly dump the ball back to an out-of-position Ware, who turned, only to have Champ and Alphonso Smith knock him silly on the sideline for a significant loss.

     Even Matt Millen raved about that play and it's quality during the broadcast.  It was obviously a great play... made by guys who understood their responsibilities... did their Jobs... and trusted the other guys on their team to be there to do the same.  Holliday disrupts the timing.  Woodyard defeats a block,delivers a blow, and then pressures the QB.  Champ and Smith finish it off.  That play defined for me how Defense should be played.

2.     How good was it to finally get a few turnovers on Defense.... and you can see just how devastating they can be to your "total team performance" when they happen.  One thing that was overlooked in our 4 game losing stretch was the fact that we were losing the TO battle in a big way.... and that put our defense in very poor positions to try and keep them from scoring.  

     What I have never really thought about, but can be seen from our games this season, is the fact that Turnovers transform the attitude of the defense.  Think about this...

     In the first three preseason games, the defense looked average... if not below.  They did not produce a single turnover... not even an INT against Cutler and the Bears which, considering this season, is almost embarrassing.  But the whole thing changed with 1 Turnover against Arizona.  Darrell Reid snagged a INT, and the flood gates broke open.  Arizona had 4 turnovers that game, and was completely shut out.  The Defense suddenly had life.

     What followed was 6 straight games where the Defense played with dominance and an Attitude.  They flew around the field... and created turnovers.  They became the force that determined the outcome of the games... and it was fun to watch.

     But after no turnovers against Baltimore, suddenly things began to change.  The attitude seemed to be different, maybe it was the bye week, who knows.  But during that four game stretch the Defensive Turnovers were few and far between, while the Offense was un-usually turnover prone.  And as "The Stats that Don't Lie" have certainly taught us... Turnovers matter in a big way.

     What excited me about last night was that, just as in that AZ game... the Defense suddenly seemed hungry for the ball.  Once they started to sniff a turnover, that hunger seemed to escalate their play.  Goodman could have had 3 different INT'S... BDawk forced a fumble that resulted in a major loss.  Suddenly the defense was playing as if a turnover was possible on every play... and I was feeling that way too.  I think that sometimes we under-estimate just how powerful turnovers can be... the can demoralize an offense and transform the play of the defense.

3.     What also seems to have been revealed over the last 11 weeks or so, is the importance of playing "complementary football" for the 2009 Denver Broncos.  The great thing about this team is that they are very balanced all the way around.  The bad part about that is that they are not "dominating" anywhere either.  Because of that, this team has to play "complementary football" if they expect to win games.  When they do... holy crap!!!  When they don't... well... same expression, just with a much different articulation.

4.  To all those who dogged McDaniels for making the move for Mr. Hochstein... a big "BOOOO" to you.  I have been very impressed with Hochstein's play in the past couple weeks, and the decision to get him has certainly paid off.  I always thought he was kind of a "Mr. Versatile" who could be a "fill in the blank" kind of player, if the team had need.  However, who would have thought that he would become a quality starter on our line?  I guess that is why McDaniel's is the Coach and I am a idiot, ranting and raving on an Blog Site.  Good move Coach.

5.     Speak of good moves... did you guys see the spin move that Knowshon put on the Giants Dline last night?  I thought it was a good run when it happened live... but when they showed it in the replay, it was absolutely amazing.  He completely made those two defensive linemen look like fools.  Those two are going to get dogged in the film room because Knowshon made them look bad... real bad.  It was one of the best runs I have seen all year...

     I am also completely NOT tired of watching Knowshon run the ball.  The guy is starting to find his goove, and is showing why he was a worthy 1st rounder.  Just from what I see with my eyes, I am not sure there is a RB who runs harder than he does.  He plays with a passion and a zeal that is contagious... and he has been "Oh-so-close" to breaking a big one.  I bet he gets a long TD run in the next couple of weeks and snags his first 100 yard rushing game here very soon.

6.     What the heck has gotten into Mr. Berger?  The guy had a great game last night with some big kicks in very important situations.  Maybe the first few games were "rust" related... but he is starting to come into his own.   And what is even better?  The Curse of Kern has been LIFTED!  YEA!

7.     David Bruton has been a "Special" Special Team player this year.  If he never really becomes a consistent starter, but continues to dominate on ST's, I would be completely cool with that.  However, I think everyone here can see the guy is going to be a quality player in this league... I'm glad he's on our squad!

All that to say that the Broncos played their best game of the season last night, and I am excited to see them playing their best football right now.  I hope they continue to keep putting things together, and playing well in all three phases of the game.  If so, the Broncos have a very legitimate shot at being the AFC West Champs this year.

GO BRONCOS!!!!