Enjoy the game everyone, and Go Broncos!!!
Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM
Good comment, JB.
One of the things that people will tend to miss is that when you eliminate the extremes - Dawk, Bailey - what you have is a team unusually young players. There are exceptions, of course, but compare the rosters of Denver with most teams and they are playing rookies and very young players - second year, sometimes third, but plenty of rookies - and the guys who’ve never done this before made a lot of mistakes. So did some older players, but I watched D. Thomas just miss two passes. Decker made a bone-head error. It’s a long list, and tonight was tough enough.
You’re right - the coach can’t wave a wand and make them veterans. He can’t change the way that a road game to a team that has come back from a lousy record 4 times like SD to win the division affects those younger players, especially those that had the errors. Orton had a bad night, too, which didn’t help, but that happens to every QB. He’s been too consistent this year - look it up before you argue, please - to let that concern me.
The team has to mature. They need to eliminate penalties. Those things are happening and will happen. If you think that any organization matures without growing pains - or any person, for that matter - think again.
The defense let the team down, and some changes will be coming, most of them at the end of the season. that doesn’t mean that they won’t win between now and then. It means that they are still rebuilding - and that’s not a shock. How McDaniels handles them this week will make a difference, and that’s a good point as well. But they still need to mature - and a week isn’t enough time for that to happen. It’s just the way things are.
I hate this game so much.
My girlfriend watched it with me, and ever since the second quarter, she’s steadily gotten more annoyed with it. The palpable silence when she’s annoyed is unbearable, and I’m feeling it right now.
Please make it competitive, Broncos, so that my girlfriend doesn’t take her annoyance out on me! When you win, she’s happy, and when she’s happy, I’m happy! Please? LOL.
Sorry, but I really am feeling it, and my reaction to these sorts of situations is scratch out what little humour I can from it.
I know the temptation right now is to pull down your pants, and fling a lump of faeces at the first thing you see, but I don’t feel like it’s the most productive thing. I don’t know what happens now that winning the division is likely out of the question (is it?), but what I saw was a bunch of kids mentally unprepared for the big-time lights.
That may fall on the coach, but I really don’t think you can do anything about it. When I started out as a chef, something I learned quickly was that no matter how careful you are, you’re going to cut yourself. I was young (well, still am), and even though I knew all the theoretical concepts and proper technique, when I was put under the pressure of having to deliver a perfect meal quickly, efficiently, and without flaw, all with a sharp instrument in my hand, I too buckled and a lot of blood flowed.Unfortunately, being a kid and still learning, my decisions afterwards were not good, but I saw that instead of trying to prevent the inevitable, my superiors had prepared for such a mistake.
This is what I want from the Broncos. They’re under a lot of pressure, and they have kids at important positions. McDaniels and his coaching staff can’t prevent them from making mistakes and buckling under the pressure, but they can swab that cut with some antiseptic fluid and teach them how to learn from it. You were knocked down, now get up.
“Meaningless yards mean nothing.”—the wisdom of Jon Gruden
G’night folks.
Two other catches by Lloyd might have made this game more interesting (underthrown ball and the long ball he didnt try hard enough for)
what a catch by Lloyd!
That was one hell of a grab. Lloyd sure makes some highlight catches every week, I will say that.
And now the Rivers home movie footage is whipped out? Egads. I know this game is crap but, egads.
Rivers is that good. And I still can’t stand him. And I can’t stand watching the Chargers prance around the field tonight like they are Super Bowl champs. I’m sure no Broncos fan can stand it, which is why you’ll see a lot of beyond irrational venting and scapegoating. Which I won’t do much of, but I can understand the feeling.
And even though I don’t like what I see on defense, I won’t scapegoat Wink as much as I want to because I agree, they still need better personnel on D, it’s a work in progress but they just don’t have the depth right now. On offense, it’s more a mystery why so erratic from week to week (and I’ll give SD credit for playing a fine game on defense, but Denver shouldn’t look so good on one drive and then kaput the rest of the game.)
Anyway, I want this team to have one more very good draft and McD has my faith for one more year before I start to wonder. But I would like to see more consistency now.
Good point, OB
The fact is, SD is murder at home, and extremely good after the bye. They also play better as the year goes on, and have for four years. There’s a reason that they are undefeated in November and December. Norv Turner is an excellent coach, and Rivers is currently the best QB in the game. Just facts - they don’t mean Denver is awful.
I kind of suspected this might happen. Two points to consider - the first, above, is that there IS a second half. Let Denver try to make it’s adjustments and come back - they may or may not, but the game isn’t over. SD has several advantages in this game, and losing it, if that happens, doesn’t make any player or coach inept. Bey Bey dropped two passes, Decker got lost, McD did try to get too cute (Shanahan used to do the same thing - think he was a decent coach? Get past it). There are mistakes, and that’s hardly a shock. The team is still growing.
The other point is that the people who desperately need someone to blame can always find someone - one week it’s Orton (still, which is bizarre), the next it’s Moreno or McDaniels. I tend to let the game end before I watch the film, and one reason is the intense emotional backlash of watching the game and the emotional outbursts and hostility on the thread at the same time.
There’s more in the season to play. Folks will talk about the playoffs, and Jim Mora should be in on this one. It wasn’t going to be this year, but seriously - do you want to tell me that nothing has improved? If that’s the case, get a subscription to NFL Rewind, I’ll send you the template for looking at the game, and you can learn some things that might change your mind. Or not.
Hear ya UD, although he really is that good…
You can just see it when watching the team that something is missing. The defense I can understand; they just don’t have enough talent, but on offense…
It isn’t Moreno. He was running well until the score got to the point where the run doesn’t matter anymore. Orton has been missing receivers all night. I know everyone says he is accurate, but he really isn’t. Rivers is accurate and you can see the results in the YAC. We have no YAC and that is because the receivers aren’t being allowed to catch the ball in a running position.
Or instead of certain games? <img alt="wink" height="19" src="http://www.singernet.com/images/smileys/wink.gif" style="border:0;" width="19">
I have to say, I realize I’m grumpy and biased, but Gruden and Jaws lovefest about Rivers is bordering on the sickening. I can’t stand it.
Is there any way we get a bye week before each game?
Yep, my liking of Jaworski just ended after a brief run.
See, I’m sure that play was Moreno’s fault. <img alt="hmmm" height="19" src="http://www.singernet.com/images/smileys/hmm.gif" style="border:0;" width="19">
Oh look, the McD bashing extends to the Monday Night crew. Well, done. Mention all the players.
Oh great, the “Notable Departures” chart. Just what the trolls and haters need to feed off of.
I was agreeing to comment number 57 <img alt="wink" height="19" src="http://www.singernet.com/images/smileys/wink.gif" style="border:0;" width="19">
<sigh>
Yep, blitzing Rivers is sure working. <img alt="hmmm" height="19" src="http://www.singernet.com/images/smileys/hmm.gif" style="border:0;" width="19">
This officiating crew is awful, btw. Not to blame the game on it, but are they going to flag every play? This game doesn’t need to take 6 hours, you know.
Underdog, unfortunately we aren’t playing the Bengals
C’mon everyone, be nice…
Yeah, is it time for McBath or Bruton to supplant BDawk? Hate to say it since I’ve always loved Dawkins, but um, it feels like it may be time.
I am starting to think the end may be near for Brian Dawkins. Sad, I love his intensity.
However, I am starting to worry a bit about Wink Martindale. (Again, not that he can be blamed for lack of tackling. But his defenses feel like they get “out-called” a lot. Is that fair?)
Um,but hey, if Buffalo can score like 35 points in the 2nd half vs Cincy, anything can happen right? Not that San Diego’s D is the Bengals, mind you.
Dawkins not playing his best game.
that fumble needed to be one of those breaks
Again, while some personnel issues, can be co-blamed on McD, lack of tackling, dropped balls, penalties, a lot of that needs to be shared by the team, not the coach. But everyone loves a scapegoat.
Damn, almost a turnover there, that’s what the Broncos need desperately. Do I need to perform a magick ritual for this?
most every game will have one or two bounces/breaks that go your way in a win and not in a loss.
We are even on TOs but the fake punt and missed tackle by Dawk need to be struck so we need to make some breaks go our way.
Joaquim, you are 100% right
jtomasik, you sound like an idiot.
McDaniels isn’t the one responsible for resigning Bailey, but it’s still his fault if the Broncos don’t? Okay.
The kids are buckling under the big MNF lights. Need to get their focus back and stop making mistakes.
Chargers are also putting their bye week to use, they’re snuffing out the plays that worked before.
There is plenty of blame to go around, but still 30 minutes of football left.
I think Josh tried to get a little too cute. Razzle dazzle is OK once in a while, but too much of it got them out of their rhythm. Then we saw a momentum swing. After that, the guys try a bit too hard, and confound themselves.
Time to step back, calm down, and put the game face back on.
21 unanswered points should be avoided, but now we have to see what we got.
McGeorge is that you?
You know JT your right. They’re certainly not playing well, but its HALFTIME! This team and their coach has my support win or lose. If you don’t like what you’re watching go back to watching desperate housewives.
Sigh, so many miscues by guys who should know better tonight, and some guys who may not yet.
But yep, dropped balls and mistakes are all McD’s fault. Like Buckhalter’s there.
MarkH, I call a horse a horse. This site, its wonderful owners (zero sarcasm there…they’re a bunch of great guys), and myself have been as supportive of the new coaching staff as anyone. But, it’s pretty obvious that McDaniels has a LOT to learn.
I’ll stand by my words. Toss me if ya want. McDaniels is really starting to disgust me.
We need to run some screens or draws to slow down their pass rush.
JT, it was not McDaniels’ decision to halt negotiations with Champ. That came from Mr. B
Sheesh, jt, can’t you have a little respect for the site owners if not for the team? That was just defeatist.
Need to convert third downs.
Someone should tell KO Gaffney made the flight to SD.
Not a huge fan of Demaryius Thomas running back kickoffs. Such a big target !
Rename the site “It’s All Over Bald Man”. McDaniels is stinking it up. That team is disorganized. Yeah, they’re a bunch of true football players, but under the guidance of a kid, at best.
Oh, and if McDaniels doesn’t sign Bailey NOW, then it’s just a true testament to his arrogance.
Stick a fork in it. This team, thanks to its coaching, is done.
time for a bomb, Colquitt
Now that’s what I’m talking about, CHAMP.
That was a beauty, Champ
Champ is special. Did anyone know that?
Need to eat the clock now.
The Champ
O&B, seems you’re right, as seen on that last play. (Not that that end run would’ve gotten anywhere either.)
That was an interesting 3rd and 3 call.
Well the thing is the chargers are going to get their points. Hopefully not a lot, but the offense has to have a sustained drive and put points up too, or it won’t matter. The D made mistakes on that drive but has been pretty solid otherwise given it’s vs Rivers. Offense needs to pick it back up after that first great drive. Execute, execute! Larsen with a missed block, some dropped passes, etc.
3 big facemask penalties on McBean this year…
A nice 7 minute drive would be nice to rest the D. They need it.
S Phillips is not a welcomed person in my home.
Hate to say it about McD, but both coaches seem to like their clever playcalling over the obviously-working run game.
WOW. Great stop D!!!
Glad Norvell had a WR throw the ball instead of his QB.
Forgotten!
those two plays will hopefully be forgotten by game’s end.
S%$^%$%^t!!!!
Good 1st qtr.
Really like how we never defer anymore. 1st drive TD is something I can get used.
Defense playing tough. Trick play only diff right now.
Like our offense rhythm, even if Tebow comes in.
Three man rush is useless, especially inside the 5.
Looks like Norv has changed his play calling to the run!
Ugh, Decker was in no-mans land…and he flew himself there.
Hey I just saw Rich Quinn! You can take him off the milk cartons now.
wow i’ll take that start…
Fantastic start.
Kno-Mo looking like a 1st rd pick…thanks to a healthy line.
Lets go Denver D!!
This is the team that I was envisioning last season as they fought to put together simple, short plays - Time has passed for them to put the plays in for the players they have, develop a functioning OL (who’d of thought that would mattter? - grin), and some receivers who like to catch the ball, with blocking for the running game that suits Moreno. Not a single incompletion, no negative plays, no mistakes, no penalties. Yes!
It’s a shootout, and SD will probably make it exciting. What a fun MNF!
This is great….this is the offense we thought we were getting….great to have the line in tact
BOOM! This offense is everything I had hoped hoped for and more. The team looks extremely focused and fired up. Great start!
I wonder if San Diego fans still believe that Denver can’t run?
Thanks, underdog, may have to use this in the write up…if they win!
Wow who are these Broncos anyways ?
Hello AFC West !
That drive was a thing of beauty. Go Broncos!!
Sweet drive by the Broncos!
Wow! Wow! Amazing drive. Nice blocks by the line and guards!
Hilarious, Dude. So predictable, who didn’t see that coming, that they would all pick the Chargers, and Tommy would be dissenting voice.
Also, Jon Gruden is already irritating me.
Chargers are now getting healthy?
Lastly, locker room material:Chargers Tolbert disses âHigh Horseâ Broncos http://dpo.st/dOmj2K
Yeah, Tommy Jackson just picked the Broncos! The only one.
It’s all over, Rivers!
Thanks underdog. cough
Indeed, Doc. My only other word advice to the Broncos:
Bring it.
Great news! Eddie Royal is going to start, and Antonio Gates is out. Kory Speers has been activated: although Kris Wilson will start, SD uses a lot of 2 TE sets, since they’ve had trouble stopping the rush with just the 5 linemen. Frequently, one of those two will chip, but with a third string TE (although a good one) and a newly activated player, that’s in question. It looks like a lot of max-protect and putting the game on Rivers and whatever yardage Tolbert, who’s no slouch, can provide.
Gruden kisses Phil’s ass huge.
Gruden has an unlimited amount of man-crushes.
He’s (Millen) fired up when discussing those needing to be fired…I wonder why.
Wow, Matt Millen commenting on the firing of Childress is hilarious.
Cough channel cough surfing cough dot net.
Funny to hear the studio crew on ESPN talk about Josh McDaniels and the Broncos. Nothing earth shattering or too incendiary, but was funny to hear not only Tom Jax but Ditka defend the way McD got rid of a lot of players in his less than 2 years. Ditka: “You want guys who will listen, show up on time and play their butts off for you.” Jax: “You don’t need to get rid of all players but you want to be able to coach the ones you have.”
Anybody have an idea as to how I can watch the game tonight let me know. sleepyteak@yahoo.com