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Failing to make the grade
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated: 08/20/2007 12:20:39 AM MDT
What, me and Alfred E. Neuman worry?
Those who have picked the Broncos to go to the Super Bowl need worry.
Those few include your pusillanimous columnist. Mad Magazine's Neuman, characterized as the most stupid person in America, did not pick the Broncos to go to the Super Bowl. Move over, Neuman, for an old man. But it's my pick, and I'm sticking to it - for the time being.
Man, they played downright awful and dreadful, to be kind, Saturday night in Texas.
The Cowboys rode the Broncos like donkeys. Rode them hard and put them away sweating. Heehaw. Former coach whupped up on current coach.
In the parking lot of Texas Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a bunch of tailgaters were standing behind a pickup, drinking beer and barbecuing a beef brisket and each other. Half wore Cowboys jerseys; the others were Broncophiles.
"This could be a Super Bowl preview," I told them. "Yeah," they said. I could not find them after the game to apologize.
If this is a Super Bowl preview, the Cowboys will repeat that 27-10 debacle in Super Bowl XII. If the "Saturday Night Massacre" version of the Broncos reaches the Super Bowl, it would be worse than that 55-10 mess in Super Bowl XXIV.
On the positive side, an MRI on Sunday revealed that Travis Henry's knee sprain is not serious. If no Henry, oh, Henry. The Broncos needed a break (figuratively) and finally got one. Henry is vital.
Brian Clark (I picked him the first day of camp to be the team's third wide receiver) had a clever catch that resulted in a 90-yard touchdown (only seven longer in exhibition and regular seasons). Receiver Brandon Marshall, who finally started, had three receptions.
Nate Webster, who puts the "journey" in man, forced a fumble and has played strong enough on the side (six tackles in last season's final game, four Saturday) to become the starter at strongside linebacker - a position gone lacking in camp.
Patrick Ramsey will be a fine, fine backup quarterback.
That's about it for the positive.
On the negative side would be the offense, the defense and the special teams.
And the disturbing number of swelling (figuratively and literally) injuries.
Let's start with the nothing-special teams. New assistant "Great" Scott O'Brien is supposed to transform the assorted special teams into chicken salad. Same old, same old so far. Todd Sauerbrun punted like sauerbraten. There were no returns and no special moments to speak of.
You want a grade. You can't handle the truth, Jack Nicholson said. A "D."
I concentrated on watching the bigger, bulkier, better defensive line for a half. The linemen were another "B" word - bad. The Cowboys offense pushed them around as if they were Pillsbury Doughboys and Stay Puft Marshmallow Men. Is this the best the linemen have? They were pushed back, run through and shoved around.
Dallas finished with 190 yards rushing.
Dré Bly had an interception, but was ordinary otherwise. And the Broncos must hope they never have two defensive backs out with injuries.
The Broncos were using a base defense. Debased is more like it. Grade: "F," only because teachers cannot give "G" or "Z."
The offense was offensive.
The players whined about the Cowboys' constant blitz. Germany blitzed London 57 consecutive nights. The English didn't complain; they just responded. The Broncos didn't.
They'll see it again (Saturday against Cleveland). Don't you think the San Diego Chargers, who also employ a 3-4, will blitz some?
The Broncos rushed 19 times for 35 whole yards. Henry and Mike Bell were injured, but even before, they offered nothing.
The offensive line is banged up and thin, but what if they are banged up and thin when it counts? The Broncos put a tight end at tackle. Mustard and ketchups won't get it done.
The wide receiving corps is missing two veterans, and Javon Walker had one meaningless catch.
Jay Cutler was a flavorless cutlet. See offensive line. See blitz. See lack of healthy wide receivers. But it's what we didn't see. In his six possessions of the first half, Cutler didn't convert a third down, didn't produce a touchdown. On the last third down, at the Dallas 2, Cutler faked a handoff, went left, found a defender waiting and threw incomplete to the back of the end zone, where two Broncos were clunked together - mistakenly.
Grade: "F+." The + is charity.
In his usual monotone afterward, coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos "are not there yet." Saturday night against Dallas, the Broncos looked like they were nowhere yet. They have to be somewhere Saturday night against Cleveland.
Super Bowl? Me worry.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_6666247
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated: 08/20/2007 12:20:39 AM MDT
What, me and Alfred E. Neuman worry?
Those who have picked the Broncos to go to the Super Bowl need worry.
Those few include your pusillanimous columnist. Mad Magazine's Neuman, characterized as the most stupid person in America, did not pick the Broncos to go to the Super Bowl. Move over, Neuman, for an old man. But it's my pick, and I'm sticking to it - for the time being.
Man, they played downright awful and dreadful, to be kind, Saturday night in Texas.
The Cowboys rode the Broncos like donkeys. Rode them hard and put them away sweating. Heehaw. Former coach whupped up on current coach.
In the parking lot of Texas Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a bunch of tailgaters were standing behind a pickup, drinking beer and barbecuing a beef brisket and each other. Half wore Cowboys jerseys; the others were Broncophiles.
"This could be a Super Bowl preview," I told them. "Yeah," they said. I could not find them after the game to apologize.
If this is a Super Bowl preview, the Cowboys will repeat that 27-10 debacle in Super Bowl XII. If the "Saturday Night Massacre" version of the Broncos reaches the Super Bowl, it would be worse than that 55-10 mess in Super Bowl XXIV.
On the positive side, an MRI on Sunday revealed that Travis Henry's knee sprain is not serious. If no Henry, oh, Henry. The Broncos needed a break (figuratively) and finally got one. Henry is vital.
Brian Clark (I picked him the first day of camp to be the team's third wide receiver) had a clever catch that resulted in a 90-yard touchdown (only seven longer in exhibition and regular seasons). Receiver Brandon Marshall, who finally started, had three receptions.
Nate Webster, who puts the "journey" in man, forced a fumble and has played strong enough on the side (six tackles in last season's final game, four Saturday) to become the starter at strongside linebacker - a position gone lacking in camp.
Patrick Ramsey will be a fine, fine backup quarterback.
That's about it for the positive.
On the negative side would be the offense, the defense and the special teams.
And the disturbing number of swelling (figuratively and literally) injuries.
Let's start with the nothing-special teams. New assistant "Great" Scott O'Brien is supposed to transform the assorted special teams into chicken salad. Same old, same old so far. Todd Sauerbrun punted like sauerbraten. There were no returns and no special moments to speak of.
You want a grade. You can't handle the truth, Jack Nicholson said. A "D."
I concentrated on watching the bigger, bulkier, better defensive line for a half. The linemen were another "B" word - bad. The Cowboys offense pushed them around as if they were Pillsbury Doughboys and Stay Puft Marshmallow Men. Is this the best the linemen have? They were pushed back, run through and shoved around.
Dallas finished with 190 yards rushing.
Dré Bly had an interception, but was ordinary otherwise. And the Broncos must hope they never have two defensive backs out with injuries.
The Broncos were using a base defense. Debased is more like it. Grade: "F," only because teachers cannot give "G" or "Z."
The offense was offensive.
The players whined about the Cowboys' constant blitz. Germany blitzed London 57 consecutive nights. The English didn't complain; they just responded. The Broncos didn't.
They'll see it again (Saturday against Cleveland). Don't you think the San Diego Chargers, who also employ a 3-4, will blitz some?
The Broncos rushed 19 times for 35 whole yards. Henry and Mike Bell were injured, but even before, they offered nothing.
The offensive line is banged up and thin, but what if they are banged up and thin when it counts? The Broncos put a tight end at tackle. Mustard and ketchups won't get it done.
The wide receiving corps is missing two veterans, and Javon Walker had one meaningless catch.
Jay Cutler was a flavorless cutlet. See offensive line. See blitz. See lack of healthy wide receivers. But it's what we didn't see. In his six possessions of the first half, Cutler didn't convert a third down, didn't produce a touchdown. On the last third down, at the Dallas 2, Cutler faked a handoff, went left, found a defender waiting and threw incomplete to the back of the end zone, where two Broncos were clunked together - mistakenly.
Grade: "F+." The + is charity.
In his usual monotone afterward, coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos "are not there yet." Saturday night against Dallas, the Broncos looked like they were nowhere yet. They have to be somewhere Saturday night against Cleveland.
Super Bowl? Me worry.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_6666247
