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

[Eddie]

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

What's our statistical ranking? I think we're in the middle of the pack somewhere ... that's also because of the lapses early in the season.

We've played well ... well enough to be 8-0. But we lost 3 games because we just couldn't finish.

I'm not sure we're the BEST D in the league ... the Colts have a D giving up HALF the number of points we have.

Jacksonville and Chicago are playing lights out D as well.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

Our Pass D is 4th in the league and our Rush D is 18th. Hmmm, that scares me. The 18th ranked rushing D in the league against the best running team in the NFL??

 

[Mansta54]

What's our statistical ranking? I think we're in the middle of the pack somewhere ... that's also because of the lapses early in the season.

We've played well ... well enough to be 8-0. But we lost 3 games because we just couldn't finish.

I'm not sure we're the BEST D in the league ... the Colts have a D giving up HALF the number of points we have.

Jacksonville and Chicago are playing lights out D as well.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

Our Pass D is 4th in the league and our Rush D is 18th. Hmmm, that scares me. The 18th ranked rushing D in the league against the best running team in the NFL??

I just like how our D shut down Philly, Giants, and Seahawks and at the time each was suppose to be the top O in the league. We are young, fresh, and aggressive and getting better with each game. I'll take our D right now over anybodys in the league...

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm as big of a Cowboy homer as you will find. But to say we have the best defense in the league just isn't realistic. It is good and getting better. Come playoff time, we will all get a chance to see how our D stands up next to all the rest.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

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.

Hey man, that's how I feel about our Defense. Go calling names to someone else like your wife, leave me out of the drama.

 

[PullMyFinger]

This is one thing I dont understand. Teams figured out a way to beat the 46 defense, but no team has figured how to consistantly stop Denvers O. They zone block a lot, and have some great lineman. Fans here are laughing at the Boys and the "junior varsity league" NFC.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

This is one thing I dont understand. Teams figured out a way to beat the 46 defense, but no team has figured how to consistantly stop Denvers O. They zone block a lot, and have some great lineman. Fans here are laughing at the Boys and the "junior varsity league" NFC.

Well maybe this junior varsity team needs to make its bones by doing something really primitive, like play the ultimate smash mouth game vs Denver.

 

[BigDFan5]

What's our statistical ranking? I think we're in the middle of the pack somewhere ... that's also because of the lapses early in the season.

We've played well ... well enough to be 8-0. But we lost 3 games because we just couldn't finish.

I'm not sure we're the BEST D in the league ... the Colts have a D giving up HALF the number of points we have.

Jacksonville and Chicago are playing lights out D as well.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

Our Pass D is 4th in the league and our Rush D is 18th. Hmmm, that scares me. The 18th ranked rushing D in the league against the best running team in the NFL??

Our rush D is 10th

 

[Nors]

I just like how our D shut down Philly, Giants, and Seahawks and at the time each was suppose to be the top O in the league. We are young, fresh, and aggressive and getting better with each game. I'll take our D right now over anybodys in the league...

Bingo - our D is on a roll. Those calling for Dat to come back are misguided and going to be disapointed as Shanle/James rock as Starters....

 

[The30YardSlant]

How to stop Tatum Bell:

1: Hit him

2: If he's still running, hit him harder

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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.

use alot of Kenyon COleman at end in the 3-4, the 3-down lineman are gonna really need to take on DT responsibilities, to take on the Denver blockers, keep them from getting too far downfield and off our LBs, so they can run to the ball and hit Bell and ANderson, plus alot of Roy playing close to the LOS, sorta like we did when we stopped Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Clinton Portis, LT

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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

Dat is better, Parcells concurs haha

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Bingo - our D is on a roll. Those calling for Dat to come back are misguided and going to be disapointed as Shanle/James rock as Starters....

what does this discussion have anything to do with the Dat discussion?

 

[SuspectCorner]

love to see the cowboys win on turkey day. and love to see our D-lineman avoid significant injuries at the hands of the knee-seeking torpedoes Denver calls an O-line. i have long suspected shanahan coaches that crap. :angryno:

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Remember back in '96, '97 when we went to Denver and Terrell Davis kicked our arse with cut-backs? God that was ugly!

Denver is still doing the same thing.

Amazing.

 

[Murph80]

Our defensive rankings are not as high because we have played a tough schedule. You should take a look at some of trhese schedules these teams are playing. For instance look at the Bears schedule. If we had that schedule we would be undefeated and #1 in every def category.

 

[pgreptom]

Look for a lot of 8 man fronts.

I'd exect to see Newman+Henry back, and Pile at FS.

I would pretty much look for Roy on one side, or the other, right outside the last OLB.

Whereever Roy is, the LBers slide to the other side.

Have our 3-5 lineman hold the front 5 like they've done all year, and this is a gimmie.

They might tap over 100 yards, but I don't see their rushing game being a huge factor in this game.

 

[HDC]

I agree with most of the serious comments about our defensive game plan, but I will add three more points.

1. We cannot employ many slants, loops, and crosses by our DL in "obvious" passing situations. Those moves give up gap control.

2. We must concentrate on tackling. Missed tackles can be killers.

3. Ferguson (and others at nose tackle) need to tie up the middle, hold their ground, and push without losing gap control. The push without losing gap control really disrupts Denver's style of zone blocking and cutback running.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Seems like the 3-4 would be better against the Broncos... Only three men on the line to face the quick chop, I mean, cut blocks. Once the linemen have to run out to the second level, they're more like facing any othe scheme.

I'd be most worried about bell breaking a long one or two because he's so fast, but Saban's Dolphins held them to something like 70 yards rushing in the first game, and of course he runs a lot of the same things as Parcells. So I'm sure we'll be studying that tape closely.

 

[Eddie]

Seems like the 3-4 would be better against the Broncos... Only three men on the line to face the quick chop, I mean, cut blocks. Once the linemen have to run out to the second level, they're more like facing any othe scheme.

I'd be most worried about bell breaking a long one or two because he's so fast, but Saban's Dolphins held them to something like 70 yards rushing in the first game, and of course he runs a lot of the same things as Parcells. So I'm sure we'll be studying that tape closely.

I think you're right. The 3-4 is better against the Broncos, as it doesn't tie up 4 DLmen moving in one direction. It leaves an additional LB in space to either attack the hole or the cutback.

Dolphins run D is solid. You're right, we have to watch alot of what the Fins did and how they were able to control the Broncos run.

Philly was overly aggressive on D, and Tatum Bell killed them with those cutback runs. The Bronco's OL moved the entire Iggles D in one direction, and when Bell cutback, there was NO ONE to stop him. Voila ... HUGE gains all day.

I think we also need to study what the Eagle did wrong. One week they held LT to 7 yards, and then they gave up 2 100 yard rushers. Sick.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I hate to say this about any pro team, even the Eagles, but I honestly thought they quit last week.

Don't get me wrong, I respect the Broncos and know they're good, but I don't think that what any RB did against them last week is a true indication of how great that player or scheme might be.

Plus, they have to travel on a short week. Bonus for us.