What Has Changed?

[jjflr]

Denver fans, let me know your thoughts on this ............ in the first few games, the broncos were passing the ball at will and putting up huge numbers.

The last few games, their passing game doesn't seem as potent.

What do you see the problem being?

What are defenses doing differently that is creating problems for Cutler and the receivers?

[myshkingfh]

Double teaming Marshall and letting the rest sort itself out? Our running game is also exposed. Scheffler, Royal and Stokley have all been hurt. Selvin Young too, for that matter.

[StevenSD]

The real Denver incosistant offense as shown up

[jjflr]

Originally Posted by StevenSD

The real Denver incosistant offense as shown up

I was asking Denver fans but thank you for the input.

Originally Posted by myshkingfh

Double teaming Marshall and letting the rest sort itself out? Our running game is also exposed. Scheffler, Royal and Stokley have all been hurt. Selvin Young too, for that matter.

Did Royal even play last week? And what's Stokley injured with because he hasn't been much of a factor?

[myshkingfh]

Royal did not play at all last week, and I believe he only played about half of the week before. He has a sprained ankle and a bone bruise. Stokley had a big game against Tampa when Royal went out.

This past week, Stokley had a concussion on the first play of the game. He finished the drive (where Denver looked unstoppable) but then had to come out of the game. That left Denver with Marshall, Darrell Jackson (who had been out since week 1 with a strained calf) and Glen Martinez (who the team had earlier cut) as the only healthy WRs. Jacksonville simply moved all their coverage to Marshall and Martinez and Jackson couldn't take advantage.

Tony Scheffler has been out with a groin strain. Selvin Young missed the Jax game with the same injury. The Denver Post suggests that Royal will be back for New England on Monday, but that Stokley will be questionable.

Another factor in Denver's troubles has been turnovers. I think that Cutler and Marshall began to believe that they were the best football players EVAR!!1! and began playing with less care. Hopefully they're getting that figured out.

The offensive line, meanwhile, has been incredible. Cutler has been sacked only twice this year, and one of those was the infamous incomplete pass against SD where he wasn't actually sacked at all. Denver is still missing a credible RB on offense (and they never listen to me to draft one!)

[Texecutioner]

Personally when Royal comes back, I think they need to put the ball in his hands more and give him a stronger responsability to make the plays that need to be made. He runs excellent routes and is extremely quick and fast. So many people get caught up in these big WR's for their size and long arms completely forgetting about how many small WR's have been very affective in the history of the game because they can get to certain spots on the field faster than anyone and they can catch balls near their ankles so much easier. Royal is that kind of WR, and I think they need to go to him a lot more in order to stop the double teams on Marshall more.

Let's not forget that first game where Royal dominated the entire Raiders defense and made plays all over the field. I think he can still make a BIG impact, but they have to run more plays his way.

[myshkingfh]

I wonder how much of that ability Royal will be able to show coming back from this injury. The way he starts and stops seems like it'd be very hard on an injured ankle. I agree that the offense suffers when Cutler only has eyes for Marshall, and it's made worse when Marshall's the only guy on the field. When Denver is able to have Marshall, Royal, Stokely and Scheffler on the field at the same time again, the offense will work a lot better because Cutler will have extra targets and because defenses can't just put all their DBs on Marshall.

[jjflr]

Originally Posted by myshkingfh

I wonder how much of that ability Royal will be able to show coming back from this injury. The way he starts and stops seems like it'd be very hard on an injured ankle. I agree that the offense suffers when Cutler only has eyes for Marshall, and it's made worse when Marshall's the only guy on the field. When Denver is able to have Marshall, Royal, Stokely and Scheffler on the field at the same time again, the offense will work a lot better because Cutler will have extra targets and because defenses can't just put all their DBs on Marshall.

it sounds to me like I need to wait until they get some of their receivers back to health before I judge how they're doing overall ...............