RYObroncosfan

Guess I can't post in the general Pats forum until I get to 100 posts, which should be sooner or later, but for now I'll just post here.

Anyway, I always make an appearance on these boards when the pats play Denver, and aside from last year, it's usually a good match up.

So what's different this year compared to last?

Defense, Defense, Defense...No Shanahan, No Cutler and Defense.

The D is completely different...for one, it's led by a very competent coordinator in Mike Nolan, who switched things up to a 3-4. This means Elvis Dumervil is now an LB, and he's had incredible success thus far with 7 sacks on the season.

The addition of Brian Dawkins has been HUGE. He brings an intensity this D has not had, and he's a significant upgrade over either of last year's safeties.

Andre Goodman has been brought in to play corner opposite Champ, and he's been a huge upgrade over Dre Bly. Champ's back to his old ways, DJ Williams is still one of the league's better linebackers, and Robert Ayers (rookie out of Tennessee) has quietly been very effective.

This D is for real. It may not be the best in the league (though statistically right now it is), but it's certainly a top 10 defense.

Offensively, McDaniels is really doing a great job. You'd be surprised to hear that Orton is the league's 8th rated passer right now, with a a QB rating close to 100. All he's doing is managing the game and not screwing up...no INTs to this point (although sooner or later he'll throw one, it'll probably be this game), no lost fumbles...although he has had a problem picking up the blitz.

That's the one criticism I have of him so far...the Broncos O-Line is one of the top 5 in football (ranked #1 by Yahoo)...it's pretty much exactly the same as last year's, and they only gave up 3 sacks all of last year. Orton's just had trouble recognizing it, and once it's there he can't avoid it like Cutler did. Another O-Line fact: Ryan Clady set a new NFL record after the game yesterday: 20 consecutive games without allowing a sack. He's also only played in 20 career games

You'll catch a break with Buckhalter being hurt...doesn't look like he'll play, and he's been fantastic so far, averaging over 7 yards per carry. Knowshon has been great though, a really tough runner with great moves. If it's just him and Lamont Jordan though, I don't expect us to get the 150 yards a game we've been getting so far. Should still see at least 100 rushing yards though next week out of this offense.

Gaffney's been a very pleasant surprise thus far, and Stokely has been fantastic, although he's been injured the last couple of weeks. Marshall is getting more and more comfortable by the week, and I expect him to get more and more receptions each week. Eddie Royal's been VERY quiet this season, but as Marshall picks it up, I think Royal will too.

There's a lot of depth with Denver at WR, Orton's got plenty of options.

That's pretty much it...Broncos are playing very, very well right now, they're very confident, they're at home, and their defense has been superb.

If Orton can continue to avoid the mistakes, I see no reason for this game to be more than 7 points one way or the other.

I'm looking forward to it.

ForThoseAboutToRock

Nice post. I was curious to hear who has been contributing to Denver's defense aside from Champ.

I'm also interested to see what the Patriots choose to take away from the Denver offense. Double coverage over Marshall? Stacking the line to stop the run? Will they bring it to try and force Orton into making a bad decision or 3?

avsfan987

I'm a Broncos fan and I come in peace.

I'm just really looking forward to this game, mostly because this is the Broncos' chance to make a real statement and hopefully beat one of the best football teams in the league.

I have to say though, with all the pressure the Broncos have been getting on quarterbacks this season (we lead the league in sacks in fact) I'm very worried about watching Brady get completely coddled like he has been so far this season. Nothing frustrates me more than watching a 300 lb. D-lineman who is trying to beat out a 300 lb. O-lineman accidentally brush by Brady as the ball comes out and see a flag thrown. I just have a feeling the refs are going to be watching Brady like a toddler on a playground and the Broncos are going to get hurt once or twice because of it.

Hopefully we don't have these problems though and the refs actually just let the players play.

EDIT: Also RYO, Dumervil has 8 sacks not 7, just a heads up!

BSR

It should be interesting to see how the Denver D holds up against the Pats O. I'll admit I haven't seen much of them this season but I do feel confident saying that this will be the biggest test that the Denver D has faced so far this season. I guess the question is how has Dever been getting its pressure? Has it mostly come from the blitz? Ultimately it will come down to how the line picks up the preasure.

On the other side of the ball, I think the pats will focus on stoping the run and forcing Orton to beat them in the deep middle. I expect lots of run blitzes and preasure to try to force Orton into quick decisions. It will come down to how he reacts to it.

As for Brady being "coddled" I think that hasn't been the case at all. The officials have been consistent with regards to how they have been making the calls for both teams. There hasn't been a single preferntial call. For every call you can find for the pats I can find one that goes against them.

avsfan987

Most of the pressure is coming from the blitz. Nolan has been very aggressive and creative so far and it's working very well. Also, Elvis Dumervil has been a beast on his own and has really gotten to the QB with no problem.

I was watching NFL Live last night and Trent Dilfer did a few minute segment on the extremely inconsistent rushing the passer calls and there were several replays of calls you can't believe weren't made. Even during the Pats-Ravens game they showed a Patriots player take two full steps after Flacco threw the ball and totally demolished him, no call was made. Have you seen the hit where Garrard gets piledrived into the ground nearly head first yet?

I'm not complaining about bias necessarily but these rushing the passer calls are some of the worst calls this league has ever seen. Horrible implementation by Goodell on this protectionism.

captain insano

talk to me after the donkeys play a good team because they haven't yet. you will know after this week what kind of team you have. i think the pats win bye fourteen. the offense has been improving a little bit every week and it will continue to do so. after this week it will be back to reality for donkey fans. fyi the bills were 5 and 0 last year.

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BSR

I think that is a matter of inconsistency of crew by crew and rule by rule, but it is not different, I think, then the disparity in how any rule is called. Some pass interference is called more often then others and by more crews then others. Same with holding. Roughing the passer should be pretty straight forward. The hit after the ball is thrown is a dificult one because it is a judgement call and the ref needs to think that the defender could hold himself up and knew the ball was thrown.

I never saw the Garrard one, but I did see Adalius Thomas on the pats get a roughing the passer on what seemed a mild slam of Trent Edwards to the ground. I also saw Wilfork get one, probably the worst I have ever seen, for tackling Ewards around the waist and touching his knee in the process. It all depends on the particular rule and the crew.

That being said, they are easy to avoid. They really are. Don't hit the QB in the head. Don't hit the QB below the thigh. Don't hit the QB late. That is really all there is to it. The patriots have the third most roughing the passer calls against them since 2007 and BB has always said these same things in regards to the rules. Just don't do those things and you won't be flagged.

PatsSB42

"accidentally" is a very debatable term to use on that particular play. If Brady didn't jump out of the way that "accidental" hit could have ended his career. I'm pretty convinced that Suggs was targeting his knees.

PassingBy7

Looking forward to the game! Denver will have it's hands full for sure! I think us Broncos fans are very happy with the start of this season seeing that the off-season seemed to be prepping us for the worse. Granted it hasn't been the toughest schedule but you have to play who they tell you to. It is encouraging to see progress being made each and every week so far.

NOBODY thought we would be 4-0 but that is where we stand. As long as this team continues to show forward progress, I will be happy. The future looks bright thought these orange colored glasses;-D

That Pats are always tough and Brady starting to get his groove back. Should make for a very interesting game. Nolan probably working some late nights getting some schemes together:-D Best of luck Pats and heres to an injury free game! Cheers!

McDefense

I expect a very competitive game Sunday with the Broncos winning a close one. I think Denver matches up well with the pats, always have. The D will definitely be tested by Brady but if Denver can get in his face and knock him around (without getting penalized for it) they have a good chance to win. Orton needs to do what he has been doing, no turnovers no big mistakes and put the ball in the playmakers hands and if Moreno gets his first 100 yard game Denver will win. But if Brady gets time to throw the Broncos are in for a long day. I'm not too worried about NEs running game but their run defense will make Moreno work for that 100.