Okay, we havent gotten there yet, yada, yada, yada........nevertheless after watching the game against the Chuggers, Im just at a loss for words. Someone please tell me we are gonna unleash in the playoffs.
There are a few things bothering me that just arent giving me confidence in beating the Pats.......no matter where we play. There are other things that ARE encouraging me. I definitely see a rematch coming for the AFC Championship with the Pats.
Obvservations to this point:
Our offensive line stunk like crazy early on and the Pats game was the first one to really exploit it. Belichick ripped Cornick a new butthole and proved me right. With Cornick in there, Vasquez was repeatedly hung out to dry.
The line is MUCH better with Schoefield in and ManRam at guard, Vasquez at tackle. Also, the exquisite move by Elway to spread the 'responsibility' around by running it more I think will pay off in spades. The defense was just
WAY to lax with Peyton running up the score on everyone. Closer games puts just as much blame on the defense if we lose. So far, I feel the defense has responded.
As much as we are running the ball, every game our Oline has more and more game tape to watch in order to get better. Its one thing to run the ball, but when you can line up and run it when they know youre going to run is another.
I feel like we have a much better chance of being successful at that against the Pats and others with Elways committment to the run. CJ, Thompson and Hillman will all benefit as well.
Our play action in two TE sets will be effective, and if thats effective along with a wide open offense that can play quick ball when we want.....that would really stretch defenses mentally. We need to be able to grind out TOUGH yards if we need to.
Running the ball keeps Peyton healthy during the regular season...perhaps I should say, more healthy. I think we need to throw more to Virgil Green and have him ready to play a wrench role when we need it.
The defense getting turnovers the last few weeks has my mouth watering. Id like to see more blitzing especially when in obvious passing situations, and I love that Rahim sat down on Gates route, and Im hoping it was a called play because it has been simply OBVIOUS to me that TJ Ward is a huge liability in coverage. Every team that needs a go to play goes after Ward. Ward has given up more big play opportunities to opposing teams than everyone else combined.
Rahim played it.
Coaching. Im not fired up about our coaching......primarily on gameday. I saw some things in the Chugger game that just had me thinking, "How in the world......????"
End of the first half, Peyton goes out, we have the lead and we're trying to run clock after getting the ball back with 140, in which case Im thinking we are NOT going to go into a 2 minute offense with OZ.........What coach calls a pass play to OZ on first down after watching Peyton hand it off on first and second almost the entire first half? (sure seemed like it, no?) and then again on second down??????? Im beside myself. We run the ball the whole game 39 plays to 22 pass plays, and we called TWO passes to Osweiler near the end of the half? I just dont get it. The tipped pass almost gets picked, and we stop the clock regardless. DUMB. Second pass....intentional grounding. DUMB.
THEN, on third down, CJ Anderson runs out of bounds with the ball. DUMB. Three plays, three clock stoppages. This led directly to a field goal possibility which they converted.
I just dont see a smart team in situational football other than Peyton, Welker and a few others.
We only converted 25% of our third downs.
My hope:
Im hoping we unleash our offense at its fullest capacity come playoff time. There is NO reason we shouldnt put a big hurtin on people.
Our defense needs to think STOPS no matter what the situation is.
When we have a big lead, our defense seems to think, just dont give up the big play. DUMB.
I dont know what to think about this team really.
I wanna believe.......but its tough.
GO BRONCOS.