Under Review - The 20th Ranked Pass Defense

by Colby on Nov 25, 2010 1:15 AM MST in 2009 Denver Broncos Game Recap

What a difference one year makes. Last season the Denver Broncos last year were ranked at the end of the season as the number three pass defense statistically averaging 186.3 yards per game against. This season through ten games the Broncos average 232 yards per game and ranked twentieth. It can be debated of what that reason is. There are a few arguments that could be brought up:

The departure of Mike Nolan
A year older on our veteran defense
Too many injuries to the secondary

Or maybe you have your own reason, Either way, this is not the same secondary that we had last year. The Broncos this season only have six interceptions. This putting them on pace for 9.6 interceptions on the year. All this can change because stats can only be used to a certain extent but you get where I am going with this. Last season, the Broncos finished with 17 interceptions.

A lot of it can be contributed to the departure of Elvis Dumerviland Ayers strangely enough, Ayers looked like he was coming into being a pretty good player until he broke his foot in the Baltimore game. Elvis Dumervil is irreplaceable. No ifs ands or buts. We miss his pressure that would force turnovers and interceptions. The Broncos this season only have 14 sacks, tied for 2nd last in the league. Any quarterback *cough* Troy Smith *cough* will look good if he has all day to pass the ball.

The 2009 secondary is a little bit different from the 2010 version:

Jack Williams Syd'Quan Thomspon
Alphonso Smith Nate Jones
Darcel McBath Darcel McBath
Ty Law Perrish Cox
Renaldo Hill Renaldo Hill
Andre Goodman Andre Goodman
Vernon Fox
Brian Dawkins Brian Dawkins
Tony Carter
David Bruton David Bruton
Josh Barret
Champ Bailey Champ Bailey

So take it as you will, it is a pretty old secondary that just got a year older. I think though the pieces are there for the future and are learning behind the veterans which is the right way to build a successful team.

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Yes, but it's painful to watch...

Please draft/hire a DL this year and a MLB that is a vocal leader.
Happy Turkey day everyone.

by ThorpeBroncosfan on Nov 25, 2010 5:37 AM MST reply actions

Patrick Peterson would look very good in Bronco Orange.

This Bronco squad usually leaves me feeling disgusted.

by McGeorge on Nov 25, 2010 5:45 AM MST reply actions

I'll second that!

by Adam Manter on Nov 25, 2010 6:17 AM MST up reply actions

As far as the wheel routes go

I think our best goal for them is getting better at the d-line so that we can do a lot more confusing things against teams. So that we can stunt, and zone blitz so they just don’t know where the safe route is going to be. That’s where the Ravens D really shines I think. You just don’t know who is coming after you and when they drop Ngata into coverage, can actually cover so you don’t know what’s safe.

by Fan in Exile on Nov 25, 2010 6:18 AM MST reply actions

tackling

Have you noticed the poor tackling? Lets face it , this is not a good team that is one player from being good. We don’t have rookies that are making a positive difference, they are learning. No matter what we do we are going to have to rebuild. Our vets are too long in the tooth. No more rejects,REBUILD,REBUILD, REBUILD

by Baghdad on Nov 25, 2010 7:24 AM MST reply actions

But if this a rebuilding team,

why on earth do we keep signing aging veterans? Once the old team was jettisoned, youth should have been the focus right off the bat, Now the rebuilding process will start in McDaniels’s third year. (Unless he keeps signing aging stopgaps that is) Rebuilding teams don’t win. How do you think the fan base will react to yet another year like this one?

by BroncoMarc on Nov 25, 2010 1:01 PM MST up reply actions

the audio is a lot better in this one Colby

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.

by KaptainKirk on Nov 25, 2010 8:01 AM MST reply actions

Is the Denver defense becoming a purgatory for young talent?

Sad…

Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.

The artist formerly known as ZAPPA

by Tim Lynch on Nov 25, 2010 9:27 AM MST reply actions

The only thing worse than being a bad young team?

A bad old team

by BroncoMarc on Nov 25, 2010 12:25 PM MST reply actions

nate jones on first TD

U mention that it was the DB responsibility for the middle end zone when in zone coverage. If you understand zone coverage in the secondary and study this play u will recognize DJ Williams is responsable for post coverage. DJ’s first move on that play was to his left where we already have 3 cover players and his fatal move to the left opens the post to his right. Be careful when you place blame unless u understand the intracasy of NFL defenses.

by kimo526 on Nov 25, 2010 3:06 PM MST reply actions