ENGLEWOOD, Colo. –One quarter of the 2013 season is complete and the Broncos have yet to lose. Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway sat down with Chris Hall of Broncos TV to talk about the start that the Broncos have had and preparation for the Dallas Cowboys in the Week 5 edition of the Elway Access Podcast presented by US Bank Flex Perks.
The Broncos are coming off the best offensive showing in team history as they set a record for points scored with 52. Even so, there is always room for improvement.
"The thing is, any time you go through the film – it's never as good as you think it is and it's never as bad as you think it is," Elway said. "So there's always room for improvement. Obviously it's exciting to be able to score 52 points. Now you have to look at it, 14 of those were on special teams, so offensively we only scored 38 (laughs). But it's exciting to be 4-0 and get through the first quarter of the season."
Trindon Holliday was responsible for the first special-teams score as he took a kickoff return 105 yards for a touchdown. That play tied his own record for longest touchdown return in Broncos history.
"It's amazing," Elway said "We were talking about that – how the rules have changed with the kickoff now at the 35-yard line and not many kickoffs getting returned. Now, anytime it doesn't go out of the back of the end zone everybody is bringing it out. Where in the old days, if it's in the end zone or two or three yards deep – kneel down on it, we'll take it at the 20. Now if it's in the end zone we're bringing it out."
Quarterback Peyton Manning's performance has had a lot to do with the Broncos' success, as he has thrown 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Elway said that Manning's specialty is making decisions and throwing the ball on target but that the offensive line deserves credit for giving him time to do so. The receivers also deserve credit for making plays when Manning delivers the ball. Elway added that not having any interceptions – even ones created by tipped passes – is what happens when "you're on a good roll."
The defense too has been on a roll as they limited the Eagles to field goals on their first two scoring drives Sunday.
Elway credited the secondary for an especially strong showing in the second half when the Eagles started throwing more passes. He added that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was playing his former team, is as talented of a one-on-one coverage guy as there is the league.
Moving forward, the Broncos are preparing to play the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington. And while their large scoreboards might be distracting to those watching in the stands, Elway knows the Broncos will have no trouble focusing on the game.
"Everyone realizes where we are," he said. "We have a long way to go but we have another chance to go get better against a Dallas Cowboys team that's a pretty good football team."
