Biggest Adjustments Denver Broncos Must Make in Week 3

After two weeks of the regular season, the Denver Broncos sit atop the AFC West with a 2-0 record. They were able to win in an improbable fashion with a late fumble returned for a touchdown on Thursday night against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak is now looking to their next game against the Detroit Lions, for which his team gets 10 days to prepare.

“It was a tough turnaround [the short week before the Kansas City game]. It was tough on everybody and was a big-time challenge early in the season. To go there and get a win was exceptional," Kubrick explained.

“The weekend will help us, but we have to come back Monday get back to work just on fundamentals and those kinds of things, because we have another physical test on the road on Sunday night. It will be good, though. We have some guys that need to freshen up, but we need a lot of field time, too. It will be good to go through a normal week.”

Even though the team has an unblemished record, there are multiple things they could improve going forward. Both sides of the ball are not playing to full potential, and the Broncos will continue to work diligently to get the best out of the entire team.

Here are the biggest adjustments the Broncos must make in Week 3.

Protect Peyton Manning Better

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

After two weeks, one thing is abundantly clear: The Broncos have to do a better job of protecting quarterback Peyton Manning.

He is getting sacked more than he ever has in his Broncos career. It’s not only the sacks, though, as Manning is also taking big shots as he throws the ball. The new offense features play-action passing, and Manning is forced to hold the ball longer as downfield routes develop.

Simply put, his 39-year old body is unlikely to hold up with this type of punishment. The team’s Super Bowl dreams rely on Manning being healthy and in the lineup.

Kubiak said that the growing pains with this young offensive line had to be somewhat expected.

“Did we know we had some young guys up front? Yeah, but some of our young guys are playing very good, too. Our left tackle [Ty Sambrailo] played very good for a rookie left tackle going in there. Like I said, there are positives. We've got to get better as a group.”

Kubiak wants to be more physical offensively.

“If we find a way to stay on the football field offensively, we can improve physically and do that. With our defensive football team, it should help us in the long haul. Like I said, we're going to stay committed to that. We're never going to run away from what our quarterback does best, but we've got to find a way to be physical as a football team.”

There are multiple ways the Broncos can protect Manning better going forward. Expect the offensive line to continue to jell as the younger players get more experience playing together. Also expect the Broncos to try their best to emphasize the run to help take some of the pressure off Manning in the future.

Jump-Start the Ground Game

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So far this season, the Broncos have not been able to run the ball consistently and effectively.

In Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, starter C.J. Anderson suffered a toe/ankle injury. He was able to play through the injury against the Ravens but did not look like his normal self.

After being limited in practice during the short week, Anderson was in the starting lineup again in Week 2 against the Chiefs. He carried the ball 12 times but could only muster 27 yards on the ground. Anderson began the game with a big 14-yard run, but after that he could not get things going and once again didn’t look like himself.

To complement Anderson, the Broncos have been using Ronnie Hillman as a change-of-pace back. Hillman and Anderson have nearly split the carries for the Broncos over two games. Anderson has 24 carries for 77 yards in 2015, while Hillman has 21 carries for 75 yards this season.

Kubiak confirmed that the team will continue to use both backs going forward.

“We're playing a lot of guys. They're going to both play. C.J. did some good things in the game. Ronnie did some good things in the game. There are a lot of times it wouldn't matter who was back there. We're going to continue to play them both. I think there's some times that, as a back, when things aren't good, you've still got to find a way to make things happen.”

Kubiak emphasized, “We're all in this together. Like I said, they're both going to be very much involved with what we do.”

As Anderson deals with what could be a lingering toe injury, the Broncos have to find the best way to use both backs. Hillman is a fine change-of-pace back but lacks the physicality the team wants when running the ball. Perhaps using just a bit of Juwan Thompson to emphasize the power run game would be the correct call.

Once Anderson is healthy, he should be able to take over as the bell-cow back this team desperately needs.

Use the Tight Ends Even More

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In Week 1, the Broncos didn’t use their tight ends that much, with three targets, two catches for five yards receiving combined from Owen Daniels and Virgil Green. That number improved in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the duo was targeted eight times for five catches, 31 yards and a touchdown.

Kubiak knows that using the tight ends can help this team be more physical on offense.

“We've been having to keep some of those guys in to protect because of some of those issues. I think that Owen and Virgil can help us, but keeping our quarterback upright is of the utmost importance. It's kind of a double-edged sword right there.”

Kubiak revealed, “We need to get them more involved, get them some more touches, and I think that will come as we evolve.”

Daniels has ran the seventh-most routes (32) of any tight end this year. However, his targets-per-route-run percentage (6.3 percent) ranks as the worst in the league for any starting tight end.

The team needs to direct Manning to find Daniels earlier in the game. As the contest continues, Manning can start looking for Green more, too. Green is an underrated receiver and can certainly be a force in the red zone. When the team gets close to pay dirt, the tight ends should be able to create mismatches that can be exploited for six points.

The tight ends can work the underneath routes to help move the chains. With a struggling rushing attack, the Broncos should use targets to the tight ends as long handoffs.

The passing game looked alive versus the Chiefs, but it was primarily the star wide receivers (Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas) doing the work. The tight ends were targeted more, but this is a trend that needs to continue—and accelerate, if at all possible.

Commit Fewer Defensive Penalties

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

There’s not much to work on defensively for the Broncos. Yes, they got gashed on the ground against the Chiefs—but going up against superstar running back Jamaal Charles is a tough task for any defense.

The Broncos need to work on reducing penalties on defense. Against the Chiefs, drives were kept alive by unnecessary penalties. Any team is going to have errors like pass interference or defensive holding, but personal-foul penalties are all about a lack of discipline.

Kubiak talked about reducing personal-foul penalties with his defense.

“I just got out of the meeting, and it's what I told them. I said, 'The negative is that two of their touchdowns drives were both aided by penalties.' [One was] at the start of the third quarter, and then the one earlier in the game. I think we had four personal fouls. I don't agree with all of them, but you have to own them when you have them.

“We hurt ourselves penalty-wise last night, and it's something that we've discussed.”

Penalties can keep drives going for an opponent. Extended drives can wear down the defense as the game goes on. The team’s strength is clearly on the defensive side of the ball, and the team needs the defense to perform at peak levels each week.

Extended drives from opponents can also keep Manning and the offense cold on the sidelines. The Broncos need to be mindful in heated situations on the field. They have to play with better composure and limit the number of personal fouls they commit on the defensive side.

Get Big Plays from the Return Game

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The Broncos passing game was able to get on track against the Chiefs, and the Denver defense has been amazing over the first two weeks of the season, but the third phase of the game has yet to fully “click” for the Broncos this year.

It would be a boost to the entire team if the Broncos could get a return touchdown or at least some field-flipping plays from their return game.

Kubiak likes the progress he’s seen from the special teams unit.

“I thought we improved special teams-wise from last week to this week. One of our goals—their return game—was pretty good, and we held up pretty well and got a turnover. [Kicker] Brandon [McManus] continues to be exceptional. The kick that he made, there was question whether we should let him try that, because the wind was blowing a little bit—you guys know that—but he has been exceptional.”

Sanders has also been exceptional.

“It's tough to get your hands on him if you bump him. His quickness, and I love his energy to play. He really loves to play,” Kubiak continued. “I think getting him involved in the punt return, even though there weren't opportunities, I just think that the more that we can get him involved, you always have chances for big plays. The route he ran on the last play of the game was a tremendous route.”

The Broncos special teams unit has to be classified as a work in progress.

Their coverage team seems to be getting better—something that is needed on a team that wants to play tough defense and field-position football. The kicking situation is working out as good (if not better) than expected this season. Now the team needs to find a way to get some bigger plays in the return game.

Sanders has once again looked spectacular as a receiver, and it would be incredible if he started contributing as a dangerous return man as well.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.