Red Zone Woes

[watermock]

Now I'm as pleased as anyone about 12-3, but WTF is it with the redzone...

I watched that music highlight video...(yeah I know it's a homer video but still)...I saw a ton of big plays. (yes I know many plays were played at seperate angles)...Lelie has great hands btw.

We blew it FOUR TIMES in the red zone (I consider the red zone inside the 30, not the 20, because that's FG range)...I don't have a problem with Rod missing a pass he should of caught...that stuff can happen...but the three field goals along with a missed FG? That game should of been by all rights about 42-10.

What I don't understand about this mastermind offense is how we can move it down the field at will, but when we get in the red zone, it's almost like we are better having space with this offense. why are we going nintendo when the safties don't have to cover deep? You know damn well they are going to blitz like crazy if we go empty near the goal line, it keeps failing, but Kubiak keeps doing it. All the D does is put 5 in the secondary and rush 6 against our 5 and we don't have enough bodies. If mock is at the goal line, he knows that our line can't move a goal line defense...but I know someone who can...Gerald Warren...I like Kyle, but Warren can blow up even a goal line D. I used to think we could run behind Foster, but he plays rather soft quite honestly, and I never really cared for that pick.

I like using naked bootlegs and Kyle or maybe Warren back there. Or that tackle eligible play, altho House is gone...he was the perfect choice for that deal. All I know is that 22 points was rediculous with all the big plays we had.

I checked, and we were 8/15 on third downs and 2/5 in the red zone, but still...I don't really buy that stat and we shouldn't be kicking 4 field goals and making three, throwing a pick and having first and goal and kicking a FG.

That isn't going to get it done in INDY if we can get there. (assuming we will have to go there, or even make it to the Hunt Trophy round.)

Comments? Solutions? (shooting Kubiak isn't an option...unless your the Wolf from Pulp Fiction and can clean up the mess...)

[RMT]

I agree. Too many FGs and not enough TDs. What was impressive was the defense limiting the Raiders to 3 points.

[Kaylore]

We've been excellent in the redzone this year. This was one game. I'm not concerned at all.

[Rock Chalk]

Keep in mind we have a smallish O-line and have to be more creative in the Red Zone than most teams. Bulling our way in rarely works.

And with that the risk goes up so, sometimes things dont go as we want. There were three plays that Rod Smith ALMOST freaking scored on and all three I think went for eventual FGs.

We are good around 10-20 yards out but inside 10 we start getting pushed around and I think that's where our real red zone woe's begin.

[Liebs]

there's a few things that need to change for us to have a shot in the playoffs. however I think our passing game has picked up a little the last few weeks.
if we can put all the things we've done well through out the year in various games together into the playoff games, inlcuding scoring tds in the red zone, we've got a real shot.

[watermock]

We've been excellent in the redzone this year. This was one game. I'm not concerned at all.

Khan...your insane...our Red Zone offense has sucked all year...of course Kirk knows your insane...that's why we placed you on Ceta Alpha 4. We have had poor red zone all year, usually scoring big plays actually. Hilarious!

[watermock]

Keep in mind we have a smallish O-line and have to be more creative in the Red Zone than most teams. Bulling our way in rarely works.

And with that the risk goes up so, sometimes things dont go as we want. There were three plays that Rod Smith ALMOST freaking scored on and all three I think went for eventual FGs.

We are good around 10-20 yards out but inside 10 we start getting pushed around and I think that's where our real red zone woe's begin.

I understand we get pushed around at the goal line...that's why I want our own brand of Fridge...Warren...to plow the driveway. Spreading the offense makes no sense because the D doesn't have to defend nearly as much as in the open field.

[Lidderer]

Greater diversity has led to stunning results. Last year, the Broncos ranked 29th in the NFL by converting only 45.3 percent of their red-zone drives into touchdowns. This year, the Broncos rank sixth with a red-zone touchdown efficiency of 59.1 percent.

that's from december 16th, so it ignores our 4-for-5 RZ performance vs Buffalo too.

Top 5 in red-zone success sounds pretty good to me.

[wyobronco]

I think Shanny has gone vanilla in the red zone at the end of the year figuring that the 2 seed was in the bag. There have been some wrinkles in the red zone that have really worked, and have been safely hidden away to be popped out in the playoffs.

Early in the year nobody covered KJ on the boot, but they have not run it very much of late. Van Pelt easily scored on the only snap he took prior to the Oakland game. Duke made a nice play on a fade. Tackle eligible (who knows, maybe somebody else has good hands) might also be pulled out. Champ talked a lot in the preseason about playing on offense this year, maybe that's a playoff red zone wrinkle.

With all of these options, I think we can cross a lot of teams up and score some easy red zone points.

[-Slap-]

I think Shanny has gone vanilla in the red zone at the end of the year figuring that the 2 seed was in the bag. There have been some wrinkles in the red zone that have really worked, and have been safely hidden away to be popped out in the playoffs.

Early in the year nobody covered KJ on the boot, but they have not run it very much of late. Van Pelt easily scored on the only snap he took prior to the Oakland game. Duke made a nice play on a fade. Tackle eligible (who knows, maybe somebody else has good hands) might also be pulled out. Champ talked a lot in the preseason about playing on offense this year, maybe that's a playoff red zone wrinkle.

With all of these options, I think we can cross a lot of teams up and score some easy red zone points.

Good post, but the avatar is making my eyes bleed.

[watermock]

I think I meant to talk about third downs. My bad...but obviously, there are issues...I don't care about stats that much, I saw 5 drives that could of had TD's...we got 3 FG, one INT, and one missed FG. That's a fact. If you don't think we should of scored more against Oakland, your insane, especially with all those big plays.

The point is, that isn't going to cut it in the INDY dome. We we didn't punt till 6.30 was left in the game and held them to 3 and we scored only 22 poiints? Whatever. Again...I'm thrilled we are sitting where we are, but you can bet Shanahan is scratching his chin how to make TD's out of FG's and INT's.

DENVER -- A critical and chronic problem raised its ugly head during Denver's 31-27 loss to Kansas City: The Broncos' inability to convert on third down.

"That's the one area that we've been very, very poor at," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said.

Throughout the season, Denver has converted only 33 percent of its third down opportunities. Only Pittsburgh at 32 percent is worse in the AFC.

Chicago (28 percent) and San Francisco (24 percent) in the NFC rank lower.

"We know the importance of converting them and it is glaring," quarterback Jake Plummer said. "At times we are doing well and then we are struggling."

Plummer and the offense had difficulty converting third downs against the Chiefs. They were 3-for-10 for the game and failed to convert on their last seven possessions.

"We're working on it," Shanahan said. "The things you do poorly you try to work on them and one of these days you hope the work pays off."

The Broncos could be challenged on Sunday.

Baltimore's defense leads the AFC in fewest yards allowed per play (4.63) and first downs allowed (17.8 per game). The Ravens are third in the AFC in both total defense and pass defense.

Plummer said the team used the week to fine tune and add an offensive package to counter an the Ravens' nickel scheme.

[Lidderer]

oh i thought the thread was about the redzone.

re: oakland game. doesn't seem to concern me too much. game was in hand after the 3rd drive---if I could see oakland had quit i'm sure nfl coaches noted it too, and probably scaled back on the guns.

[watermock]

Plummer said the team used the week to fine tune and add an offensive package to counter an the Ravens' nickel scheme.

This is what I don't get. Why do we have to worry about nickel packages when we have Anderson, Bell, Kyle and Putz? The problem has been that they are blitzing us when we go empty you dimwits. If we go empty, roll Jake out to escape the obvous rush or something...I don't get it...they are going to blitz an empty backfield, abandon their gaps and go after Jake...you don't even need more than one LB left...

[watermock]

So not converting 3rd downs against Oakland at home is going to carry the day against the Colts on the road? I don't know what the stats are you put up, I know red zone production is a huge issue with Shanahan.

And yes, I mixed up the stats some...I meant to go with 3rd down conversions...still...our stat line reads fine..8-15 3rd down...2-5 Red Zone..(bad but not horrible)...

So why did we get to the 30 or inside and wind up with 3FG, 1 INT, and a missed FG?...again...we didn't punt till 6:30 left in the game and only gave up 3 points and controlled the clock 2/1. We should of scored more than 22...at least 35 if not 42.

[wyobronco]

Eddie Mac and Shannon Sharpe are what is missing on 3rd down, the great Broncos teams had 3 guys that you KNEW would make a play on 3rd down (Rod is the 3rd). This team has Rod Smith. Somebody needs to step forward and become another clutch option. I think Jeb can be that guy, so can Charlie Adams.

3rd down playmakers make plays because they want the first down more than the defense wants to stop them. That's where championships are won, desire! It's what made TD great IMO, he was all heart. They could run him on 3rd & 5 and reasonably expect to pick up a 1st down. MA has a lot of that in him, Dayne and Bell might have it to.

NFL legends are made in January.

[watermock]

And I wouldn't put much weight into that Oakland game at home. They are a mess and we were at home. We should of destroyed them. Sorry, it was a great day, but that was a rather sloppy win...the only team sloppier was Oakland, which had no interest in even showing up. That won't happen in the playoffs. If SD rolls over like a newborn puppy, and we think we have some problems solved, we could go one and out...I'm just warning you. If Porter doesn't drop 5 passes, that game is totally different.

[The Big E]

Eddie Mac and Shannon Sharpe are what is missing on 3rd down, the great Broncos teams had 3 guys that you KNEW would make a play on 3rd down (Rod is the 3rd). This team has Rod Smith. Somebody needs to step forward and become another clutch option. I think Jeb can be that guy, so can Charlie Adams.


I agree with this. There is a lot of talk about getting a so called franchise QB, but it seems it would be easier to build around Jake and bring in some quality 3rd down/red zone targets for him. Maybe it's not easier, but it seems it would be. I don't expect anyone the caliber of Sharpe (who helped Jake immensely the one year they played together). Jake is really clicking and running this offense right now, and I also hope that the recent RZ issue is just a glitch and we'll return to our prior form for the playoffs.

[Kaylore]

Khan...your insane...our Red Zone offense has sucked all year...of course Kirk knows your insane...that's why we placed you on Ceta Alpha 4. We have had poor red zone all year, usually scoring big plays actually. Hilarious!

Oh Really?

Greater diversity has led to stunning results. Last year, the Broncos ranked 29th in the NFL by converting only 45.3 percent of their red-zone drives into touchdowns. This year, the Broncos rank sixth with a red-zone touchdown efficiency of 59.1 percent.

And


that's from december 16th, so it ignores our 4-for-5 RZ performance vs Buffalo too.

Top 5 in red-zone success sounds pretty good to me.

You've been owned, Mock. Our Redzone offense is awesome this year. Good thing you tried to change this thread to a third down percentage conversation, though.