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View Full Version : Defensing Broncos' Peyton Manning like a video game with no joystick



Denver Native (Carol)
03-30-2012, 11:39 AM
Longtime foe Jeff Fisher says of Denver's new QB: "You just can't fool him"

When it comes to the study of Peyton Manning, Jeff Fisher just might be the league's Ph.D.

Nobody has tweaked more game plans, screamed more expletives into the headset at a play gone bad, or seen more preparation get wiped away by a wave of Peyton Manning's hands at the line of scrimmage. There might not be a greater authority on what defenses in the AFC West and fans can expect from the Broncos with Manning behind center.

"He'll raise the offense to a level where they are consistent week after week after week," said Fisher, who in his 17-year tenure as Titans/Oilers coach was a divisional opponent for Manning's Colts from the league's realignment in 2002 until Fisher and the Titans parted ways after the 2010 season.

rest - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20287421/defensing-broncos-peyton-manning-like-video-game-no

Northman
03-30-2012, 12:17 PM
Thats what im counting on. All the times he torched our asses i want to see the same thing.

NightTrainLayne
03-30-2012, 12:19 PM
It's really interesting to me that Miami of all teams, has a winning record against him.

Cugel
03-30-2012, 12:28 PM
Manning is a rarity in today's NFL in that he has such freedom to call plays. He takes it a step beyond in that he not only changes plays once at the line of scrimmage, but often changes a second time when he sees the defense react to the first change.

"He's going to get up under center, scan the field and he knows what you're doing," Fisher said. "It may look like you're doing something else, but he knows what you're doing. It goes beyond staring into the eyes of the safeties. He understands presnap looks, the signals, the communication. He just knows all that."

That's really what will make the job of the OL both easier and more difficult. Easier because he almost always will check out of a play that won't work (because it will run into the teeth of a run-blitz for instance) to one designed to take advantage of that defensive formation.

But, MORE difficult because it requires the OL "to develop the kind of chemistry it takes to run a no-huddle look. It's one thing for Manning to make the checks at the line of scrimmage, but his knowledge won't turn into offensive power if the other Broncos on the field don't have a good enough handle on their assignments to also change on the fly."

They have to be mentally sharp enough to drop their assignment, and focus on a NEW assignment and know what they're supposed to do -- all in a matter of a few seconds.

Most teams huddle up, the player gets the play, remembers what his assignment is on that play, goes to the line and gets mentally prepared to execute. But, with the no-huddle he's got to be able to think on the fly. And if Manning changes the play TWICE because the defense is adapting to his first change (checking out of a blitz say), the OL has to be able to mentally focus on the changing assignment.

They have to STAY focused all the time with Manning and listen because he might change things up.

I think this will take some time before the OL is really able to operate at full efficiency. They might even need to get some new OL, because not every player is smart enough to be able to adapt quickly to changing plays and always remember and carry out their assignments properly.