For the second consecutive week, Broncos’ special teams produced more headaches than headlines. In Seattle, the Broncos allowed a 106-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. On Saturday night, the Rams took a punt 81 yards to the Broncos’ 3-yard line.
The Rams scored a touchdown on their first offensive play after the return.
Speed has been a killer to Broncos’ special teams coverage units. Rookie Tavon Austin, drafted for his big-play ability, wasted no time displaying it, taking a punt down the middle, then heading to the left sideline before being tripped up inside the 5-yard line.
But that wasn’t all.
“It’s all disconcerting,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “It’s something that we will look at. Again, some of it is personnel. Some of it is things we’re doing. We’ll take a look at it. It’s two weeks in a row we’ve had big returns, and we’ve got to get better for it.”
The Broncos’ third drive of the game went 14 plays, but stalled at the St. Louis 16-yard line before T.J. McDonald made that drive come up completely empty when he blocked Matt Prater’s 34-yard field-goal attempt.
Meanwhile, slippery Broncos return man Trindon Holliday just wanted a chance. When the third Rams kickoff was pounded through the end zone, bouncing back to Holliday’s feet after hitting a wall, the speedy receiver kicked the ball in frustration.
“That was kind of going through my head, but it’s rare that we get kick returns here in Denver with the air being so thin,” Holliday said. “You just have to stay focused and whenever they shank one you get a chance to get it.”
But even he wasn’t immune to the spotty play bug. In the third quarter, Holliday muffed a punt, which was recovered by Broncos safety Mike Adams to prevent a turnover.
The Broncos did get a punt block of their own near the end of the game, but the whole night gave Broncos coaches something else to think about, to figure out how to fix. And with less than two weeks until the season opener, that isn’t a place they want to be.
“We definitely can improve,” Holliday said. “We just need to watch film on Monday morning and see where we can improve. It’s more details, than anything.”
Steady Thomas. Julius Thomas continued to show an ability to make plays in the passing game — not a surprise, but still a pleasant sight for the Broncos. Thomas had four catches by halftime, which was the third consecutive game he had four catches.
Thomas finished the game with four catches for 18 yards. He now has 12 catches for 123 yards during the preseason as he continues to make a push to be the starter at tight end. But it’s his improvement in blocking for the run game that has Thomas most pleased.
“I think I executed in the run game at a high level,” Thomas said. “I didn’t make some of the mistakes I made in the other two preseason games. It’s just being out there getting those snaps underneath your belt that helps you be more comfortable so that you’re thinking clear. It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re playing at such a high pace. But the more times you get to repeat plays and see defenses it really helps you play cleaner.”
Footnotes. Cornerback Omar Bolden left the game with a sprained ankle and did not return. He was the only injury the team reported. … Linebacker Von Miller, who will miss the first six games of the regular season because of a suspension, started for the Broncos. … Peyton Manning had 20 first quarter pass attempts (15-of-20), which would have tied for third-most since 1991 if it were a regular season game. … Saturday’s attendance was 68,697.
Christopher Dempsey: , cdempsey@denverpost.com or
