The last time Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase took the podium at the team’s practice facility at Dove Valley, he told a hoard of reporters how he was “really frustrated” with the team’s running game, or lack thereof.
The Broncos (7-2) had averaged only 94.1 rushing yards and less than a touchdown per game on the ground until that point, recording just 43 yards against the Patriots the weekend prior.
“We have to find a way to get these guys covered up, get our backs back to the line of the scrimmage and see what they can do,” Gase said last week. “It’s hard to make any ground when you’re getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. That’s where it starts. It starts with those front five guys making sure we’ve got guys covered up. Then it’s the backs’ job to find the hole and hit it.”
Three days later, Gase found a way, and the backs found the holes.
He for last Sunday’s game against the Raiders, the backs turned in 118 yards (thanks primarily C.J. Anderson’s breakout performance) and the Broncos won by 24.
On Thursday, the Broncos’ tune changed, but only slightly. The focus turned from “needing major change” to “seeking consistent improvement.”
“They did a good job,” Gase said Thursday of the reshuffled line. “They got some guys covered up in the run game. I thought C.J., when he had his opportunities, he hit the hole good. It’s going to take us a minute to try to get everyone felt out and see how that group is going to go, and hopefully we can stick with them and keep getting positive gains in the run game. I just don’t want to take anymore steps back.”
In the wake of Anderson’s big game in Oakland, Gase hinted that he may get the start Sunday in St. Louis, even with Montee Ball’s return. But after that, nothing is guaranteed, especially in facing the Rams’ strong defensive front.
“Right now I’m feeling like, ‘Hey, whoever has the hot hand is going to get the ball,'” Gase said. “So, whoever starts off good, we’ll keep him in there and just let him keep carrying it.
“C.J., he had the best game last week so we’ll see what he brings.”
Hosting Richie Icognito for a workout Monday seemed to be an indication that Gase was still unsatisfied with the Broncos’ offensive line, even after their Broncos rout of the Raiders. Denver ultimately chose to , but questions clearly needed answering: What exactly is wrong with the line? Are there still concerns, even though it has allowed league lows in sacks (nine) and quarterback hits (24)?
“I don’t know that I’m concerned about one guy,” Gase said. “I’m just concerned as far as our crew gelling together and figuring out who’s the right five guys to have out there. … For the most part I’m trying to find out who those five guys are that we want to finish the year with.”
Gase’s mentality about the offensive line — tweaking it until it’s right — is shared by the entire team on both ends of the ball, and it’s been reiterated often as they prepare for Sunday’s game against the Rams (3-6) at Edward Jones Dome.
Late drives, like the 80-or-so-yard run the Raiders had in the fourth quarter? Can’t happen.
“I just let them know that over the first 14 drives (the Raiders) had a 120 yards and they got 95 or whatever it was in the last one, and if you don’t like it, do something about it,” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio recalled. “I didn’t like it.”
Their No. 1 run defense? No. 1 doesn’t mean perfect.
“It’s that moral victory of saying, ‘no matter what the situation is, no matter how far we are ahead of team, we have to always keep the pedal to the metal on defense and close games,’ ” defensive end DeMarcus Ware said. “We did better (against the Raiders) than we did against San Diego, but there’s always room for improvement.”
After a trying game against the Patriots in Week 9, the Broncos came up without any sacks against the Raiders in Week 10. For Ware and Von Miller, such an occurrence has become rare, but Del Rio added that it’s misleading, too.
“We’re not really concerned as much with raw numbers as much as we are helping our football team win,” he said. “And when you get the ball back for your offense the way we did last week, that’s typically what you need to have a good day.”
But don’t confuse a “good day” as a means for complacency. Not with the Broncos.
“What’s most important is we focus on what we need to do to get better in each and every area,” Del Rio said.
“I never want to get to the point as a coach where I don’t enjoy the good. I think if I do that it’ll be time to retire. I need to enjoy the success, enjoy the good, appreciate the effort that is being put forth. Even in the ‘miserable’ performance a couple weeks ago, per play it was pretty good. We just didn’t do as well in the key moments. There’s always something to look at — there’s usually positive if you look, and there’s negative always that you want to correct.”
Footnotes: Guard Orlando Franklin (knee) was limited and tight end Virgil Green (calf) did not participate Thursday, their second consecutive practice in which they haven’t gone full. … Coach John Fox said he and the other coaches feel pretty familiar with Shaun Hill, who was named the Rams’ starting quarterback for Sunday. … Fox also said patience is needed with Ball is in his return. “I think what people forget is he didn’t come into this season super healthy because of ,” Fox said. “It takes a while to get back from just that, let alone a groin injury.”
Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickijhabvala
