Talked to Dan Reeves earlier today. He’ll be doing the color commentary of the Broncos-Falcons game for Westwood One radio.
His evaluation of the Broncos?
“It’s hard to believe they’re 5-4 with all the injuries they’ve had,” Reeves said. “Normally, I’d say you can’t turn the ball over as much as they have and be 5-4. It shows you how good a team they have. They’ve got some talented players.”
The Broncos’ most pressing issue? Believe it or not, Reeves believes it’s at running back, not on the defensive side of the ball.
“The running back situation is the biggest thing that’s hurting them,” Reeves said. “Their defense can do a decent job, but with no running back, it’s hard to control the clock. You have to pick up big chunks of yardage in the passing game and then your defense is right back out there.
“It puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback and on your defense.”
He’s right. The offense’s ability to control the clock directly impacts how much rest the defense gets, meaning it indirectly impacts how the defense performs. That’s why, for all the emphasis the Broncos will put on defense in the 2009 draft, don’t be surprised to see Mike Shanahan use a second- or third-rounder on a tailback.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s sports updates on The Jimmy Page morning and afternoon Monday-Friday. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
