Lonestar
10-06-2010, 05:01 PM
Negative plays not a positive for Broncos, McDaniels says
POSTED: 10/05/2010 04:53:23 PM MDT
UPDATED: 10/05/2010 10:49:57 PM MDT
It took only one offensive play in Sunday's 26-20 victory at Tennessee to realize that the Broncos' running game was, once again, in big trouble.
Laurence Maroney took the first handoff of the Broncos' first offensive series and promptly was tackled for a 4-yard loss.
It was the first of 10 rushes that went for either negative yards or no gain on the day for Maroney and fellow running back Correll Buckhalter — seven for Maroney and three for Buckhalter.
In the days leading up to the Tennessee game, Broncos coach Josh McDan- iels had tried to put a silver lining on the team's struggles in the running game by saying that at least the team was gaining positive yardage.
But after Sunday's numerous negative or no-gain rushes, combined with six sacks on quarterback Kyle Orton, McDaniels said the team has to do a better job of keeping the defense out of the backfield.
"We're not going to be able to overcome 15 negative plays every week," McDaniels said Monday. "That starts with our ability to keep the line of scrimmage clean, run and hit the holes when we're running the football, and then keep Kyle standing on his two feet because he's been pretty effective when he's been doing that."
Vickerson impresses in first start.
Defensive end Kevin Vickerson made his first start for the Broncos on Sunday ahead of Ryan McBean — the only defensive line starter who returned from last season.
Vickerson, signed at the end of the preseason after he was released by Seattle, made six tackles — three solo and three assists — against the Titans, and the team is happy with both his run defense and ability to collapse the pocket.
Vaughn rookie leader.
Cornerback Cassius Vaughn has barely seen the field on defense this season, yet he's leading all rookies in the NFL with two recovered fumbles.
Both turnovers came on special teams — the first against Seattle in Week 2 and again in Sunday's victory at Tennessee.
"I've just ended up being in the right place at the right time," Vaughn said.
Vaughn was the only undrafted rookie to make the Broncos' 53-man roster this year, in large part because of his ability to play special teams.
Footnotes.
The four-game suspension of running back LenDale White is over. White, on the injured reserve list since the end of the preseason, will now receive his paycheck while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. . . . Kicker Matt Prater has made his last 16 field goals, the longest current streak in NFL. . . . The Broncos worked out defensive end Ryon Bingham, who spent five seasons with the Chargers after being a seventh-round pick by the team in the 2005 draft. He spent the 2009 season on injured reserve with a torn biceps muscle.
Lindsay H. Jones and Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post
Read more: Negative plays not a positive for Broncos, McDaniels says - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16261057?source=rss#ixzz11cO0HrM0
POSTED: 10/05/2010 04:53:23 PM MDT
UPDATED: 10/05/2010 10:49:57 PM MDT
It took only one offensive play in Sunday's 26-20 victory at Tennessee to realize that the Broncos' running game was, once again, in big trouble.
Laurence Maroney took the first handoff of the Broncos' first offensive series and promptly was tackled for a 4-yard loss.
It was the first of 10 rushes that went for either negative yards or no gain on the day for Maroney and fellow running back Correll Buckhalter — seven for Maroney and three for Buckhalter.
In the days leading up to the Tennessee game, Broncos coach Josh McDan- iels had tried to put a silver lining on the team's struggles in the running game by saying that at least the team was gaining positive yardage.
But after Sunday's numerous negative or no-gain rushes, combined with six sacks on quarterback Kyle Orton, McDaniels said the team has to do a better job of keeping the defense out of the backfield.
"We're not going to be able to overcome 15 negative plays every week," McDaniels said Monday. "That starts with our ability to keep the line of scrimmage clean, run and hit the holes when we're running the football, and then keep Kyle standing on his two feet because he's been pretty effective when he's been doing that."
Vickerson impresses in first start.
Defensive end Kevin Vickerson made his first start for the Broncos on Sunday ahead of Ryan McBean — the only defensive line starter who returned from last season.
Vickerson, signed at the end of the preseason after he was released by Seattle, made six tackles — three solo and three assists — against the Titans, and the team is happy with both his run defense and ability to collapse the pocket.
Vaughn rookie leader.
Cornerback Cassius Vaughn has barely seen the field on defense this season, yet he's leading all rookies in the NFL with two recovered fumbles.
Both turnovers came on special teams — the first against Seattle in Week 2 and again in Sunday's victory at Tennessee.
"I've just ended up being in the right place at the right time," Vaughn said.
Vaughn was the only undrafted rookie to make the Broncos' 53-man roster this year, in large part because of his ability to play special teams.
Footnotes.
The four-game suspension of running back LenDale White is over. White, on the injured reserve list since the end of the preseason, will now receive his paycheck while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. . . . Kicker Matt Prater has made his last 16 field goals, the longest current streak in NFL. . . . The Broncos worked out defensive end Ryon Bingham, who spent five seasons with the Chargers after being a seventh-round pick by the team in the 2005 draft. He spent the 2009 season on injured reserve with a torn biceps muscle.
Lindsay H. Jones and Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post
Read more: Negative plays not a positive for Broncos, McDaniels says - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16261057?source=rss#ixzz11cO0HrM0