This shouldn’t be difficult to fix.
In their season-opening, 34-10 loss Sunday at Miami, the Broncos had only three problems offensively with third-down plays: third-and-short, third- and-medium, third-and-long. True, this created a fourth problem: three-and-out.
Given the uncomplicated nature of their troubles, the solution should be obvious.
“We need to do better on first and second downs,” tight end Stephen Alexander said.
Third downs, like quarterbacks, typically get too much blame in defeat. When the Broncos were drubbed in their first game, a harsh light settled on the team’s woeful 1-for-12 conversion on third downs.
The yardage breakdowns of those third downs, however, may help explain the ineptness. Eight required yardage between 7 and 10 yards. None was converted.
“Anytime you get third- and-medium, third-and-long, you’re not going to convert many in this league,” said Alexander, whose 8-yard reception on a third-and-1 play marked the Broncos’ only third-down conversion at Miami. “Defenses are just too good.”
If third downs are on the quarterback, then first and second downs are on the running game. In their quest to even their record at 1-1 this Sunday in their home opener against the San Diego Chargers at Invesco Field at Mile High, the Broncos don’t have much choice.
They must run the ball considerably better than they did in the opener.
Take away Tatum Bell’s first carry for 30 yards, and the Broncos’ running backs gained a mere 22 yards on 16 carries against the Dolphins.
Forgotten amid Mike Anderson’s rib injury is that he gained just 5 yards on four carries at Miami before leaving. Hardly forgotten among Bell’s 47 yards rushing is that in his four carries from near the goal line, he gained zero, zero, minus-1 and minus-1 yards. One of those carries came on third-and-1 and another was on fourth-and-1.
To repeat, when the Broncos most needed a yard, the slender, speedy Bell got minus-2.
“Don’t beat us up too bad,” Anderson said. “We’re going to correct that. We’ve been working on it. We’re not just talking about it, we’ve been working on it. Guys are dedicated to try to get it done and prove it, and we’ll continue to work on it until we get it done.”
Between the 20-yard lines, the Broncos continue to have big plans for Bell, but he probably has seen the last of those goal- to-go situations. The best early guess is Anderson will ignore the pain and play Sunday against the Chargers.
Unsure is whether Anderson can run effectively with the sore ribs. Could this be the week the Broncos reintroduce Ron Dayne?
The 1999 Heisman Trophy winner averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in five seasons with the New York Giants, but he was a preseason surprise for the Broncos.
Inactive in the first game against the Dolphins, Dayne will dress against the Chargers and could be counted on to produce in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
“Whatever it takes, I’ll be ready,” Dayne said.
He fits the profile of the prototypical Broncos journeyman running back. In 1999, Olandis Gary didn’t start until the fifth game yet finished with 1,159 yards rushing. In 2000, Gary was injured in the opener and a 27-year-old rookie named Mike Anderson gained 1,487 yards that season.
Last season, Quentin Griffin rushed for 156 yards in the Broncos’ opener but by season’s end, the top tailback was Reuben Droughns with 1,240 yards. Droughns didn’t get his first carry until the third game, and got his first start at tailback in the fifth game.
No one is ready to proclaim Dayne the Broncos’ next 1,000- yard runner from nowhere. All anyone asks from a running back is to help keep the team out of third-and-long. And, if needed, pick up a third-and-1.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
