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Thread: Yardage nice, but points get top priority

  1. #1

    Default Yardage nice, but points get top priority

    http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_6887673

    Yardage nice, but points get top priority
    Broncos seek ways to get more out of offensive output
    By Bill Williamson


    Mike Heimerdinger, right, assistant head coach in charge of the quarterbacks, believes points will pile up if the offense can chalk up the kind of yardage it did Sunday against the Bills. Heimerdinger talks with quarterback Jay Cutler at practice on Thursday. (Post | Helen H. Richardson)

    The euphoria over one of the Broncos' most thrilling finishes has evaporated. The relief that Jay Cutler indeed has the look of a legitimate NFL quarterback is shelved, at least for a few days.

    It's the time of the week to work on getting better, work on what went wrong in the season opener at Buffalo on Sunday.

    For the Broncos' high-octane offense, the concern is simple.

    "We have to finish," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "That's where we have to improve. We have to finish."

    The Denver offense showed it can move the ball while displaying all of its new weapons. If Travis Henry wasn't mowing down Buffalo defenders on his way to a 139-yard Denver debut, Cutler was throwing to an arsenal of receivers on his way to 304 passing yards.

    The Broncos compiled 470 yards of offense. During a conference call with Denver media, Oakland defensive tackle Warren Sapp said he was perplexed how any team could gain nearly 500 yards and not score more.

    "Why did they only score 15 points?" Sapp asked.

    Good question.

    Five teams had 431 yards or more of offense in the opening NFL weekend. Dallas had 478 yards and 45 points. Indianapolis had 452 yards and 41 points. The Giants had 438 yards and 35 points. New England had 431 yards and 38 points.

    The Broncos, whose 470 yards were 8 shy of Dallas' league-leading total, scored only 15 points.

    "It was shocking," Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall said. "We have to do better than that."

    Shanahan said this week the Broncos should have scored 40. Thus, the week was spent trying to figure out a way to duplicate the 470-yard output, but also doubling or tripling the 15 points when the Broncos meet the Raiders in the home opener at Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday.

    "There are things we have to work on," Shanahan said. "We had to put it in the end zone."

    The Broncos cruised into Buffalo territory on six consecutive drives and on eight of their 10 drives, but managed only a touchdown and two field goals.

    Denver was inside the Buffalo 20-yard line only twice, scoring a touchdown and field goal on those possessions.

    "We have to get into the red zone and finish it off," said Marshall, who scored Denver's only touchdown. "We marched from the 20 to the 20. Now, we just have to go and finish. We have so much firepower. But we just have to finish it off."

    This might seem familiar because the Broncos had trouble finding the end zone much of last season. In their first two games, they had four field goals and one touchdown. Denver didn't score more than 17 points in its first six games. However, the offense was never as strong during 2006 as it was Sunday with the new personnel.

    Even though Denver found the end zone only once Sunday, it moved the ball when it needed to most. Denver was trailing 14-6, but it scored nine unanswered points in the second half to win the game. That included the game-winning drive in the final 2:13.

    Mike Heimerdinger, the Broncos' assistant head coach in charge of quarterbacks, said he is sure scoring will follow the strong yardage output.

    "Four hundred and 70 yards, you can't ever be upset with (that)," Heimerdinger said. "When you win, you can't be upset with the win. It's too hard to win in this league on the road. We know there's some things we can clean up and improve upon, but that's better than having 105 yards and losing."

    Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.

  2. #2
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    Very true. While I am glad to see the offense moved the ball well as far as yards, they need to finish some of those drives with TDs. Even though we only got one TD vs. the Bills, I am glad to see that once the offense gets rolling and limits the mistakes then those points will surely happen. However, games against the Raiders are usually close so we need to come out firing.
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by broncosfanscott View Post
    Very true. While I am glad to see the offense moved the ball well as far as yards, they need to finish some of those drives with TDs. Even though we only got one TD vs. the Bills, I am glad to see that once the offense gets rolling and limits the mistakes then those points will surely happen. However, games against the Raiders are usually close so we need to come out firing.

    It will come. When you start rolling up those kinds of offensive numbers consistently the points will come.

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