DukeWoody
06-11-2008, 07:16 PM
Broncos, Bailey try to boost defense
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/11/broncos-bailey-try-to-sort-out-defense/
Yes, in 2007, the Broncos ranked 30th in the league in rushing defense, 31st defending scoring plays inside their 20-yard line and 28th in points allowed.
It's a total that added up to a 7-9 finish, a playoff miss and a smattering of NFL scouts who said the team struggled so much on defense that even cornerback Champ Bailey wasn't the same.
"Well, one thing about being on a bad defense, everybody looks bad," Bailey said Tuesday. "No matter how great you are, if we don't cover in the secondary, the front four is not going to get sacks, and if they don't get sacks - get pressure - we're not going to get any picks.
"It all goes hand in hand. And we didn't get our hands on enough of any of it."
The result: Assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates decided to leave the team instead of being reassigned to coaching linebackers instead of calling the defensive signals, and the Broncos have spent the offseason installing Bob Slowik's defense.
And for Bailey, who always is sifting through the details as he studies opponents and himself, that has meant also trying to sort out how it all went so wrong.
"I think we were just confused," Bailey said. "We were just so inconsistent. At times, we'd see good stuff, do some good things and all of a sudden, we'd look like the worst team in the NFL. You know you can't win games like that.
"We were so successful before last year. We're kind of going back to that. . . . Things are not as complicated, we know what our responsibilities are and it's really helped us. We can concentrate on execution instead of just thinking about where we're supposed to be."
Bailey will cross the double-figure mark on his career timeline as he enters his 10th season in the league. He has been selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls - with one more, he will tie Hall of Famer Mike Haynes for most by a cornerback in league history - and his 24 interceptions during the past four seasons lead all players.
"I just always looked up to him and make my game the way his is," Broncos rookie cornerback Jack Williams said. "He studies and he has talent like that. You try to do a lot of the little things he does, but a lot of the stuff is instinct. You can try to see what he sees, but you really can't duplicate what he does."
While Bailey always casts a discerning eye on the defense, he saves his harshest critiques for his own play. And this offseason has meant looking at why he went from eight interceptions in 2005 to 10 in 2006 to three last season.
His 10 interceptions in 2006 tied for the league lead despite the fact he said he had only 35 passes directed at him.
"So, yeah, I know people pick and choose when to challenge me, but that was true in (2006) and I still had 10 picks, and it was true (in 2005)," Bailey said. "So I try to figure out what the problems were. I can't say I have full responsibility for what happened, but at the same time, I don't like to point fingers at anybody and I need to do what I can to make it better.
"And I know I can do better. I mean, I had three picks; I have to make a lot more plays than that."
Bailey said he likes the vibe after the change in the defensive scheme and that, for the first time since he was at the University of Georgia, he is a teammate with one of his brothers.
Boss Bailey, a linebacker and Champ's younger brother, signed with the Broncos during the offseason and is working as the team's starting strong-side linebacker.
"It's special to see him every day, to do things together again, all the time, like we've been doing our whole lives until we got to the NFL," Champ Bailey said. "I just feel like it can all be better this year. Last year, we had so much talent - potential - it was definitely frustrating. Nothing we did seemed to pan out for us as far as winning games.
"Hopefully, we change that."
ETC.: Former Louisiana State punter Patrick Fisher was on the field Wednesday. Fisher has not been signed by the Broncos but is in for a two-day tryout. Fisher will practice today as well. . . . Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson did not practice and is not expected to practice today. Robertson has had knee troubles in the past. . . . Defensive tackle Nic Clemons left a pass-rushing drill after tweaking his right knee.
legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359
Really nowhere to go but up at this point in time because we can't possibly get any worse, right...
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/11/broncos-bailey-try-to-sort-out-defense/
Yes, in 2007, the Broncos ranked 30th in the league in rushing defense, 31st defending scoring plays inside their 20-yard line and 28th in points allowed.
It's a total that added up to a 7-9 finish, a playoff miss and a smattering of NFL scouts who said the team struggled so much on defense that even cornerback Champ Bailey wasn't the same.
"Well, one thing about being on a bad defense, everybody looks bad," Bailey said Tuesday. "No matter how great you are, if we don't cover in the secondary, the front four is not going to get sacks, and if they don't get sacks - get pressure - we're not going to get any picks.
"It all goes hand in hand. And we didn't get our hands on enough of any of it."
The result: Assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates decided to leave the team instead of being reassigned to coaching linebackers instead of calling the defensive signals, and the Broncos have spent the offseason installing Bob Slowik's defense.
And for Bailey, who always is sifting through the details as he studies opponents and himself, that has meant also trying to sort out how it all went so wrong.
"I think we were just confused," Bailey said. "We were just so inconsistent. At times, we'd see good stuff, do some good things and all of a sudden, we'd look like the worst team in the NFL. You know you can't win games like that.
"We were so successful before last year. We're kind of going back to that. . . . Things are not as complicated, we know what our responsibilities are and it's really helped us. We can concentrate on execution instead of just thinking about where we're supposed to be."
Bailey will cross the double-figure mark on his career timeline as he enters his 10th season in the league. He has been selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls - with one more, he will tie Hall of Famer Mike Haynes for most by a cornerback in league history - and his 24 interceptions during the past four seasons lead all players.
"I just always looked up to him and make my game the way his is," Broncos rookie cornerback Jack Williams said. "He studies and he has talent like that. You try to do a lot of the little things he does, but a lot of the stuff is instinct. You can try to see what he sees, but you really can't duplicate what he does."
While Bailey always casts a discerning eye on the defense, he saves his harshest critiques for his own play. And this offseason has meant looking at why he went from eight interceptions in 2005 to 10 in 2006 to three last season.
His 10 interceptions in 2006 tied for the league lead despite the fact he said he had only 35 passes directed at him.
"So, yeah, I know people pick and choose when to challenge me, but that was true in (2006) and I still had 10 picks, and it was true (in 2005)," Bailey said. "So I try to figure out what the problems were. I can't say I have full responsibility for what happened, but at the same time, I don't like to point fingers at anybody and I need to do what I can to make it better.
"And I know I can do better. I mean, I had three picks; I have to make a lot more plays than that."
Bailey said he likes the vibe after the change in the defensive scheme and that, for the first time since he was at the University of Georgia, he is a teammate with one of his brothers.
Boss Bailey, a linebacker and Champ's younger brother, signed with the Broncos during the offseason and is working as the team's starting strong-side linebacker.
"It's special to see him every day, to do things together again, all the time, like we've been doing our whole lives until we got to the NFL," Champ Bailey said. "I just feel like it can all be better this year. Last year, we had so much talent - potential - it was definitely frustrating. Nothing we did seemed to pan out for us as far as winning games.
"Hopefully, we change that."
ETC.: Former Louisiana State punter Patrick Fisher was on the field Wednesday. Fisher has not been signed by the Broncos but is in for a two-day tryout. Fisher will practice today as well. . . . Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson did not practice and is not expected to practice today. Robertson has had knee troubles in the past. . . . Defensive tackle Nic Clemons left a pass-rushing drill after tweaking his right knee.
legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359
Really nowhere to go but up at this point in time because we can't possibly get any worse, right...