Running To Win: Broncos Need Ground Game To Beat Titans

Game day running has been too inconsistent for McD to game plan with. I do think that LM having contact last week and a week to watch film and work on his mistakes will make him more effective this week. Ryan Harris returns, but this will be his first contact in a month. All said, I do expect the Broncos to run more and more effectively this week than in weeks past. The bread and butter of this offense is the high percentage passing game. The running game will be in support of that passing game. We also have big play potential in the passing game, we do not in the running game. My prediction – Orton over 300 yards and 3 TDs – each from about the 30. We close in on 100 yards rushing but miss the mark.

On Defense ….. The feet of Vince Young scares me more than Johnson. You know that CJ is going to come at you hard, he is fast, and he can make you miss. We have such outstanding talent in the secondary that we can put 8 in the box and be OK. Our front 7 without help have grown to the point I believe they can limit CJ to under 100 yards.

Broncos 24 Tenn 14

I feel your frustrations. I feel sorry for that poor pillow that I beat into oblivion after the Colts game…

Hopefully this is the game that Denver gets the running game going.

I always predict the Broncos to win—and just like Han Solo, I never listen to the odds!

but I hope we can slow him down.

My take is that CJ will get his yards (approach 200), but will only have 2 TDs. The titans can’t beat us in the air (they’ll really struggle when the field is shortened in the redzone) and will settle for a few fgs.

Orton has to give us 3 TDs and bring us in range for a pair of field goals. I don’t see our running game doing very much.

Broncos 27 Titans 20

I am sure the Broncos are looking at the game in a similar light. I have a hard time imagining us limiting Johnson to under 100 yards, but if we can keep him under 130 and counter with some good run offense of our own, we can force Young into some turnovers and let our prolific passing game do what it does when we need it to.

Fingers crossed. I have a feeling things will start to come together for us this week.

I don’t think the Tennesee pass rush has seen a pass protecting O-line or a QB like ours yet this season, so I’ll have to see it to believe it. That being said, I think we still need to be more balanced, and actually show that we can pass to set up the run. I think the real key to this game is if our OLB’s can contain CJ to between the tackles.

I agree with you. A knee jerk reaction is often grounded in truth. If I had to bet, I would say our offense tomorrow will be using tons of screen passes. I would use Maroney tomorrow for my fantasy football team if I had him.

Admirable that you recognize your initial reactions as knee-jerk.

I think you are right about the 5-2. I’d be surprised if we don’t see a lot of that. Also, would love to see McD dictate to the Titans that we are going to run the ball.

Most blame the running game, some Kyle Orton for not taking the bull by the horns, but when a COACH leaves at least 15 points on the field in a contest like this it is obvious who the blame must fall on. McDaniels’ mistrust of the defense cost us the game and he stated much the same when he said taking a field goal wouldn’t matter against the likes of a Peyton Manning. Hind sight is 50-50 coach when those 15 points or 5 field goals would have given us a total of 28 points counting the 13 we already had. They made a total of 27…Hmm…Coach Caldwell didn’t hesitate to take a couple of FGs early in the contest because he knew it might not be easy for the Colts’ offense. Caldwell out coached McD and that doesn’t set to well with me, our coach failing against theirs. The old addage is to take the points when the time arises and leaving 15 possible points on the field is ridiculous. So, what do we do with our dismal short yardage failures?

I have an idea of how we can be successful against Tennessee and I got it from jeremy’s post, Red Zone +25. When or if our offense approaches the RZ they need to take shots to the end zone more even if they don’t work. if they do we get 6, if they don’t try for 3. We have struggled with the short yardage game and I don’t see any cure any time soon. Our illustrious head coach has to trust our defense to make the plays to keep us in the game, playing catch up makes it much tougher especially in the 4th quarter when anything can happen and it’s usually bad…

Great post Tim and much appreciated my friend…

we’re going to get a lot of passing yards. they’re probably going to get a lot of rushing yards. so it’s gonna be up to who can do better in the red zone and who makes less dumb mistakes.

have to be dominant in the ground game, we just have to run enough to give KO and our explosive wideouts some support. Also, Chris Johnson might get his 100, but there won’t be any big runs (I hope). I don’t believe in predicting final scores, but if we execute, we could win this one going away. GO BRONCOS!!!

I see the Titans game planning to stop our deep ball threat – lot’s of dime packages. I see them not paying much attention to our anemic running, and successful at limiting that. But I see our strategy for lots of flats/short routes in front of their deep concern, giving us a great TOP edge. I see a close win for us. I think I’ll go see some more kool-aid. GO BRONCOS!!!!!

IMHO
Tim, you key in laserly onto each of my subconscious inclinations; “…faith on the running game” “5:2” “…not entirely on Orton…” while I lack the chutzpah to reckon 13:3 (until we ain’t ?) it was a pure delight to read a knee jerking so synchronously. Cheers.

if it ain’t working in the 1st quarter, AIR IT OUT BABY!!! We can’t force ourselves to be something we’re not. Not to say we won’t get there with the running game. We are handcuffed a bit without KM in there. IMHO, he is far and away a better RB than Maroney.

They have a rookie starting in the secondary….much like Cox did for us last week. That matchup should be exploited all day long! I really hope that DT gets at least equal opportunities as Gaff and Lloyd. He could be the X factor in this game.

And for the love of Pete (who is Pete anyway) don’t be afraid to take shots at the endzone from 20+ out.

I’m right there with you Brian. I was devastated last week because we SHOULD have won that game. I knew it would be hard to beat them, but we did everything we needed to, except score in the RZ.

I also have knee-jerk reactions in games, and I’ve started jotting down notes when I see good/bad plays. I pretty much gave up posting in the game day threads because that’s basically all that is….a knee-jerk thread. No offense to those who comment there, but my typing skills suck to the point of not being able to enjoy the game and comment at the same time.

Once a day or 2 has passed, I re-watch the game on Sunday ticket shortcuts, and pick it apart. Usually, at least 3-4 of my notes proves to be wrong due to someone else missing an assignment etc.. The next day analysis is always better than the same day analysis. It takes emotion out of the equation!

Well done Tim.

Wouldn’t have expected it either.