Faith in defense earned

[oubronco]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10646882

Man I hope they don't let this one game go to there heads and play like this every week and expand on it :thumbs:

this 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme or whatever they want to call it worked on Tampa but can it work on the Jags

[socalorado]

Give Denver coach Mike Shanahan credit for being a man of faith.
For weeks, he's preached patience. Give the defense time, Shanahan said, and it will come around.
The defense's problems in September? All fixable, he said.
Sunday, in Denver's 16-13 victory against Tampa Bay, the defense proved its coach correct.
For the first time this season, it was the defense that led the Broncos to a victory. And it did it by dominating at the line of scrimmage, harassing the quarterback and limiting big plays, all areas that were considered defensive vulnerabilities through the first quarter of the season.
"I knew we were going to get better as time went on, because we have too many quality guys who are working extremely hard together," Shanahan said.
Against Tampa Bay, Denver fully committed to switching between its traditional 4-3 base defense and a 3-4 package, with linebacker Jamie Winborn and a rotating front of defensive linemen.
The result was the defense's best performance of the season. The pass rush, missing for a month, was energized, and the Broncos sacked Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese three times and hurried him and his replacement, Jeff Garcia, at least six more times.
With the pass rush working, everything else seemed easier.
"It wasn't that we planned on blitzing a lot or anything, it's just when you're feeling like you're dominating, you can call more blitzes and mix it up a lot more," linebacker Boss Bailey said.
Denver dressed just seven defensive linemen and used all of them as they switched between different defensive looks.
Defensive tackle Kenny Peterson called it a "hybrid" defense. Marcus Thomas laughed and called it a "half-and-half."
Tampa Bay just called it confusing.
Denver kept the Buccaneers out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter and allowed season-lows in points (13) and total yards (307).
"It threw us for a loop," Bucs receiver Michael Clayton said. "When you have a game plan set up for a specific defense and they run a different one, it makes your job difficult."
Expecting Tampa to direct most of its power runs by Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn at the defensive ends, Denver on Sunday frequently played with a three-man front consisting of two tackles and one end, with Bailey stepping into the box as an extra defender.
Peterson and fellow tackles Dewayne Robertson and Nic Clemons all got looks at nose guard, while Thomas and ends Ebenezer Ekuban, Elvis Dumervil and John Engelberger rotated on the outside.
"I think it just gives us more flexibility and it plays to some of our players," defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. "We did it back and forth. I couldn't tell you the percentages because it's just becoming part of our 'D'."
Sunday's performance showed Shanahan was right to have faith in the defense. Players said they tried to stay confident too, even after giving up 33 points and more than 200 yards rushing last week in a loss at Kansas City.
Bailey said the defense gathered after giving up a couple of long gains early against Tampa Bay, including a 38-yard run by Dunn in the first quarter, and vowed that Sunday would be the day the defense would finally click.
"It was huge to get the front four going, to get the backers in there going and make this package work," Bailey said. "(Defensive coordinator Bob) Slowik believes in it. We believe in it. We had to show we believed in it by putting it together on game day. That's what you saw today."
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com (ljones@denverpost.com) Top of the line


The Broncos dressed only seven defensive linemen Sunday against Tampa Bay, and all played significant minutes in the team's 4-3 base defense and its 3-4 package.
DT Marcus Thomas: Starting tackle in the base formation, he plays outside in the 3-4 and also can drop into pass coverage. He made his second career interception Sunday.
DT Dewayne Robertson: The other starting tackle returned after missing last week with a knee injury and made an immediate impact in the run defense.
DT Kenny Peterson: The most consistent nose guard in the 3-4 look, Peterson had three tackles against the Bucs and has two sacks this season.
DT Nic Clemons: A converted defensive end, Clemons played at nose guard and on the outside in the 3-4. He had a sack negated by off-setting penalties in the second half.
DE Elvis Dumervil: The drought is over for the team's best pass rusher, as he brought down Brian Griese for his first sack of the season in the second quarter.
DE John Engelberger: Starts opposite of Dumervil in the base defense; he made one tackle against Tampa Bay. DE Ebenezer Ekuban: A versatile lineman who plays both end and tackle, he is tied with linebacker D.J. Williams for the team lead with two sacks.

[kappys]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10646882

Man I hope they don't let this one game go to there heads and play like this every week and expand on it :thumbs:

this 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme or whatever they want to call it worked on Tampa but can it work on the Jags

Its going to get a lot tougher once opponents get good game film on us. I suspect it will work against the Jags but after that we'll see.

Still I like the principle. We don't have greatplayers on the front 7 - but we have a lot of guys who do pretty well at one or another thing. Might as well try to customize the defense and use them for their strengths.

The concern I have is that with so much rotation a QB who can run a no huddle offense is going to do very well if he can catch us in the wrong package.

[oubronco]

Its going to get a lot tougher once opponents get good game film on us. I suspect it will work against the Jags but after that we'll see.

Still I like the principle. We don't have greatplayers on the front 7 - but we have a lot of guys who do pretty well at one or another thing. Might as well try to customize the defense and use them for their strengths.

The concern I have is that with so much rotation a QB who can run a no huddle offense is going to do very well if he can catch us in the wrong package.

that is an excellent point and with Garrard being a running QB I hope he doesn't burn them with his legs along with their running game

[fontaine]

All of this won't matter the next time we play an offense that has a legit WR/TE combo with a decent QB.

Our safeties will get exposed and lack of pass rush will allow for the big passing plays.

Our defense can grind it out against the Jags as long as the DL continues to keep the LBers free.

[Smiling Assassin27]

All of this won't matter the next time we play an offense that has a legit WR/TE combo with a decent QB.

Our safeties will get exposed and lack of pass rush will allow for the big passing plays.

Our defense can grind it out against the Jags as long as the DL continues to keep the LBers free.

I concur. We showed that we could win the battle against what amounted to a marginal offense with a limited pass game at home. On the road, versus a team that can sling it, we will be tested and we haven't really been up to the challenge yet. Still, this game probably boosts confidence and 90% of this game is half mental.

[Tombstone RJ]

This game was a step in the right direction but I'm still reserved about the overall effectiveness of the defensive line. I really don't like this 3-4 crap that brings 3 defensive lineman and drops everyone else back. It's like a prevent defense and it stinks.

One thing that Slowik gets is that in order for this defense to be effective, he's got to keep the opposing offense guessing alot. He's not gonna be able to line up with 4 dlineman and force the opposing offense into making mistakes. Slowik is gonna have to use some smoke and mirrors to get the job done.

[bronco militia]

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/drew/DREW1006.gif