doom will surpass merriman’s sack total this season

I see what you mean about the Ravens shutting down the run game or at least the hypothetical possibility but one thing that really stands out about this team is the game planning so that every player is involved… I have a feeling that Orton will NEVER really feel that the whole game is on his shoulders…When you look at all the comments from players and coaches one thing that really stands out is the overwhelming confidence in McD’s game planning!!! They have faith in his game plan and they execute it, as Orton said this week. IF the Ravens should shut down the run game their will be another weakness that he will have prepped his team to exploit. I mean I do agree that there are a few balls that Orton is throwing away a little too soon but there a few factors behind that:
1. He is still trying to adjust his mental clock from Chicago… In Chicago he had time to look at his first read then dump it off, and man is he good at dumping it off, look at his stats mostly… so few sacks, no int’s!!!
2. Timing with his receivers, which seems to be getting better each week, but it takes time to get to the point where things come automatic, instinctual, instead of thinking it out. Kind of like when your learning a new language, your really getting it when you begin to THINK in the new language. I have seen moments of that especially with Stoke and Gaffney.
3. Fear of loosing the game for his team…

The thing I really like about this team is you see progress each week and this schedule has proven to be perfect for bringing along a team that has been built from scratch. Something I read today really does catch the whole essence of why there is so much more confidence in this team and in it’s fans as opposed to last year, and that is this team is playing like a team !!!! They game plan and practice like a team and if they win it’s a team win and if they lose it will be a team loss but one thing for sure this team is fighting for 60 minutes and if they do go down they will go down fighting. What more can you ask as a fan.

I totally agree, and I think people are putting too much emphasis on “easy” vs. “hard” on the schedule, without even knowing exactly what that means, or if the teams that seemed “easy” are actually hard (i.e. Cincinnati being one example) and some of the hard teams may be more beatable than it appeared. So what? Orton’s response is dead on, all NFL games are “lose-able” basically, if you don’t execute your game plan, if you make stupid mistakes, if you don’t out play them.

I think your summary of the team so far seems pretty accurate too, and I’d agree, one of the only weak spots so far is the return game is pretty non-existent. They haven’t really found that guy yet. Royal’s kind of stepping in there but they don’t want to have him keep doing that. Hillis kind of blew it with his fumble but maybe deserves another chance. A Smith might get another shot when he’s 100%. That would make a big difference. But they’re getting great field position via the defense via turnovers, something they weren’t getting at all last year. If the Broncos go 3-2 over the next 5 I’ll be pretty darned happy, but also not surprised.

And it deserved it, too!

A coup;le of quick points: Merriman is where I thought that he’d be. Every year some players have that kind of surgery and every year the pundits exult that they are already back, as good as ever, etc, etc. Nope. Not physically possible really – the surgical adhesions haven’t broken down yet and the range of motion (ROM) in the knee isn’t there yet. Maybe next year, maybe not – we’ll see. This year, Doom is better. With those arms and his leverage, he might always be.

I agree with your point on Hillis and his receiving skills. At the same time, we still haven’t fully opened the playbook – scary, isn’t that? We have a long way to go and will just keep getting better. While I never really mentioned the O-line in the offseason (cough, cough, gasp, choke) I’m happy to see them playing so well with Polumbus and Hochstein in there. Depth is a beautiful thing.

Concerning the run you said:

Knowshon and Buckhalter are looking better every week. These guys are moving us forward, picking up yards after being hit, breaking long runs through the big holes our line are creating, and being tough Broncos running backs. LOVE IT

 
    I agree, in fact I feel its an understatement. I’d never heard of Buckhalter until he became a Bronco. Somewhere I picked up that he’s had multiple knee injuries (not even sure if its real) but if he has, he is blessed with a healing gene you don’t see very often. Buck’s ability to wait for a lane and then blast through it has been a wonderful thing to watch. I’ve been a little disappointed in Moreno, but against the Raiders you could see something special. It doesn’t matter if a ‘juke’ or a ‘shoulder down plow’ is needed….he’s not affraid of either.

Concering Hillis you said:

I’m a Hillis fan

So am I, kinda wondering how much Larsen, as a FB, meant to Hillis in short runs. Might say something about Larsen.

Concerning Marshall and Royal you said:

Marshall is going to be the key to opening up our passing game in the next three weeks. We saw a glimpse this week of what he can do in this offense. Teams are going to have to start doubling him now that he is getting the system down and making plays.

Royal is going to be bigger, but probably not 1000 yards or 100 catches this year. Marshall getting attention will get Royal out of his funk (right now teams are doubling him in the passing game). With how many weapons we have and how smart Orton is, I don’t see Royal getting tons of catches. I like Stokely to get a 100 catches before Marshall or Royal if he gets healthy actually.

There is something funny happening here…..and I like it. There has to be a reason why Brady had 50 TD’s, and many of them to Moss who seemed to have lost all coverage. A lot of that was the way they used Wes Welcker and as we are a team just melding, what is McDaniels doing? Marshall is without a doubt our most freakish pile of tallent. I was shocked in the Raider game that his most efficient production came from the slot. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Brandon become an A+ slot receiver the next few games to force double coverage in the middle and open up receivers on the outs. Just a thought.

You Said:

Our Offensive Line ROCKS!

I say: Yes it does!! You have know idea having lived in Boise as long as I did how much I love Clady…….and the rest of the line rocks also!!!

You said:

Nolan should get Coordinater of the year award even if we go .500 the rest of the season just for being able to field this in the span of one off season.

I say Red Miller loved Joe Collier…and we ended up in the Super Bowl.

I need to shorten this so I’ll make just one more comment.

You said:

We don’t have a superb return game…if anything dissapoints me about our team this year this is it. We never see good angles to get an idea of what is happening downfield, but we just don’t seem to be able to protect our returner very well and give him much to work with.

I say, God Please give someone on our team the mirror of Rick Upchurch’s legs, heart, and will…..amen

Especially enjoyed your insight regarding Marshall lining up in the slot to open up the outside. Another thing I will be watching and expecting to see at some point. I love MHR!

I always get to the Tues and Wed posts late because I am working on my own, but, dude, nice.

I am now looking at all the tape on Royal and should have something on this later this week.

It is exciting above all to see that these guys look like they are improving every week! Stay healthy above all, but beyond that I —

(a) am happy with the gains (literally) in the running game;
(b) love the coverage on kickoffs and punts, instead of cringing as I’ve been doing the past few years – and Prater & Kern have improved too;
(c.) was very happy to see the OL stay solid with some subs Sunday (in the pre-season, I saw a big drop-off there),
(d) am thrilled to see Marshall make some noise. I hope he’s getting up to speed on the playbook now ;), but really hope he’s buying in with his head…
(e) that and Orton’s development will really turn the offensive production ON! I hope and expect some of what we’ve seen with KO is the injury, so as he improves personally, and all the WRs show up, and the playbook expands….very cool things.
(f) am impressed with the D’s performance. Cheers all around for these guys, from Fields & co on the line, to the LBs – and they are improving as a unit – to the DBs. I bought in early to the idea that hoosierteacher put forth about strengthening the secondary as a way to bolster the whole D. The solid ‘backstops’ there free up the LBs to play, and you know Champ’s got to be loving it now that he’s really part of a team!
(g) love to see Doom get a running start;
(h) finally got to applaud the TURNOVERS! It’s so refreshing!

Heh. I think that’s mostly what you said sadaraine, and it’s great fun to watch these guys grow.

Peyton has been quite a piece in our special teams game. His fumble last week was extremely lucky, the guys was just extending his elbows out to cushion his impeding faceplant. I can’t blame him there, i’d have done the same thing. Other than that one blemish he has been a beast on ST. Taking the ball on returns and also laying some hits on the coverage units, plus he has been in the backfield a LOT for lead blocking.

Hillis may not be getting the biggest spotlight right now, but I honestly don’t think he cares. He sat behind Felix Jones and McFadden in Arkansas and didn’t complain. He’s got heart and is willing to do WHATEVER he can do to help this team win. I think he’d still be happy even if he was the waterboy.

will be critical to success. Must go at least 2-3, and of course could go 5-0! ;-)