TOP 5 Q from 2010 Preseason

I don’t think I can handle seeing our D get torched by the likes of Michael Bush and Jamal Charles again. I love Josh McD but I still don’t understand how we have came out of two drafts now without any (besides Ayers) high end front 7 help. I am a firm believer in getting your big men early and often in the draft. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Bannan signing and I understand the J.Williams signing, but we have to get younger up front real quick. Hopefully these last drafts have given us the ammo we need in the D backfield and O-Line to finally start collecting some high end pieces for our new Orange Crush.

From what I saw on film, the front 3 were doing a decent job clogging the line, but the big runs all came when the opposing RBs cut across to the backside of play direction. Versus Detroit, Mario Haggan lost contain on the backside twice, and this lead to big gains for Best. Versus Pitt, Jarvis Moss got pushed around a lot and loss contain on the backside both on the right and left side of the line for big gains for Mendenhall.

I think one of the missed parts of finding a weakside OLB is not just finding someone who can pass rush, but someone who can hold their own in run D. Hopefully, as Moss and Hunter get better accustomed to the position, they will improve and improve the Team’s run D.

1. By average do you mean 16th in the league? If so I think we will be surprised by Moss and Ayers production. 13th overall in sacks!
2. Absolutely – 12th -16th against the run, Moss will be tested in this area.
3. I think your way off on Kyle Orton’s abilities – Improv is what happens when an offense is breaking down and not getting the job done. I used to love watching Denver light up opposing defenses in the first quarter through the air and then pound the ball in the second half. That wasn’t improv, it was offensive juggernaut. I have been a Kyle Orton fan all along, not just this year with all the “seen improvements.” Last year I suggested he was on par with Donavan McNabb and had the stats to prove it, last year and this year I would not trade him for Donavan period. Quote – I also think in the preseason Kyle has at least shown some desire to change his game. He has improved every year he has played and this year he has two healthy ankles to run around on and push off with. I loved watching Kyle give up on a play rather than throw the interception.
4. Denver’s new line will do decent to start and only improve, I am way more concerned if we will have anyone to run through the holes they create. We need more passing on 1st down and more 3rd and 2 successful runs that break for 20 yards.
5. It would seem to me we are better at the nose this year by far. Fields did fairly well and has another year of experience, Bannan can play the position and is very experienced, 9 years? Our rotation should be a lot stronger and is built to play in December. Bannan and Fields alone would be an upgrade over last year – yet we have a beast in Jamal to boot! All of this of course is just my opinion.

But our ILB have struggled to plug any remaining holes. I think we will improve, but there’s one problem. The biggest problem will be from facing a large number of teams with great running backs rather then just our line. We face MJD, Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, Ray Rice, The Jets and Seahawks backfields, Jones and Charles in KC, as well as Frank Gore from SF, so we face a number of great running teams. I think it will be improved, but because of the competition, it won’t show in the stats.