When the play on the field is transferred to numbers on paper, there was little doubt how the AFC West was won last season.
The San Diego Chargers owned the red zone, a 20-yard section that ends at the goal line.
It’s an area where the division champion Chargers floated with light-stepping ease in 2004. To the second-place Broncos, however, the red zone became a congested territory where legs became heavier, defenders grew larger and decisions got tougher.
Not only did the Chargers tie Super Bowl champion New England for the most trips to the red zone (63) in 2004, they led the NFL in touchdown efficiency (69.8). The Broncos, who lacked the quality finishers San Diego had in LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, ranked 28th in 32-team NFL in touchdown efficiency at 45.3 percent.
“We have to get better. We have no choice,” Broncos receiver Rod Smith said.
In devising red-zone solutions during the offseason, coach Mike Shanahan tweaked his personnel and rewired his concept.
Last year, once the measure of players per square yard tightened, quarterback Jake Plummer seemed to trust only Smith. This year, Plummer was given another tight end target in Stephen Alexander, while the more dependable Jerry Rice replaced Darius Watts at No. 3 receiver. The return of running back Mike Anderson, whose powerful legs and punishing running style flourishes in short-yardage situations, also should help.
The Broncos coaching staff reviewed red-zone film not only from last year, but the past six or seven years, and discovered that less is more.
“I think we’ve done a great job this year understanding that 3 yards in the red zone is a big deal,” Smith said. “The way our quarterbacks are looking at that area now is a little different than before. They’re understanding that tucking the ball in and getting 2 (yards), down there that’s a great play. In the red zone, one of the keys is when plays are going bad, you don’t kill yourself.”
Another problem with the Broncos’ red-zone efficiency last year was they didn’t get many gimmes. Just as in golf, it’s easier to two-putt from 10 feet than it is from 40. Shanahan believes his team will become better in the red zone if it begins more drives closer to the red zone.
Last season, the Broncos led the NFL with 49 drives started from inside their 20. A second year of emphasizing defensive turnovers (the Broncos had just 20 takeaways last season) and the addition of all-pro punter Todd Sauerbrun figures to improve the team’s field position.
“There’s not a magic formula,” Shanahan said. “The concentration level has to be at its highest when you’re inside the 20. You’ve got to eliminate mistakes. We’ve been emphasizing it, and a lot of times when you are emphasizing it, you get better at it.”
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
