Quick Thoughts - Week 2 Broncos

[ChaosTheory]

-Like everyone else, I was befuddled at the 3rd down before the kick. Trying to think of the rationale and maybe because they lost three yards instead of gained three like you should expect even if it's an obvious run... So now it's 4th down and a 60-yarder rather than like a 54-yarder... either way, penalty bailed us out.

-That said, fuck it. I didn't like this officiating crew and we had bogus stuff go against us that was consequential. And we've had our share in the past (I still get annoyed about Cleveland in '23). Football isn't round, nobody would feel bad for us if the roles were reversed.

Also, part of winning a game is doing less dumb shit than the other team.

-I really want to rewatch the defense, because it was a weird game. They got worked pretty good at times. Somehow, though, after that dogshit opening drive of the 2nd half, they didn't give up another point.

-I mean, 206 passing yards on 30 attempts is generally what you want. Again, something about this game reminded me of Cleveland '23. I don't really know what to think about it until I rewatch.

-Some of it is we regressed to mean on 4th downs this game. Not having Ward, Jones, and Latu doesn't help.

-DEN's OL is very good.

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-Offense has been a pleasure to watch so far. It's going to take several weeks of doing it before most people will credit Jones for playing well rather than blaming the other team for playing bad.

-But Jones is playing fucking great. It's not Minshew-ball like I expected. Three 40-yard pass plays today, 9.3ypa. Best of all, no turnovers. I loved that Steichen and DJ were going at Surtain.

-Hopefully the JT downplay can be put to rest. 215yds, td catch, and he was sticking guys in pass pro.

-Warren awesome. Really well-rounded production from the WRs. I really want things to click with Mitchell. Man, he could be such a monster.

-OL by all accounts bullied the DEN front-7 for the most part. Wish they could have gotten two more positive plays on that last drive. I want to say the lone sack was a well timed overload. Very good overall.

-Steichen has called two great games so far. The end game situation I don't get or don't agree with. Better to learn with a win. I'm good with the aggression on 4th down midfield. This offense should benefit in the aggregate.

[Discflinger]

Cross is Sandman 2.0

[albany ed]

After a win like this, I gobble up everything I can read about the game. Somewhere I read that JT got most of his yards after initial contact. He didn't have gaping holes but he just kept churning and turning a no gainer into at least 4 or 5 yards. Seeing him as a pass catcher was great. DJ has the rep of throwing a very catchable ball. That's important for an average pass catcher like JT.

[Mr. Session]

The defender going low on the block with Nelson and jacking his knee up was really curious to me. I thought that technique was now deemed illegal. Perhaps that's a run play thing? Perhaps it's only a college thing?

Perhaps I do not understand the hip-drop tackle thing either, but I swear it looks like defensive backs always try to tackle Pittman in that manner.

Wild game. It was nice to see us get some luck for once.

[omahacolt]

Cross played awesome


AD Mitchell is pretty much a waste of talent. we can see why he slipped to the 2nd round.

[CletusPyle]

I still have no idea how we got that call at the end of the game, we never get calls like that. It must have been very blatant or there was one honest official on the field. It did look like he had to defend the call, perhaps they were trying to talk him out of it.

Either way, the Colts earned the win!

[sherck]

In the end, I am super glad we got the win but I feel like we pretty much deserved to lose this game.

After seeing last week's defense, this week's was a huge letdown. Sure, Miami might be destined to be a bottom 4 team but I don't really thing that Denver is a top 5 teams in the league, either. Sure, we had a lot of players not play due to injury. Sure, we had the water boy playing CB for the 2nd half since all of our players were hurt or out but, man, our defense gave me shivers down my spiine as to how easily they let Denver move the rock.

That said, as someone else pointed out, after the 1st drive the 2nd half, they did not let Denver score again so.....in the end, the defense did its job but I do not feel good about how they played.

However, the offense? I am not ready to give Danny Dimes a contract extension yet but a second good game in our offense was refreshing! Spreading the ball, hitting folks in stride, not throwing up hero balls for whoever to catch! He has been very, very good and the offense has responded. it is fun watching these guys and it has been a while since I could say that.

The playcalling on the last drive? WTF was Shane thinking? Man, I hope Irsey rips his head off for his play calling on the last drive. We are at the fricking 40 yard line, not the 20 yard line. So aggressive during the game and so passive in playcalling at the end. The penalty bailed us out.

We have the Titans next week in Nashville. They have scored exactuly half the points through two games that we have (62 to 31) so if our offense can continue to click, I like that I think we can outsprint them. Their defense has let up 53 points (26.5 per game) vs us having given up 36 points (18.0 per game) so, again, I like the trendline. If we continue to perform even like we did this past week against Denver, I like our chances.

Go Colts!

[Pez]

Originally Posted by Discflinger

Cross is Sandman 2.0

Cross' read and play on that fake-reverse-end-around was awesome. Tough read and a tough play to make, well executed on both counts.

[Hoopsdoc]

Jones is balling right now because he has a bona fide top 10 offense in terms of talent. Maybe top 5. Adding Warren has really opened things up for the offense.

Now, it remains to be seen how long, or if, Jones can keep this up but as long as he does, this offense will be fun to watch.

[Pez]

DJ played really well, I thought for two of his long balls were underthrows. One where we should have to a PI call, another we caught.

JT has an awesome game, cross had an awesome game. Our defense needs to work on precision and their executive mentality. They nearly came off the rails, it was good to see them collect themselves.

ChaosTheory already said it, but I just don't get the clock management scheme at the end.

If I recall correctly, we had two timeouts and 17 seconds on 3rd down. My right answer is to call timeout and run a sideline pass play for the first down out of bounds.

I don't know how the right answer was to tick out the clock and hope we make a 60 yarder. If we were 15 yards closer, yes, 100% do this.