Upon further review...

by improv88 on Aug 24, 2009 7:55 PM MDT

I'm with most everyone in thinking/hoping McDaniels would not call four straight passes inside the five yard line during a regular season game. However, after a little digging, his playcalling from two years ago during the Patriots big year suggests that he may well call it just like he did Saturday night. Of New England's 32 TDs that were scored from inside 5 yards (and yes, I would love to have the chance to say "scored 32 TDs from inside 5 yards" for the Broncos), 20 of them came via the pass, while only 12 came on the ground - and two of those were by Tom Brady on QB sneaks.

To me, this suggests that even in very short-yardage red zone situations, McD tends to run only as an afterthought. So while we may hope he wouldn't do what he did during the regular season, the reality is that he just might.

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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WHO CARES

wake me up when the starters play all four quarters

by lolcopter on Aug 24, 2009 8:02 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

I think he will call whatever he thinks will work.

I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he doesn’t have a compulsive urge to throw for the sake of throwing inside the five.

But that’s just me.

by PredominantlyOrange on Aug 24, 2009 8:09 PM MDT reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

It's Orange Crush time. And no I am NOT talking about the soft-drink.
Which I beg the question: "Can liquid really be... soft?"

The past is settled, its only the future now. A new one, for Denver, and for BMarsh. Light'em up Beast!

by USMCWall on Aug 24, 2009 11:45 PM MDT up reply actions

In New England...

he didn’t have a running game like he does here…Besides, when Tom Brady’s at the helm, give that man the reins and let him make the best judgement on the goal line.

"FLAG! Fail on the field. Re-do." -Disco_Stu

by Joe Medina on Aug 24, 2009 8:15 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Wow…interesting stats. It’ll be interesting to see if that trend continues in Denver. I’m pretty sure if Orton keeps throwing INTs in the red zone then he’ll rethink his playcalling.

"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!

by PosterNutbag on Aug 24, 2009 8:30 PM MDT reply actions

I do know that it’s a little easier to find an ‘open’ WR in the endzone when one of them is 6’4. Hmmm?

"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!

by PosterNutbag on Aug 24, 2009 8:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Scheffler

I think he’ll do.

by Endzone on Aug 24, 2009 9:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Scheffler 2

He’s bigger, faster, and has great hands (except last week).

by Endzone on Aug 24, 2009 9:26 PM MDT up reply actions

I get you Improv but if McDaniels runs that crap on 4th and goal he'll be run out on a rail!

Madden made the statement years ago…never ever come away without some points. Period. Kick the field goal and take the 3. It’s a no brainer.

by bfree2bronc on Aug 24, 2009 8:51 PM MDT reply actions

Exactly

He’ll kick a field goal UNLESS it’s the 4th quarter & 4 seconds to go and we’re down by 4.

by Endzone on Aug 24, 2009 9:21 PM MDT up reply actions

And 4th down

by RiG on Aug 24, 2009 10:21 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

4 Ticks

We kick the field goal regardless of down if we tie or win and run a play if we’re down by 4. Don’t you agree?

by Endzone on Aug 24, 2009 10:46 PM MDT up reply actions

If our defense continues to get penetration consistently...

than I am ALL-FOR going for a TD on 4th and 1. A safety is still 2 points and they’re sending it right back to the hands of your offense after that as well. Im much more confident in our Defense than I was last year, and if they continue to improve (which they will as they get more comfortable in the system) then I would trust them to land a safety or score themselves (when forced turnovers start presenting).

It's Orange Crush time. And no I am NOT talking about the soft-drink.
Which I beg the question: "Can liquid really be... soft?"

The past is settled, its only the future now. A new one, for Denver, and for BMarsh. Light'em up Beast!

by USMCWall on Aug 24, 2009 11:48 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree

Maybe not, though, if it’s 4th and goal from the two. It’s a game of inches.

...because sometimes your inner cowboy needs to yodel.

by bradley on Aug 25, 2009 8:06 AM MDT up reply actions

Actually most of those were audibles

Brady checked the defense at the line – if there were more defenders in the box than blockers he threw. If not they ran. It’s pretty standard for spread offenses.

The sneaks are also an audible if the center is left uncovered.

Tendencies don’t really apply to McD’s offense since it is so audible intensive. But nice research.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Aug 24, 2009 9:03 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs

This speaks to Orton's post game after the niners game

Didn’t he say something to the effect of, ‘they kept showing base defense, so I checked the play to pass’ or something like that. It looks to me like McD calls two plays; a run and a pass, and lets the QB figure out which will work better.

"It's the first time that I've probably ever seen a 260 pound back run into a free safety and go flat on his back, I mean it was exciting." ~John Elway

by jibbons on Aug 24, 2009 10:37 PM MDT up reply actions

This is an important point

McD’s offense, from what I understand of it, is very dependent on the QB making adjustments at the line, ala Brady or Manning.

This puts a whole new light on why he’s done some of the things that he’s done in the pre-season. He’s evaluating how the offense rises to what the defense shows them.

"The best defense is a good offense. Or is it the other way around." Wolverine
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and know you will come down somewhere between the two.
Livin' in La La Land and Lovin' It

by Brian Shrout on Aug 25, 2009 3:24 PM MDT up reply actions

You're both right, and that's a big reason that McD took Orton

Kyle has had a knack for making those reads since college. It’s a necessary part of the new offense.

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Doc Bear on Aug 25, 2009 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Hmmm...

so this “legendary offense that didn’t need to be changed” actually needed to be changed?

Shocking!!!

sarcasm highly intended.

"FLAG! Fail on the field. Re-do." -Disco_Stu

by Joe Medina on Aug 25, 2009 6:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Running Game

Truth be told, we really don’t know yet if we have a great running game. I’m a little concerned by what I’ve seen so far. The guards don’t seem to be opening good running lanes. Consequently, our best running plays have been outside the tackles. Am I worried? No. Not yet. I believe McD is running a lot of pass plays in preseason just to get the troops adjusted AND to keep the RB’s healthy.

by Endzone on Aug 24, 2009 9:14 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

It's Orange Crush time. And no I am NOT talking about the soft-drink.
Which I beg the question: "Can liquid really be... soft?"

The past is settled, its only the future now. A new one, for Denver, and for BMarsh. Light'em up Beast!

by USMCWall on Aug 24, 2009 11:50 PM MDT up reply actions

I see what you're saying Improv

but the stats don’t tell the whole story. The question is how many times did they throw the ball on all 3 downs including fourth down instead of run? All that the 35 touchdown stat means is they were successfull 35 times. It doesn’t indicate whether or not the playcaling was pass heavy. Maybe they were unsuccessful at running the ball 100 times and had to throw on 3rd down. Or maybe 20 out of those 35 td’s were scored throwing on 1st and goal, preventing us from seeing whether or not a run would have been called. My point is we don’t actually know the variations in playcalling that led to said stats.

by T.Dot_Bronco on Aug 25, 2009 5:23 AM MDT reply actions