Is there a Beanstalk in Denver?

Realizing the Giants were next on the plate, I decided to hit up my good friend Mike Farley, the New York Giants correspondent with the Fanball Sports Network (whose work you can find at GmenDen.com), seeking insights and information on the Thanksgiving nemesis for Broncos. The following post presents the string of email correspondence that came to be.

Sunday, November 22, 11:43pm MDT

To: Mike Farley (GmenDen.com)
From: Bryan Douglass (BroncosStable.com)

The Broncos… maybe not so good. I’m am completely blown away by McDaniels’ complete lack of interest in running the football. That game today was insane.

At the half, they had a NINE MINUTE differential in time of possession (in favor of SD, of course), they were running for over six yards a carry (Knowshon for eight) but simply weren’t rushing it in the 2nd quarter AT ALL, and two trips to the red zone ended in turnovers. Just sickening how it goes when you blow what is essentially three trips to the goal line (the third was a field goal). Just ponderous man…. f#@*in’ ponderous. The Broncos were within 10 until the half point of the 3rd quarter after all of that ’cause Norv Turner is the league’s second-biggest dips%!t (that top title belongs to Mangini right now). Just IN-SANE.

Ok… your Gints pulled the win this week but it wasn’t pretty. The offense continues to suck wind in terms of the run but Eli was up and operational. He exposed the Falcons for their lack of a cover corner but the Broncos aren’t too interested in letting teams pass the ball. Rivers leaned into the crew late (what do you expect when you leave a group of four, all sitting at 30+ years of age, and put them on the field twice as long as the offense) but he still failed to make good numbers. Think the boys from the Big Apple can step it up with the run, or do you have worries?

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Monday, November 23, 6:05am MDT

To: B.Douglass
From: M.Farley

I’m baffled by the Broncos dude… was it just smoke and mirrors the first few weeks?

As for the Giants, yikes… I’m at B-Dubs holding onto my table for dear life. That defense is a shell of its former self. That said, they did some good things yesterday. I thought Corey Webster did a great job on Roddy White for most of the game, and they did have some semblance of a pass rush that pressured Matt Ryan into mistakes and bad throws. But Snelling had like 80 yards and two TDs? How does that happen? Well, the middle of our D-line is soft and Chase Blackburn is adequate in place of Pierce but he’s no Pro Bowler.

To your question… I don’t think the G-men can re-establish the run. I thought their chance to do that was yesterday against a run defense ranked 25th in the NFL, and Brandon Jacobs ran like, well, LenDale White. I think he’s lost a step and I think the O-line has lost something too. Thankfully they figured out in the second half how to keep their QB upright and he just delivered big time. But the days of the Giants running the ball down anyone’s throat and running out the clock are over. Tom Coughlin is kind of spooked by that too… he made reference to other teams being able to do that but not his Giants.

That speaks volumes.

I have a question for you now… the Broncos have the 3rd-best pass defense, right behind the G-men. With a suspect run game, how can the Giants score points against the Broncs? Looking at the sheer numbers and admitting our run game sucks, I’m worried.

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Monday, November 23, 10:28am MDT

To: M.Farley
From: B.Douglass

The formula against the Broncos is known, and I would suggest it was actually revealed not by Baltimore but by this San Diego team that put the whoopin’ on yesterday.

You wear them down… the Broncos are, for the most part, happy to let the short-range pass come and go. You can send ‘em over the middle and eat three- and four-yard chunks all day, and on occasion (essentially when the linebackers are engaged elsewhere) you can surge after the catch. The Bolts’ biggest receptions of the day went to Antonio Gates (I know, shocking) with a hit for 24 and Vincent Jackson came in with one for 23. That’s it. Take those catches out of the mix for those two players and Jackson’s averge per drops from 14.0 to 11.0, and Gates drops from 13.7 to 8.0.

They refuse to give up the big play, and you would think that would work… but it doesn’t, because the gameplan has put ‘em in a bad way. The Broncos are one of the worst teams in the fight for time of possession in the league (the current numbers show the Broncos rank 22nd in the league in offensive time of possession averaging 28:56 minutes per, but against B-more they checked in with 26:23, followed by 26:57 against Pitt, 24:17 against the Skins, and 22:08 against the Bolts). They leave the defense, loaded with veterans that will be considering early-bird specials in the next few years, on the field WAY too long and you can see it in the boxscores. ALL of these games the Broncos have dumped have been within reach in the second half and the point differentials get out of hand in the 4th.

They are TIRED, not that Orton or Simms could bring ‘em from behind regardless.

You wear ‘em down… should play right into Jacobs’ wheelhouse man. The former Saluki (go Southern Illinois) could be the key ingrediant for this matchup much like Norv’s main weapon of choice ended up being LaDainian. Tomlinson didn’t get huge numbers and they kept him respectable, but they topped his ass off with that pork chop fullback (Mike Tolbert) once the Denver D was beaten down. I would think a nice mix of Ahmad Bradshaw with a healthy side of the Saluki would do the trick.

(Ed.Note: Both RBs are now believed to have injury concerns of unknown severity. We’ll see if they can go on Thursday.)

However, I would tell you Steve Smith might be the man of the day… I haven’t watched the Gints as much as I would like, but the highlights suggest Smith is as solid over the middle and after the catch as any receiver working today. He could be deadly.

I would jump into an inspection of the Giants defensive offerings and would relish the loss of Pierce, but we dont’ run the damn ball anyway. Unless there is a drastic change in the gameplan (we have yet to see one through four consecutive losses) the recipe to beat Denver, as we sit today, is simple. Dare them to throw. They are happy to try, but the results speak for themselves.

I need to ask this… how is your return game? The Broncos have a penchant for missed tackles on returns and will, more often than not, put a scare in the locals on those kicks (and lately we’ve done plenty of punting, so that’s always fun).

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Monday, November 23, 12:05pm MDT

To: B.Douglass
From: M.Farley

How is our return game? It is HORRIBLE. In fact, the Giants might have the worst special teams in the NFL. Every drive starts around the 15-yard line and every opponent’s drive around the 40. Tynes can’t kick far, and our coverage flat out blows. And Domenik Hixon isn’t the return man he was in the Giants’ Super Bowl run. Jeff Feagles, who I think made the Pro Bowl last year, has been awful too… finally showing his age I guess. So there you have it. Then again, I guess the one good thing is I don’t think we’ve allowed a special teams TD this year.

You’re making me feel confident that we can stop the Broncos’ offense with no problem… ’cause they don’t have the weapons the last few team we’ve faced have. I’m just not so sure the G-men can move the ball. Is it possible this one could go like 9-6 or something?

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Monday, November 23, 2:10pm MDT

To: M.Farley
From: B.Douglass

At this point I have a hard time believing the Broncos will post more than 21 in a single game… not that they can’t, I just believe they won’t. Two games against KC with one against the Haters left on the plate, and those are the only offerings I see that could put the Broncos’ offense in position to shine (and trust me, as a former resident of the Chicago metro area with an eye slanted towards the Bears, I can submit utmost confidence that Orton is lacking in the ability to improve over the season).

If the Giants are struggling on D… and without Pierce I would have to believe they are… your woes could be remedied by what has become the most predictable offense in the land. I must admit the honor of watching Ryan Clady vs. Justin Tuck is all too appealing. THAT is must-see TV for a dork like me. Add the Thanksgiving environment and I’m sold. I’d watch the Deadspin mouse play football on Thanksgiving. Outside of the left tackle/defensive end matchup I find no source of hope as I scan the battles to be. Elvis Dumervil’s surge has come to rest (touting just 1.5 sacks over these four losses after earning 10 in the first six) and I would bet the oversized tackles from the Big Apple would present another daunting challenge. As feared the addition of Ty Law adds depth and not much else. Brandon Marshall’s frustrations are back and on full display so it seems only a matter of time before he goes Chris Brown.

At the end of the day there is only so much you can say about a group that spent six weeks earning the “Who the hell are these guys?” tag only to spend four weeks falling right back into the Denny Green “They are who we thought they were” tag… and to be honest, the locals seem all too happy with their fall from grace. Many of ‘em want McDaniels to fail, and I would suggest that tells you all you need to know about that group… we are just unfortunately that their numbers are so deep. I believe Shanny killed the desire and interest from the young legions of fans that wanted a playoff contender and never got one, and now McDaniels is killing the old timer that dreads change and was all too content to miss the playoffs as long as Jay Cutler was posting numbers behind center. I hope I am wrong, but I would bet that the vast majority of fans that show and prove in the Mile High would suggest this town would be happier with the next Elway than a the next Super Bowl contender… and the younger set cut the chord and won’t come back to fight the good fight until Pat Bowlen produces a winner.

I am not envious of the man, but I would say the same about Tom Coughlin. I seem to remember a time when the locals in the Big Apple were ready to hang

Coughlin from the nonexistent New York trees… players were filing anonamous complaints about being overworked, the Giants ship was sinking and sinking fast, and suddenly he started winning. He turned Eli into a the best fourth or fifth act behind brother Peyton, Brady, and Brees (and maybe Big Ben, depending on your view), he brought a ring to town, and suddenly Coughlin was working as one of the “masterminds” of the National Football League. Now, with four losses over their last five (earned with essentially the same crew), I wonder how much leash Tommy Boy is tugging on before the support is lost again.

Thoughts?

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Monday, November 23, 3:57pm MDT

To: B.Douglass
From: M.Farley

I think the Giants could use a dose of a predictable offense to face! Everyone they have faced has been fairly prolific lately. That is crazy about the fans in D-town about McDaniels… I thought after the 6-0 start everyone was drinking the Kool-Aid.

As for Coughlin, I think everyone has gotten past that whole “Fire him now” thing… right after he won the Super Bowl with them. Even now, on message boards and other blogs, it’s all about wanting to fire defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan or offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, affectionately known as “Kill Drive”… and really, I don’t agree with any of that. I think they are just lacking talent at key positions and have been hit hard by injuries, even if guys are back in there… they are still playing hurt… like Aaron Ross, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard… and Pierce being out isn’t as big of a deal.. he has been playing like s%!t….it’s more his leadership they miss.

So how long before Brandon Marshall does something that gets him suspended from the team or the league again now that the team is losing? And things must be really bad when the fans cheer as Kyle Orton replaces Chris Simms, no?

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Tuesday, November 24, 6:34am MDT

To: M.Farley
From: B.Douglass

There are some that support and were overjoyed to see Orton return, and others who question the choice and the effects that may follow. Personally, I would suggest no desire to question the move. It was obvious the play of Simms was detrimental and I sincerely doubt being pulled was nearly as damaging, in terms of emotion and frustration, as his experience on the field.

As for Brandon Marshall, I’m not sure what to expect. He’s been working rather hard in efforts to improve his image – the guest host spot on the Sports Soup, talking to the press and doing interviews (especially on a national scale, which is so transparent it’s laughable) – and I would doubt his people are going to let his current frustrations ruin all of that. This guy wants to hit the market and he wants to leave, and to be honest I tend to believe this is what the Broncos wanted. They reeled him back in and got him on the field, and at times Orton has been able to utilize his skills. That is no more and now the Broncos can either overpay to lure him back or they can let him go… ultimately they wanted the choice and they have it (don’t forget, they made a rumored attempt to negotiate a long-term deal shortly after he returned to camp and folks laughed out loud with disbelief, but no deal was signed and I would bet the number offered then would have been one the Broncos would prefer now).

Besides, he did a solid job of turning his act into a display of passion. He turned it on his teammates and questioned their heart, and that was the only choice to make after the game. I have to admit the guy was well on his way down the Anquan Boldin path and he managed to take the road Boldin missed. We’ll see if he stays true (his emotions have won out in the past… we will see).

So… as much as it pains me to say it, I think the ultimate question is this: are the Giants more stable than the Broncos?

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Tuesday, November 24, 11:17am MDT

To: B.Douglass
From: M.Farley

I think at this point the Giants are more stable than the Broncos. I think I say that because they have won a game recently while the Broncs are still skidding badly. You could even compare recent common opponents. The Chargers, who the Giants should have beaten but lost in the last few seconds 21-20… while the Broncos got mangled 32-3.

For as bad as it’s looked for the G-men this season, they have a lot of play makers on offense (mostly in the passing game now) and their defense is adequate. Not dominant, but adequate. I feel the wheels are falling off in Denver, and the Giants should take advantage of that on Thursday. I am picking the Giants 16-10, as they will put up just enough offense to eke this out. And I think Kevin Boss will be the lone fantasy factor in the game for either team.

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Tuesday, November 24, 12:14pm MDT

To: M.Farley
From: B.Douglass

I’m having a hard time with the analysis in terms of making a pick. I have picked the Broncos in every game thus far but over recent weeks I have been anticipating a change in the offensive direction of this team that has yet to show… and if they weren’t willing to change against Norv and the Dolts, I don’t feel I can expect it to arrive after a short week of prep coming into Turkey Day.

Still have the full-blown Stable preview coming, but as we sit today I fear the Broncos simply do not have an offense that can generate the points needed to keep pace with Eli and company. The defense will continue to suffer the abuse of extended time spent on the field, the special teams will continue to induce sickness, and there will be no adjustments made in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Broncos 10, Giants 34

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Thanks for stopping in.

Tags: Denver Broncos, GmenDen.com, Mike Farley, New York Giants, Week 12