Polumbus: Lessons learned from Broncos win vs. Chargers

It has been done before, Denver Broncos fans. Last year’s Super Bowl team proved that you can go all the way with great defense, good special teams, and a shaky offense.

That’s who this club still is, so buckle up for the ride and understand what your expectations should be when you tune into the Broncos game each Sunday.

It is your call if you want to pull your hair out every time the offense stalls out for a three-and-out, or you can enjoy the ride of being a fan of one of the best franchises in the NFL with a team capable of winning every game.

Observations about the Broncos offense:

Almost every game this year has started out multiple pass plays. Nothing would cause grumblings more quickly than when my fellow offensive linemen and I were handed the first 15 scripted plays with multiple straight passes to open the game during Saturday night meetings.

Offensive linemen are at a serious mismatch when they backpedal three yards and defensive linemen sprint forward three yards. Somehow the offensive line supposed to stop that freight train, even though both moving objects are going in the same direction.

Pass protection is certainly not what gets an offensive lineman excited. Big boy, smash mouth football gets us excited. Moving forward, opposite moving forces, that’s what gets us going.

I understand the coaches’ perspective. I really do. If I call five running plays in the first quarter and only gain 10 yards (fewer than in the San Diego game), why would I keep banging my head against the wall and keep calling plays with no chance of gaining yards?

However, the Broncos employ a momentum running game offense that sometimes requires a coach to be willing to bang his head against the wall until something pops.

I think it’s time for Denver’s coaches to give the offensive line what they want and start a game extremely run heavy. Commit to it until it opens up, and the offensive line needs to respond to give the coaches the confidence to continue to call running plays.

Typically 57 yards on the ground doesn’t lead to a win. The Broncos need to find a running game to have success going forward, and it might just take some stubbornness to get that done.

Observations about the Broncos defense:

For the life of me I can’t explain why the Broncos defense gives up points on the first drive of each game, but, hey, if they are going to be as scary good the rest of the game as they have been, I would much rather them give up points early than late.

The depth of this team on the defensive side of the ball is phenomenal.

Aqib Talib is out? No problem. Bradley Roby and Lorenzo Doss will step up for huge games.

Brandon Marshall is out? It’s all good. Corey Nelson will play more than 80 snaps and help shut down a tight end duo that exposed the Broncos in their first match up.

Wade Phillips goes down mid-game? Carry on. Playcalling duties switch over to linebackers coach Reggie Herring, who knows exactly how Phillips would call the rest of the game.

This defense is still what it was last year. They give up fewer points per game than the did last season, but even when the going gets tough and Denver can’t put up points on the offensive side of the ball, just wait. This defense will find a way to go win the game.

I truly hope Broncos fans realize what you are watching because this is a once in a lifetime defense that they have the privilege of watching two years in a row.

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