Broncos' Siemian must protect the ball

Oct 19, 2017 - 2:31 AM ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- If the Denver Broncos are to ensure that their loss to the New York Giants is a blip rather than the start of a trend, they can't keep giving the football away the way they did in the 23-10 defeat -- three turnovers, including a pair of second-quarter interceptions thrown by Trevor Siemian.

Both interceptions were against zone coverage. And as Siemian reflected, he felt both were an example of him trying to do too much.

"The first one I was just trying to anticipate too much with (wide receiver Demaryius Thomas) D.T. rolling in there on third down there," Siemian said. "It was third-and-10 and I was trying to make something happen.

"The other one is two-minute (drill situation), you have this urgency to try to make a play and try to force a throw. Taking care of the football is paramount obviously.

"Good stuff to learn from -- I can't be doing that, because I understand that with our team, if I don't turn it over, we're going to be in dang near every game. I'll learn from it and we'll be all right."

Siemian needs to correct those mistakes to be effective in Sunday's road game against the Los Angeles Chargers,

Siemian's teammates haven't seen any signs that their quarterback is down about the mistakes.

"He's been even-keeled," wide receiver Jordan Taylor said. "He knows that it comes down to our offense shooting ourselves in the foot."

And it also comes down to the offense being able to help him.

"Most definitely. We believe in No. 13," running back C.J. Anderson said. "We know when we protect No. 13, No. 13 doesn't have to worry about anyone behind his feet. When he stands in the pocket and strong, he can make every throw in this league and get the ball down the field. We know that.

"It's on myself and us as a protective group O-line, tight ends and receivers to help him."

Realistically, Siemian and the offense will not flourish without a ground game. Siemian has not progressed to the point where he can carry the offense on his shoulders. He needs a complementary running game to succeed.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph knows this.

"Our formula is different. It's run, it's play(-action) pass and that's where he's been more efficient for this offense," Joseph said. "That part hurt us last (Sunday) night, not running the football well."

And if the Broncos don't run it well, and Siemian forces the ball into the wrong spots, the giveaways will continue, and the Broncos will find themselves in a deep mess.

SERIES HISTORY: 116th regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 64-50-1. Broncos have won seven of the last eight, including postseason. Most historic meeting between these two teams was in the 2013 divisional playoffs, when the Broncos held off the Chargers 24-17 to earn a trip to the AFC Championship Game.

--While the offense focuses on avoiding turnovers, the defense must work to generate more takeaways.

Denver's defense has forced just one turnover in the last three games -- a game-clinching Justin Simmons interception against the Raiders late in their 16-10 Week 4 win. It hasn't even forced a fumble, let alone recovered one.

One reason for the lack of takeaways? How other offenses attack the Broncos' defense.

"I think offenses come into a game plan against our defense very conservatively," Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said.

Perhaps no team played the Broncos closer to the vest than the Giants last week.

"That plan ... (Giants head coach Ben McAdoo) wouldn't have lost a game on offense," Joseph said. "He wouldn't have let us hit (Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning) or throw anything down field. He threw I think 19 passes maybe and nothing past eight yards.

"It's how offenses are playing our defense also that has allowed for turnovers."

--Rookie tight end Jake Butt isn't a cure-all for the Broncos' red-zone issues, but if he can show that he is healthy enough to contribute, he could provide a needed jolt to their efforts after scoring just two touchdowns on their last 11 forays inside the opponent's 20-yard line over the last three games.

Butt practiced Wednesday, marking his first on-field work with the team since he was drafted. He has been on the non-football injury list all season because of a torn ACL he suffered in the Orange Bowl last year with Michigan. The injury sent his draft stock plummeting to the point that he wasn't selected until the fifth round.

"It felt good to shake off some rust, but it just feels good to be part of the team, obviously," he said. "These guys have been working so hard and I've kind of been off to the side. To be able to go out there and compete with these guys, it just felt good for me."

The Broncos have 21 days to evaluate Butt and decide whether to move him onto the 53-man roster or leave him on the non-football-injury list. He isn't likely to move up to the active roster this weekend, but his stay in that area of limbo might not last long.

"Probably not this week, but it could be any day," Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said.

NOTES: RB Jamaal Charles should get more touches, Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said. The team has limited Charles' workload so far this season to be cautious because of his recent knee issues. ... WR Cody Latimer did not practice Wednesday as he continues to recover from a knee injury that led him to him undergoing a blood injection procedure during the Broncos' Week 5 bye. ... WR Isaiah McKenzie will not play Sunday and is considered week-to-week after spraining his right ankle in the fourth quarter against the Giants last weekend. ... WR Emmanuel Sanders will not play against the Chargers and is considered week-to-week after spraining his ankle in the third quarter last Sunday. ... ILB Brandon Marshall did not practice Wednesday because of a sore shoulder that has been bothering him for two weeks. If he can't play, fourth-year veteran Corey Nelson would likely start. ... OLB Shane Ray practiced Wednesday. It was his first on-field work since the second day of training camp, one day after he tore wrist ligaments. He is expected to play Oct. 30 against the Chiefs. ... WR Demaryius Thomas did not practice Wednesday because of a calf injury, but is expected to practice Thursday and play against the Chargers. ... WR Hunter Sharp was promoted from the practice squad Wednesday. He is expected to be the No. 4 wide receiver and could also see action on punt returns in place of the injured Isaiah McKenzie. ... WR Bennie Fowler is expected to start in place of the injured Emmanuel Sanders. Fowler has two touchdowns and 140 yards on 13 receptions so far this season.