FanPost

Understanding A Reverse

    The Quarterback takes the snap and quickly drops five steps behind the line.  He meets the Running back just in time to hand the ball off.  The speedy runner flashes off to his left, racing for the end of the offensive line, the defense in full pursuit.  As this is happening, the Wide Receiver on the left side of the formation, races to his right, and as he passes, the running back . . .

    Oh.  Wait.  That's not the kind of reverse I was thinking about. 

More after the jump

    Isn't it terrible how our absolutely awesome defense has to put up with such a mediocre offense?  I mean, c'mon, the offense really stunk it up Sunday versus the Colts.  The O-line was horrid, missed blocks, clogged gaps, ridiculous penalties.  The play calling was atrocious.  What's with all those runs up the gut?  I mean, c'mon, there's got to be better options.  Moreno couldn't seem to hit a hole to save his life, Orton was making bad throw after bad throw.  Marshall was the one bright spot -- after all, he got to set an NFL single game record.  And McDaniels, don't even take me there.

    Then look at our Defense (with a capital D!).  It was awesome.  It totally limited Manning.  It picked him off three times.  They looked sooooooo goood . . .

    Am I missing something here?  Wasn't that "awesome" defense the same one that allowed the Colts to march the field and score on three of their first 4 drives?  I mean, c'mon, let's strive for a little honesty here:

Indianapolis Drive #1 (after opening kick off): 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:54 off the clock, Touchdown.  Manning going 8/10 for 76 yards.  3 rushes for 4 yards.  The Colts going 3 for 3 on 3rd downs.

Indianapolis Drive #2 (after Denver went 3 & out): 7 plays, 56 yards, 2:24 off the clock, Touchdown.  Manning going 2/4 for 35 yards.  3 rushes for 21 yards.  The Colts going 2 for 2 on 3rd downs.

Indianapolis Drive #3: a punt.

Indianapolis Drive #4: 11 plays, 71 yards, 1 defensive penalty, 5:03 off the clock, Touchdown.  Manning going 3/6 for 33 yards.  5 rushes for 23 yards.  1 Unnecessary Roughness penalty for 15 yards against the defense.  1 for 1 on 3rd downs.  Giving up a 22 yard play on 4th and 4.

Oh, and let's not forget the drive that followed Denver's 11 play, 68 yard drive that burned 4:44 in the 4th quarter to bring the score to 21-16:

Prater kicks the ball 9 yards deep into the end zone -- touchback.
3-10-Ind20 Manning completes a 23 yard pass.
2-11-Ind42 Manning completes a 20 yard pass.
1-10-Den38 Addai runs up the middle for 11 yards.
2-8-Den25 Manning completes an 11 yard pass.

14 plays, 80 yards, 7:19 off the clock, Touchdown, score 28-16.

So tell me again how awesome the defense was . . .

    The intent of this post is not to defend an offense whose execution can at best be called inconsistently poor, nor to bash a defense which worked hard to overcome its early missteps.  It is rather to note how perception of the Broncos has reversed in the last year.

    Last year, we had an offense that bordered on being deified saddled with a defense which was often vilified.  I heard a lot of "If only. . . " type statements.  "If only we had had an average defense, we would have made the playoffs," etc.  There was a general perception that the Broncos failures of 2008 were pretty much rooted almost entirely in the defense.  It was not until after the traumatic events of January to May that we began to be offered some insights into how shortcomings on both sides of the ball, and in the special teams all contributed to the state of affairs that has brought us to where we are today.

    Now this year, the situation has apparently become a total reverse play.  We perceive our team as having a dominant defense that is being hamstrung by an inept offense running strange and sometimes incomprehensible play-calling.  Maybe I'm just odd, but it seems like we've made a 180 degree turn here.  I'm not sure I can truly wrap my mind around what appears to me to be an oversimplification of a complex game.  It just seems to me too easy an answer to lay the credit/blame for any game result on a single facet of the game.

    When the Broncos win, it is a result of the coaches totally preparing the players for the game and making in-game adjustments;  it is every guy on the offense doing his job exactly as he's supposed to;  it is every defensive player covering his assignment; it is the kickers getting the ball to the spot it's supposed to go to.  

    I remember seeing McDaniels quoted in several places as saying something to the effect of "We win as a team, and we lose as a team" (I'm sorry to say that I don't have the exact quote).  For I'm of the opinion that there is no truer saying for a football team.  The play of the offense can no more be separated from the play of the defense or the special teams, than the successful play of a quarterback's pass can be separated from the job done by his receivers and offensive line.

    I find the reversal of opinion to be a rather amusing example of human perception, expressed through an attempt to understand what is happening to a team that we all care very deeply about.  Kinda makes me wonder what we'll find fault with in 2010.

    For myself, while I am in no way happy that we have lost 5 games, I find myself to be encouraged by the things that we've done right and by the wins we have recorded.  These things, IMHO, bode well for the future.  

    In watching a new culture of team, a overhauled roster, new coaches, new offensive/defensive schemes, be put into place, we've been put in the position of parents watching their toddler begin to walk.  We've seen 6 steps forward, cringed as 4 steps went backwards, rejoiced at the next two forward steps were taken, and now reached out to support as another backwards step appeared.  

    Take heart, we are moving forward, and will, IMHO, continue to see more and more great things from the Broncos in every facet of the game.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR.