Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well do it Broncos country tonight. But with all Brian Dick, Ferguson,
Grant Smith, they're on right back.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Out to the Kae Commas Grail Hotline and bring on
our guy, Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on the
Twitter machine.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And Ryan, I like many.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of us last week because there are some mea culpas
on some pregame tweets from the Bucks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
That's uh. I think that's putting in delicately. But you
know what, I'm always happy to be wrong if the
Broncos are winning because I was too pessimistic. So I'll
wear a little bit of that on my face and
sleet be all right.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Well, Ryan, when you think about Sean Payne's system and
how under drew Brees, I mean, it was electric, it
was explosive, but it hasn't really transpired last year with
Russell Wilson and even this season with bo Nicks. What
have you seen that that cannot maybe give fans some
glimmer of hope that maybe there's a possibility that Deans
(00:56):
can change.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Well, certainly what we saw take place versus Tampa Bay
is going to give anybody a reason to be hopeful.
If I'm being honest with the guys. The same concerns
that I had after week two are the same concerns
that I have going into week four. So you know,
the verbose play calling flowed to the line of scrimmage,
the personnel swapping, lack of rhythm, predictable ground game, you know,
(01:20):
runs for negative yardage during shorts of the six. We
were an absolute mess in the first two weeks, and
what we saw versus Tampa Bay was a very, very
different situation. So while I'm not in Bo's helmet, it
was great to see greater efficiency with speed and play calling.
We got to the line much quicker. We shtched the
field with some of our playmakers, even on plays where
(01:41):
guys like Nims weren't necessarily catching the ball. We were
definitely expanding what the defense has to prepare for and
freedom things along the middle of the field. So a
quicker tempo, building rhythm, building confidence. Football is a fluid game,
and we saw exactly what we were hoping to see
from Bonix. There's a guy who's very difficult to sack,
very efficient, but he's in rhythm.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Let's get talking with Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael
on Twitter. We saw a few of these changes. In
Week three, we did see the things that we were
talking about. A few were shuffling of the personnel, grows,
taking some chances earlier with some more explosive plays, so
that there was a three shot plays right there on
the opening drive. But as we head into a week
four against the Jets, what version of this are we
going to see against that vaulted cover three.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, I think we're going to see a lot
of the same stuff we saw on versus Tampa Bay.
What I'm on guard for is what the Jets did
against New England was quite a bit different what they've
done over the past two years or so. I mean,
they were blitzing twice out of every five plays. They
sent five pass rushers on of New England's passing plays.
So if you look back to what they gets have
(02:48):
been running since twenty twenty two, that was very abnormal.
I would say the injury to Jernam Johnson forcing to
compensate with going very blitz heavy. Now, statistically speaking, if
you look at what bow Nick does versus what Jacoby
Bressett does, Jacoby Brissett ranks twenty yars in the NFL
and sacked percentage. Rowan Nick says it stands right now
(03:08):
third in the NFL three point four to two percent
sack percentage, And this is something I was hopeful for
after his last year out in Oregon where he was
sacked on just over one percent of his dropouts. If
they're going to go up with heavy versus us, I
don't know that that's going to end up well for them,
but it's going to be a tremendous challenge for our
receivers to make plays versus that secondary. So I'm excited
(03:29):
to see how it plays out.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
So last week, the Broncos were able to take advantage
of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line that had a couple
of injuries across the board. The same can be said
for the New York Jets. They got three new guys
on offensive line, especially on the left side of the ball,
but they're planning on due to injuries, have a rookie
right tackle start for them. Who has stood out for
(03:55):
you up front for the Denver Broncos and what type
of game do you expect for those guys on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You know, from a statistical standpoint, it's impossible not the
more in the loss of Alex Singleton, and it's just
a tackling machine unlike anything we've ever seen in Broncos
franchise history. Even playing injured throughout the rest of that game,
he's still put up ten total tackles and he was
on pace to produce one hundred and seventy five point six.
So he set the Broncos franchise record in twenty twenty
(04:23):
two with one hundred three tackles, had one hundred and
seventy seven last year on paid for nearly one hundred
and seventy six this year. So you know, defensively, it's
going to be impossible to fill that void in the
same way it's impossible to fill the void of Justine Singmons.
For this defensive unit under Vans, Joseph has done a
tremendous job of playing for their strengths. And you know,
(04:44):
we're sick in the NFL in points surrendered right now.
It's going to be the most exciting matchup of the
week for me. Perhaps I'm biased, you know, out here
in Broncos country, but I'm very excited to see how
our secondary matches up against Aaron Rodgers in the good
football he's been playing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
R Michael contributed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
at the Ryan Michael on Twitter, Ryan, obviously your Bonix
statistical thresholds tweet got a little traction this week, some
people hating them, feeling like they were a bit arbitrary,
and you know, and things like that. But were you
really that impressed or these thresholds something that are just
kind of kind of a fun siason a little bit irrelevant.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It's somewhere in between, Ben. I mean, you know, when
you're looking at high efficiency mark, anybuddy and a shout
out and plug the Pro Football References play index tools
because it's the greatest resource that there is out there.
So you know, when I look at his stadline, I
think he completed over sixty nine percent of his passes.
I took zero sacks. Again, that is going to continue
(05:40):
to be the hallmark of his game. Rushes for forty
five yards, these teams leading rushers for a Russian touchdowns.
When you plug in the efficiency metrics that he did well.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Yes, he is the.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Only player in the history of the NFL regular season
or postseason as far back as we have data nineteen
thirty three to complete twenty five or more passes over
sixty nine percent of his passes, rush for forty five yards,
a Russian touchdown, no picks, no facts. Was I blown away?
I wasn't blown away. I was impressed. It was far
and away his best game yet. And I was more
impressed at what he did versus Pampa Bay than any
(06:14):
of the impressive plays that he had in the preseason
against future insurance salesman. So it's somewhere in between. It's
a little bit of fun out there on Twitter, but
don't read.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Too much into it.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Now, for the first time this season, we saw Volume
four one Courtland sudden and even though we're talking about
with Sean Payton's offense, could we see him this week
operate like Michael Thomas an aka slam Boy.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Oh Man with that nickname. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm
expecting to see, and he is built in the similar
framework to Mike Thomas. There are some similarities there. Courtland's
a very physical receiver. He caught seven passes off a
level targets. Again, not a lot of yardage, sixty eight yards,
no touchdown. I'm stiffy, but I do expect for him
to be utilized in a similar way. It's really going
(07:05):
to come down to doing what we did well against
Tampa and that's establishing rhythm. Considering the limitations of the
ground game. Although it was certainly better versus Tampa Bay,
there's a lot of room to grow. I think that
once the running game starts to work in tandem with
the passing game, we're really going to see an offense
that can do a little bit more. I'm not expecting
any kind of Drew Brees New Orleans Saints' level results,
(07:28):
but I think that we can continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You know, we look at what Aaron Rodgers is doing
at the age that he's doing it, and how impressive
is it that Aaron Rodgers is continuing to play this
late in his career. I mean, you know, we have
evidence of quarterbacks playing into their forties before.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We always see all just saw Tom.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Brady, Bigmitty, Testaverdi not that long ago, Steve the Berg.
We've had a few guys that have got up there
does that. But how impressive is it for Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
To play at the level he does at the age
that he is.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Well, there's a few things that stand out to me.
Ben when we almost take for granted that playing the
quarterback position at a high level is a given. That's
certainly not the case. What Peyton Manning did from the
ages of thirty six to thirty eight especially unprecedented. What
Drew Brees did all the way up until forty one.
You can make the argument that Drew Brees was the
greatest age forty aged forty one quarterback ever. And certainly
(08:18):
what Tom did from forty two all the way to
forty five, and he was still playing at a high
level up until forty four very abnormal. What Manning, Brees
and Brady had in common is they were three of
the most difficult to sack quarterbacks in the history of
the NFL. That has not been a hallmark of Aaron
Rodgers' career. He's doing a lot better this year. He
(08:38):
ranked eight and sack percentage right now, so he's doing
things well. It's not the MVP Aaron Rodgers that we
saw two three years ago, but I'm impressed with what
I'm seeing so far. One of the stats that pops
out to me is his efficiency and third down. He's
completed twenty twenty seven passes at seventy four p two
hundred and seventy two yards, one touchdown, no pick. The
one hundred and eighteen point one rating when you're seeing
(09:01):
efficiency like on third down, when you're seeing some of
the fastes where the highlight playability certainly hasn't left him.
So what we're not seeing is what Tom Brady and
Drew Brees were able to do at age forty plus.
But he had farn Away his best game of the
season last week, So I hope that doesn't return this Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, think about bo Nicks and sack percentage. I believe
he ranks eighth in the NFL. What kind of numbers
that you have that you can share with those that
kind of breaks down the sack percentage and the interception
percentage and how maybe they may have equal parallels And.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We'll Traditionally Nike quarterbacks who have low sack percentage have
a high interception percentage, and vice versas. Quarterbacks who have
a high interception percentage can sometimes have a low sack
percentage because if you're trying to avoid picks, you can
take a lot of sacks, sometimes taking more sacks than necessary.
That was the hallmark of Aaron Rodgers towards the end
(09:58):
of his running Green Bay through very very few picks,
but he took a lot of sacks.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
He did most of.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Everything right, but he took a lot of sacks. Same
thing with Russell Wilson. Nick's obviously a high interception percentage,
very low sack percentage. It is incredibly rare to get
somebody who has a very low interception percentage and a
very low sack percentage. Guys like Cayden Manning, Tom Brady,
Drew Brees have mahomes or freaks of nature in that regard.
So obviously Bo's going to have to continue to limit
(10:25):
the picks, and if you can get those two statistics
to be in alignment, that's the ultimate recipe for winning
football games.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Teller Ryan Michael, Pro Football Hall of Fame contributor at
the Ryan Michael on Twitter, what are some achievable goals
for this week's trip to New Jersey?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You know, I think we have to continue to refine
the passing game. We have to build upon the positives,
all of the cliches you expect. I would really like
to see us flesh out a ground game. I think
that's going to be tremendous because when you look at
the limitations of the Jets defense, one of the sweary
as a weakness is they run twenty fifth in the
NFL in yards per kerry surrender, They're giving up four
(11:04):
point eight yards per carry. So this is going to
be a great opportunity for us to establish and flesh
out that ground game. Beyond that, the offensive defense has
to show resilience. I expect the Jets to test us
early in the first half. They may go blitz heavy
early in the first half, so let's see how we
answer that. I think those are all achievable things to
build on.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
The sleep well, speaking of the running game, desk very
interesting and you look at the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
They have two good runner backs and.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Alan and Breeze Hall, and with Alex Singleton being out, the.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Idea is what gives At what point does the dam break?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I think it's a reasonable concern. Like I said, there's
no replacing someone as talented as Alex, so I do
expect for them to have success in the ground against us.
It's going to be a more competitive game than I
think people see coming. Certainly, they slept on Denver. I'm
guilty of sleeping on Denver last week, so I still
see that just as that they this week. But I've
(12:01):
been proven wrong, so I hope to be proven wrong again.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, as we look at that, as we look at
the Jets are favorite in this game, what do you
expect the outcome to be here? I look at this
thing and I'm hoping that the Denver Broncos can win.
If I if I had to pick it, I'm probably
picking the Jets. But what you know, what what can
they do here to come away with and get a win?
And what is probably going to be a lower scoring
(12:27):
of you know, kind of a punch it out.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Kind of game.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
You know it's going to be a matter of efficiency.
When you saw the Tampo in which we ran the
offense in the first drive against Tampa Bay obviously won
four points under first drive the game. That's easier said
than that. But I think scoring points early is going
to afford our defense to tee off on Aaron Rodgers
a little bit, maybe take a little bit more chances.
So I think it's going to be very very important
how we play and how we executed the first quarter.
(12:53):
It's a difficult matchup. We've had a hell of a schedule.
Our opponents are combined I believe, eight and to one
this year, So it's going to be difficult. We can't
take anything for granted. We certainly can't overlook the Jets.
They're playing the best football they've had all year, so
it'll be a tremendous challenge.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
When you look at the Broncos wide receivers I mentioned,
you know earlier I talked about Colson Sudden, but Josh Reynolds,
the Jordan Humphrey, those.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Guys going back to the time of Big Book in
their game, they were a key part.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Of helping drives continue to move in Peyton's system. Obviously
he likes to use is wide receivers creatively in different ways.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Do you see either of.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Those two guys making a huge difference in the game
on Sunday against the Jets.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
I think it's possible, and look out for Josh Reynolds.
He has a cash percentage of seventy three point three
percent this year. He leaves the team and receiving one
hundred and seventy four yards beings averaging fifteen point eight
yards perception, which is the most of the team. The
efficiency in terms of not dropping passes, in terms of
just being explosive in the way he's been able to
stretch the field at times means he's going to be
(13:58):
a person of interest for that your secondary. It's not
going to be easy against the defense, but I'm hopeful
we'll be able to move them on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Hope so too, Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter,
always appreciate getting a chance to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
And you got a prediction for a final score.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Twenty one Jets.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
There we go, all right, Ryan sick in twenty seven
to twenty one Jets. When we come back, Nick Ferguson
and myself goa sit down and break this thing down
for you nuts the Bolts and see if.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
The Broncos can't come away with the win. Guys, Listen
to Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
It's live from Sam's Number three Diner and Bar in
Glendale right here on.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
A fifty am ninety four ONFM News Talk Sports. Welcome
back to it Broncos Country Tonight. Benjamin al brid Nick Ferguson,
Grant Smith here with you.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Programming note, Starting next week, we're back every night. We
get the VP Debate on Tuesday, but we'll be back
every night.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
No more of this Rocky stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
As the Rockies close against the LA Dodgers this weekend.
So you guys want to get out there and see
show Hi. You want to get out there and see
Chuck Nasty before you retire. You still got a few games.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Left to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Get down there to course Field Friday, Saturday, Sunday games, uh.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
To be able to do that. And of course the
Rockies do that.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That walker was started by the great Don Taylor at
the at the end where they they walk around, thank
the fans all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
If you haven't experience that, I would suggest that can
be a lot of fun for you as well.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Nick.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
We've got the New York Jets coming up on Sunday,
and as I look at this football team, you know
it's it's a tough defense. The offense has been a
little hit or miss. The one thing that you notice
about that offense so far is that they've really gotten
Alan Lazard reinvolved, somebody who fell basically flat last year
for this Jets team, he has become Aaron Rodgers security
(15:43):
blanket a little bit. And it feels like that they
could probably distribute the ball a little bit better in
terms of some of the other players, but they're really
focusing on getting the polls Allen Lazar earlier this season.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Well, but yeah, I mean there is a connection between
Aaron and Lazar coming back from their Green A Packers' days,
and when you look at their wide receiver group, I
guess minus you know Garret Wilson.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
They get there to have a bunch of big.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Body wide receivers similar to what the Broncos have. You
have to talk about Lazar, Mike Williams who comes over
from the Chargers, and Garret Wilson, like I just.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Mentioned, and Aaron Rodgers said what you want.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
To say about him and the injury and being an
older quarterback, he's still can sling it with the best
of them, and the biggest thing in the biggest threat
for the Broncos. I know the idea is that he's
not a Lamar Jackson, but you want to make sure
you keep him in the pocket. He's found a great
way of getting outside the pocket, even though he's not
(16:42):
like a fast guy, but when he gets outside the pocket,
he can throw the ball off one leg and he
can let it writ. And having those big body wide receivers,
the Broncos are going to be tested because when you
look at the thing, you hack it as a play
called in the Jets offense thus far, they use their
tight ends, but they don't really use them at a
(17:03):
high level to be a humongous threat. So I see
this team being more than eleven personnel and the Broncos
playing the lineman sub package.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
One thing you gotta watch out for the screen game.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
They do love to.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Get Brice Hole the ball as a pass catcher as well,
not just as a running back. They love to get
him as a pass catcher, and he can really hurt you,
as the Broncos have certainly seen in the past that
you pointed out, he can hurt you in that role
as well. How do you stay disciplined against a team
that loves to use a running back like that when
your primary linebacker just went out for the season.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well it's communication.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I mean, we watch games every single week and the
offense tells you what they're going to do before the
ball is ever snapped. But you see defenders they just
kind of like a deer in the headlights. They're just
watching the formation, but no one's communicating. And is as
simple as if you see Brice Hall knowing as how
he's done damage to the Broncos running and catching the
(17:56):
ball out the backfield if he is offset with a
wide receiver, where the cut split and what I mean
by that inside the numbers, you have to figure out.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
They know you and man coverage.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
They're trying to find a way to isolate the linebacker
with the running back and identify that is the matchup
that Aaron Rodgers wants to take advantage of. You have
to communicate that. You have to tell the corner, hey,
once you start to feel that receiver going inside, I'll
take him over. If you get someone faster the flat
and it's one of those backs, you.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Now take my coverage.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
And it has to be communication across the board. If
the Broncos do not communicate, Aaron Rodgers is gonna find
ways of screens balls into type spaces.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yes, and he'll make you pay as far as that
kind of stuff goes. I think what you're gonna have
to do if you the Denver Broncos. I think the
big keys here are going to be getting pressure at
the A gaps, getting pressure between the bees, getting pressure
at the A gaps and forcing Aaron Rodgers off of
his spot to build a murray.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
He'll carve you up. You let him sit there.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
But he's been so historically good on the move as well.
You're gonna have to have that contained and be able
to have the back end hold up as well.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
But this is one of those games where or you know,
plastic coverage comes in, especially in the man coverage, and
basically what that means is that you have to make
sure that you stay glued so you're wide receivers. But
the difficult part about that is that what happens to
all of us that happened to me When I play,
you get so anxious because you feel a wide receiver
running two or three four steps and you think, I
(19:19):
don't care what the ball should come right now, And
Aaron Rodgers is so equipped soon as you turn back
to look for the ball.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
He could put it right behind your ear.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
So the Bronco's not only from a defensive standpoint they
have to communicate, but they also have to make sure
they keep their eyes on their coverage. It's something that
bands we'll talk about all the time, you know, guys
having bad eyes, and I know people have made jokes
about it, but when you play on the defensive side
of the ball, you have to make sure that you
keep your eyes on your coverage. And it's something that
(19:47):
Herman Erwits used to say when I played for him
with the New York Jets.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
They call it cat coverage.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
You got that cat, You got that cat, that cat
coverage right there.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, and it's going to be it's a tough draw.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I mean, we talked a little bit about Lazard his resurgence,
We talked at bit about Gara Wilson, but they also
got Mike Williams over there too, who I think Broncos
fans know from what he did with the charge has
not been as prolific obviously with the New York Jets,
but he was a great deep ball receiver. Reminds you
a little bit of Vincent Jackson the way that he
you know, he was a great deep ball deep ball
receiver there, and I I you know, you look at
the way they get into eleven personnel that that's tough
(20:19):
to get those matchups across the board. You got certain obviously,
and everybody knows what he can do. And Ja Kwon's
a great nickel corner. But Ryan the Boss has acquitted
himself well. I thought he played really well, even on
the play where Gonvin got the touchdown. Uh, you know,
I still thought Rylany Loss mostly played that game pretty well.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Well, Rollie did play that well, and he's gonna be
challenged again. Anytime you're playing opposite PS two, it's gonna happen.
But now you're playing against some more physical, uh taller
wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Can you climb that ladder?
Speaker 4 (20:47):
And if I am the Broncos coach, defensive coaches sad
what I'm telling those guys, look, try to stay as
much in phase with those guys as you can, saying
body to body. But if you can't, when that ball
is thrown in the air, try to go for that
that stop hand right because when you can receive his
catch passes, there's a catchhand which is the first initial
(21:07):
hand you put on and then to stop hand. But
if you can kind of slap through and pull down
and rip out that stop hand, now you'd be able
to come down with a lot of those incompletions. But
I learned as being around dre Blott, like gods are
gonna catch passes. Just because they come down with it
doesn't necessarily mean they actually have they actually have to
catch it, so they their feet may touch the ground,
(21:28):
but you can always rip it out.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
And that's what you know for Jon the peer punch too,
you know, with Peter Tillman who popularized that as well.
I think that for the Broncos on offense, you're gonna
have to find a way to establish the run. I mean,
we've gotten away with Bowknicks basically leading the team and
rushing every game.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
But that's getting away with it.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
This is not sustainable over the course of a season
to have Boknicks out here leading it and letting defenses
tee off on you. And so for me, you're gonna
have to find a way to establish one. Whether that's
getting the day the ball early, whether that's getting Jaliel
the ball early.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
And by the way, on that touchdown Rob But you know,
if you listen to Dave's call on it, d He's like,
what are you doing?
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Stop it?
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And he starts back up.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
And them deep seto the corner. But you know, and
I think moved Javonte to a little bit different role.
You know, I thought Javonte was showing a little something there.
He's breaking a couple of tackles in that game, but
then you get the dog house set to the fumble.
I'd like to see Javonte Moore of the Somaj p
Ryan roll the last couple of years where he was
catching the ball out of the back. Feel a little
bit of pass pro here or there, maybe not the
early down. Hey, let's full head of steam. Let's run
(22:28):
it to the bea gap and a full head of
steam on the you know, on the early down.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Stuff and get a little more creative with it.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Well, yeah, you don't want to run any running back
through the teeth of any defense. And look, I mean
with any position, playing safety, quarterback, running back.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
You want to get into a rhythm.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
And we haven't really seen the run game get into
a rhythm with Javonte thus far. And coaches don't like
running backs to fumble balls because job.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Job security is ball security.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
But for me, this is not a to take I
guess touches away from Davonte. This is the opportunity to
show that you have enough confidence in him as a
staff that, yes, that farm will happen. Right, it's going
to happen when you're carrying the ball. But we have
enough faith in you, we're going to put you back
out there and we're gonna give you more touches. Because
think about this, if the Broncos decided because of that
(23:19):
farmble to give Tyler Bday more touches than Javonte. Now,
what are you doing for his confidence because you're gonna
need him, Yeah, well you're gonna need them in Jets
game and you gonna need him beyond this.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
He's your big body back. Yes, you know.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
It has to make on you know, and you have
to keep him in some what of the rhythm to
show that you still have confidence in him.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Yeah, I totally agree, and I think that you know,
to me, that's gonna be a big part of what
it is that they do.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
It's the other way.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
It's the way to attack this cover three defense too.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
If you're sending four, you want to run those ends,
to run those pass rushers, you know, wear them down
early and be able to put them back on their
heels a little bit so then not able to pin
their ears back and get it from the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
The other thing I think you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Need to get going to get some productivity out of
the tight end position. You know, we've seen Josh Reynolds
be able to get some production. Cortland got on track
against the Tampa Bay Bucks. We have not seen a
lot of production. Are they going to catch it out
of the tight well.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
First of all, that is the question.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I believe it's Hamlet's a little quick for me. I mean,
it just feels like that you need that part of
the game.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
If you look at your traditional cover three beat beaters
out there, curl flat is a is a very popular
route concept. You're going to need the tight end to
be involved, be able to do that, and to be
able to use his body to get you a few
extra yards after making those kinds of catches too.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Let's see.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah, okay, running the curl flats or slant flats as
they would normally call it as dragons.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
But that's great to establish rhythm. But if you.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Want to extend the ball past the line of scrimmage,
you need to now threaten between the hashes.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
Well, switch you have to.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, you're gonna have to get switched verticals on the Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
But if you never run those, then that that would
never happen. And then normally the stick nod normally you
running inside the red zone. But I think the Broncos
should incorporate it to run it out in the field.
I mean, they have big body tight ends that can run,
that can run the stick node and be effective. But
you can't back a defense off if you don't run that.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Play right, You're gonna have to find ways to back
them off, for which they did well against Tampa.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Like I said, I mentioned the shot play they were running.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They were in that three times on the on the
opening drive, you know, get getting the ball, and I'm like, Okay,
now we're starting to see all these things we've been
talking about on this show that they're not doing.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Now they're starting to incorporate.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
There's a whole suther scoring points.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
You know what I mean. We got a sheet right
in front of us. You think we should kind of
text this to someone.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
A fax machine. No one have a great history with
fax machines. We're just gonna, you.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Know, somewhere Elvis Duberville's.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Like, what am I doing? Ticket shot?
Speaker 4 (25:45):
I say, screens, take, take a screenshot and just insent
it to someone, because I mean, there's some talent on
this Broncos roster. Are they more talented than any other
team out there? No, they're not, but they still have talent,
and you have to maximize that talent and that ability
and getting the tight ends involved in the game.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
That opens up.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Everything and it's a simple rop. Let me give you
a really simple rop. They run the Broncos run zone stretch.
You start running zone stretch, zone stretch.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
And then now you had the tight end on a
delayed pull off. Right after that you block the edge
defender and just following off. I mean right there, that's
that's a four yard completion.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Well, I love getting booth play involved and put that
tight end on the backside wheel and then all of
a sudden you got to you know, you got to
open the stretching of vertical.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
You got somebody like Dulston who's got the legs to
do it.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
See the play that I love and I also despise
at the same time is kind of that wide receiver
like high play, and you could do it with a
wide receiver. You could do a top with the tight
end Sean McVay. They've done it for years where Tyler
he could be their tight end or whatever. But it's
now it's become the Cooper Cup play where you get
(26:53):
a guy who now he's blocking.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
He's blocking, he's in.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
The core, so the d lineman and the linebackers expecting
him to block.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
And he leaks out right off.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
A boot action he leaks out because no one's paying
attention and Cooper cups kind of.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
Run the route.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Well, well, he'll block a couple of couple of times
and then he'll.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
Fake balled on the ground. And when guys fall on
the ground.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Defensively, I mean, you see ball hit ball, you're not
worried about that guy, right, the leak play is there,
like like the Broncos have run bo Nicks four times right,
one to the left, three times to the right, right,
and they've been all keepers. Now, if you run that
same play with keeper action, but you run the leak
(27:34):
the opposite way off of that, dude, trust me.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
You're gonna get bite. It's going to be open.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah, well, you know, i'd love to see it.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
There's a lot of things I think they can build
on and incorporate based on what they've rolled out so far,
You've set up some interesting things. It's just a question
of whether or not they're going to do it, because
you know, we saw the first dough like what was.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Going on in the first two weeks of the season.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
It looked like this joint.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
It didn't look like they had a plan, and then
all of a sudden, all the things that we've been
talking about. They emptied the clip.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
You know in the Tampa game.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Look up here, we are. This is just what you're
supposed to be doing here. Why weren't we doing this
the first couple of.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Weeks, Well because there was a plan, right.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
The idea is that the plan wasn't working out as
though it was drawn up right, that you may work
through it through practice.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You know, you know a scout team, you hold up cars, Hey, I.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
Want you to jump this route. Hey, we want to
build confidence and the offense throw the balls down the field.
But when you get into a real game, guys adjusts.
So I'm thinking that the game plan wasn't well suited
for what we're seeing from the skill set that the
players have. But more than portantly, what both Knicks and
my idea is, man, let the dude play. Don't don't
try to restrict him. Don't try to make him Drew
(28:40):
Brees because he's not. I mean, I've compared to him
both Knicks to more of a Josh Allen and more
of a Russell Wilson.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
And I know some fans don't like.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
That, but the context of it, you have guys, and
both Wilson and Josh Allen. They are very mobile quarterbacks.
They threaten teams defensively, and just like even Patrick Mahomes,
he scrambles to pass the ball. Now, if you stay back,
he's gonna run it right right, And we've seen Bow
actually do it, So for me, I would like to
see Bow do that more. And he's going to need
(29:12):
that against this aggressive defense he's going to play on
Sunday with the Jets.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
It is an aggressive defense.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
They've got some some players in gutsyg mostly a little
little bang up there for.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Him as well.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
But they you know, they've got two veterans safeties back there,
and I feel like that's the most unheralded part of
their defense.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Their safety play is actually pretty good.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Yeah, their safety play is real good.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
And if you're playing in the Roberts solid defense, you're
definitely going to need to be able to see the field,
be able to have range. And it reminds me of
when I was in San Francisco. We had you know,
Jimmy Ward. Jimmy Ward can come down, he can play nickel,
he could play corner, he can play safety and tackle
(29:54):
well in space. But this is what the Jets defense.
And you're going to play that style of defense. You
need those types of guys, especially those guys who are
sure tacklers. And now knowing that you can look, you
can sit in a too high satan look, make their
quarterback think that's where you're going to be.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
And now you're playing quarters.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You can play cover three from there, you can play
you can rob from from that standpoint. So this is
gonna be a little test for both Sean Payton and
bow Nicks and being able to figure things out on
the run.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
As we look at this game, you know they did
spend the extra time between the week on the East
Coast in West Virginia at the Green Brier. Something we
the schedule came out. We told you this was gonna happen.
Do you believe that that benefits this team? Like keeping
in rhythm, you know that kind of thing, or is
that you know, is that just overblown?
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Well, it keeps your in rhythm far as body timing
is concerned. You don't have to worry about trying to
you know, acclimate your body from Mountain time the East
Coast time. You just play the East Coast game. You won,
You got that momentum. Now you go up to the
Green Brier. Now everyone is celebrating, and now you try
to take that momentum into MetLife Stadium. And this is
(31:03):
not one of these things where we see teams have
that East Coast trip and their body clocks are not
regulated enough where you know they're up in time to
get their bodies moving.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
But now there are no excuses.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Right if you win your first game, you're acclimated to
the East Coast time zone. You practiced all week. Now
you have to go into MetLife Stadium where it's going
to be rocking Fireman and is going to be out there.
Jet as just just Jets. But the game plan for
the Vanko's not saying that someone send it to me,
but it's familiar to what we saw last week. Can
you take the opening drive down the field and score
(31:39):
and quiet the crowd?
Speaker 5 (31:40):
That's what they're gonna try that attempt to do.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
How difficulty is that crowd?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I mean, obviously you're very familiar with it, haven't played
in Europe, But how difficult is that crowd compared to
a Kansas City or Seattle.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Well, Kansas City and Seattle, arguably those are two the
loudest places to play from a decimal level is not
going to be as large as those two places, but
it's going to be loud.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
But I mean it's New York City.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I mean fans are drumpy, they're uptight, there's a lot
of traffic, people living next to each other. They want
something to actually be pissed off about. And the Broncos
can actually give them something to be pissed off about
when they drive home with the victors.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Hopefully they do. Looking forward to the call right here
Dave Logan Rick Las this weekend, right here on KOA
about prime time. Coming up. NeXT's some Broncos
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Country night right here on KAA Day at the Am
ninety four ONEm Luke's Sports
Well do it Broncos country tonight. But with all Brian Dick, Ferguson,
Grant Smith, they're on right back.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Out to the Kae Commas Grail Hotline and bring on
our guy, Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on the
Twitter machine.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And Ryan, I like many.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of us last week because there are some mea culpas
on some pregame tweets from the Bucks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
That's uh. I think that's putting in delicately. But you
know what, I'm always happy to be wrong if the
Broncos are winning because I was too pessimistic. So I'll
wear a little bit of that on my face and
sleet be all right.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Well, Ryan, when you think about Sean Payne's system and
how under drew Brees, I mean, it was electric, it
was explosive, but it hasn't really transpired last year with
Russell Wilson and even this season with bo Nicks. What
have you seen that that cannot maybe give fans some
glimmer of hope that maybe there's a possibility that Deans
(00:56):
can change.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Well, certainly what we saw take place versus Tampa Bay
is going to give anybody a reason to be hopeful.
If I'm being honest with the guys. The same concerns
that I had after week two are the same concerns
that I have going into week four. So you know,
the verbose play calling flowed to the line of scrimmage,
the personnel swapping, lack of rhythm, predictable ground game, you know,
(01:20):
runs for negative yardage during shorts of the six. We
were an absolute mess in the first two weeks, and
what we saw versus Tampa Bay was a very, very
different situation. So while I'm not in Bo's helmet, it
was great to see greater efficiency with speed and play calling.
We got to the line much quicker. We shtched the
field with some of our playmakers, even on plays where
(01:41):
guys like Nims weren't necessarily catching the ball. We were
definitely expanding what the defense has to prepare for and
freedom things along the middle of the field. So a
quicker tempo, building rhythm, building confidence. Football is a fluid game,
and we saw exactly what we were hoping to see
from Bonix. There's a guy who's very difficult to sack,
very efficient, but he's in rhythm.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Let's get talking with Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael
on Twitter. We saw a few of these changes. In
Week three, we did see the things that we were
talking about. A few were shuffling of the personnel, grows,
taking some chances earlier with some more explosive plays, so
that there was a three shot plays right there on
the opening drive. But as we head into a week
four against the Jets, what version of this are we
going to see against that vaulted cover three.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, I think we're going to see a lot
of the same stuff we saw on versus Tampa Bay.
What I'm on guard for is what the Jets did
against New England was quite a bit different what they've
done over the past two years or so. I mean,
they were blitzing twice out of every five plays. They
sent five pass rushers on of New England's passing plays.
So if you look back to what they gets have
(02:48):
been running since twenty twenty two, that was very abnormal.
I would say the injury to Jernam Johnson forcing to
compensate with going very blitz heavy. Now, statistically speaking, if
you look at what bow Nick does versus what Jacoby
Bressett does, Jacoby Brissett ranks twenty yars in the NFL
and sacked percentage. Rowan Nick says it stands right now
(03:08):
third in the NFL three point four to two percent
sack percentage, And this is something I was hopeful for
after his last year out in Oregon where he was
sacked on just over one percent of his dropouts. If
they're going to go up with heavy versus us, I
don't know that that's going to end up well for them,
but it's going to be a tremendous challenge for our
receivers to make plays versus that secondary. So I'm excited
(03:29):
to see how it plays out.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
So last week, the Broncos were able to take advantage
of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line that had a couple
of injuries across the board. The same can be said
for the New York Jets. They got three new guys
on offensive line, especially on the left side of the ball,
but they're planning on due to injuries, have a rookie
right tackle start for them. Who has stood out for
(03:55):
you up front for the Denver Broncos and what type
of game do you expect for those guys on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You know, from a statistical standpoint, it's impossible not the
more in the loss of Alex Singleton, and it's just
a tackling machine unlike anything we've ever seen in Broncos
franchise history. Even playing injured throughout the rest of that game,
he's still put up ten total tackles and he was
on pace to produce one hundred and seventy five point six.
So he set the Broncos franchise record in twenty twenty
(04:23):
two with one hundred three tackles, had one hundred and
seventy seven last year on paid for nearly one hundred
and seventy six this year. So you know, defensively, it's
going to be impossible to fill that void in the
same way it's impossible to fill the void of Justine Singmons.
For this defensive unit under Vans, Joseph has done a
tremendous job of playing for their strengths. And you know,
(04:44):
we're sick in the NFL in points surrendered right now.
It's going to be the most exciting matchup of the
week for me. Perhaps I'm biased, you know, out here
in Broncos country, but I'm very excited to see how
our secondary matches up against Aaron Rodgers in the good
football he's been playing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
R Michael contributed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
at the Ryan Michael on Twitter, Ryan, obviously your Bonix
statistical thresholds tweet got a little traction this week, some
people hating them, feeling like they were a bit arbitrary,
and you know, and things like that. But were you
really that impressed or these thresholds something that are just
kind of kind of a fun siason a little bit irrelevant.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It's somewhere in between, Ben. I mean, you know, when
you're looking at high efficiency mark, anybuddy and a shout
out and plug the Pro Football References play index tools
because it's the greatest resource that there is out there.
So you know, when I look at his stadline, I
think he completed over sixty nine percent of his passes.
I took zero sacks. Again, that is going to continue
(05:40):
to be the hallmark of his game. Rushes for forty
five yards, these teams leading rushers for a Russian touchdowns.
When you plug in the efficiency metrics that he did well.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Yes, he is the.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Only player in the history of the NFL regular season
or postseason as far back as we have data nineteen
thirty three to complete twenty five or more passes over
sixty nine percent of his passes, rush for forty five yards,
a Russian touchdown, no picks, no facts. Was I blown away?
I wasn't blown away. I was impressed. It was far
and away his best game yet. And I was more
impressed at what he did versus Pampa Bay than any
(06:14):
of the impressive plays that he had in the preseason
against future insurance salesman. So it's somewhere in between. It's
a little bit of fun out there on Twitter, but
don't read.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Too much into it.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Now, for the first time this season, we saw Volume
four one Courtland sudden and even though we're talking about
with Sean Payton's offense, could we see him this week
operate like Michael Thomas an aka slam Boy.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Oh Man with that nickname. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm
expecting to see, and he is built in the similar
framework to Mike Thomas. There are some similarities there. Courtland's
a very physical receiver. He caught seven passes off a
level targets. Again, not a lot of yardage, sixty eight yards,
no touchdown. I'm stiffy, but I do expect for him
to be utilized in a similar way. It's really going
(07:05):
to come down to doing what we did well against
Tampa and that's establishing rhythm. Considering the limitations of the
ground game. Although it was certainly better versus Tampa Bay,
there's a lot of room to grow. I think that
once the running game starts to work in tandem with
the passing game, we're really going to see an offense
that can do a little bit more. I'm not expecting
any kind of Drew Brees New Orleans Saints' level results,
(07:28):
but I think that we can continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You know, we look at what Aaron Rodgers is doing
at the age that he's doing it, and how impressive
is it that Aaron Rodgers is continuing to play this
late in his career. I mean, you know, we have
evidence of quarterbacks playing into their forties before.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We always see all just saw Tom.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Brady, Bigmitty, Testaverdi not that long ago, Steve the Berg.
We've had a few guys that have got up there
does that. But how impressive is it for Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
To play at the level he does at the age
that he is.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Well, there's a few things that stand out to me.
Ben when we almost take for granted that playing the
quarterback position at a high level is a given. That's
certainly not the case. What Peyton Manning did from the
ages of thirty six to thirty eight especially unprecedented. What
Drew Brees did all the way up until forty one.
You can make the argument that Drew Brees was the
greatest age forty aged forty one quarterback ever. And certainly
(08:18):
what Tom did from forty two all the way to
forty five, and he was still playing at a high
level up until forty four very abnormal. What Manning, Brees
and Brady had in common is they were three of
the most difficult to sack quarterbacks in the history of
the NFL. That has not been a hallmark of Aaron
Rodgers' career. He's doing a lot better this year. He
(08:38):
ranked eight and sack percentage right now, so he's doing
things well. It's not the MVP Aaron Rodgers that we
saw two three years ago, but I'm impressed with what
I'm seeing so far. One of the stats that pops
out to me is his efficiency and third down. He's
completed twenty twenty seven passes at seventy four p two
hundred and seventy two yards, one touchdown, no pick. The
one hundred and eighteen point one rating when you're seeing
(09:01):
efficiency like on third down, when you're seeing some of
the fastes where the highlight playability certainly hasn't left him.
So what we're not seeing is what Tom Brady and
Drew Brees were able to do at age forty plus.
But he had farn Away his best game of the
season last week, So I hope that doesn't return this Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, think about bo Nicks and sack percentage. I believe
he ranks eighth in the NFL. What kind of numbers
that you have that you can share with those that
kind of breaks down the sack percentage and the interception
percentage and how maybe they may have equal parallels And.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We'll Traditionally Nike quarterbacks who have low sack percentage have
a high interception percentage, and vice versas. Quarterbacks who have
a high interception percentage can sometimes have a low sack
percentage because if you're trying to avoid picks, you can
take a lot of sacks, sometimes taking more sacks than necessary.
That was the hallmark of Aaron Rodgers towards the end
(09:58):
of his running Green Bay through very very few picks,
but he took a lot of sacks.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
He did most of.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Everything right, but he took a lot of sacks. Same
thing with Russell Wilson. Nick's obviously a high interception percentage,
very low sack percentage. It is incredibly rare to get
somebody who has a very low interception percentage and a
very low sack percentage. Guys like Cayden Manning, Tom Brady,
Drew Brees have mahomes or freaks of nature in that regard.
So obviously Bo's going to have to continue to limit
(10:25):
the picks, and if you can get those two statistics
to be in alignment, that's the ultimate recipe for winning
football games.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Teller Ryan Michael, Pro Football Hall of Fame contributor at
the Ryan Michael on Twitter, what are some achievable goals
for this week's trip to New Jersey?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You know, I think we have to continue to refine
the passing game. We have to build upon the positives,
all of the cliches you expect. I would really like
to see us flesh out a ground game. I think
that's going to be tremendous because when you look at
the limitations of the Jets defense, one of the sweary
as a weakness is they run twenty fifth in the
NFL in yards per kerry surrender, They're giving up four
(11:04):
point eight yards per carry. So this is going to
be a great opportunity for us to establish and flesh
out that ground game. Beyond that, the offensive defense has
to show resilience. I expect the Jets to test us
early in the first half. They may go blitz heavy
early in the first half, so let's see how we
answer that. I think those are all achievable things to
build on.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
The sleep well, speaking of the running game, desk very
interesting and you look at the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
They have two good runner backs and.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Alan and Breeze Hall, and with Alex Singleton being out, the.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Idea is what gives At what point does the dam break?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I think it's a reasonable concern. Like I said, there's
no replacing someone as talented as Alex, so I do
expect for them to have success in the ground against us.
It's going to be a more competitive game than I
think people see coming. Certainly, they slept on Denver. I'm
guilty of sleeping on Denver last week, so I still
see that just as that they this week. But I've
(12:01):
been proven wrong, so I hope to be proven wrong again.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, as we look at that, as we look at
the Jets are favorite in this game, what do you
expect the outcome to be here? I look at this
thing and I'm hoping that the Denver Broncos can win.
If I if I had to pick it, I'm probably
picking the Jets. But what you know, what what can
they do here to come away with and get a win?
And what is probably going to be a lower scoring
(12:27):
of you know, kind of a punch it out.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Kind of game.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
You know it's going to be a matter of efficiency.
When you saw the Tampo in which we ran the
offense in the first drive against Tampa Bay obviously won
four points under first drive the game. That's easier said
than that. But I think scoring points early is going
to afford our defense to tee off on Aaron Rodgers
a little bit, maybe take a little bit more chances.
So I think it's going to be very very important
how we play and how we executed the first quarter.
(12:53):
It's a difficult matchup. We've had a hell of a schedule.
Our opponents are combined I believe, eight and to one
this year, So it's going to be difficult. We can't
take anything for granted. We certainly can't overlook the Jets.
They're playing the best football they've had all year, so
it'll be a tremendous challenge.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
When you look at the Broncos wide receivers I mentioned,
you know earlier I talked about Colson Sudden, but Josh Reynolds,
the Jordan Humphrey, those.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Guys going back to the time of Big Book in
their game, they were a key part.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Of helping drives continue to move in Peyton's system. Obviously
he likes to use is wide receivers creatively in different ways.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Do you see either of.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Those two guys making a huge difference in the game
on Sunday against the Jets.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
I think it's possible, and look out for Josh Reynolds.
He has a cash percentage of seventy three point three
percent this year. He leaves the team and receiving one
hundred and seventy four yards beings averaging fifteen point eight
yards perception, which is the most of the team. The
efficiency in terms of not dropping passes, in terms of
just being explosive in the way he's been able to
stretch the field at times means he's going to be
(13:58):
a person of interest for that your secondary. It's not
going to be easy against the defense, but I'm hopeful
we'll be able to move them on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Hope so too, Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter,
always appreciate getting a chance to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
And you got a prediction for a final score.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Twenty one Jets.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
There we go, all right, Ryan sick in twenty seven
to twenty one Jets. When we come back, Nick Ferguson
and myself goa sit down and break this thing down
for you nuts the Bolts and see if.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
The Broncos can't come away with the win. Guys, Listen
to Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
It's live from Sam's Number three Diner and Bar in
Glendale right here on.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
A fifty am ninety four ONFM News Talk Sports. Welcome
back to it Broncos Country Tonight. Benjamin al brid Nick Ferguson,
Grant Smith here with you.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Programming note, Starting next week, we're back every night. We
get the VP Debate on Tuesday, but we'll be back
every night.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
No more of this Rocky stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
As the Rockies close against the LA Dodgers this weekend.
So you guys want to get out there and see
show Hi. You want to get out there and see
Chuck Nasty before you retire. You still got a few games.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Left to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Get down there to course Field Friday, Saturday, Sunday games, uh.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
To be able to do that. And of course the
Rockies do that.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That walker was started by the great Don Taylor at
the at the end where they they walk around, thank
the fans all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
If you haven't experience that, I would suggest that can
be a lot of fun for you as well.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Nick.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
We've got the New York Jets coming up on Sunday,
and as I look at this football team, you know
it's it's a tough defense. The offense has been a
little hit or miss. The one thing that you notice
about that offense so far is that they've really gotten
Alan Lazard reinvolved, somebody who fell basically flat last year
for this Jets team, he has become Aaron Rodgers security
(15:43):
blanket a little bit. And it feels like that they
could probably distribute the ball a little bit better in
terms of some of the other players, but they're really
focusing on getting the polls Allen Lazar earlier this season.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Well, but yeah, I mean there is a connection between
Aaron and Lazar coming back from their Green A Packers' days,
and when you look at their wide receiver group, I
guess minus you know Garret Wilson.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
They get there to have a bunch of big.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Body wide receivers similar to what the Broncos have. You
have to talk about Lazar, Mike Williams who comes over
from the Chargers, and Garret Wilson, like I just.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Mentioned, and Aaron Rodgers said what you want.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
To say about him and the injury and being an
older quarterback, he's still can sling it with the best
of them, and the biggest thing in the biggest threat
for the Broncos. I know the idea is that he's
not a Lamar Jackson, but you want to make sure
you keep him in the pocket. He's found a great
way of getting outside the pocket, even though he's not
(16:42):
like a fast guy, but when he gets outside the pocket,
he can throw the ball off one leg and he
can let it writ. And having those big body wide receivers,
the Broncos are going to be tested because when you
look at the thing, you hack it as a play
called in the Jets offense thus far, they use their
tight ends, but they don't really use them at a
(17:03):
high level to be a humongous threat. So I see
this team being more than eleven personnel and the Broncos
playing the lineman sub package.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
One thing you gotta watch out for the screen game.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
They do love to.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Get Brice Hole the ball as a pass catcher as well,
not just as a running back. They love to get
him as a pass catcher, and he can really hurt you,
as the Broncos have certainly seen in the past that
you pointed out, he can hurt you in that role
as well. How do you stay disciplined against a team
that loves to use a running back like that when
your primary linebacker just went out for the season.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well it's communication.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I mean, we watch games every single week and the
offense tells you what they're going to do before the
ball is ever snapped. But you see defenders they just
kind of like a deer in the headlights. They're just
watching the formation, but no one's communicating. And is as
simple as if you see Brice Hall knowing as how
he's done damage to the Broncos running and catching the
(17:56):
ball out the backfield if he is offset with a
wide receiver, where the cut split and what I mean
by that inside the numbers, you have to figure out.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
They know you and man coverage.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
They're trying to find a way to isolate the linebacker
with the running back and identify that is the matchup
that Aaron Rodgers wants to take advantage of. You have
to communicate that. You have to tell the corner, hey,
once you start to feel that receiver going inside, I'll
take him over. If you get someone faster the flat
and it's one of those backs, you.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Now take my coverage.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
And it has to be communication across the board. If
the Broncos do not communicate, Aaron Rodgers is gonna find
ways of screens balls into type spaces.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yes, and he'll make you pay as far as that
kind of stuff goes. I think what you're gonna have
to do if you the Denver Broncos. I think the
big keys here are going to be getting pressure at
the A gaps, getting pressure between the bees, getting pressure
at the A gaps and forcing Aaron Rodgers off of
his spot to build a murray.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
He'll carve you up. You let him sit there.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
But he's been so historically good on the move as well.
You're gonna have to have that contained and be able
to have the back end hold up as well.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
But this is one of those games where or you know,
plastic coverage comes in, especially in the man coverage, and
basically what that means is that you have to make
sure that you stay glued so you're wide receivers. But
the difficult part about that is that what happens to
all of us that happened to me When I play,
you get so anxious because you feel a wide receiver
running two or three four steps and you think, I
(19:19):
don't care what the ball should come right now, And
Aaron Rodgers is so equipped soon as you turn back
to look for the ball.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
He could put it right behind your ear.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
So the Bronco's not only from a defensive standpoint they
have to communicate, but they also have to make sure
they keep their eyes on their coverage. It's something that
bands we'll talk about all the time, you know, guys
having bad eyes, and I know people have made jokes
about it, but when you play on the defensive side
of the ball, you have to make sure that you
keep your eyes on your coverage. And it's something that
(19:47):
Herman Erwits used to say when I played for him
with the New York Jets.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
They call it cat coverage.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
You got that cat, You got that cat, that cat
coverage right there.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, and it's going to be it's a tough draw.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I mean, we talked a little bit about Lazard his resurgence,
We talked at bit about Gara Wilson, but they also
got Mike Williams over there too, who I think Broncos
fans know from what he did with the charge has
not been as prolific obviously with the New York Jets,
but he was a great deep ball receiver. Reminds you
a little bit of Vincent Jackson the way that he
you know, he was a great deep ball deep ball
receiver there, and I I you know, you look at
the way they get into eleven personnel that that's tough
(20:19):
to get those matchups across the board. You got certain obviously,
and everybody knows what he can do. And Ja Kwon's
a great nickel corner. But Ryan the Boss has acquitted
himself well. I thought he played really well, even on
the play where Gonvin got the touchdown. Uh, you know,
I still thought Rylany Loss mostly played that game pretty well.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Well, Rollie did play that well, and he's gonna be
challenged again. Anytime you're playing opposite PS two, it's gonna happen.
But now you're playing against some more physical, uh taller
wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Can you climb that ladder?
Speaker 4 (20:47):
And if I am the Broncos coach, defensive coaches sad
what I'm telling those guys, look, try to stay as
much in phase with those guys as you can, saying
body to body. But if you can't, when that ball
is thrown in the air, try to go for that
that stop hand right because when you can receive his
catch passes, there's a catchhand which is the first initial
(21:07):
hand you put on and then to stop hand. But
if you can kind of slap through and pull down
and rip out that stop hand, now you'd be able
to come down with a lot of those incompletions. But
I learned as being around dre Blott, like gods are
gonna catch passes. Just because they come down with it
doesn't necessarily mean they actually have they actually have to
catch it, so they their feet may touch the ground,
(21:28):
but you can always rip it out.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
And that's what you know for Jon the peer punch too,
you know, with Peter Tillman who popularized that as well.
I think that for the Broncos on offense, you're gonna
have to find a way to establish the run. I mean,
we've gotten away with Bowknicks basically leading the team and
rushing every game.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
But that's getting away with it.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
This is not sustainable over the course of a season
to have Boknicks out here leading it and letting defenses
tee off on you. And so for me, you're gonna
have to find a way to establish one. Whether that's
getting the day the ball early, whether that's getting Jaliel
the ball early.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
And by the way, on that touchdown Rob But you know,
if you listen to Dave's call on it, d He's like,
what are you doing?
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Stop it?
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And he starts back up.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
And them deep seto the corner. But you know, and
I think moved Javonte to a little bit different role.
You know, I thought Javonte was showing a little something there.
He's breaking a couple of tackles in that game, but
then you get the dog house set to the fumble.
I'd like to see Javonte Moore of the Somaj p
Ryan roll the last couple of years where he was
catching the ball out of the back. Feel a little
bit of pass pro here or there, maybe not the
early down. Hey, let's full head of steam. Let's run
(22:28):
it to the bea gap and a full head of
steam on the you know, on the early down.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Stuff and get a little more creative with it.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Well, yeah, you don't want to run any running back
through the teeth of any defense. And look, I mean
with any position, playing safety, quarterback, running back.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
You want to get into a rhythm.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
And we haven't really seen the run game get into
a rhythm with Javonte thus far. And coaches don't like
running backs to fumble balls because job.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Job security is ball security.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
But for me, this is not a to take I
guess touches away from Davonte. This is the opportunity to
show that you have enough confidence in him as a
staff that, yes, that farm will happen. Right, it's going
to happen when you're carrying the ball. But we have
enough faith in you, we're going to put you back
out there and we're gonna give you more touches. Because
think about this, if the Broncos decided because of that
(23:19):
farmble to give Tyler Bday more touches than Javonte. Now,
what are you doing for his confidence because you're gonna
need him, Yeah, well you're gonna need them in Jets
game and you gonna need him beyond this.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
He's your big body back. Yes, you know.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
It has to make on you know, and you have
to keep him in some what of the rhythm to
show that you still have confidence in him.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Yeah, I totally agree, and I think that you know,
to me, that's gonna be a big part of what
it is that they do.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
It's the other way.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
It's the way to attack this cover three defense too.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
If you're sending four, you want to run those ends,
to run those pass rushers, you know, wear them down
early and be able to put them back on their
heels a little bit so then not able to pin
their ears back and get it from the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
The other thing I think you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Need to get going to get some productivity out of
the tight end position. You know, we've seen Josh Reynolds
be able to get some production. Cortland got on track
against the Tampa Bay Bucks. We have not seen a
lot of production. Are they going to catch it out
of the tight well.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
First of all, that is the question.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I believe it's Hamlet's a little quick for me. I mean,
it just feels like that you need that part of
the game.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
If you look at your traditional cover three beat beaters
out there, curl flat is a is a very popular
route concept. You're going to need the tight end to
be involved, be able to do that, and to be
able to use his body to get you a few
extra yards after making those kinds of catches too.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Let's see.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah, okay, running the curl flats or slant flats as
they would normally call it as dragons.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
But that's great to establish rhythm. But if you.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Want to extend the ball past the line of scrimmage,
you need to now threaten between the hashes.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
Well, switch you have to.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, you're gonna have to get switched verticals on the Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
But if you never run those, then that that would
never happen. And then normally the stick nod normally you
running inside the red zone. But I think the Broncos
should incorporate it to run it out in the field.
I mean, they have big body tight ends that can run,
that can run the stick node and be effective. But
you can't back a defense off if you don't run that.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Play right, You're gonna have to find ways to back
them off, for which they did well against Tampa.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Like I said, I mentioned the shot play they were running.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They were in that three times on the on the
opening drive, you know, get getting the ball, and I'm like, Okay,
now we're starting to see all these things we've been
talking about on this show that they're not doing.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Now they're starting to incorporate.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
There's a whole suther scoring points.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
You know what I mean. We got a sheet right
in front of us. You think we should kind of
text this to someone.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
A fax machine. No one have a great history with
fax machines. We're just gonna, you.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Know, somewhere Elvis Duberville's.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Like, what am I doing? Ticket shot?
Speaker 4 (25:45):
I say, screens, take, take a screenshot and just insent
it to someone, because I mean, there's some talent on
this Broncos roster. Are they more talented than any other
team out there? No, they're not, but they still have talent,
and you have to maximize that talent and that ability
and getting the tight ends involved in the game.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
That opens up.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Everything and it's a simple rop. Let me give you
a really simple rop. They run the Broncos run zone stretch.
You start running zone stretch, zone stretch.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
And then now you had the tight end on a
delayed pull off. Right after that you block the edge
defender and just following off. I mean right there, that's
that's a four yard completion.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Well, I love getting booth play involved and put that
tight end on the backside wheel and then all of
a sudden you got to you know, you got to
open the stretching of vertical.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
You got somebody like Dulston who's got the legs to
do it.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
See the play that I love and I also despise
at the same time is kind of that wide receiver
like high play, and you could do it with a
wide receiver. You could do a top with the tight
end Sean McVay. They've done it for years where Tyler
he could be their tight end or whatever. But it's
now it's become the Cooper Cup play where you get
(26:53):
a guy who now he's blocking.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
He's blocking, he's in.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
The core, so the d lineman and the linebackers expecting
him to block.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
And he leaks out right off.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
A boot action he leaks out because no one's paying
attention and Cooper cups kind of.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
Run the route.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Well, well, he'll block a couple of couple of times
and then he'll.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
Fake balled on the ground. And when guys fall on
the ground.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Defensively, I mean, you see ball hit ball, you're not
worried about that guy, right, the leak play is there,
like like the Broncos have run bo Nicks four times right,
one to the left, three times to the right, right,
and they've been all keepers. Now, if you run that
same play with keeper action, but you run the leak
(27:34):
the opposite way off of that, dude, trust me.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
You're gonna get bite. It's going to be open.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah, well, you know, i'd love to see it.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
There's a lot of things I think they can build
on and incorporate based on what they've rolled out so far,
You've set up some interesting things. It's just a question
of whether or not they're going to do it, because
you know, we saw the first dough like what was.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Going on in the first two weeks of the season.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
It looked like this joint.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
It didn't look like they had a plan, and then
all of a sudden, all the things that we've been
talking about. They emptied the clip.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
You know in the Tampa game.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Look up here, we are. This is just what you're
supposed to be doing here. Why weren't we doing this
the first couple of.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Weeks, Well because there was a plan, right.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
The idea is that the plan wasn't working out as
though it was drawn up right, that you may work
through it through practice.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You know, you know a scout team, you hold up cars, Hey, I.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
Want you to jump this route. Hey, we want to
build confidence and the offense throw the balls down the field.
But when you get into a real game, guys adjusts.
So I'm thinking that the game plan wasn't well suited
for what we're seeing from the skill set that the
players have. But more than portantly, what both Knicks and
my idea is, man, let the dude play. Don't don't
try to restrict him. Don't try to make him Drew
(28:40):
Brees because he's not. I mean, I've compared to him
both Knicks to more of a Josh Allen and more
of a Russell Wilson.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
And I know some fans don't like.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
That, but the context of it, you have guys, and
both Wilson and Josh Allen. They are very mobile quarterbacks.
They threaten teams defensively, and just like even Patrick Mahomes,
he scrambles to pass the ball. Now, if you stay back,
he's gonna run it right right, And we've seen Bow
actually do it, So for me, I would like to
see Bow do that more. And he's going to need
(29:12):
that against this aggressive defense he's going to play on
Sunday with the Jets.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
It is an aggressive defense.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
They've got some some players in gutsyg mostly a little
little bang up there for.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Him as well.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
But they you know, they've got two veterans safeties back there,
and I feel like that's the most unheralded part of
their defense.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Their safety play is actually pretty good.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Yeah, their safety play is real good.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
And if you're playing in the Roberts solid defense, you're
definitely going to need to be able to see the field,
be able to have range. And it reminds me of
when I was in San Francisco. We had you know,
Jimmy Ward. Jimmy Ward can come down, he can play nickel,
he could play corner, he can play safety and tackle
(29:54):
well in space. But this is what the Jets defense.
And you're going to play that style of defense. You
need those types of guys, especially those guys who are
sure tacklers. And now knowing that you can look, you
can sit in a too high satan look, make their
quarterback think that's where you're going to be.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
And now you're playing quarters.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You can play cover three from there, you can play
you can rob from from that standpoint. So this is
gonna be a little test for both Sean Payton and
bow Nicks and being able to figure things out on
the run.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
As we look at this game, you know they did
spend the extra time between the week on the East
Coast in West Virginia at the Green Brier. Something we
the schedule came out. We told you this was gonna happen.
Do you believe that that benefits this team? Like keeping
in rhythm, you know that kind of thing, or is
that you know, is that just overblown?
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Well, it keeps your in rhythm far as body timing
is concerned. You don't have to worry about trying to
you know, acclimate your body from Mountain time the East
Coast time. You just play the East Coast game. You won,
You got that momentum. Now you go up to the
Green Brier. Now everyone is celebrating, and now you try
to take that momentum into MetLife Stadium. And this is
(31:03):
not one of these things where we see teams have
that East Coast trip and their body clocks are not
regulated enough where you know they're up in time to
get their bodies moving.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
But now there are no excuses.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Right if you win your first game, you're acclimated to
the East Coast time zone. You practiced all week. Now
you have to go into MetLife Stadium where it's going
to be rocking Fireman and is going to be out there.
Jet as just just Jets. But the game plan for
the Vanko's not saying that someone send it to me,
but it's familiar to what we saw last week. Can
you take the opening drive down the field and score
(31:39):
and quiet the crowd?
Speaker 5 (31:40):
That's what they're gonna try that attempt to do.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
How difficulty is that crowd?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I mean, obviously you're very familiar with it, haven't played
in Europe, But how difficult is that crowd compared to
a Kansas City or Seattle.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Well, Kansas City and Seattle, arguably those are two the
loudest places to play from a decimal level is not
going to be as large as those two places, but
it's going to be loud.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
But I mean it's New York City.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I mean fans are drumpy, they're uptight, there's a lot
of traffic, people living next to each other. They want
something to actually be pissed off about. And the Broncos
can actually give them something to be pissed off about
when they drive home with the victors.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Hopefully they do. Looking forward to the call right here
Dave Logan Rick Las this weekend, right here on KOA
about prime time. Coming up. NeXT's some Broncos
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Country night right here on KAA Day at the Am
ninety four ONEm Luke's Sports
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