Kiszla: Although their Super Bowl rings shine, the
Broncos are 6-3 team with an identity crisis
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
Can coach Gary Kubiak fix what’s wrong with the Broncos?
For a defending NFL champion, this is a team with an identity crisis.
The Broncos don’t know what they want to be on offense, and to be honest, it seems as if Kubiak has
lost trust in his players to operate his system. Even before losing cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive
end Derek Wolfe to injury, a defense that messed with the mind of MVP Cam Newton in the Super Bowl
was getting bullied at the point of attack.
This is a football team that looks worn out, physically and mentally, from the grind of winning a
championship. With ground to make up against Oakland and Kansas City in the AFC West, Kubiak
declares that the spirit of his players is good, saying: “They understand what we’re facing. They
understand where we’re going.”
But do the Broncos know how they want to get there? Either Kubiak must make a real commitment to
running the football or completely change his offensive approach, rather than letting foes dictate how
Denver plays. If the Broncos begin another game with three incomplete passes and a punt, you will hear
the cursing from fans all the way from Colorado to the Superdome.
What Kubiak performed last season might not have been a football miracle, but it was as good a
coaching job as I have witnessed from any coach for any Denver pro franchise during the past 30 years.
With Peyton Manning too hurt to help at his worst and an NFL legend in name only at his best, by all
rights the Broncos should have fallen apart during the regular season rather than taken the league by
storm during the playoffs.
While every player in the locker room and every fan in Broncos Country talked of a repeat, it was
fanciful, if not farcical, to believe Denver would walk away with its sixth straight division title while
breaking in Trevor Siemian at quarterback. While Kubiak could never tell his locker room the whole
truth, it seems obvious that management’s strategy from the outset was to find a way to get in the
playoffs and then see what happens with a team that has slowly matured.
Kubiak’s faith in Siemian is real. But the reality is Siemian ranks as the fourth-best quarterback in the
AFC West.
While the football cognoscenti in Broncos Country like to harp that rookie Paxton Lynch is not NFL
ready, the fact is his completion percentage in limited duty (62.3) now ranks higher than the mark for
Siemian (59.8). In the league’s traditional QB rating system, the scores for Lynch (86.3) and Siemian
(86.2) are nearly identical. So it is hard to argue that Siemian’s experience and expertise in operating
Kubiak’s offense has trumped the superior athletic gifts of the raw Lynch.
It looks to me as if Siemian is playing hurt, with his left shoulder more banged up than he will admit.
Kubiak has shot down that idea, insisting toward the end of preparation for the Saints: “He’s fine. As a
matter of fact, he’s had a really good week, so he needs to play well.”
While Kubiak’s allegiance to Siemian is genuine, the coach is also practical enough to know that if his
run-first, play-action-pass offense fails again against New Orleans, then it would be wise to reassess
during the team’s bye week. A change of quarterback, however, would require Kubiak to sell his
championship defense on the idea that starting Lynch does not mean the Broncos are playing for next
year. And putting Lynch under center would not seem to make much sense, if operating out of the
shotgun gives his natural talent a better chance to shine.
Here’s the deal: If the Broncos can’t win football games Kubiak’s way, then one of the smarter coaches
in the league is going to be forced to find a new way for Denver to make the playoffs.
Rookie DE Adam Gotsis might not be ready, but the
Broncos now need him to contribute
By Cameron Wolfe
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
It’s Adam Gotsis’ turn to contribute. Whether he’s ready or not, the Broncos need their second round
defensive end to step up in their time of need.
Gotsis is learning the nuances of the NFL game. The 6-foot-4, 287-pound Australian is modeling his
game after defensive end Derek Wolfe, the Broncos’ longest-tenured and best defensive lineman.
“He’s always watching. I can feel him watching. It’s kind of creepy,” Wolfe said. “He’s always watching
everything I eat, watching me period. It’s like a little puppy following me around.”
Wolfe said he did a similar thing as a rookie, following former Broncos defensive linemen Elvis Dumervil
and Justin Bannan.
Gotsis, or veteran defensive end Billy Winn, are the most likely options to get the start Sunday in place
Wolfe who will miss 2-4 weeks with a hairline right elbow fracture he suffered when the Broncos lost at
Oakland on Sunday. Winn has played 29-percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps this season. Gotsis has
played 14-percent. Backup nose tackle Darius Kilgo may also see time at defensive end.
Both Winn and Gotsis are more traditional run stoppers. Winn, who has 21 starts over five seasons, said
he feels no pressure in taking a larger role and he’s ready to “carry the flag.”
Gotsis’ potential led to defensive line coach Bill Kollar to bang on the table to have the rookie in his
room. That potential is still promising even if the 2016 on-field production hasn’t been impressive.
“He’s got a long way to go,” Kollar said. “It’s almost like that for every rookie on the defensive line. It
takes guys a long time to get used to it – the technique. You’re playing against guys that weigh 320-350
every week. He might’ve been playing at Georgia Tech against a kid that’s 17 years old and 230 pounds.
It just takes time. He’s got a ways to go to get where we want him to be.”
With a leaky run defense facing an explosive Saints offense, the Broncos will need Gotsis and Winn to
step up.
Pride, technique, attitude, scheme: Broncos run defense
seeking answers after having its manhood challenged
By Cameron Wolfe
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
218 – The mention of the number casts embarrassment upon several Broncos defenders’ faces.
It represents disrespect. It represents how the Raiders bullied them in a prime-time loss last Sunday
night at Oakland in each teams’ biggest game to date. It represents how far a once-dominant run
defense has fallen.
The Raiders’ 218 rushing yards are the most the Broncos have given up in the past four years. Coaches
yelled and challenges were delivered in the locker room.
“As linebackers, as defensive linemen, we take pride, that’s what we do – we stop the run. It’s a passing
league, but you gotta run to win. And we have to stop the run to win,” Broncos linebacker Brandon
Marshall said. “It’s an insult when teams line up and say we’re going to run the ball down your throats.
We’re tired of it, but at the same time we gotta stop it. If we don’t stop it, they’re going to keep talking
about it and doing it.”
The Broncos defense, a proud unit, is now picking up the pieces. Key injuries, free agency losses,
technique errors, and a recent spell of poor tackling have contributed to the Denver decline.
The Broncos’ run defense has been leaky throughout the season.
Sunday night against the Raiders was a different, more troublesome problem. There weren’t many
disguises or exotic schemes. Denver knew Oakland was running the ball, but couldn’t stop it.
How the Broncos respond to such a challenge, particularly on the defensive line and at linebacker, will
have a large impact on whether this team is the Super Bowl contender it planned to be.
“Ultimate slap in the face”
Denver’s run defense ranks 29th in the 32-team NFL, giving up 128.6 yards a game. It also is in the
bottom-10 in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.4), rushing touchdowns allowed (nine), 20+ yard rushes
(eight) and 40+ yard rushes (three). Last season, it allowed 45 yards less rushing yards per game and a
league-best 3.3 yards per carry. It also had fewer 20-plus (five) and 40-plus yard (one) rushes.
Why the drastic difference only one season later?
“It’s coaching probably. I always blame myself first. I think that’s where you start,” defensive
coordinator Wade Phillips said. “Sometimes it’s not working enough on it in training camp, working in
the preseason or utilizing the talent we have. We don’t have great size inside, so we have to do some
things to help us there.”
Many Broncos defenders are adamant it isn’t a scheme problem, pointing toward their success last
season with the same defense. Phillips said they ran more blitzes against Oakland than they have against
other teams over the past two seasons.
Oakland went with big personnel packages using a sixth offensive lineman to control the running game.
It also used two and three tight ends with single back and fullback formations.
Former Broncos’ defensive lineman Alfred Williams said offenses are challenging players who aren’t
used to tackling consistently in the running game, such as cornerback Chris Harris. Linebackers and
defensive backs have struggled to fill gaps.
“In football, the only way you get embarrassed is when somebody runs the ball on you. It’s the ultimate
slap in the face,” said Williams, who said the Broncos should call more zone coverage in short-yardage
situations.
Big rushing plays have boosted offenses’ yards-per-carry average. It hasn’t been a methodical
destruction of the defense, but rather explosive rushes during inopportune times.
The Broncos’ recent defensive struggles against the running game can be summed up in two categories.
Denver has been vulnerable to delayed handoffs to the running back, who then finds a lane, bursting
past blocked or out-of-position defenders. Also, outside rushers have taken advantage of aggressiveness
by Denver’s edge rushers and inside linebackers are failing to fill in the gaps.
“It’s a pride thing, it’s an effort thing and it’s a want to,” said Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus
Ware, a leader in the locker room. “Stopping the run when you know they are going to use 13, 12
personnel, bring a big offensive tackle in there, it’s a grit thing,” Ware said. “It’s saying that no matter
how many guys you bring in, we’re still going to be able to stop the run.”
Easier said than done considering how much the team has lost in talent. The Broncos leading tackler in
two of the previous three seasons, linebacker Danny Trevathan, left in free agency along with one of its
best run stuffers and playmakers, defensive end Malik Jackson. Defensive end Vance Walker was having
a great training camp and was expected to replace Jackson, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in
August. Now, Broncos defensive end and top run stopper Derek Wolfe will miss 2-4 weeks with a
hairline fracture of his right elbow.
“People underestimated the loss of Vance Walker,” Marshall said. “He’s stout in there. Malik, too. We
lost some good guys.”
No easy fix
Sunday, the Broncos have another difficult challenge facing the Saints’ high-powered offense.
Quarterback Drew Brees will get most of the attention, but New Orleans’ running game with power
backs Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower might present the bigger challenge to the Broncos.
The Saints totaled a season-high 248 rushing yards last week against San Francisco and after watching
film, they’re sure to continue attacking the Broncos’ pedestrian run defense. Broncos coaches know
positive production, starting Sunday, is the only way they can put the stain of their struggles behind
them.
“They’re telling us get off the block, stay in your gap, get to the ball with an attitude, don’t accept being
blocked,” Marshall said. “It’s echoing loud enough because we don’t want to be the Achilles’ heel of this
defense, and right now that’s what it is.”
Without Wolfe, the Broncos will need veteran defensive end Billy Winn and rookie defensive end Adam
Gotsis to step up. But a larger role means more time to be exposed.
The Broncos’ defense has attempted to compensate for the offense’s struggles. Everyone wants to be a
game-changer. It works when you’re winning, but now the Broncos’ defense has enough problems of its
own.
“Especially being down early in the second quarter, you want to be the guy to make the play,”
linebacker Todd Davis said. “And if you miss by one gap, you’re out of place and then a big play
happens.”
Gotsis added: “Yeah, that can happen. Especially when you know they’re running the ball. You might
know you have this gap, but you know they’ve been hitting it in the middle or hitting it outside. And the
one time you jump out there to make the play, the guy cuts it up in your gap. You just gotta be
disciplined and trust the guy next to you.”
NFL teams don’t win many games if they can’t stop the run or run the football. The Broncos say they will
fix the problems. We’ll find out at New Orleans.
Jhabvala: NFLPA takes necessary first step with pain
management committee. But more are needed
By Nicki Jhabvala
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
The NFL typically saves its surprises for game days, when a player’s week of planning and studying is put
to the test. But when the game ends, the routine from locker room to locker room typically is the same.
Ice up. Get checked out. Rest up — a little — before preparing for another beating the next week.
There is no mystery behind the ailments, the concussions, the potential for chronic traumatic
encephalopathy and the many other life-altering and life-shortening injuries that come with the game.
Football is brutal — maybe less so with rule changes, but still brutal. Players know what they’re getting
into when they decide to play. They know careers typically are short and they know few, if any, ever
walk away unscathed.
But the league has had this habit of reacting instead of looking ahead, from its mere acknowledgement
of game-related head injuries, to its handling of issues off the field.
The NFL Players Association, however, finally chose to look forward instead of constantly trying to put
out fires. The union has formed a pain management committee to assess the damage to its players —
weekly in games, daily in practices, over the course of their careers and long after.
It’s a step. But many more are needed.
Concussions and head injuries are among the biggest risks of the game, and will continue to be.
“The brain is still going to get damaged playing this game,” said former quarterback Jake Plummer. “Ask
those interior linemen what they think about the safety measures.”
But so too are the other common injuries, such as the elbow fractures, the back injuries, the hip
soreness, the torn knee ligaments, the broken hands, the shoulder sprains — all of which have plagued
the Broncos in the first 10 weeks of the season.
The options for managing that pain are varied and many still relatively new. Some are still federally
illegal, but the changing times call for a change in perspective.
Marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD, a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis believed to be an antiinflammatory and pain reliever) are on the docket for the committee, thanks in part to a growing
national acceptance and campaigns by current and former players seeking an alternative to the potent
painkillers they receive from team physicians.
“We’ve had a few different conversations with the NFLPA and their lawyers and what they told us is
they’re interested and they want to hear more, get more empirical evidence,” said Plummer, who has
led the push for CBD allowance. “But I think with the current elections, with 23 of the 32 teams now
having medical marijuana, it’s time to change their rule, maybe raise the (35) nanogram limit for THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) so that guys could actually medicate after games and be ready to do whatever
they need.”
Pot still is a banned substance by the league and will remain so until a revised substance-abuse policy is
collectively bargained with players. Raising the allowed level of THC could make it easier for players to
consume CBD, because it contains only trace levels. Doing away with marijuana testing altogether
certainly has to be considered.
George Atallah, the union’s assistant executive director for external affairs, said marijuana use will be
one of the committee’s many tasks.
“This is not a marijuana study, and we do not want to limit ourselves,” he said.
And, rightfully, pot shouldn’t be the committee’s sole focus.
But pain management is one of the NFL’s pressing issues. Acknowledging it with the formation of the
committee is long overdue.
“It’s a great step in the right direction,” Plummer said. “It’s progressive, which, a lot of times in the NFL
and what they do, they’re not progressive.”
But talk alone won’t suffice. The painful reality of football no longer can be ignored. There are no
surprises here.
Spotlight on Jay Ajayi, Dolphins, RB
Why: Breakout star Jay Ajayi has helped the Dolphins to consecutive wins over the Steelers, Bills and
Jets, recording a total of 529 rushing yards along the way. Sunday at San Diego, he faces another tough
test against the Chargers’ fifth-best run defense (85.3 yards allowed per game).
What’s up: A 2015 fifth-round pick out of Boise State, Ajayi become the fourth player in history to rush
for more than 200 yards in back-to-back games. Last Sunday, in a win over the Jets and their fourth-best
run defense (81 yards allowed per game), Ajayi ran for 111. Said Dolphins coach Adam Gase, via the
Palm Beach Post: “I’m never going to go away from him.”
Background: The stars of Gase’s offenses have typically been in the passing game. In Denver, he and
Peyton Manning created the most prolific offense in history. In Chicago, Gase (briefly) revived the career
of Jay Cutler. But since taking over the Dolphins, he has turned Miami into a running town, led by Ajayi.
Jhabvala’s take: I’m still trying to wrap my head around what could have been. Ajayi nearly ended up as
C.J. Anderson’s backup in Miami. If you’ll recall, Miami signed Anderson to a four-year, $18 million offer
sheet in restricted free agency, but the Broncos matched to keep Anderson in Denver. That loss certainly
turned into a win for Miami.
3 UP, 3 DOWN
3 UP
Raiders: Latavius Murray and the Raiders’ offensive line ripped apart the reigning Super Bowl champs to
take the lead in the AFC West. The player who enjoyed it the most? Punter Marquette King, who
mimicked Von Miller’s dances in an epic punting celebration (there is such a thing, apparently).
Colts: Running back Jordan Todman returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and Andrew
Luck overcame two picks in the first quarter to throw for 281 yards and a touchdown in a win over the
Packers. Not a bad way to head into a bye.
Colin Kaepernick: The Niners lost, but the Colin Kaepernick of old made a return. He threw for 398 yards
(the second-most of his career) and two touchdowns for a 102.3 passer rating. He also ran for 23 yards
to become the 15th player in 49ers history to rush for 2,000 yards in his career.
3 DOWN
Jets: The Jets are coming undone. The most disturbing news, however, is that, according to NFL
Network, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was a no-show at his birthday celebration. That’s right:
Wilkerson turned down a perfectly good cake. Disgraceful.
Vikings: In an overtime loss to the Lions, kicker Blair Walsh missed an extra-point attempt and had a 46yard field goal blocked as the Vikings’ slide extended to three games. Worse: The Vikings are averaging
2.7 yards per carry this season. That’s really bad.
Rams: The Rams lost their fourth consecutive game last Sunday and are averaging an NFL-low 16.3
points per game. Coach Jeff Fisher, who said he refuses to go 7-9, may end up there with quarterback
Case Keenum. The people want Jared Goff. Give the people what they want.
Kickin’ it with Kiz: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak is a genius
when he wins, but boring when he loses
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
Am I the only one who thinks the offensive system of Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has to go? John Elway
and Terrell Davis aren’t walking through the door. During the 1990s, they made the system work, not
the other way around. Shouldn’t the true definition of a balanced offense be one where the running and
passing games can operate independently from the other? It seems like Denver doesn’t even have a
game plan on offense. Do your job as coaches, and quit trying to stubbornly run your system into a brick
wall over and over.
Garrett, Orange County, Calif.
Kiz: Here’s the thing. Kubiak ball is only exciting when it works, and the Broncos are holding Super Bowl
parades. We all know defense wins championships. But when a team loses, fan want to be entertained
with video-game offense.
Oh, sure. Blame the quarterback for the Broncos’ problems, just like you did last year. It doesn’t take a
genius to see Denver has a pathetic offensive line that can’t protect Trevor Siemian for more than a
nanosecond or open a hole that even a mouse could get through. But it’s all Siemian’s fault.
Jay, Highlands Ranch
Kiz: Hey, offensive linemen are human beings too. Say you’re sorry for hurting their feelings and we can
talk about Siemian. With a messed-up left shoulder, he’s a brave soul playing hurt. And I suspect one of
the real reasons Paxton Lynch hasn’t taken Siemian’s place in the starting lineup is because team
management fears this pathetic offensive line might get Lynch hurt, as well.
While I hope new Rockies manager Bud Black can do something with the pitching staff, it’s going to take
way more than Black for this Colorado team to even sniff a World Series.
Roy, Buena Vista
Kiz: OK, how about we start with the Rockies signing Mark Melancon to be the closer and Matt Holiday
to platoon at first base? Think that might help make Colorado a contender?
What are the Nuggets supposed to be on offense? They don’t run, can’t shoot from outside and when
they do score in the post, they don’t go back to what works.
Zach, Denver
Kiz: The Nuggets roster is stocked with too many second-tier NBA players that all think they deserve
time on the court. Is there a solution? Maybe coach Michael Malone should put all the names of his subs
on a roulette wheel, spin it and let the wheel decide who checks into the game.
And today’s parting shot is a reminder of what America has learned during the past week: If you become
a master purveyor of snark on social media, one day you can grow up to be president. Is this a great
country? Or what?
When The Denver Post goes out of business in about 18 months, you can get yourself a job on the
Trump Wall, Kiz. You could have the letters “TW” tattooed to your forehead so everybody knows where
you work.
Peter, Denver
Adam Gotsis Q&A: From Aussie Rules to American
football, Broncos rookie DE gaining steam
By Nick Groke
Denver Post
November 13, 2016
Adam Gotsis came a long way to play in the NFL — and in a short time. The 24-year-old rookie defensive
end only learned to play football as a teenager in Abbotsford, Australia, near Melbourne. His first taste
of the game came by playing the video game Madden ’07.
A gifted athlete, Gotsis’ first sport was Australian Rules Football, but he earned a scholarship to Georgia
Tech, where his American football education kicked in. He earned all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors
twice, after his junior and senior seasons, but his final year was cut short with a season-ending knee
injury.
Still, the Broncos saw enough promise in Gotsis to draft him in the second round this year. He has played
in all nine games for Denver, but probably will earn his first start Sunday in place of the injured Derek
Wolfe. Gotsis talked at his locker last week about his transition to the NFL:
Q: How are you settling into the NFL as a rookie?
A: I’m getting comfortable out there. The more you play, the more comfortable you can get. I’m just
trying to get in there more. It will be a good opportunity this week.
Q: Your first introduction to NFL football was with Madden. That game is weirdly accurate. Has it turned
out how you expected?
A: Yeah I remember playing it growing up. But coming to college, the level of ball that was there, was so
different than anything I’d seen. It’s just playing football. But each level you move up to, you expect the
competition to get better. And that was my expectation coming into the NFL. And it has lived up to that
expectation.
Q: Was there a point in college when the game really clicked for you?
A: I remember when I first got there, I was just running around, playing. Everything moved fast. And in
my junior year, that’s when it really started slowed down. Then in my senior year, it felt so easy being
out there. That comes with being in a defense for three years, with the same defense. You know it in
and out. That helps. Once you understand the scheme of the defense, then you can start playing free.
But if you don’t understand it, then you’re thinking out there and not playing fast.
Q: Have you felt a click moment in the NFL?
A: Yeah. The start was shaky for me. I hadn’t played football for 10 months. It was more that than
anything. But I definitely feel like I caught on and I’m feeling good out there, feeling comfortable. But I
have to keep working.
Q: Even long-time veterans will talk about needing to always get better. Do you feel like you’re on a
progression upward with the game?
A: I’ve always thought my ceiling is endless. You can never learn enough. You just keep coming to work
every day. You might pick up one little thing, or get better at one thing, and you keep improving day by
day. Then the results speak for themselves.
Q: What about life in Denver? Do you feel at home yet?
A: I’m still settling in. It’s crazy. I’m here all day. By the time we’re done here, you get some recovery
done, then watch some more film, go over plays again. Then at the end, you just want to go to bed. And
then you’re up the next morning. I’m lucky I don’t have kids or a wife. I don’t know what I’d do then. I
feel for those guys who do. That’s tough sledding right there. But I’m enjoying life, I’m enjoying football.
I can’t complain.
Q: Anything you miss most about Australia or Georgia?
A: I miss my friends, the friends you make along the way. Especially in college, you form a brotherhood
in the locker room over three or four years. Probably miss some of the boys there. But my class is gone
now and everyone is doing they’re own thing. But I’ve stayed in touch with all the guys I’m good friends
with. And even back home, I’ve stayed in touch with my friends there. But other than that, man, it’s a
job now, it’s good work. And I’m loving it. And now I have a new brotherhood here.
9 Keys to Broncos defeating the Saints
By Mike Klis
KUSA
November 13, 2016
Between the mismatch in offenses, injuries to Derek Wolfe and Aqib Talib, and the unfamiliar artificial
turf, the Denver Broncos are going to have a difficult time defeating the New Orleans Saints on Sunday
(11 a.m. kickoff) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
But it can be done as they are listed as a 3-point underdog by the majority of oddsmakers.
Here are 9 Keys to the Broncos going into their bye next week with momentum by defeating the Saints:
1. Stop the run
This is ridiculous fellas. In their last two games, the Denver D has allowed 218 yards rushing to Latavius
Murray and the Raiders, and 123 yards to Melvin Gordon and the Chargers.
Now the Broncos must play without their best run-stuffer in Derek Wolfe while the Saints’ running back
duo of Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower are coming off rushing games of 248 yards against San Francisco
and 123 yards against Seattle.
Besides needing rookie defensive end Adam Gotsis and second-year defensive tackle Darius Kilgo to step
up, look for Broncos’ safeties T.J. Ward and/or Darian Stewart to help out in the box.
2. Run first, then play-action pass
The Broncos have only run the ball well in two of their nine games this season – the opener against
Carolina and week 7 against Houston. They only rushed for 90 yards combined in their last two games.
For the sake of their beleaguered offensive line and young running backs Devontae Booker and Kapri
Bibbs, the Broncos have to establish the run early. If they do, quarterback Trevor Siemian can hold the
pass rush and open up route lanes with the play-action fake.
3. Mix up defensive looks on Brees
Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees has seen all the blitzes. That doesn’t mean Wade Phillips from his
sideline position can’t mix up his pass rushers at the same time he is mixing up his coverages. Plus,
safety Shiloh Keo and tight end John Phillips, who played for the Broncos earlier this season, were signed
by the Saints within the past week.The Broncos will have to change up their on-field audibles and signals
on both sides of the ball.
4. Von and Ware time
The idea of mixing up the coverages and the blitzes is to confuse Brees enough so he holds on to the ball
an extra half-second. If he does, then it’s up to edge rushers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray
to get to him.
Brees has only been sacked 12 times in eight games. The Denver D, second in the league with 28 sacks,
have to dump Breen between two and four times to pull off the upset.
5. Look often to Thomas, Sanders
Not Michael Thomas, the Saints’ second-round rookie from Ohio State who is on pace for more than 90
catches and 1,100 yards. We’re talking about Demaryius Thomas and his Broncos’ receiving partner
Emmanuel Sanders.
The Broncos’ top two pass catchers should have an impactful game against a Saints’ pass defense that is
the worst in the league.
The Saints are tied for last in the league with 11 sacks and are No. 32 alone by giving up an even 300
passing yards a game.
6. Big game from Harris, Roby, Webster
After winning one game without cornerback Aqib Talib, the timing of his back injury couldn’t have been
worse. The Broncos didn’t cover well last week against Oakland quarterback Derek Carr and his
multitude of targets led by Amari Cooper. The Broncos now take on the Saints who have a terrific
receiver trio in Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead, plus two good tight ends in Coby
Fleener and Josh Hill.
The good news for Denver is No. 4 cornerback Kayvon Webster returns from his hamstring injury to
move up to No. 3 this week. Webster will play the right corner so Chris Harris Jr. can quarterback from
the slot.
The Broncos also need a better game from Bradley Roby, who was picked on by Carr last week.
7. Win field position
Poor field position may have been the No. 1 reason why the Broncos lost to the Raiders last week.
The Raiders’ first three possessions started from their 48, 42 and 43. They scored off each possession for
13 points. The Broncos’ first two possessions of the second half started from their 2 and 1.
8. Red zone!
New Orleans is second in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns 71 percent of the time. The Broncos’
offense is 21st in red zone touchdown conversions at 50 percent.
The Broncos should reach the red zone area several times against the porous Saints’ defense. They need
to finish.
9. No turnovers
Bad as the Saints’ defense is, it does rank 9th in the league with 13 takeaways. The Broncos have
committed 13 turnovers.
Brandon Marshall recalls Tom Brady on-field diss
By Mike Klis
KUSA
November 13, 2016
Welcome to the NFL moments that aren’t necessarily reserved for rookies.
Denver Broncos’ veteran inside linebacker Brandon Marshall may get one Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz
Superdome in New Orleans when none other than Drew Brees looks right at him and shouts, “54’s the
Mike!’’
“Absolutely, he’s one of the best to ever play,’’ Marshall said this week in a sitdown interview with
9NEWS that can be seen on Broncos Game Day at 9 a.m. Sunday on 9NEWS . “Tom Brady did it to me
last year in the AFC Championship. I think it was the fourth quarter. And Tom Brady – I don’t think I ever
told you this – but Tom Brady, it was second down I think, he looked at the running back and said, “You
got 54. Get open!’’
To think about all the time and energy NFL teams spend on guarding their secret strategies. Practices are
closed. Content of meetings and film sessions are never to be publicly disclosed. All that talk about Bill
Belichick as a genius.
And here Brady barks out an order that has all the sophistication of a 5th-grade neighborhood football
game in the dirt.
“That’s how it is sometimes,’’ Marshall said.
Hey, James White. You only have to beat that guy over there. No. 54. You can beat him. Get open, for
cripes sake!
“I took it as an insult,’’ Marshall said. “I thought, ‘OK. All right.’’’
As Marshall recalls, Brady did indeed throw his pass towards White. But, Marshall, who was not exactly
fooled on the play, had good enough coverage to force an incompletion.
Then there was another time when through not physical skill but sleight of formation, Marshall was beat
by a running back. It was the Broncos’ fifth game this season against the Atlanta Falcons, when Marshall
got caught assuming running back Tevin Coleman would run a shallow route. Instead, Coleman turned
his route up field. Touchdown, Falcons on a 31-yard pass down the middle from Matt Ryan to Coleman
with Marshall trailing the running back by a step-and-a-half.
“Here’s the thing: I think about that almost every day,’’ Marshall said. “That touchdown. I’m still ticked.
If you look a couple plays before that, he ran deep, I ran with him. Then the next time he came out, he
ran underneath, I ran with him.
“And then he came out in the same formation, I’m expecting him to run under – it doesn’t matter what I
expected – but he ran right past me. The formation didn’t dictate him going deep. But he did. People
are, “You can’t even run.’ We all know I can run. I’ve ran deep with running backs before. That … it kills
me to this day.’’
There was another play earlier in the game when Atlanta’s other running back, Devonta Freeman, ran an
in-route, stopped and cut outside. Marshall got his feet crossed as Freeman pivoted. The Falcons picked
up 14 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 1.
“Just off that one game, I get people all over my account saying, “You can’t cover running backs in this
league,’’’ Marshall said. “I’m like … ‘’
Wait a minute, Brandon. Here’s some advice: Stop reading comments on social media.
“I gotta stop reading,’’ Marshall said with a laugh. “But that one game people are panicking. We can
cover. It’s a technique thing.’’
A far bigger problem for the Broncos’ defense this year has been stopping the run. From the first game,
when they surrendered 147 yards rushing to Carolina, to their third game, when they gave up 143
rushing yards to Cincinnati, to their previous game at Oakland, where they were trampled on for an
embarrassing 218 yards, Denver’s D has been porous against the run.
The Broncos’ defense ranked No. 3 against the run last season, when they won the Super Bowl by
allowing a mere 83.6 yards per game. They will have a difficult time repeating their championship this
year if their defense continues to allow 128.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th.
What gives? One problem is the Broncos lost two of their top four defensive linemen from last season
when Malik Jackson left for the riches of free agency and Vance Walker suffered a season-ending torn
ACL in training camp.
“We had some forces up front last year,’’ Marshall said. “Malik Jackson. Vance Walker. I think our D-line
is running a little thin on experience and maybe some bulk, you know what I’m saying? Vance was a big
hit. I think a lot of people underestimated that. They didn’t know that. But I think we’ve just got to get
off blocks, man. Stay strong and get off blocks and make the play.’’
Marshall says even though Brees, the Saints’ quarterback who ranks third all-time among passers with
63,592 yards and 449 touchdowns, is a future Hall of Famer, he expects New Orleans to come out
running the ball Sunday. Because the Broncos’ top defensive lineman, Derek Wolfe, is out with a
fractured elbow. And because all teams do.
“It’s funny because we go in every week, we see it on film,’’ Marshall said. “These teams, they throw the
ball against a particular defense. They throw it 40 times, 30 times. But they come against us and they try
to run the ball. I think they know we have an elite secondary and they say, OK we’re going to run the ball
and we’re going to find their weakness. We’re going to get it going to open up the pass. So we have to
stop the run, man.’’
Troy E. Renck's Take 5 Keys to Victory for Broncos vs.
Saints
By Troy Renck
KMGH
November 13, 2016
The pessimism traces to the expectations. The Broncos own a 6-3 record, and it feels much worse. Such
is the case for a franchise that measures itself by championship banners not moral victories.
The Broncos face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The season is not on the brink. But without
squinting, the edge of the cliff becomes visible. The Broncos have not lost three straight road games
since 2010. They exhibit mental toughness, possess resilience. However, they haven’t shown much in
the way of an offense. And that is why so few people outside of the Broncos’ locker room believe they
can beat New Orleans. The idea of the Saints eclipsing the Broncos a month ago seemed preposterous.
The Broncos won their first four games, and the Saints defense looked like it couldn’t stop a run in a pair
of panty hose.
The optics have changed. The Broncos have lost three of their last five games, including in visiting parks
at San Diego and Oakland. The Saints have won four of their last five. New Orleans has quarterback
Drew Brees, who can involve eight different targets, and a ramped up running game. Everything
suggests Denver should lose, but there is a path to victory.
1. Start fast for once
The Broncos' 15-play script is not even off-Broadway worthy. The have scored 16 points in the first
quarter, and one touchdown on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas after Aqib Talib’s
interception. The Saints own 52 first quarter points. I don’t care how bad the Saints’ secondary is, the
Broncos need to establish the run, gorge some clock and score at least once in the first quarter.
2. Stop the run like last year
The Broncos allow 128 yards per game on the ground, after permitting 83 a year ago. The Saints can run
with Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower. As nose tackle Sly Williams, who has struggled this season,
admitted to Denver7, “It’s time to shut up and make plays.” He’s right. It’s time for Adam Gotsis, Billy
Winn and Williams to step up with Derek Wolfe out. I expect Wade Phillips to tweak the looks upfront as
well, but blitzes are risky because of Brees’ excellence on hot routes.
3. Carry the load, O
OK, let’s get back to the offense. For the better part of two years, the defense has carried the load. The
Broncos’ offense must “hold up its end of the bargain,” quarterback Trevor Siemian said. It’s more than
that. The offense needs an identity. This attack is designed to work for Siemian if Denver can run the
ball. If the Broncos can’t rush, and Siemian’s left shoulder appears compromised, it could be time to
consider spreading out and trying Paxton Lynch after the bye week.
4. Play with nothing to lose
The Broncos are underdogs. They have been challenged. This could be cathartic. Why not play with
freedom? With nothing to lose? Let it rip. This mindset should benefit the Broncos. And it would help if
it manifests itself through deep shots to Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Or how about a
seam route to new tight end A.J. Derby?
5. See the light at the end of tunnel
The Broncos desperately need a bye week to get Aqib Talib, Derek Wolfe, Trevor Siemian, linebacker
Brandon Marshall and center Matt Paradis healthy. Reach 7-3 at the break, and it provides fuel for a
furious finish. Lose and it creates uncertainty and anxiety about the quarterback position, the health of
the defense and the road to the postseason.
Can the Broncos contain — or just keep up with — Drew
Brees?
By Jarrett Bell
USA Today
November 13, 2016
A quick preview as Week 10 rolls on in the NFL …
Who’s hot
Drew Brees. After starting 0-3, the Saints have quietly played their way back to relevance by winning
four of their past five games. Naturally, the quarterback who stirs the drink is in a rhythm, too. Brees has
been surgically-efficient in completing better than 70% of his passes in each of the past three games.
He’s topped 300 yards in three of the past four games, with an 11-2 TD-to-INT ratio during that span. No
wonder the Saints are back in a familiar position of fielding the NFL’s top-ranked offense, with the
Broncos visiting on Sunday.
Another reason: Brees has been complemented by a rushing attack that has averaged more than 150
yards per game over the past three outings.
Then there’s the home-dome thing. Maybe it’s an advantage again. After losing five of six games at the
Superdome dating to last season, the Saints have won two consecutive games at home, winning the
shootouts that are bound to happen with Brees pressed to pick up the slack left by a shaky New Orleans
defense.
Key matchup
Rob Gronkowski vs. Kam Chancellor. With the Super Bowl 49 rematch on tap for Sunday night in
Foxborough, the Seahawks are getting a key member to the Legion of Boom back in the nick of time.
Chancellor is poised to return from a groin injury that sidelined him for four games, and there’s no
easing back into it with Gronkowski looming as the biggest playmaker in a versatile collection of
weapons at Tom Brady’s disposal. It’s striking how Brady’s red-hot return from suspension (12 TDs, 0
INTs) coincided with Gronkowski’s healing from a hamstring injury. The past four weeks, Gronk has
averaged 118.5 yards per game, with three TDs.
But the matchup that is just as compelling is in the running game. Chancellor is arguably the best in-thebox safety in the NFL, while Gronkowski’s prowess as a major headache in the seams overshadows his
effectiveness as a punishing blocker.
Pressure’s on
Dallas Cowboys defense. The Ravens didn’t see the “real” Ben Roethlisberger last weekend, with his
spotty comeback tune-up less than three weeks removed from a knee scope. The “real” Steelers
quarterback is more prone to show up for the showdown at Heinz Field.
What a stress test for Rod Marinelli’s over-achieving unit, which opened the season as a major question
mark, given the rash of suspensions (three) that depleted the front seven. The Cowboys defense has
hung tough as Dallas has built the NFL’s longest winning streak, ranking 10th in the league for yards
allowed (up from 17th last season).
Surely, the D stays fresher from the complementary football aspects afforded when the offense
averages an NFL-best 33-plus minutes of possession. But now comes Roethlisberger, who, if healthy,
adds a layer of a headache with his penchant for extending plays. In addition, there’s the task of
containing versatile running back Le’Veon Bell and big-play receiver Antonio Brown.
All told, the explosive and versatile Steelers offense — coordinated by onetime Dallas assistant Todd
Haley — represents the biggest challenge yet for Marinelli’s D.
Next man up
Peyton Barber. Playing running back for the Bucs has been quite the challenge.
Barber, an undrafted rookie from Auburn, is expected to make his second consecutive start Sunday
against the Bears as yet another emergency option. Here’s to hoping he makes it to the finish. He’s the
fourth running back to cycle through the starting gig.
The established signature back, Doug Martin, has been out since Week 3 with a hamstring injury. Antone
Smith, who relieved Barber and was the primary workhorse in Week 9 against Atlanta, just joined
Charles Sims on IR after tearing an ACL. Jacquizz Rodgers, so impressive after signing off the street to
reunite with coach Dirk Koetter, is out indefinitely with a foot injury.
The silver lining? Martin has returned to practice and is considered close to returning. In the meantime,
step right up, Mr. Barber.
Rookie watch
Jordan Howard. The Bears have had a nice pop from their fifth-round pick from Illinois. After starting the
season on the inactive list as the third-string running back, Howard heads into Sunday’s game at Tampa
with 100-yard games in three of his five starts.
Howard's opportunity came with injuries to Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey, and it has been
accelerated with the rookie’s ability to generate yards after contact. He’s averaging 5.1 yards per rush.
And apparently, Howard’s impact is felt in the passing game, too, with the Bears’ three most efficient
games from quarterbacks this season coinciding with his three 100-yard games.
If the playoffs were today …
The Broncos (6-3) would claim the final wild card slot in the AFC. But’s a very tenuous slot.
The defending Super Bowl champs have no shortage of issues, including the task of facing the highoctane Saints offense without two key defensive cogs — cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Derek
Wolfe.
The defense that was so dominant during the Super Bowl run is still one of best in the league, led by
premier rush artist Von Miller. But it has been vulnerable against the run, as demonstrated by a 218yard shredding from the Raiders on Sunday night. That’s how to attack the Denver D, ranked 29th
against the run.
In addition to the injury setbacks, it misses the impact of productive run-stuffer Danny Trevathan and
versatile D-lineman Malik Jackson, who left as free agents. Now would be a good time for the Broncos
offense to take up some slack. But it may be only so capable. Second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian
struggles with the deep throws and the running game suffered a major loss with the season-ending
injury to C.J. Anderson. As the woes pile, the Broncos look like anything but a shoo-in to make the
playoffs to defend their crown in earnest.
Stomach for an upset?
Chiefs at Panthers (-3). Look who’s on a winning streak. The defending NFC champion Panthers have
won consecutive games for the first time since winning 15 in a row in 2015, and at 3-5 can still harbor
visions of putting together a streak that puts them in the playoff race.
Kansas City, which won 11 in a row last season, knows streaks, too. It carries a four-game winning streak
that matches New England for the second-longest current streak in the league.
But there’s another motivator in play: An upset victory would put the Chiefs (6-2) back in first place in
the competitive AFC West, given a previous win over the Raiders. Kansas City also offers Carolina quite
the reminder of the juice flowing through last year’s streak. The Chiefs lead the NFL with a +13 turnover
margin bolstered by a league-high 20 takeaways. Last year, the Panthers led in those categories (+20,
39). This season the Panthers have a -6 margin with 17 giveaways, tied for most in the NFC.
Did you notice?
Blake Bortles. The first quarterback drafted in 2014 (third overall), has passed for at least 300 yards in 10
of his 37 starts with the Jaguars. But that's not a great stat for Jacksonville. Heading into Sunday’s game
against Houston, the Jags are 0-10 when Bortles passes for 300.
Meanwhile, Derek Carr, the fourth quarterback taken in 2014 (36th overall), also has 10 career 300-yard
games. The Raiders, though, have fared much better. They are 7-3 when Carr cracks 300.
Stat’s the fact
The Falcons defense heads into Sunday’s game at Philadelphia with 20 sacks through 9 games. That’s a
lot more impressive when considering the unit produced an NFL-low 19 sacks last season and had just
four sacks through Week 4.
Woody Paige: Broncos should have lured Drew Brees to
Denver
By Woody Paige
Colorado Springs Gazette
November 13, 2016
This remarkable, audacious Louisiana city has survived its tortuous past and river with a laissez les bons
temps rouler attitude and a Cajun-creole ubiquitous influence.
Nawlins even loaned Denver - the land it's on was included in the Louisiana Purchase - two of its most
fabled figures.
Perhaps, if there had been a third, the Broncos' plight Sunday might not be so arduous.
Yet, the anxieties of the weekend were wasted and washed away dining near the Mississippi River at
Manning's Restaurant and K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen on Saturday.
In the late 1960s a young Louisianan named Paul Prudhomme migrated to Denver. "I got a job as a cook
at the Brown Palace and rented a one-room apartment in Capitol Hill,'' he told me years ago. "The hotel
restaurants didn't have any Cajun food on the menu, and they surely didn't ask my advice.''
Prudhomme would sneak out late nights with spices in bags. "I experimented with hundreds of different
combinations 'til I found some I liked.'' He opened a restaurant in downtown Denver, then a couple
more, and made a lasting Louisiana impact in Colorado before his mother became ill in 1970, and Paul
returned home.
In New Orleans, Prudhomme created blackened redfish and other Cajun-creole delicacies with his
Denver-mixed spices and became one of the most famous chefs in the culinary world. He and wife Kay
opened K-Paul's in the French Quarter in 1979, and a line has meandered around the block since.
Prudhomme died last year.
On Saturday night I made probably a 50th visit to K-Paul's. As always, the jambalaya and the crawfish
etoufee were sansasyonalis.
At lunch hours earlier, about 10 blocks away from K-Paul's, at Manning's Restaurant, I ate - what else? the chicken parm sandwich. Tastes so good.
Manning's is named for The First Family of Football, particularly its patriarch - Archie Manning, who was
the Saints' inaugural, and only, star in the 1970s.
I wrote columns about, and got to know, Archie when he played at Ole Miss and later in New Orleans,
where he and wife, Olivia, produced three sons - Cooper, Peyton and Eli.
Archie and I sat on bar stools Saturday afternoon and watched Southeastern Conference games,
reminisced and talked about the Sunday Broncos-Saints game. "The Broncos have to be very careful
because Drew (Brees) is having a great year, and they've found a running game for him.'' He smiled
when I mentioned the Broncos are missing his son at QB.
Peyton won't be here. The Saints are honoring him with a retirement party at the next game at the
Superdome. "Peyton's at Augusta (National) playing golf,'' his dad said. "I think he's really enjoying his
retirement, but I know he misses the game. If the injuries hadn't gotten to him, he would have played
for years. Look at how well Drew and Tom (Brady) are doing. They may stay around long into their 40s if
they don't get hurt.''
Peyton migrated to Denver to play the final four seasons of his career. He went out with a title.
Like Prudhomme more than 40 years before, the Louisiana native left a lasting imprint on Colorado.
The ''Fourth Manning Brother'' is Brees, a close friend of the Mannings. "I met Drew when he was in
high school in Texas. I asked him which school in Texas he was planning to go to, and he said Purdue (in
Indiana). To this day, I've always wondered if he even got recruited in his home state,'' Archie said.
Brees is experiencing a rejuvenated season with Archie's old team.
He's passed for 2,689, has thrown 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions and is completing 69.7
percent. He could challenge Peyton's incredible 2013 when he had 5,477 yards passing, 55 touchdown
passes and only 10 interceptions, and completed 68.3 percent of his attempts.
If Brees, in his 16th season, plays into his 40s, he should break several Manning NFL marks. "I don't
doubt it at all,'' Archie said.
And he could break the Broncos' hearts on Sunday.
There was considerable conversation during the offseason regarding why John Elway should make a deal
to get Brees. On his 50th birthday, before Elway rejoined the Broncos as chief football executive, he
talked to me about training as a talent evaluator under his dad, Jack, one of the best. As they viewed
films of college quarterbacks in 2001, the younger Elway dismissed a 6-footer at Purdue. But Jack told
John he should be looking at the size of the quarterback's heart. "My dad taught me so much about
judging players that day.''
The Broncos should have lured another man from New Orleans to Denver.
Nevertheless, let the good times roll on Sunday.
Paul Klee: Von Miller: Broncos in 'tough patch' at New
Orleans
By Paul Klee
Colorado Springs Gazette
November 13, 2016
The Broncos lost, fair and square, to the Oakland Raiders. They lost their lofty position in the power polls
and, most clearly, have lost their swag.
Get this: they are not excuse-making, or whining, or crying about it. What a novel idea.
"We're in a tough patch right now," Von Miller said. "But we'll be able to get out of it."
For a team in Denver's precarious position, there could be worse things than facing Drew Brees and the
New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The bird flu comes to mind.
The Saints are mostly healthy. The Broncos suddenly are not. In consecutive home games the Saints just
beat the 2014 NFC champs (Seahawks) and 2015 NFC champs (Panthers). In consecutive road games the
Broncos lost at San Diego and Oakland.
The Saints field a quarterback with nine career Pro Bowls. The Broncos have one with eight career starts.
Sunday at the Mercedez-Benz Superdome, it's fair to assume the Colorado broadcast will be followed
not by "60 Minutes," but by locusts, darkness, boils, fiery hail and transplants on Interstate 25 - the
various plagues of Egypt.
Beware of counting them out for good. The Broncos will be back, after the bye. But the bye arrives one
week too late. For now, they are playing catch-up wearing a potato sack.
Quick, name four defenders whose brash confidence was Reason No. 1 they won Super Bowl 50. Aqib
Talib, Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson and T.J. Ward would be solid bets. They smack-talked a big game.
They always backed it up. None are healthy, or here.
Talib (back) and Wolfe (elbow) won't play Sunday due to injury. They are having All-Pro - not Pro Bowl seasons. Jackson plays in Jacksonville, fittingly. Ward has been sick as a sick dog. He didn't practice until
Friday.
A bunch of Broncos attended a Nuggets game against the Warriors. They sat together, courtside, lined
up in a row: Miller, Trevor Siemian, DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.
Brandon Marshall, who's also unhealthy with a bum hamstring, went off on his own, circling Pepsi
Center, snapping selfies and signing autographs with fans. "Now it's time for the game," Marshall said
afterward.
Without Talib and Wolfe, the Broncos are missing their brash and smash. It's the best play they have.
Right now they aren't what they were, so they can't do what they did. They must adjust. To win Sunday,
Gary Kubiak must tweak the conservative attack, take risks and lean on his best players. On offense,
that's Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Go deep. Assume they will make the big play or draw
a flag, also a big play.
When the offense peaked, at Cincinnati, it was Siemian connecting with Sanders and Thomas on throws
of 41 and 55 yards. Let the big-money players make their big money.
"It's basically now manning up and going out and doing your job," Thomas said.
Oh, the Broncos can win. With a polite nod to Brees, the Saints maestro, Denver will have the best
player in the dome, Vonnie Football. That's always a good place to start. Miller last week shared his
unique philosophies on dancing punters in Oakland ("That's dope to me," he said), his lead role in
organizing the team's mannequin challenge ("I have a newfound appreciation for our coaches, because
it's hard to get 27-year-olds and 25-year-olds to listen to anything right now"), even the presidential
election.
"It's not like it's rigged or anything. People got out and voted, and that's what the American people
want," Miller said. "I'm an American. I'm with it. I'm going to ride with it."
It's a tough patch right now, he said. The losers whine and complain. The great ones find a way to make
it better.
Column: Time for sports to bring us together after
election
By Paul Newberry
Associated Press
November 13, 2016
We're a nation bitterly divided.
And, no, I'm not talking about who should be the fourth-ranked team in the College Football Playoff.
A presidential election like no other has come and gone, sending half the nation into the streets for a
euphoric dance, the other half into the streets for a defiant protest.
There seems no middle ground, nothing we can all agree on.
It's time for sports to bring us together.
With a nod to Stephen Colbert, who issued a similar plea on election night , here's some things we
should all be able to agree on:
—The NFL is overexposed. There's no reason to pass off the winless Cleveland Browns as worthy of
being shown to the entire country (or at least those who can find NFL Network on channel 2,345). That
was quite evident from the snoozefest we witnessed Thursday night, when the Brownies' offensive
game plan in a 28-7 loss to Baltimore consisted mainly of incompletions, 2-yard runs, turnovers, sacks
and yet another quarterback change. The NFL should be played on Sundays, with one game on Monday.
No mas to Thursday night.
—On a similar note, college football should be played on Saturdays. End of story. We don't need games
on Thursday night (hey, those kids are supposed to go to class the next day, so at least play along with
the charade). We certainly don't need them on Friday nights. High school football is meant for Friday
nights, not the Big Ten .
—We know Nick Saban has some weighty issues on his plate, like the Iron Bowl and winning another
national championship. But the Alabama coach should at least know about Election Day .
—It's time for Tiger Woods to retire. We want to remember him as perhaps the greatest player in golf
history, not some aging, hairline-receding, injury riddled version of Willie Mays or Muhammad Ali, trying
to desperately to hang on to a game he can no longer play at the highest levels.
—They still have fighting in the NHL? Seriously, what century is this? Ban that silliness immediately. If
you need a fighting fix, check out YouTube. Those guys really wailed on each other in the truly
Neanderthal days .
—LeBron James should take up baseball. Maybe he can do for the Indians what he did for the Cavaliers.
But forget about asking him to play quarterback. Not even a King can help the Browns.
—The College Football Playoff should expand to eight teams, with spots going to the five Power Five
conference champions, the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five, and the next two highestranked teams regardless of league. No more conference championship games. The first or second
weekend of December is for the quarterfinals. The semifinals remain on New Year's Day, followed by the
national championship game a week or so later. See how easy that was.
—No one wants to have a beer with Bill Belichick. Or have him pick out what they're going to wear to
work. But we all want him to coach our favorite football team.
—Please let there be a day when no city bids for the Olympics. Clearly, that's the only way to let the IOC
know the rest of the world has finally figured out that its every-two-years prize is really nothing more
than an extortion plot designed to drive cities (and even countries) into bankruptcy. We love the
Olympics, but we hate all the red ink and broken promises it leaves behind.
—The Chicago Cubs took us on a marvelous ride, but enough with trying to turn a World Series victory
into some sort of spiritual, life-affirming triumph over a 108-year-old curse. Besides, you want suffering?
Let me introduce you to the A-T-L. While the Windy City has celebrated titles in all the major sports over
the last three decades, Atlanta has managed one championship over a combined 168 baseball, football,
basketball and hockey seasons. And it doesn't even have the NHL anymore, having lost not one, but two
team to Western Canada.
—Billionaire owners should pay for their own stadiums and arenas. Kudos to San Diego for being one of
the rare cities that told a team what it could do with its plan to have the citizenry pick up the tab for a
private enterprise. That decision will likely send the Chargers to Los Angeles, but it's not a bad drive to
make eight times a year while spending public funds on things that actually benefit everyone, like better
schools and parks.
—Baseball needs to do many things to make itself more appealing to a younger generation, but getting
rid of the organist is NOT one of them. Matthew Kaminski of the Braves is proof of that.
—Finally, there's something really comforting about watching winners and losers shake hands at the end
of a hard-fought contest and knowing there's always next season.
Yep, we can all agree on that.
Three Keys to Broncos-Saints
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
November 13, 2016
Sunday's game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome might not "count double," as players and coaches
often describe divisional games.
But because common opponents are the next divisional tiebreaker beyond head-to-head and divisional
record, the Broncos need to avoid their second loss to the NFC South, the division with which the AFC
West is paired for inter-conference play this year.
That task is complicated by the Saints' recent momentum -- four wins in their last five games, including
home triumphs over the two most recent NFC champions -- and the Broncos' recent spate of defensive
injuries and offensive consistency.
This is a sub-optimal time in which to face a Drew Brees-led offense that is firing on all cylinders.
"They understand what we’re facing. They understand where we’re going," Head Coach Gary Kubiak
said. "This is a hell of a team that we’re playing [and it is] playing really well."
And it has played better than the Broncos in recent weeks; they've lost three of their last five games,
falling behind by double digits to start each of those defeats, including 13-0 last week at Oakland.
"I think getting over last week was key, getting our mentality going again and getting our spirits up.
That’s part of football. I think we’ve done that and we’ve tried to manage them the right way to get
them there because we’re going to need everything we’ve got. They’ve been very upbeat."
What will the Broncos need to do to play an upbeat tune in the birthplace of jazz?
1. SUSTAIN DRIVES
Furthermore, the Broncos need to sustain them from the start. If they open with four consecutive threeand-outs as they did last week, New Orleans possesses the firepower to put the game out of reach early.
Lengthy drives also keep the Saints' offense off the field -- and the Saints thrive in games where they
receive maximum opportunities. This season, New Orleans is 3-0 in games when the Saints and their
opponents combine for at least 25 non-kneeldown possessions, and 1-4 when not reaching that
number.
2. MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE
New Orleans' offense is going to pick up some yardage. With Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower becoming
an effective combination in recent weeks, the Saints have the ground game to effectively complement
the Brees-led attack.
In the Saints' first two losses to open the season, the Raiders' and Giants' ability to contain New Orleans
in scoring range proved decisive. The Saints crossed the opposing 35-yard line nine times, but only
scored three touchdowns, settling for six field-goal attempts by Will Lutz on the other possessions.
One reason why the Broncos defeated Houston in Week 7 was because the Broncos held the Texans to a
pair of first-quarter field goals. Instead of trailing 10-0 as they did in their previous two games against
Atlanta and San Diego, the Broncos had a manageable 6-0 deficit and quickly took the lead.
3. NO MARGIN FOR ERROR
The Broncos have four turnovers in their last two games, and although one of them was in a desperate
situation at the end of last week's game (Reggie Nelson's interception of Siemian), that still represents a
pattern the Broncos cannot afford to repeat Sunday -- especially if the giveaways leave the Saints in
prime scoring position.
Mason's Mailbag: Defending the run, tiebreakers,
Trevor Siemian and more
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
November 13, 2016
Dustin Miszczak @Dmizczcakphotog
@MaseDenver do you think it would be a good idea for denver to go to 6 o-linemen to help the rbs? Or
more outside runs? #askmase
5:37 PM - 7 Nov 2016
If you can pass from out of a six-O-lineman formation, it can be helpful. You need the threat of the pass
to prevent the linebackers from simply attacking the gaps with impunity. Last week, Oakland had that;
they used a sixth offensive lineman lining up as eligible on 19 plays. They ran 14 times and passed five
others.
The 14 runs accumulated 130 yards, including Oakland's two longest plays of the night. But the threat of
the pass was viable and effective; Derek Carr went 3-of-4 for 35 yards, and Oakland picked up another
23 yards on a pass-interference penalty, effectively giving Oakland an average of 11.6 yards per pass
play out of a six-lineman formation. That's more than enough to keep the defense honest. If you can
pass from the six-lineman package as well as Oakland did, it works.
I realize that this is basically impossible but I've always wondered what tiebreakers follow wins and
losses. For example, if all AFC West teams went undefeated against non-divisional opponents and each
won one game and lost one game to each divisional opponents, who would win the division?
-- Kaden Smith
In that unlikely scenario in which every AFC West team finished 13-3, those teams would be tied on the
first four divisional tiebreakers: head-to-head, division games, common opponents and conference
games.
That would then lead to strength of victory -- compiled by averaging the winning percentages of the
teams each club beat. So the tie would be broken by the winning percentages of two opponents for
each club. In this year's schedule, that would mean the tie is broken by the winning percentages of the
AFC North and AFC East teams against which each of the AFC West clubs are paired, because the rest of
the opponents would be the exact same.
Thus, if all AFC West teams had gone 13-3 this year, the Broncos' fate in a tiebreaker would be
determined by how well the Patriots and Bengals did.
E @egep213
@MaseDenver do you think the Broncos will try playing a 4-3 defense against the Raiders next game?
they got pushed around #askmase
9:22 AM - 9 Nov 2016
No, because you're not going to change the entire structure and positional alignment of the defense for
one opponent, especially when your defense has enjoyed plenty of success working out of the 3-4. For
the Broncos, that would be like taking a new hybrid to the junkyard because it has a bad spark plug.
Teams that run a base 3-4 this year have allowed 4.2 yards per carry; teams with a base 4-3 allow 4.1
yards per carry. 3-4 base teams have allowed 6.7 more rushing yards per game, but given up 9.8 fewer
passing yards per game. It's not a scheme thing; it's an execution thing.
Considering the elite level of the Broncos DBs and the recent struggles defending the run, wouldn't it be
wise to sacrifice one safety in order to load the box a bit more?
-- Drew Smith
Maybe in some situations, especially when you get Aqib Talib back, but in the short term, with Talib out
Sunday and the Saints' expected use of bunch formations and short crosses, drags and outs to try and
cause split-second hesitation among the cornerbacks, it's probably not the best move to make; doing so
could turn some short gains into long ones.
I wasn't thrilled will some of the fans' backlash against Trevor Siemian. While he definitely needs to
improve with consistency, I thought he had another good outing. What are your thoughts?
-- Eddie Blob
There's no doubt it wasn't his best game, and there were some plays -- including the first third-down
attempt of the game -- where he went short rather than get to the next read and find a target further
downfield. But at the same time, he remains under duress, and still only has nine starts to his name.
Two early drops didn't help matters, nor did pressure pouring in from Oakland's front.
As the cliche' goes, the quarterback generally gets too much blame or too much credit. I think all of us
who cover football are guilty of falling into that trap at the extremes, one way or another. But that being
said, Siemian has accounted for four giveaways in the last two games: two lost fumbles and a pair of
interceptions. Yes, one of the pickoffs was basically out of desperation on fourth down last week, and
with the fumble against San Diego, he had no chance to react and avoid the sack and strip.
But when you add the Chargers' near interceptions in Week 8 to the equation, you've got too many
giveaways -- or potential giveaways -- for this offense to work. The Broncos' equation for success
involves limiting turnovers, so this is an area that must improve, or the season will be in peril.
Thanksgiving would be on November 24, and Christmas would be on December 25 of this year. What are
you planning to do during these holidays. Please answer. Thank you.
-- Mitha Choudhury
I'm planning to work. There's practice on Thanksgiving and a game on Christmas.