I get a lot of e-mails, and here's one that really caught my attention:

I'm trying to understand the connection and the differences between "press coverage" and "B&R". 

Much of the material I have read doesn't necessarily distinguish between the two.  In fact, much says that B&R starts out as press coverage, so clearly they're different concepts.

Also, if you're up to it, what does the DB do after he jams the receiver?  What does the "run" part of B&R consist of?  I read an article by Bob Stoops and he talked about using a trail technique which transitions to what he called a cut-off technique.   Tom Bass at NFL.com, however, says that you never trail a receiver.  Rather, you run even with him, staying on his inside shoulder.  Apparently there's two ways to play B&R.  Is this the case?  Is it what the coach prefers?

The other thing that confuses me is what dictates where a DB aligns pre-snap?  Inside shoulder?  Outside? Or head-up?  For this question I went to Coach Huey's X's and O's website and discovered that there's two situations that determine where the DB aligns: one, the type of coverage being played behind him or, two, the WR's distance from the formation.  Apparently this too is a coach's preference in how he schemes his coverage.

I guess what I'm asking is what is press coverage and what is B&R?  If you have the time and the inclination, I'd appreciate your insight.

Thanks to John Garner for the excellent questions!  Let's take a look at 'em.

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In the earliest days of football, football was not a passing game.  The passes that were made were closer to rugby passes (two handed, lateral, underhanded throws with some spiral).  The game was also brutal, and dictated much more by toughness and strength than finesse or speed.

Flash forward to the present, where the NFL is a wealth of different approaches.  Is there room for the "old ways"?

via www.comictreadmill.com

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Let me start off by sharing a bias I have.  My favorite NFL player through history (who was not a Denver Bronco) has always been Brian Dawkins.  That he is now a Bronco seems almost like something out of an old "Twilight Zone" episode.  My favorite all-time player now a Bronco?  I wish it had happened years ago when Dawkins was in his prime.  But I won't complain.  Those of you that have known me for awhile also know that the safety position (free safety in particular) has always been my favorite.

Here's my CliffsNotes opinion on the signing:

1. Dawkins is not only the best safety to have ever played the position, he was so superhuman that he caused a major shift in how the position has been viewed by coaches.
2. At the same time, Dawkins is not the player he used to be.
3. However, like Lynch before him, his abilities even after age is factored in are well beyond what most teams could ever hope for in the position.

For the Xs and Os on what Dawkins has done for the safety position, read below the fold...

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Some of my best ideas for MHR stories aren't my own ideas.  Once again, a sharp reader of MileHighReport.com has sent me an e-mail with a series of questions worth bumping my own idea for a story this week.

From MHR member BornOrange comes this:

1) What, exactly, is the NE "amoeba" offense, and how does it differ from the Shannahan WC we've become so familiar with?

2) How will the Denver ZB system affect this new offense differently from how they do it in NE?

3) In light of the new system, do we have all the appropriate personnel, or are we now missing any key pieces?

Great questions Born, and worth a special look...

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3 men on your defense lined up to take on 5 giant offensive linemen?  The fans want to know what's gotten into yur head.

Not only that, the offensive coordinator throws in two big blocking TE's to ensure his QB's protection.  Your men are outnumbered 7 to 3, and giving up hundreds of pounds in comparison.  You give the go ahead.  It's a base 3-4 defense, and you're not afraid.

The offense is outnumbered.; they just don't know it yet.

But they're about to find out.

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MHR University has done some work in the past with covering the 3-4, including the systems being run in the NFL as well as the importance of the NT position.  Now let's take a jump from intermediate theory to advanced concepts.

In today's MHR-U we will look at two areas of subject matter.  1) What is the difference between each of the DE and LB positions in terms of responsibilities, and 2) What are the considerations for blocking at the line for a 3-4. 

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Every move made by a coach brings advantages and disadvantages.  Every move is an exchange.  It is to be hoped that the exchange brings about a net advantage, but every move has a cost.

Take the likely move to 3-4.  While any defensive coordinator can run a 3-4 or a 4-3, it continues to look probable that we are looking at a 3-4 for 2009.  To me, it isn't so much because of "who" we are bringing in, but because of statements they have made, as well as our present situation (weakness on the line, strength at LB).

The biggest issue for the coaches and management will be in two parts.

1) a 3-4 just doesn't work uness you have a star quality NT.  (In theory, a team can have two star quality DEs instead.  But this really hasn't translated to the field in the NFL).

2) From a draft and FA perspective, LBs are easier to obtain than DLmen.  NTs are very rare finds.

Denver has some clear advantages and disadvantages moving forward.  Let's take a look at them...

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MHR University Special Report

How the change at Head Coach impacts the Broncos on the field

The news has sent shock waves through not just the Broncos fan base, but sports news outlets in general.  Mike Shanahan, one of the most winning and safest coaches was fired.  From his days as a Superbowl "Mastermind" and playoff contender to his class act at his final news conference at Dove Valley, Mike Shanahan has earned the respect and best wishes of all of us at Milehighreport.com.

Most of the excellent staff and members of MHR will focus on memories of Mike, and speculation about what the future holds.  I will try to focus on what I know best: Xs and Os.  I know what happens when change comes at head coach (though not at the pro level), but I also have an inkling of how this impacts the team from a systemic vantage.

Denver is in for a  heck of a ride.  Some things may (surprisingly) improve rather quickly, while some things may go south for a bit.  Now is not the time to panic for Denver's future, nor is it the time for celebration.  Denver is still in the midst of a rebuilding program, and the types of moves Denver makes in the next two or so years will depend heavily on the new coach.

Read on...

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