Things I Want To See In Today's Game

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 1:28 PM MDT

"Beautiful Dreamer, Wake Unto Me" I too have a dream and hope it won't become a nightmare! I'm awfullly confident though that the Broncos will do extremely well in today's game against the bears.

What do I want to see?

Shut down Cutler = shut down the passing game.
Unveil more of our running game
Orton makes virtually no mistakes
Takeaway ratio improves

Shut Down Cutler If I have seen one weakness on our defense so far it is that we are not shutting down the passing game. I'm concerned about that, especially when we meet San Diego. Their passing game, especially on 3rd down, looked strong. And it wouldn't hurt to rub a little Cutler into the dirt! But no headhunting!

Running Game I know we've been focused on gearing up our passing game, but it would be very nice to see mre of our running game on display.

Orton Overall I have been more than pleased with Orton's performances. He's improving every week, he seems more confident in the pocket (eg less "happy feet"), makes good crisp throws, good decisions, etc., etc. I'm looking for even more improvement today.

Takeaways Another area of significant concern for me. BDawk, I think, is scheduled to play today and I'm excited to see him on the field. Cutler's propensity for passing into coverage may give us a good day.

What are you looking for today?

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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I am looking for....

1. Continued toughness on both the offensive and defensive lines.

2. Reduction of turnovers by everyone…no fumbles, interceptions

3. More improvement from Orton

4. Pressure on Cutler and strong coverage by the DBs

5. Denver getting out of this game healthy and confident.

fader nation is a conquered nation

Jerry Jones is Al Davis with a smile!

by mdierk on Aug 30, 2009 1:35 PM MDT reply actions

I can +1 that

by papasteven on Aug 30, 2009 1:40 PM MDT up reply actions

+1 Especially no injuries

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 1:46 PM MDT up reply actions

oh yeah....forgot one

6. Make Cutler look silly.

fader nation is a conquered nation

Jerry Jones is Al Davis with a smile!

by mdierk on Aug 30, 2009 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions

IN-COM-PLETE

by lolcopter on Aug 30, 2009 1:40 PM MDT reply actions

Orton To Eddie

70-yard pass to Eddie for a touchdown!

by DemBroncsRock on Aug 30, 2009 1:50 PM MDT reply actions

Defense:
1. How we cover good TEs: CB, LB, SAF?
2. How we cover the flat, especially with designed passes to the flats
3. How well safety over coverage is against a good passing game
4. Whether Ayers has moved from learning the system to playing the game
5. The DL rotational assignments – who comes in where

Offense:
1. Whether Orton’s passes are all pinpoint with proper velocity
2. How much of zone vs. regular run blocking we do
3. Whether McD calls any long passes, complete or not
4. The Orton vs. Erlacher looking-off derby
5. How much time Scheffler spends split out wide

Intangibles:
1. Does Dawkins leadership affect on field play
2. Do Bronco fans in the stadium still understand how to be a 12th man
3. Does McD appear to be trying to win, or is this just preseason
4. Does the team as a whole look like they have something to prove

Wherever you go, there you are.

by YosemiteSam on Aug 30, 2009 1:58 PM MDT reply actions

i'll be looking for the same

also, I want to see if we can stop Forte in running and passing situations.

by milehighnation on Aug 30, 2009 2:02 PM MDT up reply actions

+1

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 2:08 PM MDT up reply actions

I'd like to see some of the young receivers do well

Might sort of send a message to a certain player (who won’t do well tonight).

A man does what he has to do, and sometimes it’s not what I believe he should do. There’s no reason to use up energy hating him for it. Shoot him if you have to, but don’t hate him.

Louis L’Amour

by bradley on Aug 30, 2009 2:26 PM MDT reply actions

Receivers

Me too. Especially if we can get good blocking as well as receptions from them.

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 2:28 PM MDT up reply actions

I would love to see us double our preseason sack count in this game

It would be superb, if we yielded absoutely NO turnovers, and procured a couple (preferably from Jay – mwa ha ha – no INT’s from Kyle and more than one from Jay, would make a lot of doubters think twice at the very least).

Overall, I would like to see our starters acquire a win over thiers – meaning by the time most of our first stringers are out, we have the lead. That alone will count for a lot.

Good post and discussion provokation!

= )

First team to three consecutive SB wins!!!! and then some, right? I think four and we oughtta let someone else have a fair shot : )

by PearlJamBroncoGFunk on Aug 30, 2009 2:39 PM MDT reply actions

stop the run stop the run stop the run

sorry to repeat myself but it all starts with the big guys in the middle. the thing that bugs me more than anything is when the other team put it up the gut time after time. if they can do that, they don’t need to do anything else. it is low risk and high reward. in the preseason teams seem to like to work on the passing game more, but this is preseason game number three, always the biggest test of the preseason and the one preseason game where you are most likely to see the first team the longest and in the most regular season like packages.

by The Wad on Aug 30, 2009 3:00 PM MDT reply actions

might bring some consolation to remember

that after 2 preseason games, Denver is ranked

in rushing yards allowed (with 208)
in passing yards allowed (with 318)
overall in yards/game allowed (with 263)

where we need to improve defensively is in points allowed where we dropped to 8th (22.0/game).

"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 30, 2009 4:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Passing

That stat surprised me. I did not think we were doing that well against the pass.

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions

It's what's currently showing on the team stats page on NFL.com

by Brian Shrout on Aug 30, 2009 4:24 PM MDT up reply actions

those figures are drawn from the team stats page at NFL.com

but I may need to amend those. The Broncos team page at NFL.com has the following listed:

Rushing Yards 104/game for 16th
Passing Yards 159/game for 2nd
Total Yards 263/game for 4th
Points 22/game for 22nd

go figure. LOL

by Brian Shrout on Aug 30, 2009 4:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Passing rank was still accurate.

I’m actually surprised by the rushing yards allowed, although it would probably be more meaningful if it were broken down (or at least as close as one could get) by quarters or halves or 1st team/2nd team/3rd team. I thought our 1st team D had looked solid (not exceptional, but solid) against the run.

"Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)

by RockyMtnHigh on Aug 30, 2009 4:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Me Too

Our 1st stringers have been, imo, simply oustanding against the run. But then again, it’s only with my eyeballs.

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 5:15 PM MDT up reply actions

I think that's because....

most of the passes against us have been for relatively short to medium gains, especially those over the middle and to TE’s. This was discussed in some comments on another post, either by broncobear or HT (I think), but overall our pass defense has been solid with some small, but notable exceptions. The most notable being the short, mid-field passes and passes to the TE’s. The QB pressure (whether created by the front 7 or coverage pressure, which has happened several times) has been solid and the secondary has been strong, especially with outside and mid- to long range passes. Of course, all of this was without Dawkins, so we’ll get a better feel for all of it tonight. Regardless, I’m still mightily impressed (as far as preseason goes) with what I’ve seen from our D compared to the last 2 or 3 years, so I’m optimistic the improvement and overall turnaround will continue.

Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and great post and comments, Endzone! Rec’d!

"Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)

by RockyMtnHigh on Aug 30, 2009 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Weakside

Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of short, mid-field passes to our weakside to either the TE or RB.

by Endzone on Aug 30, 2009 4:34 PM MDT up reply actions

5 - 2 D

if the broncs are really playing the 5 – 2 like has been suggested on this board earlier in the week, opponents will see the opportunity for some mismatches where RBs and TEs are not being covered by true OLBs. with aggressive safety play those can be kept to short gains though. kind of like the old days of bend but don’t break when they ran out of Collier’s 3 – 4.

by The Wad on Aug 30, 2009 4:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks, Wad.

That was the post/comments I was thinking of (but couldn’t remember); the discussions regarding the 5 – 2 and it’s trade-off/weaknesses, as all strategies and systems have one.

"Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)

by RockyMtnHigh on Aug 30, 2009 5:05 PM MDT up reply actions

good stats

i like nolan. i like the scheme. i am just not too sure if the guys are up to the task. or if there are enough guys who are up to the task. never underestimate the importance of depth.

by The Wad on Aug 30, 2009 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions

This is very true...

but we can only fix so much in one year. And I think we have several players that are up to the task, but agree it may not be as many as we’d like….not yet. But I still like this D’s look and feel (coaches, schemes, style, players, passion, focus, fundamentals, etc.) a WHOLE lot better than what was trotted out on the field the last couple of years.

"Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)

by RockyMtnHigh on Aug 30, 2009 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions

In theory I'll be watching

How our O-Line stands up against a good bears rush, how Orton deals with pressure situations, how his chemistry is with the receivers, When, where and how we run the ball..

Defensively i’ll be trying to watch how well we have game planned for the Bears, whether we can shut Cutler and his receivers down on key plays and how much pressure we can put on Cutler. Also whether our run D is solid again and how our OLB’s are progressing.

I’ll probably end up just watching the pretty colors/lights, the ball and the cheerleaders because i havn’t quite got the knack of not watching the ball yet.. ;-P

by HorseStance on Aug 30, 2009 3:02 PM MDT reply actions