Identity Crisis on Defense

Elvis was becoming a leader even though he isn’t as vocal as some of the other players. He will be missed, however I hope Ayers and others step up while Dumervil is getting better. If something good happens then we will be good for next year….assuming there is no strike.

that means everyone is doing their part as a unit. Problem is we aren’t there yet. I have confidence the team will get there, but it may take more time that some have patience for. This defense will be good against the pass, but still needs to prove it can stop or limit the running game. Part of the puzzle of becoming a champion. Not having Doom hurt, not just what he brought to the rushing game, but also what he brought in the locker room. The on field stuff you can find ways to make it work, but the locker room leadership that’s much harder to replace. If someone else steps up they will have earn the respect that comes with leadership. Just my thoughts on the defense.

i believe atwater did lead this defense from the safety position. but as we know, he was more of an 8th man in the box. as is dawkins, if not before the play begins, then immediately afterwards. btw, we stopped the run last season with 8-9 guys in the box early in the season, and run-blitzing. wore down at the end? more like backed-off.

up front, the leadership will come in the form of one jamaal wiiliams. our aim as an identity does appear to be “nobody runs on the broncos”, at least the d-line’s identity. that’s good enough for me, especially with our secondary, who is surely stating “nobody passes on the broncos”. we’ll have to see our unit come together before we know our true identity, but we still have plenty of guys we can hang our hat on. just not at lb this season.

is that it’s yet to be established completely. Last year, at the beginning, we saw a nasty us-against-the-world mentality. It can be best symbolized by McDaniels fist pumping the crap out of the crowd after they beat the Patriots. Then as the season wore on, things started to happen and this team became something different. Something “soft”, if I may. Players started getting lazy as if they’d earned something after 6 or so games. The two last wins this team had were fluke efforts, in my opinion. They didn’t belong in the same “us-against-the-world” mindset. They were of their own identity. They beat up on a weakened Chiefs team, and they took advantage of early weaknesses with the Giants.

I think the Broncos have yet to establish one solid identity. If I were looking from the outside in (as I try to), I see a bunch of playmakers on defense that are yet to find their rhythm as a unit. Yes, Brian Dawkins brings intensity that is unrivaled. And Champ Bailey is as steady and solid as he’s ever been. Dumervil has found his way to fame by way of the offensive backfield, but I’m yet to see someone take the reins of that defense. If anyone could do it right now, I would have to put my bets on Ayers. I’m uncomfortable having a so far underwhelming player leading our defense into battle, but maybe he flourishes under that pressure. We don’t know yet.

If I were to place my chips on what the defense could be, I would have to say something like the Colts defense of 06. They had almost no major name players at the time, yet they gelled together and got work done. The true superstars in Indy didn’t come from another team, they were born and bred into that team. Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil are the who I’d place my chips on to make that happen for us, even if I don’t want to right now.

I feel that this article came out of no where. Was it the one preseason game that prompted you to write this article? The identity will come from how they identify themselves collectively. How will they stop the run, how will they stop the pass, etc. To say that there has to be one person (i.e. Ayers) to lead the defense seems unreasonable and unrealistic. I believe the Broncos have playmakers and leaders up and down the depth chart. I also believe that the staff is successfully coaching all of the players up to a very high level while having training camps that are up tempo and aggressive. A good amount of the players express their desire to win now. It is a wait and see approach with both the offense, defense and special teams. It is a team sport.

Before we start asking him to become a vocal leader. Thats a lot of unfair expetation to throw on one guy, especially on like Ayers.

I think BDawk can still be that leader. I find it hard to say he cant be that guy because the D struggled around him. He is a force to be reckoned with, and it showed with his career high tackles. Sure, he hasnt been here all pre season but once the regular season rolls around I expect Weapon X to be in full force.

I want to be wrong. Being wrong means we win football games, but I am not going to ignore something I see in this team just because it might be negative. It is what it is…I was still in my 20’s the last time the Broncos went to the playoffs. ;-) lol

The real answer is to have a roster full of players who have heart. That is the concept McDaniels has been employing from day one. He may have accomplished that feat already.

Because to me this whole “identity” thing seems overrated to me. You can have all the nicknames, signature plays or swagger you want. Doesn’t necessarily mean you win a Superbowl.

Surely what we really mean here is talent and heart. Which is a bit of a no-brainer no?

What seems to connect the great historical defences – the Steel Curtain, Doomsday Defence, Da Bears, etc is a defence full of heart (as per Winked posts above) and players who are agressive and hard hitting. Think Ray Lewis, Butkus, Singletary etc.

And most importantly these defences were stacked through with talent.

Thats the only “identity” you need. The rest is semantics is it not?

In the highlight video on db.com Haggan is the one giving the team talk, he is a vocal presence, he is motivated and he also plays a vital role in the D. With doom out he becomes even more important imo because he is versatile and skilled enough to play both inside and outside at a pretty high level, maybe not an elite level but our coaching staff obviously trusts him enough to make those moves. Also he is more of a vet than Ayers, although Ayers may be more skilled than him in the long run I don’t think he us quite there yet. His physical play seems to be getting there but his mental play still needs a but of work imo.

However I do get what your saying about the leadership needing to come from the LB core, and I also think that it ties in nicely with Wink moving up from LB coach to D coach. I also think Dawk will still play a big role because he is such a good motivator if men, but as you rightly mention the D can’t get by on the strength of one mans will, it takes a concerted effort from all areas, and each area needs its own leadership. J.Will in the D line, Maybe Haggan at LB and Dawk in the secondary.

Our D is long in the tooth in some areas but full of high motor, high character vets. I have a growing sense that we have a plethora of youngster coming in that have the potential to provide the leadership you are talking about. Ayers has that cockiness, swagger about him that could evolve into leadership once he gets over himself. I have to wonder about Kirlew and Alexander surprising people in more ways than one. Again, there is this sense we have one or more “off the radar” individuals that could step or grow into that role. Overall, I’m thinking our defense will be top tier, if not dominant at times, this year.

Our D is long in the tooth in some areas but full of high motor, high character vets. I have a growing sense that we have a plethora of youngster coming in that have the potential to provide the leadership you are talking about. Ayers has that cockiness, swagger about him that could evolve into leadership once he gets over himself. I have to wonder about Kirlew and Alexander surprising people in more ways than one. Again, there is this sense we have one or more “off the radar” individuals that could step or grow into that role. Overall, I’m thinking our defense will be top tier, if not dominant at times, this year.

I’d rather see the LBers just focus on filling the hole left by Doom’s injury. If they play solid as a unit, I’ll be a happy camper. A leader will rise to the top as the season goes on.

A lot will be known about this team after the bye week….will we slack off a bit like last year….or will we kick it into high gear to finish out the year…? I can’t wait to find out!!!

I believe Robert Ayers will have a better season this year, but it may not be the spectacular season that Elvis had a year ago. Let’s remember how long Dumervil took to develop even though he showed flashes in his first couple of seasons…It’s time for Moss to step up too, Mario Haggan won’t be able to shoulder this defense at the line like Doom did and like you Tim, I’ll be looking for some surprises…Thanks,

I would very much like to see Mario Haggan on the inside. I would have A LOT more hope for this defense if this happens. He would also be far more effective as the heart and soul of the 2010 defense if he remains inside….

What if the heart and soul of this year’s defense will come from none other than Wink?

I would have sworn it was written by Krieger of the DP. While turning a non issue into a big worry is just what he does, it is well beneath you Tim Lynch.