Kubiak points finger at himself for Manning's slow start

[Hadez]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kubiak-points-finger-himself-mannings-slow-start-224957199--nfl.html

By ARNIE STAPLETON

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Despite their many offensive blemishes, the unbeaten Broncos insist they're not in the doldrums.





''There are some teams right now that are probably running the ball great or catching the ball great but they've got like two wins,'' running back C.J. Anderson said Wednesday. ''I think we're fine.''

That's the same phrase coach Gary Kubiak used earlier this week to describe his quarterback when he insisted Peyton Manning ''is doing just fine'' even though Denver's offense is averaging just 1.6 touchdowns a game.

That's less than Tim Tebow's scoring-challenged teams, which averaged two TDs per game and were also bailed out by a stout defense and a strong kicker.

The difference was ''Tebowmania'' took the league by storm while Manning's struggles have Broncos fans befuddled, wondering if age has caught up to the NFL's 39-year-old icon.

That has led to Kubiak's impassioned defense of his QB.

''I see us as a group just having to play more consistent and better and I'm going to go back, I tell you guys all time: I look at one guy, I look at myself,'' Kubiak said Wednesday. ''We're out there battling. Guys are playing hard. It's my job as a coach to make sure that everybody on this team is in the best position they can be to be successful.

''So, when that's not going on at one spot or another, you look at yourself and say what can we do to help this guy? I know as a group we can play better. He's battling his tail off. Some of the plays that he's made have been tremendous and there's some plays we can help him make. I'm always looking at the big picture. It's not about one guy. It's about the football team.''

Thanks to the league's best defense, one that has 22 sacks and 14 takeaways, and its best kicker in Brandon McManus, the Broncos (5-0) have twice won games without the benefit of an offensive touchdown.

That's something that happened just twice before in Manning's first 17 years in the league. Both of those came at Cleveland, where the Broncos play the Browns (2-3) Sunday.

Manning's Colts beat the Browns 9-6 in the 2003 opener on Mike Vanderjagt's three field goals, including a 45-yarder with one second left. Indy won there again in '08 when Robert Mathis had a 37-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter for the game's only touchdown in a 10-6 snoozer.

This year, the Broncos beat Baltimore 19-13 in the opener when McManus kicked four field goals and Aqib Talib had a pick-6. They're coming off a 16-10 win at Oakland where McManus kicked three field goals and Chris Harris Jr. returned an interception 74 yards for a TD.

It came down to their defense again Sunday because the Broncos had two dropped touchdown passes and Manning threw an interception in the end zone.

''It'd be one thing if we weren't getting down there at all and had zero chance,'' Manning said, ''but we are moving the ball down there and making some good plays.''

They're just not finishing off drives, forcing McManus to trot on for field goal attempts instead of PATs.

The offensive struggles are all the more striking given that Manning averaged 44 touchdown throws and 4,954 passing yards a season since joining the Broncos post-neck surgery in 2012.

This year, he has just six TDs to go with seven interceptions.

The reason isn't rust, Kubiak said. He's giving backup Brock Osweiler the bulk of the work on Wednesdays and asked what role the rest days might have played in Manning's slow start, Kubiak said, ''I don't think any. I think it's helped or we wouldn't be doing it.''

The Broncos' biggest problems are third down conversions (they rank 28th) and red zone efficiency (29th). Their 13 offensive flags include nine pre-snap penalties.

Manning has been sacked a dozen times already and his 30th-ranked ground game isn't taking any heat off him. ''I've got no excuse for you,'' Kubiak said when asked why his running backs aren't hitting the holes better.

The key to getting third downs into more manageable distances is ''probably running the ball a little bit better,'' Kubiak said.

Cleveland ranks next-to-last in the league against the run, so maybe the Broncos can break out this weekend.

''Regardless of who we play, we've got to play better,'' Kubiak said.

I did not do the fact checking on the bold part. Pretty sure someone else has more time than I do will check it and let us know if it is wrong.

The only thing I really worry about is can we get the running game going with so many people crowding the line of scrimmage knowing PM will not beat them deep.

I personally do not evaulate enough to know how bad that is but if that is indeed true then our running game will never work with PM at QB unless we get a bunch of HoFers blocking and running the ball.

[CoryWinget81]

The best thing for Kubiak to do is let Knapp call the plays and get out of Manning's way. It's apparent the meshing isnt going to work.

[bronx_2003]

It doesn't matter what system is used, there are 3 big problems

1 - Manning has clearly regressed and looks a shell of his former self, particularly arm strength wise

2 - The OL is full of rookies and back-ups and is just not very good

3 - The offense lacks talent all round

[Broncos-R-Great]

The best thing for Kubiak to do is let Knapp call the plays and get out of Manning's way. It's apparent the meshing isnt going to work.

I agree, I've never been a fan of HC's calling the plays

[Rastic]

Following the game Kubiak said:

"He knows that we have to get rid of some of these (mistakes), and I think he's trying to do too much at times," Kubiak continued. "He's also doing everything for us at times to help us win the football games. We have to find a medium there."

While I appreciate the sentiment of Kubiak shouldering the blame (he's the coach and that is reasonable) his statement seems to indicate some level of a lack of trust and/or comfort between Kubiak and Manning where the offense is concerned.

If Manning is "doing too much at times" while "doing everything for [the team] at times" there is a flaw. Either Manning is not comfortable or can't function well with Kubiak's system or Kubiak's system does not fit the talent we have on the offense. At some point one of them needs to let go and succeed or fail within a single system.

Evaluating our game play while trying to read between the lines of coach-speak makes it appear that Manning is running Kubiak's system and where it is not working, Manning is trying to be Manning: the failures a result of busted play that Manning is trying to turn in to something and it goes terribly wrong.

WCO is not just about how the QB operates but the whole offense. So far we've been riddled with mis-cues, bad blocking, busted routes, poor running gains and a QB that leads the league in ints, and in ints returned for TDs.

I hope this week during their break there is a meeting of minds to evaluate what the offense is. Either Kubiak needs to trust Manning more and switch to a predominantly no-huddle, Manning-esque offense with some of his (Kubiak's O sprinkled in) or the coaches need to get the offense mentally in to their game plan so they know what the heck they are supposed to be doing out there.

If Manning is doing to much he needs to stop because his too much is more a liability right now than not when the rest of the offense is struggling.

The Wade Philips philosophy seems like a good place to start. A) our DBs seem to catch the ball at a higher percentage rate when it's thrown to them B) more seriously, Philips utilizes the talent he has instead of forcing a player to fit a scheme that only allows them to fail and drag the defense down.

[broncolee]

Kubiak should blame himself. He never should have changed the offense.

We will never know how much is on Manning deteriorating because he's running an offense he should never have been asked to run in the first place.

[MegaOrange]

Kubiak should blame himself. He never should have changed the offense.

We will never know how much is on Manning deteriorating because he's running an offense he should never have been asked to run in the first place.

In Kubiak's defense Elway knows exactly what Kubiak wants to do so why hire an offensive guy and hand cuff what he wants to do with PM?

If this falls apart with losses it really falls on the GM to get the right pieces together. I think regardless of system Manning has hit the wall. But, Elway should have seen this coming regardless of Manning deterioration. If the plan was to milk another year out of PM, fix the defense and stay with Fox. Bringing in Kubiak and sticking with Manning seems unfair to both.

[broncolee]

In Kubiak's defense Elway knows exactly what Kubiak wants to do so why hire an offensive guy and hand cuff what he wants to do with PM?

If this falls apart with losses it really falls on the GM to get the right pieces together. I think regardless of system Manning has hit the wall. But, Elway should have seen this coming regardless of Manning deterioration. If the plan was to milk another year out of PM, fix the defense and stay with Fox. Bringing in Kubiak and sticking with Manning seems unfair to both.

I agree to some extent. It ultimately does fall on Elway.

I think it should have been, promote Gase and force him to hire Wade Phillips. Fox had to go for no other reason than he and Elway were no longer on the same page. Elway even thanked himself when announcing the departure of Fox. That's how much they were on different pages.

[JerseyAdam]

agree with the statements essentially voicing the opinion of running PFM O over Kubs.

the O now is horrific. honestly, the only time it seems above average is when we go to the hurry and line up O. dare i say PFM O. i just don't see real improvement week to week.

few things.

understood & agreed we need a run game for an actual run to win the SB.

lacking at TE, scheme or talent? probably a mixture of both although i think VG is highly underutilized in the red zone. passing game generally.

PFM is immobile. basically has been since he has been here.

the run game is not very good. the browns are a terrible run D. i can't put too much stock into that game. and we didn't exactly run all over them all game.

all this, to me, leads to the O line. presently, they are below avg and just not there yet. not sure if they will ever be this year to be honest. can we get some O line help? Long has been discussed, don't see that trade happening. what i do see, in a win now mode, get forte. he is better runner, a leader, a work horse, better vision and pass catcher out of the backfield which we are lacking. he is a real pro. we have to make up for JT's production. getting forte would help shoulder that missed production and give PFM an extra short to mid range yardage back. and lets not forget. what a terrific running option at the goal line and to close out games. please don't give me stats of RH or CJ vs forte. ask anyone who the better rb is of that group forte will come up 99 times out of 100. defenses scheme for forte, not RH or CJ this year.

i'm typically not a fan that would say put a great running back in front of a terrible O line, but with the weapons we do have and the QB we do have (a smart one) i really think this would work.

oh and the last ingredient being orange crush 2.0 . with this D the O just needs to sustain a bit more and convert TDs rather then FGs, a bit more. forte i beive would bring that in PFM O, for lack of a better term.

if we keep running he O we have now, it becomes the definition of insanity. the time for change is now or we are wasting our best D in decades.

[Garfield]

We were lacking an effective receiving TE and Slot guy most of last year, so that is not the only reason that we are struggling.
Our Oline was in shambles for much of the year.

John hire Kubes because he trusts him and eventually once the OL can remember the first name of the guy next to him, the team work will start to fall into place.

The OL has to trust the guy next to him will do his job, he has to instinctively KNOW what he will do in MOST circumstances. It can't be a millisecond of hesitation in knowing it or at this level the QB gets clobbered..

That comes with repetitions thousands of them.

the current OL has two games and probably 20 some hours at most of practice together.

I had stated at one point in the preseason that if there were no changes in the starting unit about the BYE week and thereafter the OL should have built up that trust level.

week one we start having a guy that is not in shape, does not know the playbook is practicing at OLG. Week two his is the starter. a couple weeks later harris is moved to OLT and Schofield is at ORT after spending some time there as well as at OG for much of the preseason.

Like it or not it is going to take time for this running game to come together. Pass protect the past two weeks is coming together.
Once the OL can coordinate blocks the RBs need to trust they will be there game day.

gonna take time folks until then Manning will be carrying the team.

[gtown53]

Just to pick up where Garfield left off, John Elway hired Kubiak to change the offense into an offense that can win a Superbowl. We tried it the "Gase/Manning" way, and it didn't work.

And Kubiak is trying to do something to get a running game going. It's hard to do that overnight when 4 of your 5 Offensive linemen didn't start for the Broncos last year. I'm guessing that Kubiak believes that we don't need Peyton Manning to be the Peyton Manning of two years ago when Manning broke every single season record in the book. But, make no mistake that notwithstanding the incessant Posts by people who don't make a living doing what Kubiak and Elway do, Manning IS, and will continue to be the Starter at that position. END OF STORY.

And unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the weakest link, which IMO is the offensive line. Not having a Tight End who is any sort of threat at receiver doesn't help either.

Frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of this fascinating season plays out. Can we beat teams that are superior to the Broncos, in every way, like Green Bay and New England? Probably not. But, the plan is in place, and the results will be determined on the field.

[Garfield]

Just to pick up where Garfield left off, John Elway hired Kubiak to change the offense into an offense that can win a Superbowl. We tried it the "Gase/Manning" way, and it didn't work.

And Kubiak is trying to do something to get a running game going. It's hard to do that overnight when 4 of your 5 Offensive linemen didn't start for the Broncos last year. I'm guessing that Kubiak believes that we don't need Peyton Manning to be the Peyton Manning of two years ago when Manning broke every single season record in the book. But, make no mistake that notwithstanding the incessant Posts by people who don't make a living doing what Kubiak and Elway do, Manning IS, and will continue to be the Starter at that position. END OF STORY.

And unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the weakest link, which IMO is the offensive line. Not having a Tight End who is any sort of threat at receiver doesn't help either.

Frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of this fascinating season plays out. Can we beat teams that are superior to the Broncos, in every way, like Green Bay and New England? Probably not. But, the plan is in place, and the results will be determined on the field.

I'm not so sure that Green is not that receiving TE, until he came to Denvr he was a receiver with better than JT speed and did not block much in college.

The real issue is as you say OL, these guys have to have time to trust the guy next to him AFTER they all know the play book.

When all that happens the TE's can become a receiving threat after making a block to slow down the pass rushers.

John wanted to give Manning help just like he got help when they started to run the ball, he no longer had to carry the team on his shoulders.

I'm guessing that every day John is reassuring PM that is the plan. I suspect he and Gary are telling him the OL will later or hopefully sooner get the trust they need to make those running blocks to slow down the pass rush.

Until they have a starting unit that has played more than a couple of games together that is not going to happen.
Playing musical chairs with OL types will not make things great fast only slow things down.

For all of those "fans" that were clamoring for UFA Mathis you got what you wanted stop the whining..

[SmokeBassett II]

Kubiak is correct. He is to blame for the offensive woes, not Manning.