Broncos offense finally moving
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 22, 2008 at 11:09 p.m.
What was the most striking aspect of the Broncos’ preseason game against the Packers?
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The preseason was a moving experience for the Broncos' first-team offense, which is almost certainly done for the summer.
Denver's first-stringers punted to start the preseason in Houston on Aug. 8, but since then they have embarked on TD drives covering 74, 65, 90, 99 and 80 yards over their next nine possessions.
Two other marches resulted in field-goal attempts by Matt Prater, a 49-yard miss on the final play before halftime vs. Dallas on Aug. 16 and a 40-yarder that split the uprights in the first quarter Friday.
That's seven scores or opportunities for points on 10 preseason possessions, with only two three-and-outs total after Denver's 27-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Friday night at Invesco Field.
Not bad for a group working in two new offensive tackles in Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris; a rookie receiver in Eddie Royal; a substitute center in Casey Wiegmann; and a rotation of running backs that remains unsettled.
Overall, in its five quarters of work this month, Denver's No. 1 offense produced 33 first downs, an 8-for-15 conversion rate on third downs and 511 net yards on 10 possessions in its three preseason games.
"We're happy, but it doesn't mean anything until you get to the regular season," Wiegmann said. "We've got to take what we did and improve on what we've done. Defenses aren't giving us what they would in the regular season, so you don't really know. So you have to put things aside and be realistic about it, too."
The biggest plus emerging Friday was that the running game got cranked up after pedestrian results in the first two exhibition games.
In the 99-yard drive that was the offense's biggest highlight, Denver ran 10 times on 16 snaps. Andre Hall further solidified his rotation spot with Selvin Young, carrying five times for 35 yards, including an 18-yarder up the gut he almost broke. Young, who had the night's longest run, of 21 yards, and Michael Pittman each converted third-down carries.
Even fullback Peyton Hillis got into the fray on the drive with a critical 14-yard, tackle- breaking catch that got Denver out from the shadow of its own goal line.
Denver (1-2) finished the first half with 15 carries for 91 yards, a 6.1 average after averaging 3.8 yards per carry in the Aug. 16 game against Dallas.
"We took it back to the film room and me, Selvin and Pitt saw a lot of holes that we missed in the last two games," Hall said. "So we went back to basics, reading the defense and hitting up in there - read the zone and get downhill. That's all that was."
The biggest constant this summer has been quarterback Jay Cutler. Against Green Bay, he continued to provide hints he might make the leap the Broncos are expecting this year.
Cutler wasn't as sharp as previous preseason games early, misfiring on six of his first seven passes, but he then threw touchdown passes of 7 yards to tight end Nate Jackson and 49 yards to Brandon Marshall to produce a 17-13 halftime lead before the reserves entered en masse.
With Cutler and the rest of the starters not expecting to play in the preseason finale, his final summer numbers will be 30-for- 43 passing (69.8 percent) for 352 yards with three TDs, zero interceptions - a 117.6 rating. He also wasn't sacked and scored a rushing touchdown.
"He's playing great," Jackson said. "And a lot of it has to do with him being in his third year in the system. The system's a difficult one to understand but once you get a grasp of it, you know where you're going before you go there. He's showing that."
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August 23, 2008
12:16 a.m.
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Packerfan writes:
Don't get too optomistic...Green Bay's defense is drastically overrated. That 99 yard drive looked like a hot knife through butter. Cutler does have a cannon, though.
August 23, 2008
8:46 a.m.
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hoppman writes:
Packerfan -- Back at you, the Broncos defense just made Rogers look like a pro bowler and he isn't. He will face a much better pass rush in his division, or in any game for that matter, than he got from the Broncos, and then you will know what kind of quarterback the Pack has now.
August 23, 2008
8:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
broncodano writes:
you play vanilla defense in the pre season.. its kinda the rules... not alot of stunts, not alot of blitzing... so the defense now is different than the defense in the regular season.
Rodgers looked very good. He looked good because he used the dink and dunk... quick passes to the flats.. the basis of the west coast system. Its definately hard to defend.
What i liked about the game was our offense. The Broncos would have averaged 200 yards rushing and 117 qb rating.
How can you not be happy about that? ESPECIALLY WITH THE SECOND YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE NFL.
bd
August 23, 2008
9:19 a.m.
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Brain writes:
Offense looks good; the OL is surprisingly good; where is Scheffler? Eddie Royal had no catches, dissapointing. The defense still needs to play better, although the offense might be able to score 30+ points in most games and should win 11 games this year. Prater looks like he will be fine and he gets the ball in the end zone on kick-offs
August 23, 2008
9:51 a.m.
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xxx writes:
I was thinking that same thing Brain...but you know when it comes down to it scheffler can get it done.
August 23, 2008
12:54 p.m.
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Broncody writes:
I might be jumping the gun here but I really want Hillis on the field as much as possible, he really seems to have heart.
August 23, 2008
3:36 p.m.
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Dynamicdave writes:
Brain, Eddie was being double teamed most of the game. That's why Brandon was open so often. It's nice when we can dictate what the other team is going to do.
August 23, 2008
5:44 p.m.
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Brain writes:
Hillis does need to be on the field more, good player. Eddie being doubled is good but not smart to leave Marshall open, but Marshall should've had a better game (2 for 71 1td) too than.
I think they tried to go to others in the game to prepare for Oakland though.
August 23, 2008
6:09 p.m.
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broncosfaninphx writes:
I think that you will see a very good offense this year and a drastically improved defense. The defense will have to be great in order for the Broncos to have a great season. It is just like any other team though, and that injuries dictate a seasons outcome. If the Broncos can stay healthy, they will make some noise this year,
August 23, 2008
6:43 p.m.
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Dynamicdave writes:
broncosfaninphx, yes, staying healthy is key. Elvis dislocated and fractured his finger but he has 2 weeks to rest it. I just don't know how it will effect his play? It's hard to grab someone with a cast on. As for Marquand Manuel, the thumb is a real problem. Again, I don't know what that will mean for his future with the Broncos, for this year, anyways? We have 2 weeks to heal and fine tune the team for regular season. I won't read too much into next weeks game because our starters won't play. Of course, should they lose, I'm sure we'll hear from the "doom and gloom" squad, as we always do.
August 23, 2008
9:36 p.m.
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Broncody writes:
I think Elvis will be fine with a cast on as long as he is able to wrap up well and may force him to use good tackling form and improve him in the long run, plus it is hard to call a facemask (which I believe is an auto 15 yard penalty now this year) when your hand is in a cast. I'm not expecting big things out of anybody on the D-line except from "Doom" and Robertson with the outside chance or Marcus Thomas and Tim Crowder really coming along. I liked what I saw out of Crowder before he hit the "rookie wall". Unfortunately I haven't seen a thing out of Jarvis Moss but I will postpone my judgement of him until he gets a good healthy season behind him. Oh and I am expecting a HUGE season from a Jay Cutler now that he has his blood sugar in check. I hope Jack Williams comes along too... I have to root for a Williams playing CB for the Broncos. I like Broncos rookies a lot this year. I hope Carlton Powell and Torain can come back and be 100% for next year and earlier for Torain because I think they will have a good impact. Royal, Clady, Hillis, and Torain should all have impacts this season. I'm excited GO BRONCOS
August 23, 2008
9:52 p.m.
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Dynamicdave writes:
Broncody, I think Dumervil and Robertson will be a huge help. But don't fortget Boss Bailey. He will be an impact player. I think we will see the RB's being used a lot while Brandon is out. Possibly our TE's, as well. We will have a great season. Oh, just thought I'd add this, There is 2:38 left in the 4th and the Cardinals are beating the Traiters, 24-0. HAH!