CK's Pre-Game Piece - Broncos at Dolphins

[JBroncos]

Outstanding write up..

Provided by SoCal from the Mane. He can break a game down like no other!!!

DENVER OFFENSE VS MIAMI DEFENSE

From Denver's Perspective:
One of the first things the offensive staff has noticed when breaking down Saban's past defenses is the amount of blitzing he does. Man-blitzes. Zone-blitzes. Safety-blitzes. From everywhere and every direction. A maddening nightmare to be sure but there is good news. In a recent Coaches Clinic article, Coach Saban has noted that he has employed the same overall defensive system at each of his stops (Michigan State and LSU) as he used as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1994. So what the staff is likely to see on film is not likely to be much different from what they see, schematic wise on game day. Former LSU defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has noted that while LSU had over 60 different blitz combinations, they only had 9 pass coverage schemes, so Denver will not have to wrack their brains anticipating the types of pass coverages they will see on various downs and distances. In order to compensate for all of Saban's blitzing schemes, expect the Broncos to start out in safe 7 man protections, either from the I, strong shifted I, weak shifted I and one back three wide and one back double TE formations, the latter of which will feature the back blocking the weakside backer and the TE checks for a Sam blitz before releasing into the pattern. This leaves only 3 recievers who release immediately into the route but Denver will find the weakest man to man player and configure simple 2 or 3 man route combos to attack that player. For example, when Denver anticipates man coverage with only 1 deep safety in the middle of the field from the scouting report, look for streaks or comebacks from Lelie against the corner opposite Madison. When its 2-man, look for crossing routes underneath formationed to get putzier or watts the ball running towards open grass away from the slowest linebacker.
In the underneath pass game, expect Denver to target the slowed down Junior Seau. In the Run game, expect Denver to test rookie starter Channing Crowder, who just beat out Donnie Spragan, with alot of misdirection and formations adjustments on his side of the field hoping all the dizzyness and change will force the rookie into multiple mistakes in his first NFL start. While Denver will stick with its bread and butter zone plays and basic lead plays with Anderson, but expect to see some more outside toss plays taking advantage of the speed Tatum Bell possesses over graybeards like Thomas and Seau, when Tatum is in the game. Bell will also be used on designed traps towards Jason Taylor's side to slow down his pass rush if he overwhelms Lepsis.

From Miami's perspective:
Knowing that Plummer often struggles when faced with defensive pressure, Saban will likely continue with many of his blitzes. In addition, we might see a hybrid of the 2-man and the 1-robber to counteract Denver's run and pass game. What we may see, is a coverage whereby Miami plays man to man underneath on all 5 targets, with Madison asked to shut down Smith and the weaker corner assigned to Lelie. As help against the deeper routes Lelie is likely to run, a safety will be assigned to the deep half on that side, but the other safety will not play deep half coverage as is the case in normal 2 deep man under, but rather will help out against Denver's run game as an 8th box player, who has "robber" responsibilities in pass coverage i.e. sit at 6-8 yards over the ball in a zone disrupting by bumping any crossers who cross the ball underneath. This puts alot of pressure on Madison vs. Smith without any help and also pressures the OLB who is covering the first offensive skill player inside Smith, since he also has no help on intermediate and deep routes to his side. They will likely make the athletic rookie Channing Crowder carry this assignment as opposed to Junior Seau. Saban will mix it up with three deep zones and quarters zones though just to keep us adjusting.

 

[OSKIE]

good article, hopefully your wrong about us not winning much after this sunday, i agree the heat will make miami look alot better than the broncos the weather in denver is some of the driest air around no humidity the complete oppisite of here, its gonna be tough on denver.

There is no doubt in my mind that our players will be exhausted by the 4th quarter. The good news is our DL is deep. We have 7 or 8 players that will rotate to keep the legs fresh. The bad news is our OL is thin...very thin! The only advantage we may have is that our starters have had an extra week off to regain their legs. Also, they aren't burnt out as this is the first game in the season. The equalizer to that though is the fact that it's still early Sept. and the heat and humidity are more prominent than say a November or December game would be. I still think that Denver will struggle to pull out a win if we don't have a Touchdown lead going into the 4th quarter. My guess is that Denver comes out strong and takes the heart out of the Phins early so that they don't have this concern. Easier said than done I know, but I suspect the score going into the 4th will be Denver 24 Miami 10. Denver will add a FG late and Miami will score a TD to make the final 27-17. Still wishing you guys the best and an injury free game.

 

[CsonkaClone]

I guess you have to have something to cry about huh? You do realize that there about 8 other teams in the NFL that use the the same schemes. Cry all you like, it's effective and you won't be able to prevent it!

Now what's up with the crying business?...That's a personal attack and I didn't attack you at all...Everyone in the league and anyone who knows football knows that your team plays dirty on the O-line....I don't even care about winning the game as much as I'd like to come out of this game injury free.

 

[OSKIE]

Outstanding write up..

For sure!!! It was way too good to not post here. SoCal's insight into the defensive tendancies of Saban is second to none. You won't find anybody from ESPN, CBS, or ABC writing an insightful article such as his!

 

[OSKIE]

Now what's up with the crying business?...That's a personal attack and I didn't attack you at all...Everyone in the league and anyone who knows football knows that your team plays dirty on the O-line....I don't even care about winning the game as much as I'd like to come out of this game with Denver injury free.

You offer nothing in the way of intelligent football talk. If you have some insight in this game then offer it... otherwise go back to your corner and continue sucking your thumb with your thoughts of Denver cheating!!!:cry:

 

[CsonkaClone]

You offer nothing in the way of intelligent football talk. If you have some insight in this game then offer it... otherwise go back to your corner and continue sucking your thumb with your thoughts of Denver cheating!!!:cry:

More personal attacks...What's up your rear-end dude?...Relax!...This is game 1 for pete's sake!

 

[OSKIE]

Okay, personnel attacks aside... what is Miami going to do to win the game>?

 

[VanDolPhan]

You still have no way to account for Denver's TE's.

You still have no way to account for Denver's run game.

You still have no way to account for both Ash and Rod Smith.

And last but not least you can't discount the fact that Mike Shanahan has won over 90% of his games in which he has had extra time to game plan and prepare for an opponent.

Your TE's are marginal. If we have no way to cover your TE's then Denvers going to get eaten alive by Randy McMicheal. Your TE's are so marginal that the LB's most likely won't even need safety help all that much.

Denver's running game is always tough but saying we have no way to account for it just shows how much your a homer. You don't even know what Defensive scheme were running let alone think you have the knowledge of how this team will play the run. Our DT position is week but we have a great set of DE's in Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter and David Bowens and a great LB crew in Seau, Thomas, Crowder and Spragan.

As for Lelie and Smith we shall see how the secondary matches up and whether Plummer even gets the time to get the ball deep. Denver's problem is you don't have anything beyond those 2 where as your nickel corner is going to face a mix of Wes Welker and David Boston all game. Boston on your nickel should be a joy to watch.

Your last stat about the extra time to prepare is a wash since the phins have won over 90% of their first games of the year also.

You can overlook Miami all you want but we have a damn fine core of WR's. A potential pro bowler at TE, An excellent set of ProBowl DE's, A pro bowl LB core with the new addition of Channing Crowder (learn that name..you'll see it on plenty of all rookie teams by the end of the year).

You can also sit there and conviently forget that when you played Miami last year that you won by a measly 3 points in the middle of Miami's coaching turnover, our current 3rd down RB starting, Zach Thomas out, Both Starting DT's out, Junior Seau out. I also believe David Bowens was out at that point to. You barely squeaked out a win with half our defense on the IR.

 

[adamprez2003]

Provided by SoCal from the Mane. He can break a game down like no other!!!

DENVER OFFENSE VS MIAMI DEFENSE

From Denver's Perspective:
One of the first things the offensive staff has noticed when breaking down Saban's past defenses is the amount of blitzing he does. Man-blitzes. Zone-blitzes. Safety-blitzes. From everywhere and every direction. A maddening nightmare to be sure but there is good news. In a recent Coaches Clinic article, Coach Saban has noted that he has employed the same overall defensive system at each of his stops (Michigan State and LSU) as he used as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1994. So what the staff is likely to see on film is not likely to be much different from what they see, schematic wise on game day. Former LSU defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has noted that while LSU had over 60 different blitz combinations, they only had 9 pass coverage schemes, so Denver will not have to wrack their brains anticipating the types of pass coverages they will see on various downs and distances. In order to compensate for all of Saban's blitzing schemes, expect the Broncos to start out in safe 7 man protections, either from the I, strong shifted I, weak shifted I and one back three wide and one back double TE formations, the latter of which will feature the back blocking the weakside backer and the TE checks for a Sam blitz before releasing into the pattern. This leaves only 3 recievers who release immediately into the route but Denver will find the weakest man to man player and configure simple 2 or 3 man route combos to attack that player. For example, when Denver anticipates man coverage with only 1 deep safety in the middle of the field from the scouting report, look for streaks or comebacks from Lelie against the corner opposite Madison. When its 2-man, look for crossing routes underneath formationed to get putzier or watts the ball running towards open grass away from the slowest linebacker.
In the underneath pass game, expect Denver to target the slowed down Junior Seau. In the Run game, expect Denver to test rookie starter Channing Crowder, who just beat out Donnie Spragan, with alot of misdirection and formations adjustments on his side of the field hoping all the dizzyness and change will force the rookie into multiple mistakes in his first NFL start. While Denver will stick with its bread and butter zone plays and basic lead plays with Anderson, but expect to see some more outside toss plays taking advantage of the speed Tatum Bell possesses over graybeards like Thomas and Seau, when Tatum is in the game. Bell will also be used on designed traps towards Jason Taylor's side to slow down his pass rush if he overwhelms Lepsis.

From Miami's perspective:
Knowing that Plummer often struggles when faced with defensive pressure, Saban will likely continue with many of his blitzes. In addition, we might see a hybrid of the 2-man and the 1-robber to counteract Denver's run and pass game. What we may see, is a coverage whereby Miami plays man to man underneath on all 5 targets, with Madison asked to shut down Smith and the weaker corner assigned to Lelie. As help against the deeper routes Lelie is likely to run, a safety will be assigned to the deep half on that side, but the other safety will not play deep half coverage as is the case in normal 2 deep man under, but rather will help out against Denver's run game as an 8th box player, who has "robber" responsibilities in pass coverage i.e. sit at 6-8 yards over the ball in a zone disrupting by bumping any crossers who cross the ball underneath. This puts alot of pressure on Madison vs. Smith without any help and also pressures the OLB who is covering the first offensive skill player inside Smith, since he also has no help on intermediate and deep routes to his side. They will likely make the athletic rookie Channing Crowder carry this assignment as opposed to Junior Seau. Saban will mix it up with three deep zones and quarters zones though just to keep us adjusting.

very nice

 

[adamprez2003]

MIAMI OFFENSE VS DENVER DEFENSE

From Miami's Perspective
Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan has always been a spread em out and "play the numbers" game kind of guy, both at his time at Louisville under John L. Smith and with the Minnesota Vikings where he routinely used 3 and 4 WR formations and made plentiful use of audibles. Expect the same against the Broncos. Miami will likely borrow a page from Tom Moore and the Indianapolis Colts who hurt Denver in the run game in the preseason by using a trips formation with three recievers to one side with an expanded split between the middle reciever and the tackle. Miami's attack will change based on how Denver plays the trip side. If they move out an OLB like DJ Williams or Ian Gold, it takes a fast and explosive threat out of the box and the "numbers" dictate an inside run because Denver has 6 in the box vs. 6 blockers, a hat on a hat.The Colts had great success neutralizing DJ Williams this way in the preseason game Expect Miami to play a similar numbers game using an I formation but splitting out the TE and watching for Denver's reaction. If the Broncos put a safety over there and keep the backers in the box, expect Miami to check to routes that are good against the three deep zone and man-free which are the likely coverages here. . When a LB splits the difference between the tackle and the middle reciever, expect to see checks to bubble screens and outside tosses with the middle reciever cracking back on the OLB since he has a great angle as well as flood routes with one reciever going deep, the middle reciever running an out or a corner and the third reciever occupying the flat. Since the OLB is splitting the difference and closer to the box, he is in no position to get to sideline before the square out/corner route does and the flat defender is held by the flat and the deep defender is held by the streak route in zones. Miami will also use the more conventional 3 WR set (where the third WR is in the slot on the left) especially when the scouting report dictates man to man and in the red zone. This is so because it presents a great matchup with the tall and muscular David Boston, who has played well in the preseason and has surprisingly stayed out of trouble, on either the much smaller Ian Gold or Darrent Williams. Fades and Corners will be the routes of choice here.

From Denver's persective:
The Broncos have a good matchup here against this offense. Trevor Pryce and Gerard Warren will be too much for this below average line to handle. Especially with Pryce, he will be going up the young and inexperienced Vernon Carey who, while an improving young player, is still more a brute than an athlete and will have huge problems against a slimmed down, athletic Pryce who doesnt have to also battle TE chips. The availability of Courtney Brown will allow DJ Williams alot of freedom and the ability to knife through into the backfield relatively unmolested, since RT John St. Clair and TE Randy McMichael are no match. Expect to see alot more man to man out of Denver than we normally see. The matchups are solid on the outsides. Bailey should be able to hold Chambers in check and the rest of Miami's corps is unspectacular, although when David Boston checks into the game, Coyer will try and make sure that when he is matched up on a much smaller defender like Gold or Darrent Williams the defense is in a zone coverage where a specific player cant get picked on. Denver has alot of freedom with its two extra defenders. If the front four is getting a good rush but one of the CBs is having trouble, a safety can be aside to patrol that deep half on the hash or a full bracket can be called. If Gold and Williams are having trouble with McMichael, a safety can be assigned to bracket there as well. LB blitzes will also be called unhesitatingly since Denver has a great advantage with Bailey and Walls against Miami's corners. Denver has alot of options because of the talent advantages presented here.

Prediction: Denver 26, Miami 13.

good job

 

[JBroncos]

David meet Darrett Williams.. :)

Your TE's are marginal. If we have no way to cover your TE's then Denvers going to get eaten alive by Randy McMicheal. Your TE's are so marginal that the LB's most likely won't even need safety help all that much.

Denver's running game is always tough but saying we have no way to account for it just shows how much your a homer. You don't even know what Defensive scheme were running let alone think you have the knowledge of how this team will play the run. Our DT position is week but we have a great set of DE's in Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter and David Bowens and a great LB crew in Seau, Thomas, Crowder and Spragan.

As for Lelie and Smith we shall see how the secondary matches up and whether Plummer even gets the time to get the ball deep. Denver's problem is you don't have anything beyond those 2 where as your nickel corner is going to face a mix of Wes Welker and David Boston all game. Boston on your nickel should be a joy to watch.

Your last stat about the extra time to prepare is a wash since the phins have won over 90% of their first games of the year also.

 

[VanDolPhan]

David meet Darrett Williams.. :)

Gladly. David Boston meet a rookie 5-8 188lb CB. Oh what's that you stepped on him and crushed him under your 6-2 230lb body.

That's like saying we would match up Travis Daniels (who almost stole a starting job this year) on Rod Smith and expect him to win. You'd have to be daft to put a rookie CB on a physical veteran WR.

 

[byroan]

David meet Darrett Williams.. :)

Darrent Williams - 5'8 - 188
David Boston - 6'2 - 228

And a quote from a draft profile on Darrent.

Despite his leaping ability, he struggles to match up vs. the bigger receivers on the perimeter.

 

[OSKIE]

Your TE's are marginal. If we have no way to cover your TE's then Denvers going to get eaten alive by Randy McMicheal. Your TE's are so marginal that the LB's most likely won't even need safety help all that much.

*I hope that Saban has the same confidence. 3 of our TE's are faster than both McMichael and all but one of your LB's! In 60% less opportunities last year Jeb put up great #'s. Which LB exactly is going to cover our TE's. Crowder? Put a rookie on a TE vs Mike Shannahan. He's made a career out of making TE's look GREAT! Proof positive is Des Clark putting up the 6th best TE #'s in the league with GRIESE as a QB!*

Denver's running game is always tough but saying we have no way to account for it just shows how much your a homer. You don't even know what Defensive scheme were running let alone think you have the knowledge of how this team will play the run. Our DT position is week but we have a great set of DE's in Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter and David Bowens and a great LB crew in Seau, Thomas, Crowder and Spragan.

*How do you figure I don't know what D-Scheme you're running. Read the above posts. There's more insight in there than you could possibly comprehend!*

As for Lelie and Smith we shall see how the secondary matches up and whether Plummer even gets the time to get the ball deep. Denver's problem is you don't have anything beyond those 2 where as your nickel corner is going to face a mix of Wes Welker and David Boston all game. Boston on your nickel should be a joy to watch.

*If Plummer has the time? He was sacked the 2nd fewest times in the league last year. Jason Taylor will be neutralized earlier by rolling his way and having a TE seal him in. Plummer rolling out equates to big plays and a near 80% completion pct!!! As for Boston against our Nickel... again, read the post above. You likely won't see man coverage in those situations. Even if you do, please keep in mind that our Nickel CB played solidly against Andre Johnson and Marvin Harrison in man to man coverage. Boston is not in the same class as those receivers! Wes Welker would likely see man coverage and will be the better option b/c of that. Eitherway, I don't see Gus getting the time to make the progressions down to his third WR's. *

Your last stat about the extra time to prepare is a wash since the phins have won over 90% of their first games of the year also.

*It's not a wash. You're saying the Phins. I'm saying Shanahan. The current coach of the Denver Broncos vs the current coach of the Phins. You're adding Shula, Johnson, Wanny and whoever else you've had as a HC into that equation.*

Interested in your response...

 

[OSKIE]

good job

Again, this was posted by SoCal on the Orangemane... I'd love to take credit as it is VERY insightful, but I can't come close to matching his work.

All pass your respect though...thanks.