titan
06-23-2009, 11:54 AM
The Broncos need more than Ayers to improve their defense. Michael Lombardi
Monday, my colleague at the Post and lover of the Houston Texans, Matt Bowen, went over potential impact players in the AFC West. I loved some of the names on his list, especially Robert Ayers of Denver, who, if the Broncos are going to get any pass rush, is going to have to have an impact. But I see mathematics as the most important part of any player making an impact (more about that later).
Can one player have an impact on a defense that was as bad as the Broncos were last year? That’s a fair question. Certainly, Ayers is expected to provide an upgrade, but the Broncos need to get back to basics. They must get good on defense in one area -- the red zone -- before their defense can be impactful.
When you look at the great turnarounds in recent years, the Dolphins of 2008 provide a tremendous blueprint for the Broncos to follow. The Dolphins realized they were not going to become good on defense in just one game, or in one month. It was an evolving process that started with their ability to practice. Yes, Allen Iverson, I said practice. The Dolphins improved on defense last year because they practiced their fundamentals and their techniques, and as the year went along, they improved.
Training camp is a really a mathematical problem for coaches. There are certain amounts of predetermined practices in which fans can come out to watch their favorite teams. In those practices, there are a defined number of plays -- or repetitions as coaches call them. Practice repetitions are directly tied to the time allowed for each period. So there might be a two-hour practice, 120 minutes, but in that time, there are 60 repetitions in all phases of the game. For example, if a team is working on its inside run drill, it might want to get 12 plays/repetitions in that period. In camp, there are normally three groups of players -- three teams of offensive and defensive players -- so some players might only get two repetitions. Before the assistant coaches leave for vacation, they must know how many repetitions each player will be able to get before the first game, in all phases of the game. Clearly, the more reps, the better chance a player has to either improve or, in some cases, fail to meet the challenge.
When injuries become a part of the above equation, the amount of repetitions is reduced, resulting in limited progress for the player and the team. This is why Miami was able to keep improving last season. Its mathematical numbers worked. The players who needed repetitions were healthy enough to get their reps, which allowed them to improve. As practice starts, you’ll read about players discussing the limited repetitions they’ve received in practice, thus limiting their chances to learn the scheme and improve in the scheme. This is why, as a personnel director, you must know how many reps each player receives -- and at times urge the coaches to give a certain player more. Or urge them to give less.
The challenge for head coach Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is not to improve the overall defense but to become proficient in one area -- the red zone. They need to overload their team with every situation it will see in the red area, making them “game ready” as soon as possible. The ability to hold teams to field goals will a determining factor in their success this year on defense. The Broncos will have to come to grips with two facts before the season starts: One, teams will successfully move the ball on them, and two, teams will be able to exploit their weaknesses once the season starts.
Let us touch on the second factor first. The Broncos, I’m sure, are currently optimistic about their defense; they’ve been able to work on certain areas within their scheme against one common opponent. Once the season starts, the new scheme and new designs can mask any problems the defense has for the first month. When October rolls around, the scheme, the talent and the weaknesses will come to the forefront, allowing teams to attack them with vigor. How will the Broncos handle this? I hope the same way the Dolphins did last year, by relying on good techniques, good fundamentals and the best red-zone defense in the NFL.
Teams will move the ball on the Broncos because they’re a work in progress on defense. They have too many new parts, new schemes and new players. Their challenge will be to remain disciplined, keep the scheme simple, keep working on the same fundamentals and principles and, most important, run what they practiced all summer. Too often, teams (many I’ve been with) practice one kind of scheme all summer, then change it once the season starts, losing all the repetitions and losing the mathematics game. Trust me, this didn’t happen in Miami.
Ayers alone can’t make an impact, but he can make one if his mathematics grade is passing -- along with many of his teammates.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Diner-morning-news-Getting-back-to-basics.html
Monday, my colleague at the Post and lover of the Houston Texans, Matt Bowen, went over potential impact players in the AFC West. I loved some of the names on his list, especially Robert Ayers of Denver, who, if the Broncos are going to get any pass rush, is going to have to have an impact. But I see mathematics as the most important part of any player making an impact (more about that later).
Can one player have an impact on a defense that was as bad as the Broncos were last year? That’s a fair question. Certainly, Ayers is expected to provide an upgrade, but the Broncos need to get back to basics. They must get good on defense in one area -- the red zone -- before their defense can be impactful.
When you look at the great turnarounds in recent years, the Dolphins of 2008 provide a tremendous blueprint for the Broncos to follow. The Dolphins realized they were not going to become good on defense in just one game, or in one month. It was an evolving process that started with their ability to practice. Yes, Allen Iverson, I said practice. The Dolphins improved on defense last year because they practiced their fundamentals and their techniques, and as the year went along, they improved.
Training camp is a really a mathematical problem for coaches. There are certain amounts of predetermined practices in which fans can come out to watch their favorite teams. In those practices, there are a defined number of plays -- or repetitions as coaches call them. Practice repetitions are directly tied to the time allowed for each period. So there might be a two-hour practice, 120 minutes, but in that time, there are 60 repetitions in all phases of the game. For example, if a team is working on its inside run drill, it might want to get 12 plays/repetitions in that period. In camp, there are normally three groups of players -- three teams of offensive and defensive players -- so some players might only get two repetitions. Before the assistant coaches leave for vacation, they must know how many repetitions each player will be able to get before the first game, in all phases of the game. Clearly, the more reps, the better chance a player has to either improve or, in some cases, fail to meet the challenge.
When injuries become a part of the above equation, the amount of repetitions is reduced, resulting in limited progress for the player and the team. This is why Miami was able to keep improving last season. Its mathematical numbers worked. The players who needed repetitions were healthy enough to get their reps, which allowed them to improve. As practice starts, you’ll read about players discussing the limited repetitions they’ve received in practice, thus limiting their chances to learn the scheme and improve in the scheme. This is why, as a personnel director, you must know how many reps each player receives -- and at times urge the coaches to give a certain player more. Or urge them to give less.
The challenge for head coach Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is not to improve the overall defense but to become proficient in one area -- the red zone. They need to overload their team with every situation it will see in the red area, making them “game ready” as soon as possible. The ability to hold teams to field goals will a determining factor in their success this year on defense. The Broncos will have to come to grips with two facts before the season starts: One, teams will successfully move the ball on them, and two, teams will be able to exploit their weaknesses once the season starts.
Let us touch on the second factor first. The Broncos, I’m sure, are currently optimistic about their defense; they’ve been able to work on certain areas within their scheme against one common opponent. Once the season starts, the new scheme and new designs can mask any problems the defense has for the first month. When October rolls around, the scheme, the talent and the weaknesses will come to the forefront, allowing teams to attack them with vigor. How will the Broncos handle this? I hope the same way the Dolphins did last year, by relying on good techniques, good fundamentals and the best red-zone defense in the NFL.
Teams will move the ball on the Broncos because they’re a work in progress on defense. They have too many new parts, new schemes and new players. Their challenge will be to remain disciplined, keep the scheme simple, keep working on the same fundamentals and principles and, most important, run what they practiced all summer. Too often, teams (many I’ve been with) practice one kind of scheme all summer, then change it once the season starts, losing all the repetitions and losing the mathematics game. Trust me, this didn’t happen in Miami.
Ayers alone can’t make an impact, but he can make one if his mathematics grade is passing -- along with many of his teammates.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Diner-morning-news-Getting-back-to-basics.html