Welcome to Broncos-Raiders Week from MileHighReport

He looked a lot better this week than he did last week so he should be good to go. I like Moreno to become more and more involved in the offense, especially the passing game. One thing Moreno has to work on, however, is pass protection on 3rd down. He missed an assignment against the Browns that nearly led to an interception and he needs to improve.

Broncos fans are very excited about KnoMo. However, he really hasn’t shown us much to date. He hasn’t been a huge part of either win this season so I don’t know that I’d call him “key”. Buckhalter has easily been our best RB so far this season. As far as I know KnoMo is 100%.

He’s been drawing a lot of attention, what with Marshall being a no show. But Stokely is killing defenses, and Gaffney is doing well, so Royal will bust out soon.

Teams have been forcing the Broncos to go underneath with everything, allowing Royal and Stokley to catch the ball before they tackle him. Something happened to Royal against the Browns, however. He needed an IV at halftime and played little during the 2nd Half. Something to keep an eye on for sure.

Mike Nolan happened. He’s doen a great job of bringing in players that fit in his system. I know he wasn’t great as HC for the Niners, but he’s got it rocking on D in Denver.

Doom has always been good, but he’s benefitted greatly by the move to OLB from DE. This way he can use his speed and agility a little more.

To be honest, the personnel the Broncos had match this type of defense much better than the defense the Broncos ran last year. In fact, McDaniels called last years version a “hybrid 4-3” and “gimmicky”. Elvis Dumervil, undersized for a traditional 4-3 DE is thriving in the 3-4 because he can use his speed and tremendous arm reach.

The Broncos are also showing a ton of 5-2 looks in order to stop the run. There is a lot of movement prior to the snap as well.

Lastly, the biggest upgrade is in back. Brian Dawkins can still get it done, and Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill are huge upgrades around Champ. In other words, the Broncos can allow the Front 7 to get after the ball carrier without worrying that the coverage will break down.

Mike Nolan has been HUGE for the defense as well.

you were shifting to a 3-4 with 4-3 personnel.

Only one position is the same player as it was last year (Champ Bailey) and only three starters from last year’s defense are starting this year (Williams, Dumervil, Bailey). Williams moved to ILB and Doom moved to OLB.

So far it appears McDaniels is giving certain series to certain players and subbing as needed. Correll Buckhalter gets the ball early, with Knowshon next in.

Peyton Hillis was used at the Goal Line on Sunday, and LaMont Jordan seems to be the guy the Broncos want to save for the 4th quarter in order to pound the ball and kill the clock. It has been just one game, but the Broncos were effective in taking the air out of the ball late on Sunday.

Orton — I thought he has done everything asked of him. Think of it this way. Take your index finger of the hand you throw a football with. Dislocate it to the point that the knuckle breaks through the skin. Put it back in place and stitch it up. Place a plastic sheath over the finger, tape it up and put a receivers’ glove on. Now, try and throw a football. That is what Kyle Orton has been dealing with. He looked a lot more comfortable throwing the ball this week, and I expect that to continue to improve. He’s not going to wing the ball all over the place and will take what the defense gives him.

The Defense At times the Broncos have looked like the 3-4 defense employed by the Ravens in the past. At others, it has been more of a hybrid 5-2. There is a ton of pre-snap movement and the Broncos always bring 5 or 6 to the line of scrimmage. It is up to the QB and O-Line to determine who is coming. Sometimes all 6 blitz. At others, the Broncos drop 3 and only rush 3. The name of the game is confusion.

Injuries — The Broncos are actually pretty healthy. Royal is a concern, at least to me, but nothing is really known.

Marshall — That is the Million $$$ question to be sure. Yesterday, Marshall played quite a bit in the 1st quarter until it appeared that he missed a few assignment and ran a couple of bad routes. Marshall disappeared after that playing none of the 2nd quarter. With Royal in the locker room in the 2nd half, Marshall returned and actually made a couple of plays – but also got called for holding bringing back a 40 yard screen pass.

Marshall needs to get his head in the playbook and prove that he deserves the big contract he so desires. Every week I think this is the one, but so far nada. Maybe this week.

A 3.2 yard average. Then the Bengals gained 151 on 34 at Green Bay. Broncos D held the Browns to 54 yards on 21 carries. So we’ll see. It will be a game where all players want to make sure their chin straps are secured.

I was really impressed with how the Raiders ran against the Chargers. Then, for some reason they seemed to get away from it in the 2nd Half. Against the Chiefs, it seemed to be a lot of JaMarcus and little of the running game. Josh McDaniels comes from the Belichick tree meaning they will come in trying to make the Raiders win the game some other way, which means to me that Russell will have to be the one.

“Sold” is an interesting word. I think fans are starting to get what kind of team McD wants to build. Was there a lost of talent at the top of the roster when Cutler departed? Definitely! But between the draft picks, and the Free Acquisitions, the Broncos are a lot better 1-53. That is what this is about. Not star power but depth and talent throughout. I think that is why the Broncos have faded the past couple of years and why I hope they stay strong throughout this season.

It’s too early to really make a decision on that, not that it matters when these two teams get together. What I have talked about is whether or not Josh McDaniels will understand what this rivalry is all about. Most know that is was personal between Al Davis and Mike Shanahan. That added to what was already a fantastic rivalry. Will McDaniels treat it that way? Will he try to make it another game? Time will tell….

Rookies – Both are still learning, making up time from their brief hold-outs. Moreno is getting more opportunities as a RB, but I believe Ayers will be a factor before it is all said and done. Right now he is coming in with the Nickle and Dime packages to rush the passer. It is the other elements of playing OLB that he needs to work on.

Alphonso Smith — That has been a hot-topic all off-season. That best way to quiet the criticism is to win, making that pick closer to the 2nd half of the 1st round instead of the Top-10. Smith has all the skills and you can tell he is going to be a special player. As you guys know, you can;t keep drafting, and paying, high round picks. The financial risk is too great. The Broncos still have the Bears 1st Round pick in 2010.

Brandstater — I think he showed during the Pre-Season that he could be an interesting prospect, with more seasoning. he looked bad during Camp, and in his first action at Seattle. After Kyle Orton and Chris Simms got hurt, however, some felt he looked better than any QB the Broncos had. He outplayed Kurt Warner in the Pre-Season finale against the Cardinals and showed that the moment wasn’t to big for him. He is someone to keep your eyes on.

Ayers and Moreno have been disappointments, IMO. Both were hold outs at the start of training camp. Ayres came in sooner than Moreno, but still hasn’t figured out where he’s supposed to be. But he’ll be good – very athletic and talented. Moreno got hurt after he did sign, and was lousy against the Bengals but looked much better against the Browns (75 yards on 17 carries, 2 receptions for 22 yards).
Alphonso Smith looks like someone should have grabbed him in the middle of the first round.
Brandstater looked real good in the 4th pre season game against the Cardinals. Only pre season but he has a strong arm,very good accuracy, and showed very good presence in the pocket. He’s very intelligent (he got a Master’s degree during his 4 years at Fresno). And, after he threw an interception, he absolutley hammered the guy when he tackled him. I love the kid.

…realize Brandstater wasn’t even that impressive in the WAC, and Xanders/McDaniels probably just threw a dart at a wall of pictures of the QBs remaining in the draft. He looked okay against the third and fourth string Arizona defenders, but he still couldn’t find the end zone.

Of his apologists, it’s about a 50/50 split between people who just have a fetish for new QBs, and those who assume McDaniels pegged him to be his next Brady/Cassel project.

After the Bears finish 5-11, Colt McCoy might be a target. But Chris Simms is locked up for the next three seasons at a pretty good salary. Orton will probably be re-signed, but if not, look for Simms to take over. He’s still really young, especially in terms of tire tread. Hasn’t played much.

A confident “yes” from me.

that Seymour won’t be going up against Clady exclusively. He’ll be a challenge for sure, but our HC does know him well so… could be a wash.

I feel confident with all of our o line blocking anyone in this league.

That is going to be where the game is won or lost, in my opinion. Both sides. Speaking specifically about the Broncos O-Line against the Raiders D-Line, I like the matchup for the Broncos, but not because I don;t respect what the Raiders have up front, far from it. I have watched Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris at Tackle for 19 games now, and these guys just don;t get beat very often. Clady, starting since Day 1 as a rookie, has given up a 1/2 sack his entire career. Ryan Harris is nearly as good.

At C, the Broncos still have Casey Wiegmann and the Broncos are strong at G with Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper. I don’t think I am going overboard when I say the O-Line is Top-5 in the NFL, and much better than K.C.’s. If the Broncos are going to win, they have to play like it this Sunday.

After these first couple weeks, do you think New England, San Diego, Dallas or Pittsburgh are the powerhouses they used to be?

Personally, I see Dallas going either way, their defense has some serious holes, and with Ellis going to your Raiders, they lack some serious balls in the pass rush.

New England is also going either way. I know a lot of people are quick to put them at favorites for the SB because Tom Brady’s back, but he hasn’t looked the same—seriously. He put a good drive together in week one to win the game, but in New York this past Sunday, he looked very average.

San Diego is DEFINITELY beatable. Your team made a point of that in week 1 I think. They are always Super Bowl favorites, and they underachieve every year. Thanks a lot to Norv Turner and his crappy play calling.

Baltimore looks good. I mean, REAL good so far. Tough to argue for a win there, but anything can happen on Sunday.

Pittsburgh also looks good this year, but something’s different about them this year…I don’t know if they hit a ceiling last year or what, but something is different with them right now.

Washington thoroughly scares no one. Anyone can beat them, seriously.

The Giants look like a full, solid football team at this point. Eli’s game winning drive against Dallas was very solid all around and he looks to finally be comfortable in his own shoes there in New York. I’m interested in Manningham this year, I’d like to see him develop into good solid receiver. However, down the stretch, I think New York will miss Plax. For that, I say we have a 33% chance of beating them.

I’d have to say Brandon Stokely. Only one catch in game 1 against Cincinnati, but 87 yards and a game winning TD – heads up play by a real football player. 4 catches against the Browns for 70, but they were all key catches (I think they all got a first down). You could argue Correll Buckhalter (17 carries for 122 yards which is a 7.2 average) and a TD.
Elvis Dumerville had the four sacks last week, but in truth, he benefitted greatly from a lot of pressure on the other side.

Who knows how injuries will affect the severity of this schedule, but even as it stands now.. it’s nothing to lose any sleep over.

Cowboys have the worst defense in the NFL. That might be Moreno’s coming out party.

Patriots suck and Invesco. Brady is tentative and the offense as a whole is lost without Josh.

Chargers are without their most important defender and the Broncos run-D is improved tenfold.

The Ravens look great but Harbaugh instilled an added emphasis on offense. The defense has holes. Reed is banged up, Suggs is out of shape and Lewis is old.

Steelers here will be a great game. There will be even more bandwagon Steelers fans in the stands now that so many gomers are doubting the new regime. It was already 70/30 even when the Broncos were dominant. That defense isn’t nearly as aggressive without Polamalu, and their receivers aren’t great. Letting Washington go was dumb.

Redskins just beat the Rams by 2 at home. Next.

Giants might go 16-0 this year. Not much we can do about that. Will be a fun game to attend.

5-3 during that stretch is doable, if not expected. 8-3 after week 12.

all thouse teams exept ne in a diff order this is not high school or college we den will win 4 of those games

Minus the Pats that is.