Denver Native (Carol)
10-22-2013, 03:26 PM
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Well, for six NFL weeks it was largely sunshine and rainbows for the Denver Broncos offense. Then the Indianapolis Colts played far more aggressively than any of the Broncos’ first six opponents did and made it work.
But after a long look at the loss to the Colts, here are some thoughts on the Denver Broncos offense:
With the kind of size the Broncos put into the pass pattern on most plays, with the rule book tilted so far toward offenses these days, most defenses have elected to play in off coverages against the group and take their chances tackling. The idea being to limit the big-play opportunities and limit run-after-catch gains. It hasn't exactly worked for defenses as the Broncos haves scored at historical rates against it. The Colts chucked that thought aside, however, and their cornerbacks challenged the Broncos receivers with intent at the line of scrimmage. And given how fast Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been getting rid of the ball thus far this season, it didn’t take all that much disruption to affect the rhythm of the Broncos passing game. It has long been a Bill Belichick strategy, played out at its best in the Patriots win over the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense in the Super Bowl when the Patriots manhandled running back Marshall Faulk in the pass pattern. So much so the league quickly made downfield contact a “point of emphasis’’ for the league’s officials that is still in place. But the get-physical tactics seemed to frustrate the Broncos receivers at times. At 6-3, 214 pounds and 6-3, 229 pounds respectively, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have routinely overpowered smaller defensive backs in their careers. But Manning wasn’t quite as sharp as he has been and the Broncos wideouts, Wes Welker included as well, didn’t always earn the separation they needed to make a play. It’s certain to be something the more forceful defensive minds left on their schedule, like say Belichick, will consider moving forward.
rest - http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/1863/broncos-rewind-offense-6
But after a long look at the loss to the Colts, here are some thoughts on the Denver Broncos offense:
With the kind of size the Broncos put into the pass pattern on most plays, with the rule book tilted so far toward offenses these days, most defenses have elected to play in off coverages against the group and take their chances tackling. The idea being to limit the big-play opportunities and limit run-after-catch gains. It hasn't exactly worked for defenses as the Broncos haves scored at historical rates against it. The Colts chucked that thought aside, however, and their cornerbacks challenged the Broncos receivers with intent at the line of scrimmage. And given how fast Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been getting rid of the ball thus far this season, it didn’t take all that much disruption to affect the rhythm of the Broncos passing game. It has long been a Bill Belichick strategy, played out at its best in the Patriots win over the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense in the Super Bowl when the Patriots manhandled running back Marshall Faulk in the pass pattern. So much so the league quickly made downfield contact a “point of emphasis’’ for the league’s officials that is still in place. But the get-physical tactics seemed to frustrate the Broncos receivers at times. At 6-3, 214 pounds and 6-3, 229 pounds respectively, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have routinely overpowered smaller defensive backs in their careers. But Manning wasn’t quite as sharp as he has been and the Broncos wideouts, Wes Welker included as well, didn’t always earn the separation they needed to make a play. It’s certain to be something the more forceful defensive minds left on their schedule, like say Belichick, will consider moving forward.
rest - http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/1863/broncos-rewind-offense-6