A defense with no ID is one with no idea

[DukeWoody]

A defense with no ID is one with no idea
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 12/14/2007 12:46:18 AM MST

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_7717933

Somewhere between the birth of their Super Bowl dreams and the sad end of the line in Texas, the Broncos got lost.

But the sense of loss is greater than a stunning 31-13 defeat to Houston.

The Broncos have lost their identity.

"We don't know who the heck we are," Denver safety John Lynch said Thursday night, as his eyes scanned a locker room full of players who cannot figure out how it all went so wrong.

With a 6-8 record and jobs on the line throughout the roster, it's an uncomfortable time to be wearing a Denver uniform. The Broncos are blue. And confused.

At the conclusion of the game, Denver coach Mike Shanahan was forced to give an awkward hug of congratulations to his son Kyle, who wore a smile bigger than Texas as quarterbacks coach of the victorious home team.

Looking at Houston, and doing the math, this lopsided defeat was uncalled for, declared an obviously disgusted Champ Bailey, one of the few reliable players on a defense that has now surrendered more than 30 points a half dozen times in the past 11 games.

The finger of blame for all this team's tribulations obviously has been pointed at Broncos kicked out the door, whether it was Sam Adams or Gerard Warren.

But, for the first time, the players are standing up for themselves and refusing to take all the blame.

"We've got plenty of talent here. Talent's not the issue," said Lynch, a 15-year NFL veteran who's as level-headed as any man in sports.

"Talent doesn't always win in this league. It helps. But it seems to me consistency with this team has been lacking."

While the Denver offense has suffered significant personnel losses, beginning with center Tom Nalen, it's the Denver defense that is suffering from a severe identity crisis, with new guru Jim Bates installing a new system, dumping formerly productive players, then admitting it all was a bad idea by junking his trademark scheme in midseason.

"Things have been changing all year for us," said Domonique Foxworth, a natural cornerback who has toiled much of the season playing out of position and out of his weight class at safety.

"I've been inconsistent. The team has been inconsistent. I think it's a product of our youth, and things have been constantly changing for us throughout this season, and I mean since training camp."

Maybe die-hard Broncomaniacs still can pray for a playoff miracle. But the brutally honest players know that's pure folly.

"We shouldn't even be looking at the playoff picture. We need to look at ourselves and get better. If we manage to win these next couple games and find ourselves in the playoffs, we're lucky. That's plain and simple," Foxworth said.

"We need to look at ourselves, not look at the standing in our division or anything like that. What's important is we right this ship."

Who stays? Who goes?

From Lynch to Bailey, the Broncos are not lacking for strength of will or depth of character. In Brandon Marshall and D.J. Williams, there are young players whose voices now ache with the desire to grow into leadership roles.

But what Shanahan must determine is why his team not only fails, but falls to pieces when faced with adversity.

Does all the personnel drama that has accompanied running back Travis Henry outweigh his talent to carry the rock? Can Javon Walker's ego handle being the No. 2 receiver? Has punter Todd Sauerbrun run out of second chances? How many more 300-pound bodies can be squeezed in the team's revolving door of pass rushers? Can Bates regain the trust of his defense?

How far away these Broncos are from championship contention is too big and too vague a question for a team that's lost its identity.

To stop the losing from spinning out of control, Denver must first find a new sense of direction.

[Beantown Bronco]

How many punts has this Denver team forced in the fourth quarter of games so far this season? If not for KC, I'll bet it would be in the single digits.

It's unbelievable how you can just tell that since the miracles of weeks one and two, unless they are up by at least two scores going into the 4th quarter, the chances of them winning are slim to none. This defense makes Coyer's look well-conditioned.

[DrFate]

I was happy to get Bates. Now I'll be happy to see him go.

[Mediator12]

A defense with no foundation (DL) will do that every time. Teams wear down when the foundation of the DL has to be covered every play. As the season progresses, it gets worse. The rest of the team gets more injuries, they lose effectiveness late in the year and most especially late in those games, and the tricks they use in gameplanning to compensate from week to week get exposed over time and become less and less effective.

No defense can be successful over time and be consistent with a piss poor offering at DL. They just crumble and wither away. Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils. I just hope they continue to make strides with making DL a priority. Right now, they just have crap everywhere outside of Elvis. That is not going to cut it anymore.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils.

That couldn't have been more obvious last night, as the constant pressure kept the Broncos from truly taking advantage of a second and third string Houston secondary.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

A defense with no foundation (DL) will do that every time. Teams wear down when the foundation of the DL has to be covered every play. As the season progresses, it gets worse. The rest of the team gets more injuries, they lose effectiveness late in the year and most especially late in those games, and the tricks they use in gameplanning to compensate from week to week get exposed over time and become less and less effective.

No defense can be successful over time and be consistent with a piss poor offering at DL. They just crumble and wither away. Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils. I just hope they continue to make strides with making DL a priority. Right now, they just have crap everywhere outside of Elvis. That is not going to cut it anymore.

For some strange reason, Shanahan and Sundquist have neglected to address DT with anything but junk for several seasons now. This season we see the NFL sack leading DE pass us by and bring in an overpriced blocking TE in his stead.

At some point, the BBT are going to have to throw real money at that position.

[Inkana7]

Originally Posted by angryllama

For some strange reason, Shanahan and Sundquist have neglected to address DT with anything but junk for several seasons now. This season we see the NFL sack leading DE pass us by and bring in an overpriced blocking TE in his stead.

At some point, the BBT are going to have to throw real money at that position.

I never knew you could sack a running back.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

A defense with no foundation (DL) will do that every time. Teams wear down when the foundation of the DL has to be covered every play. As the season progresses, it gets worse. The rest of the team gets more injuries, they lose effectiveness late in the year and most especially late in those games, and the tricks they use in gameplanning to compensate from week to week get exposed over time and become less and less effective.

No defense can be successful over time and be consistent with a piss poor offering at DL. They just crumble and wither away. Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils. I just hope they continue to make strides with making DL a priority. Right now, they just have crap everywhere outside of Elvis. That is not going to cut it anymore.

It is increasingly clear that Personnel is more important than "scheme" or "philosophy" of the DC.

Execution can overcome lack of talent to a point but to win you need a mix of both.

I am still confused as to how NFL Personnel Mangers allow NE to pickup guys like Thomas on FA market while a team like Denver sits pat with Gold, DJ (getting better) and Someguywhoshelmetpoppsoffallthetime.

Must be part of "The Plan"

[Los Broncos]

He needs players to work with, with no pressure up front were dead.

[The MVPlaya]

We don't have the personal. Pointing fingers at Bates is a cop out.

This is what I've been pondering, are we still running the Jim Bates scheme? We must be to some extent but this is not what we were running at the beginning of the season.

Give it time...to blame a guy that can't succeed with our personal... that hilarious.

[ward63]

The D needs a lot, plain and simple.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by The MVPlaya

Give it time...to blame a guy that can't succeed with our personal... that hilarious.

Isn't that what happened at the end of last year?

[Hotrod]

Originally Posted by ward63

The D needs a lot, plain and simple.

I could very well be wrong (or wearing orange colored glasses) but I really dont think this is true. The Dline does have some promise at DT with Thomas and between Dumer/Moss and Crowder something should pan out at DE. DJ is still a good LB and improving in the middle (if we dont move him back outside). IMO we simply need to add 1 great DT, 1 good Dt, 1 good LB and a solid S. Most importantly if the middle of this Dline was to be solid/average this D would quickly become good/great.

Pass me the spiked eggnog

[ward63]

Originally Posted by Hotrod

I could very well be wrong (or wearing orange colored glasses) but I really dont think this is true. The Dline does have some promise at DT with Thomas and between Dumer/Moss and Crowder something should pan out at DE. DJ is still a good LB and improving in the middle (if we dont move him back outside). IMO we simply need to add 1 great DT, 1 good Dt, 1 good LB and a solid S. Most importantly if the middle of this Dline was to be solid/average this D would quickly become good/great.

Pass me the spiked eggnog

We need at least one other DT(prefrence to somebody big and has heart) to put next to Thomas. I believe one of the young DE's or Ekuban will take Engelbergers spot. Two LB's to put next to DJ. At least one safety. That's 4 out of 11(just starting). To me, that seems like a lot.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by Hotrod

I could very well be wrong

more of your posts should start like this

[Hotrod]

Originally Posted by ward63

We need at least one other DT(prefrence to somebody big and has heart) to put next to Thomas. I believe one of the young DE's or Ekuban will take Engelbergers spot. Two LB's to put next to DJ. At least one safety. That's 4 out of 11(just starting). To me, that seems like a lot.

Very true. I guess my point is some of the pieces are very much there to create a very dominate D going forward.

I like this team both O & D (ST's suck balls) both sides of the ball IMO have some very good young/raw talent to build around. As depressed as I am with this season I personally think with a few good moves this team has SB continder written all over it.

[Hotrod]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

more of your posts should start like this

Your off the Christmas card list for good this time

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils. I just hope they continue to make strides with making DL a priority. Right now, they just have crap everywhere outside of Elvis. That is not going to cut it anymore.

I've been saying this for years. Hell, I was saying this when we had considerably better d-line talent than we have now.

We've got a couple of young prospects in Thomas (who hasn't shown anything) and Crowder, who hasn't shown much. Moss showed flashes, but had a bad injury for a speed guy. Plus, he's basically just another version of Elvis. (Taller, but a light-bodied pass-rush specialist)

Originally Posted by Mediator12

Yet, a competent DL can cover over a mass of back seven evils.

You can't build a defense from the back-forward. It's the other way around.

Why do you think Gold and Williams look so useless out there all the time, when they used to look at least serviceable?

Anyway, you get it. I'm just not sure most fans do. I'm not even sure the coaches do.

[DenverBroncosJM]

Originally Posted by The MVPlaya

We don't have the personal. Pointing fingers at Bates is a cop out.

This is what I've been pondering, are we still running the Jim Bates scheme? We must be to some extent but this is not what we were running at the beginning of the season.

Give it time...to blame a guy that can't succeed with our personal... that hilarious.

We blamed Coyer...it was easy enough then. You couldnt swing a dead cat here and hit someone who wanted Coyer to stay.

[Cito Pelon]

I see all this stuff about great D's and whatnot.

HOWEVER:

HGH and undetectable steroid formulas I think will make the NFL look like MLB. Jerry Rice came back from an ACL and a broken kneecap to produce for six more seasons. Rodney Harrison already admitted to HGH, he's still playing. Seau, in his 17th year in the NFL, recovered from a broken, no a shattered, forearm to play in 13 games this year, have a sack and 3 INT's. That's chemicals.

[Cito Pelon]

The point is, much like MLB's records, the NFL's records are tainted. I'm sick and tired of cheating.

Just a rant, and there wasn't much else thread to post it on. Carry on.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

How many punts has this Denver team forced in the fourth quarter of games so far this season? If not for KC, I'll bet it would be in the single digits.

It's unbelievable how you can just tell that since the miracles of weeks one and two, unless they are up by at least two scores going into the 4th quarter, the chances of them winning are slim to none. This defense makes Coyer's look well-conditioned.

It's possible Shanny's teams just don't have the chemical-enhanced ability other teams have. I see a guy like Bob Sanders at 190 pounds look like a Tasmanian Devil, and it raises a red flag. Reminds me of Ron Gant. I see Terrel Owens, a product of the SF system, looks like a man among boys, a product of SF, the guy that nobody expected to produce like he did in the Super Bowl like he did after having the dreaded high ankle sprain. Jerry Rice, the SF guy that had an ACL, played two games then had a shattered knee cap and then produced six more seasons.

There's some serious chemical enhancement going on in the NFL. Mario Williams goes from 3 sacks to 17 in one year? Bad foot caused that? The light went on? From 3 to 17 and there's still two games to go? Uh-uh.