Raven's Week

[SpringStein]

I'm a strong proponent of CH covering Smith. Tallib is the kind of long strider that I believe Smith will eat up.

Go Bixby, OK!

 

[randymon]

just read that Harris, in his 2nd yr covered Smith, in his 11 th yr and Smith did not catch one ball in Broncos drubbing of Carolina. Last and only time they matched up according to article. Seems like Harris can do the job IMO.

 

[SpringStein]

In case anyone is wondering after seeing the rain in NE last night, forecasts for Sunday is hot and dry. Game time temp will likely be 90-92 and no rain in the forecast.

It's a beautiful time to come out to the mountains!

 

[cdumler7]

Also final injury report came out today. Kenny Anunike did not practice this week and is listed as out for this game. McCray was limited all week and has been listed as questionable for this upcoming game. Everybody else on the team was a full participant and listed as Probable or just not listed at all.

For the Ravens though they have Timmy Jernigan and Melvin Rashaan both listed as doubtful for this game. Breshad Perriman and Lorenzo Taliaferro are both listed as out for this one. The rest of them are all listed as probable or better. Both teams are coming in pretty healthy in other words.

 

[Orange Crush77]

I'm a strong proponent of CH covering Smith. Tallib is the kind of long strider that I believe Smith will eat up.

Go Bixby, OK!

I love you Geo!

 

[randymon]

Kamar Aikmien and Marlon Brown wrs to go along with Steve Smith Sr vs Denver secondary. No Perriman. Can't say they inspire fear in me. Denver shuts down Smith and limits run game for Ravens they should win this game pretty handily.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Yeah the WR thing Baltimore has going on really hinders their pass game, IMO.

Maxx Williams will have to be huge.

Brown and Aiken are ok WR's but not really what you want as your #2 and 3.. Big bodies but not a lot of speed. One of them as a #3 is fine.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Kamar Aikmien and Marlon Brown wrs to go along with Steve Smith Sr vs Denver secondary. No Perriman. Can't say they inspire fear to me. Denver shuts down Smith and limits run game for Ravens they should win this game pretty handily.

That interests me, since as frustrating as the Del Rio defenses sometimes were, I think we got quite used to defending the run well over the past few season. I'm curious whether we retain that characteristic, while amping up the pressure on opposing QBs.

 

[randymon]

That interests me, since as frustrating as the Del Rio defenses sometimes were, I think we got quite used to defending the run well over the past few season. I'm curious whether we retain that characteristic, while amping up the pressure on opposing QBs.

Yeah Td I see no reason why Denver shouldn't be tough vs the run again this yr and actually think they'll be even better this yr. Having Wade as DC and his " creativity " for applying mismatches with his 3-4 scheme , healthy Trevor and Marshall and his aggressive yet not overboard blitz pkgs should really cause a lot of confusion along opposing O-lines and the fact Denver could have one of the best backfield tandoms in the league should really wreak havoc on OC's trying to game plan this D this yr. I really feel in all the yrs I've watched this team ( early 70's ) that this could and should be the best D that's ever been assembled in Denver. If they stay healthy,I truly believe that.

 

[DownSetHutch]

Less than 48 hours to game time! Woooo!!!!!

It sounds like most or all of us are concerned about the O-line, as we should be. I am excited to see the beginnings of what could turn out to be a very good unit. If they do turn out to be very good however, it will take time, so we are going to have to be patient as fans. Guys are going to miss assignments and get flat out beat by the defenders, but what will mark them as a potentially great unit will be the good plays, plays where they push their guy back and open up running lanes. This will be something to look for. Also, great O-lines don't necessarily have to be made up of five great players. They just need to have five good players who play great together. That takes time and coaching. I think we have the coaching.

As for the rest of the offense, it will be interesting to see the mix of the Manning passing game and the Kubiak ZBS running game. Teams are going to have to do a lot of guessing, especially early on, as to what the offense is going to do. Even us fans don't really know what to expect. It's gonna be fun to watch.

But what's really going to be fun to watch will be the defense. They are going to keep us in (and win) a lot of games this season. This will be the first of many. The Ravens will have to have a very good game plan to keep this defense off balance in order to have much success. If we can keep the runs up the middle from hurting us, then the Ravens offense will have little chance. Can't wait to see the weapons on D unleashed. Von, Ware, and the boys are going to wreak havoc.

This game, even though it's in Week 1, could have HUGE playoff implications, for (H-2-H) HFA, or possibly a Wild Card spot. I love the fact that the season is starting with such a good matchup. This will definitely be a litmus test to see where we are. I am predicting a low-scoring game, 20-10 Broncos.

 

[cdumler7]

Well good news for our OL in Jernigan being listed as Doubtful in this one. Gives them a little more ability to focus on the outside guys to offer help. DSH I agree this will be a great test to see where we are and what we will need to grow in. This is honestly the most in the dark I have ever been when it comes to knowing how our offense will function in a given year. Which to me just screams GREAT NEWS as that probably means other teams really will struggle to know this offense. This is something honestly I have been so jealous of the Patriots about since we got Manning in we have been a great offense obviously but a very predictable one. You stop the passing game and most likely you win the game. The Patriots have been a team that against us used passes over the middle to Gronk and Edelman. Against the Colts they just ran it up the gut. Against Baltimore they attacked the outside edges with the problems with Corner last year. We have to become an offense that can beat you multiple ways if we really want to see this team reach their full potential. This is the first year in a long time I feel like we could actually be that type of team.

And like you said DSH man I can't wait to see this defense flying around. This preseason is the first time I felt like we were actually seeing our defense play to the level of our talent. While we were a good defense last year there is no way we should have been middle of the pack when it came to scoring. Anyway just ready to see our team back on the field and really hoping to get this season off on the right foot!

 

[MileHigh64]

Well good news for our OL in Jernigan being listed as Doubtful in this one. Gives them a little more ability to focus on the outside guys to offer help. DSH I agree this will be a great test to see where we are and what we will need to grow in. This is honestly the most in the dark I have ever been when it comes to knowing how our offense will function in a given year. Which to me just screams GREAT NEWS as that probably means other teams really will struggle to know this offense. This is something honestly I have been so jealous of the Patriots about since we got Manning in we have been a great offense obviously but a very predictable one. You stop the passing game and most likely you win the game. The Patriots have been a team that against us used passes over the middle to Gronk and Edelman. Against the Colts they just ran it up the gut. Against Baltimore they attacked the outside edges with the problems with Corner last year. We have to become an offense that can beat you multiple ways if we really want to see this team reach their full potential. This is the first year in a long time I feel like we could actually be that type of team.

And like you said DSH man I can't wait to see this defense flying around. This preseason is the first time I felt like we were actually seeing our defense play to the level of our talent. While we were a good defense last year there is no way we should have been middle of the pack when it came to scoring. Anyway just ready to see our team back on the field and really hoping to get this season off on the right foot!

This is what has me most excited as well. The great teams in today's NFL have so many ways to beat you. I'm really looking for the Broncos to be able to build very diverse game plans offensively depending on who that week's opponent is. If it works as planned, this offense could be very dynamic. Additionally, we'll have a defense that we can count on to bail out the offense as necessary. I can't wait to see what this team looks like on Sunday but I'm prepared for the offense to struggle a bit in the first quarter of the season. If that happens, we must not panic!

 

[Mingo]

What I like about the Kubiak offense in today's NFL is that it runs at you - while the rest of the NFL teams are trying to pass on you. This is seen in all teams adding extra CBs and Safeties rather than LBs and the Broncos get to attack those defenses with offensive looks that can either run on you with and extra blocker (HB, FB, TE) or pass on you to the same guys. Literally - when the Kubiak offense is functioning - the individual defensive players have hesitation because they don't know if they get close to you they are setting themselves up to get blocked or if they lay off to pass protect- make themselves the guy who has to make an open field tackle on the pass receiver. The good RBs will tell you - they juke DL and LB players, but they know to run directly at DBs - because of the success passing in the league - you face so many defenses with extra Dbacks.

It seems to me that this is counter trend programming that is the making of great success. Kubes gets to it with one of the greatest QB of all time (albeit older) and a defense with much more talent than he used to having. This team has the kind of ceiling where it could be the greatest Bronco's team ever.

 

[SpringStein]

As expected, Ravens WR Perriman won't play tomorrow.

Ravens first-round pick Breshad Perriman won’t play Sunday

 

[cdumler7]

As expected, Ravens WR Perriman won't play tomorrow.

Ravens first-round pick Breshad Perriman won’t play Sunday

I saw that. I honestly think that is a huge loss. right now Baltimore just doesn't have anybody who can extend the field deep. The Broncos will be able to be a lot more aggressive especially with their safeties because of this in my opinion. What beat us in 2012 during the playoffs was speed. We played aggressive and they just beat us over the top. Baltimore just doesn't have that right now until Perriman returns from injury. I look for Phillips to be especially aggressive in this one sending extra guys to stop the run and get after Flacco making him make very quick decisions.

Anyway beyond that it is Game Day ladies and gentleman!! We have made it to the official start of 2015!

 

[cdumler7]

Just as an observation it cracks me up that the National Media all they can talk about with this team is Peyton Manning. Essentially what you think of Manning decides every thought they have on how the Broncos will do this season. While yes the QB position obviously matters big time to our success or failure it does seem that local media and us as fans are more excited about the defensive side of the ball and what they bring to the table. I think most of us here think that if the Broncos are to win the Super Bowl this year it will be in large part to our defense being the dominant force we all hope and think it will be.

 

[58crash]

cdumler7 That is why I think 13-3 is doable . Not because of Manning but because of phillips and What he brings to denver's defense... I was so Jealous of SD when they had him with that great D they had with him ..

Our D should set record books a blaze !!! We should Owen a lot of new Records after this season On the D side of the ball .