Our Defense IS FINE: Move along, nothing to see here.

[fontaine]

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/d...owd_is_ch.html

--And I'm just not sure the value of the scheme can be fully judged yet because the Broncos have yet to play it without a hitch. It is, in theory, easier to play than what they were playing in terms of consistent fronts and fewer blitzes.

But they haven't played it well much of the time. They've missed tackles and missed assignments. So it's tough, even for people who are evaluating the Broncos roster and play for their own teams around the league, to really judge the scheme until the Broncos sort out at least some of the basic problems they are having playing it.

Again, some players -- safety John Lynch included -- have said the Broncos are sometimes making errors just lining up. Teams can't play defense like that and succeed.

Coaches have to take some responsibility the players aren't getting lined up to even start the play at times.

Beyond that, just talking to personnel people in the league, they believe the Broncos still haven't held their ground enough up front in the five games to play Bates' defense the way it has to be played when it works the best. That means blockers are getting to the second level -- to the linebackers -- and the linebackers have had some trouble consistently shedding those blocks and maintaining good angles to the ballcarrier.

In general the Broncos likely haven't graded defenders off the video as tough as folks outside the building have. But those are assignment grades -- being where they were supposed to be on the play -- and that is far different than people watching the game looking for impact.

And the yardage totals indicate, as does a 2-3 record, that the Broncos have not been nearly consistent enough on defense and even their coaches wouldn't argue that.

In that vein I still believe Williams can play in the middle and play it well, he's just not as comfortable reacting to the ball as he was outside. There is more traffic to work through now in the middle of the field than he had at either the week side or strong side spot. And at the middle linebacker spot it will be all the more difficult to deal with the traffic if the interior blockers are getting past the Broncos defensive linemen.

On the video Williams often has a guard or center attached to him and few linebackers can shed blockers in that situation play after play and still make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. Just can't be done that often.

In Bates' scheme it's built on defensive linemen engaging blockers -- especially in the middle of the line -- and the linebackers being able to run free to the ball and get to the backs before they turn up field. The line is supposed to funnel the play outside where the linebackers can run it down.

But if the linebackers have too many blockers to deal with and can't consistently shed those blockers, the backs get the corner and ring up big play after big play.

For his part Williams hasn't played with the explosiveness he has all the time as well. He's thinking too much, having made a position switch three times in the last three seasons. Bates and Mike Shanahan both say they are committed to leave Williams in the middle.

I've written it before, but several pro scouts have also told me recently that they felt like Williams was playing better this season than Wilson played down the stretch last season after Wilson had suffered the neck injury.

And Bates also said Tuesday that Ian Gold had graded out well -- he offered Gold "had a real good game against San Diego'' -- in terms of playing his assignments. Scouts from opposing teams, however, say Gold is still missing too many tackles and doesn't always flash the same speed he had two seasons ago, especially in coverage downfield.

Pro personnel people say players are beating Gold in coverage now who wouldn't have been able to run with him in previous seasons. Still, the Broncos seem committed to leave him on the weak side as well.


The Broncos still like Gold's speed, but that's what other teams are questioning right now.

If any change is made -- Shanahan has already said there will not be a lot of changes during the bye week and that he still believes in the team's personnel -- the Broncos may consider trying another player at the strong side linebacker spot in place of Nate Webster. They did replace Webster late in the Colts game with Jamie Winborn and have worked Winborn with the starting defense in practice from time to time in recent weeks.

They are still trying to see what Winborn, a late addition to the roster, can offer in the scheme, but it is possible he could play more in the coming weeks and he is a former starter in the league.

The Broncos will have to adjust overall, however, because it's clear opposing offenses are coming after their linebackers. Both the Colts and the Chargers -- each with a quality tight end -- have attacked the Denver linebackers in coverage with success.

Dallas Clark had two touchdown catches in Indianapolis and Antonio Gates had a 100-yard receiving game this past Sunday. With players like Heath Miller and Tony Gonzalez still on the schedule, the Broncos will have to deal with that problem again.

In run defense until the team simply tackles better when it has the chance no full judgment can be made about the scheme. The defensive line has not played up to the Broncos' own expectations -- three regulars in the defensive line have been gameday inactives over the last two weeks -- and until they are more consistent up front, opposing running backs are going to make things happen.

Tackling is just not something that depends on the scheme and other than Bailey, the Broncos have not been consistent tackling throughout the defense.

Again, teams don't hit live in practice during the regular season so the only way for a defense to improve its tackling during the season is to make a concerted effort to get the positioning just right during practice.

That players don't just run by and tag a guy with one hand. That they face up, get there and tag with both hands, in position where the defender could get his head across and go through the target if it were a game.

As much as people may want to point at one or two things in the Broncos defensive struggles, it is a combination of many things. But even some of the players say when they tackle better things will improve immediately and they could at least give the scheme a chance.

Gold is fine, apparently.

[bpc]

I think both are contributing to a very poor defense. Their play is highlighted because they are the one's missing most of the tackles and they are supposed to be the veteran leadership.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by fontaine

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/d...owd_is_ch.html



Gold is fine, apparently.

It does appear that Gold has lost a step as the article notes. He was excellent in 2005 and the first half of 2006 and the two things you could take to the bank were his coverage ability and pursuit to the ball, but he is getting beat too much this season in coverage and not getting to ball as fast as he used to. If he has in fact lost a step as it appears, then his greatest asset is neutralized, and he will continue to be liability.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by fontaine

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/d...owd_is_ch.html

Gold is fine, apparently.

There has never been a more overrated athlete on this team.

[WolfpackGuy]

If Gold had "such a good game," I'd hate to have seen the score if he had a bad one... Now it seems like another problem the Broncos have is the coaches can't properly analyze film if this poor excuse for a defense is supposedly "grading out well" by them.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by WolfpackGuy

If Gold had "such a good game," I'd hate to have seen the score if he had a bad one... Now it seems like another problem the Broncos have is the coaches can't properly analyze film if this poor excuse for a defense is supposedly "grading out well" by them.

None of the scores that were given up against SD were Gold's responsibility....

[go_broncos]

During the game, Ian gold got some encouraging words from Philip Rivers.

"I talked to Rivers a bit out there and he said, 'You know what? It's just taking us a little while to get used to this new offense, this new system,' " Gold said. "I think things over there are starting to settle. That's what he was telling me.

Why the hell is he speaking to Rivers abt the problems during the game?

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by go_broncos

During the game, Ian gold got some encouraging words from Philip Rivers.

"I talked to Rivers a bit out there and he said, 'You know what? It's just taking us a little while to get used to this new offense, this new system,' " Gold said. "I think things over there are starting to settle. That's what he was telling me.

Why the hell is he speaking to Rivers abt the problems during the game?

Guys talk all the time during the games with opponents....and it was Rivers explaining why he felt things were starting to click with them, nothing to do with Denver. Quit trying to pile on where there is nothing.

[chrisp]

I'm sorry but I think the coaches are taking the right approach, which appears to be to focus on fundamentals and making sure people are where they are supposed to be on every play.

Once you have that, you are in a much better position to form judgements about personnel. Being out of position can make anyone look slow, and receivers don't need much separation to make a catch these days.

I don't think that the coaches are blind to the possibility that there may be an issue with Gold's speed, but they want to fix the biggest problems first. if we just started making tackles more consistently when we are in a position to it would make a HUGE improvement to the defense. I also think that whilst neither DJ nor Gold are playing all that well right now, they still remain (sadly) the best two linebackers we have on the roster.

Thing is, the tackling issue can be fixed, but I'm not so sure that the issue with the play of the DTs can be. I'm worried that they guys we have just aren't good enough to do what the Bate's scheme expects of them. If we're asking guys to keep blockers off the linebackers then we're asking them to tie up two guys almost every play, and last time I looked that requires some talent. The only hope in that respect is that Thomas can gear up quicker than rookie DTs usually do.....

[Hotrod]

Sorry but if you have failed to learn how to freaking tackle by this point you NEVER will.

[oubronco]

and here is another link to shed some more light on the subject http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

eventually it will all come together we'll just have to stomach the not so good play until then but there is upside to come

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by oubronco

and here is another link to shed some more light on the subject http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

eventually it will all come together we'll just have to stomach the not so good play until then but there is upside to come

Another article that tries to claim that the Broncos are #1 in pass defense because people are scared to throw the ball against Bailey and Bly.....while ignoring the real reasons: the 5-10+ yards per carry they're giving up and the fact that they've only played against one team with a decent passing game.

Eventually, if the Broncos continue having to put 8+ guys in the box to attempt to stop the run, they'll continue to get gashed through the air when it counts, and that #1 ranking that some cling so tightly to will vanish quickly.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

There has never been a more overrated athlete on this team.

Um, DJ Williams is pretty freakin overrated.

[Rohirrim]

I'll tell you one thing. If I was a QB on a team playing against the Broncos, the second I saw that fatass Sam Adams on the field I'd go into the hurryup. In three plays, he'd be dead.

[BigPlayShay]

Dominique Foxworth was asked on his show on AM 950 the fan how will fans or general observers know that the new scheme is working. His answer was "When you see 7 guys in the box". If you see 8 or 9 in the box then they are trying to cover things up or focus on the run too much than if the scheme was working.

[CBF1]

Is this from Grimm's fairy tails?

[Meck77]

Again, some players -- safety John Lynch included -- have said the Broncos are sometimes making errors just lining up. Teams can't play defense like that and succeed.

Coaches have to take some responsibility the players aren't getting lined up to even start the play at times.



It's one thing to not be able to execute the scheme but to not even be able to line up correctly? Even B-loves pee wee team knows how to line up on defense.

[Vegas_Bronco]

I have to say...the defense looked great on 1st and 2nd downs last week but seemed to slip back to their old ways on 3rd down. How do you have that many 3rd and >>> converted successfully? Gates just killed us and Rivers was unusually accurate. It just goes to show that this defense is getting better but just hasn't put it all together, just horrid play on third down. I've noticed our playmakers on defense have become mistakemakers on 3rd down which just demoralizes the whole unit. I'll be excited to see their preparation for the Steelers as I'm sure we'll see a better showing. They have the potential but need to come together as a unit and someone needs to step it up and become the leader in the front 7.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

None of the scores that were given up against SD were Gold's responsibility....

That's the second week in a row, Gold was chasing a receiver into the endzone. In Indy it was Dallas Clark... If it wasn't his responsibility, why is he the only defender chasing the route?

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

That's the second week in a row, Gold was chasing a receiver into the endzone. In Indy it was Dallas Clark... If it wasn't his responsibility, why is he the only defender chasing the route?

If you are talking about the 3rd and long play to V Jackson, that play didn't go for a TD. If not, I'm not sure which play you are talking about....that was the only one I can remember where he was pursuing from a step or two behind the receiver.

[Los Broncos]

A few years back i thought Gold was a good LB.

Either i was blind or he was really making some plays.

I'm willing to bet Wilson had something to do with his play.

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

A few years back i thought Gold was a good LB.

Either i was blind or he was really making some plays.

I'm willing to bet Wilson had something to do with his play.

Gold seems to be slower then last year. That isn't helping him at all. His speed was the one thing helping him make plays and causing turnovers. If he can't be in the right place at the right time then we are in trouble cause of his lack of size.

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

Gold seems to be slower then last year. That isn't helping him at all. His speed was the one thing helping him make plays and causing turnovers. If he can't be in the right place at the right time then we are in trouble cause of his lack of size.

Yeah, he seems to be slower.

I wish he would make one play, just one.

[NFLBRONCO]

Cool now that I read that article we can focus hard adding more O in 08 draft.

[Drek]

Ian Gold used to be really good. In fact, back when we had a healthy Al Wilson, John Mobley, and Gold pre-ACL he played some great football. But 220 pound linebackers rely on aspects of their game that does not age so well. That is where we find ourselves with Gold at this point. He's not the same guy he was a few years ago. The combination of lost athleticism to father time and lost defensive familiarity/primary role to Jim Bates has taken its tole on him this year. He's lost and he now lacks the raw talent he used to always use to cover up such deficiencies.

Gold could come around and play real well this season given some time, but no matter how well he comes around he isn't worth his '08 salary as an OLB in a system where OLBs need to direct traffic, not stop it.