RE: Run Game Deux

by dcrespo7 on Jul 5, 2009 10:31 PM MDT Comment 14 comments

Though Denver ranked 12th in the NFL rushing the ball, many of the runs were rather empty long gains between the 20 yard line. Here is something I feel is important and wanted to piggy back on your point:
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS     249 (Denver)    229 (Opposition)
By Rushing                       65 (26%)              87
By Passing                     164 (66%)           127
By Penalty                      20 (8%)              15

Seems respectable as we compare it to where Denver finished (8-8). What jumps out at me are the penalties, very disciplined on both sides of the ball considering its 8% first downs during the season. 66% of our first downs are through the air. Our RB committee by default netted 26%.

TIME OF POSSESSION     18:50 (Denver)     20:00 (Opposition)
Again, a very respectable ratio in my opinion so Denver was clearly in games considering the talent on the offensive line, wide receivers, and quarter back. Sure we know the defense was not the greatest. We know about the occasional interception, fumble and the 20 penalties netting a first down in favor of the opposition.

Rushing Touchdowns    15 (Denver)     21 (Opposition)
We know the numbers. 7 RBs and IR, the most important stat among Denver fans. Of these 15 touchdowns (don't have the energy to research), I wonder how many were where they mattered, inside the Red Zone.

Now in anticipation of a resourceful reader, I also have our overall penalties and again we'll see that Denver wasn't too far from where the opposition had their share of error. I just imagine one pass play that cost Denver 40 yards in pass interference.

PENALTIES

Number and Yards

55-551 (Denver)

54-511 (Opposition)

I think with the addition of Moreno, retaining Hillis (rumored at one point to be trade bait), and bringing in veterans such as Jordan, Buckhalter, and the versatility of Larsen, I think this regime will not allow themselves not to be prepared in the event injuries decimate our depth chart again and that is important to know. Regardless of who's running the ball and what the situation is when any of these RBs numbers are called, one thing is certain, we'll be better prepared and I think that there alone will have 2-3 games we maybe have no business winning. Some call it luck, I like to the idea of being prepared for opportunity.

*Note* I decided instead of responding to everyone's take on my original fanpost, it'd be only fair to address the many good takes on the comments.

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

4 recs | Comment 14 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

And this was with a de-emphasis of the running game

Really last year was so aberrant with play calling so predictable and pass oriented for the latter part of the year. I would think our running game will be much more productive and able to determine the pace of games this year. It’s all about balance, in life and football!

by Ponderosa on Jul 5, 2009 10:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Self-fulfilling prophecy...

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.

I love this definition and the importance it plays in the field of psychology (regardless of life or sport). I maybe one of the few that believe Griese wasn’t given a share shake in terms of development and commitment. Plummer the same. I don’t fault the QBs but this fault lies on the former HC Shanahan (whom I admire immensely). Sadly, the former coach seemed to drop a seed of negativism and if there were to be any changes I like to believe this is why Bowlen made the decision to go a different direction.

I know it seems a little off your comment but the point is that Shanahan, after trading Portis, has done very little to commit to a RB, QB or Defensive Coordinator after failing to reach the playoffs or win playoff games. Larry Coyer was great for Denver when we lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC Finals (which I felt was more of the offense’s inability to control the clock and/or produce points).

Great take and believe that if Denver achieves the balance you speak of, the blue and orange will shine again!

Say hello to my fast...

by dcrespo7 on Jul 6, 2009 12:08 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

reguarding that self-fulfillinf prophecy

if anyone says you will sleep with your mother and kill your father, dont try to fight it (lol)- i think it was Oedipus who learned that lesson

"Have you ever heard of the emancipation proclamation?"
- "I don't listen to hip-hop"

"Born like this / Into this"

by BroncoJoe311 on Jul 6, 2009 9:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greek Tragedy

I actually paid attn!!!

Say hello to my fast...

by dcrespo7 on Jul 10, 2009 4:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Negativity

Plummer commented earlier this year on how critical and negative the coaching staff had become under Shanahan in recent years. It was as if no one could do anything to please them. Not a good environment I would think.

by Ponderosa on Jul 6, 2009 10:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although McDaniels and company are running a strict regime

I don’t see anyone on our new staff degrading or insulting players, especially if they make mistakes. It’s nice to see guys being actually complimented during and after practice. When he spoke as highly as he did of one of his biggest critics (Scheffler), I think that resonated through the locker room that he doesn’t favor anyone over anyone else. Most importantly though, he doesn’t look down on someone that doesn’t agree with his moves as a coach.

Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.

by Joe Medina on Jul 6, 2009 2:38 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please help me make sense of these

Denver time of possession 18:50, opposition 20:00 – does this mean our average game was 38:50 in duration? Or it was referees that held the ball for the remaining 21:10?

“Of these 15 touchdowns (don’t have the energy to research), I wonder how many were where they mattered, inside the Red Zone.”
IMHO, touchdowns matter the same even when not in the Red Zone. And if we are talking rushing touchdowns, by nature 20+ yards run is a rarity, so most of rushing TDs are in fact in the red zone. To be fair, not all of them are – Hillis had one amazing rumbling TD run from 22(?) yards.

by si_ice on Jul 6, 2009 8:01 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

All of Hillis' plays

are amazing. And all of them cause this “rumbling” effect you speak of. It’s because he controls earthquakes with his feet.

Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.

by Joe Medina on Jul 6, 2009 2:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time of Possession

The information regarding Time of Possession was from nfl.com and I concluded that the time of possession was correlating with each first down. Whether its the average time of total possession that results in first down per game, it still eludes me.

I will disagree w/your point regarding Red Zone scoring. Think back to when Portis was a Bronco and he had that magnificent game against KC. 3 long scoring touchdowns but the coaching staff was unhappy because the scores came so fast and Denver still had to fight off KC. Whereas if the possession were drawn and eating away at the clock, it’d had saved the defense from being exposed in that particular game.

Regarding last season, how many drives faltered in the Red Zone due to the inability to gain a first down? How many of those drives led to Field Goals? Let’s not forget the turnovers in the Red Zone either. In a 16 game season (1 week bye), Denver averaged less than 1 a game which doesn’t seem to mesh w/the whole “RB system” and “late round gems”.

Say hello to my fast...

by dcrespo7 on Jul 6, 2009 3:24 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade rumors

So many of those ‘rumors’ are guys with a website and a need for entertainment. Remember all the drug rumors prior to the draft? Moss of a 7th? Scheffler’s gone? Hillis is going?

Josh M likes folks who are versatile and hard working. If that’s not Hillis, I’m a very confused ursus broncus

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Emmett Smith on Jul 6, 2009 2:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed.

The sad thing is, lots of people gave some credibility to some of those rumors. The fact of the matter is Josh McDaniels is a smart guy. You are right, he isn’t gonna get rid of a guy who is a blue collar guy and gets the job done. Hillis is the definition of hard work. But hey, the MSM was doing their job trying to speculate and get people talking about things.

Bringing Bronco love from 1,114 miles away.

by broncointheville on Jul 6, 2009 2:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I exchanged Emails...

…with Matt Bowen when he was shopping Hillis for the Broncos and made the same points. His logic was based on the pundit wide hysteria that McD had become the NFL version of Pol Pot, intent on purging Denver of anything Shannahan. What was amazing to me is the fact even after the obvious flavor of the Broncos draft, even after McD had described his ideal player over and over again, pundits continued to wonder where Hillis might land.

Its just further evidence that the national guys don’t pay close enough attention to warrant any real outrage. Most of them are as qualified to discuss the Denver Broncos as I am to discuss the Miami Dolphins…which isn’t much.

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
-- Herbert Spencer

by PredominantlyOrange on Jul 6, 2009 7:58 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was evident from day one..

That McDaniels had watched a lot of film on the Broncos and knew exactly which players he wanted and which ones he didn’t. He knew the team strenghts and weaknesses and he knew them better and in greater detail than the same writers who had been covering this team for years.

Thus he could do multi hour presentations on what needed to be done to bring this team to a championship caliber in his interviews and the list of who needed to be released as soon as possible. Further, he had another list of FAs that he wanted and he went after all of them immediately.

He only drafted or brought in players he had interviewed and studied and knew exactly what he wanted there too.

The national guys may never catch up to where McDaniels started when he got this job. Don’t be surprised if they keep right on missing everything about him.

by AlanC on Jul 7, 2009 2:07 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Well put, Alan

I have much the same hit – this is a very driven young man who has studied extensively on exactly how to do what he’s doing. The bizarre statements on his lack of intellect – you have to be kidding – or his lack of understanding of football, which is equally ridiculous, have blinded a lot of people to what his skills and approaches are. He might not be successful – no one knows. But it will never be for lack of intellect, study or approach.

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Emmett Smith on Jul 7, 2009 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs