Broncos offense knows it needs to get a grip
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 23, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.
Photo by Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Broncos running back Andre Hall fumbles in Monday's loss to the Patriots. "That's the main thing in our losses - turnovers," tight end Daniel Graham said. "We're just killing ourselves."
In four wins, the Broncos are even in turnover differential. But in three losses, they are a minus-9. The number of fumbles lost, interceptions and turnover margin in each game:
| Opponent | Fum-Int | Margin |
| Wins | ||
| Oakland | 0-0 | +1 |
| San Diego | 0-1 | Even |
| New Orleans | 1-1 | -1 |
| Tampa Bay | 1-0 | Even |
| Losses | ||
| Kansas City | 2-2 | -3 |
| Jacksonville | 2-1 | -1 |
| Patriots | 3-2 | -5 |
The Broncos' turnover leaders, with interceptions, fumbles lost and points resulting from those turnovers:
| Player | Int-Fum | Pts |
| Jay Cutler | 7-1 | 31 |
| Brandon Marshall | 0-2 | 14 |
| Andre Hall | 0-2 | 6 |
| Patrick Ramsey | 0-1 | 0 |
| Eddie Royal | 0-1 | 3 |
| Tony Scheffler | 0-1 | 0 |
| Marcus Thomas | 0-1 | 0 |
Drew on the NFL
Scores and statistics
- Broncos statistics
- Broncos schedule
- Broncos roster
- Broncos depth chart
- NFL scoreboard
- AFC standings
- NFC standings
Broncos inbox
It seems everybody talks about turnovers, but nobody is sure what you can do about them.
And few things have forecast the Broncos' outlook in an ebb-and-flow season thus far more than how many times the Broncos have surrendered the ball through their own mistakes.
"That's always the case," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "You turn the ball over consistently and you consistently don't give yourself a chance to win. The statistics prove it, year after year after year."
They certainly do this season.
In four wins, the Broncos are even with their opponents in turnovers. In their three losses, including Monday night's red-faced effort in prime time, the Broncos are a minus-9.
That dismal total includes three lost fumbles, with two ending their first two offensive possessions of the game, and two interceptions against the Patriots. In all, opponents have turned 16 Broncos turnovers in the first seven games into 54 points, or roughly 31 percent of the points the Broncos have surrendered this season.
"You can't turn the ball over," cornerback Champ Bailey said. "When we do, we don't win. When we don't, we do win."
"That's the main thing in our losses - turnovers. We're just killing ourselves," tight end Daniel Graham said. "We have to do a much better job if we want to win."
But much like telling a busload of kindergartners not to laugh, trying to make it stop isn't always so easy. It's not like the Broncos, or any other team, can add the don't-turn-the-ball-over-ever-again period to their daily practices.
There is only working on "the little things," as they call them. Those individual battles players have with themselves to grip the ball a little tighter as they head into the pile, to keep it every time.
"Turnovers are the things as a player, it's hard to say you're not going to do it, you just know you can't have them," receiver Brandon Stokley said. "I don't think there's one thing you can do to say, 'Hey, we won't fumble, we won't have turnovers.' You just can't do it in a game and win.
"But it is tough sometimes - you can't go out there and do everything to fix it. You can do ball drills, have people try to strip it. . . . You can do all that stuff, but on game day, it's just one of those things you know that can't happen or it's going to be trouble."
Earlier this season, Shanahan answered a question about defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, who had intercepted a pass only to fumble it away, having shown any skills as a runner on the play with "if he does that again, he won't be a defensive tackle."
Receiver Brandon Marshall went as far as to carry a football around the Broncos complex, with various people, including some of the team's equipment staff, trying to knock the ball free in the wake of a fumble against the Jaguars.
"It's hard work in practice, more of an attitude, to emphasize it," Graham said. "But it's up to every person who touches that ball to protect it. Last few games, the way we're going, teams are going to start trying to strip it."
"You can think about it, but to me, the one thing you can't do is think about them too much," running back Michael Pittman said. "A lot of people, they go into a game thinking, 'I can't turn the football over, I can't fumble, I can't drop it,' and that's all they're thinking about. You have to relax and go out there and just go out and play, too."
For quarterback Jay Cutler, it's simply about decision making for him. Good choices, as he looks into coverage, result in good plays much of the time. Sometimes, bad choices, mistakes on his part before he lets go of the ball, turn into interceptions.
There also are coaches around the league who adamantly believe if a ballcarrier holds the ball correctly - with three points of contact against his body - the chances of fumbling are minimal.
"I do think if you carry it right, it won't come out, the only way it can get knocked out is a guy coming from the back," Pittman said. "In the Jacksonville game, I made a cut on the linebacker in front of me, but the D-lineman came from behind me.
"I still had it pretty high and tight, but a little to the side, and he got his hand in there. Sometimes you can't avoid it. Turnovers are going to happen sometimes, but the ones you can avoid, you want to avoid. Don't help them get you. You have to take care of what you're supposed to, do things right and just play."
For many, it's as simple as to protect the ball in practice and, by sheer repetition, you will protect it in a game. That, like anything learned, the repeated motion, over and over again, will make it easier to do at game speed.
"It happens so quick in a game, it has to be an instinct thing," Stokley said. "Usually, I'm getting low to the ground anyway to avoid the contact. It has to be instinct, though - you can't think about all that, you just have to do it. And right now, we really have to do it."
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
Broncos cheerleaders
October 23, 2008
11:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
golfercmo writes:
TRY PRACTICING FULL SPEED! TRY PRACTICING WITH PADS! TRY TACKLING!! FULL SPEED! IN PRACTICE!!
You can't just tackle and run the ball in the GAME at FULL SPEED and expect to be ready for FULL SPEED... it's a joke! I'm a HUGE broncos fan and I KNOW that is problem number ONE with this team... and I think Shannahan is awesome, but he has soft teams because he lets them practice at half speed, no pads, not tackling to the ground. You can't just flip a switch and be tough and hard!
October 24, 2008
8:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
zebra9182 writes:
Is it just me, or does there simply seem to be no legitimate discussion about the Broncos' primary problem: Defense (or lack thereof)? In watching Monday's gem, it's apparent that whatever defensive scheme Denver is using is simply not working. We can talk turnovers all day - definitely need an improvement - but games are being lost on both sides of the ball. The news coverage on the defense seems cursory at best. Until there is a real focus on it, I wouldn't expect to see the improvements needed. And let's hope that another embarrassment like Monday night is not on the horizon.
October 24, 2008
9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
TopGun writes:
Yes the defense is lousy, but when the offense keeps turing the ball over, bad things are gonna happen.
October 24, 2008
10:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
SE7EN writes:
This team is too lopsided. The Defense can't hold their own when the offense is struggling. This defense depends on the offense scoring 30+ points to give them a chance to win. The defense should be able to step it up when the offense is having a bad night. The problem is, the defense hasn't stepped it up for most of the season. If not for the Offense averaging 38 points in their first three games, they'd be 1-6 right now.
October 24, 2008
11:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
myerda00 writes:
Does anyone know anything about Charlton Powell? He was put on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list before the season, so he should be eligiable to return after the seventh game, correct?
October 24, 2008
11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Six_Does_Not_Equal_Seven writes:
Absolutely lopsided. This team is 85% offense and 15% defense as far as strengths go. - (I'll leave special teams out of the conversation for now) - If the offense holds up to it's end of the bargain, the defense appears stronger than it really is - the Saints game is an example of that. But if the offense struggles at all, this thing folds like a house of cards. The Broncos have to go after a first rate defensive coordinator - no more Bates or Slowiks or even Coyer-types. We need a real big name - proven guy in there. That's step one. Obviously we also need the horses - pun intended - on the field to get the job done. These no-name fixes have not and will not cut it. I love the Broncos, but this year is as good as done. They have to blow up the defense - unfortunately - and start anew - again - but this time with real, meaningful change. I'm sorry, but I knew this "D" was gonna be garbage when they named Nate Webster the starting MLB. He and Boss are special teams players at best. And that's not even mentioning a grossly under-talented defensive line.
October 24, 2008
12:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
slamnsam569 writes:
come on D-FENCE you can do it...smash mouth football...if the zebras are gona call us for nothing ,15 yards....make em pay for it...they are hurting us...hurt them back...get it ? instead of take n the pain ....start give'n it.......
October 24, 2008
12:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
BroncoCountryHawaii writes:
Carlton Powell was placed on the IR.
October 24, 2008
12:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
mmmark217 writes:
It's kind of unfortunate, but it appears that the broncos need a running back. Young is too small and has proven over the first two years that he's been here that he can't absorb the punishment. Hall appears to be a fumbler and Pittman is like 36 or something like that. The defense is poor at best. So now what do the Bronc's do?
October 24, 2008
1:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
sbhchawk writes:
Carlton Powell, if he is the kid drafted from Virginia Tech hurt his knee and was done for the season. Thats my memory at least. I remember reading that some statistic showed he had the lowest gain per carry average when ran at his gap in college football last year. The knock was he wasn't explosive and couldn't collapse a pocket. I'd take that run stuffing support though and hopefully he's learning the NFL game and will be a part of the rotation next year.
October 24, 2008
3:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
mmmark217, Pittman is 33. he was born in 75.