Broncos Get No Relief With Frank Gore

I know I just lampooned the defensive line for its lousy pass coverage late in games, but I do have to give them a break because of one thing: the Broncos have faced virtually all of the league's biggest, toughest running backs in the last few weeks, and when you look at it, this schedule could wear out any defensive line.

In case you're wondering, here's the list, starting six weeks ago: LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, and a repeat of Tomlinson. Then the Broncos got a "break" against Edge and Rudi Johnson. During the four-game stretch starting and ending with Tomlinson, the Broncos defense allowed an average of 113 rushing yards to their opponent's top runners, and lost all four games.

In the Broncos' longest winning streak this season, a five-game tear from weeks 2 to 7, the defense allowed an average of just 56 yards per game to top backs. Coincidence? Not at all. Even though the Broncos played some of those games against good running backs (they allowed 126 yards in the win over Larry Johnson and the Chiefs), the majority of them were against mediocre ones. When the team has faced a big running back behind a good offensive line this year, they've been absolutely run over.

Next week, the Broncos will face Frank Gore, who despite being on one of the NFC's worst teams (come on, they lost to the Cardinals), is the NFC's lead rusher. Gore can't carry San Francisco alone, but you can bet the Niners will try to exploit the weak running game this Sunday. If they're successful, the game might be a lot closer than anyone in Broncos Country wants.

This all brings me back to my point about the defensive line - something's got to change. The Broncos linebacking corps is really fast, so teams aren't running it outside anymore. They're stuffing it up the middle or running to the middle and cutting outside, and it's working. Yeah, the line has been beat up pretty bad late in the season, but if they can't stop Frank Gore on Sunday, I don't care if they win. They're not going to go very far in the playoffs because almost every playoff team in the AFC has one thing in common - a big running back that has torn up Denver's line.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-30-2006 @ 6:53PM

Paul Wexler said...

Every week you set up all the excuses for losing, BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTS! Well fellow Donkey lovers, we should beat the mighty 49ers, but just in case we lose at home, (say we don't get every call or someone dosn't miss an extra point) here are all the reasons why it could happen. Gabe are you paid to make up all the excuses for them? Hey Gabe help me out my dog just peed on the floor and I need an excuse for him. I should have seen it coming, it only happens on days when he drinks water. One of these days I am going to figure out why that brown smelly stuff comes out his butt is. Last month I fired his Vet, it didn't stop the brown stuff, but we came together as a family. If he does it again we are going to replace the paperboy. Next week Gabe I want the excuses for the Draft, next years missed play offs, and the last two Blizzards.

12-30-2006 @ 7:04PM

Gabe Stein said...

Does anyone even read past the headlines anymore?

"This all brings me back to my point about the defensive line - something's got to change. The Broncos linebacking corps is really fast, so teams aren't running it outside anymore. They're stuffing it up the middle or running to the middle and cutting outside, and it's working. Yeah, the line has been beat up pretty bad late in the season, but if they can't stop Frank Gore on Sunday, I don't care if they win. They're not going to go very far in the playoffs because almost every playoff team in the AFC has one thing in common - a big running back that has torn up Denver's line." - The Last Paragraph

12-31-2006 @ 9:06PM

Tom said...

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! NICE CHOKE, DONKEYS!!! HAVE FUN WATCHING THE CHIEFS IN THE PLAYOFFS!!! CHIEFS FOREVER, BRONCOS NEVER!!!

12-31-2006 @ 10:03PM

Raffaele Zuccaro said...

All the Broncos need now is a NEW STADIUM, a Q-back, Good Defencive Line, and Smarter Fans, Who dont kiss A-- all the time!!!! I suggest we build a new stadium down in Douglass Co., where most of the fans can walk to the New field-- Name it RE-INVESCO at 1/2 Mile High Field. Now that they have a new Rapid Transit Line, most of the wealthy trash can get there from any Ghetto in central Denver. Lets all contribute to this slow De-Composition of American Culture with these Over-Paid A--Holes in the NFL.

1-01-2007 @ 12:57AM

Deby Newsome said...

Chiefs will always suck, and they will also CHOKE, on the first game of the playoffs!! If our infamous "broncos" coach, Slanahan...would have just played Plummer as he should have, we could have won. Instead, because of his ignorance and problems with Plummer, he punishes the Broncos and all fans by playing Cutler so we can just hand away all our games with many interceptions. "maybe Shannahan should start looling for a new job"? How about it Pat Bowlen? I will remain a Bronco fan forever, but I am very dissappointed in Shannahan and Cutler at this point.

1-01-2007 @ 12:59AM

Yeah...Plummer comes back for a few series and proves Shanahan wrong...by promptly throwing an interception.

1-01-2007 @ 12:43PM

Buzz said...

As I said two weeks ago, The Poneys won't make the playoffs and Shannahan was a fool for replacing Plummer (7-3) with "his best chance to win...|Cutler (2-4). Please! You should have seen the writing on the wall, by at least last week's game! The poneys didn't beat the Bengals...the Bengals beat the Bengals! You have NO running game! Your defense was exposed by the 10th game. Wherever Plummer goes next year is where my support goes. Good luck you ungrateful poney fans! Go Cutler! Ha Ha

1-02-2007 @ 11:50AM

mo mike said...

Deby Newsome - we read your blog on the San Fran page and obviously you have your head stuck so far up your Donkey's butt that you can't see the real Broncos.
You state that the Broncos are honest and would never play "unfairly?" You've got to be kidding! The Broncos are the only team in NFL history that had the NFL review the game films of every game 2 years ago because of the chop blocks by the offensive line. They have ruined more defensive linemen's careers with cheap illegal hits than any other team in the NFL. One year in a game against the Chiefs the Broncos offensive line had smeared Vasoline all over their uniforms before the game and it was caught by the game officals and the entire offensive line had to change uniforms before the game. Plus 15 yards unsportsman conduct before the openning kick off. It is great when the fans support their local teams - you should - we all do, but get your facts straight before you shoot off your mouth. By the way, the Chiefs made the playoffs - maybe we will loose against the Colts, maybe we won't, but we can take solice in the fact that the Broncos didn't make it. It is odd that more than just Chiefs fans are happy.
Cutler sucks, Plummer sucks, the Denver fans are fair weather fans and the Donkeys didn't make the PLAYOFFS. We are sorry to hear about Williams being killed. All of the above is just for fun but to loose a young man in this way is wrong. Please know that we will keep his family in our thoughts.