Denver Native (Carol)
10-03-2010, 08:35 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16244322?source=rss
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Right tackle Ryan Harris and center J.D. Walton each left LP Field Sunday evening with a bloody lip. Left tackle Ryan Clady had both his knees wrapped in ice, and right guard Chris Kuper was just mad as heck.
Yes, it was a rough day for the Broncos' offensive line, who took the brunt of the punishment from a nasty Tennessee defense and an unrelenting pass rush.
The unit got beat for six sacks — the most allowed by the Broncos in a single game since 2002 — and was bullied after the whistle. Walton, Kuper and Harris all lost their helmets at times, but retained their composure against a defense that Kyle Orton called "cheap."
"There's no excuse for six sacks," Kuper said.
The Titans attacked from the left and the right and right up the gut, putting Orton immediately under siege. Three of the Titans' sacks came in the first quarter, including on back-to-back plays on the Broncos' second possession. Five of the sacks came from Titans' defensive linemen, and the sixth by corner Cortland Finnegan.
"It felt like there were a lot of things coming from a lot of places. But you know what, that's what pro football defenses do," Harris said.
The Titans, though, were able to do it consistently, in part because the Broncos' offense was one dimensional, with 50 pass attempts compared to only 20 runs, just like it was a week ago against Indianapolis. Without the threat of the run, Tennessee blitzed not just on third-down, but on first- and second-downs, too, though four of the six sacks came on third down.
"They did a good job game-planning on us," Kuper said "We've got to step our game up as a group and take some pressure off the pass game and get this run game going."
The line's play improved over the course of the game, which helped the Broncos string together longer drives. Coach Josh McDaniels also praised the group for not having any false start penalties, despite playing in a loud and hostile stadium.
"They pressured us a lot earlier in the game, which kind of discouraged the run game and forced you to stand in there and block them one-on-one in protections," coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think until we got used to it and got comfortable with it, we had a few issues there. This is an aggressive defense."
The Broncos now have the wounds to show for it. Kuper, a team captain and the oldest starter on the line, said he was proud of the way his linemates remained patient and composed, while Orton - normally the one being protected - defended his linemen against the Tennessee defense "I think they are cheap, and it was one of the cheapest games that I've ever seen out of some of those players," Orton said of the Titans. "I thought the refs did a great job of keeping it under control, but when we've got Chris Kuper with his helmet off, getting punched and all that stuff, it's ridiculous."
After the game, Harris called the game a learning experience for the offensive line. Indeed, this entire year has been a trial for a group that has endured changes in coaching staff and philosophy, the addition of several young players, a major offseason knee injury to Clady and early season injuries to Harris and Kuper. Sunday marked Harris' debut after missing three games with an ankle injury, and only his second start since injuring his toe in the seventh game of last year.
"It was important for all of us to know and learn, that if you keep working — whether things go good or bad — if you just keep working and get back on the field, and keep trying. Good things will happen, and that's what happened today, eventually," Harris said.
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Right tackle Ryan Harris and center J.D. Walton each left LP Field Sunday evening with a bloody lip. Left tackle Ryan Clady had both his knees wrapped in ice, and right guard Chris Kuper was just mad as heck.
Yes, it was a rough day for the Broncos' offensive line, who took the brunt of the punishment from a nasty Tennessee defense and an unrelenting pass rush.
The unit got beat for six sacks — the most allowed by the Broncos in a single game since 2002 — and was bullied after the whistle. Walton, Kuper and Harris all lost their helmets at times, but retained their composure against a defense that Kyle Orton called "cheap."
"There's no excuse for six sacks," Kuper said.
The Titans attacked from the left and the right and right up the gut, putting Orton immediately under siege. Three of the Titans' sacks came in the first quarter, including on back-to-back plays on the Broncos' second possession. Five of the sacks came from Titans' defensive linemen, and the sixth by corner Cortland Finnegan.
"It felt like there were a lot of things coming from a lot of places. But you know what, that's what pro football defenses do," Harris said.
The Titans, though, were able to do it consistently, in part because the Broncos' offense was one dimensional, with 50 pass attempts compared to only 20 runs, just like it was a week ago against Indianapolis. Without the threat of the run, Tennessee blitzed not just on third-down, but on first- and second-downs, too, though four of the six sacks came on third down.
"They did a good job game-planning on us," Kuper said "We've got to step our game up as a group and take some pressure off the pass game and get this run game going."
The line's play improved over the course of the game, which helped the Broncos string together longer drives. Coach Josh McDaniels also praised the group for not having any false start penalties, despite playing in a loud and hostile stadium.
"They pressured us a lot earlier in the game, which kind of discouraged the run game and forced you to stand in there and block them one-on-one in protections," coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think until we got used to it and got comfortable with it, we had a few issues there. This is an aggressive defense."
The Broncos now have the wounds to show for it. Kuper, a team captain and the oldest starter on the line, said he was proud of the way his linemates remained patient and composed, while Orton - normally the one being protected - defended his linemen against the Tennessee defense "I think they are cheap, and it was one of the cheapest games that I've ever seen out of some of those players," Orton said of the Titans. "I thought the refs did a great job of keeping it under control, but when we've got Chris Kuper with his helmet off, getting punched and all that stuff, it's ridiculous."
After the game, Harris called the game a learning experience for the offensive line. Indeed, this entire year has been a trial for a group that has endured changes in coaching staff and philosophy, the addition of several young players, a major offseason knee injury to Clady and early season injuries to Harris and Kuper. Sunday marked Harris' debut after missing three games with an ankle injury, and only his second start since injuring his toe in the seventh game of last year.
"It was important for all of us to know and learn, that if you keep working — whether things go good or bad — if you just keep working and get back on the field, and keep trying. Good things will happen, and that's what happened today, eventually," Harris said.