Don Banks: Denver's D dominant and historic

[Merlin]

As season-defining trends go, it didn't take long for this one to develop, recalls Broncos defensive line coach Andre Patterson. The tone on defense was set early in Denver this year. Extremely early. By halftime of the Broncos' opening day game in St. Louis, the makings of Denver's shutdown, whatever-it-takes mentality had already surfaced and was prominently displayed.

With Denver down 3-0 late in the first quarter, the Broncos proceeded to cough the ball up on three successive drives, with all three turnovers occurring dangerously deep in their own territory. In the span of five snaps, Jake Plummer and Tatum Bell fumbled the ball away to St. Louis, and Plummer was picked off by rookie cornerback Tye Hill.

Ballgame? Not exactly. On the resulting three Rams drives, the Broncos defense stiffened and allowed all of one first down, with minus-3 net yards on 15 snaps. The Rams wound up missing a field goal on that first drive, then converting two short field goals on their next two possessions, leaving the Broncos with a 9-0 second-quarter deficit to deal with but also sending the unmistakable message that surrender would not be an option this season in Denver.

The Broncos lost that game, 18-10, as the Rams prevailed on six Jeff Wilkins field goals. But they haven't lost since, and through six weeks of the season, the Broncos defense is on a historic pace. You can't spell domination in Denver this year without a D.

"It all started with those three turnovers in our own territory in St. Louis,'' Patterson said. "It was like bang, bang, bang, but there was no panic at all. The defense just went out there and got it done every time. You could just see that in their mind, the other team wasn't getting in the end zone. They weren't getting six.''

Not getting six has become a hard, cold reality for Denver opponents this season. Through five games, the Broncos have allowed just one -- one -- touchdown, to go with 10 field goals. In a season in which stout defenses seem to be plentiful in the NFL, nobody is doing it any better than Denver, which didn't surrender a touchdown in its first 11 quarters this year.

Last Sunday night against Oakland, the Broncos became the first team in 72 years to limit opponents to a single touchdown in their first five games, and their 37 points allowed (7.4 ppg) puts them on pace to break both the 2000 Baltimore Ravens' league record of 165 points surrendered in a 16-game season (10.3 ppg), and the 1977 Atlanta Falcons' NFL mark of 129 points allowed in a 14-game season (9.2 ppg).

"In my 10 years in the league, this is the best defense I've ever been around,'' said Patterson, who had NFL coaching stops in New England, Minnesota, Dallas and Cleveland before coming to Denver in 2005. "We've got talent at every level of the defense, from the D-line, to the linebackers and in the secondary. It's a group that has a chance to be special if they stay hungry and stay focused.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/don_banks/10/20/denver.defense/index.html

[Merlin]

This week, the Broncos defense puts its burgeoning reputation on the line at Cleveland (1-4), in a game that has obvious special meaning for Patterson and five of his Denver defensive linemen. You remember the "Browncos,'' that collection of largely disappointing ex-Browns who have followed Patterson to Denver, finding success in the Rockies and writing new chapters to their NFL stories?

While cornerback Champ Bailey, safety John Lynch and linebackers Al Wilson and Ian Gold get the lion's share of the credit and attention in Denver's defense, the Broncos' dominance wouldn't be possible without the strong and steady contributions of the ex-Browns contingent up front: Ends Kenard Lang and Ebenezer Ekuban, and tackles Gerard Warren and Michael Myers. All but Lang joined Denver last year, along with injured defensive end Courtney Brown, who is out for the season due to the lingering effects of his recent knee surgery.

Patterson stuck his neck out for his ex-Browns shortly after arriving in Denver, lobbying Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan to look past their underachievement in Cleveland and take a chance on their potential. The rewards have been obvious, and today all those snickers that Warren and Co. elicited upon joining Denver have long since been silenced.

That the "Browncos'' are returning to Cleveland as part of a defense on a record-setting pace only adds to the misery of the last-place Browns, whose touch on the personnel front has been a study in failure since they returned to the league in 1999.

"It makes me feel good that these guys have come in and played the way they've played so far,'' said Patterson, who served as Butch Davis' defensive line coach in 2003-2004. "I knew they could play, and that's why I recommended them to Mike. I'm glad they got in a situation where people could see what kind of football players they are, and what kind of workers they are. It's great to see them all experience what I feel they deserved in Cleveland.

"They all want to go back and play well there, but not to rub dirt in Cleveland's face or say 'I told you so.' They're not those type of guys. They want to go back and play well and help the Broncos win the game. That's it.''

There's an irony inherent in Denver's defensive excellence this season, and it's that for the first time in memory, the Broncos offense is an absolute bottom-feeder. Denver has scored just 62 points in its five games, or 12.4 per game. Only 0-5 Oakland has been less productive, with 50 points scored, which makes the Broncos' feat of winning 80 percent of their games thus far even more impressive. Denver has yet to score more than 17 points in any game, and is one of just two teams (joining 1-4 Miami) with that dubious distinction. Even the winless Raiders have a pair of 20-plus-point outings.

The Broncos have scored just five touchdowns themselves, winning by three at home against Kansas City in a 9-6 battle of field goals, and posting three consecutive 10-point wins the past three games, at New England (17-7), and home against Baltimore and Oakland (both 13-3). The lone touchdown allowed by Denver came in the fourth quarter against the Patriots, in a game the Broncos were in complete command of at 17-0. That lead was the biggest margin the Denver defense had to work with all season, with every game remaining relatively tight throughout.

Given the Broncos' history of offensive prowess, the fans and media in the Mile High City have by far focused more on what Denver isn't doing -- i.e., quarterback Jake Plummer's continued struggles to move the ball -- than the defensive half of the story. But that hasn't yet caused the type of locker room tension that so often arises when a team is heavily imbalanced.

"I don't think they'll go there,'' Patterson said of Denver's defenders. "I don't think they really care about it. Guys like Al Wilson and John Lynch have both said it: 'It's not about the offense. It's about us taking care of our job.' I've been places where the offense has struggled, in Dallas and Cleveland. And you get that chirping on the sideline about how the offense is playing. But I haven't heard that here. There's no complaining.''

But there is a serious shortage of love for the Broncos' D, which ranks only 10th in the league in yards allowed (293.4 per game).

"Oh, it's still an offensive place around here,'' Patterson said. "We're still kind of playing in the shadow of the offense. They haven't all the way embraced us. Even after the Oakland game, there's still two articles in the paper on what the offense isn't doing, and one on the defense playing so well. But that goes with the territory here.''

In catching the likes of Baltimore, Oakland and Kansas City without starting quarterback Trent Green, the Broncos defense has probably already faced some of the weaker offenses it will draw all season. That trend should hold at least through this week's trip to Cleveland. But over the course of the rest of the season, Denver will be sorely tested to maintain its historic pace on defense.

Starting in Week 8, the Broncos close out their schedule with a challenging 10-game span that includes games against Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San Diego (two), Kansas City with Green expected back, Seattle and Cincinnati. If Denver is still giving up just more than a touchdown per game at that point, it'll be time to place the 2006 Broncos alongside the greatest defensive units of all time. Even in Denver, where offense rules and the famed Orange Crush defense had its day nearly 30 years back, the D will get its due.

"We're aware of the history, but it's not really talked about,'' Patterson said. "The only time we might talk about it is after the game, when the PR guy comes in and tells us we set a record that had stood for 40 years or something. But you know the guys feel good about it and want to keep it going. They want to get it done.''

They're getting it done so far on defense in Denver. This season, it's been that way right from the start.

[Spider]

Historic ? I could go with that to a point ........... If this defense is dominate over 5 years like they are now . Historic in deed

[OrangeShadow]

awesome article thanks merlin

[Merlin]

Historic ? I could go with that to a point ........... If this defense is dominate over 5 years like they are now . Historic in deed
I disagree that it has to be maintained over more than one season. If they are able to maintain this pace for the rest of the season (which it could be reasonably questioned) and go deep into the playoffs (and win the SB ;) ), they will be remembered in history as one of the best, regardless if the dominance does not repeat itself next yr.

To be able to put up record numbers, and against some of the opponents they will be soon facing, how could one not consider the yr's performance historic (again the big if, the schedule has been fairly soft thus far*).

*Although that should not detract from their achievements

[Spider]

I disagree that it has to be maintained over more than one season. If they are able to maintain this pace for the rest of the season (which it could be reasonably questioned) and go deep into the playoffs (and win the SB ;) ), they will be remembered in history as one of the best, regardless if the dominance does not repeat itself next yr.

To be able to put up record numbers, and against some of the opponents they will be soon facing, how could one not consider the yr's performance historic (again the big if, the schedule has been fairly soft thus far*).

*Although that should not detract from their achievements
;D you are probably right , I am still in the late 70's early 80's ......

[scorpio]

Don Banks still a no-talent assclown. And he wasn't very good on "In the Heat of the Night" either.

[Garcia Bronco]

1 TD allowed in 5 games is the best start in 72 years...please allow this information to sink in...........WOW

[Bronx33]

1 TD allowed in 5 games is the best start in 72 years...please allow this information to sink in...........WOW


I agree butttttttttt i would like to see how our D is after a few more games re: Indy if we can hold them too a low score it will start sinking in. We are good but the question is (how good)

[baja]

St Louis - Ranked 8th - scored 18 - average pts 23.2 = -5.2 under

New England - Ranked 10th - scored 7 - average 21.6 = - 14.6 under

K. C. - Ranked 26th - scored 6 - average 17.4 = -11.4 under

Baltimore - Ranked 28th- scored 3- average 18.3 = -15.3 under

Oakland - Ranked 32ed - scored 3 - average 10 = -7 under

[Jetmeck]

Stay hungry and focus DEFENSE.

PLUMMER AND THE NEW FACES ON OFFENSE WILL FINALLY GELL THIS WEEK. Start HIM OFF WITH A FEW PASSES TO THE te, THAT WOULD BE A NOVEL IDEA ?

Then let him run one to get his confidence up, then turn him loose..........

[SprintRightOption]

I don't think the schedule has been all that soft when 3 of 5 games were against 4-2, 4-1, 4-2 teams. We held NE and Balt 12 points below their lowest output of the rest of the season.

That said, I believe last year's Indy D was holding people to 6 points per game after 5 games, then then next 5 games (against 2 good teams and 3 bad) they allowed 25 points per and finished the season as a good but not great defense.

We'll see what happens in the next 5 games, with Indy, Pitt, and Diego in there.

[Merlin]

I don't think the schedule has been all that soft when 3 of 5 games were against 4-2, 4-1, 4-2 teams.
It was soft from the perspective of the quality of the Os Denver faced. The only half decent O was NE, but they were having troubles; however, the running game was going well and Denver shut it down. Baja's points are very valid though, Denver has been holding other team's substantially below their normal points output (and did a lot better against the Ravens than SD did).

[elsid13]

We see how good this D is when it face Indy.

[Spider]

We see how good this D is when it face Indy.

I already know how good this D is before we face Indy ....... Telling ya these guys are good .........

[Cito Pelon]

. . . . . ."It was like bang, bang, bang, but there was no panic at all. . . . . ..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/don_banks/10/20/denver.defense/index.html

Just wanted to point that out. No panic from the D, no panic from the O.

[freak6]

Just wanted to point that out. No panic from the D, no panic from the O.

That's sarcasm right? We went for a 4th and 1 from our own 35 in the 2nd quarter of that game. Maybe to you that is not panic, to me that is a sign of out right desperation with a heaping side order of panic that our defense is getting wore down, and you (the O) better do something now or this game is OVER.

[watermock]

Don Banks still a no-talent assclown. And he wasn't very good on "In the Heat of the Night" either.

Wasn't he a game show host on cable?

I would call our Defense "lunchpail tough", stating with Al Wilson...DWill put in a bit of comedy with the frohawk, but I heard that's gone.

We have to get something going on offense, and soon.

[watermock]

George Bush just CRAPPED on the Constitution, and used the Bill of Rights to wipe!!!

VOTE DEMOCRAT

Obviously, you have never heard of FDR. Ask your great grandfather. He had more executive orders than any in the history of the Presidency. Guess what...he was a Democrat. Of course, Democrats wern't the idiots they are now but the point stands.

some of his rulings went right to the high court. Now the court is left with a plethora of frvolous lawsuits.

[freak6]

Obviously, you have never heard of FDR. Ask your great grandfather.

Did I say the internment of Japanese was fine? Don't presume to know what i have and have not heard of. I'm not going to debate you as you spend your time doing other things that I won't name because there is nothing gained by your further humiliation, but just because you watched a History Channel show about FDR doesn't mean you are smarter than me, because your not.

[defenseman]

I disagree that it has to be maintained over more than one season. If they are able to maintain this pace for the rest of the season (which it could be reasonably questioned) and go deep into the playoffs (and win the SB ;) ), they will be remembered in history as one of the best, regardless if the dominance does not repeat itself next yr.

To be able to put up record numbers, and against some of the opponents they will be soon facing, how could one not consider the yr's performance historic (again the big if, the schedule has been fairly soft thus far*).

*Although that should not detract from their achievements

Agreed, that's why they keep stats for a season. No need for 4 or 5 years, one is enough to set records and put them in a different class. Sixteen games, one season, should be good enough for anyone..dman

[defenseman]

We see how good this D is when it face Indy.

More pressure on manning will be required against Indy...dman

[Ballhawk]

St Louis - Ranked 8th - scored 18 - average pts 23.2 = -5.2 under

New England - Ranked 10th - scored 7 - average 21.6 = - 14.6 under

K. C. - Ranked 26th - scored 6 - average 17.4 = -11.4 under

Baltimore - Ranked 28th- scored 3- average 18.3 = -15.3 under

Oakland - Ranked 32ed - scored 3 - average 10 = -7 under

This is the perfect point Baja. You can only play the games on your schedule. If we can continue to hold teams to around 10 points under thier avg then the D is doing a great job. I do not expect the D to maqintain 7 pts per game but we could very well finish at around 12-15 which would be tops in the league.

If I had to set a goal for this D it would be to not allow over 19 in any game this year. That would give us a chance to win any game we are in.

[elsid13]

This is the perfect point Baja. You can only play the games on your schedule. If we can continue to hold teams to around 10 points under thier avg then the D is doing a great job. I do not expect the D to maqintain 7 pts per game but we could very well finish at around 12-15 which would be tops in the league.

If I had to set a goal for this D it would be to not allow over 19 in any game this year. That would give us a chance to win any game we are in.

I read somewhere that the goal for a good NFL defense was 17 points. An elite one was anything under 14.

[Ballhawk]

I read somewhere that the goal for a good NFL defense was 17 points. An elite one was anything under 14.


Sounds right. If we play half our games at the pace we our on (7.4) and the other half at 20 ppg, then at years end we would be around 13.2 for the year. So to hit that mark they really wouldn't need to be exceptional from this point on. With our start 12 ppg at years end is reachable, with our schedule 10 ppg is going to be very tough.

[elsid13]

Sounds right. If we play half our games at the pace we our on (7.4) and the other half at 20 ppg, then at years end we would be around 13.2 for the year. So to hit that mark they really wouldn't need to be exceptional from this point on. With our start 12 ppg at years end is reachable, with our schedule 10 ppg is going to be very tough.

Of course, you expect an average NFL offense to put up about 19 points a game, right now we cannot let the Defense not be exceptional.

[Ballhawk]

Our road schedule looks to be mild so we have a good shot. @Clev, Oak, KC, AZ, even Pitt is not playing that well on O and we should be very hyped up for that game. If we can play well in these games and be stingy at home we could challenge Balt's record. I only care about wins at this point, but our O is going to have to get upto that 19 per game if we will have any shot in the playoffs.