Denver Broncos: Positives and negatives from loss to the Rams

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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 14: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a second quarter rushing touchdown as linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos attempts to tackle him during a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 14, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Negatives

Todd Gurley’s big day on the ground

The Broncos’ run defense has been atrocious the past couple of weeks. On Sunday, Rams running back Todd Gurley ran through the Denver defense 28 times for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

Gurley’s performance was a career day for the star running back.

This comes a week after the Broncos allowed Jets running back Isaiah Crowell to run 15 times for 219 yards. Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt gained 121 yards on 19 carries the week before.

Whatever the issue is with Denver’s run defense, it needs to improve in order for the Broncos to stop giving up big plays.

Not only did Gurley have a career day; the Rams were able to run the football with ease even with the Broncos having four or five players on the line.

Case Keenum’s overthrows

Case Keenum came to Denver to be an improvement over last year’s quarterback room. It has not panned out.

Too often we see Keenum miss open targets. Sunday against the Rams was no different on some throws. Despite throwing two touchdowns, his misfires were just too much to overcome.

This has been the Case (pun intended – that one never gets old) for a lot of the time this year. Keenum just misses wide open receivers far too often.

It remains to be seen how much patience the Broncos have with Keenum. I honestly thought that they were going to start Chad Kelly in the second half after the former Mr. Irrelevent came in to take a knee to end the first half.

It turned out that Keenum had to leave to be evaluated for a concussion. He passed the protocol and returned to the game in the second half.

Broncos Country is getting sick and tired of the inconsistency at the quarterback position. Sometime, the team needs to make a change.

Garett Bolles penalties

Denver’s first-round pick in the 2017 draft, tackle Garett Bolles, continues to kill the Broncos with his holding penalties.

The second-year pro leads the league in holding penalties since entering the league. Last year, he was called for ten holding penalties. This year, five games in, he has five holding calls.

It has gotten to the point where, when a penalty flag has been thrown, I automatically expect that it is Bolles with the penalty.

What’s the problem? I don’t know. What I do know is that these penalties need to stop. They need to stop now.

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