Smoke and Mirrors

The Denver Broncos are 3-1 heading into this weekend, but they could just as easily be 1-3. After the first game they've been winning using smoke and mirrors. The Broncos have been putting up huge numbers on offense but that is misleading. The vast majority of yards has come in the passing game. The Broncos running game has been sub par and has been hidden by the passing game. While usually teams run to set up the pass the Broncos have been passing to set up the run.

The NFL season is now one quarter over with. By this time teams can see the opposition's weaknesses and use this to exploit them. The Broncos won't be able to pass enough to win games. The Patriots did it last year but they had a much better defense.

The Broncos defense is still a big work in progress and it goes all back to the defensive line. A great defensive tackle in the draft would have been great but the Broncos got Ryan Clady instead. Clady has proven to be very valuable and will set up the offense for years to come. The Broncos did the best they could for the defensive line but it still looks horrible on passing downs. The major problem has been no push in the center of the pocket. The ends haven't played great but the other teams QB is given an extra half second because the front of the pocket is not being pushed in. The Broncos have to find other ways of getting to the quarterback instead of faking the blitz. They need to actually blitz and get to the QB.

The Broncos are playing the two most important games that will define their season. Two games at home against the Bucs and Jags. The Broncos aren't good enough to win the division yet. They have to play for a wild card spot. Right now they are playing against the teams from the AFC South for a Wild Card spot. Beating the Jags is worth 2 games in that regard giving them the tie breaker if they have the same record with the Jags. One thing is for sure the Chargers won't make it easy for the Broncos on the last game of the year in San Diego.




the heart is a bloom shoots up from the stony ground