Lonestar
08-23-2010, 03:49 PM
Analysis: Improving the Broncos' running game had better be a rush job
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/23/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Broncos running back Lance Ball fends off Zack Follett with a hard shot to the face mask during a second-quarter run Saturday night. Ball scored a touchdown on a pass reception in the first half. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post )
Two games into the Broncos' preseason with two to play, their running game begs this question: Is it the backs or not?
Last season, when the Denver running game limped through most short-yardage situations and was unable to close the deal in several games because the team couldn't pound away at defenses to score touchdowns and eat the clock, coach Josh McDaniels was peppered with questions. Why didn't he use Peyton Hillis? Was first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno tired? And why didn't the running backs seem to explode through the holes?
McDaniels repeatedly said the issues were more than the running backs.
Then the Broncos rebuilt their offensive line during the offseason, making it a more bruising group. But with all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady injured and missing all of training camp, the Broncos' makeover has resulted in an offensive line that includes two rookies who are starters — center J.D. Walton and left guard Zane Beadles — and a left tackle, D'Anthony Batiste, who has just four starts in his NFL career.
Also, three running backs are hurt.
As a result, the Broncos have rushed for just 111 yards in two preseason games and averaged 3.2 yards per carry. The Broncos have one rushing touchdown in the two games, and their No. 1 offense has run the ball only 11 times overall.
Moreno (hamstring injury) and Correll Buckhalter (head and neck) could miss the entire preseason. That means the Bronos could open their season Sept. 12 at Jacksonville without seeing what their front-line running game can do in game conditions.
McDaniels said he was going to pass early and often in the Broncos' preseason opener at Cincinnati and that they would pound away a little more against the Detroit Lions in the second preseason game Saturday night.
But the Lions' 4-3 defense is fast and aggressive. And with rookie Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, anchoring the middle of their defensive line, the Lions controlled the line of scrimmage when starters were playing against starters Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
As a result, the Broncos' first-team offense had serious issues on first down. Before they went into their hurry-up look when they regained possession with 59 seconds left in the first half, the Broncos had nine first-down plays — two incomplete passes, a run for minus-1 yard, three runs of 2 yards, a run of 4 yards, a run of 7 yards and a sack of Kyle Orton for a 7-yard loss. On those nine first-down plays, the starting offense was in a second-and-8 situation or worse seven times.
Those are percentages no offense can live with. Teams that can't run the ball effectively, for whatever reason, face those percentages.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15861013
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/23/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Broncos running back Lance Ball fends off Zack Follett with a hard shot to the face mask during a second-quarter run Saturday night. Ball scored a touchdown on a pass reception in the first half. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post )
Two games into the Broncos' preseason with two to play, their running game begs this question: Is it the backs or not?
Last season, when the Denver running game limped through most short-yardage situations and was unable to close the deal in several games because the team couldn't pound away at defenses to score touchdowns and eat the clock, coach Josh McDaniels was peppered with questions. Why didn't he use Peyton Hillis? Was first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno tired? And why didn't the running backs seem to explode through the holes?
McDaniels repeatedly said the issues were more than the running backs.
Then the Broncos rebuilt their offensive line during the offseason, making it a more bruising group. But with all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady injured and missing all of training camp, the Broncos' makeover has resulted in an offensive line that includes two rookies who are starters — center J.D. Walton and left guard Zane Beadles — and a left tackle, D'Anthony Batiste, who has just four starts in his NFL career.
Also, three running backs are hurt.
As a result, the Broncos have rushed for just 111 yards in two preseason games and averaged 3.2 yards per carry. The Broncos have one rushing touchdown in the two games, and their No. 1 offense has run the ball only 11 times overall.
Moreno (hamstring injury) and Correll Buckhalter (head and neck) could miss the entire preseason. That means the Bronos could open their season Sept. 12 at Jacksonville without seeing what their front-line running game can do in game conditions.
McDaniels said he was going to pass early and often in the Broncos' preseason opener at Cincinnati and that they would pound away a little more against the Detroit Lions in the second preseason game Saturday night.
But the Lions' 4-3 defense is fast and aggressive. And with rookie Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, anchoring the middle of their defensive line, the Lions controlled the line of scrimmage when starters were playing against starters Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
As a result, the Broncos' first-team offense had serious issues on first down. Before they went into their hurry-up look when they regained possession with 59 seconds left in the first half, the Broncos had nine first-down plays — two incomplete passes, a run for minus-1 yard, three runs of 2 yards, a run of 4 yards, a run of 7 yards and a sack of Kyle Orton for a 7-yard loss. On those nine first-down plays, the starting offense was in a second-and-8 situation or worse seven times.
Those are percentages no offense can live with. Teams that can't run the ball effectively, for whatever reason, face those percentages.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15861013