Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Dachman

Here We Go: A Final Look at The Denver Broncos Running Backs

Jason Dachman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:03:04 -0400

The Mile High backfield is deep, but lacks a proven star. It also remains to be seen how coach Josh McDaniels’ stable of running backs will function behind an offensive line that will employ far less zone blocking than during the Mike Shanahan era.

Knowshon Moreno

A plethora of injuries/soap operas hit the Broncos this preseason, but no player’s absence hurt Denver’s development more than that of rookie running back Knowshon Moreno. While he may not be the key to this offense’s success, he has the most breakout potential and his absence due to an MCL sprain surely hindered his maturation process.

He looked solid in short action during the team’s first preseason game, but has barely even taken the practice field since the knee injury.

Moreno could very well be Pro Bowl caliber running back by this time next year, especially considering he already possesses the blocking and receiving skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.

He has ideal size and speed with a knack for hitting the correct hole and hitting it hard. He will be used often as a receiving back, but will get plenty of carries as the year progresses.

Moreno’s fellow backs are capable veterans, but he will need to succeed if the Denver running game expects to.

Correll Buckhalter

With Moreno missing much of the preseason, Buckhalter looks to be the starter for week one. However, he will only hold the spot as long as Moreno allows it.

An extremely diverse back with excellent receiving skills, Buckhalter seems to be a perfect fit in the Broncos offense and would have fit right in during McDaniels’ days in New England.

Even if Moreno does take Buckhalter’s role atop the depth chart, he will serve as a quality back all season as a Kevin Faulk type.

Peyton Hillis

Well, he’s not going to lead the team in rushing as he did in 2008 for an injury-ravaged Denver backfield, however, Peyton Hillis will serve an integral role in Denver’s new system due to his ability to line up all over the field.

Expect McDaniels to use him in much the same way he used Heath Evans with the Patriots. Hillis will serve as a fullback/halfback combo and be given small essential assignments in McDaniels’ complex packages.

His numbers won’t be too impressive, but expect a few juicy goal line carries that could result in some scores.

Lamont Jordan

Lamont Jordan struggled with a calf injury for much of his 2008 season with the Patriots, and has continued to spend plenty of time on the sidelines this preseason with injuries.

After McDaniels signed him to a 2-year, $2.5 million deal, Jordan promptly underperformed at camp and nearly lost his roster spot to Notre Dame product Darius Walker (who found a home on the Denver practice squad).

While his experience in the offense makes him a valuable guy to have around for a team still learning the system, don’t expect Jordan to stick around long or get many carries this season.

GRADE: B

It all comes down to Moreno.

If he can capitalize on his wealth of potential, then the Denver backs should each find their roles in an offense that calls for RB’s aplenty and the backfield will flourish. If he struggles to adapt to the pro game, then the Broncos are looking at a stable of also-rans that isn’t going to impress anyone.

Check out this last look at the QB's

A Final Look at the Denver Broncos' Quarterbacks

Jason Dachman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:53:04 -0400

The Broncos’ quarterback position has constantly been referred to by pundits as the point guard of Josh McDaniels' spread offense. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, it does reflect the QB’s role as a distributor who is not asked to be a playmaker on his own.

Kyle Orton

Starter Kyle Orton will be expected to serve as the “game manager” (a term used ad nauseum these days) in the Broncos' new dink-and-dunk offense.

He will rarely be asked to create plays all by himself, but rather will be expected to quickly and efficiently dish the ball out to Denver’s many offensive weapons on a plethora of screens, crossing patters, short hitches and so on.

There are several quality indicators that point to Orton flourishing in the Broncos’ new offensive scheme:

-Dating back to his years at Purdue, Orton has always been considered a safety-first type of quarterback (despite any left-handed goal-line interceptions Denver fans may have seen during the preseason). This is exactly the type of field captain McDaniels is looking for.

-He flourished in a shotgun-based offense while at Purdue and is well-versed in the basic sets of the scheme. While the Broncos’ system is far more intricate and complex than the simple spread he ran with the Boilermakers, Orton’s well ahead of the game considering his college experience with multi-receiver sets and the shotgun.

-Orton has seemingly solved many of the mechanics issues (loose footwork, awkward arm motion on the deep ball) that plagued him early on in his NFL career and his numbers have improved accordingly. He posted career-highs in nearly every category last season (79.6 QB rating) despite struggling mightily with a high ankle sprain for much of the second half.

That said, it remains to be seen how a quarterback with a career 55.3 completion percentage can be the efficient game manager McDaniels needs to run his offense. Orton did complete a career-high 58.5 percent of his passes last season, but that number still ranked 25th in the league.

Many Orton supporters point to his 21-12 record as an NFL starter, but it has always seemed a bit irrational to give much weight to this number in the ultimate team sport (and that’s coming from a hardcore John Elway fan - the ultimate winning record example). While it proves Orton is capable of winning, his record as a starter in no way proves he is a legitimate starting QB in this league.

Denver fans and much of the national media have been awfully critical of Orton thus far, but the already-beleaguered QB may be on a longer leash than one might think. He has been the unquestioned starter since arriving and his position atop the depth chart becomes even stronger after a taking a look at the Broncos opening schedule.

Assuming he is healthy enough to start Week One following his finger injury, Orton will open against Cincinnati, Oakland, and Kansas City before the Broncos enter one of the toughest stretches for any team this season (Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers). While the schedule as a whole is daunting, a 3-0 record to start the season would only further cement Orton as the Broncos' starter and secure him at least four or five more starts behind center.

Orton was up-and-down during the preseason before missing the final game-and-a-half with a grotesque dislocated finger injury. He is expected back to start in Week One.

Chris Simms

The best possible scenario for this 2009 squad would be if Chris Simms does not take a single meaningful snap.

This is less a knock on Simms’ ability as it is a nod to the situation Denver would have to be in for Simms to take the field. If Simms were to find himself as the team’s starting QB, it means one of two things – either Orton has been seriously injured or he (and most likely the team as a whole) has performed so poorly that he has been pulled in favor of Simms.

The Texas alum has not seen extended action since 2006 while with the Bucs. A high ankle sprain that caused him to miss most of the preseason hasn't helped his reputation as an injury risk.

Simms has yet to prove he is a legitimate NFL quarterback and may slide into the journeyman backup mold if not given a chance to start this season.

He has solid arm strength and is capable of making most throws on the field, but tended to randomly float throws at times in Tampa. His major weakness is an absolute inability to handle pressure – both in the pocket and in big games.

Regardless of Simms’ capabilities, Orton represents the best option for the Broncos this season if for no other reason than the fact that he has participated in far more reps with the first team offense.

While neither QB is a long-term solution or even an ideal solution at this point, Orton has been pegged as the starter and abandoning him at any point during the season would signal a major failure for both the offense and McDaniels.

Tom Brandstater

Before anyone gets carried away following Tom Brandstater’s rather impressive performance to close out the preseason, let’s get one thing straight – he is not the quarterback of the future.

The Fresno State product was 24-of-42 for 297 yards and an interception in Denver’s final two preseason games while leading the team on a 77-yard touchdown drive against the Arizona Cardinals. It was an inspiring bounce-back from his embarrassing performance to finish out the second preseason game in Seattle, when he looked absolutely lost.

The Broncos love his size (6’5”, 220 pounds) and his numbers as a junior and senior were solid at Fresno State (33 TD, 17 INT).

As a WAC quarterback, however, he’s still a second class citizen and he’s got a long, long way to go before he’s anywhere near starting in the NFL.

GRADE: C

The quarterback position cannot help but be considered a weakness until Kyle Orton proves he is capable of taking the next step. He showed signs before the ankle injury in 2008 and has way more talent in Denver, but he remains a wildcard.

Regardless, the Broncos are better with him than without him, so he better be back from his preseason finger injury by Week One.

Check out this last look at the RB's.

Denver Broncos Fire General Manager and Top Assistant

Jason Dachman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:56:22 -0500

In yet another shocking move this offseason, the Denver Broncos have fired VP of Football Operations/General Manager Jim Goodman and Assistant General Manager Jeff Goodman (Jim's son).

NFL.com's Adam Schefter has reported that former Assistant General Manager Brian Xanders has taken on the title of General Manager.

This marks the second time in two years that the Broncos have fired their General Manager—Ted Sundquist was let go following the 2007 season.

Xanders, 37, joined the Broncos in May after serving 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons in various roles that included coaching and player personnel.

The Goodmans assisted in the selection of new head coach Josh McDaniels, and Jim was expected to work in conjunction with McDaniels when it came to personnel decisions.

Jim Goodman, in his 11th year with the team, played an integral role in the Broncos' recent draft success. The 55-year-old Goodman served as Denver's Director of College Scouting and Director of Player Personnel in the six years preceding his promotion to VP of Player Personnel in 2007.

While extremely surprising, the move is an obvious signal that owner Pat Bowlen is more than ready to pull a complete turnover. With Xanders in as GM, the Broncos now have an entirely new image in the front office and on the sidelines.

However, it is a questionable move considering the Goodmans' success in the draft over the past few years. Former coach Mike Shanahan began to put more faith in his scouting department, and Goodman's player evaluations, last offseason and the team flourished in the draft as a result.

The recently-arrived Xanders will have plenty to prove, but perhaps a rookie coach-GM duo is just what this stale organization needs.

More details should surface soon.

The All-Time Greatest Athletes To Contract HIV

Jason Dachman — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:02:49 -0500

Although the story seems to still be in its infancy stage, reports have surfaced of a lawsuit which claims that All-Star second baseman and probable future Hall-of-Famer Roberto Alomar has AIDS. The New York Daily News reports that Alomar’s former girlfriend has filed a lawsuit which accuses the 12-time All Star of having unprotected sex with her despite his condition and exposing her children to the virus. She tested negative for the disease, but is seeking punitive damages for emotional distress. While his lawyers claim the suit is “frivolous and baseless,” it appears that HIV and AIDS have once again taken center stage in the sports world. This brings up an interesting (and admittedly awkward) topic…Who are the greatest American athletes to contract the HIV virus? First, a few disclaimers… Boxing legend Esteban De Jesus is not American-born and therefore is not eligible for the list. The controversial lightweight champion was born in Puerto Rico (yes, I know it’s a commonwealth) and died there of AIDS in 1989. Due to questions concerning whether or not heavyweight Tommy Morrison even has the HIV virus, he was not added to the list. The star of Rocky V and former WBO heavyweight champion claims that he was given a false-positive back in 1996 and has tested negative on several occasions since. Finally, anyone looking for NFL great Lyle Alzado on this list is simply misinformed. Despite plenty of rumors to the contrary (especially throughout the late 1980’s), the overpowering defensive end never had AIDS and actually died of a brain tumor in 1992. And now to the list…

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Mike Shanahan's Shadow Looms Large in Denver

Jason Dachman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:11:34 -0500

The truth is that the Denver Broncos simply were not very good in 2008.

In all honesty, this was a 6-10 team that came away with lucky breaks at home against San Diego and New Orleans in Weeks 2 and 3.

Embarrassing losses to dreadful Oakland and Kansas City squads surely didn’t help Mike Shanahan’s cause during his post-season meeting with owner Pat Bowlen.

Add in a porous defense, a horrendous record at home, and an obvious regression at the end the season and you have all the makings of a fired coach—regardless of his stature in the team’s history and community.

For all the talk of Shanahan’s shortcomings when it came to his personnel decision-making, it must be noted that the Broncos have turned in excellent drafts in each of the past three seasons.

Take a look at this B/R article and the accompanying chart to see the team’s draft progression over the past eight years and how the team has improved.

The defense was an obvious cause for concern all season. The numbers speak for themselves, as the unit ranks in the bottom quarter on the league in nearly every statistical category.

During the team’s utter collapse over the last three games of the season, giant holes appeared again and again in both coverage and the running game.

Much of the blame falls on defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, but that is shortsighted. It was Shanahan’s decision to bring in new coordinator after new coordinator to fix the defense, rather than giving a single scheme time to marinate and grow.

While it looks like Shanahan learned his lesson and was planning on bringing Slowik back for next season, it was simply too late to make up for past mistakes.

Take a look at the great defenses around the league. Rex Ryan has manned Baltimore’s defense for four years, Dick LeBeau has been in Pittsburgh for five years, and Jim Johnson has been in Philadelphia for an even decade. Each was given the necessary time to develop their schemes and integrate players into the system.

Many have cited the rash of injuries as a cause for the team’s inconsistency this season, but few would question that the Denver defense was pretty ugly, even with Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams in the lineup.

As for the injuries at running back, it was not the injured running backs’ fault that the Broncos abandoned the run like an unwanted child in nearly every game going down the stretch.

Despite averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry over the last three games of the season, the team passed more than twice as often as it ran (131 pass to 60 rush).

While this can partly be attributed to the fact that Denver was often trailing in these games, it is an obvious indicator of the direction the offense was going.

Whether it was the work of Shanahan, primary play caller Jeremy Bates or even offensive coordinator (in name only) Rick Dennison, the running game was never given a chance to establish itself.

Regardless of the actual reasons for Shanahan’s firing, it was the right move.

This was the right move for Bowlen, for Shanahan, for the organization and even for quarterback Jay Cutler (whether he would like to admit it or not) and the young talent currently flooding this team.

If there is one word that can accurately describe the Denver Broncos at this point in time, it is "stagnant."

With the ultimate patriarch in place, the organization has taken on a tone of monotony that does not lend itself to winning Super Bowls. This can rub off easily on the many young players walking the halls of the team’s Dove Valley headquarters.

Shanahan is now out and perhaps a breath of fresh air will sweep through the team’s enormous practice bubble and carry the Broncos out of the depths of 7-9, 8-8, and 9-7.

Whether he realized it or not, Shanahan has left the Broncos in a good place. It is true that the entire organization revolved around Shanahan and Denver will now be forced to build from the ground up in terms of coaching and much of the administration. However, if the Broncos have one thing going for them, it’s Jim Goodman.

While it is impossible to know just how much influence the VP of Football Operations/Player Personnel had over the fruitful drafts of the past few years, he was the team’s Director of College Scouting from until 2005.

It would seem that his insight went a long way in bringing in players like Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, and Tony Scheffler in the 2006 draft as well as those that followed.

I pray that Bowlen not only keeps Goodman and his son Jeff, but increases their power in terms of decision making. Goodman’s presence would go a long way in helping a new coach to cut the period of “rebuilding” down.

There is plenty of talent here, especially on the offensive side of the ball. No one will question that.

It is now the job of Bowlen and Goodman to bring in a young exuberant coach (not Bill Cowher) to bring the potential of this team to fruition.

Bowlen has stated that he does not wish to bring in a be-all-end-all coach with supreme power, so why not insert Goodman as top dog for personnel decisions and give the organization the adrenaline shot it deserves with one of the red-hot coordinators on the market like Steve Spagnuolo, Jim Schwartz, Jason Garrett, or Bill Musgrave?

There will be as much pressure on this new coach as there has been on every Denver quarterback since No. 7 left and I wish all the luck in the world to whoever comes in to fill the shoes on the Broncos’ sideline—it will not be easy.

While it may have been the right decision for the organization, this is an intensely loyal fan base that doesn't do well with change. The new sideline commander will have plenty of struggles and plenty to live up to.

A new shadow has been created in Denver to stand along side that of John Elway, and its name is Mike Shanahan.

Could the Denver Broncos Have Finally Learned How to Draft?

Jason Dachman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:10:26 -0500

By now, it is obvious that the Denver Broncos have come up gangbusters in the past few NFL drafts.

In the past four drafts, the Broncos have built an explosive offense based on a core of young talent and stocked up barrels of players who have filled in admirably during the team’s recent flurry of injuries. Names like Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Ryan Clady have quickly become household names in Denver and around the league.

What is not so widely acknowledged, however, is Denver’s utter futility in the draft before these prosperous years. From 2001-2004, the Broncos set a new standard for mediocre player evaluation, turning in four of the worst drafts by any team in recent memory.

In a league in which teams must build through the draft to survive, Denver used free agency and trades to put the bulk of its team together during this period. As the talent dwindled and free-agency moves turned sour, so did the team’s success.

There was no talent to develop during the first half of the decade and, as a result, there were no young players to plug in over the past two years—the team’s record has suffered accordingly. Denver has turned in disappointing 7-9 and 9-7 seasons after a 13-3 campaign in 2005 that ended in an AFC Championship appearance.

The most shocking part of the whole story is head coach and executive VP of football operations Mike Shanahan’s ability to turn the team’s drafting around so quickly, as he did in 2005. Much of the credit can be attributed to Shanahan's willingness to invest in quality scouting and finally sharing some decision-making responsibilities with quality NFL guys like Jim and Jeff Goodman.

Essentially, Denver’s 2005-2008 drafts have been the mirror opposite of the team’s 2001-2004 drafts. The horrendously-low payoff from these drafts caused many around the league to question the once-vaunted player evaluation skills of Shanahan. Many fans even called for Shanahan to be stripped of his personnel decision-making duties (including myself).

To put things in perspective, take a look at where the members of the 2001-'04 Broncos draft classes are now.

Of 34 players selected, 24 are currently unsigned free agents or out of the NFL entirely. That is an appallingly low 29 percent success rate. Failed Denver picks include cornerback Willie Middlebrooks (first round), defensive end Paul Toviessi (second), linebacker Terry Pierce (second), and wide receiver Darius Watts (second), among many others.

Only five players from those drafts are NFL starters, with five serving as reserves, and one on practice squad. Pro-Bowl running back Clinton Portis (Washington), defensive end Reggie Hayward (Jacksonville), and punter Nick Harris (Detroit) are each starting for their respective teams, while injured weak-side linebacker D.J. Williams and left guard Ben Hamilton sit atop the Broncos' depth chart.

First-round picks Ashley Lelie (Oakland) and George Foster (Detroit) have been wavering between first and second string all year.

Just three players from these draft classes remain on the Denver roster, and it would have been two (Williams and Hamilton) had Tatum Bell not been re-signed in an emergency roster move last week.

Conversely, the past four Broncos drafts could seemingly not have gone better.

14 of the 26 players drafted in the past four years are currently NFL starters, a number that would have been 15 had it not been for the tragic death of cornerback and 2005 first-round pick Darrent Williams. All but two selections are still in the league, with seven serving as reserves, and three working practice-squad duty.

It should be noted that these players have obviously not been given enough time to officially fail or succeed yet, and the true effectiveness of these drafts will not be seen for at least two or three years. However, there is no question that the players ripped from the past four drafts are a marked improvement over the four preceding drafts.

Just examine this crop of young talent, and you will see the possibilities that lie ahead.

Current Denver starters Cutler, Marshall, Royal, Clady, fullback Peyton Hillis, offensive tackle Ryan Harris, defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, and guard Chris Kuper are all products of the 2005-'08 drafts.

Add in primary receiving tight end Tony Scheffler and two-way extraordinaire Spencer Larsen, and you are looking at a pretty solid core of youngsters.

Don’t forget about undrafted free agents like Selvin Young, as well.

In an odd twist of fate, the year that began the Broncos’ run of success in the draft, 2005, would also mark perhaps Shanahan’s worst single draft pick in Maurice Clarett. Shanahan selected the troubled running back in the third round, despite the fact that most believed he would still be available in the sixth or even seventh round.

The Ohio State alum turned out to be a much-publicized bomb.

Regardless of that hellacious move, 2005 and the drafts that followed built four-fifths of the offensive line, brought in the team’s top three receivers, and finally gave Denver the franchise quarterback that fans had been clamoring for.

The point of all this is that something has changed in Denver. Over the past decade, the franchise has been willing to sacrifice the future to win immediately. In the past, there has been a focus on...just that—the past. The talk has shifted from Elway’s exploits to Cutler and where he will take this team.

Denver is finally pointed in the right direction—forward.

Here is a look at the past eight Denver Broncos drafts and where each player is now:

	Player	Pos.	School	Currently	Team
2008
1	-Ryan Clady	T	Boise St.	Starter	Denver
2	-Eddie Royal	WR	Va. Tech	Starter	Denver
4	-K. Lichtensteiger	G	BGSU	Reserve	Denver
4	-Jack Williams	CB	Kent St.	Reserve	Denver
5	-Ryan Torain	RB	Arizona St.	IR/Reserve	Denver
5	-Carlton Powell	DT	Va. Tech	PUP	Denver
6	-Spencer Larsen	FB	Arizona	Starter	Denver
7	-Josh Barrett	SAF	Arizona St.	Practice Squad	Denver
7	-Peyton Hillis	FB	Arkansas	IR/Reserve	Denver

2007
1	-Jarvis Moss	DE	Florida	Reserve	Denver
2	-Tim Crowder	DE	Texas	Reserve	Denver
3	-Ryan Harris	OT	NotreDame	Starter	Denver
4	-Marcus Thomas	DT	Florida	Starter	Denver

2006
1	-Jay Cutler	QB	Vanderbilt	Starter	Denver
2	-Tony Scheffler	TE	W. Michigan	Starter/Reserve	Denver
4	-B. Marshall	WR	Central Fla.	Starter	Denver
4	-Elvis Dumervil	DE	Louisville	Starter	Denver
4	-Domenik Hixon	WR	Akron	Starter	NY Giants
5	-Chris Kuper	G	N. Dakota	Starter	Denver
6	-Greg Eslinger	C	Minnesota	Practice Squad	Denver

2005
2	-D. Williams	CB	Okla. St.	OUT/Deceased
3	-Karl Paymah	DB	Wash. St.	Reserve	Denver
3	-D. Foxworth	CB	Maryland	Starter	Atlanta
3	-Maurice Clarett	RB	Ohio St.	OUT
6	-Chris Myers	G	Miami (Fla.)	Starter	Houston
7	-Paul Ernster	K	N. Arizona	Starter	Pittsburgh

2004
1	-D.J. Williams	OLB	Miami (Fla.)	Starter	Denver
2	-Tatum Bell	RB	Okla. St.	Reserve	Denver
2	-Darius Watts	WR	Marshall	OUT/Arena
3	-Jeremy LeSueur	CB	Michigan	OUT
5	-Jeff Shoate	CB	SDSU	FA	Released 8/29
6	-Triandos Luke	WR	Alabama	OUT
6	-Josh Sewell	OL	Nebraska	OUT/AAFL
7	-Matt Mauck	QB	LSU	OUT
7	-Brandon Miree	RB	Pittsburgh	OUT
7	-Brad Van Pelt	QB	CSU	OUT

2003
1	-George Foster	T	Georgia	Reserve	Detroit
2	-Terry Pierce	LB	Kansas St.	OUT
4	-Quentin Griffin	RB	Oklahoma	OUT/CFL
4	-Nick Eason	DL	Clemson	Reserve	Pittsburgh
4	-Bryant McNeal	DE	Clemson	OUT
5	-Ben Claxton	C	Mississippi	Practice Squad	Detroit
5	-Adrian Madise	WR	Tex. Christ	OUT/AAFL
6	-Aaron Hunt	DL	Texas Tech	OUT/CFL
7	-Clint Mitchell	DE	Florida	OUT
7	-A. Galloway	RB	Alabama	OUT

2002
1	-Ashley Lelie	WR	Hawaii	Reserve	Oakland
2	-Clinton Portis	RB	Miami (Fla.)	Starter	Washington
3	-Dorsett Davis	DT	Miss. St.	OUT
4	-Sam Brandon	DB	UNLV	OUT
5	-Herb Haygood	WR	Michigan St.	OUT
6	-Jeb Putzier	TE	Boise St.	FA	Release 11/15
7	-Chris Young	DB	Ga. Tech	OUT
7	-Monsanto Pope	DT	Virginia	OUT

2001
1	-W. Middlebrooks	CB	Minnesota	OUT/CFL
2	-Paul Toviessi	DE	Marshall	OUT
3	-Reggie Hayward	DE	Iowa St.	Starter	Jacksonville
4	-Ben Hamilton	OL	Minnesota	Starter	Denver
4	-Nick Harris	P	California	Starter	Detroit
6	-Kevin Kasper	WR	Iowa	IR/OUT	Cleveland

For the Denver Broncos, Turnovers Are Reaching Historical Highs

Jason Dachman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:11:58 -0500

After Sunday’s 26-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins, it looks like the Denver Broncos’ turnover struggles have reached epidemic proportions.

The Broncos have given the ball up 11 times in losses to the Jaguars, Patriots, and Dolphins over the past four weeks (Week Eight was a bye). The team’s turnover differential is dead last in the AFC at -9, and Denver’s 16 total turnovers are tied for most in the conference.

The aggravatingly mistake-prone Denver offense has turned the ball over at least three times in each of their last three games—all losses. As a result, a once promising 4-1 start has been downgraded to a mediocre 4-4 team that remains atop the loathsome AFC West, nonetheless.

To put this heinous run in perspective, the last time Denver turned the ball over three or more times in three consecutive games was way back in 2004. Such a Broncos streak has only occurred twice in the Mike Shanahan era and three times since 1989.

In 2004, the Broncos turned the ball over three-plus times four games in a row, going 1-3 during the stretch and amassing 16 total turnovers.

The Broncos also accomplished this cheerless task during the last three games of the 1996 regular season. It is important to note, however, that many of the Denver offensive starters barely participated in two of these games due to Shanahan’s decision to rest his top players, having already clinched the AFC West (the rusty Broncos were upset by Jacksonville in the divisional round of the playoffs in large part because of that decision).

Unfortunately, the Broncos current run of ineptitude features all of its starters in plain view. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, the team’s most recognizable stars, have both struggled to take care of the ball, combining for 13 turnovers this season.

Cutler has illustrated his ability to be an efficient quarterback who can avoid turnovers in the past, throwing just two interceptions in the first three games of 2003 and only two picks in the final four games of last season. The past few weeks, however, have been a different story all together.

The issue seems to be Cutler’s growing inability to throw comfortably from the pocket. It is no secret that the Vanderbilt alum loves to use play action and manipulate the pocket by rolling out to the side, but he has yet to see the same level of success from inside the pocket.

When the running game broke down over the past two weeks, the play-action pass was no longer a viable option. Over the past few weeks, when Cutler has faked the hand off and rolled out of the pocket, he has immediately had defenders in his face and been unable to function in what is usually his bread-and-butter scenario.

The offensive line continues to give Cutler decent protection, having only given up six sacks all season (second-best in the league), but the running game has broken down entirely (an embarrassing 14 yards on the ground last week) and forced Cutler into the unenviable situation of carrying the team on his back. With no running game to speak of, defensive backfields are all over Cutler's receivers and sooner or later, interceptions are bound to happen.

It is far from over for the Broncos, but Cutler can not do it on his own (as he proved against the Dolphins). The gameplan seems to be there when the game starts, but withers away with each mistake into utter chaos by game’s end. It is the young QB’s responsibility to hound his teammates over no-brainer turnovers, but before he can right his ship, he must right himself.

If there is one positive to take out of Denver’s rare streak of three-plus turnover games it is this—the only two occasions in which this has happened in the Shanahan era were during playoff campaigns.

Let us hope it this trend that will continue and not the sloppy trends of the last three weeks.