Bootless In Denver

DENVER - Phil Simms is here in Denver doing the game for CBS and we just talked a bit about the matchup. Personally, I don't hate Jake Plummer's game. So I asked Simms why Plummer's having so much trouble this season after playing so well in 2005.

Simms explained that the lack of cutbacks by the Broncos running backs is having a domino effect on the rest of the offense.

So much of what the Broncos like to do is predicated on running their stretch play where, for instance, the ball is handed to Tatum Bell who sweeps left, picks a seam in the defense and cuts it up. Once he gets to the second level, he should cut back across the field again if he can. That helps occupy the back side of the defense and make them have to respect the play downfield. So, for instance, the defensive end on the opposite side has to remain cognizant of Bell even when the play goes away from him.

Denver then likes to fake that stretch to Bell and have Plummer bootleg back the other way. In years past, when Mike Anderson was the running back, he had nobody in his face because the backside of the defense had to give attention to the cutback.

Bell doesn't cut it back so the defensive end on the weak side is in Plummer's face. Last week, Simms said, Plummer was 0 for 7 on bootleg throws.

It's a theory.