TXBRONC
10-23-2009, 08:35 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13622778
Broncos will see plenty of NFL's better offenses
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 10/23/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
There are certain things that get a team behind the NFL's velvet ropes, to mingle with the VIPs and bask in the spotlight.
And a bone-bruising, assert-your-authority defense is certainly one of those things.
Which is why the Broncos are among those walking the league's red carpet at the moment, one of four undefeated teams as they enjoy their bye week, leading the league in scoring defense, having surrendered a miserly 11 points per game.
Ah, but they have miles to go before they sleep.
"We know," safety Brian Dawkins said. "Nobody has to say anything about it. We know. And if you don't know, we have the people who can tell you."
Such as coach Josh McDaniels.
"We play with a chip on our shoulder," outside linebacker Darrell Reid said. "We don't want to lose our chip. People will come after you if you lose your chip."
While the Broncos' defense, one of the league's worst the previous two seasons, has fought its way to the front of the line,consider the work that remains the rest of the season. The Broncos:
• Will face five of the league's top 10 scoring teams — the Giants, Ravens, Colts, Eagles and Chargers.
• Will face four of the seven offenses that have scored at least 17 touchdowns — the Ravens, Giants, Colts and Steelers.
• Will play five of the six teams currently averaging at least 6 yards a play — the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, Colts and Saints.
• Will face five of the top seven passing offenses — Steelers, Colts, Ravens, Giants and Chargers — and the Ravens and Steelers are their next two games.
"That's plenty to do," cornerback Champ Bailey said. "You can't let up, ever. We've had good starts around here before — you know, 4-1 last year — and it didn't mean anything."
The Broncos have been fortunate not to lose front-line players to injuries too. They are the only team in the league starting four players in the secondary who are at least 30 years old, which could be a cause for concern over a long season.
"It's about people taking care of themselves," Dawkins said of staying healthy. "Do the things you need to do through the week to give yourself the best chance to be ready on game day."
Three personnel executives from teams that remain on the Broncos' schedule said this week the difficulty in attacking the Broncos' defense is that their 3-4 scheme plays more like an old-school 5-2 against the run, closing down the line of scrimmage, and yet is able to get enough speed on the field in passing situations to cover the gaps.
"We like what we have going," said linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who has 10 sacks. "But nobody is going to remember it if we don't keep handling our business. We can be better, and you have to be better at the end of a season than you were in the beginning."
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The stretch run
Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold looks ahead at the Broncos' remaining schedule:
Nov. 1, at Baltimore: Sixth in passing, ninth in rushing.
Nov. 9, Pittsburgh: Super Bowl champs lead league in passing.
Nov. 15, at Washington: RB Clinton Portis seventh in rushing.
Nov. 22, San Diego: Philip Rivers has 13 TDs in seven starts against Denver.
Nov. 26, N.Y. Giants: No. 3 in scoring (29.3).
Dec. 6, at Kansas City: Broncos in Arrowhead in December? Do the math.
Dec. 13, at Indianapolis: QB Peyton Manning looks like first four-time MVP.
Dec. 20, Oakland: Classic trap game.
Dec. 27, at Philadelphia: Has four 260-yard passing games with two QBs.
Jan. 3, Kansas City: Larry Johnson can do some damage (if he's interested).
Broncos will see plenty of NFL's better offenses
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 10/23/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
There are certain things that get a team behind the NFL's velvet ropes, to mingle with the VIPs and bask in the spotlight.
And a bone-bruising, assert-your-authority defense is certainly one of those things.
Which is why the Broncos are among those walking the league's red carpet at the moment, one of four undefeated teams as they enjoy their bye week, leading the league in scoring defense, having surrendered a miserly 11 points per game.
Ah, but they have miles to go before they sleep.
"We know," safety Brian Dawkins said. "Nobody has to say anything about it. We know. And if you don't know, we have the people who can tell you."
Such as coach Josh McDaniels.
"We play with a chip on our shoulder," outside linebacker Darrell Reid said. "We don't want to lose our chip. People will come after you if you lose your chip."
While the Broncos' defense, one of the league's worst the previous two seasons, has fought its way to the front of the line,consider the work that remains the rest of the season. The Broncos:
• Will face five of the league's top 10 scoring teams — the Giants, Ravens, Colts, Eagles and Chargers.
• Will face four of the seven offenses that have scored at least 17 touchdowns — the Ravens, Giants, Colts and Steelers.
• Will play five of the six teams currently averaging at least 6 yards a play — the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, Colts and Saints.
• Will face five of the top seven passing offenses — Steelers, Colts, Ravens, Giants and Chargers — and the Ravens and Steelers are their next two games.
"That's plenty to do," cornerback Champ Bailey said. "You can't let up, ever. We've had good starts around here before — you know, 4-1 last year — and it didn't mean anything."
The Broncos have been fortunate not to lose front-line players to injuries too. They are the only team in the league starting four players in the secondary who are at least 30 years old, which could be a cause for concern over a long season.
"It's about people taking care of themselves," Dawkins said of staying healthy. "Do the things you need to do through the week to give yourself the best chance to be ready on game day."
Three personnel executives from teams that remain on the Broncos' schedule said this week the difficulty in attacking the Broncos' defense is that their 3-4 scheme plays more like an old-school 5-2 against the run, closing down the line of scrimmage, and yet is able to get enough speed on the field in passing situations to cover the gaps.
"We like what we have going," said linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who has 10 sacks. "But nobody is going to remember it if we don't keep handling our business. We can be better, and you have to be better at the end of a season than you were in the beginning."
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The stretch run
Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold looks ahead at the Broncos' remaining schedule:
Nov. 1, at Baltimore: Sixth in passing, ninth in rushing.
Nov. 9, Pittsburgh: Super Bowl champs lead league in passing.
Nov. 15, at Washington: RB Clinton Portis seventh in rushing.
Nov. 22, San Diego: Philip Rivers has 13 TDs in seven starts against Denver.
Nov. 26, N.Y. Giants: No. 3 in scoring (29.3).
Dec. 6, at Kansas City: Broncos in Arrowhead in December? Do the math.
Dec. 13, at Indianapolis: QB Peyton Manning looks like first four-time MVP.
Dec. 20, Oakland: Classic trap game.
Dec. 27, at Philadelphia: Has four 260-yard passing games with two QBs.
Jan. 3, Kansas City: Larry Johnson can do some damage (if he's interested).