ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – Kyle Orton’s passing stats are gaudy and historic through the opening month of the season.
Still, the Broncos quarterback can’t help but imagine how much better this offense might be if it had even a small hint of a running game – just enough to keep opponents honest.
“Certainly, this offense is built around being a balanced attack, and we’d love to get to that point,” Orton said.
So far, the Broncos offense has been quite one-dimensional.
Through the opening four games of the season, Orton has thrown for 1,419 yards, the second-most in NFL history, behind only Kurt Warner’s start of 1,557 in 2000.
His three straight 300-yard games mark just the fourth time that’s occurred in Broncos history. Hall of Famer John Elway did it once, and Brian Griese twice.
For that, Orton can credit a nonexistent rushing attack that is forcing him to throw an average of 44 times a game. The Broncos are last in the league in rushing, averaging just 55 yards per contest.
The ground game was so sporadic against Tennessee last weekend that Orton actually led the team in rushing with 11 yards.
“Right now, we can’t even run the ball, so we don’t have an identity,” tight end Daniel Graham said. “We’re trying to establish that.”
Their identity has centered on Orton.
“Kyle’s playing real good right now,” Graham said. “He’s been a good leader for us out there, carrying this offense.”
And taking quite a few hits in the process. The Titans sacked Orton six times last weekend, bringing the season total to 11.
Yet Orton refused to hang his offensive line out to dry for the knockdowns.
“I play football like everybody else. You get hit in football. It’s just part of the game,” he said. “I think our offensive line does a great job protecting me. They’ve had a rough spell in one game.
“I’m not going to sit here and think they’re coming on every single play. I’m going to trust my line to do their job, which is to protect.”
Keeping Orton safe and secure may be even more difficult this Sunday against a Baltimore Ravens defense that leads the league against the pass.
Led by perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis, the pressure will be turned up.
“Ray’s a very smart player and their entire defense as a unit is smart,” Orton said. “They route-read really well and pass routes off to one another very good. They’re just a good pass defense.”
Orton wasn’t as complimentary of the Titans after a 26-20 win. He was upset with the play of Titans defensive back Cortland Finnegan, calling him a “cheap” player.
On Wednesday, Orton attempted to diffuse the situation – at least in part.
“I said what I said after the game and I stand by it,” Orton said. “Really, to me, it’s over with and now I’m moving on.”
The first order of business is shoring up that running game. The Broncos could receive a boost from Knowshon Moreno, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. Moreno leads the team with 111 yards, more than all the other Broncos backs combined.
“It’s something we have to fix and something we need to fix fast to balance out our offense,” Correll Buckhalter said. “What more challenge than to go up against the Ravens. They have a good solid defense. If we can get our running game against them, that will be perfect.”
The Broncos were off to a 6-0 start last season and flying high in coach Josh McDaniels’ first year.
But their season was derailed in Baltimore. They lost 30-7 and started their descent toward an 8-8 season.
Denver was stuffed in the running game, gaining just 66 yards, and Orton was limited to 152 yards passing.
“We weren’t ready to handle their physicality and their energy,” Orton said. “When you do that, especially there, they’re a tough team to play and you don’t look good. … But that was last year, this is this year.”
Orton isn’t the same quarterback. He has a better grasp of the offense, a solid connection with his receivers and a little more financial security after the Broncos rewarded him in August with an extension through 2011, a deal worth $9 million with $5.5 million guaranteed.
“I think the more I’m around these guys, I just realize how good they are and they really give me a great chance to be successful,” Orton said.
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