Mile High Monday: A win is a win, which is what the Broncos needed

The Denver Broncos are back on the winning track. Yes, it was an ugly win in Week 8 against the Washington Football Team, but a win is a win is a win.

I like when Broncos Country is happy – well, at least we’re not talking about firing the coaching staff this week (are we?).

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

***

Third-String Problems

The Broncos rush defense has been struggling this year. When they face a strong rushing attack, the defense can’t put up much of a fight. They almost lost the game against the WFT because they couldn’t stop their running game. Washington ran for a healthy 4.7 yards per carry and finished with 112 yards as a team in Week 8 against the Broncos.

Even when they face a third-string running back, they don’t stop the run effectively. On Sunday, it was Jaret Patterson – the No. 3 back for WFT, who led the team in rushing. Patterson ran 11 times for 46 yards, and he was difficult for the Broncos to find (he’s small/compact) and stop when he was running inside. He’s an undrafted free agent rookie, and a decent player, but there is no way he should have been gashing the Broncos defense the way he did.

Last week, the Cleveland Browns third-string back D’Ernest Johnson ran all over Denver for nearly 150 yards on the ground. Patterson didn’t reach that total, but it was just another example of how the Broncos defense has been exposed.

If you're a 3rd string running back, you will have success against the #Broncos rush defense. Jaret Patterson looking like D'Ernest Johnson out there. @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) October 31, 2021

Corey Clement is the third-string running back for the Dallas Cowboys – next week’s opponent – just in case you were wondering. He has three carries for zero yards in 2021, and Clement is unlikely to get many touches behind superstar starter Ezekiel Elliott and talented backup Tony Pollard.

The Broncos are going to have their hands full with the Cowboys offense – whether or not Dak Prescott plays – so they need to do what they can to improve their rush defense. They need to do it fast.

***

Whatever Works

Stop me if you’re heard this before; the Broncos need to run the ball more. I seem to complain every week online, on social media and over the air that Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams don’t get to run the ball enough.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is struggling, and he won’t lean on the ground game. In order to get things right, Shurmur should be going to Gordon and Williams more as runners.

It seems like as a compromise, Shurmur is willing to feature both backs as receivers out of the backfield. That’s good, and I guess I’ll take it – so long as it works. Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, both backs scored receiving touchdowns. In Week 8 against the WFT, they caught a combined five passes and Gordon scored a receiving touchdown. That works, and it’s something that could work going forward.

I'LL TAKE IT! even if they're not getting the carries, use these RBs as receivers out of the backfield. Touchdown Melvin Gordon, great execution from #Broncos offense. @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) October 31, 2021

With the schedule getting much tougher than Washington in upcoming weeks, the Broncos do need to show that they can run the ball. That means Williams and Gordon need to hang onto the rock, and they both need to thrive when the get the opportunity as a runner.

The Broncos most of the time will switch their running backs based on the drive. It seems like when a player gets in for a drive, he gets the entirety of the drive. That’s a good way of going about it, but the team just doesn’t run the ball enough.

When they face tougher teams, the Broncos need to run and eat up the time of possession. This will keep the better offenses off the field, and it will keep their defense fresh. It will also set up play-action passing opportunities as the game goes on. Looking at the schedule, they have one or two more wins unless their philosophy on offense gets an upgrade.

***

Welcome Back Albert O

The Broncos can’t trust Noah Fant. He’s a decent receiver, and he has the athleticism to create mismatches whenever he’s on the field. Sure, Fant could get more yards after the catch, but there’s really no issue with him as a receiving threat. There are serious problems with him as a blocker. Fant struggles to block, and he’s getting plays blown up with his lackluster effort.

In addition to his problems as a blocker, Fant was penalized yet again. The Broncos have played eight games, and Fant has been penalized seven times in the 2021 season. That’s simply unacceptable and clearly demonstrates the further struggles that Fant is going through.

Good thing the Broncos got Albert Okwuegbunam off Injured Reserve this week. While Fant had two catches for eight yards on Sunday, Okwuegbunam caught three passes for 34 yards. He did that even though he’s the backup and Fant is the starter.

good to see Albert Okwuegbunam back out there. could use his presence in the passing game and size as a blocker. #Broncos @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) October 31, 2021

They need both tight ends going forward. Fant still has a role, and it could be a featured role depending on the game plan, but Okwuegbunam will cut into his snaps and targets. Fant is a first-round pick, and he does work hard, but he’s simply having a bad half of the season. We’ll see if he can turn things around in 2021, especially after the bye week. If not, Okwuegbunam – so long as he’s healthy – is there to do more.

***

Meh-CU

A new movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits theaters next week. “The Eternals” is the latest MCU film, but it’s not exactly generating positive buzz. Currently, “The Eternals” has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score (60 percent) of any Marvel movie.

We’ll see what the audience score turns out to be when the movie opens to the public, but right now critics do not like this film. I’m going to hold off judgement on the movie until I see it, but I must admit I’m really looking forward to the two end-credit scenes more than anything else. “The Eternals” is a huge concept to tackle, and the MCU has already established cosmic bad guys like Thanos – who was a handful for The Avengers but would be an easier task for a more powerful group like The Eternals.

Why now? Why didn’t they interfere when Thanos erased HALF OF EXISTENCE WITH ONE SNAP OF HIS FINGERS?!? I know, I know, they’ll explain this in the movie but it’s just a bit too late to get these characters – as a group – introduced. I’ll go into the movie with an open mind, and I’ll enjoy parts of it as a comic book fan even if it is a bad movie.

Some on the Twitterverse, defending this movie, have declared that diversity is the main reason why this movie is not getting the rave reviews other Marvel movies have received. Ah yes, nothing like playing the diversity card when the MCU has featured tons of diversity in other – beloved – films. As a Chicano, I know the power of representation in stories, and I have a feeling that this might be just a bad movie and not those bad reviewers who hate anything diverse.

"eternals is getting mixed reviews cause its diverse"

meanwhile the two highest rated cbms on rotten tomatoes: pic.twitter.com/GOGehhWDGp

— Doctor idk (@bigmonkeong) October 30, 2021

Are you interested in seeing “The Eternals” when it hits theaters? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

Related

Report: Broncos ‘likely’ bringing back coach after charges were droppedBroncos QB Bo Nix moves up NFL Top 100 list, cracks top-60Why does Davis Webb need to simplify the Broncos’ playbook?Evidence proves that Bo Nix is better than Drake MayeBroncos hoping that Crawshaw’s big postseason will help him become more consistent in Year TwoBroncos WR Pat Bryant has “confidence” and “maturity,” says Payton; can that spur a Year Two ascent?