NFL Thread 2026-2027

[Fly Illini Fly!]

They ran the ball only 12 times the entire game; only 6 times out of the first 23 snaps.

The pressure rates you’re talking about is a direct result of that. It wasn’t a balanced offense. KC knew they were going to throw, and their coordinator (Steve Spags) was going to keep blitzing.

Heck, on 3rd and 1 in the 2nd QTR they didn’t run it. You have to let the elite O-Line go to work.

Sorry, the play calling never gave them a chance here (among other factors).

The amount of awful stats in this game is ridiculous. They had TWO first downs in the last 34 minutes of game time.

Also one of the worst tackling performances in NFL history.

When Bo was kept clean, he was really good.

Problem was he wasn't kept clean, because the offense was so one-dimensional (from the get-go).

There's no point in having a great OLine if you won't use it to your advantage via running the ball.

Perhaps Sean agrees with you:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100045765284700249

 

[Hereforit]

When Bo was kept clean, he was really good.

Problem was he wasn't kept clean, because the offense was so one-dimensional (from the get-go).

There's no point in having a great OLine if you won't use it to your advantage via running the ball.

Very true. One thing that probably isn’t getting as much attention as it should is 1st year OC Davis Webb vs Spags, who is perennially one of the very best DC’s in the business. KC doesn’t have Denver’s personnel but Denver doesn’t have KC’s 2 elite coordinators. Both have elite HC’s obviously.

Everything about that game was off for Denver. But they’ve started slow ever since Payton got there and so I’m hopeful they’ll rebound quickly and PB can shake off the drop and the hold (the other hold was BS) and have the year he’s destined for.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Perhaps Sean agrees with you:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100045765284700249

Going empty on 3rd and 1 was certainly... a choice:

If you really do want to throw, at least disguise it and don't go empty.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Very true. One thing that probably isn’t getting as much attention as it should is 1st year OC Davis Webb vs Spags, who is perennially one of the very best DC’s in the business. KC doesn’t have Denver’s personnel but Denver doesn’t have KC’s 2 elite coordinators. Both have elite HC’s obviously.

I think Vance Joseph is an elite coordinator. It's Denver's OC against Kansas City's DC that was the biggest difference in the game.

People talk a lot "growing pains" for players. I think it's even more prevelant for 1st year coordinators.

We're seeing it with the Illinois football team with Hauck. (previously saw it with both Lunney and Henry)

 

[Hereforit]

I think Vance Joseph is an elite coordinator. It's Denver's OC against Kansas City's DC that was the biggest difference in the game.

People talk a lot "growing pains" for players. I think it's even more prevelant for 1st year coordinators.

We're seeing it with the Illinois football team with Hauck. (previously saw it with both Lunney and Henry)

Agree to disagree on VJ. Your perspective there is one that many agree with, however I believe Spags is on a different level. I see VJ as very good but not elite.

Agree on the rest though.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Dobbins: 8 carries for 36
Harvey: 3 carries for 18
Franklin: 1 carry for 5

That's 4.9 yards per carry. They ran it well when they chose to.

 

[Hereforit]

Going empty on 3rd and 1 was certainly... a choice:

View attachment 51699

If you really do want to throw, at least disguise it and don't go empty.

Ugh. Yes, this was awful and has been dissected more than a frog in an 8th grade science class out here in Denver.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

When Bo was kept clean, he was really good.

Problem was he wasn't kept clean, because the offense was so one-dimensional (from the get-go).

There's no point in having a great OLine if you won't use it to your advantage via running the ball.

They play Jacksonville next week. Jags had the best run defense in the NFL last year.

I don’t think it’ll be that much of a priority.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

PFF keeps Denver as the #1 O-Line in football:

2026 NFL Offensive Line Rankings: All 32 Teams | PFF

See PFFs 2026 NFL offensive line rankings for all 32 teams. Check the rankings.

www.pff.com

 

[Hereforit]

PFF keeps Denver as the #1 O-Line in football:

2026 NFL Offensive Line Rankings: All 32 Teams | PFF

See PFFs 2026 NFL offensive line rankings for all 32 teams. Check the rankings.

www.pff.com

Interesting. Well, we’ll see this week against the Jags as they will certainly run the ball at a better split than they did against KC. Time to earn that ranking.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Interesting. Well, we’ll see this week against the Jags as they will certainly run the ball at a better split than they did against KC. Time to earn that ranking.

At worst, a very good left tackle:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100383723413962904

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

yikes

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100287326677025195

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

They play Jacksonville next week. Jags had the best run defense in the NFL last year.

I don’t think it’ll be that much of a priority.

Disagree. Sean said he wasn’t pleased with the run-pass ratio.

At the very least, it should be much more of a priority than it was against KC.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Disagree. Sean said he wasn’t pleased with the run-pass ratio.

At the very least, it should be much more of a priority than it was against KC.

Dave was very deliberate on how there has to be more of a run game:

Timestamps
20:22
39:55
54:10

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

They play Jacksonville next week. Jags had the best run defense in the NFL last year.

I don’t think it’ll be that much of a priority.

Cool. Denver has the best OLine in Football.

You cannot be one dimensional in this league and expect to win. It’s one thing if you can’t run it; it’s another to abandon that aspect of the game from the jump

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

It’s one thing if you can’t run it; it’s another to abandon that aspect of the game from the jump

THIS was my takeaway.

Here’s the list of their rushes:

Dobbins: 8 carries for 36
Harvey: 3 carries for 18
Franklin: 1 carry for 5

That's 4.9 yards per carry. It was there for them if they were patient with it. Probably would’ve been a good idea with how much they struggled with KC’s blitz packages.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Cool. Denver has the best OLine in Football.

You cannot be one dimensional in this league and expect to win. It’s one thing if you can’t run it; it’s another to abandon that aspect of the game from the jump

Maybe, but you also wanna play to the opponents weakness and not their strengths.

THIS was my takeaway.

Here’s the list of their rushes:

Dobbins: 8 carries for 36
Harvey: 3 carries for 18
Franklin: 1 carry for 5

That's 4.9 yards per carry. It was there for them if they were patient with it. Probably would’ve been a good idea with how much they struggled with KC’s blitz packages.

I also don’t see how running it more would help Pat Bryant. Would likely mean lesser targets; more congested to Sutton and Waddle.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

I also don’t see how running it more would help Pat Bryant. Would likely mean lesser targets; more congested to Sutton and Waddle.

I also don’t see how running it more would help Pat Bryant. Would likely mean lesser targets; more congested to Sutton and Waddle.

He’ll get his targets no matter what.

These are his targets the last 8 games, dating back to last season:

11/16 vs KC: 6
(Bye week)
11/30 @ WASH: 7
12/7 @ LV: 4
(Injured)
12/21 vs JAX: 8 (suffers gruesome injury at the end of the game)
(Injured)
1/4 vs LAC: 5
1/17 vs BUF: 3 (had 3 catches on 3 targets all on the first drive, then got hurt)
1/25 vs NE: 1 (barely played, but caught his lone target)
9/14 @ KC: 6

He just needs to stay healthy.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

He’ll get his targets no matter what.

These are his targets the last 8 games, dating back to last season:

11/16 vs KC: 6
(Bye week)
11/30 @ WASH: 7
12/7 @ LV: 4
(Injured)
12/21 vs JAX: 8 (suffers gruesome injury at the end of the game)
(Injured)
1/4 vs LAC: 5
1/17 vs BUF: 3 (had 3 catches on 3 targets all on the first drive, then got hurt)
1/25 vs NE: 1 (barely played, but caught his lone target)
9/14 @ KC: 6

He just needs to stay healthy.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100334508772061343

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

At worst, a very good left tackle:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100383723413962904

Only guys who played well:

Bolles
Evan Engrahm
RJ Harvey (6.0 ypc; 4 catches on 4 targets)
Zach Allen (2.0 sacks)
Brandon Jones (huge INT)

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

He’ll get his targets no matter what.

These are his targets the last 8 games, dating back to last season:

11/16 vs KC: 6
(Bye week)
11/30 @ WASH: 7
12/7 @ LV: 4
(Injured)
12/21 vs JAX: 8 (suffers gruesome injury at the end of the game)
(Injured)
1/4 vs LAC: 5
1/17 vs BUF: 3 (had 3 catches on 3 targets all on the first drive, then got hurt)
1/25 vs NE: 1 (barely played, but caught his lone target)
9/14 @ KC: 6

He just needs to stay healthy.

1) Waddle was not on last year’s team
2) they’ll look to get Waddle the ball way more than they did against KC.

If you compound that with more plays allotted to the run game, it’s fair to say Bryant probably won’t have 6 targets next week.

 

[Hereforit]

At worst, a very good left tackle:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2100383723413962904

Absolutely. No disagreement here whatsoever. “Bollsey”, as he’s affectionately known out here, has been an absolute stud… and such a great story after struggling badly when Denver first drafted him. Playing at an elite level these past several years, and a real leader in that locker room.

 

[Hereforit]

Cool. Denver has the best OLine in Football.

You cannot be one dimensional in this league and expect to win. It’s one thing if you can’t run it; it’s another to abandon that aspect of the game from the jump

 

[Hereforit]

Dave was very deliberate on how there has to be more of a run game:

Timestamps
20:22
39:55
54:10

Dave and Bennie are awesome, two of the best commentators in Denver in my opinion. Dave is a legendary HS coach out here as well…

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Absolutely. No disagreement here whatsoever. “Bollsey”, as he’s affectionately known out here, has been an absolute stud… and such a great story after struggling badly when Denver first drafted him. Playing at an elite level these past several years, and a real leader in that locker room.

As a teenager:

- was a drug addict and alcoholic
- committed crimes and arrested multiple times
- spent time in jail
- parents kicked him out
- his HS lacrosse coach gave him a place to stay
- enrolled at the JUCO level
- became the top JUCO offensive lineman, went to Utah and became a first round pick
- now is a franchise left tackle