The Art of "The Deep Ball"
by broncoholic on Nov 20, 2009 9:23 PM MST
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PrintAfter last week's fiasco at Washington, one of the main factors that lead to the demise of our beloved Broncos was the use of the deep pass. Before the game with the Redskins, some fans wanted Denver to throw the ball deep and take some shots down the field, so that our running game could be helped. Throwing the ball down the field does stretch the field and it keeps the defense on their heels. After a deep threat has been established in the game and the running game is effective, the play actions and draw plays are used. This confuses the defense for a second, and allows receivers to get separation. The problem with the play action, is that it won't be effective if a running game isn't established. To help establish the running game, coaches will sometimes throw the ball down the field to "stretch the defense". But, when should a team throw the football deep?
As I was watching the last seconds tick off the clock at the end of the Redskins' game, I wondered why we'd lost. If you can recall the San Diego game earlier in the year, remember how bad our defense was after the two ST touchdowns? It was a quick score and it didn't allow our defense to get rest for the next series.
I've never been a huge fan of the "long ball", but using it every "now-and-then" is okay. A team does need to take a few shots down the field, but repeating it drive-after-drive, isn't okay, especially for this team. In case you haven't noticed, the 2009-10 Denver Broncos are a ball control, defensive team. That is, they must win the TOP in order for the defense to play well. Giving the defense rest is a CRUCIAL part of their success. This team isn't a "long ball team"; no, they are a team that moves the ball down the field with smaller gains (another key to the success of this team is third down conversions). There is nothing wrong with this because it gives our defense rest and allows our offense to get in a rhythm.
Our problem on offense isn't throwing deep, it's running the ball. In the 2nd half of the Washington game, Denver stopped running the ball, forcing Chris Simms to throw the ball. I can understand the Broncos wanting to throw the ball more with Kyle Orton under center, but for some odd reason, the running game was abandoned when Simms came in. I'm not criticizing Josh McDaniels or the Broncos, I'm just wondering why Denver stopped running the ball. Anyway, since our offense abandoned the run game, we threw the ball more, (against the #1 pass defense) and since Chris Simms was at a huge disadvantage, we went three & out more often. All of these decisions/factors lead to the demise of our Broncos last week. Abandoned rushing attack+back-up QB that hasn't played in two years=tired defense=a loss to any team (including the Redskins).
The last thing that I have to say about the art of the long ball is when to use it. Say Denver started off a game on defense and the oppossing team drove down the field and scored. Let's say that the opponent took 5 minutes to score. Now, we get the ball at our 32 yard line...not bad field position. Denver throws a check-down pass for five yards, making it 2nd and 5. Then after converting the 3rd down situation that seems to come up every drive, the Broncos decide to air it out. On the 4th play of the drive Kyle Orton hits Brandon Marshall for a 60 yard touchdown pass. We took 2 minutes off the clock with our score. This puts our defense in a vulnerable spot. They gave up an opening drive TD, and now have to go back onto the field and try to stop the oppossing offense. This is what happened twice in the Redskins game. After the second long TD pass, Denver managed to stop the Redskins, but then they scored on the trick play. The Broncos were able to stop Washington after the second TD, because the Redskins' offense is that bad.
This is totally my opinion, and I'm not telling the Broncos what to do, I'm just giving everyone my opinion off how an offense should function. I could NEVER run the Denver Broncos as well as Josh McDaniels and company does. Hopefully we make some changes and they end up helping us...we are going to need all the support we can get this Sunday, so stay positive and don't give up on this team.
GO BRONCOS!!! (Thank you for reading this post, and I hope that you enjoyed it!)
TAAAAAAAAAKE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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You are right about field position aspect of long ball
When you reached opponents 35 yard is a good time to throw one into end zone (see Scheffler at SD). It avoids red zone difficulties created by compressed field.
On the other hand, risk of turnover creates too much danger. Just ask Simms.
I didn't even consider the red zone factor.
Well, that’s one way of improving red zone offense…staying out of the red zone.
"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".
"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.
by broncoholic on Nov 20, 2009 10:08 PM MST up reply actions
Nice post, Broncoholic.
I agree about the running game and I share your puzzlement about abandoning it in the 2nd half last week. It was working and looked like it would give Simms some breathing room.
In reference to the deep passes – I personally liked them but they need to be supplemented by a bruising and time eating ground attack that gives the defense a good rest. Had the bomb to Royal connected and resulted in a TD, that might have been the final knockout blow – up by 14 with a running game working. What is better than that?
In the future, you have to give your defense time off to catch their breath. The old Houston Oilers had a “Run ’n Shoot” offense. It took them 3-4 plays to score – all passes. They had to have a really good defense to keep them in a game.
Thank you. I think this week we'll see more of a running game in the 2nd half.
This is going to be a tough game. I hope our guys come out fired up and ready to TAAAAKE IT!!!
"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".
"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.
by broncoholic on Nov 21, 2009 10:31 AM MST up reply actions
Not much of a lesson for future games
I was at that game at Fedex Field, and it appeared to me that BMarsh just jogged down the field and no one covered him on either of those deep balls. I don’t think we’ll play another team that defends like that. One more reason why losing to those guys was so frustrating. I looked up the replays after I got home, there was no move, cut or pump fake, just play action and throw down the field, never seen anything like it in the NFL, probably won’t again. So don’t worry about us scoring too quickly again, we don’t play the Redskins again.
Indescision is the key to flexibility
Well, I thought about that also, but at least we know that the Broncos CAN throw the ball
down the field. The media thought we were limited with Orton under center…now everyone knows we can throw the ball deep.
"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".
"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.
by broncoholic on Nov 21, 2009 10:32 AM MST up reply actions
It didnt have to be a pump fake on the second td because were in a running formation
Its a thing called FOOLING THE DEFENSE.
On the first one we had 7 guys in to block and because our tendencies show us going short that safety bit on the slot guy which opened up the Beast down the field and the safety was too slow to recover.
On that second one we lined up in a hard core running formation sold the playaction and was able to get someone behind the defense . Is that not the entire point of playaction ?
Lets also remember that on the first one it was 3rd and 11 and on the second one it was 1st and 10 .
In the Steelers game I recall Orton hitting Marshall for several big first downs across the middle so Marshalls running for the markers in previous games set that td up as the defense didnt expect an aggressive throw .
On that second one we came out in a running formation after showing an end around a couple of runs and a short pass to the TE before fumbling on the previous possession .
We show them ultra conservative run formation after turning it over on our previous possession and bam ! attack right over there heads down field.
You cant just look at the one play McDaniels coaches situational football he foresaw and dictated each of those situations in our favor .
Couldn't vote there wasn't a spot that said: if the game dictates it, do it, but not if there is double coverage.
Or, if the receiver hasn;t beaten his man. If you all noticed, when Orton threw the 3 deep balls his receivers were wide open. You don’t just throw it down and hope ssomething happens like Simms did.
Sorry, that's a little too specific for me.
"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".
"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.
by broncoholic on Nov 21, 2009 10:33 AM MST up reply actions
Our defense played with a balls to the wall intensity in the Cincy, Cowboys and Pats game.
The Steelers, Ravens and Redskins games seem to take the air out of their sails. McBeans injury may be a reason for their collapse, I don’t know and we will see Sunday. I will say this, if our defense plays like they did against NE and Dallas we have a great chance to when this game. Simms can throw the ball further than Orton if that says anything, will thye do it this week? Maybe as a surprise, but I don’t see them lighting up the sky just to be doing. The opportunity has to present it.
Good post, I just wish we would have kept running after Fat Albert left the game and...
…we began gashing them with Moreno. We could have ran the ball into the end zone and took all the clock…in theory at least:-)
"Wait, let me explain something to you...I'm the Dude. So, that's what you call me. You know, that, or 'His Dudeness,' or 'Duder,' or 'El Duderino,' if you're not into the whole brevity thing."
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