Why our offense was ranked #16 last year?

[TimBuff10]

Most people seem to think we had the best offense in the league last year but I think any rational person measures an offense by how many points it scores. In scoring we ranked #16, complete middle of the pack in the NFL.

I know we racked up a bunch of yards between the 20s, but when it counted, we seemed to stall in the redzone more than any other team. I can't find any redzone stats out there but I do recall being very frustrated by the lack of success in the redzone along with many three and outs last year.

Lots of turnovers contributed to this, and gambling on some throws either led to TDs or picks. I am thinking with Orton being a bit less flashy along with hopefully having a better running game will make us far more consistent this year and with any luck we could be a redzone beast!

[broncohead]

I think it's somewhere inbetween. Have to take yards gained and points scored both into consideration when talking about the offense.

[weazel]

in other surprising news... today is Wednesday, which is usually followed by Thursday.

[TimBuff10]

I think it's somewhere inbetween. Have to take yards gained and points scored both into consideration when talking about the offense.

So if you lose by 1 point, but out gain the other team by 400 yards you consider that a win?

[Dirk]

Just for the sake of the thread....

Team G Plys Yds/G Y/P FD/G 3rd Md 3rd Att 3rd % 4th Md 4th Att 4th % Pen PenYds TOP TF L
New Orleans 16 1047 410.7 6.3 22.1 97 200 48.5 10 18 55.6 86 797 30:23 18 8
Denver 16 1019 395.8 6.2 22.1 95 200 47.5 4 10 40.0 77 739 28:44 18 12
Houston 16 1019 382.1 6.0 21.2 83 197 42.1 14 23 60.9 80 664 31:57 28 12
Arizona 16 998 365.8 5.9 20.5 83 198 41.9 8 16 50.0 107 781 30:09 27 15
New England 16 1095 365.4 5.3 22.2 96 222 43.2 17 22 77.3 57 501 32:09 17 10

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/stats/teamsort/NFL/OFF-TOTAL/2008/regular?sort_col_1=4

[Dirk]

Sorry that looks bad...but not sure how to clean it up.

[Northman]

Well, a healthy Hillis and Moreno should change that.

[TimBuff10]

Just for the sake of the thread....

Team G Plys Yds/G Y/P FD/G 3rd Md 3rd Att 3rd % 4th Md 4th Att 4th % Pen PenYds TOP TF L
New Orleans 16 1047 410.7 6.3 22.1 97 200 48.5 10 18 55.6 86 797 30:23 18 8
Denver 16 1019 395.8 6.2 22.1 95 200 47.5 4 10 40.0 77 739 28:44 18 12
Houston 16 1019 382.1 6.0 21.2 83 197 42.1 14 23 60.9 80 664 31:57 28 12
Arizona 16 998 365.8 5.9 20.5 83 198 41.9 8 16 50.0 107 781 30:09 27 15
New England 16 1095 365.4 5.3 22.2 96 222 43.2 17 22 77.3 57 501 32:09 17 10

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/stats/teamsort/NFL/OFF-TOTAL/2008/regular?sort_col_1=4

Anyone have any redzone stats? I couldn't find any but that was the main point of my thread... We moved the ball, but the offensive stat that counted was pretty pathetic when you consider how many yards we gained.

[Dirk]

Sorry, here is a site I found that has Denver at #16 in Redzone...along with stats.

Team Poss TD FG Scor
Pct TD
Pct
1. Ind. 50 34 11 .900 .680
2. Car. 49 32 14 .939 .653
3. Ten. 45 28 14 .933 .622
4. N.O. 62 38 15 .855 .613
5. Det. 31 19 7 .839 .613
6. G.B. 48 29 16 .938 .604
7. Mia. 45 27 11 .844 .600
8. Dall. 44 26 8 .773 .591
9. Ariz. 65 38 16 .831 .585
10. K.C. 45 26 13 .867 .578
11. S.D. 65 37 23 .923 .569
12. Chi. 50 28 17 .900 .560
13. Jax. 45 25 9 .756 .556
14. Atl. 56 31 17 .857 .554
15. Pitt. 49 27 17 .898 .551
16. Den. 55 30 14 .800 .545

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL+Statistics/Inside+the+Red+Zone/2008/finalredzn.htm

[powderaddict]

The ST and Defense put the offense in a bad spot, which led to longer drives.

The Broncos were finishing drives much more often before someone dropped a nuke on every RB.

There was definately room for improvement in efficiency though (finishing off drives). Hopefully improved ST & Defense play will help the offense not have to drive 80+ yards every drive.

Funny how every aspect effects each other isn't it? No running = less sustained drives = bad field position for defense = more points scored against = more ST opportunities to mess up starting field position = longer drives = less points = increased pressure on defense = abandoning running game (no running) = ....

[broncohead]

So if you lose by 1 point, but out gain the other team by 400 yards you consider that a win?

Did I say that? I just said both have to be considered. I would rank us somewhere around 10-12 in offense last year. Points scored is more imortant of course but without yards gained there won't be any points scored.

[Dreadnought]

The ST and Defense put the offense in a bad spot, which led to longer drives.

The Broncos were finishing drives much more often before someone dropped a nuke on every RB.

There was definately room for improvement in efficiency though (finishing off drives). Hopefully improved ST & Defense play will help the offense not have to drive 80+ yards every drive.

Funny how every aspect effects each other isn't it? No running = less sustained drives = bad field position for defense = more points scored against = more ST opportunities to mess up starting field position = longer drives = less points = increased pressure on defense = abandoning running game (no running) = ....


Factor in turnovers as well. We forced a miserably small number, which means that we not only benefitted from (I think) only one cheap TD directly off of a turnover but we also rarely gave the offense the gift of a short field. Its not too hard to cash in if you start a drive at the opponent's 25 every once in a while. I think the 16th ranking in scoring is more deceptive than the 2nd ranking in yards, though they both say something.

[weazel]

Sorry that looks bad...but not sure how to clean it up.

I dont know what you do for that man, I gave up trying to post stat lines!

[honz]

The best way is to just take a small screen shot and then post the image...but that's not always easy either.

[underrated29]

Sorry, here is a site I found that has Denver at #16 in Redzone...along with stats.

Team Poss TD FG Scor
Pct TD
Pct
1. Ind. 50 34 11 .900 .680
2. Car. 49 32 14 .939 .653
3. Ten. 45 28 14 .933 .622
4. N.O. 62 38 15 .855 .613
5. Det. 31 19 7 .839 .613
6. G.B. 48 29 16 .938 .604
7. Mia. 45 27 11 .844 .600
8. Dall. 44 26 8 .773 .591
9. Ariz. 65 38 16 .831 .585
10. K.C. 45 26 13 .867 .578
11. S.D. 65 37 23 .923 .569
12. Chi. 50 28 17 .900 .560
13. Jax. 45 25 9 .756 .556
14. Atl. 56 31 17 .857 .554
15. Pitt. 49 27 17 .898 .551
16. Den. 55 30 14 .800 .545

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL+Statistics/Inside+the+Red+Zone/2008/finalredzn.htm

I only see 6 teams that scored more tds than us. The most was 8 more tds than us. most were 1-4 tds more. So the percentages might say 16, but tds we were only 6th.

And thats with no RB to punch the ball in and all our turnovers.

Teams ahead of us
NO-38
AZ-38
SD-37
IND-34
Car-32
ATl-31
DENVER-30

Of those teams all had a solid RB who could punch it in and push the pile. We did not.

RBs-duece,thomas; Edge,hightower; LT,hester; addai,rhodes; dwill2,stewart; turner.

We had-.....tatum bell.

When torain,hillis,pittman were healthy they could punch it, after we lost them we lost all ability to run and grind out the toughies.

If you can run you lessen the chance for a turnover too. So imo its killing two birds with 1 stone that we A). have Knowshon, and B). have some health this year (i pray).

Even against the top defense in wich we face next year i still think we will be top 5 in O and scoring. Call me a homer if you will- we will see.