HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

On the Broncos’ defense

“They played well. We did a lot of good things on defense. Any time you have six series with three plays and out, it is a good start. I was pleased with their effort throughout the game. We are starting to build and starting to make some strides forward. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

On the defenses having more enthusiasm against Tampa Bay compared to previous weeks

“I wouldn’t go through that. I think people have a short memory sometimes. We played three quarters against the Raiders that we allowed 128 yards in total offense, 27 zip. They are a pretty good rushing football team. We did some good things against San Diego. We have had some opportunities where we have played a good three quarters or a good quarter, but in this game we played a good four quarters.”

On how WR Brandon Marshall is handling being double covered

“That is football in the National Football League. You have to understand what it takes to win and the quarterback, I thought, managed the game very well. In that situation, most people don’t look at the fact that we had three third-and-2’s, two third-and-3’s and a third-and-4 that we missed. We were 6-of-14. The ones we missed were ones that keep drives going. Instead of having 16 points, you end up having 30 points. We have been much better in our third down area. When you miss three those and you are still 6-of-14 against an excellent defense, you are doing some good things. We just have to work on that third down area to keep the ball and get some more plays. We completed 68 percent of our passes for 227 yards and that is good. You can’t turn the football over and you can’t get second and long and third and long, and for the most part we didn’t. That is what you have to do to win the football game. Especially some of the young guys, they want to contribute but they don’t understand what it takes to win sometimes. You have to make those third downs.”

On the contributions of DT Dewayne Robertson

“He is doing what we ask him to do. It is always a change going from a 3-4 to a four-man front. You have to be pretty unselfish in the four-man front because a lot of times the linebackers are going to get the tackles. I think it was obvious after you saw the stats following the game that the defensive line did a good job occupying the offensive lineman and giving the linebackers an opportunity to make some plays.”

Continue reading this post »

It seems like every week the same people say the same thing about the Broncos defense.  We hear how horrible they are, how they can't stop the run, how they can't defend the pass, how they can't put pressure on the quarterback.  Some of that is true, we all know that, but something has become a disturbing trend, something that continues to be overlooked.  Much of the problems with the defense start with the offense and special teams.  No, really, it does. 

Specifically against Kansas City, I'd go so far as to say the defense, for over 3 quarters, played as well as it did against the Raiders Week 1.  Unfortunately, the offense didn't give them much of a chance. What is certain is the Broncos defense is by no means a dominant defense in any facet, run defense, pass defense, pressuring the quarterback, none of it.  The defense as a group is average at best, but with the offense the Broncos put on the field this team should be able to win, unless the offense, the strength of the team, let's it down.  On Sunday, that is exactly what happened.

Take a look at the drive chart for the Chiefs on Sunday --

Continue reading this post »

I am taking a "glass half-full" approach to the defense, but what about the coach?  Let's find out in his transcript from his weekly Monday meeting with the press -- 

On the defense

“We have talked about it from day one. You have to be able to stop the run to have a chance to have a good defense, and we did that holding them to 3.5 yards per rushing attempt. That is where you start. We will get better with our pass defense as time goes on. We are doing a number of things that are new in comparison to a year ago. It just takes some time. If we have the effort that we had overall, offense, defense and special teams, good things will happen for our football team.”

 

On if he is alarmed at the defense giving up so many points

“I am not alarmed at all because if you get that kind of effort overall, good things are going to happen. You have to be alarmed because you gave up so many passing yards but that is something you can work on and get better at. You have drops and different zones. You get different things that different offenses do that you have to adjust to. You get different scheming and different quarterbacks that can sometimes give you different opportunities to come up with big plays. We have to get better on third downs. They were 8-14 on third downs, and they had a third down and 12 and a third down and 7 when it was 21-3 and that game was almost over. You just have to be on with your zone drops and you have to make a tackle here and there. It is something we can work on, especially with that type of effort. That was as hard as we have played in a long time.”

Continue reading this post »

Michael Pittman scores for Denver

Finally!  The pre-season is over and it couldn't have ended fast enough.  Only the unenviable task of trying to cut the Broncos roster from 74 to 53 remains between now and the Broncos doing it for real with the Raiders on September 8.  That cuts have to be announced before 4PM est tomorrow afternoon, and we'll have you covered all day long with breaking news, thought and comment.  Until then, let's take a look back at what turned out to be a fairly entertaining football game despite the void of talent.

1.  I Really Like Darrell Hackney....A lot -- Can someone give me a good reason why #4 shouldn't be the #2 quarterback on this football team?  Hackney was given the opportunity to play all 4 quarters against the Cardinals, who at times played their 1st string offense, and his numbers were fairly impressive - 17/26, 208 yards, 1TD.  He also ran the ball 8 times for 35 yards. 

His lack of height has been discussed at nauseum, but he's a winner.  He always seems to make a play when it needs to be made.  Take the long TD pass to Colbert as an example.  Hackney should have been sacked.  The Cardinals did a great job snuffing out the bootleg.  What does Hackney do?  Stop on a dime, change course, and have enough presence of mind, with a LB bearing down on him, to deliver a strike to Keary Colbert in stride.  87 yards later, the Broncos had taken the lead.  Those of the types of plays winners make.

Let's face reality.  If Jay Cutler would, well, I won't say it.  But if it were to happen, the Broncos would be screwed.  Most teams would be.  Cutty is the franchise.  If that is the reality, then why not have a guy backing him up that can make some plays, a guy that can improvise, a guy that doesn't make the stupid decision.  I have seen enough of both guys to say with confidence that I would rather see Darrell Hackney as the backup QB of the Denver Broncos.

Continue reading this post »

A Mix of Good and Bad

The thing about our 'backers going forward, is that Bob Slowik, our new defensive head-honcho, will have to make a few choices.

He will have to choose between versatility, provided by some players to our nickle coverages, and  comprehension, players with a grasp of the playbook.  He will have to choose between a guy who makes his tackles, but who hesitates, and a guy who never hesitates, but always misses his tackles.  He will be choosing between tangible size and intangible heart.

In the end, he will be choosing between the future, and now.  If he chooses now, we might get off to a hot start with our linebacking corp.  They will be fast and powerful, but with time, they will be exposed.  If he chooses the future we may fail to gain purchase in the early goings of the season, sacrificing early momentum for the hope that eventually sound technique and consistency will win out, but by then it may be too late.

Or, he may choose to balance both ideas on the edge of a razor, which could cut either way, or neither.  Or, if handled incorrectly, as our defense has been for the past several years, it could cut both ways.

Lets look at the players poised on this thinnest of edges amongst the Broncos' hopeful, and see what case they have made for their future.

My early vote for our starting MLB, Niko has had his ups and downs.  The NPLB analysis points out that he can help this team if he is on the field, especially when it comes to stopping the run.  He shows tremendous instincts when he gets into the garbage around the line, and sometimes you are left to wonder just HOW he managed to slice through and get his hands on the tackler.  The other solid trait that he brings is his tackling.  Whether he is a hard hitter is still up in the air, and for my money, a starting MLB better be able to lay some wood when he gets the chance.  But in every other respect his tackling is exactly what you should hold a MLB too.  It is sure and consistent, and it is a breath of fresh air to see the SAM take out a FB with Niko right behind him.  It gives me a confidence that I haven't felt since Al manned the middle. 

But Niko had his share of mistakes so far in the preseason, including misreading his gaps, and worst of all, playing tentatively.  You see it on the (very few) blitzes that get called, where he looks slow and uncertain, two things he isn't, judging by his physical displays on special teams.  You also see it when he is reading playaction.  He has a knack for staying at home and not overcommitting, and he definitely reads 90% or better of his plays very well, but sometimes his patience borders hesitation, and you are left to watch him choosing a proper angle for pursuit rather than seeing a tackle for a loss.

He seems to be getting his guys into a good position, and though DJ has more familiarity with Webster, he and Niko are getting the plays in and the guys lined up.  When Niko was in with the starters I saw only a handful of instances where players seemed unsure on their assignments, and those were nickle formations, where Niko isn't normally in.  Niko has seen only 3 reps in the nickle so far this preseason, and he was able to hold his own, though he was brought on a blitz one of those times, and showed his tentative side, unable to effectively penetrate to the QB after hesitating near the line.  In goalline situations he led the second team LBs to an above average overall performance against Green Bay, and if he had lined his guys up a yard closer to the LOS, Rodgers wouldn't have gotten through on his sneak.  That Niko laid back a little is a telling sign that he needed more room within which to read the play, something that only experience can change.

Above all, however, Niko is fundamentally a sound player, still adjusting to the speed with which he must read, register and react to the offense.  He executes so consistently that there is no drop off whether he is in with the starters or second teamers, and he is the only LB, including DJ not to receive the lowest grade on at least one play.  In the end he grades out as one of the top backers because he never follows a bad play with another bad play, or a worse one.  I can't say when he will pick up all the nuances and be able to change games, but I can say that he won't hurt this team if he is on the field.  Is that good enough Broncos fans?

Continue reading this post »

Boss Bailey is a big addition at Linebacker

My, how quickly things can change.  Two years ago, the linebacker position for the Denver Broncos was considered a strength.  With team-leader Al Wilson manning the middle, D.J. Williams on the strong side and Ian Gold returning to play Will, the Broncos seemed set for the foreseeable future.  All that changed on December 3, 2006 when Al Wilson was injured on a punt return.  As I watched Wilson get carried off the field it seemed the morale on the field and the energy in the stands went with it. 

The Broncos, who only 2 weeks before were 7-2, lost their 3rd straight game and a season that seemed to have so much promise continued to unravel.  Wilson would try to play the next week, but the damage was done.  After being held out of the season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49'ers Wilson never wore a Broncos uniform, or any uniform for that matter, again.  The Broncos lost their identity that night, an identity that has followed the team since the days of Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson and Karl Mecklenberg.

The Broncos head into 2008 looking to rebuild that legacy, to rediscover the identity that has been so important throughout Orange and Blue history.  Questions abound heading into camp, however, with two new starters in Boss Bailey at SAM and Niko Koutouvides at MIKE.  The remaining holdover, D.J. Williams, moves back to the WILL, his third move in 5 years.  How will this group come together?  What kind of depth is behind them?  Can Broncos' linebackers regain the glory of the past? 

Let's break them down. 

Continue reading this post »

Alot of off the field stuff lately has really been a drag.  Even all the Brett Favre stuff has me ready to find the nearest building over 4 stories and leap to a slow and painful demise.  Luckily, the Broncos made some annoucements just in time to save me from ridicule. 

While the top of the Broncos' draft remains unsigned, the bottom half is sealed and delivered after three more of the newest Broncos came to agreements to actually get paid for their new career.

LB Spencer Larsen(6th Round), RB Ryan Torain(5th Round) and DT Carlton Powell(5th Round) all came to agreements on 4-year deals.  Torain, the first of the team's two 5th rounders, received the largest signing bonus, coming in just shy of $200k.

The signings leave FB Peyton Hillis as the only late round pick still awaiting a contract, though the team hopes they can get it wrapped up by this weekend.  As for the top-4 picks in the draft, past history tells us the Broncos will get it done, though likely at the last minute.  The Broncos has historically waited until the week before Training Camp to get the upper-level contracts finished, and with the roster limit set at 80 this year there really isn't a rush.

Moment #4 -- One of the Best

-- Denver Broncos Rushing Attack

We were actually hanging with Indianapolis, the defending SuperBowl Champions. 

As the first half ended, Travis Henry pounded forward on first down for 6 yds and then gobbled up another 5 yds on second down.  And that was par for the course.  We had come into the game without Walker on offense, and Marshall hadn't yet exploded into the superstar he was to become.  It was clear before the game that we needed a big rushing game, and as the half closed the scoreboard read 13-14 with only one point separating us from the Colts.  Henry already had 106 yards and was averaging 6 yds a carry.  The game didn't just look competitive, but emminently winnable!

In the end we would close out the day with 223 rushing yards and a loss, but there was no doubt that our rushing game was alive and well and churning out the yards.  Mistakes by Cutler, the continuing ineffectiveness of our redzone offense and defensive struggles were our downfall against Indy, but the vaunted Denver rushing attack did enough to keep us in that game and keep us within a score right up until the end.

We had no idea what sort of tribulations awaited us in the season, but for a moment, we had rediscovered our Broncos identity, and were in the process of establishing it by force.

Return of the Orange Rush in 2008?

What we gave up in Henry was a bruising back that could take punishment, the kind of guy that could take the brunt of the beating on a team's 200yd rushing effort.  The effort to replace him is unique and multifaceted, and allows me to believe that the glimpse of rushing game dominance that flashed in 2007 will emerge full force in 2008.

In person, we are attempting to replace Henry with Pittman and Torain.  One proven, one young, this is the perfect balance of experience and potential that will give us longevity at the bruising back position.  In terms of strategy, we have emphasized our upfront blocking with the addition of an elite draft pick on the offensive line and a solid backup at center, the most pivotal run blocking position.  We also added two young players who can take the brunt of the physical rushing attack in Hillis and Larsen, in a bold move that is typicla of Shanny and his multi-headed offensive threats.

Add to this mix the personal motivation of returning TB Selvin Young who needed to bulk up as a first step towards getting more carries in a game.  This he has done, while showing an invigorating response to the challenge of competition he will face for reps in Shanny's offense.

Together these moves tell me that consistency will once again be a hallmark of the Broncos rushing attack in 2008.  I expect more than the Anderson/Bell days but as always the first requirement will be health.  The renewed emphasis on blockers tells me that we might be able to really protect our RBs for the first time in a long time.  I expect a real rushing attack this year, and with consistency will come red zone production.

This post is an historic one for me as it is my 100th since joining Mile High Report almost a year ago.  I am currently working on several different upcoming posts and I was wondering if I should make a certain one my historic post, but then I thought I should just stick to what my original schedule was.  This was planned to be my next post, therefore, it will have to be my 100th post. 

I recently posted my positional comparison for the defense along with grading the performance of the 2007 group and also applying a preliminary grade for what I see as potential upgrades or downgrades for each position.  I felt incomplete not having done the offense as well, so here it is.

The 2007 offensive group had a solid core surround by a couple of glaring deficiencies.  The story of our season was told best by a series of posts called “NPTB” or No Points Left Behind that can be found all over the MHR Community during last season.  Our offense racked up the yardage without scoring very many points. 

The Quest for the offense this season is about one thing, getting into the end zone!

Continue reading this post »