NFLBy: Keith Richards
Another week, another disappointment. Alas, the Broncos lost again in week 2. All hope is not lost though. The loss was heartbreakingly but the team did make a couple of strides in the loss. First and foremost, I am not a fan of moral victories. Neither is the city of Denver. So, you will not hear that here. Still, there are some improvements to go over as we discuss the five takeaways from week 2. Of course, there is still displeasure. So, let’s get it!
The Royce Becoming a Rolls
So far, one running back has not disappointed. That is “Rolls” Royce Freeman. While another running is frustrating beyond all means (we’ll get to that in a second), Freeman has been a breath of fresh air. On a combined 16 touches in week 2, Royce had 102 total yards. That’s 54 yards on 11 rushes and 48 yards on 5 catches. 6.4 yards per touch is what that amounts to, which is pretty darn good.
Furthermore, Rolls averaged 4.9 yards per carry in week 2. This is something the Broncos sorely need. Couple that with the afternoon of Emmanuel Sanders, the offense was beginning to look like it could move the ball. There are still some things to work on, but this was nice.
Lindsay, We Have A Problem
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Phillip Lindsay, my man, where are you?! Once again, Lindsay had a lackluster performance. On a combined 17 touches, Phillip had a meager 66 yards. That’s 3.9 yards per touch, which is even worse than the week before. I’m a patient man, Phillip, but patience is running low. The team has run into some tough defenses in the first two weeks, but we saw no improvements from Phillip in week 2. Simply put, Lindsay is the catalyst of success for this offense. Denver must find a way to kick him into gear. It’s getting close to do or die time.
Pass as an Extension of the Run
In week 2, Flacco attempted 50 passes. There’s a couple of different ways to look at this. First, you can say that’s far too many pass attempts. Second, you can say the offense is using the pass as a way to run the ball. This is to cover up for the poor offensive line. Yes, there is a right and a wrong to this scenario. Option 1 is the wrong answer. Option 2 is the correct answer.
In week 1, 7 of the 31 pass attempts of Flacco were running back targets. That’s good for 22.6% of his attempts. Yet, in week 2, 14 of the 50 pass attempts went to the running backs, which was good for 28% of Flacco’s attempts. Yes, maybe it’s a little bit of a reach but we have to have something to work with. A win on offense is a win on offense. Getting that percentage higher decreases the chance of turnovers and gives Lindsay more opportunities. That’s called a win-win.
Still Waiting
On the turnover front, there is still no news. That is bad news. Through two games, Denver is minus two in the turnover battle. Being positive, it could be much worse. Being realistic, this has to improve. So, we’re still waiting for a turnover. The chances are there. The defense did manage quarterback hits this week. Also, the defense had more pass defended in week 2 as well.
Now, it’s time to start turning those into turnovers. As stated in the preview of this week, the offense needs to feed off the defense. It may not be fair but it is true. The offense needs confidence. Unfortunately, they need that from the defense; along with patience.
That’s all for this week. We will see what week three brings as the go on the road to face that baaaaaaaaddddddd man in Aaron Rodgers. Be sure to check the preview of that as well as all of the other local analysis. Exclusively with Nuts and Bolts Sports!
