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ALAMEDA – Did the Denver Broncos find a quarterback capable of leading and supporting their team to the glory of the Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium?
Is Von Miller still so good and what is the deal with former Raiders Marquette King and Jared Veldheer.
I asked five questions of writer Ryan O'Halloran, beaten by Denver Post.
Jon Gruden praised Case Keenum today, saying it was one of the best acquisitions of any NFL team this year. What were the critics about his first game?
O'Halloran: What's the old saying: "He kept both teams in the game?" Keenum threw three interceptions that led to 14 Seattle points. But he tied that with three touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, he was 7 out of 7 for 72 yards, one touchdown and 149.1. When the match was made, he settled in and provided the kind of competitive quarterback that the Broncos had not had since Peyton Manning lived up to his powers.
How did the Broncos deploy Von Miller during week 1 when he seemed to have dominated the Seahawks? Does he change sides or that he comes from one side more than the other?
O'Halloran: Three bags, two fumbles and a fumble were the first part of Miller. He started the game on the right, but did most of his damage to the left, working on the right tackle Germain Ifedi. Bradley Chubb's presence against Miller allows the Broncos to move Miller. I imagine it will be a gameplay scenario at stake – no matter what tackle Miller thinks he can beat, he will line up on that side.
What are the reviews of two ex-Raiders, Marquette King and Jared Veldheer? Marquette races at week 1?
O'Halloran: No visible clearance from King in the Seattle match and he sent the reporters back to the locker room on Wednesday. He posted a net average of 42.7 yards on six attempts. By helping King, the Broncos have the priority to become younger and faster on special teams. Therefore, if he hangs the ball, he will be covered. Veldheer was congratulated by coach Vance Joseph for his debut. It allowed a quarterback, but was part of an effort that limited Seattle to a sack.
Denver had two porters with exactly the same statistical line in terms of litters and yards. Do you expect it to be a platoon as long as they both stay healthy and another one is more efficient in the game?
O'Halloran: Rookies Royce Freeman (third round pick) and Phillip Lindsay (undelivered free agent) had 15 runs for 71 yards each. Freeman is the starter and when the Broncos went into the four-minute drills to bleed Sunday, he was their guy. Lindsay may be becoming more than just a change of pace. He also had a 29-yard touchdown (pass stuck behind the line of scrimmage). Devontae Booker is also an option if the Broncos want to be more selective to get Lindsay's touches.
Have there been any major surprises about the Broncos based on what you saw in the training camp?
O'Halloran: Keenum's turnovers were a surprise as he was smart with football in the pre-season trials and matches. That would be about it. They missed seven tackles in the first period but none in the second half. They had problems with Seattle's late crew, Will Dissly, but it's been a problem here for a long time. They did a good job against the race. And Keenum had a variety of targets to cast it. Everything went as planned.
Prediction: Broncos 28, Raiders 17
Here are the five questions O'Halloran asked me about the Raiders:
Eighteen combined shots for a close match (Jared Cook) and an offensive midfielder (Jalen Richard) last week. Did the Rams kidnap Cooper / Nelson or did the Raiders fans have to worry?
McDonald: There is no doubt that the Raiders turned to Cook and Richard to compete with the Rams and avoided going to Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. That said, the Raiders did not try to involve Cooper in quick throws, bubble screens, and so on. I would not expect this to continue.
The Raiders race seemed helpless against the Rams. What gives Gruden and Co. the hope that it will improve?
McDonald: I hope the recruits are getting better. Three of them – attacking P.J. Hall, forward Maurice Hurst and Arden Key – played a major role in the rotation. Now, Hall has one foot in a boot and will probably not have to face Denver. They will also consider increasing the pressure in the form of a blitz. Jon Gruden's reasoning is that the Rams ran so well in the second half with Todd Gurley and that the Rams did so much with throwing and other things (good appetite, he says). Getting the Broncos in second and tenth place instead of two and four is a must.
Kolton Miller, the first-round pick of the rookie, started at the left tackle of Week 1. What were the critics on him?
McDonald: Miller had a grip that canceled a 16-yard pass to Cooper, but for the most part, he was pretty solid in his NFL debut. The Rams are more of a pressure-oriented team with Aaron Donald and Ndumukong Suh. The game in Denver, on the road, is a big test. If he can hold on, the Raiders have something to feel good about.
Khalil Mack's trade is less than two weeks old. How was the locker room after and did they recover?
McDonald: I think the locker room is fine. They are happy that Mack got his money, and I think most of the NFL players are busy with their stuff. Nobody benefits professionally or in their wallet if they become catatonic because one of their teammates has been traded. In the field, it's another story. These selections do not rush on the passer this season.
The 155-yard Raiders in the penalties were the highest by a team in Week 1. Bad technique? No discipline? Bad arbitration?
McDonald: A number of false starts have made Gruden mad and are inexcusable. The yards were inflated by two legitimate pass interference penalties that reached 87 yards (37 yards and 50 yards). Venture that this will not happen again this season if the turns find the ball sooner. Strange Note – The Raiders led 13-10 at half-time and had 10 penalties for 145 yards. In the second half, they had a penalty of 10 yards and were beaten 23-0. Bring the flags?
Prediction: Broncos 23, Raiders 20
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