Know Your Enemies
by Nick Cast on Jul 28, 2010 5:19 AM MDT
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PrintThere is an old saying. "Knowing your enemies is half the battle." Scouting the opposing team is crucial to a team's success. Any clues into the mind of the opponent could be the difference between a win and a loss. For example, knowing that your opponent tends to favor screen plays on 3rd down situations gives your defense the advantage. So before TC even begins, let's take a look at the opponents that the Broncos face this year. Who has gotten better? Who has gotten worse? Who had a terrible draft and who had a great draft? Answers and a lot more after the jump
It should be noted that I will not be discussing divisional opponents. We have discussed at length the teams in the AFC West. There is no need to go over them again.
Jacksonville has been in a bit of a slump the past couple of years. In 2008 and 2009, they placed 4th in the AFC South. 2008 yielded a 5-11 record and 2009 resulted in a 7-9 record.
2009 Offense
18.1 points per game- Ranked 24th.
336.6 yards per game- Ranked 18th
209.8 passing yards per game- Ranked 19th
126.8 rushing yards per game- Ranked 10th
2009 Defense
23.8 points per game- Ranked 24th
352.3 yards per game- Ranked 23rd
235.9 passing yards per game Ranked 27th
116.4 rushing yards per game- Ranked 19th
Notable Off Season Activity
Cut DT John Henderson
Sign DE Aaron Kampman
Traded for LB Kirk Morrison
Drafted Defensive Lineman: Tyson Alulalu, D'Anthony Smith, Larry Hart, and Austin Lane
Offensive Breakdown
Jacksonville's offense is a one man army. Maurice Jones Drew is their only dynamic player on offense. QB David Garrard is extraordinarily average. He has thrown 30 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in the past 2 years with a 6.9 ypa. Mike Sims Walker is the only wide receiver on the team who had an impact last year. He caught 63 balls for 869 yards and 7 touchdowns. Their biggest problem last year was their offensive line. Jacksonville's o-line gave up 44 sacks last year and ranked 25th in the league according to NFL.com. They also had 124 qb hits which was the most in the league. They traded a 7th round pick to Miami for Justin Smiley. Smiley is a big upgrade at guard, but he is injury prone. Other then Smiley, Jacksonville made no attempt to improve their offensive line.
Defensive Breakdown
Jacksonville's biggest problem last year on defense was their inability to get to the qb. Jacksonville finished last in the league in sacks with 14, and no player had more than three. They signed Aaron Kampman to upgrade their pass rush, but he is coming back from an ACL tear and it remains to be seen how healthy he will be in the beginning of the year. The strength of the Jags defense is the linebackers. Daryl Smith, Kirk Morrison, and Justin Durrant are all young, solid players who should bring a boost to their run defense.
Final Analysis:
Jacksonville's offense relies heavily on Maurice Jones Drew. Without him, Jacksonville will undoubtedly struggle on offense. Their run defense should improve with the d-line additions. Don't expect Knowshon to get is first 100+ rushing game. Their pass rush is going to rely heavily on Aaron Kampman. All in all, this is a winnable game. Of course, a lot rides on how the offense works this year, but if Denver's D can limit MJD to under 100 yards, Denver has a pretty decent shot of winning. This will be a great test as to how improved the Denver's D-Line is.
2009 Offense
17.5 points per game- Ranked 25th
316.8 yards per game- Ranked 21st
218.9 passing yard per game- Ranked 15th
97.9 rushing yards per game- Ranked 26th
2009 Defense
24.4 points per game- Ranked 26th
356.4 yards per game- Ranked 24th
245.4 passing yards per game- Ranked 30th
111.0 rushing yards per game- Ranked 15th
Notable Off Season Activity
Traded for QB Charlie Whitehurst
Traded QB Seneca Wallace
Traded for RB Leon Washington
Drafted OT Russel Okung, FS Earl Thomas, WR Golden Tate, and CB Walter Thurmond
Offensive Breakdown
Last season could have been the end of the Matt Hasselback era in Seattle. Hasselback threw 17 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season. tossed nine interceptions to just three touchdowns in the final three games of the 2009 campaign. This prompted a trade for QB Charlie Whitehurst. Nobody has seen Whitehurst play because he was buried behind Phillip Rivers on San Diego's depth chart. Seattle has T.J. Houshmandzadeh at wide out, but he struggled last year and finished with just 79 catches, 911 yards and just 3 touchdowns. They lost Nate Burleson to free agency which leaves Deon Branch and Deon Butler as the only other reliable receivers on the team. The offensive line gave up 41 sacks and had 91 qb hits. They drafted #1 offensive tackle prospect Russel Okung who should help out immediately. However, they lost top guard Rob Sims. They are replacing him with the familiar Ben Hamilton who fits into their zone blocking scheme. Justin Forsett and Leon Washington figure to be a two headed attack with Julius Jones as their backup.
Defensive Breakdown
Seattle is yet another team that has trouble getting to the QB. In 2009, Seattle had just 28. To make matters worse, their top sack leader last season (Patrick Kerney who had 5) announced his retirement. On the upside, Seattle has a terrific linebacker corps. Lofa Tatupu, David Hawthorne, Leroy Hill, and Aaron Curry make up an impressive linebacker core. Another thing for Seattle to worry about is their DB situation. CB Marcus Trufant is the only proven player on the team and he struggled last year due to a back injury. Other then him, there is no depth for the Seahawks.
Final Analysis: This is another winnable game. Seattle has a ton of holes on their team. Their offensive line, DB's, and WR's are just a few areas. Hasselback looks to start the season, but Whitehurst could start if he outplays Hasselback in TC and pre-season. The lack of pass rush is disheartening, but Seattle has a fairly solid run defense. In order for Denver to win this game, they are going to have to take advantage of their bad DB's. This game will also be an excellent time for Wink to pull out that attacking mentality.
2009 Offense
26.0 points per game- Ranked 7th
363.1 yards per game- Ranked 9th
282.2 passing yards per game- Ranked 2nd
80.9 rushing yards per game- Ranked 32nd
2009 Defense
19.2 points per game- Ranked 8th
339.2 yards per game- Ranked 18th
212.7 passing yards per game- Ranked 14th
126.5 rushing yards per game- Ranked 24th
Notable Off Season Activity
Released G Ryan Lilja
Resigned S Antoine Bethea and LB Gary Brackett
Drafted DE Jerry Hughes
Drafted LB Pat Angerer
Offensive Breakdown
2 words: Peyton Manning. Need I say more? He is the best quarterback in the league. Only he can lead a team that ranked last in rushing and get them to the Super Bowl. So, let's just say that their passing attack should be one of the best next season. There is some concern with Reggie Wayne who is 32, has knee issues, and wants a new contract. However, Peyton still has Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzales, and Dallas Clark at his disposal. Indy's running game didn't do anything this off season to improve. However, Donald Brown is entering his 2nd year and should produce more then last year. Peyton's offensive line wasn't that good either. They may have ranked 1st by only giving up 13 sacks, but they failed to open up lanes for the running backs. Peyton Manning is really just that good and makes his offensive line that much better.
Defensive Breakdown
Indianapolis was a below average team against the run. They gave up 126 yards per game on the ground. However, the rest of the Colts defense is so good that the run defense doesn't even matter. They have stud pass rushers Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and rookie Jerry Hughes was projected to be the top pass rusher of the 2010 class. Behind the pass rush, the secondary is pretty solid as well. The Colts have Kelvin Hayden who had a down year last year due to injury, but it fully healed and looking to rebound in 2010. They also have Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey. Both of them were rookies last year and played very well. Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders make up one of the best safety tandems in the league.
Final Analysis: When you look at the Colts, you see a Super Bowl contender. There are few weaknesses and those weaknesses are masked by their strengths. Any Given Sunday, any football team can win. However, I highly doubt Denver pulls out a victory. Denver would have to play a perfect game and Manning would have to have a terrible game in order for us to pull this upset off.
2009 Offense
22.1 points per game- Ranked 16th
351.4 yards per game- Ranked 12th
189.4 passing yards per game- Ranked 23rd
162.0 rushing yards per game- Ranked 2nd
2009 Defense
25.1 points per game- Ranked 28th
365.6 yards per game- Ranked 28th
258.7 passing yards per game- Ranked 31st
106.9 rushing yards per game- Ranked 11th
Notable Off Season Activity
Signed OLB Will Weatherspoon
Signed DE Jason Babin
Signed CB Tye Hill
Drafted DE Derrick Morgan, WR Damian Williams, OLB Rennie Curran, and CB Alterraun Verner
Offensive Breakdown
Chris Johnson is a Beast. Last season, he rushed for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns on a 5.6 ypc. He just restructured his deal so there will be no hold out in 2010. He is the leagues best running back and he has the potential to break the record for most yards in a season. The running game will be the focal point of the Titan's offense this year. The passing game is another thing. Vince Young finally won the job mid season. He threw 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He completed just 58.7 percent of his passes. The offensive line is one of the leagues best units. The line gave up just 15 interceptions and only 44 qb hits in 2009. The unit looks to be just as strong headed into 2010. The front office also gave Vince Young a new toy in Damian Williams. Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, Justin Gage, and Williams should make for a very solid receiver core.
Defensive Breakdown
The defense struggled last year after failing to match the Redskins offer to Albert Haynesworth. The pass defense was 31st last season. The defense got 32 sacks last season. To improve the pass rush, Titans drafted DE Derrick Morgan. However, Morgan suffered some injuries in mini camp and was arrested for driving with a suspended license. So he has had a rough start to his NFL career to say the least. The Titans secondary figures to be improved now that CB Cortland Finnegan is healthy and terrible Number 2 CB Nick Harper is gone. The Titans 2 new linebackers, Gerald McRath and Will Weatherspoon are a bit of a question. Especially McRath being suspended for the first 8 games of the season.
Final Analysis
This is a winnable game, but it will be a tough game. Chris Johnson is a beast and Denver will need to bring their A-game to stop him. This will be one of the toughest games for our defense. The Titans offense is a pretty complete unit. The defense is not so complete. Kyle Orton better be on his A-game. Knowshon is going to have to be effective as well. Winning this game is crucial. It is right in the middle of a very tough 4 game stretch (Indy, Titans, Raves, Jets). This is arguably the most winnable game of the 4. This game is a must win if Denver loses either of the first 2.
2009 Offense
24.4 points per game- Ranked 9th
351.2 yards per game- Ranked 13th
213.7 passing yards per game- Ranked 18th
137.5 rushing yards per game- Ranked 5th
2009 Defense
16.3 points per game- Ranked 3rd
300.5 yards per game- Ranked 3rd
207.2 passing yards per game- Ranked 8th
93.2 rushing yards per game- Ranked 5th
Notable Off Season Activity
Traded for WR Anquan Boldin
Signed WR Donte Stallworth
Signed CB Walt Harris
Drafted LB Sergio Kindle, DT Terrence Cody, TE Ed Dickerson, and TE Dennis Pita
Offensive Breakdown
The Ravens are a pre season favorite to win the Super Bowl. Joe Flacco is a big part of those predictions. Flacco managed to pass for 3,613 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He did this with Ray Rice and Derrick Mason as the only reliable targets. This off season, it was Christmas time for Flacco. He woke up and had WR Anquan Boldin, WR Donte Stallworth, TE Ed Dickson, and TE Dennis Pita to play with. He must have been thrilled. With so many weapons in place, Flacco is poised for a monstrous year. Baltimore's running game is also not to shabby either. Ray Rice ran for 1,339 yards and 7 touchdowns on a 5.3 ypc. With a better passing game that defenses will have to respect, Rice could have an even bigger year in 2010. A big reason for Flacco and Rice's success is the offensive line. Baltimore's o-line is one of the best in the league. Michael Oher was a stud in his rookie season. Jared Gaither, Ben Grubbs, Matt Birk and Marshal Yanda round out a unit that is easily one of the best in the NFL.
Defensive Breakdown
Baltimore finished in the top 8 in points, total yardage, passing yards, and rushing yards. It is one of the league's best units. However, Baltimore didn't have a good pass rush last season. The Ravens had just 32 sacks all season. Terrel Suggs had a terrible year considering he just got a 6 year, 62.5 million dollar contract. He only had 4.5 total sacks in 2009. One thing for Baltimore to be nervous about is the secondary. Domonique Foxworth is the only reliable corner who wasn't injured last season. Ed Reed is expecting to start on the PUP list which means he will miss the game against the Broncos. Thankfully, they still have solid strong safety Dawan Landry. As for the linebackers, Ray Lewis just turned 35 and behind him is a bunch of question marks. The real strength of this unit is the defensive line. Goodness it is just ridiculous how strong that unit is. Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata and rookie Terrence Cody make up what is arguably the best run stuffing threesome in the league. Don't expect Knowshon to get 100 yards in this game.
Final Analysis
This is a very talented team. The offense is going to be one of the best in the league. The defense has some questions, but not enough to keep this team out of Super Bowl discussions. With the game being played at Baltimore, I don't see much of a chance for Denver to pull this one out. In fact, I think this will be the worst beating we get all year.
2009 Offense
21.8 points per game- Ranked 17th
321.0 yards per game- Ranked 20th
148.8 passing yards per game- Ranked 31st
172.2 rushing yards per game- Ranked 1st
2009 Defense
14.8 points per game- Ranked 1st
252.3 yards per game- Ranked 1st
153.7 passing yards per game- Ranked 1st
98.6 rushing yards per game- Ranked 8th
Notable Off Season Activity
Cut RB Thomas Jones
Traded for CB Antonio Cromartie and WR Santonio Holmes
Signed RB LaDanian Tomlinson and OLB/DE Jason Taylor
Drafted CB Kyle Wilson, G Vladimir Ducasse, and RB Joe McKnight
Offensive Breakdown
The Jets had the #1 rush attack and the # 31 pass attack. They made it all the way to the AFC Championship. How is that possible? Well their offensive line is just that good. 'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore, Damien Woody and Vladimir Ducasse make up what is arguably the leagues best run blocking offensive line. Ducasse is the only new player to the line. He is stepping in at guard for Alan Faneca who the team cut after the 2010 draft. The offensive line gave up 30 sacks and 53 qb hits. New York cut Thomas Jones after not wanting to pay a roster bonus. Their running back corps includes: Shonn Greene, Leon Washington, and Joe McKnight. Their running game looks to be just as strong as last year. Their passing game looks to be improved also. Last season, Mark Sanchez passed for 2,444 yards 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. While those stats aren't that impressive, the rookie out of USC has had a full year in the system. He also got a new toy in WR Santonio Holmes. When Holmes returns from his 4 game suspension, he will complete a passing corps that includes Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.
Defensive Breakdown
The Jets defense was one of the best last season. This season should be no different. Darrel Revis is widely considered the leagues best cornerback. The Jets defense is heavily reliant on Revis' shut down skills. Behind Revis is Antonio Cromartie and 1st round draft pick Kyle Wilson. Safeties Brodney Pool and Jim Leonhard are bot solid safeties. The Jets D-line and Linebackers are solid as well. Linebacker David Harris is a stud who is in his contract year. NT Kris Jenkins was lost last year to a season ending injury. He is healthy now and that should improve the teams 8th ranked run defense.
Final Analysis
On the surface the Jets look like a contender. They have the best running game, a top offensive line, and the #1 defense. Their championship hopes rest on the young shoulder of Mark Sanchez. Will he be able to perform enough to beat elite teams such as Indy, Baltimore and the Patriots? We shall see. Denver doesn't seem to have the fire power to beat the Jets defense. This game isn't as hard as the Baltimore or the Indy game, but it is still a game that we will have much difficulty winning.
2009 Offense
20.6 points per game- Ranked 18th
290.8 yards per game- Ranked 27th
190.8 passing yards per game- Ranked 22nd
100 rushing yards per game- Ranked 25th
2009 Defense
17.6 points per game- Ranked 4th
326.4 yards per game- Ranked 15th
229.4 passing yards per game- Ranked 21st
97 rushing yards per game- Ranked 6th
Notable Off Season Activity
Signed QB David Carr
Drafted T Anthony Davis
Drafted G Mike Iupati
Traded for WR Ted Ginn Jr.
Offensive Breakdown
The 49ers have all the ingredients on offense except for the most important, a good quarterback. QB Alex Smith finished 09 with 2,350 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games. Smith is surrounded by talent. RB Frank Gore is the best offensive weapon by far. Gore rushed for 1,120 yards and had 10 touchdowns. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught 52 passes for 406 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree played just 11 games last year after a prolonged hold out. However, in those 11 games he caught 48 receptions for 625 yards for 2 touchdowns. With a full off season to prepare, he could have a 1000 yard season. Vernon Davis is the other receiving threat. Last season, Vernon caught 78 passes for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was arguably the best receiving tight end last season. The offensive line looks to be improved from last year. Left tackle Joe Staley and right guard Chilo Rachal were very solid last year. With stout run blocking rookies Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis coming in at left guard and right tackle, the run game could even improve.
Defensive Breakdown
San Francisco had a very impressive defense last year. They ranked 4th in points allowed and 6th in rush yards allowed. The 49ers had 44 sacks last year and were tied for 3rd. However, no player on the 49ers had more then 6.5 sacks. That means that the pass rush is very consistent. Perhaps the heart of the San Francisco defense is LB Patrick Willis. Last season, Willis had 152 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. Willis is arguably the best LB in the league. He is only entering his 4th year and will be the heart of the defense for years to come after signing a 5 year extension this off season. The only weakness on the 49ers is their secondary. Their #1 cornerback, Shawntae Spencer had a good year last year, but there is not much behind him. San Francisco has Nate Clemens and Tarell Brown opposite, but both were ineffective last year. Rookie safety Taylor Mays is a terrific athlete and a hard hitter. He could compete for playing time early.
Final Analysis
San Francisco has a very solid team. They have dynamic players on offense and a very solid defense. The only thing missing is a reliable qb. If the 49ers had an elite qb like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, or Tom Brady then they would arguably be pre season favorites to make the Super Bowl. So can the Broncos beat them? It will be very difficult to beat the 49ers. The 49ers have a solid defense and there are a bunch of questions about Denver's offense. This game isn't impossible to win, but Denver is going to have to play very well in order to win. This game is in London which should give both teams neutral ground.
2009 Offense
10.9 points per game- Ranked 32nd
279.4 yards per game- Ranked 29th
167.9 passing yards per game- Ranked 28th
111.5 rushing yards per game- Ranked 20th
2009 Defense
27.2 points per game- Ranked 31st
372.8 yards per game- Ranked 29th
235.2 passing yards per game- Ranked 25th
137.6 rushing yards per game- Ranked 27th
Notable Off Season Activity
Cut QB Marc Bulger
Drafted QB Sam Bradford
Sign QB AJ Feely
Resign FS OJ Atogwe
Offensive Breakdown
St. Louis drafted Sam Bradford with the 1st pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He is going to be the face of the franchise. However, 2010 will not be a good year for Bradford. He is going to struggle. He is coming from a shotgun offense and needs time to develop. On top of that, he is not surrounded by much talent. Running Back Steven Jackson is the only pro-bowl talent on the team. Last season, Jackson ran for 1,416 yards and 4 touchdowns on 4.4 ypc. However, even Jackson is cause for some concern. This off season he had back surgery. He is still only 27, but back surgery and carrying the load of the Rams for the past couple seasons has shown its effects. The offensive line is a big question mark. 2nd year tackle Jason Smith had his rookie year ended shortly due to a concussion. He is now penciled in as the blind side protector of Sam. Right Tackle Roger Saffold is a rookie. The interior of the line is stronger then the outside, but they can't make up for the inevitable pressure Sam is going to have this year. The Wide Receiver core consists of previously injured Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery as well as rookie Mardy Gilyard and veteran Brandon Gibson. The receivers in general aren't talented enough to give Bradford the kind of help he needs.
Defensive Breakdown
The Rams were one of the worst defenses last year. Their best player, O.J. Atogwe was injured during the season and the team's pass defense suffered. The Secondary consists of Safeties Craig Dahl and James Butler. Cornerbacks on the team include Ronald Bartell, Justin King, and Bradley Fletcher. Fletcher was fairly good as a rookie last year until he injured his knee. He had knee surgery to repair his injury. One of the Rams most exciting young players is rookie linebacker James Lauriniaitis. Last season, he accumulated 120 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 interceptions. He is arguably the teams best defensive player headed into 2010. The surrounding linebackers include: Na'il Diggs, Bobby Carpenter, and David Vobora. David Vobora is a former Mr. Irrelevant and is arguably the teams 2nd best linebacker.
Final Analysis
This is a very winnable game for Denver. In fact, it is probably the teams easiest game. The Rams have way too many holes to compete. I have seen numerous mocks that have the Rams in the bottom 5 again. With Bradford being a rookie, no help on offense, and tons of holes on defense, the team is a bottom dweller. All Denver needs to do is come in and not play down to St. Louis' level and they should walk away with a W.
2009 Offense
20.4 points per game- Ranked 11th
344.4 yards per game- Ranked 14th
251.0 passing yards per game- Ranked 12th
93.4 rushing yards per game- Ranked 28th
2009 Defense
20.3 points per game- Ranked 15th
346.4 yards per game- Ranked 20th
233.7 passing yards per game- Ranked 23rd
112.8 rushing yards per game- Ranked 17th
Notable Off Season Activity
QB Kurt Warner Retired
Traded WR Anquan Boldin
Sign OLB/DE Joey Porter
Cut FS Antrel Rolle
Lost ILB Karlos Dansby to Free Agency
Sign QB Derek Anderson
Offensive Breakdown
Looking at the 2010 Cardinals with Kurt Warner at the helm and looking at the 2010 Cardinals with Matt Leinart/Derek Anderson at the helm are two totally and completely different views. After the 2009 season, Kurt Warner announced his retirement after his storybook career. Anderson comes into Arizona with a chip on his shoulders after being cut by the Cleveland Browns. Leinart is fighting for the job after studying under Warner since being drafted in 2006. Both of these quarterbacks have much to prove, but neither of them are Kurt Warner. The Wide Receivers for the Cardinals are pretty good. Larry Fitzgerald is one of the leagues best. He accumulated 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2009. They finally traded WR Anquan Boldin. So Wide Receivers Steve Breaston, Early Deucet and Andre Roberts all going to have to contribute if Arizona's offense is going to compete. The running game is going to be based off of sophomore Chris "Beanie" Wells. Wells ran for 793 yards and seven touchdowns on a 4.5 average in his rookie season. He is going to be asked to have a bigger role this year. However, without Warner at the helm, defenses will narrow in on Wells and his ypc should go down. The offensive line is also a big question going into 2010. Offensive tackles Mike Gandy and Levi Brown were guilty of a combined 18 sacks and 18 penalties in 2009. Gandy is no longer with the Cardinals and his old job will be won by Jeremy Bridges or Brandon Keith. The interior line will consist of Deuce Lutui, Lyle Sendlein and Alan Faneca. Reggie Wells and Rex Hadnot will also be in the mix.
Defensive Breakdown
The biggest blow to the Cardinals defense was the loss of ILB Karlos Dansby. Dansby was arguably the Cardinal's best defensive player for the past couple years. He is going to be missed. The remaining linebackers include: Paris Lenon, Gerald Heyes, and rooke Daryl Washington. The Cardinals biggest questions on defense are it's pass rush and it's secondary depth. Arizona lost it's top outside pass rusher (Bert Berry) but signed Joey Porter. However Porter (33) looks to be on the decline. The defensive line looks solid. Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, and Dan Williams make up an impressive line. The secondary consists of FS acquisition Kerry Rhodes, SS Adrian Wilson, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and CB Greg Toler. Behind these players is not much of anything. The Cardinals better hope that their secondary doesn't get any injuries or they are going to get passed on all day.
Final Analysis
The Cardinals are not a bad team, but they lost some key players and look to struggle this year. Warner was the heart of the offense while Dansby was the heart of the defense. The loss of both players is going to take some adjusting. The offense is sure to struggle more with replacing Warner then the defense will with replacing Dansby. Denver can win this game. It looks to be a defensive struggle. Whichever defense stops the offense most wins this game. I give Denver the edge at this point in time.
2009 Offense
24.2 points per game- Ranked 10th
383.1 yards per game- Ranked 4th
290.9 passing yards per game- Ranked 1st
92.2 rushing yards per game- Ranked 30th
2009 Defense
20.8 points per game- Ranked 17th
324.9 yards per game- Ranked 13th
217.9 passing yards per game- Ranked 18th
106.9 rushing yards per game- Ranked 12th
Notable Off Season Activity
Cut RB Ryan Moats
Drafted RB Ben Tate
Sign K Neil Rackers
Drafted CB Kareem Jackson
Offensive Breakdown
Houston's offense is not given the respect it deserves. They are one of the best in the league. They ranked 1st in passing yardage and 4th in total yardage in 2009. Those rankings can be attributed to a healthy Matt Schaub. He passed for 4,770 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, with a 8.2 YPA in 2009. Houston's offense is partially so prolific because of the weapons surrounding Schaub. Andre Johnson is arguably the best wide receiver in football. In 2009, he accumulated 101 receptions, 1,569 yards and 9 touchdowns. He is the centerpiece to Houston's aerial attack. Behind Johnson is WR Kevin Walter, WR Jacoby Jones, and TE Owen Daniels. Daniels suffered an ACL tear half way during 2009. He is supposed to be healed by Training Camp. When Daniels is healthy, he is one of the best receiving TE in football. Last years running game was bad. However, the addition of Ben Tate should drastically help that unit. The offensive line has some questions. Left tackle Duane Brown has allowed 19 sacks and 11 penalties in his short 2 year career. Right Tackle Eric Winston and Center Chris Myers are solid. G Antoine Caldwell and G Kasey Studdard are question marks heading into the season.
Defensive Breakdown
Last season, SS Bernard Pollard was arguably the Texans' best defensive player. He got 102 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 4 interceptions in 2009. #1 cornerback Dunta Robinson signed with the Falcons during the off season. They drafted cornerback Kareem Jackson and he has been starting in OTA's. Glover Quin is projected to be across from Kareem this year. Eugene Wilson is a good player when able to stay healthy. Houston has stellar pass rusher Mario Williams. He should be good for another 9-14 sacks. Connor Barwin was a situational pass rusher last season, but looks to get an increased role. He will need to step it up for the team's pass rush to get better. Houston's linebackers are pretty solid. DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, and Zach Diles are a terrific 3 pair of linebackers.
Final Analysis
Houston is a tough team. They have a ton of pieces in place. They are going to compete with the Colts to win the AFC South. The key to this team is Schaub staying healthy. Schaub showed last year that he can be a force when he is on the field. With a new run game, and plenty of weapons by his side, Schaub is poised for a big year. The Broncos are going to have a very tough time beating Houston. They are solid through and through. It's not impossible, but similar to the Jets game where it is going to be very, very tough to win.
Well there you go, that is a full analysis of all the teams we play this year. Our schedule may be easier, but not by all that much. Colts, Baltimore, and Jets are all Super Bowl contenders while the Texans, Titans, and 49ers are all very, very tough. I didn't even talk about the divisional games against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers. This is a very crucial year for Josh McDaniel's Broncos. A winning record would be a good way to shut up the critics. However, right now I am expecting 8-8.
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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Good one, Nick
One thing though.
Chris Johnson is a Beast. Last season, he rushed for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns on a 5.6 ypc. He just restructured his deal so there will be no hold out in 2010. He is the leagues best running back and he has the potential to break the record for most yards in a season.
I know you’re referring to rush yards, but last year Johnson gained 503 yards (on 50 catches), so his combined yardage from scrimmage was 2,509, an NFL record. So, in a way, he’s already broken the record for most yards in a season.
The prophet Elijah told Ahab that the dogs would lick his blood, and so it came to pass, as you would imagine, since only the successful prophets are remembered.
Thanks bradley
you are correct when referencing those catches. Just shows how much of a monster Chris Johnson is.
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Nice breakdown, artist formerly known as BTID
I think my own heady expectations for the Broncos is slightly waning. I think the range of the Broncos season is 6-10 to 10-6. If the offense can move the ball consistently and the defense plays a full year as its capable of doing (both go hand in hand) then we can win 6 of 10 of the non-division games. I see us sweeping one the division teams (KC) but splitting the others.
Howevere, if the O-line staggers and hurts our running game we might be in big trouble.
"You are worthress, Arec Barrwin!" - Kim Jong II
by Orange and Blue on Jul 28, 2010 10:02 AM MDT reply actions
Let me see if I have this straight...
Clady is on a torn patella tendon. Harris is just getting back from being injured all last season. Polumbus appears to be the most capable to step in, yet, he was terrible last season. On top of that, you still have a hole at Center, where you plan to put a rookie (or is there another guy in the mix?). You’ve jettisoned 103 receptions worth of production in a guy that could get open at will, and replaced him with career #2s and rookies. Is Orton planning on channeling Tom Brady circa 2006?
So… I guess I just don’t understand how you predict a sweep?
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
by ArrowSpread on Jul 28, 2010 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions
I predict sweeping the Chiefs, also. But I believe we’ve been through that before :)
I do concede that we’ll have some early problems with rookie expectations, but these issues should no longer be major issues by the time we get around to you…IMO.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
bey-bey
Bey-bey was drafted to be a downfield-threat #1 receiver. We’re stacked with receivers that are great with routes (Gaffney, Royal, Stokley if he makes it) and won’t need to ask that much of Thomas. He’s a rookie, so there’s uncertainty, but there’s also zero reason to believe he’s a bust. So yes, we’re basing our hopes on a first-round receiver with impressive physical tools being a solid impact this season.
The line is another matter. I think it’s fair to say that if Harris breaks his toe again or is “never the same”, it would be a disappointment we’re not counting on. So assuming he’s as good as he was, then we’re either only slightly better than the 2nd half of last season (Beadles > Hamilton, or Beadles > Polumbus and Olsen > Hamilton), or almost as good as the 1st half of last season (Clady, Hochstein/Walton at center).
It’s also generally difficult to take criticisms seriously when they make Marshall out to be some sort of god. If you look at his advanced stats, his success was almost entirely due to how often he was thrown to. Catch rate, not great. YAC, not great. (Yards SIDEWAYS after catch, stellar.) Yards per reception, not great. A fairer critique would be at Orton – he has to do better at spreading the ball around.
by tunesmith on Jul 28, 2010 12:37 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think we’ll miss Marshall at the start of the season, but not to the degree others make it out to be… Not even close, really. I never really argue the idea though. I just see it as one that I’ll never be able to convince rivals of, I’ll never change their mind until they see it.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
I did say if things went well (O-line doesnt stagger) then we will sweep. I stand by that. Unfortunately for you, I feel the Chiefs are the least worrisome of the other division teams.
If our O-line tanks, then you might win one of our games:)
"You are worthress, Arec Barrwin!" - Kim Jong II
by Orange and Blue on Jul 28, 2010 4:05 PM MDT up reply actions
We should be stronger at Center (and Guard) than KC
but we also need Clady and Harris to be healthy. Doubt if we will miss Marshall, as long as our O line is healthy and can protect Orton.
The production of a WR of that caliber has to be missed.
He was thrown at so often because he can get open at will. It is a complete mismatch for most any secondary, and he demands a double-team downfield. Having a weapon like that gives you a constant outlet, and just makes the QBs decisions that much easier.
Orton is already limited, physically. There are question marks at the bookends and center of your line. Orton is somewhat injury prone. His outlet has been taken away, and because of that, more progressions to make and more opportunities for mistakes. Rookies from time to time will run the wrong routes, be out of position, won’t beat the jam, won’t pick up on where the blitz is.. All common mistakes for rookie WRs.
We, I don’t believe, have gotten any worse offensively or defensively, and we managed to split last year. Unless the running game improves, signs point to your offense regressing. Maybe your defense will have improved enough to account for some shortcomings, there. Hard to say.
But, I’m not making this stuff up, am I? Are those all not valid arguments?
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
by ArrowSpread on Jul 30, 2010 10:49 AM MDT up reply actions
Yes. Valid arguments for the most part. The one major difference being the argument about us splitting our games last year. I think you understand as well as we do that our week-17 game was a broken Bronco team. Kyle Orton threw two TD’s to you folks. Moreno was down to under 3 ypc by those last four games. Marshall was out. Scheffler was out. The defensive line had already been giving yardage in the hundreds. Our offensive line was broken and injured.
That comparision just isn’t valid, IMO.
As to the rest of your post, I do believe our 7th ranked defense will be improved, especially against the run where we completely overhauled the DL. We’re upgraded and much deeper there. On offense, it’s fair to question what kind of impact our missing BM will have on us. I think we’ll miss him at the start of the season. But I think we’ll be much more of a running team during that phase. Some of those early games will be tough to pull out, they’re against the strength of our schedule while two rookies will likely be starting at OC and LG. Our two new toys at WR won’t likely light fire out of the gate either.
By the time we face the Chiefs, though, none of that should matter any more. Besides, I can tell you right now that the game plan against KC will be to sack Cassel and run the ball. Your fancy new secondary won’t mean anything when we can run all day against you. And Cassel won’t ever click with Bowe if he’s already punch drunk again from sacks and hits this year because your offensive line was never much dealt with.
One other thing. Safeties never stayed back fearing Marshall’s speed. He couldn’t stretch the field like Thomas will. I’m not saying Thomas will be all-pro, but he’ll be accounted for over the top – even early on – or opponents will be burned twice per game (yes, even with Orton in). Both of our receivers are big, 6’3 220ish, but Decker is expected to take Brandon’s “possesion”/mismatch role, while Thomas takes the Randy Moss role and stretches the field.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
Considering the play of our OL, and our defense vs the run, sacking Cassel and running the ball would be the obvious way to go. I’d do the same. But I believe that we have dealt with the larger issues on the OL in the interior in bringing Weigmann and his knowledge of the ZBS to man the C spot. He certainly is not suited for, at his age and weight, the power scheme McD wants to employ, but he’s certainly an upgrade over Niswanger in our ZBS. As well, we added Lilja’s experience at RG, whose failed physical I personally think is bogus. No way he goes from completing an 18-game season playing at a pretty high level to failing a physical two months later.
I think both of those additions, and rookie Jon Asamoah, adds plenty of experience, talent, and depth at the interior, which was our biggest concern. Waters and Albert won’t feel like they have to over-compensate for the breakdowns at C and RG. Our OL will certainly be better this year.
Something else that will be a contributing factor in keeping Cassel upright is adding some weapons at the underneath receiver positions. I think McCluster will pose as a mismatch, and will provide a much-needed threat underneath, that will most certainly have to be accounted for — much like your Thomas downfield.
All of that contributes to keeping Cassel upright and improving the passing attack. I don’t forsee as many issues there, as you suggest. But, much like the Marshall argument, it’s just one of those arguments that you won’t be conceded until it’s seen.
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
*that won't be conceded
Meant to add..
If the loss of BM will hurt early, and defenses more are inclined to stack for the run.. How will that affect Moreno, if his low YPC continues, is it going to affect how he runs?
Couple that with the concerns on the OL, again early on when Clady is still, probably, on a bum knee, and either the rookie or Hochstein (?) is manning the C spot… Does your running game improve with these concerns? And does affect Moreno at all, trying to play outside of his abilities, therefore leading to mistakes? All theories, sure, but there are some very valid concerns there.
Or am I, the outsider, making too much of it?
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
Well again, Clady is expected back around the start of the season – way before our two teams play eachother. But yes, our running game should be very much improved Hoch is already green lit to practice and we brought a couple FA interior linemen to compete with the 2nd best center of this year’s draft (Walton), 2nd rounder Zane Beadles, last year’s 4th rounder Seth Olsen and the 2nd center we drafted this year, Eric Olsen. They’re all competing for two spots along with Hochstein. That’s a lot of competition, quality competition. Whoever wins the two spots will have earned them. Our run game will be improved.
As for the Chiefs protection of Cassel, Lija and Weigmann aren’t exactly rockstars, neither one of them. Weigmann is adept at the ZBlocking scheme, but that’s for running the ball… not pass protection. The majority of the pass rush comes off the edges anyway.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
If they were rockstars they wouldn’t be available.
I’m well aware the pass rush comes mostly from the edges. I don’t need to tell you that failures along the OLine, especially in the interior — at two positions, have a domino effect. You saw what poor play out of Weigmann and Polumbus did to the rest of the guys along the line. They all regressed, just as our all-pro Waters did from breakdowns at OTHER spots along the line.
That’s just what happens. Improving the weaker links in the OL ultimately improves the entire OL, in this case.
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
I didn't even talk about the Chiefs
yet another Chiefs/Broncos discussion break out. Got to love rivalries.
Last Name: Ever, First Name: Greatest
"Just Win Baby Win" -Me
Xbox360 gamertag: SnipeMeHarder
Question, AS
Orton is already limited, physically. There are question marks at the bookends and center of your line. Orton is somewhat injury prone. His outlet has been taken away, and because of that, more progressions to make and more opportunities for mistakes. Rookies from time to time will run the wrong routes, be out of position, won’t beat the jam, won’t pick up on where the blitz is.. All common mistakes for rookie WRs.
I’ll disagree with much of this. Orton is a QB who has improved every year that he’s played and this is the first time that he’s spent an offseason with actual coaching. The lack of that in Chicago was a running joke until they brought in Matrz. Orton has been on his game so far in practice. That ‘physically limited’ comment is interesting – you didn’t explain what you mean, so I won’t say much beyond – he’s not a scrambler, but he was doing a couple of lovely bootlegs at the beginning of last season.
Injury prone – Not really. Almost all QBs have dings and such over a season. Orton missed 1/2 of 2 games and completed the rest, so your argument loses a lot of momentum. In fairness, Orton outdid Cassel in yards, TDs, INTs, completion ration and so forth. How did he do that if he’s injury prone?
Dinner calls – talk to you later!
Gnothi Seauton
Eh, he's got weak ankles.
Seems like he’s always nursing a high ankle sprain. As for the comparison, there really isn’t a fair one to be made. Orton, too, would have been terrible in Cassel’s place.
And ‘much of that’ piece you quoted spoke to your WR corps, and the increased potential for mistakes. What of that?
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
by ArrowSpread on Jul 30, 2010 10:12 PM MDT up reply actions
"That piece" if you're referring to the one I quoted just above. was yours
I’d kind of expect you to agree with yourself. Nothing new
But whatever you were quoting, I do see an increased potential for mistakes from rookies. That’s true for all of them. Unlike a lot of folks on this site, I expect very little from the rookie WRs. Whatever they contribute to me is just icing on the cake. I keep in mind that overall, McDaniels has rarely played rookies very much – it can happen, sure, but it’s not common. I expect more of Gaffney, who I believe has never been used properly but will be if McD can be believed, Brandon Lloyd and Royal. Orton, Royal and McDaniels have had multiple conversations about ways to get Eddie more involved in the game – last year, he and Gaffney shared downs. Among the emphasis on Royal, what Lloyd can do (and Orton liked his work from Chicago and has some timing comfortable with him), the ability of Gaffney and possibly McKinley and some (but not that much) from the rookie squad and they should do well. Again, if either of the rookie WRs plays well and contributes, that’s great; it’s just not what I am counting on.
By the way, did you see how Orton’s ankle injuries – and one on each, in his years of college and pro ball is hardly ‘injury prone’ nor weak ankles. If you look back at the video of Orton’s injuries, each of them occurred in a strange manner where the ankle was trapped and someone fell onto it at just the right moment. If you haven’t seen the video, may I politely request that you do before responding? He’s had 2 high ankle sprains in 7 years, one on each leg. That’s neither injury prone nor prone to ankle injuries.
Perhaps Orton would have had trouble in KC. Certainly, your team has had a lot of difficulty, and that lands heavily on any QB’s head. The point, however, was that a QB who is injury prone doesn’t play 15 games of the 16. Orton did, and that was what brought up the comparison to Cassel. You can’t beat Cassel’s numbers – even though he wasn’t with a high quality team (not yet, and this year, we’ll see) – if your QB is ‘injury prone’. The ankle thing has been a mountain out of a molehill. They set up a workout program to strengthen that part of his body, just as you would for any player who becomes injured. That’s what Rich Tuten is for, and he’s done a good job. Orton only came to the team a year ago – he’s had one offseason with Tuten. We’ll see in camp and the regular season what effect, if any, it’s had. If he has another ankle injury, I’d agree that you’re right. However, given the circumstances and the fact that this past year’s injury was a freak occurrence (again, please watch the tape), if he doesn’t have such an injury, would you agree that you might have been overstating a little bit?
Gnothi Seauton
Great points on Orton's ankles
As a side note, I’m curious about how you see our rookie WRs. When you say, “if either of the rookie WRs plays well and contributes, that’s great; it’s just not what I am counting on”… does that mean you just don’t want to put them on a pedestool so to speak and instead expect the worst while hoping for the best, or does that mean you find it more likely than not that either/neither will not contribute much?
IMO, there is certainly precedent to suggest McDaniels drafts for need and to play rookies immediately. Decker’s getting such a late start that it’s up in the air now, so I won’t go there just yet, but I think D. Thomas was drafted in hopes that he can immediately stretch the field. He should get chances early and often and be afforded every opportunity to earn a starting role from opening day, IMO.
I’m just curious if you think he won’t, or if you are just trying to lower expectations.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
Heh, I know it was mine that was quoted
You said you disagreed with much of what I said, but didn’t really address much of what I said, which was more about the WRs and the loss of his #1. I will certainly agree that if he doesn’t have such an injury, the injury prone comment is overstated.
My primary angle is that he’s gone from having a true #1 outlet that allows him to play a bit more loosely to an average receiver group more like he had in Chicago, if you include Eric Olsen in that group. I don’t see Gaffney, Royal, and Lloyd making the kind of impact to at least match last season’s numbers, when his WR corp was Marshall, Royal and Gaffney. I don’t believe any one of those guys makes Orton’s job any easier, and they won’t demand the kind of attention that a Marshall does. Instead, that attention turns towards stacking the box vs run, where Moreno and the OL HAS to improve, or using more resources to get after the QB.
One more thing.. You say Gaffney, in his 8 years, has yet to be utilized properly. I’m curious to know how he could be utilized any better?
The Chiefs will see a return to respectability in 2010, emerging as the front runner in the AFC West! ....And I'll quantify that however I choose. Ahem.
Thanks O and B
the defense doesn’t really scare me. I think we will be very solid this year. The offense terrifies me. I think we could be average or one of the worst in the league. Our offense as a whole is a big question mark. I hope for the best, but expect the worst.
I think we split with KC and sweep Raiders…just a hunch I have.
Last Name: Ever, First Name: Greatest
"Just Win Baby Win" -Me
Xbox360 gamertag: SnipeMeHarder
Wow, lots of work went into this. Great work Kyle!
Jacksonville is an interesting team. Their 7-9 record and defensive rankings, to me, is pretty misleading. These boys play in the AFC South against Peyton Manning (#1 pass offense), Matt Schaub (#2 pass offense) and Chris Johnson (#1 rusher, #1 rushing team in YPC). Playing those three teams twice per year probably throws the defensive statistics for a major loop.
Even yet, their pass rush (as you noted) is absolutely horrible. In fact, forget about comparing the Jaguars to other teams… Elvis Dumervil alone had a few more sacks than the Jags did. Pretty wild. That specific problem can’t be blamed on the teams they played against, IMO.
A point that should be underlined here, is that the Jaguars were well aware of this problem, drafting four defensive linemen with their first four draft picks. Tyson Alualu, in particular, is expected to help get to the passer playing opposite Kampman.
I believe this a team whereby improving the pass rush through the signing of Kampman and drafting four DL… each of the other areas of their defense will have a positive domino reaction – especiallly considering how misleading I believe those statistics to be to begin with.
I think the Jaguars defense comes into 2010 vastly under appreciated. This game, IMO, will be a battle of the trenches on both sides of the ball. It will be one of the hardest fought games for us this whole year, IMO. And it will be a great test for both our OL and our DL.
We play this game in week-ten, I would predict a win without too much thought. Playing them in week-one with rookies on the interior line, and injured Ryan Clady at bookend, and two brand new WRs not necessarily ready to have major contributions… well, it should make for a really great game.
Thanks again for the post Nick. Great work.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
by Alex on Jul 28, 2010 12:24 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks Alex
Jacksonville is definitely a team to keep your eye on. I’ve seen rankings anywhere from last place to a wild card finalist.
To me, that just shows that nobody knows what to expect.
I think their run defense is going to improve from 19th to around 10th. They added a ton of pieces so they can stop the run.
Their pass rush on the other hand is not something I would be excited about if I were a jag fan. Kampman was a good pick up but he is coming off a big surgery and he prob won’t be 100% for our game. Tyson Alualu could give a good pass rush down the road, but not in his 1st game of the year. Most camps are starting very soon and he could be a hold out which would totally ruin his 1st year.
I agree that this will be a battle of the trenches. Whose d-line is better? Whose o-line is better? Whoever wins that will win the game. If our d-line can’t stop MJD then we lose. If their d-line can’t stop Knowshon then we win. I believe Knowshon is poised for a big season. If he could get a 100 yard game against the Jags then that will bode well for the rest of the season.
Tough game. We will see who wins.
Thanks again Alex.
Last Name: Ever, First Name: Greatest
"Just Win Baby Win" -Me
Xbox360 gamertag: SnipeMeHarder
This looks similiar to something I've done...
in the past but very good right up
I still believe the three toughest teams for you guys are the Colts, Texans, and Jets.
Jamaal Charles...Enough said.
Baltimore
Believe the hype with these guys. They’re good and got Boldin to immediately bolster their once lacking receiving corps (or is it core? idk lol). These guys are the real deal, IMO. True SB contenders.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
It's corps. : )
-Harvey J. Neptune
"Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect." - Vince Lombardi
Thanks
Colts, Baltimore, Jets, Texans, 49ers in that order.
All are very good teams, all would require very very good games in order to win.
Last Name: Ever, First Name: Greatest
"Just Win Baby Win" -Me
Xbox360 gamertag: SnipeMeHarder
Good point on the Niners. Gore had a great year again, but overall, they didn’t run all that much. Picking Davis and Iupati so early clearly points to them giving the entire team to Gore. I think he should be able to handle the load and keep Alex Smith from being too much of a problem. I would place them ahead of the Jets (although I realize most people wouldn’t). I think Sanchez was really bad last year, and nd I think the Jets will go through some character and chemestry problems at the first sign of trouble.
23-1. Determination. That which cannont be taught. The reult of finding yourself through adversity.
Good Article
Helpful. Hard to find any holes in your analysis.
I think we played more physical teams last year and were worn down by that. The NFC West is less physical than the NFC East. The AFC South teams are talented but not as physical as the AFC Central. Unfortunately, since the Bengals finished first, we get the Ravens, while SD gets the Bengals. We are making lots of changes in our O and D lines to help them be stronger. So we have a better chance to stay strong to the end of the season.
I have a little more faith in our offense than it appears you have, but only if Clady comes back ok and the O linemen stay healthy. With another year in the new system, both our running game and passing game (with Orton) should be a lot better (if Clady recovers).
We need to start 2-0 to compete for the division title. I think we will, but … (don’t want to go there, the schedule does get tougher after that)
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