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Hello all,
Well what can you say? Just one word here will suffice, pathetic. While I know it is hard to assess a team, from just one game. In my humble opinion, without some needed attitude adjustments. It looks like we are going to be in for a long, and painful year as Bronco's fans. The bright spots were few and far between, but I did see 4 players that actually came to play. Rod Smith, Tatum Bell, Jeb Putzier, and Kyle Johnson. Outside of that, our team is missing alot of heart. So what is going on here?
Flame me if you wish, but this is just my humble opinion. The person that is supposed to be leading this team, is Jake Plummer. While I do like his potential as a player. IMO his heart just isn't in it, for whatever reasons. One thing that stuck out for me watching the game, was how much sharper his passes were towards the end of the game. I'm talking about the last 4 minutes or so. Before that he was simply indecisive. I'll give him credit, for the two times that I saw him actually run with the ball. But for example, what about when he rolled out and had a clear lane to the endzone. He didn't commit. Throughout the game he was throwing behind receivers constantly, or worse throwing to non-existant players on the field. So why were his passes so sharp towards the end all of the sudden?
It seems to me, that Jake plays like the Jake we love to watch play when he is mad or frusterated. But until he reaches that point, he seems to be very complacent to say the least. I.E. he has heart, only when he has to. Why doesn't he start the game with that same intensity, is my question? But it's not just Jake either. When we were down by 17, with 8-9 minutes left in the game. They were playing as though, the game was already over. Jake ran the ball, but made no attempt to get out of bounds to stop the clock. The same with Lelie, when he caught the pass near the sidelines. Or running the ball up the middle, with the clock running down. IMO they gave up trying to win the game.
The heart of a championship team says: never give up, never give in, and never surrender. They also have that intensity to start a game. Not just when they are down, and have to. So what was soooo pathetic about all of this. Was that not only did the Broncos not have that intensity to start the game. They also didn't have it, when it had to be picked up in order to try and win the game. Jake having that intensity with 4 minutes left in the game, down by 17 is simply too late. If this attitude doesn't change, the Broncos won't have a chance to get anywhere this season.
Lastly, as much as I like Mike Shanahan. If our players aren't going to play with heart from the start of the game. Then continue to play throughout the game, like they aren't going to pick it up. Especially when they are down. Then get them off of the field. The philosophy should be the same as when trainning camp starts, and during the pre-season. The better players play in the games. The better players get the starting positions. IMO Shanahan has too much loyalty to the starters during a game. If they don't have to worry about being benched, or being replaced as the starter. Some of the players, don't seem to have the self-motivation to try any harder without that kind of a threat. Or until their pride or ego is threatened.
If a player had heart, or the never say die attitude. That kind of motivation wouldn't be needed. But different players respond to different motivations. As much as I hate to say it. Plummer doesn't seem to have that self-motivation. Unless he has a fire under his @$$, for whatever reasons. He seems to only have that intensity when he is mad or frusterated, and has to "prove himself". I.E. when his pride/ego is under attack. Which is scary, because he is the leader of our offence. Our offence should be feeding off of his intensity, not vice versa. If this trend continues, I would be content in the Broncos starting Van Pelt, even if it means loosing some game due to his inexperience in the NFL. At least we would be progressing, with him gaining that needed experience.
Just my opinion on the matter,
Peaceful-Warrior
P.S. I editted the title of the thread, to clearify that I am not trying to single out Jake Plummer in this post. Nor am I trying to say, that it is his fault that we lost. Most of the Broncos didn't show any heart today. I am trying to point out however, how Plummers leadership or lack thereof can effect a team as a whole.
Well what can you say? Just one word here will suffice, pathetic. While I know it is hard to assess a team, from just one game. In my humble opinion, without some needed attitude adjustments. It looks like we are going to be in for a long, and painful year as Bronco's fans. The bright spots were few and far between, but I did see 4 players that actually came to play. Rod Smith, Tatum Bell, Jeb Putzier, and Kyle Johnson. Outside of that, our team is missing alot of heart. So what is going on here?
Flame me if you wish, but this is just my humble opinion. The person that is supposed to be leading this team, is Jake Plummer. While I do like his potential as a player. IMO his heart just isn't in it, for whatever reasons. One thing that stuck out for me watching the game, was how much sharper his passes were towards the end of the game. I'm talking about the last 4 minutes or so. Before that he was simply indecisive. I'll give him credit, for the two times that I saw him actually run with the ball. But for example, what about when he rolled out and had a clear lane to the endzone. He didn't commit. Throughout the game he was throwing behind receivers constantly, or worse throwing to non-existant players on the field. So why were his passes so sharp towards the end all of the sudden?
It seems to me, that Jake plays like the Jake we love to watch play when he is mad or frusterated. But until he reaches that point, he seems to be very complacent to say the least. I.E. he has heart, only when he has to. Why doesn't he start the game with that same intensity, is my question? But it's not just Jake either. When we were down by 17, with 8-9 minutes left in the game. They were playing as though, the game was already over. Jake ran the ball, but made no attempt to get out of bounds to stop the clock. The same with Lelie, when he caught the pass near the sidelines. Or running the ball up the middle, with the clock running down. IMO they gave up trying to win the game.
The heart of a championship team says: never give up, never give in, and never surrender. They also have that intensity to start a game. Not just when they are down, and have to. So what was soooo pathetic about all of this. Was that not only did the Broncos not have that intensity to start the game. They also didn't have it, when it had to be picked up in order to try and win the game. Jake having that intensity with 4 minutes left in the game, down by 17 is simply too late. If this attitude doesn't change, the Broncos won't have a chance to get anywhere this season.
Lastly, as much as I like Mike Shanahan. If our players aren't going to play with heart from the start of the game. Then continue to play throughout the game, like they aren't going to pick it up. Especially when they are down. Then get them off of the field. The philosophy should be the same as when trainning camp starts, and during the pre-season. The better players play in the games. The better players get the starting positions. IMO Shanahan has too much loyalty to the starters during a game. If they don't have to worry about being benched, or being replaced as the starter. Some of the players, don't seem to have the self-motivation to try any harder without that kind of a threat. Or until their pride or ego is threatened.
If a player had heart, or the never say die attitude. That kind of motivation wouldn't be needed. But different players respond to different motivations. As much as I hate to say it. Plummer doesn't seem to have that self-motivation. Unless he has a fire under his @$$, for whatever reasons. He seems to only have that intensity when he is mad or frusterated, and has to "prove himself". I.E. when his pride/ego is under attack. Which is scary, because he is the leader of our offence. Our offence should be feeding off of his intensity, not vice versa. If this trend continues, I would be content in the Broncos starting Van Pelt, even if it means loosing some game due to his inexperience in the NFL. At least we would be progressing, with him gaining that needed experience.
Just my opinion on the matter,
Peaceful-Warrior
P.S. I editted the title of the thread, to clearify that I am not trying to single out Jake Plummer in this post. Nor am I trying to say, that it is his fault that we lost. Most of the Broncos didn't show any heart today. I am trying to point out however, how Plummers leadership or lack thereof can effect a team as a whole.
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