Polumbus: Broncos run game, QB pressure solid in win over Texans

When Brock Osweiler returned to Denver, the more than 76,000 fans at Sports Authority Field reminded him with loud boos that they were listening when he said the Houston Texans provided him the best opportunity to succeed.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, which felt reminiscent of Sunday night’s game with the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals playing to a 6-6 tie.

However, over time the Broncos took control and won a low-scoring game with relative ease.

Denver Broncos offensive breakdown:

Quarterback Trevor Siemian, in what seems to be the same start to every game, came out with pass, pass, pass, and pass and then finally handed the ball off to Devontae Booker for a solid run right up the middle.

Not much came from the first few series other than a reminder that this coaching staff believes in Siemian’s ability to handle the game in the air.

After a few series, the offense finally came to life running the football, overcoming a pair of holding penalties by left tackle Russell Okung.

It is no secret that in order to have success this team has to run the football well. The first 15 plays (which are all scripted) were so pass heavy that it was difficult to set up any sort of play action or one-on-one opportunities because Houston did not have to pack the box in order to stop the run.

Ironically, after the scripted portion ran its course we started to see the true Gary Kubiak system in effect via an emphasis on the run game, which led to a C.J. Anderson touchdown.

The offensive line continues to have too many lack-of-discipline penalties. But give credit where credit is due: The offensive line took over the game and started playing big boy football by dominating the Houston defensive line in the run game.

I thought center Matt Paradis and guards Max Garcia and Michael Schofield all had great games.

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders were able to find some one-on-one opportunities once Houston started stacking the box, and Trevor Siemian did a fantastic job of connecting with two of the best wide receivers in the game.

Anderson and Booker both put out solid performances in the run game.

For reasons I can’t explain, Anderson always seems to play his best when his back is against the wall. Booker earned the start last night and certainly did not do anything to lose that designation going forward, and Anderson ran with the kind of authority that had me proclaiming early in the season that he was one of the best running backs in the league.

I can’t explain why he runs better with his back against the wall, but as far as I am concerned if the pressure from Booker starting is going to bring out that kind of play in him, I say they the lineup as it’s currently situated. It sparked two very solid running efforts out of both guys.

Denver Broncos defensive breakdown:

Denver’s defensive line did a great job against the run and obviously worked during the week get hands up in the air when Osweiler throws the ball because of his low throwing delivery.

I said during the week to watch Texans right tackle Derek Newton’s footwork in the pass game when going up against Von Miller. Newton is solid at the position, but he has a tendency to get lazy with his footwork and allow his inside foot to cross outside of his outside foot.

Miller forcing tackles to bail on their set too early better than anyone in the league, and that is exactly what he did to Newton and his replacement Chris Clark, who came in at right tackle when Newton torn both his patella tendons on the same play of the first quarter.

The sack numbers were not huge for the defense, but trust me when I tell you that Denver’s line did a great job of getting pressure in Osweiler’s face. Osweiler did a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid sacks, but he struggled to find his hot routes when pressure came and was ineffective at throwing the ball.

Linebacker Shane Ray is an exciting young player, but the Broncos will need him to be careful about going all in on the pass rush as multiple times throughout the night he created huge run lanes by vacating his area with a speed rush upfield.

Lastly, I thought Wade Phillips again did a great job of calling this game. The Broncos had been getting attacked down the middle of the field often in the passing game the last few weeks due to the heavy man coverage his defense runs, but he adjusted this week and ran much more zone coverage than usual to take away the middle of the field.

Phillips also did a great job of inviting throws short of the sticks on third down, which were very tempting for Osweiler to throw, and then our guys did a great job of closing space and making open field tackles to get off the field on third down.

This was the defense that Broncos fans have come to love so much over the past few years.

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