Lonestar
10-04-2010, 01:33 PM
Broncos must run to save Orton
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 10/04/2010 11:49:49 AM MDT
UPDATED: 10/04/2010 11:57:50 AM MDT
The Broncos hope an improved running game will help them avoid sacks like this one, when Tennessee's Tony Brown took down Kyle Orton during the first half of Denver's win Sunday. (Grant Halverson, Getty Images)
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Sunday there was a point in what eventually became a victory over the Titans that he simply kicked the team's faltering run game to the curb.
And that's true. From the 8:15 mark in the fourth quarter the Broncos ran 21 plays and had two penalties on offense to close out the game.
Fifteen of those plays were pass plays, including a sack of quarterback Kyle Orton and three of the six running plays the Broncos ran on their final possession because they were trying to use the clock as they held the lead.
And a fourth was an Orton keeper for a first down. That is chucking the run game to be sure.
While they're not likely to wake up one day and suddenly be able to pound out the yardage, they do have to find a way to run enough to protect Orton. The Titans weren't honoring the Broncos' play-action, choosing the charge at Orton and play the run as a second thought on their way to six sacks.
Orton took plenty of other, potentially game-ending hits as well. And the Ravens and Jets are sure to come after him over the next two weeks with others watching intently as they make the decision in the games that follow.
Because defenses are likely to make the decision at some point that the best way to slow down the Broncos league-leading passing attack is to make sure Orton isn't the one throwing the ball in it.
There is the matter of this sobering statistic as well: Orton is one of four quarterbacks to have been sacked at least 11 times this season. Two of the other three — Michael Vick and Jay Cutler — were knocked out of games Sunday and don't appear to be in line to play again any time soon.
Vick is sporting a rib injury and Cutler has a concussion.
The Broncos are last in the league in rushing at this point, but they may be forced to continue to try no matter the result just to keep Orton in position to win them some games.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com.
Read more: Broncos must run to save Orton - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16249737#ixzz11PsWkTe4
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 10/04/2010 11:49:49 AM MDT
UPDATED: 10/04/2010 11:57:50 AM MDT
The Broncos hope an improved running game will help them avoid sacks like this one, when Tennessee's Tony Brown took down Kyle Orton during the first half of Denver's win Sunday. (Grant Halverson, Getty Images)
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Sunday there was a point in what eventually became a victory over the Titans that he simply kicked the team's faltering run game to the curb.
And that's true. From the 8:15 mark in the fourth quarter the Broncos ran 21 plays and had two penalties on offense to close out the game.
Fifteen of those plays were pass plays, including a sack of quarterback Kyle Orton and three of the six running plays the Broncos ran on their final possession because they were trying to use the clock as they held the lead.
And a fourth was an Orton keeper for a first down. That is chucking the run game to be sure.
While they're not likely to wake up one day and suddenly be able to pound out the yardage, they do have to find a way to run enough to protect Orton. The Titans weren't honoring the Broncos' play-action, choosing the charge at Orton and play the run as a second thought on their way to six sacks.
Orton took plenty of other, potentially game-ending hits as well. And the Ravens and Jets are sure to come after him over the next two weeks with others watching intently as they make the decision in the games that follow.
Because defenses are likely to make the decision at some point that the best way to slow down the Broncos league-leading passing attack is to make sure Orton isn't the one throwing the ball in it.
There is the matter of this sobering statistic as well: Orton is one of four quarterbacks to have been sacked at least 11 times this season. Two of the other three — Michael Vick and Jay Cutler — were knocked out of games Sunday and don't appear to be in line to play again any time soon.
Vick is sporting a rib injury and Cutler has a concussion.
The Broncos are last in the league in rushing at this point, but they may be forced to continue to try no matter the result just to keep Orton in position to win them some games.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com.
Read more: Broncos must run to save Orton - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16249737#ixzz11PsWkTe4