Sacks may not be in the bag

[dragondawg]

By Jim Armstrong
Denver Post Staff Columnist (jmarmstrong@denverpost.com?subject=DenverPost.com : Sacks may not be in the bag)

ain't got no money, but I sure got a whole lotta notes. ...

They're fast, they're athletic, and every once in a while, they get close enough to the quarterback to make out his number.

It wasn't just me. Other members of the unwashed masses of media were waiting for Jim Bates, too. They wanted to know if Bates, the new man with the plan for the Broncos' defense, was going to use his linebackers in the pass rush more than his predecessor, Larry Coyer.

Al Wilson, D.J. Williams and Ian Gold generally are regarded as one of the NFL's top-notch trios. And what did it translate into last season? Two sacks - one by Wilson, one by Williams.

Nothing out of the ordinary there. The previous season, they accounted for six - three apiece by Wilson and Gold.

The obvious question: Will those numbers go up in Bates' more attack-oriented defense?

"It all depends," Bates said. "We'll see how we are as far as rushing with the front four. We know we're going to be good in coverage. Then it depends on game situation and how the offense is doing."

Translation: Don't count on it.

The good news for Bronco Nation is Bates has a history of getting pressure on the quarterback from his front four. Three times in a span of four seasons with the Dolphins he had two D linemen account for 28-plus sacks. The Broncos had 35 last season. ...

And for the record, it wasn't just a matter of Bates having talented linemen in Miami. He coaxed a career-high 16 1/2 sacks out of Trace Armstrong at age 35. ...

The Broncos are committed to Gerard Warren as a starter, but beyond him, they have question marks on the D line. That said, feel free to pencil in Ebenezer Ekuban at defensive end. He played for Bates back in the day with the Cowboys. ...

By the way, don't sleep on Domenik Hixon as the Broncos' punt returner next season. Hixon, a fourth-rounder whose rookie year was washed out by injuries, was on new special-teams coordinator Scott O'Brien's radar last year in Miami. O'Brien's McScouting report on Hixon: makes you miss.

"We all saw him coming out of Akron," O'Brien said. "I like him. He's not a one-cut guy." ...

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5380760

[ZachKC]

If Bates were to be able to produce that in Denver it would be huge. Thats a tough looking defense.

[Vegas_Bronco]

Wilkerson (Sp?) must be going for 17 sacks this year - c'mon Bates talk him into it!

[thumpc]

Coax 12 1/2 out of Lang.

[Kaylore]

Coax the Donuts out of their hands.

[BroncoBuff]

.... and coax a few donuts INTO Hamilton's.

[OrangeShadow]

i cant wait to see what bates can do with DJ

[55CrushEm]

Sacks are overrated. Look at us back in the 2005 season....Denver led the league in QB PRESSURES (QB hits, hurries, etc.), but was one of the worst teams in sacks.

As Howie Long said, "I'll take 10 pressures over 1 sack anyday."

[broncs2bowl]

Yea but we need to get pressure with the front four. 2005 we sent 9 people every play. 2006 six we sent 4 every play but it would take them forever to get to the QB. Most of our sacks were "coverage sacks". The only "real sacks" came from Dumerville. We need to get fast pressure from the Front four and our Defense could be phenomenal.

AND we brought the perfect person to do that...Jim Bates

[rugbythug]

The reason we can't get any sacks out of our LBers is they are not very good at it.

[Drek]

Dumervil and Ekuban will be Bates' sacking ends, wait and see.

Good news on Hixon, I liked what I saw in the few Akron games I caught his senior year, hell of an athlete, should make a difference on STs.

[Steve Prefontaine]

The reason we can't get any sacks out of our LBers is they are not very good at it.
Well, I hope that coaching could improve that a little. Guess not...

[Garcia Bronco]

Dummervil is a one trick pony at this point. It's going to take some time before he's a complete player.

[Drek]

Dummervil is a one trick pony at this point. It's going to take some time before he's a complete player.

I agree, but neither is Lang and he's slowing down with age. Short of us drafting a DE early on day one we'll see Lang and Dumervil manning the weak side end, in which case I think Dumervil will cause much more noise as a pass rusher.

[Circle Orange]

For some reason I find your title header tremendously funny.

[Vegas_Bronco]

For some reason I find your title header tremendously funny.

What is so mysterious, a sack is typically located in a mans wife's purse bag - CLIP - 'yes dear?' That's what we're talking about here...Bates just has a way of coaxing those 'sacks' out of these players by teaching leverage techniques to acquire more sacks by using good form and manual technique. LOL

[Dudeskey]

2 cover corners on our roster will enable us to dial up more blitzes... maybe we'll see more use in that manner from our LB's under Bates ???

[16-JakE-16]

By Jim Armstrong
Denver Post Staff Columnist (jmarmstrong@denverpost.com?subject=DenverPost.com : Sacks may not be in the bag)

The good news for Bronco Nation is Bates has a history of getting pressure on the quarterback from his front four. Three times in a span of four seasons with the Dolphins he had two D linemen account for 28-plus sacks. The Broncos had 35 last season. ...


That's what happens when you have Jason Taylor.

And for the record, it wasn't just a matter of Bates having talented linemen in Miami.

BS

I don't care how good he is, now is not the time to be optimistic. Unless the team brings in a damn good pass rusher it'll be in the same position next year, just like last year. "A few players" away from the big game. A lack of a pass rush is what has plagued this time for the past few years. NOT A FRIGGIN LACK OF A BLOCKING TIGHT END. I don't know when they'll get it, soon I hope. The best part is watching everyone damn near cream their pants because they signed Daniel Graham.!Booya!

[jbiel]

Sacks are overrated. Look at us back in the 2005 season....Denver led the league in QB PRESSURES (QB hits, hurries, etc.), but was one of the worst teams in sacks.

As Howie Long said, "I'll take 10 pressures over 1 sack anyday."

I think I would much rather have 1 sack than 10 pressures that lead into 10 completed passes. We need sacks!!

[Atlas]

I have been copying some games from Gold's rookie year and that year they used him as a DE pass rush specialist, and he was getting in there a lot. He was putting a lot of pressure on the QB. He is very quick around the end. Just seems to me they should blitz a LB more often especially if Bly stays here.

[Crushaholic]

If we convince Bly to play in Denver, we'll have two all-world corners covering the WRs. An attack-style defense will limit the quarterback's options even more, resulting in more hurried balls and more interceptions. Interceptions are better than sacks...

[skpac1001]

I think I would much rather have 1 sack than 10 pressures that lead into 10 completed passes. We need sacks!!

How about 5 completed passes, 4 incompletes, and 1 Bailey interception taken to the house. I would say that is better then a sack.

[Northman]

Sacks dont do anything against Peyton Manning. He will just burn you for 20 yds on the next play. Its the Pressure and forced Turnovers that is the key. Sacks mean jack ****.

[broncs2bowl]

Against Peyton Manning you gotta get pressure from your front four or else he'll rip you apart.

....also I think we need to send Gold on the blitz more(he is good)...Wilson is feasible(good sometimes not very good other times at blitzing)...DJ has got to improve his blitzing(I say this even though he is my fav LB)