broncofaninfla
01-20-2010, 11:00 AM
NFL coordinators predict a Belichick-like defense for Broncos
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 01/20/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
I polled a few offensive coordinators Tuesday to see what they thought a defense coached by Dean Pees would look like for the Broncos.
The answer: Think Bill Belichick. Think Patriots.
Pees is the front-runner to be the team's new defensive coordinator and would bring with him the kind of playbook Josh McDaniels desires. Broncos linebackers coach Don Martindale is in the mix for the job as well and, like Pees, would likely run a scheme far closer to what McDaniels wants than the departing Mike Nolan did.
Whereas this past season was a mix of Nolan's and McDaniels' philosophies, there should be a lot less "mix" in the 2010 season.
Nolan preferred to take risks in the pass rush, blitzing players from unexpected places — 10 of the team's 39 sacks came from inside linebackers or defensive backs. Pees likely will play something closer to Belichick's style.
When Belichick springs a surprise on opposing quarterbacks he does it with coverages — moving players into passing lanes from unexpected angles, trying to disrupt a quarterback's timing as he goes through his reads — rather than adding to the rush.
In that style, the big guys are usually left to their own devices to battle up front, with the nose tackle and at least one of the defensive ends consistently battling double teams and expected to win their fair share of the clashes.
This past season, that was an issue for the Patriots, who finished 23rd in the league in sacks with 31. But that total is even worse considering 10 of the team's sacks came in two games against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots had six games this season with one or zero sacks.
The Broncos also had their troubles in the defensive front, especially against the run down the stretch.
As a result, Nolan blitzed plenty against the run as the season wore on, which McDaniels called a "bad formula" at the end of the season. But it's unclear how much of that was a result of McDaniels and Nolan agreeing on a course of action as the team struggled in run defense or if that was something that led to Nolan's departure.
Last season, offensive coordinators didn't know what to expect when the regular season opened because Nolan and McDaniels had never worked together before, they say they will know where to look this time around.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14224891#ixzz0dAWOkPbT (http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14224891#ixzz0dAWOkPbT)
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 01/20/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
I polled a few offensive coordinators Tuesday to see what they thought a defense coached by Dean Pees would look like for the Broncos.
The answer: Think Bill Belichick. Think Patriots.
Pees is the front-runner to be the team's new defensive coordinator and would bring with him the kind of playbook Josh McDaniels desires. Broncos linebackers coach Don Martindale is in the mix for the job as well and, like Pees, would likely run a scheme far closer to what McDaniels wants than the departing Mike Nolan did.
Whereas this past season was a mix of Nolan's and McDaniels' philosophies, there should be a lot less "mix" in the 2010 season.
Nolan preferred to take risks in the pass rush, blitzing players from unexpected places — 10 of the team's 39 sacks came from inside linebackers or defensive backs. Pees likely will play something closer to Belichick's style.
When Belichick springs a surprise on opposing quarterbacks he does it with coverages — moving players into passing lanes from unexpected angles, trying to disrupt a quarterback's timing as he goes through his reads — rather than adding to the rush.
In that style, the big guys are usually left to their own devices to battle up front, with the nose tackle and at least one of the defensive ends consistently battling double teams and expected to win their fair share of the clashes.
This past season, that was an issue for the Patriots, who finished 23rd in the league in sacks with 31. But that total is even worse considering 10 of the team's sacks came in two games against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots had six games this season with one or zero sacks.
The Broncos also had their troubles in the defensive front, especially against the run down the stretch.
As a result, Nolan blitzed plenty against the run as the season wore on, which McDaniels called a "bad formula" at the end of the season. But it's unclear how much of that was a result of McDaniels and Nolan agreeing on a course of action as the team struggled in run defense or if that was something that led to Nolan's departure.
Last season, offensive coordinators didn't know what to expect when the regular season opened because Nolan and McDaniels had never worked together before, they say they will know where to look this time around.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14224891#ixzz0dAWOkPbT (http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14224891#ixzz0dAWOkPbT)