Denver's D-Line Should Have Cost Them the Game

Posted Dec 25, 2006 12:42PM By Gabe Stein (RSS feed)

This is a point that Sam and I disagree on, and he'll post a counterpoint later on, but here's the scenario for me. It's late in the fourth quarter, the Broncos are ahead by a score, and the other team has the ball with two minutes left. Sound familiar? It's the way we lost against Indy and San Diego, and the way we might have lost if the Bengals hadn't miffed an extra point. This years' Bronco defense is fairly good when offenses are in their normal sets. But when they get into their two minute drill, the defense has been powerless to stop teams all season long.

The reason is that our line gets no pressure on the quarterback, and Layer Coyer is too conservative to call blitzes late in the game. Once again on Sunday, Carson Palmer had all the time in the world to sit back and wait for his receivers to find an opening once the Bengals started their last drive from the Broncos' ten yard line. I don't care how good your secondary is - if you give a quarterback, and especially good receivers like Cincinatti has, that much time, they are going to beat you.

During that last sequence, Denver's defensive line didn't get anywhere near Carson Palmer. The key to disrupting a two minute drill is making the quarterback feel rushed - making him really feel the time winding down as he scrambles for his life. And most importantly, you have to get to the quarterback before his receivers find a way to exploit that soft zone, and make him wait to throw until the secondary can recover. But the Broncos haven't done it all season. In fact, they've been down right pitiful at getting to the quarterback, and it's cost the team several games already. It might have cost them this one, too, if Cincinatti hadn't been so self destructive.

In my opinion, this is the team's biggest weakness, and one of the first things Shanahan needs to address during the off-season, either by finding some new personnel or finding a defensive coordinator who's not so conservative late in games. Clearly, Shanny's Cleveland experiment is not working, so the Broncos need to find another way to patch up their D-line if they want to be a complete team next year.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-25-2006 @ 3:53PM

ron brewster said...

why do the Bengals wear holloween costumes?

12-25-2006 @ 4:48PM

Paul Wexler said...

Wow Gabe you were right, they needed luck, and they got it. That and help from the zebras (as usual), now you want to toss the D co or under the bus? Such a typical Donkey Fan, trained by Mike and Pat to blame any one but them. Why not blame Kubiac for leaving? Or how about Wade Phillips? I guess he was not so stupid after all... Whatever you do Gabe, keep kissing Mike's Ass he will keep leading you to 9-7 or 8-8 fire some one and you will love him for the Glory years of Elway. How long can one coach live off of some one elses greatness? Every year we continue to find out, by the way how is Greise? And the biggest QB contract ever? Oh you forgot that didn't you.
Merry XMAS

12-26-2006 @ 1:25AM

Gabe Stein said...

Yes, Shanny needs to bring in some better defensive personell. That's being critical of him.

I'm also not afraid to give credit where credit is due, something you can't fathom, apparently.

12-26-2006 @ 1:14PM

champ elway said...

the big joke is that after almost blowing a 4th quarter lead, shanahan jumped around and celebrated with that stupid grin on his face. hie defense almost collapsed yet again in a critical phase of the game. shanahan danced around like a schoolboy who just got his first glance of a wet t-short contest. the fact is that the broncs have to play the niners next week and look at how they have done against quality running backs lately. shanahan could use some stfu and focus one what's coming. is there a team in the playoffs who can't beat the broncos? shanahan is out of ideas and needs to be fired if the broncs are going to compete again. maybe he can go back to saratoga and be the next benny pierce

12-26-2006 @ 6:06PM

Gabe I just bored and having fun with you, but here is something for you to think about... When Urban Meyer goes to the Raiders or New England or Fill in the Blank, who do you think is going to be the next coach of the Florida Gators? He let it go once, but that is not going to happen again. The time is ripe, Kyle (his son) all ready has a foothold in the NFL coaching ranks, the Broncos are Old, and Florida is warm. Why do you think he really got Cutler started this year? Now with the missed PAT he can leave them in the Play Offs. The only qustion left is will Meyer leave?

12-26-2006 @ 11:19PM

roger taylor said...

I agree with the 2 minute drill problem, but think about how the other team seams to come back from behind or just stay in the game. Remember the AFC championship last year? D.J.Williams needs replaced!
There's a reason his nickname is toast. If we had a decent corner we would have a third super bowl ring
and a better record this year, with 2 more wins.

12-26-2006 @ 7:20PM

cody collazo said...

a change here and there in the defence would be good but that david VS. goliath style of playing is one reason I like this team

12-26-2006 @ 7:30PM

I think you mean Darrent Williams, roger (DJ Williams is a stud OLB). But I'm starting to agree about Darrent - Foxworth is pretty underrated.

That said, the line needs work more than the secondary. I don't think that can be denied.