As the Denver Broncos enter week three of the season, head coach Gary Kubiak is rightfully concerned about the running game. In January when he arrived, everyone who knew anything about Kubiak assumed the Broncos would lean heavily on the rushing attack. Through two games, albeit wins, the offense has struggled mightily to do so. Despite the troubles Kubiak has vowed to continue to try and run the ball often.
“It just has to be demanded. If you’re going to be physical as a football team, then you’ve got to stay committed and demand it. It’s not good enough. I’m very disappointed. I look at myself—okay, what are we doing? I go to the coaches— are we putting ourselves in the right positions? And I go to the players and say this is either good enough or not good enough.” Kubiak said Friday. “Regardless of what happens, we’re going to work through that and demand that we get it done.”
Through two games Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson have had problems finding the holes necessary to strike any sort of fear into the opponents’ defenses. The two have combined for only 131 rushing yards on 45 carries for an average of 2.9 yards per carry. Hillman, who has the better average per carry of the two backs (3.6), knows that the team is still learning a new system and is confident and excited to get everyone on the same page.
“This is just an offense that we just but in this year. The year (2012) we put in the offense when Peyton first got here it was rocky the first few games too. Its like test driving car, you just have to get used to it. We will be alright. When we start gelling and clicking we will be unstoppable,” he stated assertively Monday.
Despite the slow start in the running game, another veteran talent, James Casey is pleased with the 2-0 start and the progress he sees each day.
“Obviously, offensively we haven’t been playing how we want to. At the same time, we’re been winning. We’re 2-0. That’s what you want in the NFL. I think Peyton (Manning) said it from the start. We may not be hitting on all cylinders right at the beginning, but as long as we’re winning and learning at the same time, that’s what the NFL is all about,” he said Monday.
In each of the Broncos games, they started the well and finished them in dramatic fashion. In the middle of the contests the team turned the ball over, punted many times and had to revert to a shotgun, pass-heavy offense the team has used in past seasons.
While the outcomes were victories it has not been in the fashion Kubiak is used to or believes will be successful each week in the NFL. On top of that, the main concern with a failed running game is health of their 39-year-old quarterback. He has been sacked seven times already, a number that was not reached until week seven last year. Kubiak understands that and said as much Monday afternoon.
“If you run the ball, you usually protect your quarterback better. We have seven sacks right now in two weeks. We can’t ask him to hold up that way throughout the course of the season. To me, running the ball creates opportunities to make some big plays, which we have had a few opportunities. We just haven’t made them. It gives you a chance to protect your quarterback better.”
The offensive line has been the main culprit for the lack of success in the running game and they have yet to work as a cohesive unit. According to Pro Football Focus, not one offensive lineman has an overall grade above .1 and all but one of them falls in the negative range. Each player also has a negative rating in the running blocking categories. Even Evan Mathis, a notoriously great run block guard has failed to perform well in his two games with the team. The only positive grade across the board is Louis Vasquez at 1.4 in pass protection.
The Broncos rushed for a total of 69 yards versus the Baltimore Ravens and 61 yards Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Both opponents have highly-touted defensive fronts and right tackle Ryan Harris believes the two weeks of experience will go far this week.
“It just takes time. We would have loved to come out and have two, 250-yard rushing games? Absolutely, but realistically we are at where we are at. Where we are at is close to having a breakout game,” the eight-year veteran said from his locker Monday. “I think it is more of little tweaks. I think the more opportunities we have the better we will execute. The good thing I think is everyone feels their role in this. It is not just the offensive line. It is not just the coaches. We want to work together to improve this, this week. The sooner we can execute our run techniques the better we will be as a whole.”
The good news is that the Broncos will have nine and half days to prepare for the Detroit Lions Sunday night. The Lions gave up 199 yards rushing to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and the Broncos will have ample time to fix their running game and focus on protecting Manning when they travel to Ford Field. Hillman, who has been with the Broncos since he was selected 67th overall in the 2012 draft, knows that the offensive woes might simply be the implementation of a new scheme and in time, they may be ready to pummel opponents.
“It will be really scary. Especially having both sides of the ball playing well, those are the teams that historically make it to the playoffs. So, I think once we start getting it right it will be a nightmare for a lot of people.”
Kubiak has vowed to stay committed to a running attack, as well as protect his quarterback but through two weeks neither principle has come to fruition on the field. The extra days of preparation will be vital and telling. If they cannot progress this week along the line and in the backfield the nightmare might be the Broncos to bare in the weeks ahead.
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