superbowl XXXII on NFL network

[chadta]

hey guys, just noticed its on NFL network tuesday at midnight, and again at 2pm tuesday, thats eastern time so that would be what monday at 10 pm and tuesday at noon for you folks in denver, ill be making sure i get a good copy of it this time.

[ColoradoDarin]

It's on at 8pm Eastern tonight as well

[dbfan4life]

Oops! Didn't realize someone already started a thread on this. Deleting mine. It's on tonight @ 6pm. Relive those glory days!!

[bpc]

Amazing to watch this line work. They are blowing Green Bay off the ball. Especially on the goaline.

The sooner we get back to a talented, quality, physically imposing offensive line, the sooner we will be playing for championships again.

[Jana®]

I'm watching it too. It started at 6pm Denver time. I was just coming here to post this very thing, lol. I miss this team! We had such weapons in Sharpe, Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey and TD.. Howard Griffith.. Steve Atwater... :(

I miss this team! AND the oline.

[bpc]

Gary Zimmerman... what a beast. Scary thought is the way he is playing in this game, he easily could have ung on to his career for another 5 years if he wanted to.

[Denver Crush]

This is the greatest game ever played.

[rovolution]

Gary Zimmerman... what a beast. Scary thought is the way he is playing in this game, he easily could have ung on to his career for another 5 years if he wanted to.

i believe he played the entire 1997 season and the later part of the 1996 seasons with Torn Biceps (the same injury that ended Nail's 2007 season)


dont know how much longer he could have endured the pain, but playing more than a season + playoffs with Torn Biceps takes guts.


BTW...Tony Jones was a monster. Watch how he handles one of the greatest defense players in football history in Reggie White in this ballgame

And he(Tony) went to how many Pro Bowls? One. What a freaking shame

[gunns]

We did have some quality players but damn that offensive line. It was everything.

And Atwater. If TD hadn't gotten the MVP he should have, he was all over that field.

[theAPAOps5]

We did have some quality players but damn that offensive line. It was everything.

And Atwater. If TD hadn't gotten the MVP he should have, he was all over that field.

I remember sitting in my dorm room at CU debating with half the room that Atwater should have won the MVP. He was a beast that game. Then we all went to the Hill and burned couches.

[Rocket 7]

We did have some quality players but damn that offensive line. It was everything.

And Atwater. If TD hadn't gotten the MVP he should have, he was all over that field.

He would had a better chance if he didn't drop that sure INT.

[Atlas]

Amazing to watch this line work. They are blowing Green Bay off the ball. Especially on the goaline.

The sooner we get back to a talented, quality, physically imposing offensive line, the sooner we will be playing for championships again.


There was nothing imposing about the 97 OL. They were small and quick just like the line today. What they were that today's OL isn't is they were experienced.

Jones, Zim and Schlereth anchored that line. While Habib was a vet starter and Nalen, well was Nalen and had 2 years under his belt.

Denver's today is filled with young guys before anyone passes judgement on them they should at last get another year together.

Meyers, Kuper, Harris, Pears need another year to develop. Nalen, Hamilton and Holland provide veteren leadership and I believe this line will be fine. The retirement of Lepsis might cause Denver to feel like they need a T in the draft but even if they did draft a T he wouldn't play next year anyway.

[spdirty]

Love how Nalen just wore down Gilbert Brown too.

God I miss Alex Gibbs.

[bpc]

There was nothing imposing about the 97 OL. They were small and quick just like the line today. What they were that today's OL isn't is they were experienced.

Jones, Zim and Schlereth anchored that line. While Habib was a vet starter and Nalen, well was Nalen and had 2 years under his belt.

Denver's today is filled with young guys before anyone passes judgement on them they should at last get another year together.

Meyers, Kuper, Harris, Pears need another year to develop. Nalen, Hamilton and Holland provide veteren leadership and I believe this line will be fine. The retirement of Lepsis might cause Denver to feel like they need a T in the draft but even if they did draft a T he wouldn't play next year anyway.

With this take, obviously you didn't watch much bronco football during the super bowl years.

They imposed their will on every team they played for over three years (96-98) and the reason we could pull off the lightest line in the league is because they were also supremely talented. We could line straight up and pound teams, we could hit the corners on pitches and we were very good at pass blocking. Tony Jones and Zimm deserved pro bowl consideration every year even though they didn't get it. Schelereth was a cagey vet that was a key cog on three super bowl teams. Brian Habib was a very solid guard as well who left for a huge contract in Seattle after playing with Denver. In Tom Nalen we didn't know what we had until a few seasons after that.

We don't have and haven't had a OT that could hold either of those two guy's jocks' from our super bowl year. Hell, we are lucky if Erik Pears remains upright on most pass blocking plays.

While I think the interior line will be fine with the mix of Kuper, Holland, Myers and Nalen, we need LOTS of help at OT. Pears is below average and we are talking about converting Kuper to a tackle in most situations now which to me is iffy.

[spdirty]

John Elway is God's gift to football!!!

[dbfan4life]

John Elway is God's gift to football!!!

Now that, I can agree with! :thumbsup:

[gunns]

If we could pick up another Tony Jones or Zim in free agency and FB like Griffith.....AND a coach like Gibbs, we'd be on our way.

[spdirty]

1:45 from winning a Super Bowl FINALLY!!!

Damn I wish the mane was up and running during this era.

[SoDak Bronco]

What a game!!! That was great...I got kinda teary eyed watching John's dad, and the elation I felt for this team..

[spdirty]

every time I hear Pat say THIS ONES FOR JOHN! I get goosebumps and teary eyed.

Nothing will ever come close to this game and this win. Nothing ever.

[summerdenver]

They imposed their will on every team they played for over three years (96-98)


This observation is spot on. This is the first time i saw the replay of whole game and our OL was amazing in this game. They just wore down GB defense and imposed their will in this game. They looked more tenacious and nasty than our current group - On some plays Nalen blocked Gilbert brown one on one that was just awesome.

I remember the quote of schlereth about the second Jax wild card game - "Boys we are here to run the ball. We are going to cram the ball down your throat. This what you will get for dinner and you will like it".

We need this attitude on our OL.

[telluride]

Love how Nalen just wore down Gilbert Brown too.

God I miss Alex Gibbs.

Indeed. It's a shame Shanny poisoned that relationship. One thing that leaps out about that offense is Howard Griffith. We haven't had a decent fullback -- or even attempted to use a fullback effectively -- since that season. Ah well.

[lex]

The thing I remember most that game was the eventual domination of our Oline and watching the game and realizing that it was really going to happen...and it wasnt a fluke. Seriously, GB was a double digit favorite but after that game I was convinced Denver was the better team by far. Denver even had to overcome their doubters and sometimes belief is a big part of winning and losing. But yeah, love that last drive where Denvers running game carved up Green Bays defense. It was like the Packers were showing up for our funeral and instead, it was their own. But back to realizing Denver was the better team, if you do the math I think youll find that Denver had the best winning % if you include the playoffs. But truthfully, that was easily the most euphoric moment as a sports fan for me.

[Northman]

Im watching it now even though its 2:10am. lol

I love the fact that its not just highlights and its the entire game. I need to Tivo this at some time and record it.

[Northman]

The Blitzing schemes are just perfect. One of Grob's best moments.

[UltimateHoboW/Shotgun]

You know what one thing thats seperates this group of linemen and every group of good linemen we've had and the group we have now.



In the past our linemen were mean as p!ss. Its more than the legal cut blocking. It was they would cut you and move on to the next guy without a second thought. We had guys that would love to put a guy on his back.

But right now we are too nice. If I see one of our guys help the other team up. I swear I'm going throw-up.

We don't want to knock anybody down.

Example, Chargers at their place. Meyers and Holland give up a sack after being split by a D-lineman. Now Holland has the guy engaged. All Meyers has to do is ear hole the guy and jack him under the pads. But no all Meyers does is give him a push. But he misses and pushes Holland give the D-lineman just enough space and no place for Jay Cutler to step up into.

[SteveTensi13]

Broncos win, Broncos win!! This was worth burning the midnite oil for!!

[bpc]

The Blitzing schemes are just perfect. One of Grob's best moments.

Isn't it insane? He's blitzing with Crocket (solid cover man) and Darien Gordon on the corners. Hardly of Bailey or Bly's caliber... the one position on the team right now that we can actually say that about. WE need to be sending the blitz like crazy and hittig the crap out of the QB forcing them to throw some bad balls. When we ran that scheme two years ago, we went 13-3. Champ also had a career year. We need to put our best two defensive players in action.

[lex]

Isn't it insane? He's blitzing with Crocket (solid cover man) and Darien Gordon on the corners. Hardly of Bailey caliber... the one position on the team right now that we can actually say that about. WE need to be sending the blitz like crazy and hittig the crap out of the QB forcing them to throw some bad balls. When we ran that scheme two years ago, we went 13-3. Champ also had a career year. We need to put our best two defensive players in action.

fixed

[socalorado]

Indeed. It's a shame Shanny poisoned that relationship. One thing that leaps out about that offense is Howard Griffith. We haven't had a decent fullback -- or even attempted to use a fullback effectively -- since that season. Ah well.

Noticed this too! Howard was just a f'n beast! He never tired out, and just had a motor on him.
Man, does DEN NEED a freakin FB!.......and a RB........and a couple LBs......and a,....well you get the picture.

[Atlas]

With this take, obviously you didn't watch much bronco football during the super bowl years.

They imposed their will on every team they played for over three years (96-98) and the reason we could pull off the lightest line in the league is because they were also supremely talented. We could line straight up and pound teams, we could hit the corners on pitches and we were very good at pass blocking. Tony Jones and Zimm deserved pro bowl consideration every year even though they didn't get it. Schelereth was a cagey vet that was a key cog on three super bowl teams. Brian Habib was a very solid guard as well who left for a huge contract in Seattle after playing with Denver. In Tom Nalen we didn't know what we had until a few seasons after that.

We don't have and haven't had a OT that could hold either of those two guy's jocks' from our super bowl year. Hell, we are lucky if Erik Pears remains upright on most pass blocking plays.

While I think the interior line will be fine with the mix of Kuper, Holland, Myers and Nalen, we need LOTS of help at OT. Pears is below average and we are talking about converting Kuper to a tackle in most situations now which to me is iffy.

Denver' line was effective and dominant but they weren't imposing They did walk onto the field and impose their will over teams. They used guts and guile and smarts and teamwork. They didn't flatten opponents they shield them, they got them out of position and the RBs ran right by them.

You must be a total football expert to know how Harris is going to play this year without seeing him play one time. I would tend to agree that Pears is the weak link but to asume that he will always be the weak link is idiotic and uneducated. He has started about a whole 20 games in his career.

There is not one player that started on the OL from last year that should not be given a chance to start in 2008. Like I said Denver can take a T in the draft but he won't start. They never start. Nalen, Hamilton, Neil, Foster, Harris, Lepsis didn't start except for one Nalen start due to injury they sat the bench.

Denver's starting OL for next year is already on the roster who they will be is anyone's guess.

[Atlas]

TheBroncos OL had a hard time against the Chargers but the Chargers defense is great. They dominatd the Colts OL which is considered one of the best in the league.

Denver's OL will be better with experience, but they were already good. Look at the stats. Yards rushing and sacks allowed. They did very well. Don't panic and more experience and they will dominate.

You know what one thing thats seperates this group of linemen and every group of good linemen we've had and the group we have now.



In the past our linemen were mean as p!ss. Its more than the legal cut blocking. It was they would cut you and move on to the next guy without a second thought. We had guys that would love to put a guy on his back.

But right now we are too nice. If I see one of our guys help the other team up. I swear I'm going throw-up.

We don't want to knock anybody down.

Example, Chargers at their place. Meyers and Holland give up a sack after being split by a D-lineman. Now Holland has the guy engaged. All Meyers has to do is ear hole the guy and jack him under the pads. But no all Meyers does is give him a push. But he misses and pushes Holland give the D-lineman just enough space and no place for Jay Cutler to step up into.

[Atlas]

Isn't it insane? He's blitzing with Crocket (solid cover man) and Darien Gordon on the corners. Hardly of Bailey or Bly's caliber... the one position on the team right now that we can actually say that about. WE need to be sending the blitz like crazy and hittig the crap out of the QB forcing them to throw some bad balls. When we ran that scheme two years ago, we went 13-3. Champ also had a career year. We need to put our best two defensive players in action.
Denver doesn't need to blitz they need to get pressure with the front 4. They have the young DEs to giv them an edge rush I think they need a big fat guy at DT that can push the pocket back into he QBs face will do wonders for the defense.

Besides Corner play was not a problem. The main problem was the run defense. If Denver could have stopped the run they would have been much better against the pass. A stud DT will also help immensley against the run.

[Northman]

Isn't it insane? He's blitzing with Crocket (solid cover man) and Darien Gordon on the corners. Hardly of Bailey or Bly's caliber... the one position on the team right now that we can actually say that about. WE need to be sending the blitz like crazy and hittig the crap out of the QB forcing them to throw some bad balls. When we ran that scheme two years ago, we went 13-3. Champ also had a career year. We need to put our best two defensive players in action.


Yea, whether or not those schemes would work against a team like the Pats 5 spread (highly doubtful) is up for debate. But the thing i noticed watching it again last night was the SPEED. The only blitzes we do now are DELAYED blitzes and those arent worth ****. We were sending at least 5 guys from different formations every time in that Super Bowl. And they would get right up on the line to keep Favre guessing as too who was coming or going. Brett was on edge all night. But the speed of that defense was just amazing and the fact that wherever the ball went there were 3 defenders around him. And oh! The tackling was superb! God i miss Atwater.

[Northman]

Denver doesn't need to blitz they need to get pressure with the front 4. They have the young DEs to giv thm an edge rush I think they need a big fat guy at DT that can push the pocket back into he QBs face will do wonders for the defense.

Besides Corner play was not a problem. The main problem was the run defense. If Denver could have stopped the run they would have been much better against the pass. A stud DT will also help immensley against the run.


I disagree. Although i dont think Denver should rely on the blitz they should import better blitz PACKAGES as the ones we have are totally worthless and do more damage than good.

[broncs2bowl]

the nugs playin like comlete total ASS!!!!! vs the hawks today

[bpc]

Denver' line was effective and dominant but they weren't imposing They did walk onto the field and impose their will over teams. They used guts and guile and smarts and teamwork. They didn't flatten opponents they shield them, they got them out of position and the RBs ran right by them.

You must be a total football expert to know how Harris is going to play this year without seeing him play one time. I would tend to agree that Pears is the weak link but to asume that he will always be the weak link is idiotic and uneducated. He has started about a whole 20 games in his career.

There is not one player that started on the OL from last year that should not be given a chance to start in 2008. Like I said Denver can take a T in the draft but he won't start. They never start. Nalen, Hamilton, Neil, Foster, Harris, Lepsis didn't start except for one Nalen start due to injury they sat the bench.

Denver's starting OL for next year is already on the roster who they will be is anyone's guess.

You don't think teams were intimidated by Denver after Super Bowl 32? I classify that as being the same. The one thing I can guarantee about that time is defenses knew they were in for a dogfight when playing against Denver's old OLine. They were going to scrap and fight and take feet when inches were given. Who cares if they didn't have traditional heavy weights. I can speak from experience, as a larger player, you can dread those fast quick powerful lines as well. That is exactly what Denver was at the time and that in itself can be imposing for teams. And you don't think they moved guys off the ball? I saw Tony Jones moving Reggie White off the ball quite a bit and as any great HB does, our line got better as the game went on.

I've seen Pears playing for two years. LT and then RT. He is doing the exact same thing this year that he was doing last year which is why we have to run one or our TE's or back's into the DE to chip them every time we are definite passing situation. The guy is a horrible pass blocker. He plays like a top that's spinning out of control. He doesn't know how to bend his knee's, he bends at the waste almost all the time... it's one of the reasons any DE that has two pass rush moves gives him fits. They'll go hard outside, Pears will lean and they'll come back inside and kill Cutler. You can't live like that.

As for Ryan Harris, who knows what he'll do. The fact that the only time he ever saw the field playing behind Pears was when Erik got injured. ERIK even played as a rookie! That is sad, unfortunate and not a good sign all at the same time. I wasn't high on him at Notre Dame and i'm highly skeptical that an offensive lineman who has already had two back surgeries (somebody else stated that on this board, one at ND, one this past year) is going to come in, be healthy and an effective player. IT just isn't a promising sign to me. Call it what you will... this isn't a QB with a bad back who gets hit 10-15 times a game... OFFENSIVE LINEMEN HIT ALMOST EVERY PLAY. 300LB men that are running 4.6-4.9's now. That is going to take a toll on any player.

As a man that suffers from back pain, it is debilitating. Trust me on it. I can't imagine what it would have been like to play through a back surgery.

I'm not against sitting any rookie. It takes time to learn a system and if that player doesn't know the system, you can get somebody killed. The bottom line is we need better talent on the offensive line for the future. We better start drafting it now because as it stands, we have Erik Pears who is a terrible pass protector returning as our only starter and then Ryan Harris who is an unknown quantity. We better get some guys in here that have talent and can play or Cutler is going to suffer through more games like Detroit and SD.

If we are concerned about tackles, we should go out and sign Jordan Gross. The learning curve is cut by 2/3's and he has already proven what he can do on this level. Plus you eliminate the bust factor from a rookie.

[UltimateHoboW/Shotgun]

TheBroncos OL had a hard time against the Chargers but the Chargers defense is great. They dominatd the Colts OL which is considered one of the best in the league.

Denver's OL will be better with experience, but they were already good. Look at the stats. Yards rushing and sacks allowed. They did very well. Don't panic and more experience and they will dominate.

Oh I'm not panicking here. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't sense any kind of urgency from our current O-linemen.

Now I'm not saying that we should take an a-bomb to the line. But there will need to be changes. First I like Pears at Left tackle. He did a good job when Lepsis went down 2 years ago. I feel good about our left guard too Hamilton (if he's good to come back), Meyers, Kuper could take the job and I'd be happy. At center all I can say is "Thank God for Tommy Nalen" or TGTN! I haven't seen enough from Harris to make a judgement call yet but with Graham helping and the way that Shannahan can scheme with with RB chipping and WR cracking back could help Harris out a lot. And not having to face the defenses best rushers should help also.

Here's the trouble spot of our o-line. Holland. How many times did he get called for a false start and holding this year. Now I don't know what the coaching staff saw to give Holland an extension. But there need to be a reevaluation. I'd go as far to say that we should trade back in the first round of the draft to the early 20's, like 20, 21, 22 and pick a guard. A good rookie with Nalen helping would give us an edge. Shannahan has said before that he can always game plan help for the tackles with TE's and RB chipping the edge rushers. But guards are harder to help out because you have to keep a RB to help and that doesn't help to keep a clean pocket.

[Atlas]

Oh I'm not panicking here. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't sense any kind of urgency from our current O-linemen.

Now I'm not saying that we should take an a-bomb to the line. But there will need to be changes. First I like Pears at Left tackle. He did a good job when Lepsis went down 2 years ago. I feel good about our left guard too Hamilton (if he's good to come back), Meyers, Kuper could take the job and I'd be happy. At center all I can say is "Thank God for Tommy Nalen" or TGTN! I haven't seen enough from Harris to make a judgement call yet but with Graham helping and the way that Shannahan can scheme with with RB chipping and WR cracking back could help Harris out a lot. And not having to face the defenses best rushers should help also.

Here's the trouble spot of our o-line. Holland. How many times did he get called for a false start and holding this year. Now I don't know what the coaching staff saw to give Holland an extension. But there need to be a reevaluation. I'd go as far to say that we should trade back in the first round of the draft to the early 20's, like 20, 21, 22 and pick a guard. A good rookie with Nalen helping would give us an edge. Shannahan has said before that he can always game plan help for the tackles with TE's and RB chipping the edge rushers. But guards are harder to help out because you have to keep a RB to help and that doesn't help to keep a clean pocket.


I think the answer is already there. I would be surprised if there was a starter on the OL next year that isn't already on the roster. Denver could go out and spend money on a vet LT but they have needs elsewhere too.

[bpc]

I think the answer is already there. I would be surprised if there was a starter on the OL next year that isn't already on the roster. Denver could go out and spend money on a vet LT but they have needs elsewhere too.

There is no bigger need than the OLine. Since when has a team plugged trash in on the OLine and been successful? We definitely haven't been successful doing that... one playoff win since we won the superbowls in 97'/98'. While teams like Pittsburgh, New England and Indianapolis continue to dominate because nobody can get to their QB with the quality offensive lines that they have.

We made some sacrifices to get the players we had for those super bowl runs... We had to trade a 1st rounder for Gary Zimmerman to get him away from the Vikes... a 2nd rounder to Cleveland for Tony Jones. You need that type of talent on the edges. You can get away with the scrappier, less talented guys on the interior, in the phone booth. Not on the outside though...

When we traded up and made Cutler the 11th selection in the NFL draft, we instantly made Cutler the future of this franchise. TO allow him to bust or not have a chance to successful because we are of the idiotic thinking that there are worse problems on this team than OT would be insane.

This is the same franchise that signed Darius Holland during the season and had Mario Fatehi at DT and made a good run of it on defense... one of the better units against the run in the league. While I want dominate players on defense too, we must build around Cutler first.

Follow the path that Indy carved for itself. It is one of the reasons why they win their division and play for a super bowl every season. They built around Manning, then they shored up the defense.

Draft the OLine, groom them, give Cutler time and then focus on our defense.