Week 10 @ Oakland

[TDs3nOut]

He definitely has...The big thing for him though is can they get a competent coaching staff in Oakland and some talent around him to actually help take some of the heat off of him. He seems to be in a very similar situation to that of his brother in going to a very bad organization that is getting him killed at this point. This next draft will be huge for them of getting some talent to help him and very interested in who they get to coach. If they don't get Chucky I think they are going to have to pick from the bottom of the pile as every coach knows Oakland is where you go to kill your career.

Interesting to me that you think Gruden is the best available coach, cd. Perhaps you are right. Personally, after listening to him on the telecasts the past several seasons, I am not at all sure that he is able to effectively coach anything other than how to use hyperbole ineffectively.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I am not sure Gruden even wants to come back. I think he likes to keep that door open but wants a perfect situation which is not likely.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I am not sure Gruden even wants to come back. I think he likes to keep that door open but wants a perfect situation which is not likely.

You might well be right. Certainly makes sense to me that it would take a very attractive offer to beat his current gig. Guess it all comes down to what he finds very attractive.

 

[cdumler7]

Interesting to me that you think Gruden is the best available coach, cd. Perhaps you are right. Personally, after listening to him on the telecasts the past several seasons, I am not at all sure that he is able to effectively coach anything other than how to use hyperbole ineffectively.

I didn't mean I think he is the best available coach. I actually have a few others I would definitely take over him as I agree his sports casting has actually caused me to question some with him. Maybe that would be true of all coaches though if they put themselves in the spotlight like that. I meant more I think Gruden is about the only big name coach that would even think about going to Oakland at this time. He has said the only job he would come out of retirement for is to coach the Raiders so that is why I was saying he is the only one I could see. Otherwise I think they will be picking from the list of Coordinators and honestly will probably get last picks of those as what Coordinator wants to go to a place known for spitting out coaches and a roster that has shown there is a lack of young talent for the most part. Beyond Carr and Mack not sure I see a ton at this point.

 

[HOF-ELWAY-7]

I would like to see the O-Line play better. If they don't, the Broncos may have to move some people around. I'm not at practice but I have to assume they are playing the best players at each position. If the interior line continues to struggle in the games they may have no choice.

I would like to see Latimer in the slot.

I would like to see JDR simplify and let his horses run. He covered Gronk with Ware 4 times.

As always a division game is a little tougher. I think the Broncos are sufficiently peeved about last week and they will pull away in the second half for a fairly easy win.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I would like to see the O-Line play better. If they don't, the Broncos may have to move some people around. I'm not at practice but I have to assume they are playing the best players at each position. If the interior line continues to struggle in the games they may have no choice.

I would like to see Latimer in the slot.

I would like to see JDR simplify and let his horses run. He covered Gronk with Ware 4 times.

As always a division game is a little tougher. I think the Broncos are sufficiently peeved about last week and they will pull away in the second half for a fairly easy win.

May have to shuffle some guys on the o-line in order to deal with Cornick's shoulder injury. Adam Gase "really frustrated" with Denver Broncos' running game - The Denver Post

Gase makes some remarks in that piece that suggest he's not too happy with how the o-line has performed run blocking:

""It's hard to make any ground when you're getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. That's where it starts. It starts with those front five guys making sure we've got guys covered up. Then it's the backs' job to find the hole and hit it.""

 

[TDs3nOut]

Also, found this piece, in which someone infers from the loss at NE is evidence that the Pats successfully retooled their defense by adding Browner and Reeves specifically in order to beat the Broncos.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/11/...nst-denver-new-england-built-to-beat-broncos/

I think the guy might be drawing too strong a conclusion from the game last week, but I'm curious what others think.

 

[MileHigh64]

Also, found this piece, in which someone infers from the loss at NE is evidence that the Pats successfully retooled their defense by adding Browner and Reeves specifically in order to beat the Broncos.

Jones: Deck Stacked Against Denver, New England Built To Beat Broncos « CBS Boston

I think the guy might be drawing too strong a conclusion from the game last week, but I'm curious what others think.

I don't necessarily think this is too far off the mark. There is no question in my mind that the Broncos went into the off season with the intent of beefing up the defense to better compete with the Seattle's of the world. Similarly, having been knocked off by the Broncos in the AFCCG, the Patriots needed to address the areas of weakness that the Broncos exposed. I distinctly recall the talk of an "arms race" during the off season when we were signing Ward, Ware and Talib and the Patriots were bringing Browner and Revis on board. In this copycat league, isn't this what teams do. The "haves" jockey for position amongst the other "haves" and the "have nots" do everything in their power to become a "have".

Not sure if any of that made sense! Anyway.....Go Broncos!

MH64

 

[TDs3nOut]

I don't necessarily think this is too far off the mark. There is no question in my mind that the Broncos went into the off season with the intent of beefing up the defense to better compete with the Seattle's of the world. Similarly, having been knocked off by the Broncos in the AFCCG, the Patriots needed to address the areas of weakness that the Broncos exposed. I distinctly recall the talk of an "arms race" during the off season when we were signing Ward, Ware and Talib and the Patriots were bringing Browner and Revis on board. In this copycat league, isn't this what teams do. The "haves" jockey for position amongst the other "haves" and the "have nots" do everything in their power to become a "have".

Not sure if any of that made sense! Anyway.....Go Broncos!

MH64

Oh yeah, it makes sense. I'm just skeptical that adding Reevis and Browner was enough to make the Pats a defense a strong matchup against the Broncos offense. The game last week certainly suggests I might be wrong, but I feel like we can use our TEs, run the ball, and play defense far better than we showed in that game. Maybe I'm just being a homer.

 

[Orange Crush77]

I think we win this game pretty easily, I expect The Thomas' come up big.

 

[Malibu]

Also, found this piece, in which someone infers from the loss at NE is evidence that the Pats successfully retooled their defense by adding Browner and Reeves specifically in order to beat the Broncos.

Jones: Deck Stacked Against Denver, New England Built To Beat Broncos « CBS Boston

I think the guy might be drawing too strong a conclusion from the game last week, but I'm curious what others think.

Of course they did. They saw what happens when physical corners bash the Broncos wr's just like in the Super Bowl. The Patriots got pressure right in Manning's face and were physical with the Broncos wr's all game. This team at this time on both sides of the ball is still soft. There is time to fix it though or things at the end of the year will change when it comes to the coaching staff.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I would not be surprised to this game closer than it should be. Gase may take this opportunity to emphasize the run. We know Oakland does not have the talent we do so it might be a good chance to try some new things on offense that we have not done in the past.

 

[Southieinnc]

I took the Raiders in the weekly pick'ems but no mean disrespect. I'm thinking Broncos will be happy to walk away with a 10 point win in a "division rivalry"

Carr was the QB I wanted NE to draft this year. I like Garappolo now but Carr was my pick. I think he will be a good one.

 

[cdumler7]

Game day my fellow Broncos Brethren and Sistren (not sure how you would say that)! Any certain things you are all looking for in our game today?


Here are a few for me...


I'm very interested to see how our Linebackers do. With Irving and Trevathan both out for a while we are going to have some very young unproven talent stepping in.


I'm also interested to see if Moore and Ward can have a bounce back game. The two of them have been playing pretty mediocre the last few games and of course it really showed against the best TE in the NFL Gronk last week. Time for these two to step up like we need them to.


Finally I am very interested to see how the shuffled OL is going to do. From what I understand here is going to be our starting unit for today's game...Clady-Franklin-Montgomery (been saying this for weeks that this needed to happen)-Ramirez-Vasquez. So 3 players in new positions. Not usually what you want to be seeing this late in the season with your OL. At the same time better to figure it out now than just hoping it will work itself out come playoff time. Now there is some precedent that these moves individually actually look pretty good. Montgomery last year was a top-10 Center in the NFL. He also comes from a zone-blocking scheme which seems to be more of what we are running this season and where Ramirez just doesn't have the ability to run down the line and pick up a block. Now Ramirez at RG is actually his natural position that he came into the NFL with. In the 2012 season he started when Kuper couldn't quite get healthy and closed out the 2012 season with 2 games according to PFF with a grade over 4.0. Which if you do not know is very good for an OL player. That would have put him on pace to finish as the best guard in the NFL actually. Now obviously hard to sustain that week in and week out but it does show he can do well at the position. Same with Vasquez in he did have to start for the injured Franklin last year at RT. He posted a very respectable 2.1 for the position and was our best pass blocker in that game. So maybe just maybe this is us getting our best 5 OL players on the field at the same time. Doesn't mean they are all in their best positions as not sure how I feel about an All-Pro RG from last year moving to a whole new position but something has to change. We have now had 2 games of 3-man rushes being able to get to Peyton. That should not happen with the group we have.

 

[cdumler7]

Also haven't seen this posted but the Broncos have actually opened up Contract Negotiations with Chris Harris! I didn't think the Broncos would do this as they already have 1 highly paid Corner but Harris has been playing like a top-5 corner this season and you just can't let such young talent walk out the door. Glad to see the Broncos trying to get one of our big FA's signed before the end of the season. Right now my priority list of our upcoming FA's would be DT, Harris, and Knighton. 2 of those guys are captains this year and I just think letting that kind of talent walk out the door plus the leadership would be a pretty big blow to this team.

 

[iknowftbll]

The Broncos need to go into this one loaded for bear! It may be against the 0-8 Raiders, but it is still against the Raiders! I have a feeling we are going to get a "go for broke" type of game from the Raiders and the Broncos need to be ready for it. Fake FGs/Punts, lots of 4th down attempts, etc. When you're 0-8 what do you have to lose, especially against a heavily favored division rival who many consider to be a Super Bowl contender.

 

[iknowftbll]

So far the Broncos are sleep walking through the game again. Awful offense in the RZ. Two turnovers, resulting in 10 points. Manning lucky to have avoided a 3rd pick.

Credit the Raiders for showing up. The Broncos need to wake up and start playing football. They have looked putrid so far today.

 

[Malibu]

The switching of the o line hasnt helped at all thats for sure.

 

[Duffman]

Can we get our head out asses please? Between the Offensive line still hurting us with dumb false start penalties and Manning not being able to throw the ball over the head of any D-Lineman this game is ugly. The Defense is the only thing keeping us in it at this point.

 

[Malibu]

I see Denver has given up on the run already and cant pass block at all. This is embarrassing. There are no excuses for a 1st half performance like this versus a team like the Raiders. 4 yards per completion not going to get it done. Just sad.