Well Gents...

[CrashDavisSports]

That speaks to what I have found most disappointing the past 2+ years. Simply not enough commitment to running the ball.

Seems to me that the coaching staff should have understood heading into training camp that there will be important games in which running the ball is essential to winning.

Read a lot about how our primary aim in the offseason was to become a "more physical team". Isn't commitment to running the ball a big part of being a physical team?

Time to draft Melvin Gordon!

 

[Broncos6482]

Perhaps I am too stubborn, but I'm not prepared to pronounce this year's team dead yet. As poorly as we have played at times this year, there is still enough time left in this season to right the ship. Won't be easy, but I think it's still possible. Are the players and coaches up to the task? I don't know, but I'll still tune in and see how it all turns out. I suspect that all Broncos fans, however frustrated we are at the moment, will do the same.

The team has work to do but no one should be writing this team off. Remember, 6 of the last 10 Super Bowl champions didn't even have a first round bye. Just two years ago Baltimore looked so terrible they fired their offensive coordinator in December. There is still time for this team to get it together.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

To me it appears that the big issue is the offensive line. They just aren't getting it done, period. I was at the game yesterday and sat in the end zone, and it's apparent that the line just isn't opening any holes. So the Rams didn't have to respect the run, which allowed them to really get after Manning.

The shuffling of the line has been a disaster. I think the Broncos made a bad decision moving Franklin to guard. Yes, he had a bad Super Bowl, but he'd been a pretty good right tackle up to that point, and I don't think you should judge a guy based solely on his worst game. Now he's struggling at guard, and the right tackle spot is a mess. Vasquez is an all-pro at right guard, but he's only average at right tackle.

I doubt this would happen, but I think the best course the Broncos could take would be to put Ramirez back at center, Vasquez back at rg, Franklin back at left tackle, and bring in Incognito to play left guard.

I mean give some credit to the Rams. They may have the very best DL in all of football. Those guys are ridiculously good. I do however think our offensive line is lacking quality run blocking this year. I also think it has to do with our RB's not being better than NFL backup quality. We need a standout there to help force Fox to want to run the ball more instead of just putting everything on Manning. Manning is too good, our RB's are not that good, and it probably makes Fox think..."If I am going to go down with the ship, I am going to go down on Peyton's shoulders.

We need to figure out a way to get our hands on Melvin Gordon in the draft.

 

[Broncosr0k]

We need to figure out a way to get our hands on Melvin Gordon in the draft.

Whoa now. Hold your horses. One game does not make a career and RB is not necessarily the problem with the run game. Our o-line refuses to run block and Manning/Gase refuse to call run plays.

Also, Wisconsin has a stacked offensive line. They are men amongst boys. Think Alabama a few years ago when they had 3 of 5 linemen get drafted as well as the RB. The 'Bama backs have not done much.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I think this is more of stumble than a fall. That was the 3rd road game in a row and St. Louis has more talent than their records normally show.

That said, if the coaches cannot make the necessary corrections the season will get considerably shorter. I will be at the game in KC. If the woes continue I will make sure to pass on everyone's thoughts to the team. Watch for me on the crime blotter.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Whoa now. Hold your horses. One game does not make a career and RB is not necessarily the problem with the run game. Our o-line refuses to run block and Manning/Gase refuse to call run plays.

Also, Wisconsin has a stacked offensive line. They are men amongst boys. Think Alabama a few years ago when they had 3 of 5 linemen get drafted as well as the RB. The 'Bama backs have not done much.

Yes, I agree with you. But it isn't like Melvin Gordon is not a hell of a back. I like him more than Richardson coming out of the draft. I thought Gordon was a hell of a back before that game, as I keep some tabs on the rest of the Big10 seeing how I am a Buckeye fan. Gordon will be the first running back in 3 years to be selected in the 1st round.

 

[randymon]

I know what Bok is saying with rbs with the highest recruited O- lineman in the nation and their abbreviated stats but I agree with CDS in that Gordon is real deal. I've had the pleasure of watching him a lot this yr and he has great vision, amazing quickness and speed. I've seen him hit small windows many times and make something out of nothing. He's one back that if he won Heisman ( he won't because Mariota will ) that wouldn't have worry about the " curse ". IMO.

 

[Malibu]

Whoa now. Hold your horses. One game does not make a career and RB is not necessarily the problem with the run game. Our o-line refuses to run block and Manning/Gase refuse to call run plays.

Also, Wisconsin has a stacked offensive line. They are men amongst boys. Think Alabama a few years ago when they had 3 of 5 linemen get drafted as well as the RB. The 'Bama backs have not done much.

Lacy and Ingram aren't that bad. Lacy fits what the Packers do and is big in there pass game and Ingram is having a very good year running the ball but I get what you are saying that's why I'm not a fan of Montee Ball and that pick. Gordon has been solid all year and even last year behind White its not just one game.

 

[Malibu]

Yes, I agree with you. But it isn't like Melvin Gordon is not a hell of a back. I like him more than Richardson coming out of the draft. I thought Gordon was a hell of a back before that game, as I keep some tabs on the rest of the Big10 seeing how I am a Buckeye fan. Gordon will be the first running back in 3 years to be selected in the 1st round.

Agreed watching every Badger game like I do he will be a Badger's RB that actually will become a good pro. He has moves, speed, power, and can shift a different direction on a dime unlike some of the other Badgers RB's. That shouldnt be Denvers 1st pick though and there first concern. This year is all that matters as of now.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I don't think that the RBs we have is the problem with our running game nearly so much as I think that our coaching staff's commitment to running the ball is. Levon Bell and Jonas Gray were both beasts this past week. Would either of them on our roster have made the difference at St. Louis?

 

[randymon]

I don't think that the RBs we have is the problem with our running game nearly so much as I think that our coaching staff's commitment to running the ball is. Levon Bell and Jonas Gray were both beasts this past week. Would either of them on our roster have made the difference at St. Louis?

Yeah Td, I think it`s commitment to running the ball that`s the biggest issue. We shall see. Now that all the media,etc is once again ragging on Denvers lack of even trying, Fox comes out and says.." we have to start running the ball". No shit!

 

[Broncosr0k]

Yeah Td, I think it`s commitment to running the ball that`s the biggest issue. We shall see. Now that all the media,etc is once again ragging on Denvers lack of even trying, Fox comes out and says.." we have to start running the ball". No shit!

I am pretty sure they say that after every loss. And wasn't the plan last offseason to get a better run game?

 

[CrashDavisSports]

IT was more a wish than a need. Gordon would be sick in this offense with Peyton. Talk about passing lanes with the play action. People would have to account for Gordon, right now they don't have to. They account for Manning and the running game is an after thought it is that bad.

Perhaps committing to it is necessary, but when you start getting down and you have no running game, it doesn't make much sense to keep running the ball for a yard or two. You are not going to wear any defense out that way.

 

[Duffman]

IT was more a wish than a need. Gordon would be sick in this offense with Peyton. Talk about passing lanes with the play action. People would have to account for Gordon, right now they don't have to. They account for Manning and the running game is an after thought it is that bad.

Perhaps committing to it is necessary, but when you start getting down and you have no running game, it doesn't make much sense to keep running the ball for a yard or two. You are not going to wear any defense out that way.

Only because we make it an afterthought. As bad as we were on Sunday the game was still within reach because the D was holding St. Louis to field goals and not touchdowns.

If we abandon the run completely in the 3rd quarter and we're only down 6 points that's a sign we don't want to run the ball not we don't have solmeone competent enough to do it.

And frankly I'm tired of drafting RB's as high as we do when people like Anderson and Thompson are killing it and they didn't get drafted. We drafted Moreno in the 1st round and he only started acting like it last year, now we have Hillman who we drafted in the 2nd round and Ball who we drafted in the 2nd round. We don't need anymore high picked RB's I don't care how good they are.

 

[cdumler7]

I would much rather focus on the OL early in drafts at this point. The Broncos have shown for years that you don't need an All-Pro running back to have a great running offense. If you have an elite OL then you should have a pretty darn good offense. Look at the Cowboys this year. Murray is a good back don't get me wrong but it definitely makes life easier when the OL has pushed everybody back 3 yards before you even come into contact with a defensive player.


A guy to keep an eye on just thinking draft because that is what I like to do is Brandon Scherff of Iowa. Now he is having a down year which will most likely cause his draft stock to fall but this kid is the real deal. He is tough as nails as he had knee surgery earlier this year and was expected to miss time on the field but he toughed it out. Now this has lead to some bad tape on him but when fully healthy I actually think this kid is a top-15 pick. I think he could fall to us later in the draft. He is a guy that can play all over the line and has the speed to handle the speed rushers but the strength to hold up against the bull rushes as well.


To me we have invested a lot in our DL with Wolfe, Miller, Smith, and Williams all being drafted while also adding FA Ware and Knighton. Time for the team to invest more in the other side of the line. I know we signed Vasquez and drafted Schofield (who I actually think will be a good OL player for us but needs time to develop). We need more than that though.

 

[Broncos6482]

Yeah Td, I think it`s commitment to running the ball that`s the biggest issue. We shall see. Now that all the media,etc is once again ragging on Denvers lack of even trying, Fox comes out and says.." we have to start running the ball". No shit!

And then when we run the ball into the line for one yard gains over and over again and get in third and long people will start screaming that Foxball is going to kill us and we shouldn't be so conservative and we've got Peyton Manning at qb, why won't we let him throw it etc.

The bottom line is the run game won't work until the offensive line starts opening up some holes.

 

[Broncos6482]

I would much rather focus on the OL early in drafts at this point. The Broncos have shown for years that you don't need an All-Pro running back to have a great running offense. If you have an elite OL then you should have a pretty darn good offense. Look at the Cowboys this year. Murray is a good back don't get me wrong but it definitely makes life easier when the OL has pushed everybody back 3 yards before you even come into contact with a defensive player.


A guy to keep an eye on just thinking draft because that is what I like to do is Brandon Scherff of Iowa. Now he is having a down year which will most likely cause his draft stock to fall but this kid is the real deal. He is tough as nails as he had knee surgery earlier this year and was expected to miss time on the field but he toughed it out. Now this has lead to some bad tape on him but when fully healthy I actually think this kid is a top-15 pick. I think he could fall to us later in the draft. He is a guy that can play all over the line and has the speed to handle the speed rushers but the strength to hold up against the bull rushes as well.


To me we have invested a lot in our DL with Wolfe, Miller, Smith, and Williams all being drafted while also adding FA Ware and Knighton. Time for the team to invest more in the other side of the line. I know we signed Vasquez and drafted Schofield (who I actually think will be a good OL player for us but needs time to develop). We need more than that though.

I agree completely. Priority one in the offseason should be fixing the offensive line. We need to find a right tackle, a left guard, and a center.

 

[Duffman]

I thought Montgomery did a good job last week.

 

[Broncosr0k]

And then when we run the ball into the line for one yard gains over and over again and get in third and long people will start screaming that Foxball is going to kill us and we shouldn't be so conservative and we've got Peyton Manning at qb, why won't we let him throw it etc.

The bottom line is the run game won't work until the offensive line starts opening up some holes.

10 attempts against St. Louis. 1 was Manning scrambling. Ball was averaging 3 yards a carry. The most egregious stat there is 9 freaking attempts. I would take at least a 40/20 pass-run approach.

Teams are catching on to our screens that used to count for a run game. I know the line is struggling but we need to at least act like the run will happen. Remember with Orton a few years ago our run game was awful but we had one of the best play-action games.

 

[TDs3nOut]

And then when we run the ball into the line for one yard gains over and over again and get in third and long people will start screaming that Foxball is going to kill us and we shouldn't be so conservative and we've got Peyton Manning at qb, why won't we let him throw it etc.

The bottom line is the run game won't work until the offensive line starts opening up some holes.

Agreed that it doesn't make sense to call running plays when RBs are consistently hit in the backfield. The issue is to keep that from happening. Probably tough to develop that ability at this point in the season, but unless we make significant progress in run blocking, then I'm not too optimistic about how the season will end. Maybe the recent poor play serves as a wake-up call.