Looking Ahead: How Do We Stop Denver's Running Attack???

[Eddie]

Seems alittle slow right now, but here's something I've been thinking about for awhile ... how do we stop Denver's running attack and their two headed monster of Anderson and Bell???

I know it's still several games away ... with Philly and Detroit on deck before the Broncos, but I really think we can take down Philly and Detroit.

Denver will be a formidable obstacle. With modern technology and DirecTV, I've been watching a few of the Bronco's games ... trying to see what makes their running game click.

Year after year, they churn out 1000 yard rushers. This year, they'll have two possible 1000 yard rushers. It's no longer a question that it's the scheme, combined with good runners.

It's also been said Denver employs the smallest OL in the NFL ... I can't verify, but I won't argue. They're definitely not a knock'em down OL.

Anyway, I noticed a very interesting trend ... Denver NEVER runs straight at an opponent. They'll NEVER attack at the point of attack.

The OL is always moving in one direction ... keeping the D in a flow sideways. The RB then spots his hole and takes off.

In the same regard, the RB also looks for a cutback lane. Most of Tatem Bell's BIG runs were where he and the OL started off to one side of the field, and then Bell would cut back into a hole left by the D.

Play after play, it's the same thing ... OL slides one direction, and the RB either hits the hole or looks for a cutback lane.

Mike Anderson seems more prone to try and hit that hole ... he doesn't seem to have the niftiness for the cutback. Tatem Bell has eaten teams alive with the cutback.

Ok ... how do we stop that ??? I think it's ALL going to depend on out LB's. The DL guys MUST hold at the point of attack and perhaps be forced to slide with Denver's OL in whichever direction it's moving to prevent holes ... but the LB's MUST remain unblocked and contain the cutback.

Sounds easy ... how do we do it ???

If we can stop Denver's running game and get up on them early, I think we have the D to shut Jake and the passing game down. Once pressured, Jake WILL make mistakes ... it's been his motto throughout his career.

 

[Murph80]

Same way they stopped Tomlinson, Alexander, Barber and Portis.

 

[Eddie]

Same way they stopped Tomlinson, Alexander, Barber and Portis.

They employ different blocking schemes. Eagles held LT to 7 yards. So don't be so cocky.

 

[jazzcat22]

Same way they stopped Tomlinson, Alexander, Barber and Portis.

My first thought also. Stay with our defensive plans.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Roy will have to play in the box all game.. I think that Newman and Henry can handle Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie with help from Davis/Pile.. i would play Roy up all game-- he will be the X factor.. he will stop guys in the backfield, sack Plummer, fake the blitz and drop back, etc.. Roy will win the Denver game for us..

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Dallas will shut them down. I think the Dallas Defense is better than any Defense in the entire league.

 

[Eddie]

Dallas will shut them down. I think the Dallas Defense is better than any Defense in the entire league.

Fugget it ... I feel like I'm talking to a bunch of 6th grade homers. :bang2:

I'll discuss this issue with my wife. She gives better answers and knows nothing about football.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Eddie-- i took your question seriously.. yes, Denver has a vaunted running game, and it is reason for concern.. you asked HOW do we stop Denver's running game? I gave you a specific answer-- we will play Roy in the box more than normal.. I for one am not that impressed with Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie at WR.. Newman, Henry, and Davis/Pile should be able to handle them fine, especially if we put pressure on Plummer, which I think we will with Roy in the box more.. our DL should be able to muscle their OL.. they are good and fast, but our DL will take up a lot of space and we have a lot of depth there to keep fresh.. our LBs are fast and should be able to get to the RBs unlike other teams that Denver has played.. Roy will be the factor that decides this game.. oh, and another thing: this is in Dallas, and everyone knows that Denver is not as good away from home.. oh, and the Giants were able to beat them, and I know that we have a better D than the Giants..

 

[jazzcat22]

Fugget it ... I feel like I'm talking to a bunch of 6th grade homers. :bang2:

I'll discuss this issue with my wife. She gives better answers and knows nothing about football.

Good Luck !
We have faith in our defense (finally), apparantly you do not.

 

[Nors]

You can't run on the new 3-4 D. CANTY, SPEARS, FERGI GETTING MORE REPS AND ROY AND OUR BIGGER BACKERS ARE GOING TO ABUSE YOU!

 

[flashback]

The Cowboys D plays gap discipline football. Denver has a good OL, and they've been running basically the same system for long enough that they just don't blow assignments. The Cowboys will 2-gap with Spears/Canty Ferguson/Glover and Ellis, James and Nguyen/Shanle will flow to the the ball, and Ware and Fujita will hold up the point of attack and shut off the backside. Roy will be up in the box when we're guessing run, and that's just too many people to block.

The Cowboys don't often sell out trying to get into the backfield, the way the Commanders and Eagles do. The Broncos will stick with the run and they might break a big one or two, but I expect the Cowboys to hold them under 100 yards, and not give up too many first downs.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Eddie, when the Skins lost to them recently, part of the post mortem was about the sheer excellence of their run game execution, but part was also about how the Skins gave up the LONG runs, something the Broncos run game hasn't been known for. The Skins D apparently had a spate of missed tackles, and bit on the bootleg.

Maybe one key is actually Plummer...spying him perhaps and not letting him fool us..and not giving up a td run because of lack of discipline in the lanes.

 

[Nors]

We are going to stuff Denver -

 

[Murph80]

I was also being serious about your question. This Defense needs to keep doing what they are doing. They can stop anyone in this league including the Broncos. This Defense is going to get better and better.

 

[Eddie]

Eddie-- i took your question seriously.. yes, Denver has a vaunted running game, and it is reason for concern.. you asked HOW do we stop Denver's running game? I gave you a specific answer-- we will play Roy in the box more than normal.. I for one am not that impressed with Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie at WR.. Newman, Henry, and Davis/Pile should be able to handle them fine, especially if we put pressure on Plummer, which I think we will with Roy in the box more.. our DL should be able to muscle their OL.. they are good and fast, but our DL will take up a lot of space and we have a lot of depth there to keep fresh.. our LBs are fast and should be able to get to the RBs unlike other teams that Denver has played.. Roy will be the factor that decides this game.. oh, and another thing: this is in Dallas, and everyone knows that Denver is not as good away from home.. oh, and the Giants were able to beat them, and I know that we have a better D than the Giants..

I'll definitely agree with this assessment. Gap discipline with Roy in the box. He has to be our heat seeking missile.

I think this is a situation where our new 3-4 is at an advantage to the Bronco's running scheme. Our LB's need to stay focused on their gap responsibilities. I think Dat would excel in this situation, though I'm not sure he'll get enough snaps to make a difference.

Shanle is the weak link in the LB corp right now. But he's still playing well.

I think we have to contain their OL and eliminate the cutback. That would negate Tatum Bell's home run threat. Mike Anderson is a plodder, and we've been able to keep big backs under the radar.

It's still going to be a challenge, and this game will be a benchmark as to where our D really stands in the grand scheme of things. Are we the D who held LT, Portis, Alexander, and Barber to sub-par games, or are we the D who let Lamont Jordan run all over us and Tom Rattay look like Steve Young???

 

[Eddie]

Eddie, when the Skins lost to them recently, part of the post mortem was about the sheer excellence of their run game execution, but part was also about how the Skins gave up the LONG runs, something the Broncos run game hasn't been known for. The Skins D apparently had a spate of missed tackles, and bit on the bootleg.

Maybe one key is actually Plummer...spying him perhaps and not letting him fool us..and not giving up a td run because of lack of discipline in the lanes.

Not to change the subject, but looks like the Giants picked up on what they saw in the Denver game against the Skins. Barber was unstoppable.

Denver has to be admired for their execution of the OL. It's flawless. My wife even commented how fluid they moved ... and she knows as much football as my 2 month old baby.

To be honest, Denver scares me. I think we can move on them with our O, but we can't let them control the ground game. They're going to run, run, and run some more.

Gap control, penetration, and the ability to disrupt the timing of the OL movement. Fergie and Glover MUST anchor the middle and hold the DL steady. This will disrupt the flow of Denver's OL and allow space for our LB's to make the play.

Easier said than done ... its our biggest challenge to date.

 

[Nors]

Shanle is bigger, more physical and engages better at the 3-4 level. Parcells concurs

Thats not my concern - its more Plummer pulling a 98 punk job on us....

 

[Eddie]

We'll get back at Plummer. He beat a wounded Cowboys team in 98. That same Cowboys team killed him twice that year, and our genius coach thought he could use the same game plan successfully THREE times in one year.

 

[Mansta54]

Dallas will shut them down. I think the Dallas Defense is better than any Defense in the entire league.

Actually I agree, I think we have the best D in the league and it will really show the second half of the season.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Not to change the subject, but looks like the Giants picked up on what they saw in the Denver game against the Skins. Barber was unstoppable.

Denver has to be admired for their execution of the OL. It's flawless. My wife even commented how fluid they moved ... and she knows as much football as my 2 month old baby.

To be honest, Denver scares me. I think we can move on them with our O, but we can't let them control the ground game. They're going to run, run, and run some more.

Gap control, penetration, and the ability to disrupt the timing of the OL movement. Fergie and Glover MUST anchor the middle and hold the DL steady. This will disrupt the flow of Denver's OL and allow space for our LB's to make the play.

Easier said than done ... its our biggest challenge to date.

They scare me too, tho less at home then in that thin air of Mile High.

You pointed out the runners are allowed to select their holes, and it can look like they're attacking you from all angles. I love to hang out at extreme after a loss and read there their vaunted better-than-85-Bears-D got faked out when Plummer handed off off a bootleg. There are many way to be 'skinned' but that one had to hurt.

In this one, I kinda see a big role for Dat myself.

Btw, who's come closest to shutting their run game down recently?