And then you have this perspective - none of which has anything to do with Orton saving McDaniels, Hillis in Cleveland, etc.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncosmailbag/ci_16252980
I can't believe the Broncos are 2-2 without a running game. Eight rushing yards by running backs against the Titans, and they won? Are McDaniels and the Broncos thinking outside the box (literally) to prove that you don't need a running game to win in the NFL? That would change everything.
-- Scott, Denver
Running doesn't win in the NFL. You can't get there from here running the ball. Chris Johnson rushed for 2,006 yards last year and the Titans finished 8-8. Indianapolis ranked 32nd in rushing last year and were a 5-point favorite in the Super Bowl.
New Orleans, the defending Super Bowl champs, only ran the ball last year to give their receivers a breather and run out the clock in the fourth quarter. Those are the only two reasons, by the way, why a team needs to run as we move into the second decade of the 21st century — keep the receivers legs fresh and run out the fourth-quarter clock with a lead.
Blame the insignificance of a running attack on all these freak athletes on defense. Nose tackles like Jamal Williams are 350 pounds, strong as a bull and quick as a cat. Linebackers like D.J. Williams are 240 pounds, strong enough to mash the run and fast enough to cover Chris Johnson on pass patterns out of the backfield. Safeties like Brian Dawkins can cover a tight end, but more importantly load up like a linebacker to stop the run and blitz the quarterback.
The only way to avoid those physical specimens is to spread them out and throw the ball to where skill players have space. Granted, 8 yards on 17 carries from the backs is unacceptable. The Broncos have to do better than that.
But the reason the running game has to get better is so it can help their play-action passing game.
And they will improve. The Broncos will get better because their line will better. Their inexperienced
Kyle Orton may have been running for his life against the Titans on Sunday. But he led the Broncos in rushing yards. More photos. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)
blockers (J.D. Walton, Stanley Daniels) will improve with each additional game of experience and their banged-up veterans (Ryan Clady, Chris Kuper, Ryan Harris) will improve as they get healthier.
There's a chance the Broncos could start becoming at least an adequate running team after their bye week in early November. Just in time for winter.