They Are Who We Thought They Were

by KaptainKirk on Sep 13, 2009 8:25 PM MDT

Well, despite the Media attacks against the Broncos for the past 6 or 8 months, the team managed to miraculously deliver a win in the season opener versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Josh McDaniels got the first of many wins in his career debut as the new Head Coach, and Kyle Orton only made one mistake while managing the Offense.

Orton's mistake was not throwing the ball away and taking a sack, thereby losing yardage for a field goal attempt to possibly ice the game. This was a minor mistake, as he could have easily thrown a pick 6. But he didn't. Kyle did what we all thought he would do. He managed the game, and minimized the mistakes on Offense at the QB position. He had a better than average game and didn't lose it for the team.

The Defense was vastly improved over last years menagerie. Andre Davis did better than expected, and Mario Haggan and Darell Reid had some bright moments as well. Alphonso Smith did not surprise anyone except the Anti - McDaniels crowd. Brian Dawkins was a force and his alter ego, "Weapon X" emerged right off the bat. There was pressure on the Quarterback and some Tackles for Losses that were a rare occurrence in the past.

The Special Teams, other than Brett Kern, (anyone miss Colquitt yet?), showed some improvement too. But as a whole, they have some work to do still. Matt Prater did well, and since he was perfect, no one should complain. His Kickoffs went into the End zone and you cannot ask for more.

The personnel decisions and some play calling disturbed me. Brandon Marshall might as well sat on the end of the bench and pouted like his buddy. He dropped 2 balls that were in his hands. The 1st ball thrown to him was at his feet, so I discount that, but that long pass hit him right in the hands. Note: If you're going to whine about being underpaid, at least have the common courtesy to do your job! You are out of excuses Brandon, put up or Shut up.

Where was Peyton Hillis? How about Eddie Royal? All the plays that were ran in Training Camp for these two guys, never showed up in this game. Granted, the penalties on the O Line were hard to overcome, but Josh, you have to use all the weapons available.

I'm currently watching the Packers vs. Bears game and our former Quarterback has thrown 3 Interceptions already before the 1st half is even over. He then preceded to sit on the bench and pout. Not that this would surprise anyone here.

They Are Who We Thought They Were.

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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Comments

well said

Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away

by Troy Hufford on Sep 13, 2009 8:42 PM MDT reply actions

Good read

and well said. The team showed up and played for 60. That’s all I ask for. When you do that good things happen.

Rec’d

by papasteven on Sep 13, 2009 9:55 PM MDT reply actions

Agree- the whole 60 minutes!

by idahobronc on Sep 13, 2009 11:38 PM MDT up reply actions

Extremely well written, and I loved the theme Kapn'! Rec'd.

In It to Win It

It's Orange Crush Time

by USMCWall on Sep 14, 2009 12:39 AM MDT reply actions

Patience seems to be my motto lately, but I think Marshall needs some time.

He missed the pre-season and needs to get used to the speed of the game again. It was just a little rust, I think.

I agree with all your other points, though.

"Wow."

by Tempestuous Binary on Sep 14, 2009 5:05 AM MDT reply actions

Kirk, McDaniels hasn't used the whole playbook yet.

Can you acurately game film this game agaist our defense? Not hardly because as you mentioned Hillis and Royal weren’t the main factors in this game. McDaniels wants to win now as to later and is doing everything in his power to attain that. Sure the offense made mistakes that they will continue to work on, and by the way did you see the 55 yard pass to Marshall? That he missed. It was underthrown just a bit but Marshall got his hands on it and those are passes that will get you the big bucks. Overall the defense did a pretty good job for 4 quarters only giving up 7 points. Great start for them. As weeks go by we should get better and better.

by bfree2bronc on Sep 14, 2009 9:35 AM MDT reply actions

"against our offense" sorry, too much Jack yesterday.

by bfree2bronc on Sep 14, 2009 9:37 AM MDT up reply actions

You are right bfree

There is more to come. I just thought Peyton and Eddie should have been used more because the Offense was stumbling. The penalties didn’t help one bit either.

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing." -- George Bernard Shaw
Breaking jaws or the NFL in Oakland who cares? Fall on your pirate’s sword - Ponderosa

by KaptainKirk on Sep 14, 2009 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Completely agree

Our rushing attack should have been Hillis and Buckhalter. Moreno is going to be good but he gave him too many carries. Give Hillis the damn ball!

People can use statistics to prove anything, 87% of all people know that.

by c_style on Sep 15, 2009 12:14 AM MDT up reply actions

And remember...

NFL ‘expert’ John Clayton said our defense was going to be ‘awful’ this year. They played pretty stout against Cincy and only figure to get better.

And you won’t hear Clayton say another word about it all year.

by TheMastermind on Sep 14, 2009 1:30 PM MDT reply actions

Clayton is still spouting

In his column today, Clayton complained that Cincy “let the Broncos hang around” until the tip play ended it. I’m not sure which alternate reality his TV was tuned too, but in the game I saw the Bengals trailed the Broncos for the entire second half, modulo about 27 seconds. In my world, a muffed FG and a last minute drive to get their first points does not qualify a team to be even remotely considered in a position to pit the game out of the way.

by DCJ on Sep 14, 2009 2:50 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

That was the theme at the Cinci blog too

This is what happens when you let a team hang around.

WTF? We led the entire game! We let them hang around.

People can use statistics to prove anything, 87% of all people know that.

by c_style on Sep 15, 2009 12:15 AM MDT up reply actions

+1

I just noticed that you made my point before I did!

I guess their own perception is their own reality for some of these analysts.

DP Message Board Refugee & Drinker of Kool-Aid

I don’t like quarterbacks. - DOOM

by jubei on Sep 15, 2009 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions

Props for using the term 'modulo'. Nice to know I'm not the only math nerd here!

That aside, if anybody let a team ‘hang around’ it was the Broncos. Had our offense found it’s rhythm, Cincy would be looking down the barrel of a far worse defeat, possibly even a shutout.

Clayton is an uber-tool. Expect more of this sort of thing if the Broncos continue to improve.

DP Message Board Refugee & Drinker of Kool-Aid

I don’t like quarterbacks. - DOOM

by jubei on Sep 15, 2009 8:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Our Defense didn't get mentioned at all

it seemed like. But the Bengals D was talked about all game. There were other issues in the game of course, but these things are what stood out for me.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 14, 2009 5:01 PM MDT up reply actions

A little worried about our 2 minute D

I agree with most of what you said, Kirk. But I have a concern about our defense in the last two minutes of the half or game. Usually preseason doesn’t tell you a whole lot but this year it did. The Bronc’s defense is greatly improved over last year through coaching, scheme and personnel. BUT, the first team D has given up long TD drives against Seattle, Chicago, and Cincy in the last portion of a half or game. I don’t know why, unless it’s the prevent (victory) defense playing too soft. I hope Nolan tightens this up before it costs unnecessarly.

I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid.
Major League Baseball is nothing more than a waste of time until football season starts.

by NateinAZ on Sep 14, 2009 2:24 PM MDT reply actions

Me too Nate

by KaptainKirk on Sep 14, 2009 4:59 PM MDT up reply actions

who could pass up the article title?

Had to read it haha. Nicely written!

by oneline on Sep 14, 2009 9:02 PM MDT reply actions

rec'd for a nice thumbnail sketch

keep up the good work Cap’n.

"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 Sep 14, 2009 10:17 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks oneline and BShrout

that was an attractive hook wasn’t it.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 14, 2009 10:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Rec'd! Great job Cap'n!

People can use statistics to prove anything, 87% of all people know that.

by c_style on Sep 15, 2009 12:16 AM MDT reply actions

Nice Read, Kap!

Prater seems to be the forgotten Bronco after Sunday. It was very nice to see him getting touchbacks outside the rarefied air of the home stadium. For the ball to consistently travel that far in warm, humid conditions speaks volumes for his leg strength. What I want to see now is consistency. I believe that I read that he has changed his conditioning somewhat to attempt to avoid fatiguing his leg. We’ll see if it pays off.

Rec’d for a nice, concise overview of the game.

DP Message Board Refugee & Drinker of Kool-Aid

I don’t like quarterbacks. - DOOM

by jubei on Sep 15, 2009 8:17 AM MDT reply actions

jubei

If you haven’t read it. Get a copy of Stephan Fatsis’ book ‘A Few Seconds of Panic’. It will give you insight to a Kickers world and also you will find a lot of other juicy morsels of information on the Broncos, Shanahan, football and what goes on inside the locker room. It’s an easy read. I borrowed a copy from the library. I highly recommend it to everyone here.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 15, 2009 9:38 AM MDT up reply actions

agree 100%, enjoyed it thoroughly, great peak into the Broncos and the life of kickers

Read it after Shanahan/Elam/Cutler/almost everyone else was gone but gained greater respect and understanding of the odd world of kicking. l also appreciate much more the pounding these guys take. It’s like they get into multiple car wrecks each Sunday then recover for a week and then go out and get into a whole lot more the next week.

broncorat

by broncorat on Sep 15, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions