This defense will be top 15 by years end

[Willynowei]

I'm not talking statistically, I'm just speaking level of play here...

I'll keep it simple:

1.) We are fast.
1a.) We fly to the ball.

2.) Our D-line is fast.
2a.) They fly to the ball.

3.) We are a step slow on zones, blitzing, man pick up and reads because we are hesitating.
3a.) The players are hesitating because they are uncomfortable with the scheme.
3b.) They are clearly becoming more comfortable through each passing week.

After watching the replay i can say that almost all their critical conversions that game came because our players were hesitant in their zones. I've noticed and I'm very glad that when we run stunts and loops we were often getting pressure with 4 or 5 rushers. This means to me, that our woes are not due to physical inability (which can't be fixed over the course of a season).

Mentaly we aren't there yet but we will, and when we do, I will bump this thread.

P.S. to the people calling for Slowik's head due to his "ineptitude" in Greenbay, their defense sucked for 3 years after him when Bates took over. AND, when slowik took over the job for Chicago in 1993, he turned them from the 22nd ranked defense to the 3rd ranked defense and kept them in the top 10 for 3 of the next 4 seasons.

Not so bad eh? I will say yesterday his biggest mistake was trusting Bailey to stop Bush. That did not work well and the saints got multiple big 3rd down conversions on that. However, his scheme of condensing the field against Bush with the 3down linemen I believe - was a Shanahan idea: a guy who knows how much Brees loves his QB rating and always checks down when he's done with progressions.

It worked aslong as we did two things.

1.) Take away all completions behind the second level of the defense.
2.) Eliminate YAC especially from Bush and Shockey.

We did a good job of #2 but failed at #1. Alot of it had to do with again, hesitation and Brees good timing.

[Gort]

you're welcome to drink the orange koolaid.

me personally... now that they have 3 games of film to look at, i believe that teams will come out throwing against the Broncos all year. except for really bad teams (like KC), i don't think our pass defense holds anyone under 300 yards passing for the rest of the season. the only way the Broncos keep winning is to keep outscoring the opponents. i expect lots of 35-31 or 38-35 type scores this season and a few more games decided in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter. until the Broncos develop an effective pass rush and can stop the opposing team on 3rd downs, quality opponents will be able to march up and down the field at will for the rest of the year.

[lex]

Hate to rain on the parade but its not likely. It would be great but brace yourselves. History tells us it gets bad...very, very mad.

http://dack.com/archive/bob-slowik-must-be-fired.html

Bob Slowik Must Be Fired

On January 16, 2004 Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, making him the official scapegoat for his team's 4th-and-26 meltdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Packers' 20-17 loss of last year's NFC divisional playoff game.

To replace Donatell, Sherman promoted defensive backs coach Bob Slowik.

Slowik, who previously coordinated middling defenses in Chicago and Cleveland, drew up a high-pressure, high-risk, blitz-heavy scheme that was to be the identity of the 2004 Packers defense. After giving up 5 TD passes in the first half vs. Indianapolis in Week 3, his scheme was abandoned. Still, his defense gave up 5 TD passes in the first half in Week 13 against Philadelphia.
But twice giving up 5 TD passes in the first half is not why Bob Slowik must be fired. Nor is it his glaring lack of takeaways, or the insanely high opponents' passer rating. No. Bob Slowik must be fired because he schemed a defense that set many records -- in a bad way -- in the history of the Packer franchise.

Bob Slowik All-Time Records
Bob Slowik's defense is one for the history books. In a really, really bad way.

Record Slowik
Record Broken
Record
Fewest Opponent Turnovers, Season 15 16 (1995)
Fewest Passes Intercepted By, Season 8 13 (1980, 1995, 1998)
Fewest Forced Fumbles, Season 11 12 (1995)
Most First Downs Allowed, Passing, Season 228 188 (1995)
Most Yards Allowed, Net Passing, Season 3,943 3,762 (1983)
Most Yards Allowed, Passing, Game 464 448 (2004)
Most TD Allowed Passing, Season 33 31 (1986)
Highest Opponents' Passer Rating, Season 99.1 86.1 (1958)



Close-But-No-Cigar Bob Slowik All-Time Records
Thanks to Rich Wingo, Ezra Johnson, Estes Hood, and Ken Stills, Slowik finished second all-time in these categories:
Record Slowik
Record All-Time
Record
Most First Downs Allowed, Season 354 366 (1983)
Most First Downs Allowed, Penalty, Season 28 29 (2002)
Highest Completion Percentage Allowed, Season 60.6 63.45 (1989)



Likely Bob Slowik All-Time Records
Here are a few other likely records that I could not verify. Please send me an email if you have source info.

Fewest fumbles recovered, season
7. 2nd-lowest in NFL.
Opponents' 3rd down conversion percentage, season
47.3. 2nd-worst in NFL.
Opponents' passing yards/attempt, season
7.61. 4th-worst in NFL.
Opponents' passing yards/completion, season
12.6. 3rd-worst in NFL.
Most passing TDs allowed, first half
5. But you knew that.
Most passing TDs, first half
5. Indianapolis franchise record.
Most passing TDs, first half
5. Philadelphia franchise record.
Most completions, start a game
14. Philadelphia franchise record. Confirmed.
Most passing yards, game
464. Philadelphia franchise record. Confirmed.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by lex

Hate to rain on the parade but its not likely. It would be great but brace yourselves. History tells us it gets bad...very, very mad.

http://dack.com/archive/bob-slowik-must-be-fired.html

lol someone forgot to rread the last paragraph of my post...

Look at those numbers, alot of htem point to single game situations and not all of them are when he was the D-coordinator.

[lex]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

lol someone forgot to rread the last paragraph of my post...

Look at those numbers, alot of htem point to single game situations and not all of them are when he was the D-coordinator.

Actually, I see "season" mentioned several times in his list of dubious accomplishments.

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

The players love and trust him. As an outside viewer, that's all we can bank on. We can watch the games and read the criticism all we want, but most of us will never be close enough to know that they really think of him in the locker-room. Leading up this season and currently, they still believe in him. Until that changes, that's what I'll rely on.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by lex

Actually, I see "season" mentioned several times in his list of dubious accomplishments.

That was the 2004 Packers defense, which sucked for 3 more years before Jim Bates "turned it around". Most of his D-Coordinator days were back in the mid 90's chicago defenses.

So one bad season makes you a horrible coordinator?

[lex]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

That was the 2004 Packers defense, which sucked for 3 more years before Jim Bates "turned it around". Most of his D-Coordinator days were back in the mid 90's chicago defenses.

So one bad season makes you a horrible coordinator?

I think they went from around 14th to almost last with Slowik as their DC. Thats extremely poor.

[Dudeskey]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

That was the 2004 Packers defense, which sucked for 3 more years before Jim Bates "turned it around". Most of his D-Coordinator days were back in the mid 90's chicago defenses.

So one bad season makes you a horrible coordinator?

If I remember correctly, which also lead the league in most TD Passes allowed that year as well...™

[baja]

I'm on board with this. I see the defense getting better every week and playing hard. Top 15 is real IMO

[CasinoRoyal]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

I'm not talking statistically, I'm just speaking level of play here...

I'll keep it simple:

1.) We are fast.
1a.) We fly to the ball.

2.) Our D-line is fast.
2a.) They fly to the ball.

3.) We are a step slow on zones, blitzing, man pick up and reads because we are hesitating.
3a.) The players are hesitating because they are uncomfortable with the scheme.
3b.) They are clearly becoming more comfortable through each passing week.

After watching the replay i can say that almost all their critical conversions that game came because our players were hesitant in their zones. I've noticed and I'm very glad that when we run stunts and loops we were often getting pressure with 4 or 5 rushers. This means to me, that our woes are not due to physical inability (which can't be fixed over the course of a season).

Mentaly we aren't there yet but we will, and when we do, I will bump this thread.

P.S. to the people calling for Slowik's head due to his "ineptitude" in Greenbay, their defense sucked for 3 years after him when Bates took over. AND, when slowik took over the job for Chicago in 1993, he turned them from the 22nd ranked defense to the 3rd ranked defense and kept them in the top 10 for 3 of the next 4 seasons.

Not so bad eh? I will say yesterday his biggest mistake was trusting Bailey to stop Bush. That did not work well and the saints got multiple big 3rd down conversions on that. However, his scheme of condensing the field against Bush with the 3down linemen I believe - was a Shanahan idea: a guy who knows how much Brees loves his QB rating and always checks down when he's done with progressions.

It worked aslong as we did two things.

1.) Take away all completions behind the second level of the defense.
2.) Eliminate YAC especially from Bush and Shockey.

We did a good job of #2 but failed at #1. Alot of it had to do with again, hesitation and Brees good timing.

Thats what im talking about!!!! this defense just needs to finish 15-20 and we will be just fine.

These idiots wants a number 1 defense when we have a offense thats gonna score 40 a game.

The two QBs who had good days are pretty good QBs on two high powered offenses who were both down huge early.

We may never finish outside the bottom half in passing defense for that reason alone. We score too fast and too often for teams to not pass the ball on us.

[theAPAOps5]

Originally Posted by baja

I'm on board with this. I see the defense getting better every week and playing hard. Top 15 is real IMO

The problem is their stats have declined each game. They should get way better in theory against KC and the weeks ahead because they don't face offenses like SD and NOLA but still its hard to think positive right now.

[kappys]

This team is fast and does fly to the ball, which is why every counter or screen results in a 10+ yard gain.

[CasinoRoyal]

And most importantly people act like they dont notice that we get HUGE stops when we need huge stops!!!!! Thatss facts.

[lex]

Here is his handiwerk from his time in Chicago:

	Total		Passing	
	Pts	Yds	Yds	NY/Att
1993	3	4	3	2
1994	10	13	5	7
1995	22	19	27	23
1996	12	12	14	17
1997	29	12	11	18
1998	23	14	15	28

Notice within 3 years the defense went from good to poor

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by lex

I think they went from around 14th to almost last with Slowik as their DC. Thats extremely poor.

and like i said the Bears went from 22 to 3 in 93 so does he get credit for that?

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by lex

Here is his handiwerk from his time in Chicago:

	Total		Passing	
	Pts	Yds	Yds	NY/Att
1993	3	4	3	2
1994	10	13	5	7
1995	22	19	27	23
1996	12	12	14	17
1997	29	12	11	18
1998	23	14	15	28

Notice within 3 years the defense went from good to poor

look up their 1992 stats

[DarkHorse30]

Originally Posted by WhoIsJohnGalt

you're welcome to drink the orange koolaid.

me personally... now that they have 3 games of film to look at, i believe that teams will come out throwing against the Broncos all year. except for really bad teams (like KC), i don't think our pass defense holds anyone under 300 yards passing for the rest of the season. the only way the Broncos keep winning is to keep outscoring the opponents. i expect lots of 35-31 or 38-35 type scores this season and a few more games decided in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter. until the Broncos develop an effective pass rush and can stop the opposing team on 3rd downs, quality opponents will be able to march up and down the field at will for the rest of the year.

that's a pretty dramatic prediction, considering that Denver has just played 2 of the best offenses in football, with at least 2 game-changing skill players on ea. offense. If opposing offense want to pass at will, their TO ratio will go up, as our defensive starters (of whom 6 were on other teams or playing a different position than last year) get more familiar with where the other guys will be at. Give 'em some time to gel and actually play as a team. The great thing is that the malcontents are gone....and the defense KNOWS they have work to do, but are getting used to stepping up in crunch time. Don't discount the goalline stop, or keeping SD from getting to run the clock in the last few minutes last week. That's the sort of thing that good defenses build on.

[maher_tyler]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

I'm not talking statistically, I'm just speaking level of play here...

I'll keep it simple:

1.) We are fast.
1a.) We fly to the ball.

2.) Our D-line is fast.
2a.) They fly to the ball.

3.) We are a step slow on zones, blitzing, man pick up and reads because we are hesitating.
3a.) The players are hesitating because they are uncomfortable with the scheme.
3b.) They are clearly becoming more comfortable through each passing week.

After watching the replay i can say that almost all their critical conversions that game came because our players were hesitant in their zones. I've noticed and I'm very glad that when we run stunts and loops we were often getting pressure with 4 or 5 rushers. This means to me, that our woes are not due to physical inability (which can't be fixed over the course of a season).

Mentaly we aren't there yet but we will, and when we do, I will bump this thread.

P.S. to the people calling for Slowik's head due to his "ineptitude" in Greenbay, their defense sucked for 3 years after him when Bates took over. AND, when slowik took over the job for Chicago in 1993, he turned them from the 22nd ranked defense to the 3rd ranked defense and kept them in the top 10 for 3 of the next 4 seasons.

Not so bad eh? I will say yesterday his biggest mistake was trusting Bailey to stop Bush. That did not work well and the saints got multiple big 3rd down conversions on that. However, his scheme of condensing the field against Bush with the 3down linemen I believe - was a Shanahan idea: a guy who knows how much Brees loves his QB rating and always checks down when he's done with progressions.

It worked aslong as we did two things.

1.) Take away all completions behind the second level of the defense.
2.) Eliminate YAC especially from Bush and Shockey.

We did a good job of #2 but failed at #1. Alot of it had to do with again, hesitation and Brees good timing.

I REALLY hope your right but i don't agree with you on 3.)...they had guys WIDE open all day long...seriously i don't know why they ever ran the ball they were moving the ball at will through the air!!

[2KBack]

I've been saying the same thing, I'm with you on this

[Gort]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

that's a pretty dramatic prediction, considering that Denver has just played 2 of the best offenses in football, with at least 2 game-changing skill players on ea. offense. If opposing offense want to pass at will, their TO ratio will go up, as our defensive starters (of whom 6 were on other teams or playing a different position than last year) get more familiar with where the other guys will be at. Give 'em some time to gel and actually play as a team. The great thing is that the malcontents are gone....and the defense KNOWS they have work to do, but are getting used to stepping up in crunch time. Don't discount the goalline stop, or keeping SD from getting to run the clock in the last few minutes last week. That's the sort of thing that good defenses build on.

i'm not saying that the Broncos won't keep on winning. i'm just saying that when you can't get any pressure and you give the opposing QB 5 or 7 seconds to find somebody open, he's going to find somebody open everytime. the end results... lots of passing yards and lots of scores that Cutler will have to match.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

I'm not talking statistically, I'm just speaking level of play here...

I'll keep it simple:

1.) We are fast.
1a.) We fly to the ball.

2.) Our D-line is fast.
2a.) They fly to the ball.

3.) We are a step slow on zones, blitzing, man pick up and reads because we are hesitating.
3a.) The players are hesitating because they are uncomfortable with the scheme.
3b.) They are clearly becoming more comfortable through each passing week.

After watching the replay i can say that almost all their critical conversions that game came because our players were hesitant in their zones. I've noticed and I'm very glad that when we run stunts and loops we were often getting pressure with 4 or 5 rushers. This means to me, that our woes are not due to physical inability (which can't be fixed over the course of a season).

Mentaly we aren't there yet but we will, and when we do, I will bump this thread.

P.S. to the people calling for Slowik's head due to his "ineptitude" in Greenbay, their defense sucked for 3 years after him when Bates took over. AND, when slowik took over the job for Chicago in 1993, he turned them from the 22nd ranked defense to the 3rd ranked defense and kept them in the top 10 for 3 of the next 4 seasons.

Not so bad eh? I will say yesterday his biggest mistake was trusting Bailey to stop Bush. That did not work well and the saints got multiple big 3rd down conversions on that. However, his scheme of condensing the field against Bush with the 3down linemen I believe - was a Shanahan idea: a guy who knows how much Brees loves his QB rating and always checks down when he's done with progressions.

It worked aslong as we did two things.

1.) Take away all completions behind the second level of the defense.
2.) Eliminate YAC especially from Bush and Shockey.

We did a good job of #2 but failed at #1. Alot of it had to do with again, hesitation and Brees good timing.

Well personally I think we suck eggs and we'll be near the bottom of the league all year long, but I'll give you major credit for thinking through this situation and I respect anyone on this board who thinks for themselves and stands against the prevailing view...so props for putting your credibility on the line for what looks at this point like a hopeless situation. If you're right I"ll admit straight up that you deserve the applause for seeing it.

I don't think this is a timing issue because I'm seeing this D-line get flat out owned both in passing situations and at the point of attack. Those guys either know how to get to the QB and react to the run or they don't. Our LB's are castoffs except for DJ, who is a stud on the weakside. The safeties stink and Bly has been less than stellar...even Champ's not been on his A game. On the flip side, if this D could even make a small improvement...say 15%...Cutler & Co. can carve up anybody in the league.

One thing that's gone almost unnoticed in here in the midst of the defensive meltdown...this team really needs a big time RB to keep the pressure off the pass rush AND, more importantly, to control the clock. It's obvious that Shanny doesn't consider either of our spare part backs as anything more than an afterthought. One of the main reasons the Colts offense has been so good is that they've had that guy who could move the chains consistently on the ground and it opens the game up for Manning but it also lets them eat the clock when they want to. If we had one of these guys it would go a long ways toward keeping the D off the field and letting them get a breather. That works to our advantage in the 2nd half of any game we play.

[bpinna]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

One thing that's gone almost unnoticed in here in the midst of the defensive meltdown...this team really needs a big time RB to keep the pressure off the pass rush AND, more importantly, to control the clock. It's obvious that Shanny doesn't consider either of our spare part backs as anything more than an afterthought. One of the main reasons the Colts offense has been so good is that they've had that guy who could move the chains consistently on the ground and it opens the game up for Manning but it also lets them eat the clock when they want to. If we had one of these guys it would go a long ways toward keeping the D off the field and letting them get a breather. That works to our advantage in the 2nd half of any game we play.

I was wondering about this. Why aren't we trying to control the clock given the state of our D? It would take a lot of pressure off. Agreed that we don't have elite RB's, but the O-Line has looked great. Seems like we should at least be making the attempt. And maybe Torain can contribute coming off IR late in the season.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by bpinna

I was wondering about this. Why aren't we trying to control the clock given the state of our D? It would take a lot of pressure off. Agreed that we don't have elite RB's, but the O-Line has looked great. Seems like we should at least be making the attempt. And maybe Torain can contribute coming off IR late in the season.

Because there's no TD or Portis or even Mike Anderson on this team. Shanny figures our D sucks so bad the only option is putting it up.

[summerdenver]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

I don't think this is a timing issue because I'm seeing this D-line get flat out owned both in passing situations and at the point of attack. Those guys either know how to get to the QB and react to the run or they don't. Our LB's are castoffs except for DJ, who is a stud on the weakside. The safeties stink and Bly has been less than stellar...even Champ's not been on his A game. On the flip side, if this D could even make a small improvement...say 15%...Cutler & Co. can carve up anybody in the league.

FO stats for 3 weeks more or less confirm this. Den is no. 1 ranked offense but 26th ranked defense (30th against pass and 5th against run). Den is doing well against # 1 WR (10th) but pretty bad against every one else
#2 WR (26th)
Other WR(30th)
RB (28th)
TE(23rd)


http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

oh to fully appreciate the pressure on offense just look at ST - they are 28th ranked for the first 3 weeks. I spend this year enjoying watching the offense and dreaming about the possibilities in future.