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DENVER, Colo. -
By all accounts, including Josh McDaniels', the Broncos left their preseason opener with a lot to be desired. This Saturday, they'll take the field against another sub-standard NFC West team, the Seattle Seahawks.
Here's hoping the Broncos effort improves.
Some things I'll be watching for Saturday night:
Kyle Orton: This is obvious. Orton was rolling downhill, completing seven of his first eight passes. He then threw the first of his three interceptions, and went into the tank. Orton finished completing only two of his final seven attempts, those three picks included. Orton needs a much better effort, or the chorus coming from Bronco Country will grow from a disgruntled mumble into an outright roar.
Brandon Marshall: The first thing I'll be watching for is when or if he'll even play. Then, I want to see how vigorously he attacks defenders in his pass routes, and in run blocking. Run blocking is a great measure of how into a game a receiver is. Randy Moss is a perfect example. Brandon will be, too.
The 3-4: I came away from the 49ers game unsure of how to grade Mike Nolan's new defensive front. The good was that they were aggressive, and unafraid to blitz. The bad was that they HAD to be aggressive, and unafraid to blitz.
When the Broncos sent less than five pass rushers at the 49ers QBs, the results were awful. While the blitzing schemes were not overly creative, I chalk that up to it being the first preseason game, and Nolan not wanting to show too much. Against the Seahawks, they'll need to show a little more.
The Broncos should win the first half of this game. They are a better team than the Seahawks, and have the personnel to steamroll down the field on offense, and bully Seattle on defense if the effort is there.
Here's hoping it is.
Here's hoping the Broncos effort improves.
Some things I'll be watching for Saturday night:
Kyle Orton: This is obvious. Orton was rolling downhill, completing seven of his first eight passes. He then threw the first of his three interceptions, and went into the tank. Orton finished completing only two of his final seven attempts, those three picks included. Orton needs a much better effort, or the chorus coming from Bronco Country will grow from a disgruntled mumble into an outright roar.
Brandon Marshall: The first thing I'll be watching for is when or if he'll even play. Then, I want to see how vigorously he attacks defenders in his pass routes, and in run blocking. Run blocking is a great measure of how into a game a receiver is. Randy Moss is a perfect example. Brandon will be, too.
The 3-4: I came away from the 49ers game unsure of how to grade Mike Nolan's new defensive front. The good was that they were aggressive, and unafraid to blitz. The bad was that they HAD to be aggressive, and unafraid to blitz.
When the Broncos sent less than five pass rushers at the 49ers QBs, the results were awful. While the blitzing schemes were not overly creative, I chalk that up to it being the first preseason game, and Nolan not wanting to show too much. Against the Seahawks, they'll need to show a little more.
The Broncos should win the first half of this game. They are a better team than the Seahawks, and have the personnel to steamroll down the field on offense, and bully Seattle on defense if the effort is there.
Here's hoping it is.
