Broncos 20 – Jets 24: Studs and Duds

Denver Broncos safety Renaldo Hill (R) collides with New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes on the one-yard-line in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Denver October 17, 2010. Hill was called for pass interference on the play. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Analyzing player performances from the Denver Broncos‘ 20-24 loss to the New York Jets Sunday, highlighting the good and the bad.

Stud: D.J. Williams

7 Tackles, 3 Assisted Tackles, 1 Sack. D.J. had close to his best game of the season. He’s been excellent on making tackles in the middle of the field all year. Whether it be a on a halfback or tight end thinking they can outrun a linebacker on a crossing route D.J. always proves them wrong. He also had a key QB hurry yesterday as the Jets had a 3rd and long. D.J. was the late blitzer into the middle of the line, hurdling the blocker getting upended and scaring the daylights out of Sanchez in which he rushed a critical pass for an incompletion. Williams deserves his first pro-bowl nod this go around. -Josh Temple

Dud: Renaldo Hill

I still can’t believe Hill did that. I don’t care if he felt a “tug,” and I don’t care if he isn’t feeling all that apologetic. Bottom line: his 46-yard penalty was the largest gain the Jets had all day. Fair or unfair, his mistake cost the Broncos the game. -Kyle

Stud: The Running Game

I know 145 rushing yards isn’t amazing, but for the Broncos of 2010 it actually is – considering the Broncos were averaging less than 50 yards a game in previous weeks. The coaches, running backs, offensive line, receivers and even quarterbacks were so much better this week in establishing a running game. I love that the Broncos have gotten a little more creative by putting in end-arounds to Eddie Royal and using Tebow. The team’s leading rusher was Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 48-yards coming off a hamstring injury. That doesn’t seem like much, but in a backfield-by-committee, pass oriented offense, it’s acceptable. The Broncos offense is no longer one-dimensional, and I like that. –Jon

Dud: Lonie Paxton

I really have it in for the guys who snap the ball for Denver, but Paxton’s got to be amongst the highest paid long snappers in the NFL. Walton’s mistake can be attributed to many things, but rules prevent anyone from lining up directly across from a long snapper during a field goal… –Ian Henson

Stud: “Wink” Martindale

For the first time since the Seattle game I felt like the defensive coaching staff put our guys in the right position to win the entire game. The defense looked like it was a step ahead more often than not and credit needs to be given to the new guy calling the shots. When things went wrong it appeared to be micues by players rather than the scheme allowing the Jets to move the ball. Not giving Champ safety help over the top on the Braylon Edwards touchdown would be my only true strike against the play calling If the offense scores more than 3 points on the three excellent starting positions the D gave them early in the game this would’ve been an easy win. We had Sanchez a little rattled and confused early but we didn’t capitalize on the opportunity. –Josh Temple

Dud: J.D. Walton

I hope the guy doesn’t take it personally, because no one blames him for the loss, but…) It’s simple muscle memory at this point, Walton has made that snap 100 times. An intricate blocking assignment, the pressure of the situation, an incredibly talented defensive line, the pace at which the Broncos were driving the ball in the last minute… Something caused the snap to power left and out of Kyle Orton’s reach. I can’t say for certainty that had the snap not gone that way the Broncos would have won, but I know that they lost because it didn’t… That being said Walton is reminiscent of the great centers Denver has had in the past and he will bounce back for sure. – Ian Henson

I also chose J.D. Walton but not solely because of his fumbled snap. Walton has been consistently false starting and holding all year long. I know the guy is just a rookie, but at some point you have to stop shooting the offense in the foot. The sad thing is that it Walton isn’t the only sloppy player out there. The team as a whole plays well just to blow up when it matters. Whether it’s dropping balls, dropping picks, not capitalizing on turnovers, false starting, one yard rushes, misfired balls, broken routes, fumbling snaps (long and short), or inexcusable pass interferences, this team is just not getting it done. Someone needs to light a fire under this team’s ass. – Mr. East

Stud: Perrish Cox

I was pretty hard on the team (still am) for the loss yesterday, but I woke up feeling better about our prospects than I went to bed, so I’m going to go ahead and pick a stud.

Perrish Cox played some very nice defense in this game. Sanchez tried to pick on him, and it wasn’t nearly as successful as Peyton Manning or Joe Flacco. Cox is a rookie and he plays like it, but he is one with a great deal of talent. He’s filling some pretty big shoes, and I think he’s doing a credible job of it. This game, he made a lot fewer rookie mistakes than he has in the past. He has a lot of potential for the future. – E. Halsey Miles

Stud: Spencer Larsen

His bone crushing blow on the onside kick allowed for the easy recovery. He also returned after his brain got rattled and continued to pave the way for whomever the Broncos decided to throw in at running back. –Ian Henson

Studs and Studettes: The Fans a INVESCO Field at Mile High

The deafening noise along with the rumbling of concrete & steel was thickly palpable from the comfort of my bar stool. I sat wishing that I myself could be part of the orange-out. We often hear how home field advantage in the NFL is approaching extinction, and that may be true, but don’t pile the dirt on just yet. This game showed that Denver fans can still show up loud and proud to have an impact on a game. – J. Kenneth K

Agree or disagree with our takes? Anyone not make the list who deserves a mention? Your Studs and Duds in the comments.