Denver Broncos First Team Offense: On a Roll and Bringing Hope

     Last year, the Broncos offense took a lot of  heat for not getting the job done. This was a justified criticism. The 2010 Broncos offense left  a lot of points just lying out there on the field. They were hurt by issues when it came to converting third downs and hampered by an often remarked upon lack of touchdowns when in the red zone. Sustaining drives and avoiding ill-timed penalties were also issues for the Broncos last year.

     I realize that this is only the preseason, and that we've only seen the full 1st team offense on the field for four drives, but what I've seen so far gives me some hope that 2011 will not be a repeat of 2010. Take a jump with me and look at the Broncos' first four drives by the 1st team offense.

     Now, I recognize that Brady Quinn came in and played with the 1st team offensive line near the end of the second quarter in the Buffalo game. I chose, however, to focus on the drives that involved the eleven players who will most likely be our starting eleven come the regular season. Their drives are as follows:

 

 

Drive Summary:
     The first 1st-team drive of 2011 went fifteen plays and covered seventy-nine yards. Five yards were lost due to an offensive penalty. Two yards were gained through a defensive penalty. There were six passes. Two passes were completed for thirty-seven yards. There were two passes short left, one short middle and three short right. Six plays were running plays and netted forty yards. Two runs went off left tackle, three up the middle and two off right tackle. One run for no gain was nullified by a defensive penalty. The Broncos made five first downs --  one passing, three running, one by penalty. Denver had two third downs and converted one by a pass. The drive made it into the Red Zone. The drive ended with a field goal.

 

Drive Summary:
     The second 1st-team drive went for eight plays and covered twenty-six yards. Five yards were lost on a quarterback sack. Four passes were thrown and two were completed for twenty-three yards. There were passes short left, short middle, short right and one deep right. There were two runs that gained three yards. There runs were off left guard and off right tackle. The Broncos made one first down by a pass. The Broncos had two third downs and converted one of them -- though it must be pointed out that one conversion was nullified by penalty. The drive ended in a punt.

 

Drive Summary:
     This drive went sixty-six yards in ten plays. The Broncos threw the ball five times and completed four of them for fifty-five yards. There were two passes to the short left and three to the short right. Denver ran the ball five times and gained eleven yards. One run was off left tackle, one off left guard, one off right guard and two off right tackle. The Broncos made four first downs -- all of them by passing. They converted the only third down they faced. The drive made it into the Red Zone and ended with a Red Zone touchdown.

Drive Summary:    10 plays
The fourth 1st-team drive took ten plays to cover seventy-six yards and was capped off by a touchdown. The Broncos threw five passes and completed four of them for fifty-seven yards. There was one pass short left, two short right, one deep left and one deep middle. The Broncos also ran the ball five times and gained nineteen yards. There was one run off left end, two up the middle, one off right tackle and one off right end. Denver made four first downs -- two by passing, two by running. They converted by a run the only third down they faced. The drive made it into the Red Zone and was capped by a touchdown.

     While the argument can be made that this is only preseason and therefore no particular significance should be attached to these first four drives, it should be encouraging that:

The 1st-team offense has converted 67% of the third downs they've faced.
The 1st-team offense has made it into the Red Zone on three out of four drives.
The 1st-team offense has scored touchdowns on two out of three Red Zone trips.

     If this performance can carry on through the remainder of the preseason and on into the regular season, we might just have reason to be hopeful about the 2011 season.