Monday Night Football

macrojack · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 12:10 pm »

Broncos have 6 wins with two games against KC, one more against Oakland and one against Washington coming up. Barring a monumental collapse against one of those losers, Denver has a 10 win season in the bag. The other 6 games could be tough. Still ahead are challenges against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Giants, Colts, Eagles and SD again. If they steal 2 of those games, they've got a dozen wins and a probable first round bye. It's an incredible outcome given the way things looked in August.
Bronco offense is just adequate but the defense has given up an average of only 11.5 points per game, lowest in the league. And they have outscored opponents after halftime 76-10. Do you believe that? The most amazing statistic in the entire league this year - the Broncos have surrendered a total of 10 points after the half in 6 games. WOW!!!!

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 07:49 pm »

I agree that Josh has a clear vision for where he wants to go and how to get there. I think he had that vision when he interviewed with Bowlen and that is why he got hired and Cutler is gone--didn't fit the vision. My step son is in Denver and says the papers are reporting that the players bought into Josh and his vision and system from the first time he met with them.

While the defense is amazing, especially the line and corners, I was impressed that Orton moved the team to a TD when they took over with a little over 5 minutes to play and up by 4. They can run the football and S.D. never came close to sacking Orton. Orton doesn't have the arm, but he has leadership skills Cutler can only dream about.

macrojack · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 08:15 pm »

While the defense is amazing, especially the line and corners, I was impressed that Orton moved the team to a TD when they took over with a little over 5 minutes to play and up by 4. They can run the football and S.D. never came close to sacking Orton. Orton doesn't have the arm, but he has leadership skills Cutler can only dream about.
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Amen! Shanahan, and Reeves before him, would have run into the middle of the line 3 times, punted, and gone into prevent mode, whereupon the opposing quarterback would nibble his way down the field and insert the dagger.

I don't know if you remember but the Broncos under Shanahan always broke out for an early lead in the first half and then too often let it slip away later. Now they play O.K. in the first half and dominate in the second. Seems to work much better.

honesthoff · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 08:43 pm »

The Broncos kit looks like a cross between a Grambling St. and Whataburger uniform. I know the NFL does this "throwback" gig to sell t-shirts, but man o' man those suckers are fugly!

maxwalrath · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 08:49 pm »

I gotta say I do like the helmets with the player's number on them.

macrojack · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 09:33 pm »

The Broncos kit looks like a cross between a Grambling St. and Whataburger uniform. I know the NFL does this "throwback" gig to sell t-shirts, but man o' man those suckers are fugly!

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Maybe you're onto something there. The other team is laughing too hard to compete.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 Oct 2009, 10:08 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 20 Oct 2009, 08:15 pm

I don't know if you remember but the Broncos under Shanahan always broke out for an early lead in the first half and then too often let it slip away later. Now they play O.K. in the first half and dominate in the second. Seems to work much better.

I do remember. Shanahan's teams, after Elway, Davis and Sharpe departed almost always lost the 4th quarter. Generally, the team that wins the 4th quarter wins the game. Josh's team seems to know how to finish.

macrojack · « **Reply #27 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 02:47 pm »

I have to confess to a selfish, sadistic delight in seeing Phil "Lip" Rivers pacing the sidelines in frustration when the Broncos had the ball and getting his ass sacked repeatedly when he had it. Always nice to see a trash talker get trashed.

mmurt · « **Reply #28 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 03:27 pm »

Rivers isn't a trash talker except to Cutler and that got all of the press. Well it seems to me that Cutler has proven himself to be very deserving. Rivers gets fired up, loves the game, hates to lose and is tough as nails. With the exception of only a handful of QB's he is tops in the league despite no O-line and running game.

macrojack · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 03:47 pm »

Cutler was not on hand when Rivers was shooting his mouth off at the Broncos in that pre-game dustup that required intercession by the officials.

Keep watching and you will notice him trading words with opponents in every game. He's a good clutch player but isn't close to his self image. I'd rate him as maybe the 7th or 8th best QB in the league despite his stats. He's played with the best offensive package in the league in the past and still failed to bring home the prize.

mmurt · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 04:03 pm »

Well I certainly wasn't on the sidelines to hear who said what to who. The bad blood is thick between these rivals as it should be in football. Like Saint Brady would never lower himself to respond to some trash talk from a Jet?? Personally I think it is great that there is a player on a team that will not take crap from opposing teams. As to the perception that he thinks he's better than he is, living in San Diego where you get to see and hear more than some random sound bite this is just not the case. But no one is ever going to convince me to like Cutler so...

macrojack · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 04:25 pm »

I heartily agree that sourpuss Cutler is not very likable. I don't miss him a bit.
S.D. should have kept Brees. I think Rivers is better than Eli but neither plays like a Brees. Where does Brady come into this discussion?

mmurt · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 04:59 pm »

Brady, only to make the point that perceptions generated by press coverage can portray a player in a certain light. I'm pretty sure that all players do their fair share of yapping at the opposition, especially division rivals.

When Brees was dumped it was controversial and still is a topic of discussion. Both are very good, Brees looks like a better choice this year. Rivers still makes some dumb moves but not sure if related to to rest of the offense. LT looks done and has for the past year. No running game will make any QB look bad at times. Which QB we got rid of was not nearly as wrong as which back we kept!

macrojack · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 06:50 pm »

Norv Turner inherited a well oiled Schottenheimer machine and has gradually ground it down to near nothing. All they have at this point is personnel, much like the Cowboys. What was that A.J. Smith hullabaloo all about?

mmurt · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 10:13 pm »

No one could stand Marty until he left, and he never won a playoff game. No body likes Norv and very few are fans of Smith. Smith makes it very clear that it is his way or the highway and that this is his team. Well his team is soft, not deep, not physical and seemingly undersized. The fortunes of football can change quickly, see Denver, so you never know but it does not look good. The Chargers are something like 12 -13 in their past 25 regular season games.

macrojack · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 10:32 pm »

They are did-Chargers at this point in time. Marty was famous everywhere he went for coming up empty in the post season, although he was usually pretty good at getting there.

Chargers have big receivers and linemen. Rivers is maybe 6'5" tall. All the receivers except Chambers are tall. Why would you say undersized?

mmurt · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 10:43 pm »

Defensive line and linebackers are getting man handled. O-line is average size, running backs and full backs are small. Sproles at 5'6" on short yardage goal line?? Little banged up losing Williams but he is over 30 and has been injured the past 2 seasons. Got rid of Olshansky. Chant used to be "You Can't Run" Now it's more like please don't run us over.

macrojack · « **Reply #37 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 11:03 pm »

Oh well, you have great weather.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #38 on:** 22 Oct 2009, 11:57 pm »

Quote from: mmurt on 22 Oct 2009, 10:43 pm

Sproles at 5'6" on short yardage goal line??

I watch Sporles run over and through large D lineman and linebackers in the Big 8 (oops Big 12) for 2+ years. He is small, but tough as nails and strong.

macrojack · « **Reply #39 on:** 26 Oct 2009, 10:20 pm »

October 26 - I don't think the Eagles can stink it up two weeks in a row. The Deadskins, on the other hand, have demonstrated that ability repeatedly. Big night for Vick.