Lammey: Broncos need to embrace facing more 8-man boxes

The Denver Broncos suffered its first loss of the 2017 season to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3, despite entering the game with a strong rushing attack. But instead of utilizing its ground game, Denver chose to rely on their passing game against Buffalo.

As a team, the Broncos had 40 passing attempts but only 23 rushing attempts in Week 3, and the game plan to attack through the air didn’t work.

However, head coach Vance Joseph said he was comfortable with how much they ran against the Bills.

“They played us in a lot of heavy boxes (Sunday), so we thought the pass game would be our advantage. I was not disappointed about how we attacked that defense,” Joseph said. “Now, with that being said, I think their DBs played better than I thought they could versus our receivers. They played well and they won the football game.”

Running back C.J. Anderson said he’s always up for totting the rock more but also that he realizes he needs to make do with the touches he’s given.

“I always want the ball. I want the ball every play. As a playmaker, I just have to make plays. I had 10 touches I think. I have to find a way to make plays. That’s how I look at it,” Anderson said Wednesday. “Whenever my number is called and they’re giving me the opportunity to make a play, I have to make it.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 40 touches. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10. I need to find to get in the end zone for my team.”

In order to get back on the winning track, the Broncos should look to get back to running the ball with authority. And they’ll have to do that against teams who know Denver strives for balance on offense.

There is a trend the Broncos could continue to face going forward, and it comes down to facing more defenders in the box as the season goes on.

Over the first two games of the season, Anderson faced eight or more defenders in the box on four occasions. With that defensive look, Anderson averaged 4.75 yards per attempt.

Before the Bills game, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy told me Denver has a variety of weapons when asked if he anticipates more eight-in-the-box looks.

“Everyone has to come up with a game plan. You never know, that’s kind of the game we play every week of how teams are going to change,” McCoy said. “I think that when we have the weapons we have outside, starting with Emmanuel (Sanders) and Demaryius (Thomas), they have to decide what they want to do.”

The Bills showed eight in the box nearly twice as much as Anderson had seen all season, and he carried the ball three times against such looks Sunday and averaged 11.7 yards per attempt.

This week, Anderson said he loves it when he sees eight players in the box.

“When you see eight in the box, if you cover everybody up and you get paid to make that one man miss, and if you make him miss you get big plays. Myself, Jamaal, (Devontae) ‘Book’ (Booker), and De’Angelo (Henderson), we see that as a challenge,” Anderson said. “We definitely know it’s a sign of respect, but we also see it as a challenge.

“If you get through the line, you get through the linebackers and you get to that safety that’s in the box and make him miss, you have an opportunity to make big plays.”

The Broncos need to dictate on offense like they did the first two weeks of the regular season. If they see a stacked box, they need to run the ball and crush the will of their opponent.

I expect them to have a fine day offensively against the Raiders on Sunday, and it all starts with Anderson and the rushing attack.

Follow @CecilLammey