Tag: Melvin Gordon

4 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 6 opponent: Broncos

To get you prepped for the Chargers’ Week 6 matchup with the Broncos, here are some important things to know about them.

The Chargers are looking to extend their win streak to three games when they take on the Broncos next Monday night.

To get you prepped for the Week 6 bout, here are four key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Is Russ cooked?

As the old saying goes, “Let Russ cook!” Well, the question now looms whether he is cooked instead. Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos after being traded from the Seahawks hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Wilson ranks No. 14 in the NFL in passing yards (1,254), is tied for No. 23 in passing touchdowns (four), and ranks No. 28 in passing completion percentage (59.4%). In addition, Denver is averaging just 15 points per game, which is second-worst in the league behind the Colts. Wilson sustained a partially torn lat near his right shoulder in the Week 4 loss to the Broncos, but he is expected to still play against the Chargers.

Was Nathaniel worth nothing?

The Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett, former Packers offensive coordinator, to oversee the team in hopes of him bringing a boost to the offense. However, that has been far from the case. Denver has scored six total touchdowns, and three of those came in a single game in its loss to Las Vegas. Hackett has also not set a standard for discipline, as league-leading 44 penalties have hampered the team. Further, game management has been an issue, given that the Broncos are 21.43% in red zone scoring percentage, which is the worst in the NFL.

Familiar face keeps fumbling

Javonte Williams suffered a torn ACL and LCL in Week 4, leaving Melvin Gordon as the Broncos’ top running back. Gordon has been decent this season, as he has 193 yards and one touchdown on 52 carries (3.7 yards per carry), as well as 11 catches for 98 yards. However, fumbles have been a big issue for Gordon, who has four in 2022, the most among non-quarterbacks. Mike Boone will share touches with Gordon, while Latavius Murray could become more involved as Denver figures out the rotation.

Top dog against the air

The Broncos boast the NFL’s best passing defense, allowing just 176.6 yards per game, and they have given up only three touchdowns, which is tied for second-best. It all starts up front, where Denver has a fearsome edge defender trio of Bradley Chubb, Baron Browning and Randy Gregory, who have combined for 52 pressures. But they will be without Gregory, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. Along the interior of the defensive line, Dre’Mont Jones and D.J. Reed have totaled 14 and ten pressures, respectively. Allowing quarterbacks very little time to throw has been a big factor, but the Broncos have arguably one of the top corners in second-year Patrick Surtain II, who has done a great job of taking away the opposing team’s No. 1 wide receivers.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: How Black culture is forcing the golf world to change its ways for the better

A conversation about how golf is finally embracing Black culture and why that just makes the sport better

For a long time as a young Black man, it didn’t feel like golf was ever a sport truly made for me.

I didn’t see anyone who looked like me playing it. The sport was never marketed to me. It never even appeared to be a real option for recreation or otherwise. And some of that still persists today.

But it’s also starting to change, bit by bit. The sport is slowly, but surely, starting to embrace Black culture and the things that make it cool.

You see that from everything to the clothes people are wearing on the greens to the kicks they’re showing off and even who is actually playing the game now.

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What we wanted to find out was where the root of that change stems from. So we tapped in with Vibez Amateur Golf club on this week’s episode of Special Delivery to find out.

Our conversation with NFL running backs Melvin Gordon, Dare Ogunbowale and their college buddy Noe Vital Jr. was equal parts entertaining and enlightening on this new energy coming into the golf world.

Tap in and enjoy.

We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Melvin Gordon staring down Russell Wilson became an instant NFL meme

This became an instant meme.

The Denver Broncos are a complete mess right now.

Despite the fact that they’ve won two games, they should have won a third on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, especially with KJ Hamler WIDE OPEN.

How much of it is on Russell Wilson? Well, he’s thrown over just one touchdown once and thrown over 300 yards just once this season. He definitely shoulders some of the blame, although there’s lots of season left to play.

There was a shot of Wilson on the sidelines that NFL fans screengrabbed — running back Melvin Gordon appeared to be staring him down. Whether that’s the magic of freezing the video on that exact moment or not is up for debate.

But it still made for an amazing meme:

Broncos Wire podcast: Who replaces Javonte Williams?

On this week’s Broncos Wire podcast, Ryan O’Leary and Jon Heath discuss the Javonte Williams injury and how Denver will replace him.

Welcome to another week of Denver Broncos football!

The Broncos had a short turnaround this week before a Thursday Night Football clash with the Indianapolis Colts on Prime Video.

On this week’s Broncos Wire podcast, I joined host Ryan O’Leary (@RyanO_Leary on Twitter) to discuss the Javonte Williams injury and how Denver will replace him, Russell Wilson’s improved performance on Sunday, Thursday’s game against the Colts, and more!

Episode 59 can be heard below:

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Next week, Ryan and I will return with a new pod to break down the Colts game and then look ahead to a Monday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers on the road in Week 6.

If you enjoy the podcast, you can check out previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your podcast service of choice. Please consider giving us a positive rating and review!

You can listen to every past episode below or at this link.

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Broncos Wire podcast: Who replaces Javonte Williams?

On this week’s Broncos Wire podcast, Ryan O’Leary and Jon Heath discuss the Javonte Williams injury and how Denver will replace him.

Welcome to another week of Denver Broncos football!

The Broncos had a short turnaround this week before a Thursday Night Football clash with the Indianapolis Colts on Prime Video.

On this week’s Broncos Wire podcast, I joined host Ryan O’Leary (@RyanO_Leary on Twitter) to discuss the Javonte Williams injury and how Denver will replace him, Russell Wilson’s improved performance on Sunday, Thursday’s game against the Colts, and more!

Episode 59 can be heard below:

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Next week, Ryan and I will return with a new pod to break down the Colts game and then look ahead to a Monday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers on the road in Week 6.

If you enjoy the podcast, you can check out previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your podcast service of choice. Please consider giving us a positive rating and review!

You can listen to every past episode below or at this link.

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POLL: Who should the Broncos start at running back this week?

Who should the #Broncos start at running back this week? 🤔 Vote in our poll! 👇

After losing Javonte Williams to a season-ending knee injury, the Denver Broncos seem poised to feature Melvin Gordon against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football in Week 5.

That decision has been questioned by some fans as Gordon has fumbled four times through four games this season, and 25 times overall on 1,514 career carries.

Denver’s other options in the backfield are third-string running back Mike Boone (zero fumbles on 434 career carries) and newly-signed veteran Latavius Murray (nine fumbles on 1,321 career carries).

Murray just played in London with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, so he seems unlikely to handle a large workload in his first game with the Broncos on a short week.

As for Boone, has a key role on special teams for Denver, so the team probably doesn’t want to make him the primary running back going forward.

That leaves Gordon as the team’s most likely starter against the Colts. Is that the right decision? Let us know your take by voting in the poll below!

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Broncos turn to backfield committee after Javonte Williams injury

The Broncos will turn to a backfield committee after losing Javonte Williams to a season-ending injury.

After losing starting running back Javonte Williams to a season-ending knee injury, the Denver Broncos will ask a trio of running backs to step up against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football this week.

“We are going to have to disperse it between the guys that will have out there,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said Monday. “Whoever is out there is going to have to do the best job they can.

“We have some good backs, and we want to be sure that we showcase them just like we were with him. And if they’re part of that progression and they get an opportunity, we want to see them be great.”

Melvin Gordon seems to be the front runner to start on Thursday with Mike Boone rotating in behind him. Denver also just signed Latavius Murray off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad on Monday.

After traveling back from London, though, Murray is probably unlikely to have a heavy workload in his first game with the Broncos on a short week.

Expect all three backs to rotate in against the Colts on Thursday, with Gordon leading the way.

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Broncos counting on Melvin Gordon to bounce back this week

The Broncos are counting on Melvin Gordon to bounce back this week and lead the team’s backfield.

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon fumbled again in Week 4, marking his fourth fumble of the season and the fifth-straight game that he’s fumbled dating back to last season.

With Javonte Williams (knee) now out for the year, though, Denver’s not rushing to bench Gordon. Instead, the team’s coaches and players have backed the running back to bounce back against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football this week.

“Melvin is a true pro,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said Monday. “This is a guy that’s been doing this for a long time. He’s harder on himself than anybody. He’s part of our team and we love the guy. He knows there was a mishap right there.

“[Thursday is] a great opportunity for him to get back out in the field and prove himself. We’re excited to be part of it and put him in great positions to be able to make plays.” 

Hackett went on to say on Monday that he’s looking forward to watching Gordon stepping up and having a “great game” against the Colts. One day later, offensive coordinator Justin Outten said the Broncos are counting on Gordon to “carry the load” on Tuesday, and he emphasized that he trusts the running back.

Clearly, the Broncos’ coaches want to see Gordon bounce back, and it sounds like they’ll give him an opportunity to do so on a short week.

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson has been doing his part by encouraging his teammate to move on from the mishaps.

“I told Melvin, ‘Listen, do you think that Adrian Peterson never fumbled, or Walter Payton, or Barry Sanders, or anybody,'” Wilson said. “‘Stuff is going happen. You think that Tom Brady, or Drew Brees, or myself have never thrown an interception? You got to respond.’

“We got a lot of season left, what a gift. We got a lot of season left, we can respond the right way and that’s what we’re going to do. There is no other way, there is no other option.”

Indeed, the Broncos have 13 more games remaining this season. After a disappointing loss in Las Vegas, Gordon — and the entire team — will aim to bounce back at home against the Colts on Thursday.

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Fantasy Football: 9 utilization stats to know from Week 4

Here are key utilization stats fantasy football managers should know following Week 4 of the NFL season.

We’re now four weeks into the 2022 NFL season and injuries are piling up and bye weeks are right around the corner. It’s an important time in fantasy football, and managers need to stay on their toes.

Before you make any roster cuts or waiver claims for Week 5, here are the key utilization notes to know following Week 4.

 

Nathaniel Hackett on Broncos RB Melvin Gordon: ‘You can’t put the ball on the ground’

“You can’t put the ball on the ground,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “It’s that simple.”

On his first carry against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon fumbled, marking the fifth-straight game that he’s fumbled dating back to last season.

Las Vegas recovered the ball and returned it for a touchdown, a key play in a game that was decided by nine points.

After the loss, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett was asked about the momentum swing when the Raiders took a six-point lead after Denver was driving in a tied game.

“Obviously, anytime you turn the ball over, it’s a big swing,” Hackett said. “That leading to a touchdown on the same recovery, it’s obviously rough …. that’s a hard way to win games whenever you lose the turnover differential and it being a score.”

Making matters worse for the offense, Javonte Williams suffered a knee injury and left the game. Hackett then turned to third-string running back Mike Boone, perhaps a sign that he’s lost patience with Gordon.

“In the end, you can’t put the ball on the ground,” Hackett said. “It’s that simple. We always say take care of the ball, it’s the most important thing. It’s not like he’s trying to do it, we understand that. But we just have to be even better with our ball security across the board. The other guys did a good job, and Melvin had that one.”

Gordon has rushed 37 times for 139 yards and one touchdown this season. Those are decent numbers, but they are overshadowed by his four fumbles through four games. His role in Denver’s offense might now be in jeopardy.

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