Lonestar
11-18-2009, 03:11 PM
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/18/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
It may be a passing league with the names of quarterbacks all over the marquee, but the Broncos have done better this year when they have a functional running game.
In their six victories, the Broncos have averaged 25.3 rushing attempts, with a season-most 45 carries for 215 yards against the Raiders in Week 2. In the Broncos' three losses, they have averaged 18.3 rushes.
"We can run the ball better than we have lately," Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter said. "We've done good things there."
The Broncos leaned more about rookie Knowshon Moreno last Sunday in their 27-17 loss at Washington, with Moreno getting 18 of the team's 22 rushing attempts.
Denver running backs coach Bobby Turner says as Moreno continues to adjust to the idea he won't have 5, 6 or 7 yards of open field before reaching a defensive player, as he did in college at Georgia, his production will improve.
"He's a rookie; that's the bottom line," Turner said. "All those young guys come in, they're effective at where they were and he wants to go out and rush for 100-plus yards like all backs do. That's going to come."
Opposite streaks.
This is the fourth consecutive season the Broncos have had a losing streak of at least three games.
The Chargers, who play Sunday in Denver, are riding a four-game winning streak. It's their sixth consecutive season with a winning streak that long.
More of Merriman.
The Broncos held Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman without a sack Oct. 19 in San Diego. Denver used a variety of blockers on the former Pro Bowl selection, including a smattering of plays when wide receiver Brandon Marshall had the duty.
Merriman, who was bothered by a groin injury early in the season, had five tackles.
Obviously improving physically in recent weeks, Merriman now has four sacks, all in the past three games, with two against the Giants and two against the Raiders.
Thanksgiving whine.
Giants co-owner John Mara has gone public with his dissatisfaction with the team's Thanksgiving night game in Denver.
Mara told the New York Daily News it "was not an ideal situation," and the paper reported he lodged a formal complaint with the NFL.
The Broncos and Giants play home games Sunday; New York faces the Atlanta Falcons.
Next week's game in Denver will be just the third time the Giants have played on Thanksgiving since the AFL- NFL merger in 1970 (they are 1-1). It will be the Broncos' third Thanksgiving appearance since the start of the 2005 season. They have played on the road against the Cowboys and Chiefs during that span.
Pro Bowl voting.
Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is the only Broncos player who leads the fan portion of the voting for the Pro Bowl at his position. Bailey leads all cornerbacks — AFC and NFC — with 185,103 votes. Fan voting continues on the league's website until Dec. 21.
Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13811501
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/18/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
It may be a passing league with the names of quarterbacks all over the marquee, but the Broncos have done better this year when they have a functional running game.
In their six victories, the Broncos have averaged 25.3 rushing attempts, with a season-most 45 carries for 215 yards against the Raiders in Week 2. In the Broncos' three losses, they have averaged 18.3 rushes.
"We can run the ball better than we have lately," Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter said. "We've done good things there."
The Broncos leaned more about rookie Knowshon Moreno last Sunday in their 27-17 loss at Washington, with Moreno getting 18 of the team's 22 rushing attempts.
Denver running backs coach Bobby Turner says as Moreno continues to adjust to the idea he won't have 5, 6 or 7 yards of open field before reaching a defensive player, as he did in college at Georgia, his production will improve.
"He's a rookie; that's the bottom line," Turner said. "All those young guys come in, they're effective at where they were and he wants to go out and rush for 100-plus yards like all backs do. That's going to come."
Opposite streaks.
This is the fourth consecutive season the Broncos have had a losing streak of at least three games.
The Chargers, who play Sunday in Denver, are riding a four-game winning streak. It's their sixth consecutive season with a winning streak that long.
More of Merriman.
The Broncos held Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman without a sack Oct. 19 in San Diego. Denver used a variety of blockers on the former Pro Bowl selection, including a smattering of plays when wide receiver Brandon Marshall had the duty.
Merriman, who was bothered by a groin injury early in the season, had five tackles.
Obviously improving physically in recent weeks, Merriman now has four sacks, all in the past three games, with two against the Giants and two against the Raiders.
Thanksgiving whine.
Giants co-owner John Mara has gone public with his dissatisfaction with the team's Thanksgiving night game in Denver.
Mara told the New York Daily News it "was not an ideal situation," and the paper reported he lodged a formal complaint with the NFL.
The Broncos and Giants play home games Sunday; New York faces the Atlanta Falcons.
Next week's game in Denver will be just the third time the Giants have played on Thanksgiving since the AFL- NFL merger in 1970 (they are 1-1). It will be the Broncos' third Thanksgiving appearance since the start of the 2005 season. They have played on the road against the Cowboys and Chiefs during that span.
Pro Bowl voting.
Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is the only Broncos player who leads the fan portion of the voting for the Pro Bowl at his position. Bailey leads all cornerbacks — AFC and NFC — with 185,103 votes. Fan voting continues on the league's website until Dec. 21.
Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13811501