Denver Broncos: 7 Plays That Sprung Knowshon Moreno and Sunk the Chiefs

Coming into Sunday’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs the Denver Broncos were ranked last in rushing in the National Football League.  Following the game not much changed in terms of the actual ranking, the Broncos still rate dead last.  However the win against the Chiefs was an important milestone for the Denver Broncos offense and their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Knowshon Moreno.  The Broncos executed well enough along the offensive line to help spring Moreno for his first career game over 100 yards on the ground.

Considering this sort of success coupled with the lack of run success for the duration of the season leading in, it’s important to look at Moreno’s effort and take away the positives of him potentially starting to turn the corner in the NFL.  So without further delay here are the seven plays that sprung Knowshon Moreno and led to greater thing for the Denver Broncos against Kansas City.

Situation: 2nd Down & 10 @ 13:00 mark of the 1st Quarter

The Broncos line up in shotgun, slot left formation, Knowshon Moreno lines up to Kyle Orton's right hand side.  Dan Graham executes waggle motion to the slot side and the Broncos right guard Chris Kuper pulls and puts enough of a block on KC linebacker Derrick Johnson to set up Moreno’s first explosive run of the day. 

The Chiefs really had 8 in the box to start with a corner just outside the box.

The Broncos left side of the line creates the seal and the result is Knowshon Moreno bust loose for 14 yards and his longest carry on the day.

The Denver Broncos were able to use this run play to set up subsequent pass plays and the eventual touchdown on the drive that was a check down read screen dump off to Knowshon Moreno.  A play that  went 17 yards to pay dirt, credit Kyle Orton for realizing the coverage on the right side was flooded, he quickly switched, stepped up to the left and made the right choice in taking what KC was giving him.  The result is an early 7-0 lead for the Denver Broncos.

Situation: 1st and 10 @ 8:58 mark of the 1st Quarter

After going three for six in the opening drive, the Broncos defense shut down the Chiefs opening drive, then the Broncos open with a run that sends the clear message that they will run the ball in this game against the Chiefs.

Kyle Orton lines up under center with Moreno the single set back.  The Broncos chose to run off Ryan Harris at right tackle and the Broncos offensive line delivers again, creating a nice running lane and a gain of nine yards on the play.

This play sets up the next play action pass for a first down and a decent gain.

Situation: 2nd and 2 @ 7:00 mark of the 1st Quarter

Denver starts at the Chiefs 32 yard line.

The Broncos loosen up the Chiefs further by utilizing Eddie Royal on a reverse that picks up the first down.  Kyle Orton then returns to the air, setting up a middle trap to Moreno out of the power left formation with Larsen taking on a key block that

springs Knowshon up the middle for a gain of nine.

Traps aren't run up the middle very often in the NFL, this one worked to perfection.

That set up a bubble screen that worked well for 6 yards.  Last season the Broncos could not set up the bubble screens well, this year they have made progress by not over using them, and making timely calls like this one that yield better results.

Situation: 2nd and 4 @ 5:30 mark of the 1st Quarter

Knowshon Moreno gains 11 yards down to the Kansas City seven yard line.  The play was a counter that went off tackle.  At this point in the game Moreno had 65 yards, two yards shy of his average and the first quarter was yet to be completed.

This all culminates in the Broncos second touchdown.

Situation: 1st and 10 @ 2:05 mark of the 1st Quarter

The Broncos had been pounding the Chiefs off the Broncos right hand side, this play from KC's 43 yard line was a good call that kept KC honest and showed the Broncos could run to both sides of the field.  Knowshon Moreno runs the stretch left against the Chiefs seven players in the box.  The Broncos offensive line does not block very well on the play, they lacked the ability to seal off a running lane and the play only goes for three yards.  This play however kept the Chiefs honest and set up the next play, a 40 yard touchdown to Jabar Gaffney off of a sweep play action pass.

Situation: 1st and 10 @ 13:17 mark of the 2nd Quarter

The Broncos line up in the 'I' formation and run a blast between the left guard and tackle.  The Chiefs show nine in the box.  This play is interesting because Fullback Spencer Larsen fills a gap left by the right side pulling guard.  Its counter action intended to catch a defense leaning the wrong way, the line again does not have the best blocks yet they created enough of a seam for Moreno to gain nine yards.

Situation: 2nd and 1 @ 12:42 mark of the 2nd Quarter

This time Denver chooses a toss sweep to the left side again. The Broncos offensive line does a good job of getting outside and blowing up defenders, Knowhon Moreno makes an excellent athletic move and hurdles the defense to go 11 yards and pick up a first down.

Lance Ball eventually spells Moreno but has a key four yard pickup.

The run game of the Denver Broncos has now set up the offenses ability to keep dictating the tempo.  They run another short reverse with Royal, but then counter with a nice quick hitch counter play to Damarius Thomas who nearly goes the distance for a touchdown.

Tim Tebow eventually enters the game and runs in for a one yard touchdown.

Conclusive Evidence Indicates the Broncos Are on A Better Road

The whole point in covering each of these runs in an itemized fashion is to give greater food for thought on how a good run game can easily open up other possibilities within the context of any offense.  The case in point here is the Broncos have been the worst rushing squad for eight weeks in the NFL.  The Broncos offensive line and starting running back essentially took it to the Kansas City Chiefs for seven plays and wound up opening a huge lead at 35-0 before eventually winning the game at 49-26. 

Previously in Denver the Broncos had shown the ability to pass but not to run.  It was a non-existent part of their game, regardless of their level of commitment.  The game against Kansas City was markedly different than the others because the Broncos made a very conscious decision to run the ball better than they have been doing.  It’s that level of commitment that has finally set them in a better direction, hopefully they take advantage of what they learned against the division leading Chiefs and are able to keep utilizing their run game more and more as the season progresses.