Bigger Surprising Start To the Season?

[Dirtbag59]

They're close but no way in hell did I expect the Bronco's to be 6-0 with a top ranked defense and Kyle Orton throwing the ball around with a 90+ QB rating.

Titans, bastards are trying to steal our QB for the draft.

Also while we're at it what are the chances the following young guys win a Super Bowl:

Matt Ryan

Adrian Peterson

Calvin Johnson

Josh McDaniels

Jay Cutler

Joe Flacco

Mark Sanchez

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by warpaint

I will say the play of K.Orten and how Denver is playing as a whole. That does not look like the guy from Chicago.

You're right -- and here's the reason: Orton languished in Chicago because Lovie Smith is a defensive guy. Translation? Defensive minded head coach means boring, predictable, timid offense. McDaniels comes from the offensive side of the game, so Orton can now finally play offense the way it was meant to be played.

[12thMan]

Tennessee's implosion doesn't completely surprise me. Unless you're the New England Patriots, it's extremely difficult to come back the following season and compete at a very high level. Winning games in bunches usually occur in a small window in the NFL. It's usually the downward spiral that lasts the longest.

In Denver's case I think they got hot early and are just playing with a ton of confidence right now. But I could totally see them folding early in the playoffs.

That being said, my surprise early on has clearly been Brett Favre. Teams have to account for more than just Adrian Peterson now. I knew he had some gas left in the tank, but my god. He's on his way to the Pro Bowl again and the Vikes rise and fall with his performance this year. If they can lock up home field advantage, I think they'll even take the Saints.

[GTripp0012]

The Broncos success is more surprising. A defensive rebound would have been one thing, but they've gone from awful to great in one offseason.

Take notes, Redskins offense.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Did you hear Bud Adams yesterday? Basically gave a "strong suggestion" that Fisher better start playing Vince Young

Isn't it painfully obvious that Vince Young isn't an NFL competent passer though? The Titans would be better off seeing what the heck Patrick Ramsey has learned in the last four seasons. He has to be the best player on that roster at that postion, more or less by default.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

I think Tennessee's downfall is more surprising. A team that went 13-3 with Kerry Collins at QB is bound to come off of cloud 9...but to the tune of 0-6 is very surprising. Injuries in their secondary have killed them, and Fisher stuck with Collins too long because of his lack of trust in Vince Young (They cut Patrick Ramsey on October 4th to make room for more CBs).

Ah. Never heard that. Did they replace him on the roster with anyone?

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

The Broncos success is more surprising. A defensive rebound would have been one thing, but they've gone from awful to great in one offseason.

Take notes, Redskins offense.

Yeah, the defense is the real key to their turnaround. Kyle Orton is getting a lot of credit, but if you actually watch the games he is the same quarterback he has always been. Lacking any physical gifts (i.e. arm strength), often lacking in the nuances of the position, and not particularly accurate with his throws. Brandon Marshall has bailed him out more than a few times this year. The offensive system and Brandon Marshall's talent are really making him look like a much better player if you only look at the statistics. He will likely end up with a comparable year to Matt Cassel in 2008. But neither Cassel or Orton is a particularly talented player.

The rapid decline in Eddie Royal's production has everything to do with the change from Cutler to Orton and very little to do with Eddie Royal. Granted, I did not finish watching the game last night, but I just don't see how you (general you, not you GTripp) can rave about Orton if you have actually sat down and watched the Denver games this season. He's just not impressive.

But credit McDaniel for being able to implement a successful system and for identifying an adequate quarterback who could run that system. As you say, though, the bigger credit should go to Mike Nolan.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Yeah, the defense is the real key to their turnaround. Kyle Orton is getting a lot of credit, but if you actually watch the games he is the same quarterback he has always been. Lacking any physical gifts (i.e. arm strength), often lacking in the nuances of the position, and not particularly accurate with his throws. Brandon Marshall has bailed him out more than a few times this year. The offensive system and Brandon Marshall's talent are really making him look like a much better player if you only look at the statistics. He will likely end up with a comparable year to Matt Cassel in 2008. But neither Cassel or Orton is a particularly talented player.

The rapid decline in Eddie Royal's production has everything to do with the change from Cutler to Orton and very little to do with Eddie Royal. Granted, I did not finish watching the game last night, but I just don't see how you (general you, not you GTripp) can rave about Orton if you have actually sat down and watched the Denver games this season. He's just not impressive.

But credit McDaniel for being able to implement a successful system and for identifying an adequate quarterback who could run that system. As you say, though, the bigger credit should go to Mike Nolan.

Orton also has major ball holding problems, which behind a line that good is inexcusable. Cutler, for all of his faults, was a lightning-quick decision maker (if not a good one).

Marshall's leap from talented underachiever to legitimate number one receiver is probably the biggest reason for their offensive improvement from last year. Cutler targeted Marshall more than 10 times per game last year, and wasted way too many plays in doing so. He's (Marshall( grown a lot as a player (but not as a person) in the past year.

I'm glad they are getting Scheffler involved again. He's the AFC's version of Cooley, but was taking a serious backseat to Daniel Graham in the first four games.

[skinsfaninok]

Denver is the perfect example of why we can't predict any team to be bad. Most ppl picked them to win 4 games! Even Denver fans did, this Shows us that with a new coach and qb ( next year) even we could turn this horrible lost season around next year. Kudos for mcdaniels and the broncos for showing all the experts wrong!

[GMScud]

I'm going with Denver for sure. Even though Tennessee looked solid last year, I don't think they were as good as their record (if that's possible). Their offense is so one-dimensional, and their defensive collapse is a real testament to how great Jim Schwartz is (and to a lesser extent Albert Haynesworth).

During the offseason I thought Josh McDaniels was in way over his head, and was going to be a total trainwreck. Fast forward to week 6... wow. He looks like a man in complete control of his team, and his special teams and defensive coaches have done a phenomenal job too (good for Mike Nolan).

Full disclosure- I was one of the many people around here who laughed when McDaniels made the Cutler trade with Chicago and not the Skins because he wanted Orton over Campbell. Ha. Boy do I feel dumb. Orton looks like a pro-bowler.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Ah. Never heard that. Did they replace him on the roster with anyone?

Looks like they added a CB from the PS to fill Ramsey's slot (On another note, it's nice to see Lance Ball have steady work)

[Paintrain]

I certainly didn't expect the Titans to be 0-6 at this point. They were too good to not have come across a win in a month and a half, or at least I thought.

The Broncos were slaughtered by the media in the offseason but in reality, they were built like a good team should be. One of the top 5 OL in the league, strong at LB and decent on the perimeters of the DL. Good scheme fits at the WR position and an effective game managing QB. Amazing what a quality OL can do for a QB like Orton, isn't it?

[dblanch66]

Titans 0-6 is the bigger surprise. 59-0 is an absolute drubbing that I thought the Titans D would never give up in a million years...especially at the beginning of the season. Josh McDaniels comes from the Belichick coaching tree and I had a feeling he might be the real deal. Of course the incredible luck of the Stokely catch against the Bungles helped but good teams usually have lucky bounces go their way. After Tennessee's opening loss to Pittsburgh (where they looked decent), losses to the Jags, Jets, Colts, Texans and Pats does surprise me. Especially since the Jags suck almost as much as the Redskins.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by dblanch66

Titans 0-6 is the bigger surprise. 59-0 is an absolute drubbing that I thought the Titans D would never give up in a million years...especially at the beginning of the season. Josh McDaniels comes from the Belichick coaching tree and I had a feeling he might be the real deal. Of course the incredible luck of the Stokely catch against the Bungles helped but good teams usually have lucky bounces go their way. After Tennessee's opening loss to Pittsburgh (where they looked decent), losses to the Jags, Jets, Colts, Texans and Pats does surprise me. Especially since the Jags suck almost as much as the Redskins.

Well I think this is the reason why it is surprising that McD is doing so well, other coaches from Darth Hoody's tree have not fared well (Mangini, Crennel)

[tryfuhl]

Broncos, team looked like it was in shambles trading its star QB, issues with a star WR, young coach being questioned, etc