THAT'S MY TAKE

Sunday Edition

October 14th, 2012 

That's My Take

 Is Peyton Manning Holding Back the Broncos?

When the 2012 season kicked off there were a lot of questions surrounding the Broncos offense. After all the team had just taken a huge risk investing a great deal of money and an entire city's hope on a player who had not seen any real action on the gridiron in more than a year; but this was not just any player.

After their humiliating loss last season to the Patriots in divisional round of the playoffs, it was very apparent to the Broncos' GM John Elway and the top brass that they did not have everything they would need to secure the top prize. They were still missing a big piece.

When the opportunity presented itself, the Broncos made the move for Manning believing he was the missing piece. We are six weeks into the 2012 season and have we seen enough to know if the Broncos have made the smart move.

There’s little doubt the post-Tim Tebow Era seems to be the right direction, but at 2-3 some may be second-guessing the move for Peyton. He has had his struggles and limitations, but one thing we have seen, he’s a sharp as ever on the field when it comes to his football IQ.

Through five games, Peyton is showing the veteran leadership and savvy of a four-time MVP winner, and he may have lost a little zip on the fast ball, but his is still more than capable of making many of the needed plays to win. And while the Broncos had an inclination of what they would be getting when they signed Peyton, one thing they may not have realized is what they already had waiting for Manning when he took the field.

It’s quite apparent Manning is on a completely different level than his 10 other teammates. He is leading and still making plays and what Bronco fans are quickly finding it appears his Achilles heel at the moment is not his arm, but his teammates. In the teams last two losses, Manning’s teammates have turned the ball over three times.

Through the team’s first five games, Manning has given the Broncos opportunity to win, but at critical moment his playmakers are falling short and making mistakes. This was something most did not expect to see, but maybe what we are seeing is Manning is still Manny and the rest of the team needs to learn to raise their level of expectation and play.

The Bronco’s have a big test coming up on Monday night and while it looks like Peyton is ready to go (completing 66% of his passes, 1,499 passing yards, and 11 touchdowns), other players will need to be ready to rise to the next level if the team is not to be held back.

That’s My Take.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

Tuesday Edition

September 25th, 2012 

Talkin Football

Falcons Coming of Age

Matty Ice and the boys sent a message last Monday night against Denver and delivered a second on Sunday with their dismantling of the 2-0 Chargers. They are the real deal and some could argue the best team in the league at the moment.

It is clear the Falcons are on a mission this season and with all the pieces (Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzales, and Michael Turner) in place for Ryan and the offense it’s all systems go. They have the weapons on offense and may have just enough on the defensive side to make serious noise this post season. In his first four seasons in the league Ryan has enjoyed modest success reaching the post season and making little  

noise, but this team is off to a fast start at 3-0, has a new look of confidence to it, and just may be on the verge of doing something great.

There's still a lot of football to be played, but with the current debacle of the Saints (who play Green Bay this week), if you live in Atlanta you have to love what lies ahead for Ryan and the Falcons the rest of the way; looking good.

Facts: Record 3-0, just beat Broncos and Chargers (on road) back to back. Number three (tied with Giants) scoring offense in league averaging 31.3 points per game. Eleven offense touchdowns, tied for most in league. The defense is ranked 8th against pass and is tied for second this season with 12 sacks. This is a complete and dangerous team.

By David Ortega

WHATS THE LATEST

Mondy Edition

August 20th, 2012

What's the Latest

 

Kolb Done in Arizona?

It may be a little early to make the call, but we are definitely closer to seeing quarterback Kevin Kolb on his way out versus securing the starting gig in Arizona. Through two preseason games he has just not looked comfortable in the pocket or shown the confidence to take command of the offense.

In two games played Kolb’s numbers look horrendous; just 5 of 15 passing for 47 yards, with an interception. Kolb has also been sacked four times and has one of the worst preseason passer ratings of 15.1. Against the Raiders he may not have been scared, but he did not look like a quarterback with confidence, as he was often hit and knocked down, when he wasn’t getting sacked.

Kolb will undoubtedly need an outstanding performance in week three of the preseason against the Titans if he has any hopes of winning the starting job. I have not been to Vegas lately, but I am guessing his odds are long.

Manning Sharp, but not Great.

Against the Seahawks in week two of the preseason, quarterback Peyton Manning got plenty of work, throwing the ball 23 times and playing the entire first half. Manning also shook off some more rust on Saturday taking his first big hit this preseason. It wasn’t a ferocious hit, but it was nice to see the four-time MVP bounced back up with no issues.

The former Colt played well completing 16 of 23 for 177 yards in the air and he made a number of nice throws dropping the ball right in the bread-basket; the kid has not lost his touch. While there appears to be no reason for concern regarding his accuracy, Manning has yet to throw a touchdown pass this preseason (although not all his fault, just ask tight end Jacob Tamme who dropped an easy score against the Seahawks).

There are plenty of things in Manning’s game currently to call out that look pretty good; his command on the field, decision making, tempo, and while he has looked sharp, he has been far from great at times. Manning has made the short to intermediate throws without issue, but we have really yet to see him go deep. He has also been plagued with passes getting knocked down and tipped at the line leading to a couple of interceptions against the Seahawks.

All-in-all for a quarterback that missed all of last season, Manning has looked strong on the field and appears to be moving in the right direction. He’s still a work in progress and Denver fans have yet to see the finished product. I would say they have much to look forward to.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

Thursday Edition

August 16th, 2012 

Talkin Football

 

The Best in the West

Should Denver be the Favorite?

If you were to ask this Broncos’ fan you might be surprised by the answer. Even with the addition of Peyton Manning and as good as he has looked thus far in camp, it’s far too early to start crowning, boasting, or bragging about any changing of the guard. There are still 17 weeks of regular season football, none of which Manning has seen in over a year.

There wasn’t a lot of separation in the division a year ago and even with the addition of Manning to Denver, it’s too early to see the difference. Manning offers the Broncos a potential upgrade on the offensive side, but we’ll need to see his durability following all of those neck surgeries he underwent.

The Raiders and Chiefs will have many questions to answer this season with a number of key players (Charles, McFadden) returning from injury and a number of new faces finding their fit, but don’t count either out. Last season the Silver and Black showed some promise with Carson Palmer in the huddle and with a full training camp and preseason under their belt, they figure to once again be a factor if they can keep key folks healthy.

With both Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel returning from injury, the Chiefs will do their best to figure into the AFC West Division equation. Always tough at Arrowhead, Kansas City will provide a stiff test for the division foes.

When you talk about the AFC West you can not discount the San Diego Chargers. They still have Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, plenty of complimentary pieces on offense and a tough defense. Denver may have made what looks like the biggest move this off-season, but the Chargers have owned the West for the past several seasons and they have not gone away.

It’s too soon to pick a favorite, but if Denver is going to claim any stakes in the west they will have to prove their worth when they meet the Chargers on Monday night in week 6,

Does Moss Run Deep or is there Gold in the Bay?

Yeah, I may be a little confused by that title as well, but simply put should Randy Moss be considered a difference maker in San Francisco. And with or without Moss, do the Niners have any real threats within their own division?

Last season with a ball-control offense and a ferocious in your face defense, the Niners came one game from returning to the Super Bowl. With much of their core defense in place and second year head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm, the Niners will enter the 2012 season as the perennial favorites.

They have made some notable additions on offense that include ex-Giant receiver Mario Manningham and ex-retired receiver Randy Moss, but are these changes going to make a huge impact? The offense is ball control and run heavy (ranked 3^rd in attempts last season) and with Alex Smith under center, it does not figure to change much, even with the new additions.

Both the Rams and Cardinals are teams in repair looking for their identity and don’t figure to make much of a push for the division. With a new head coach and a young arm under center in St. Louis the Rams will be hoping to build quickly in 2011. Even with an improving defense the Cards seem less of a threat in the hunt for the division as they are still in search of their starting quarterback.

The Seahawks are an improving squad under the direction of head coach Pete Carroll and should all their pieces fall into place this season they could conceivably make this division interesting. On paper the Seahawks would appear to be a formidable opponent, but fortunately for the Niners they must take their case to the field.

A strong run game and stout defense figure to be the correct recipe to stay atop the division, and the Niners should once again fit that mold.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

December 3rd, 2011, Saturday

TALKIN FOOTBALL

SLOWING DOWN TEBOWMANIA

From an observers perspective, stopping the Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and the Denver offense is much easier said than done. If you have been paying attention to any of the several NFL shows broadcasting on TV or reading the latest excerpts from the many websites on the net, you get the feeling this has become quite the popular subject. It’s something that has been at the forefront of discussions for several weeks now; funny thing is the topic doesn’t seem to be going away.

While all of the NFL and expert analysts share their opinion as to why the Tebow led offense can’t work and how to stop it, over the past four weeks Tebow-mania continues the roll and Broncos keep winning. Maybe one of the reasons everyone seems to be getting it wrong when they are sharing their thoughts is because while most do know what they are talking about, perhaps they are only thinking in conventional terms and methods.

How do you stop something that is so unconventional and unorthodox?

In hindsight I would have to offer, if you are going to game-plan to stop the Tebow-machine, you can’t use conventional or conservative means. When you face a team that does not throw the ball, when faced with a passing situation you can’t send your nickel or dime package on the field; hellooo, they don’t throw the ball.

I will be the first to admit, I am quickly becoming a fan of Tebowmania, although it is painful to watch on Sundays. But one thing I keep telling myself, this is how they do it, this is how He (Tebow) does it. It’s not going to look pretty and it’s not going to look much like anything I am used to seeing.

There are flaws in this offense and scheme, but I can see that it’s something the Broncos have identified and continue to work on. Let’s face it, the Denver passing game is a work in progress and unfortunately for opposing defenses, there is just enough there to do some damage and make plays.

So how do you stop Tebow and the Broncos offense; maybe you start by asking teams in the SEC? Or maybe you stop putting together a normal defensive game-plan and realize you are not facing a normal offense. I am not sure that there really is a viable answer, although I am sure we will hear more opinions over the weekend from many offering their thoughts on the subject.

The funniest part I see through all of this, while so many continue to nay-say and believe the success of Tebow and Broncos offense can’t continue, Tebow and company just keep rolling along to the tune of four straight wins. With a 2-9 Vikings team next on the agenda, this whole song of dance of how they (Tebow and the Broncos) can’t keep to doing what they keep getting done may have to continue at least for another week.

Just my thoughts and my take on the subject….

By David Ortega

AROUND THE LEAGUE

February 20th, 2011 Sunday

Around The League

Just my notes and thoughts of the latest happenings from around the National Football League…

NFL Talks Continue...
There doesn’t seem to be any changes to the current situation, but the good news is the two sides (the League and Players Union) have met with a federal mediator for three consecutive days. The indication would be both parties are working hard toward reaching common ground and getting a deal done before the deadline. The bad news is nothing has changed to this point, but the good news is the two are working together and the meeting continue; at least that gives fans hopes they may be able to get a deal done before the March 3rd deadline (when the existing CBA deal expires).

Rams Raising Tickets Prices….
Seems like an odd move at the moment, with the League and Players Union engaged in a bitter battle over money. I guess regardless of the outcome, whether one side or both make concessions to get a new collective bargaining agreement done, the Rams figure they need to figure out a way to pay quarterback Sam Bradford’s outrageous $78 million contract; may as well make the fans pick up the tab.

Orton Not Only One Who Thinks Future Uncertain ….
When asked about his future Orton responded that he didn’t know which should come as no surprise since many folks around the league think he could be on the trade block this offseason. With the ushering in of Tim Tebow at quarterback down the stretch in 2010, and the Bronco’s failure to get anywhere with Orton at the helm, it seems the battle cry in Denver is for change. Orton is due a lot of cabbage in 2011, if he stays and remains a Bronco it wouldn’t make sense to pay him so much to play back-up. It’s a guessing game at the moment, but once the new CBA deal is complete, teams including the Broncos will start moving forward in their plans for the future.

Eagles Price For Kolb too Much?....
The reports surrounding the Eagles and quarterback Kevin Folb indicate the team is asking for a first and possibly a third rounder. With such a high asking price and the league currently in limbo, there isn’t likely going to be any takers rushing the Eagles front door. Once the league returns to business as usual and teams can resume their day-to-day without distraction it will be interesting to see who comes calling for Kolb’s services. If the price is right it seems it’s a move that makes sense for Philly and if he stays, even with Vick starting having Kolb play back up is a nice insurance policy to have.


By David Ortega

WHAT'S THE LATEST

February 16th, 2011 Wednesday

What's the Latest

Bailey On the Move?
With little change on the front in Denver, it sounds like cornerback Champ Bailey is speaking loud and clear. The Denver Post is reporting that Bailey has put his Denver home on the market; is it a ploy to get a deal done or is he leaving. The words coming from the new Bronco’s head coach John Fox would indicate they would like to have the 10-time Pro Bowler back in 2011, but whether that happens remains to be seen. If the team does not re-sign Bailey prior to a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and Players’ Union, he will become an unrestricted free agent. There is no question, the team is more likely to re-sign him while he is under contract, and once he hits the market he is as good as gone. I don’t believe the new Elway regime has any interest in getting involved with a bidding war for Bailey’s services.

The NFL (& NFL Network) Meets Twitter
It’s pretty amazing how all of us, even some of the networks on TV (a network closely related to the NFL, but I won’t say which) are easily influenced or at least entertained enough to humor the many tweets of Twitter. It seems these days nothing gets past Twitter and nothing said on Twitter can escape the eyes of the sports world (or all-world for that matter). When comments are made by an analyst on TV and then get repeated on Twitter and that causes controversy, you know some folks just have too much time on their hands if they’re following this. What I find real amazing is how so many buy into this social media world of entertainment and run with it like its’ verified breaking world news. I guess sometimes we forget to consider our sources when we decide we’re going to make a simple exchange of text messages via twitter into a story. Look at this, even I am dedicating a few moments of my time to comment on it. Although I won’t be commenting on just what Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco tweeted back and forth, I find it entertaining that someone is going to run with this as a real story, that both T.O. and Chad were really exchanging heated texts blaming each other; like these two were the brains of the operation and really understood the ills of Cincinnati. While there two were tweeting and texting I would not be surprise to find out that they were off together somewhere, tilting back a few cocktails and having a big laugh about the whole thing; remember we are talking about T.O. and Chad, they live for drama and the attention.

Palmer Still Wants Out
While other folks want to talk about who is blaming who for Carson Palmer wanting out the real story here is Palmer. He may not have achieved Icon status, but Palmer has likely earned his stripes to take this stand and like a few notable analysts on the NFL Network (Trent Green & Solomon Wilcox) I agree that he is likely to walk away from the game. He knows better than anyone, if he stays in Cincinnati he’s not going to win (a Super Bowl) and the window of opportunity at his age is rapidly closing. The Bengals are likely headed toward rebuilding and it only makes sense that Palmer realizes any chance at winning any time soon means he must leave Cincy. I find it hard to believe that the Bengal’s organization is going to take this hardline approach and like Green says; if they do “they’ll need a plan B.” Green goes on the state some of the reasons for Palmer’s frustrations in Cincinnati, but the bottom line and the only reason that should matter is “he’s tired of losing.” Had he been winning with all the changes, attitudes, disruptions, and divas, none of it would matter. In the NFL it’s all about winning and for Palmer, I am sure he feels its way past time for him to taste his share of sweet success.


By David Ortega

THAT'S MY TAKE

January 2nd, 2011 Sunday

THAT’S MY TAKE

Tim Tebow: The Second Coming of Elway

Well he may not exactly be the five million dollar quarterback that John Elway was hyped up to be when he entered the NFL, but rookie quarterback Tim Tebow did his best impersonation of the Bronco legend last Sunday. Against the Texans in week 16 trailing 17-0 Tebow engineered a late second half comeback that was reminiscence of Elway himself.

Back in 83’ Elway led the Broncos back from a 19-0 deficit to trump the then Baltimore Colts, on Sunday Tebow found some of that old Elway-magic and brought his team back in similar fashion. Entering the fourth quarter trailing 23-10, Tebow engineered a pair of drives for touchdowns to give the Broncos the improbable come-from-behind win.

Tebow finished the game 16 of 29 throwing and passed for 308 yards (his first career 300-yard game). Tebow also threw his third career touchdown pass; a 23-yard catch and run screen pass to running back Correll Buckhalter. The game winning score came on a six-yard scamper around the left side by no one other than Tebow himself (if that was not Elway-like, nothing is).

In only his second career start Tebow looked more poised and comfortable in the pocket. He delivery was on time and many of his throws were crisp and on the money. It is quite evident that the former Florida Gator has a lot of work to do on his mechanics and if he hopes to survive in the pocket he’s going to have to shorten his delivery some, but in the meantime he has shown that he possesses a lot of that playmaking ability that can’t be taught.

So maybe it was only his first career win, and maybe it was only the Texans that he beat, but there’s no denying that Tebow showed fans a lot more on Sunday than what was expected and maybe a preview of what is still to come.

Just my take.

By David Ortega