Mile High Report
A big push in the Broncos’ offseason was to revamp the running back corps and do whatever it would take to improve the running game.
Sunday’s win over the Titans wasn’t exactly a showcase of an improved running game, but JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey each ripped off an explosive run to at least give the impression of some improvement.
And the final stats look pretty good — 151 total yards on the ground, with 70 belonging to the rookie Harvey and 63 going to Dobbins. Quarterback Bo Nix rounded it out with 18 of his own rushing yards. And the final numbers show decent balance — 40 pass attempts to 30 run attempts.
But if you felt like the Broncos abandoned the run early, that might be because in the first half Nix threw 22 passes and the Broncos ran the ball just nine times (nine, times.)
Head coach Sean Payton felt pretty good about the run-pass balance immediately after the game.
“I thought our defense was outstanding in the second half, and then offensively, the key was us being able to stick with the run game and get that going in the second half,” he noted. “That was a big reason why the turnovers didn’t bite us because we obviously lost the turnover battle, but we only gave up three points off of the turnover.”
Asked about any adjustments at half, and Payton indicated he knew exactly where they stood at the half.
“No, I knew where we’re at run-pass-wise. I was well aware of it,” he said. “I mean, look, there’s a way you want to be playing the game, and we had a good plan going in. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect. We’re going to look closely at ourselves. [Monday’s] debrief of this game, all of us will learn something.”
The day after the game, the coach was a little more critical of his run-pass balance.
“It was obvious right from the stretch there were more passes early in the openers,” he said, acknowledging that some of the imbalance comes from different options in the play call turning in to runs based on the defense, etc. “I think our focus in the second half shifted that way to where I don’t ever want the defense to dictate.
“We kind of moved in that direction in the second half,” Payton added, “and then hit some big plays where we knew it was going to be a run.”
Harvey ripped off a 50-yard scamper in the middle of the fourth quarter, while Dobbins broke open for a 19-yard touchdown a few minutes later. Two very explosive plays.
“It was great to see those guys get the carries and keep pounding,” Payton said, noting how the run game kept the clock moving and helped convert some important third downs. “We had a couple of big ones there in the second half that really changed field positions.”
Dobbins believes running the ball was the difference in the offense having better rhythm...
