Hard grades from film as Broncos prepare to ditch losing streak

After dropping two games in a row for the first time in 11 months, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak told his team Monday upon his return talked about three things with his team: details, preparation, and effort.

Those three things, Kubiak said, will help Denver avoid the “very correctable” mistakes it made in a home loss to Atlanta on Sunday and a divisional loss on the road Thursday to San Diego.

“We have to focus on those things starting with me and starting with us as coaches,” Kubiak said. “It needs to filter down to our guys and get a lot better with what we’re doing.”

On Tuesday, normally the team’s off day aside from when preparing for Monday Night Football, running back C.J. Anderson said the team took a good, hard look at the film Monday and did not skimp on the grades.

“We probably hurt a couple of guys’ feelings. That’s what you need,” Anderson said. “We are definitely looking to get back on track this week and it’s a great way to start.”

Tight end Virgil Green said they majority of the issues the film exposed were miscommunications –– guys not getting on the same page.

“In the first four games, when we were communication well, things were going well,” Green said. “We just have to get back to that and stick to that.”

On the offensive side of things, Green said the big men up front need to take pride in their craft in terms of improving the running game.

Through six games, Denver ranks below the league average in terms of rushing 17th with 591 yards. They slip further in yards per attempt (3.8 yards) down to 23rd.

“We all know what needs to be done. As players, we have to go out there and execute regardless of what front we have. We’ve played football long enough; we have to figure it out,” Green said.

Anderson called getting off to faster starts “huge” after having given up 41 points in first quarters this season — compared to 13 for Denver — and mustering just 38 minutes, 25 seconds time of possession out of a possible 90 minutes.

“If we put points on the board, they are going out there to play with a lead,” Anderson said of the Broncos defense. “It’s definitely huge that we need to go out there with a quick start and do the things we do.”

Cornerback Bradley Roby said teams are getting the upper hand on the Broncos defensively at the beginning of games, which is a point of focus for Denver as they try to navigate slow defensive starts too.

“I think we need to change the way we prepare for the beginning of the games. I think teams are doing a good job of scheming us those first couple of plays,” Roby said. “I think that’s what we have to focus on, just coming out and seeing what guys are trying to run against us and stop it.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.