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Thread: Broncos defense proving porous against run

  1. #1

    Default Broncos defense proving porous against run

    Well I hope they have trouble stopping the run this weekend...Charles got a little banged up last week in the Oakland game.

    http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/11...ng-porous.html

    Broncos defense proving porous against run

    NGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos worked all summer on mastering the machinations of defensive coordinator Don Martindale's system.

    And then one fractured foot forced them to forgo all those plans.

    With hybrid pass-rusher Robert Ayers sidelined for the last month, the Broncos have scrapped their 3-4 look in favor of their old scheme that features four defensive linemen and three linebackers.

    This despite hardly having the personnel for the alignment, which could be a reason the Broncos (2-6) are surrendering a league-high 155 yards rushing a game.

    "There's no one looking forward to Robert Ayers coming back more than me," Martindale said Thursday.

    Just when Ayers might be back remains up in the air. He's already been ruled out for Sunday against Kansas City (5-3).

    Ayers didn't have a protective boot on his broken foot this week and he's been working out with the team's strength and conditioning coach, giving the team optimism that he'll return to action soon.

    The Broncos were hoping Ayers would emerge as their top pass-rusher once Elvis Dumervil, who led the league in sacks last year, was lost for the season with a torn chest muscle early in training camp.

    And Ayers was having a solid season when he got hurt in a loss at Baltimore on Oct. 10, forcing the Broncos to alter their defensive scheme, with mixed results. Their 4-3 defense was solid against the New York Jets, a disaster against the Oakland Raiders.

    "I don't want to sit here and say we're going to only play this or that at this point," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "We're going to practice both because we have to, understanding that we'd love to be back into that 3-4 mold as much as we could."

    Defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson thinks the struggles on defense have little to do with what scheme they're in and everything to do with simple things, such as technique.

    It's a sentiment shared by Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins.

    "We've been in place to make the plays, we just haven't made them," Dawkins said. "Whatever the situation calls for, you have to be able to adjust. We've had our share of difficulties, whether it be injuries, but you can't use that as an excuse."

    The Broncos have had a week off to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the Chiefs, who lead the NFL in rushing behind a pair of backs on pace for 1,000-yard seasons in Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.

    Hardly an easy assignment for a team that's allowed a combined 471 yards rushing over the last two games.

    "They have a potent attack," Dawkins said. "The thing we have to do defensively is we have to tackle well. We have to set the edges on these guys."

    McDaniels didn't assemble the roster this season with the notion of having to go back to a primarily 4-3 look. That's why he beefed up the interior line, adding Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan.

    Being so thin at linebacker, though, the Broncos have rotated in players such as Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields, Marcus Thomas and Vickerson.

    "If we can get back to playing the 3-4 or odd front, those kinds of things have certainly been more productive for us over the course of the long haul than the 4-3 front or the 4-3 personnel grouping," McDaniels said. "We didn't try to do what we did with our front and our linebacking corps to play that front."

    Dawkins has long brought energy and exuberance to the field, constantly striving to create a spark. In practice this week, he's been looking for the same type of reaction from his defensive brethren, a passion for change.

    "The tempo at practice has been excellent," Dawkins conceded.

    As for any indications the Broncos will be improved on defense in the second half of the season, Dawkins said that's something better to show than tell.

    "It's about doing. I think that's the mindset," Dawkins said. "Even though we've dug ourselves a tough hole thus far, guys are having fun playing the game."

    Can players have fun when the team is struggling?

    "You don't enter the game with 2-6 on your mind," Dawkins said. "You enter the game with, 'This is the game we're going to win. We're going to try out best to go out and do what we do.' You don't go in saying, 'We're 2-6.' That's not the way you play any sport."

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  3. #2

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    I like Jones and I think he was a great addition but they need to get the ball to Charles more...I joked with Ravage in a thread here while back when he questioned why Charles wasn't getting more carries...I told him Haley was saving him for Denver...

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  5. #3

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    I didn't post this to "pour gas on the fire"(w/e the hell that means)...the thread title isn't my word choice...there are parts of the article with quotes from the Broncos.

    Posting it since the teams play this weekend.

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    Get lost troll!

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  8. #5

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    I like KCL. She is one of the best fans of other teams we have round here.

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    She is the worst poster here!

  11. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by LRtagger View Post
    Get lost troll!
    Quote Originally Posted by LRtagger View Post
    She is the worst poster here!


    You know you love me!!!

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  13. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by LRtagger View Post


    I hope the Chiefs troll I mean roll you guys!!!

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    Take it to the smack forum troll!

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    Quote Originally Posted by KCL View Post
    I like Jones and I think he was a great addition but they need to get the ball to Charles more...I joked with Ravage in a thread here while back when he questioned why Charles wasn't getting more carries...I told him Haley was saving him for Denver...
    Why would he do that?

    The way Denver's playing the run, KC's equipment manager could win the NFL Ground Player of the Week . . .

    -----
    Though He slay me, I will trust in Him . . . (Job 13:15)


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    Quote Originally Posted by LRtagger View Post
    Get lost troll!
    ^^ this ^^


    “When we do find that guy, we’ve got to have the continuity on the offensive side to where we can train him and develop him and get him there. This is our fourth offense in probably three or four years. Quarterbacks need to be developed. You don’t find one ready-made. We got to have a solid system in place for when we do go after whatever guy it may be, a young guy or a trade or whatnot.”
    - John Elway

  18. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by LRtagger View Post
    Take it to the smack forum troll!
    The only person who turned it into a smack thread was you.

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    Quote Originally Posted by KCL View Post
    I like Jones and I think he was a great addition but they need to get the ball to Charles more...I joked with Ravage in a thread here while back when he questioned why Charles wasn't getting more carries...I told him Haley was saving him for Denver...
    Charles scares me
    (the previous comment was not directed at any particular individual and was not intended to slander,disrespect or offend any reader of said statement)

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    Quote Originally Posted by KCL View Post
    The only person who turned it into a smack thread was you.
    No you posted the thread to bait us.

    You are a master baiter!

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