Denver Broncos vs Pittsburgh Steelers Recap

The Broncos continue to be bit by missed plays and injuries, as now they will be missing Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton for an extended period of time.  This game felt a lot like some Death by Inches, as just a few made plays here and there would have turned this game into a victory.

Both offenses struggled a bit to move against these defense, as Denver picked up 37.9% of their potential yards , and Pittsburgh garnered 38.6%.  Denver actually was a bit more consistent in picking up yards, with their median potential yards gained at 36% vs the Steelers, but the negative plays hurt the Broncos the most.  12 of their 75 plays went for negative gains, as opposed to just 7 for Pittsburgh.  A lot of this was on Jeff Driskel, but its also tough to expect a lot from the veteran backup in a shortened offseason and few reps during the week.

The bright for this weekend remained the defense.  They did not allow the Steelers to have a drive over 9 plays, which gave the offense more chances.  The run defense continued to be solid, allowing one big run by Conner but otherwise holding him to just over 3 yards per carry on his other runs.  The pass rush was missing though, with just a single sack and by my eye just a couple of pressures. Michael Ojemudia had a rough game as well filling in for AJ Bouye, but he also was close on several plays.  Hopefully Bouye can return soon and allow Ojemudia to not be forced to stick with a team's top receiver all game.

This next week Denver faces a familiar foe in a new place, and hopefully will have a bit better timing on offense with Driskell getting a whole week.

Offense	Defense	Start	Yards Gained	Result	Plays	Potential Yards	Percent Gained
Pittsburgh	Denver	23	8	Punt	3	77	10.38961039
Pittsburgh	Denver	41	59	Touchdown	9	59	100
Pittsburgh	Denver	17	-8	Punt	3	83	-9.638554217
Pittsburgh	Denver	22	32	Punt	8	78	41.02564103
Pittsburgh	Denver	16	84	Touchdown	1	84	100
Pittsburgh	Denver	48	-2	Punt	3	52	-3.846153846
Pittsburgh	Denver	89	8	Field Goal	4	11	72.72727273
Pittsburgh	Denver	35	-1	End of Half	1	65	-1.538461538
Pittsburgh	Denver	47	5	Interception	5	53	9.433962264
Pittsburgh	Denver	25	40	Downs	9	75	53.33333333
Pittsburgh	Denver	25	75	Touchdown	9	75	100
Pittsburgh	Denver	52	0	Fumble	1	48	0
Pittsburgh	Denver	25	15	Punt	4	75	20
Pittsburgh	Denver	26	67	End of Game	5	74	90.54054054
Denver	Pittsburgh	20	29	Punt	6	80	36.25
Denver	Pittsburgh	33	34	Fumble	6	67	50.74626866
Denver	Pittsburgh	20	28	Punt	5	80	35
Denver	Pittsburgh	64	5	Field Goal	5	36	13.88888889
Denver	Pittsburgh	11	15	Punt	6	89	16.85393258
Denver	Pittsburgh	25	35	Missed FG	5	75	46.66666667
Denver	Pittsburgh	20	0	Interception	1	80	0
Denver	Pittsburgh	25	7	Punt	4	75	9.333333333
Denver	Pittsburgh	59	31	Field Goal	10	41	75.6097561
Denver	Pittsburgh	35	65	Touchdown	6	65	100
Denver	Pittsburgh	13	-13	Safety	4	87	-14.94252874
Denver	Pittsburgh	46	54	Touchdown	6	54	100
Denver	Pittsburgh	18	56	Downs	11	82	68.29268293

Denver Broncos vs Tennessee Titans Recap

For the second year under Vic Fangio, the Broncos had their chances to win an early season game but let a lead slip in the last minutes of the game.  Denver had their chances in this game to put it away.  A drive in the first half that stalled at the Tennessee 1 yard line likely would have been the difference.  But overall the Broncos just did not play a very clean game.  The Titans averaged worse starting field position (Their own 21 vs Denver's 27) but averaged more yards on their drives by an 11 yard margin (41 to 30). The Broncos especially hurt themselves in the 2nd half with 3 and outs with 3 that came at crucial moments.  Just out of the half the Broncos had a chance to really put pressure on the Titans, but a Jerry Jeudy drop that would have been a big gain ended that drive.  The next one also went 3 and out, keeping the game close and allowing the Titans to have a chance in the end.  The defense also gave up 3 long drives in that 2nd half, with drives lasting 14, 15 and 12 plays.  Overall the Titans were able to pick up 52% of their potential yards, limiting Denver to just 41% of their own. This was a sloppy first game, and Denver was missing Courtland Sutton, Von Miller and others as the game went on.  But it felt like the same story of the last four years, an offense that cant make timely plays and a defense that bends at the worst moments. 

Offense	Defense	Start	Yards Gained	Result	Plays	Potential Yards	Percent Gained
Tennessee	Denver	20	28	Punt	6	80	35
Denver	Tennessee	11	26	Punt	5	89	29.21348315
Tennessee	Denver	13	58	Missed FG	9	87	66.66666667
Denver	Tennessee	37	63	Touchdown	10	63	100
Tennessee	Denver	25	6	Punt	3	75	8
Denver	Tennessee	6	17	Fumble	4	94	18.08510638
Tennessee	Denver	77	23	Touchdown	5	23	100
Denver	Tennessee	25	74	Downs	12	75	98.66666667
Tennessee	Denver	1	73	Missed FG	12	99	73.73737374
Denver	Tennessee	34	33	Half	2	66	50
Denver	Tennessee	25	7	Punt	3	75	9.333333333
Tennessee	Denver	21	55	Missed FG	14	79	69.62025316
Denver	Tennessee	32	-4	Punt	3	68	-5.882352941
Tennessee	Denver	18	82	Touchdown	15	82	100
Denver	Tennessee	25	75	Touchdown	9	75	100
Tennessee	Denver	25	5	Punt	3	75	6.666666667
Denver	Tennessee	20	24	Punt	5	80	30
Tennessee	Denver	4	0	Punt	3	96	0
Denver	Tennessee	56	2	Punt	3	44	4.545454545
Tennessee	Denver	10	83	Field Goal	12	90	92.22222222
Denver	Tennessee	25	18	End	3	75	24

Book Review: The Green Rider

 In trying to find a book that fit the ICTReads category for a strong female lead, my wife found a book at the library called The Green Rider by Kristen Britain.  The book follows a young woman Karigan on her journey after being expelled from her university.  She becomes embroiled in a plot that threatens the whole kingdom from an ancient foe, and reluctantly takes up the mantle of the hero.  This is actually my favorite part of this story, because it breaks the typical story these YA Heroine type books, where all the hero wants to do is get into the action.  Karigan also is skilled, but not unrealistically so for her background.  She frequently needs some outside assistance but is able to also use her quick thinking and wit to get herself out of trouble.  The book has some pacing issues, with a few of Karigan's adventures stretching out a bit too much in a few places.  But the book picks up quite well from the middle onwards, Not my favorite series, but I'll probably at least give the rest of the series a glance. 

Denver Broncos Rookie Predictions 2020

We're just about to kick off the first week of the NFL season, and its time to make some predictions about the rookies that might make some contributions to the team starting game 1 and all season.

Jerry Jeudy - 109 Targets, 73 Catches, 794 Yards, 5 TDS

Jeudy is a tough one to predict exactly where he;s going to be at.  The Broncos had been linked to a wideout all during the lead up to the draft, and there were a lot of people that thought Jeudy might be the best there was.  However, he steps into a shortened offseason with a QB who has 5 career starts, and is going to have to fight for touches with Courtland Sutton, KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick and Noah Fant at the TE spot.  He could potentially go the way of Mike Evans with Vincent Jackson, or peraps end up closer to Brandin Cooks in New Orleans.  

 

KJ Hamler - 62 Targets, 39 Catches, 598 Yards, 5 TDs

Hamler like Jeudy steps into a bit of a crowd of offensive weapons, and he's currently nursing a hamstring injury.  Hamler is a big play threat every time he touches the ball though, so he will certainly get looks.  He's had some issues with drops though, so I might be a bit high on his catch rate. 

 

Michael Ojemudia - 34 Tackles, 5 Passes Defensed, 1 Int  

Ojemudia steps into a potentially interesting role.  He profiles as a sort of combo CB/S like Kareem Jackson and Duke Dawson, players Vic Fangio likes to have.  With the somewhat srprising release of Bausby, Ojemudia might be able to wrestle the other starting job from Devante Harris.  If not though, he'll still likely be a good special team contributor.  

Lloyd Cushenberry - 16 starts, 3 Penalties

Cushenberry pretty easily took over the starting Center job in camp, and I was very high on him coming into the draft.  Easily my favorite pick of this draft.  Hopefully he helps to solidify a unit that has certainly struggled the last few years.

Mctelvin Agim - 13 Tackles, 4 Pressures, 1 Sack

Agim was a bit of a surprise pick, but he again fits a Vic Fangio type.  Playing mostly at DE in his time at Arkansas, he moved inside later in his career.  That versatility fits with Dre-mont Jones and Jurrell Casey as players that can be lined up anywhere.  He's in a  fairly heavy rotation and needs to develop better strength at the point of attack, but he could have some good flashes this year,

Albert Okweugbunam - 25 Targets, 14 Catches, 200 yards, 2 TDs

The Broncos reunited Drew Lock with one of his favorite targets from college.  Albert O however is inside one of the most crowded roster spots on the team now at TE, and the Broncos also have a full WR corps that will need touches.  He could do some damage though split out and creating mismatches with a 4.5 speed.

Netane Muti - 0 Starts, 0 Penalties

Muti spent a lot of time injured in college, but he was an absolute monster when he played.  The Broncos are fairly set on the interior line, so Muti will likely have a season to work on strength and maybe spot duty.

Tyrie Cleveland - 14 Targets , 9 Catches, 109 yards 

Cleveland makes the team as an absolute atheltic freak, testing in the 70th% in almsot everything at the combine.  He has raw talent, but this year will likely be more of a learning year and special teams contributions.

 

Derrek Tuszuka - PS 

Not really a big prediction this year, but its likely Tuszka sees some limited game time if there are any injuries to the OLB group.  But even with Bradley Chubb nursing a sore knee, his chances of supplanting Malik Reed or Jeremiah Attaochu is pretty low this year.

Going to make it through this year

The other night I was looking for some music to listen to while I was working out.  I came across a song by The Mountain Goats that felt appropriate.

I've been lucky enough to stay healthy and employed, and I've got my wife and daughter who have also stayed healthy.  I've got a lot to be thankful for.  It still has been rough though.  With the cancellation of most sporting events through the summer and starting work from home, my schedules have been all off.  The work from home transition has been rough, largely thanks to far more isolation and the loss of those small daily interactions with other people.  That started the long summer, which had far less work than normal on different sports related projects that I had been planning.

However, as June began I had started to get things ready for the fall, and the return of the NBA.  But 2020 threw another haymaker.  My wife and I lost our second child at 33 weeks into pregnancy, and since then I have barely been able to get my mind onto anything.  It has all felt so meaningless, and so I just didn't do anything to get ready.  With Covid still keeping us at home for the most part it has been extremely hard to get out of this malaise that has kept me grounded for the last three months.  

But I have started to overcome my grief.  And this song I think sums it up, that there have been brief respites from the issues of the day, and there's likely still some bad things ahead.  And even with that though, I'm going to make it through this year.  Because I'm going to fight it out, and make it to the feasting and dancing of next year.

 This starts with getting things on this blog going again.  With all of the oddities produced by Covid, the program probably would have struggled a bit anyways.  So many late departures and players opting out has thrown lots of wrenches in the continuity scores, which do a lot of lfiting in the models I use.  Regardless, I will start producing picks for College and the NFL after a couple of weeks of play.  I will also probably focus a bit more on the Broncos this year, just looking at stats and film from their games to comment on.  There will also be quite a few book reviews over the next several weeks, and probably some content about a new game I started playing, Legends of Runeterra.  

It wont be easy, but I'm going to make it though this year, even if it kills me.