Could they rotate Niko and Nate?
by sirsam on Aug 8, 2008 6:50 PM MDT
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PrintJust a thought. What if the Broncos decided to rotate the middle line backers Niko Koutouvides and Nate Webster when they went into different packages? Isn't D.J. wearing the earpiece this year?
I've heard that Webster just flies around and is a run stuffer and Niko is good in pass coverage. So if D.J. is hearing what the play is, couldn't either Niko or Nate be in depending of if they are inticipating run or pass? Would that be to our advantage at all?
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HoosierTeacher would probably know the answer to this one.
I would guess that the answer would be No. Its disruptive to the continuity…the LB Core has to trust one another…
If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
Yeah...
...I was thinking that maybe it did need to be the same guy, but I thought it might be cool if they were able to do that. So hypothetically, let’s say it did not disrupt anything and they all trusted another, would it be give us an advantage on defense?
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don't think so,
but an interesting thought. at that vital position, i believe you need the same guy in there all the time. that is looking like it might be webster. this has been one of my biggest concerns, along with dt, and this isn’t looking like a strong position for us right now. still time to go, so we’ll see, but a rotation or spelling of the mlb would be a detriment, generally speaking. two halves don’t make a good whole, as it were
Some other positions I would say yes, but...
In a 4-3 system the middle line-backer has to know that the people in front, to the side, and behind him are in the right position. Watch this pre-season and you will notice that in 4-3 schemes the Middle line-backer, who has the best view and still within yelling range, just before they set, looks over both shoulders to see if those behind him are in place. Funny position—I wish like heck that Al had not hurt his neck.
I suppose its possible to exchange Niko and Nate on some plays—but I don’t see it. My guess is Niko ( living in Seahawk country I really like Niko) came in thinking he had the starting job. Nate prepared in the off-season to play. Shanny has thrown a wake-up call to Niko that the best man will be our full-time middle linebacker.
Its fun to have two really good players wanting to play.
Neither guy should be in for pass defense.
When the Broncos anticipate the pass, they will be in their nickel (5 DBs) or dime (6 DBs) package. In Nickel, they take one linebacker out , which will surely be the Mike (Webster or Niko). That is not so much a knock against them, as it is that DJ and Boss are the much faster and better coverage backers. That is why DJ is wearing the helmet speaker, and DJ is the back up helmet speaker wearer.
In the dime package, teams have either 3 down lineman and 2 backers, with 6 DBs, in which case you would still have DJ and Boss. But when they go to a 4-1-6 dime package then I am not sure who they will have as the one backer. That will be interesting to see. My guess is it would be DJ cause he is the better tackler, and in dime you usually have enough DBs to run any coverage you want. (Man, Man under, multiple zones).
pass coverage
I’m told that Niko appears to have a clear advantage in pass coverage, so we may see some situational substitution even if Webster wins the position.
BTW—I’d like to someone come forward as the backup to Boss. Green and Beck are behind him now, and Webster played SLB last season. It strikes me that the LB positions are still unsettled. I get the impression we still need to do something there. I hope that Woodyard and Larsen show me something, cuz I’m not getting a positive vibe on that area of the team.
I think
Jamie Winborn is gonna be the primary back up to DJ and Boss. IMO. Both Larsen and Woodyard are ILB and are not as fast or as good as Winborn. But they way Denver does interchange their LB’s anything is possible
by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 9, 2008 11:35 AM MDT reply actions
Within the 4-3, the answer would be no.
I agree with Gun Young that teams sometimes change who the LB in a dime is, but if the question is purely whether to switch within the 4- I would have to so that it would be a very remote chance. The MLB has too many responisibilities, and is going to get better as each game goes on from his reads on the offense. I’m not aware of teams switching MLBs within a 4-3.
Some systems prefer a run stopper or a speed (coverage) guy at MLB. I think Denver would like to return to the days when we had three fast LBs (Gold, Wilson, Williams). Niko is faster than Webster, but not as fast as Williams and Boss. For our system I would kind of like to see Niko start, but Webster seems to me to be a better stopper in the center and more experienced. Getting burned so much by the run last year, I think there’s a good chance we start Webster and let Niko build some experience.
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