Ripped off from Drew Litton of the Rocky Mountain News.
Whew…finally the D showed up!
Unlike the current economy crisis in America today the Broncos Defense didn't need a bailout plan from the taxpayers to be saved this week in the Buccaneers game they regrouped and did it on their own. They finally rose up and said enough is enough. No apologies or excuses were needed as they came out on the field with a physical aggressive smash mouth attitude from the get go and played the game in a downhill fashion. It's been a very rare feat indeed over the last several years to watch a game where the Broncos D put up, shut up and played with a since of urgency and toughness.
The Time Line between the D of 2005 and today
I'm trying to remember a game in recent memory where the D did play this well and I guess since I'm getting a little long in the tooth and my long and short memory are starting to fade, I can't remember a specific game. I would probably point to some of the games played back in the 2005 season when the Broncos went to the AFC Championship Game. What I remember about that year was the Broncos D played extremely well and finished 3rd in the NFL in total points allowed.
How that defensive unit back in 2005 connections today's D has been the inability of the Broncos to force turnovers or get any pressure, hurried throws, batted down balls, QB knock downs and least of all QB sacks against the opposition. The breaking point for that unit came in the disastrous AFC Championship Game against the Steelers when the players (More specifically the DLmen) and defensive schemes finally collapsed which exposed this glaring weakness.
That lost can't be solely placed on the shoulders of the D however because QB Jake Plummer turned the ball over almost every time he put his hands on it and put the D in a position to play with a short field for most of the game.
Since then the Broncos have not had a consistent pass rushing D. Honestly, 2005 is the only year since the 99 season when the Broncos last won a Super Bowl that the Broncos can say they had what you'd could call a "good" but certainly not "great" D.
Yesterday, they reversed that trend at least for one game.
DJ, Boss and Champ bring it
DJ Williams is playing the best football of his career right now and arguably one could say he's the best OLB in the game today. He had 9 tackles, 2 assists and 1 sack yesterday. He's the second leading tackler in the NFL as of week 5 with 38 solo tackles and 7 assists. He's all over the field using his speed and strength to chase down and tackle anything that moves.
Boss Bailey despite having missed the first game of the season ranks 10th (27 Tackles & 6 assists) in the NFL in tackles and in combination with DJ has done an excellent job to help stop the bleeding of a Defense that's had little or no help from DL in the previous 4 games.
Champ Bailey has played like well…Champ Bailey. The Bucs didn't even attempt to throw to his side of the field and as usual he played very well in run support. The hit he unloaded on Brian Griese on the Corner Blitz was a huge play in the game. Nothing does more to energize and motivate a D than a snot bubble popping hit on a QB or better yet a sack. So much for a victorious return to Mile High for Mr. Griese huh? In a way the hit was a good news bad news thing because it took Griese out and put Jeff Garcia in who is not such a slug on his feet and his scrambling ability kept the Bucs in the game.
Champ pops the snot bubble out the nose of Griese.
The rest of skinny on the D
Having lavished props on the 3 players who really stood out yesterday, as unit the Broncos played a hard hitting physical game that matched that of the Bucs D and did a great of stopping the run. The tackling was crisp and they didn't give up many big plays expect for the Garcia TD pass. When Griese was in the game they forced the issue and put pressure on him throughout. They slammed him to the ground 3 times.
Ebenezer Ekuban and Elvis Dumervil, who's had a fractured and dislocated pinkie since the Packers preseason game, both got a sack along with DJ's. Elvis has been a true Warrior, he finally got to remove the pins and wrap from his little digit this week and his game improved as a result.
Marcus Thomas after picking off the Jeff Garcia pass rumbled, stumbled and then fumbled the ball back to the Bucs which was to bad because I seriously doubt the Bucs could have put up 6 on the scoreboard the rest of the game. Had he just batted the ball down the Broncos would have got the ball back because it would have been 4th and long.
Ouch, Marcus Thomas gets a pick then gives it back the Bucs.
Still I'm not sure you can really judge how well the Broncos D is just yet because the Bucs are no offensive juggernaut but they did play opportunist football and made the plays when they had too. It was just the confidence builder they needed to get better and they'll have to because it doesn't get any easier the next 2 weeks against Jacksonville and New England. The aggressive pass rushing blitzes worked and I hope that DC Bob Slowik in future games employs that strategy because the DL still needs to improve in pass pressure despite the sacks.
The middle of the Broncos D is still very soft in the 3-4. Face it guys despite having 8 tackles and 2 assists the overachieving, undersized and often times overmatched Nate Webster is no MLB. OLB Jamie Winborn who many times looks lost, over runs plays and is out of position more often than not make them both more of a liability than and asset.
It's hard to criticize the DB's of the Broncos who just haven't had much help with a pass rush and have had to shadow Receivers in coverage far too long at times. Safeties Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree haven't always been the best cover guys or tacklers but without QB pressure not all DB's can play the game as well as Champ without it.
5 Penalties in the 1st Half Hamstring the O
Jay Cutler was on page 2 this week and I don't think he cared one bit because the game resulted in a W, which is always the bottom line. There are 2 reasons that occurred, one was because he was facing one of the better defenses in the league and the second was that the Broncos shot themselves in the foot with 5 drive killing penalties in the first half. 2 of those penalties were committed by Andre Hall. It's damn hard to move the ball against a good D like the Bucs to begin with but throw in 5 mental errors and any O would grind to a screeching halt.
I know many fans like a good aerial show with lots of points and big plays but in some games you just have to bit, scratch and pinch it out and win the scrum. It's far better to have the W in what some may call a boring game. I'll take that any day over a 500 yard 50 point pinball shootout that results in a loss. Look at the Giants of a year ago do you think they'll apologize for winning ugly defensive games? Not a chance, great D wins championships my friends.
Pittman and Stokley get my game balls
Thankfully OC Jeremy Bates didn't attempt to go to the air show exclusively and chose a balanced attack instead against a Bucs D that wasn't going to allow it anyway. The running back by committee of Selvin Young, Michael Pittman and Andre Hall was not overwhelming to be sure but effective with 90 yards between the 3.
Pittman each week keeps contributing important plays that convert 3rd downs and leads all Broncos RB's with 4 TD's. It just had to be a big thrill for him to make plays against his former team and deliver when he had too.
Pittman grinds out some revenge on the Bucs.
Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall made some good catches but Brandon Stokley (6 receptions for 52 yards & 1 TD) was again the real go to guy for the second week in row. He just like Pittman made big plays that kept drives alive when the Broncos needed it.
Stokley puts up the Number 1 sign and deservedly so.
Prater gets props
Since I don't like kickers I'll let Mike Shanahan and Bucs Head Coach Jon Gruden's quotes give Prater his little pat on the fanny.
Here's what Shanahan said. "When he's got a 55, 56 yarder, you know it has nothing to do with the distance. He's going to have the distance. You're just hoping that he has the accuracy. He's been very consistent in practice and that's why you give him the opportunity in the games."
Gruden said, "Have you ever seen a kicker kick a 55-yard field goal and make it by 25 yards? Honestly, why work on your kickoff return when you come here? That guy was unbelievable."
There you go that's all the sloppy kisses I'll give Prater on my blog. Call me an A-hole but honestly I don't give a damn how strong his leg is, I just want him to make the important kicks that don't lose the games for the real Bronco football players on the field.
Injuries come from hard hitting game
One of the things I feared about the Broncos drafting smurf Eddie Royal was the injury factor. He's got a severely sprained left ankle and is expected to miss the Jacksonville game, damn it and he was contributing so much to the Broncos O. Selvin Young and Tony Scheffler both suffered groin injuries and may not play next week either. Scheffler must be frustrated as all hell; he's missed so many games due to injury in his brief career that he must feel jinxed.
NFL Week 5 Question Marks
Can you believe the Texans turned the ball over 3 times in the 4th Q and gave away a sure win to the Colts? Unbelievable! Man I feel sorry for Gary Kubiak, how do they recover from a stinker like this one?
What about the Chargers losing to the Fins and going 1-3? Thanks Fish for getting us of the hook and giving us some breathing room.
The Panthers skunk the Chiefs? Not really a shocking surprise here but damn, just how inept are on the Chiefs on O and what does that say about the Broncos D? Some said that I was nuts predicting in my preseason blog that the Broncos would lose to the Panthers in week 15. The Panthers are a dangerous team on D, make no mistake guys.
The Cowboys have to sweat out a victory over the lowly Bengals at home? I've said from opening day on that the Cowboys D is their Achilles heel and I just do not believe they have a chance in hell in advancing in the playoffs you can bank on it.
The OJ Simpson Saga
I have to admit from a personal stand point that he was one of my childhood heroes. The man had it all; speed, strength and the most amazing cut back ability of any RB in NFL history. I saw him play in his prime he was beyond great he was sensational. Some may argue but I think if OJ would have not suffered from a serious knee injury he may have set records that no other RB would have or could have ever touched. That being said no one is happier than I am to see this Man, who had the world by the tail and blew it not once but twice, go to jail for the rest of his life when he should have 13 years ago.
The Al Davis Debauchery
To bad he can't go to jail too for totally wrecking the once proud and great Raiders franchise he created in the 60's, 70's and early 80's. Now he has set back the 2008 team by firing a good young Coach in Lane Kiffin. If that wasn't enough then he feels the need to defend himself for doing it and does a hatchet job on Kiffin with a sideshow TV press conference with a string of paranoid BS that only he could actually justify in his own sick egotistical mind. God, please tell me that Big Al is immoral please! LONG LIVE BIG AL!
Happily surprised and in an Optimistic Mode
I, like most of you must feel absolutely fabulous about the start of the Broncos. They have exceeded my expectations so far on O and maybe just maybe this team can improve in the areas so noted on D and reach the holy of holies in January. As always I look forward to your comments on the game and never ever get tired of talking about our beloved Denver Broncos. Please feel free to get a myspace subscription of my blog by returning to my front page on going to the top of the blog titles section and clicking on the link that says "Subscribe to this Blog". This way each week it will get delivered to your site.
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Enjoy...The Mojoe