Good Article: Answers for a weak pass rush

[Kaylore]

Pretty good read, I think you'll all enjoy it.
http://www.orangemane.com/article_257.php

Socal Bronco: Suggestions for Improving the Pass Rush
By SoCalBronco
Nov 2, 2006, 01:21

After being humiliated yet again by Peyton Manning and the explosive Colts offense, the Broncos must face the uncomfortable question that has haunted them since the start of the decade: What to do about the pathetic pass rush?

The last two seasons have offered stark contrasts in Larry Coyer’s approach to the problem. Last season, the Broncos were blitz-heavy, and featured a particularly unique package of bringing 11 men up to the line of scrimmage bringing heavy pressure at times with 7 or 8 man blitzes from that look, or zone blitzes with three deep coverage behind it. The strategy was not bad in theory or in practice, as the Broncos often disrupted opposing offenses and achieved a solid degree of pressure even though this pressure did not result in a great deal of sacks.

The same approach has also been successful in the past. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide used the exact same strategy from the exact same 11 man on the LOS alignment to win the national championship in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, 1993. But that approach is no panacea, as it is still a double edged sword: it offers the promise of high reward, but also entails a high degree of risk, which partially explained why Coyer had to protect his corners by playing them off.

This year, the Broncos have taken fewer chances and have been generally more basic in their approach, placing the pass rushing burden largely on the defensive line. To put it bluntly though, Denver’s personnel simply can’t cut it against the elite or even above average offensive lines in this league, as we saw last Sunday.

Therefore, the Broncos need to be more creative in their approach. Against Indianapolis (and generally speaking, throughout the season) Denver has employed basic line play, usually eschewing stunts, loops and defensive line games. These strategies are useful to getting better pass rushing matchups and should be employed more frequently.

Rookie defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil of Louisville has shown an outstanding first step and possesses natural leverage, which are among the reasons why the coaches also used him at defensive tackle in camp and in the preseason, as he could often get to the interior gap off the snap quicker than the guards, who are generally better run blockers than pass protectors. The use of stunts will allow players with decent pass rushing skill like Dumervil and Kenard Lang to work against guards and will give them a greater chance of success. Defensive Tackle Gerard Warren was also effective as a pass rusher when used on stunts during training camp.

Instead of asking their defensive linemen to simply “beat the other man”, the Broncos should also use overload concepts that are helpful in giving the Broncos a numbers advantage. For example, on defensive line “loops” and “games”, one member of the defensive line moves laterally to the other side of the line, so that 3 members of the defensive line are rushing the passer from one side against only half of the offensive line.

This approach is risky to be sure, as it often can hurt a defense when the offense runs to the opposite side, but should nonetheless be a viable option on sure-fire passing downs. Another overload concept that Denver should employ more frequently is one that they have often used the last two seasons, but not much this season: bringing a safety and linebacker from the same side (often John Lynch was pegged for this role, in tandem with Ian Gold or D.J. Williams). This approach has created pressure for Denver in the past, as the blitzside guard and tackle had to deal with defensive linemen, while the back to that side could only block one of the two blitzers.

The Broncos can also improve their success at pass rushing through other types of blitzes, albeit not in the same high risk fashion as in the past. Denver can start by incorporating more corner blitzes into their common staple of defensive plays. Cornerback Darrent Williams showed that he was especially gifted on these plays (especially coming from the over the slot receiver) last year, as did Champ Bailey. Especially when employed from the sideline closest to the ball, these blitzes are generally effective as corners are usually unblocked and come as a surprise to the passer whose protections often call for him to throw to his hot route only when the unaccounted for linebacker blitzes.

The other specific kind of blitzes that Denver could employ are delay blitzes. For all of their speed and ability to pursue, the Broncos special trio of linebackers have not been effective at defeating pass blockers and getting to the quarterback. Delay blitzes can help by giving running backs with linebacker blitz responsibility the false impression that the linebackers are playing man to man instead of blitzing.

In today’s NFL, many pass protection schemes are based on running backs “check releasing”, which calls for them to release into their route only after checking whether the linebacker assigned to them blitzes. By delaying at the snap and mirroring the running back’s initial movement for a single count, the backers are more likely to deceive the backs into releasing after their check, when the linebackers can then shoot through the gap right to the quarterback.

[Kaylore]

I'd like to see them move the line around less. All the stunts seem to just wear out the linemen faster and by the fourth quarter they look sloppy, have no burst and give up faster.

I'd also like us to put some big power guys on the ends to really beat up the tackles and collapse the pocket...but then I'd like a lot of things.

[labronx]

The Delayed Blitz would have really helped out in the first half of the Indi game when Peyton was working a toss type of offense with allot of throws that where tossed or lofted.
The routes ran by the TE and WRs where not sharp quick routes, but more like finding soft spots or holes in our defensive backfield.

Those type of routes take time to develop, If you are not getting immediate pressure on Manning, then you try to dissrupt the last second timing on those routes by blitzing late that way it's harder to pick up the blitz due to the surprise factor as oppossed to blitzing upfront and having the RB or OL pick up the blitz because they know its comming.

Since this is not a strong type throw and requires touch any kind of disruption can cause a ball to be underthrown, or have Manning move in the pocket, possibly steping into a sack, or for the ball to sail or hang too long causing an interception.

That is why Bellicheck is brilliant against Manning, he disrupts subtle things, small things that go unnoticed but cause huge discomfort for QBs in the pocket.


This is the one area where Coyer really dissapointed me and always will. Its like he just goes with the obvious and doesnt know how to take it to a level of the nuances of a QBs game.

Manning then came back in the second half and started hitting us with the timing patterns, because he was no longer uncomfortable as he was in the first half.

Those are the ones that killed Roc Alexander and Darrent Williams.

At this point Coyer and the rest of the D were caught on their heels, this is what they expected early on, they caught them slacking off a bit and went to work.

Manning is a master at taking what the Defense gives him.

[Northman]

I think if the corners just get physical from the get go and set the tone of the game it would benefit us much better. I guarantee that NE will be playing physical on defense. We just never set the tone from the CB position against the Colts and it hurt us playing 10 yds off the ball.

[Malcontent]

Eschewed

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I think if the corners just get physical from the get go and set the tone of the game it would benefit us much better. I guarantee that NE will be playing physical on defense. We just never set the tone from the CB position against the Colts and it hurt us playing 10 yds off the ball.

Exactly

[eddie mac]

Question is are our corners built for that type of gameplan IMO our corners are really fast but lack somewhat in the physical dept. I haven't seen Darrent or Foxworth jack too many receivers up at the line of scrimmage (I suppose that's pretty difficult when they're playing 10 yards off every down). Paymah is supposed to have the build for that type of physical game but hasn't produced the goods so far.

[broncosteven]

I think running well timed inside stunts would help with Elvis & Warren when he is back & healthy.

I sure wish Coyer would have blitzed DWill from corner last sunday since he was getting abused in coverage. I think DWill excels at Corner Blitzes as he can tackle well & has excellent speed. Bringing Manning down would have been bigger on a couple of drives than him out in coverage looking for a big pick & getting burned. Plus a big time sack would help his confidence.

I also noticed that Lynch was not on the line of scrimage at all this year & was going to start a poll to see if he was being miss used in coverage & find out how many maner's would like to see him back at line but I got busy at work this week & Socal beat me to it. The man knows his stuff! I would like to see Lynch or at least another Saftey on the line at presnap.

[Popps]

Great article, Socal. Seriously good suggestions for a serious problem.

[watermock]

I know where he lives. There IS a FINAL solution, the Model 12. J/K

[Natedogg]

nice article. i like the idea of more saftey/lb blitzes.

[watermock]

I would of loved to see DWill corner blitz as well, but guess what folks, you have to show press coverage for that to work.

Chicken wings would just see it coming and give Wayne a hot read and watch him run past Lynch like a cruise missle vs. a hang glider.

Hindsight is easy, but I would hate to be the analyist that said Ryan Leaf was the correct first choice. There were warning signs.

Anyway, I have solutions, but they are all illegal or even culpable of capital punishment. We have tried blitzing, and he hot reads. We play zone, he finds holes. Man up, his reciever blow by us.

I would never tell a player to take out his knees, at least in an open meeting J/K. This has to be a secret assasination with no co-conspirators other than Coyer and the Hit man. I'm kidding of course...but damn.

The only weakness he has is his mobility. I don't think we even got near him all game. Not even a paw print yet alone a Bronco Hoof on his mellon.

Remember when Coyer went Nazi and blited 8 against Philly last year? I don't know if you can rattle Manning like Mr. Vomit under pressure. I say again, I would of gone postal and put our CB's on an island and brought the house.

It was like...wait, wait, wait for Waynes double move...Whamo.

Get some damn pressure, THEN jump the route for a pick 6. I will give up a couple long TD's if we could get a few sacks and just one pick 6. You get a couple sacks, you can lay back a bit on 3rd and long.

What is that thing they use on Iraqi terroists, the water board? The second half I felt like I was in Guantanamo Bay totally helpless under the thumb of the Great Pumpkin Satan. Heh.

I don't believe Warren would of made a huge difference. Manning was ripping us thru the air and Warren is a run stuffer. I doubt we would of given up 90+ to Addai with a healthy Warren, but that isn't what killed us.

I hate Manning, but there is no real reason to actually. Feels odd to me on the other side of the street after going thru the Elway years. Now I know how Bernie Kosar and Byner still feel. Damn Elway beat us, we were the better team...

WELL, I'M MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE...I WANT EVERY BRONCO FAN TO GO ONTO THEIR ROOFTOPS, STOP TRAFFIC AND STAND ON THEIR HOOD AND SCREAM IT BY THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS.

KILL THE MELLONHEAD LIKE GUNNY KILLS WATERMELLONS ON MAIL CALL!

(If you don't watch the history channel, Gunny is no Bunny. He's an ex-vet drill Sargent that has a rather odd sense of humor...funny show. He kills mellons now. Then he walks up and takes a chunk out of the enemy and says, "tastes great". He did once at least. It was symbolic, but you can figure it out.

I guess my final point is you fight fire with fire. You can't stop it by peeing down your leg or running from it...you have to attack it.

I'm not sure that would of won the game, but it would of been more entertaining, and either give up the big play or get a turnover. If anything, it would of gotten Manning off the field one way or another.

Understand that thinking? We could of given up just as many TD's with half the snaps on D. Or we might of gotten a few sacks and maybe a pick 6.

Manning is a fine QB behind line designed and built to protect his Highness. It's like the Atlantic Wall or Iron Curtain...you have to demolish it.

Wow...I should be a columnist, that's a great analogy. I should write stuff for Woody when he comes back to us. Again, welcome back Woody.

BTW, Woody stole one of my comments here several years ago, almost verbatum. He knows it, I know it.

He's crazy like a fox too....people...if you don't think that people all the way to Bowlen don't occasionally check in here for a pulse check, your crazy.

We are like hardened criminals, street wise compared to the weenies in the Official Site. Nothing wrong with it...keeps the neophytes out till they get here. I apologize for even posting our site there, but Taco wanted it to grow...it brought some very childish people in. I choose to be childish on purpose so dont even start.

Anyway, I think you throw the house at Manning and make him short read and jump his routes. Coyer never even made him go chicken wings.

His line pass blocks like they are protecting the Queen Bee.

[Rascal]

!!! Great Pumpkin Satan!!!

That was hillarious Mock.

[-Slap-]

We should have given John Abraham $60 million and used the Jay Cutler pick to acquire him. That was the popular plan around here this summer.

Unfortunately, affordable DEs like Alfred Williams (1996) and Neil Smith (1997) rarely fall right into your lap.

The whole League wants pass rushers, so they come at a ridiculous premium on draft day, or in free agency. We got lucky because Williams was a career underachiever with a big mouth and the Chiefs figured Neil Smith was washed up. In truth, that really was the case. They were both essentially through two years later. Both guys were savvy enough to realize this was their one shot at being on a winner and they played hard for us.

Few people realize Williams barely played for the team in 1998 when we repeated. In fact, his one huge year for us was in 1996.

In 1998, undrafted free agent Maa Tanuvasa led the Broncos with 8.5 sacks. So much for the idiotic assertion that we need to spend a fortune on the defensive line to be successful.

The fact of the matter is, unless you're drafting in the top ten (and we never do) you have to get kind of lucky to find quality pass rushers. Even drafting in the top five is no guarantee, though: Steve Emtman, Sean Gilbert, John Copeland, Dan Wilkerson, Cedric Jones, Darrell Russell, Andre Wadsworth, Courtney Brown. All busts who were drafted in the top five picks on draft day in the last 15 years.

We got lucky as hell to land Trevor Pryce with the 28th pick in 1998. You can all thank Mel Kiper for telling everybody he was a lazy pig before the draft or we never would have got anywhere near him.

[epa86b@netzero]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

We should have given John Abraham $60 million and used the Jay Cutler pick to acquire him. That was the popular plan around here this summer.

Unfortunately, affordable DEs like Alfred Williams (1996) and Neil Smith (1997) rarely fall right into your lap.

The whole League wants pass rushers, so they come at a ridiculous premium on draft day, or in free agency. We got lucky because Williams was a career underachiever with a big mouth and the Chiefs figured Neil Smith was washed up. In truth, that really was the case. They were both essentially through two years later. Both guys were savvy enough to realize this was their one shot at being on a winner and they played hard for us.

Few people realize Williams barely played for the team in 1998 when we repeated. In fact, his one huge year for us was in 1996.

In 1998, undrafted free agent Maa Tanuvasa led the Broncos with 8.5 sacks. So much for the idiotic assertion that we need to spend a fortune on the defensive line to be successful.

The fact of the matter is, unless you're drafting in the top ten (and we never do) you have to get kind of lucky to find quality pass rushers. Even drafting in the top five is no guarantee, though: Steve Emtman, Sean Gilbert, John Copeland, Dan Wilkerson, Cedric Jones, Darrell Russell, Andre Wadsworth, Courtney Brown. All busts who were drafted in the top five picks on draft day in the last 15 years.

We got lucky as hell to land Trevor Pryce with the 28th pick in 1998. You can all thank Mel Kiper for telling everybody he was a lazy pig before the draft or we never would have got anywhere near him.

Drafting Cutler was the best pick if it works out. A good QB has a bigger impact on a game than the great pass rusher. Abraham is good but he is always hurt.

I think, Shanny is trying to get back to the his championship blueprint, which is a ball carry offense with big play potential with a decent to good defensive.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by epa86b@netzero

Drafting Cutler was the best pick if it works out. A good QB has a bigger impact on a game than the great pass rusher. Abraham is good but he is always hurt.

I think, Shanny is trying to get back to the his championship blueprint, which is a ball carry offense with big play potential with a decent to good defensive.

I guess I wasn't sarcastic enough. John Abraham's contract is the biggest joke since Deion Sanders straight up stole over $10 million from Daniel Snyder.

[epa86b@netzero]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I guess I wasn't sarcastic enough. John Abraham's contract is the biggest joke since Deion Sanders straight up stole over $10 million from Daniel Snyder.

No. I got the sarcasticism. I just wanted to second the emotion.

[Rohirrim]

Another Mock classic.

The Broncos traded up to get Cutler. They have to trade up to get a top quality DE.

[NFLBRONCO]

I think its funny we all want a pass rush and our top two choices for top pick in 06 draft

Cutler
Maroney

Draft day is never what you expect


So expecting DL high I'm not expecting it

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I want to see a great DL in Denver, but Slap is right. You either overpay for a FA at the expense of other positions or you get damn lucky in the draft. I think we are seeing an evolution in the team. On defense, stop the run and hope to slow down the opponents passing game. On offense, if Cutler lives up to expectations, it will be pass to set up the run rather than run to set up the pass. That's why I think this off season will be another of trying to build a super offense with the draft heavily slanted in that direction.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

I want to see a great DL in Denver, but Slap is right. You either overpay for a FA at the expense of other positions or you get damn lucky in the draft. I think we are seeing an evolution in the team. On defense, stop the run and hope to slow down the opponents passing game. On offense, if Cutler lives up to expectations, it will be pass to set up the run rather than run to set up the pass. That's why I think this off season will be another of trying to build a super offense with the draft heavily slanted in that direction.

The fact that we're a successful team works against us on draft day, too. You see neophyte fans pissing and moaning because we don't have a defensive line like the Bears. Of course, going into this season, the Bears have had exactly two winning seasons in the last ten years. They tend to leave that part out.

[elsid13]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

The fact that we're a successful team works against us on draft day, too. You see neophyte fans pissing and moaning because we don't have a defensive line like the Bears. Of course, going into this season, the Bears have had exactly two winning seasons in the last ten years. They tend to leave that part out.

Excellent point. But expect for Harris I believe most of the Bear line is 3rd round or later guys. Some of it is luck, and some is finding guys that just are football players. There is talent in draft we just need find it in the later rounds. Elvis is an example of that

Updated
Alex Brown 4th rounder
Ian Scott 4th rounder
Adewale Ogunleye UDFA /trade for

[-Slap-]

I agree. I just laugh when they're being touted as this model franchise because they've managed to assemble a strong defensive line.

How many times has the best defensive line in the NFL won the Super Bowl recently?

You have to go back to Tampa Bay in 2002 for the last time it happened. Let's go ahead and credit Baltimore as the best D line in 2000, as well, even though they probably weren't. Reggie White and Co with Green Bay in 1996.

So, that means the best defensive line took home Lombardi three times in the last ten years. Not every year, like the extreme view around here suggests.

I guess Aaron Smith (4th round), Casey Hampton (19th pick) and Kimo von Oelhoffen (6th round), who comprised Pittsburgh's defensive line in last year's Super Bowl was a collection of high profile talent. Their two combined Pro Bowl appearances in 27 NFL seasons is a dead give away.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I guess Aaron Smith (4th round), Casey Hampton (19th pick) and Kimo von Oelhoffen (6th round), who comprised Pittsburgh's defensive line in last year's Super Bowl was a collection of high profile talent. Their two combined Pro Bowl appearances in 27 NFL seasons is a dead give away.

Every team has a method, and a successful coach is able to either draft for a system, or assemble BPA's and adapt his system to his players. The Steelers were able to control both lines of scrimmage when we played them. Their best accomplishment was completely shutting our run game down and simultaneously executing flawlessly against our pass defense.

Shanahan is a system guy on both offense and defense. The 96-98 Broncos were an example of this system with the right players. It took a HOF QB, a HOF RB, a HOF TE, a HOF WR, a great OL (IMO the strength of the team), and a defense that could make a few stops/get some turnovers to take this team to the SB and beyond.

Looking at the players in place in the system today, it is a wonder that Denver has been successful. I think that the main reason that we were as great as we remember is because of the OL. They executed the run game brilliantly and put the other team in difficult position where they had to play outside of their strengths.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

The Broncos traded up to get Cutler. They have to trade up to get a top quality DE.

Bingo.

It's been ten years of Leon Letts, Kavika Pittmans and middle to late round garbage.

Dominant front sevens win championships, and that usually starts with guys that can push the pocket and rush off the edge, up front.

In our last two major losses, both were marked by defensive linemen making huge plays on a pass rush. Pitt changed the game in their favor by stripping the ball, as did Indy. That's what dominant defenses do. They make game-changing plays and disrupt offenses right up front, all day long.
As you saw on Sunday, our defense was nowhere near disrupting anything. Had Indy receivers not brick-handed a few balls, Manning literally could have gone 40 for 40. Just utterly embarrassing.

People can whine all they want about how hard it is to find good D-line talent, but the bottom line is... we haven't tried, unless you call collecting Browns rejects trying. At least we got lucky with one of those.

The last three great defensive linemen we had in Denver were:

1. 1st round draft pick: (Pryce)
2. Big-ticket free agent: (Smith)
3. Big-ticket free agent: (Williams)

Williams contract wasn't huge, but pretty big for the time, and Elway actually re-structured just so we could bring in Smith. (John was obviously smart enough to know that you weren't going to win a championship giving up 35 points in playoff games.)
Since then, we've tried to poo-poo the line, and when we DID find a gem like Berry, etc... we sent them packing as soon as they wanted a little money.

Who played in the SB last season?

Pittsburgh and Seattle.

Seattle ranked 1st in pass-rushing and Pitt ranked 3rd.


Now, if we were blessed enough to have some dominant hybrid types, or Joey Porter type LBs who could take over games on their own, that would be one thing.

But, we don't. So, we can sit here for another decade talking about how hard it is to build a decent d-ilne, or we can go out and get serious about it.