PDA

View Full Version : Broncos getting pushed around on the defensive front



Lonestar
11-16-2009, 06:16 PM
By Jeff Legwold


It has been a theme of the past three games, especially when the Broncos found themselves trailing with opposing offenses looking to slam the door.

The offense loads up on wide receivers, the Broncos answer with their five defensive back package — the nickel — and the offense runs the ball well enough out of a pass-first look to consistently keep the Broncos defense on the field.

The Broncos have played a bigger front in the nickel over the last two games, keeping their first-team defensive line in for the most part instead of going with the smaller front they had used for much of their first seven games of the season.



Post Poll - Not alone on top
After once owning a 3 1/2-game lead in the AFC West, the Broncos (6-3) are now tied with the San Diego Chargers. Who will be leading the division after the teams meet in Denver next week?
The Broncos: Two losses on the East Coast are no indication. The Broncos still own the AFC West.
The Chargers: The division is finally shaking down like it was supposed to. San Diego is in charge.
**********

The Broncos: Two losses on the East Coast are no indication. The Broncos still own the AFC West.
32.73 %
The Chargers: The division is finally shaking down like it was supposed to. San Diego is in charge.
67.26 %





However, the Redskins still chose to run eight times against the Broncos' nickel look in the fourth quarter alone Sunday for 48 yards, a total that included an 18-yard run and an 11-yard run.

The 11-yard run, by Ladell Betts, came on a second-and-12 in the Redskins' last touchdown drive, just after Elvis Dumervil had sacked Jason Campbell for a 2-yard loss. On the third-and-1 play that followed, the Redskins again ran against the nickel, this time for one yard and a first down.

The 18-yarder, also by Betts, came earlier in the fourth quarter when the Redskins were on the way to tying the game at 17-17. On a first-and-10, just after an 18-yard completion from Campbell to Malcolm Kelly, Betts went off left tackle for the 18 yards while Rock Cartwright went for 10 yards against the nickel later in that drive.

Certainly all of the remaining teams on the Broncos' schedule can put a good enough three wide receiver set on the field that the Broncos will have to honor it with five defensive backs.

But it will be far more difficult to play against it down the field if the Broncos continue to let teams push the front six out of the way in the run game.

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13801416