October 1, 2007 12:45 PM

Jeff Legwold on the Broncos-Colts game

Jeff Legwold chatted about the Broncos-Colts game:

Mark WolfQ) Bad tackling has become an epidemic. What's up with that?
jeff_legwold(A) You are right about that, the Broncos have not tackled well thus far. Sometimes it's just trying to take on the runner too high -- up around the shoulder -- and sometimes it's because they've taken a bad angle and are coming in to the side and don't get their feet under them before they drive through the tackle. It's hard for pro teams to fix that quickly because they don't hit in practice for fear of injury, but they can get their feet in the right position and square up in practice. They can fix it, it takes concentration and will. But if you're talented enough to play in the NFL, you're talented enough to tackle properly.

Mark_Wolf(Q) The Broncos rank 27th in the league in yards per points scored. Is that a meaningful statistic? Why can't they finish what they start?
jeff_legwold(A) The angles get tougher down inside the 20, a lot of the pass patterns you run between the 20s can't be run down there because there isn't enough room. The Broncos, like most teams, like to run between the 20s and then try to throw for the score, but a lot fo their offense consists of crossing routes and slants and things are more crowded inside the 20, there is a lot more traffic down there. They can run the fade pattern, but that's a tough throw-and-catch to consistently make and they haven't been able to consistently make it. So they could run a little more down there, but they have usually tried to put the ball in the air thus far -- which most teams do, living by the throw to score, run to win credo.

AM(Q) It's tempting to blame the middle linebacker for the Twinkie softness of the D. Is it unfair to blame DJ after this debacle?
jeff_legwold(A) D.J. understands he's learning yet another position -- the third linebacker spot he's played in the last three seasons -- so with that will come some mistakes. He played well early in the game Sunday, when the Broncos were in a front with three down linemen and one linemen standing up. But at that time, because of the alignment he was also playing assignments that were a little closer to what he used to play as an outside linebacker. His biggest difficulty is getting caught up in the traffic in the middle of the field. But that's every player who's moved to middle linebacker from another spot. The Broncos have more going on than that against the run. They haven't tackled well when they do get there and they have yet to control the line of scrimmage up front on defense consistently in any of their games so far. Tackling and the play up front have been two big items there.

Arn(Q) I'm worried about a team that has to gimmick up its defense in the fourth week. Are those starters going to be back this week?
jeff_legwold(A) Sam Adams didn't play because the Colts go to the no-huddle most of the time so a defense can't sub guys in and out like they normally do, so the Broncos were concerned about getting Adams on and off the field since he plays about half the snaps in a normal game. Amon Gordon was de-activated because the coaches thought Marcus Thomas and Antwon Burton had a better week of practice. And against Manning most teams try to trick it up some because if he's seen the defense you're playing before, he will find the open spot.

AM(Q) Why are the special teams so wretched? There seems to be no improvement from last year, or the year before
jeff_legwold(A) That is a riddle. Even the players are frustrated at this point. Opposing coaches say the Broncos haven't always been disciplined in their lanes with everybody trying to make a play, sometimes they drift from where they are supposed to be instead of just doing their jobs. Also, the Broncos aren't always getting the ball kicked where it needs to be. Sometimes it's a little short or too much in the middle of the field and the returner has a running start on the ball.

AM(Q) Has Lepsis lost a step? He doesn't look the same.
jeff_legwold(A) He's still not even a year away from a serious knee injury and microfracture surgery. If he were at another position it's unlikely he would be playing as much as he is now. He won't look the same for a little more time, but he's still the best option they have at left tackle and has played pretty well given what he's dealing with.

AM(Q) How badly are Henry and Walker injured?
jeff_legwold(A) Don't know officially yet. Henry was limping badly as he left the stadium and that injury doesn't get better over the first night. He will probably miss some practice time this week at minimum. Walker said he has fluid on the knee and may not practice early in the week. He said he wants to play, but until he runs later in the week it will be tough to tell how he is.

Mark(Q) Did Young miss a read on the third down play in the red zone? Looked like he had a hole big enough to get him into the end zone but he cut the wrong way.
jeff_legwold(A) Happens to every back from time to time. The Broncos scheme is designed to give the back a choice of two or three running lanes on each play and he is supposed to pick the best one. Like anything it takes some work and game action to see it at full speed. They're going to miss some from time to time.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Nobody in the AFC West has beaten a good team so far this season. Is the division that bad?
jeff_legwold(A) The teams in it have not played well. Three teams tied at 2-2 with the Chargers at 1-3. It doesn't look like most of us thought it would. It's bad enough thus far people in San Diego were chanting for Marty Schottenheimer Sunday. The team that rights things the quickest could win the division easily, but if things don't improve the AFC West winner isn't going to challenge the conference's elite in the postseason.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Somewhere, Marty Schottenheimer is smiling broadly. Think the Chargers are having second thoughts about the switch?
jeff_legwold(A) I'm sure the players, while they likely wouldn't say anything publicly yet, are having second thoughts. The other thing in the mix, too, is not only did they let Schottenheimer go, but both coordinators left to be head coaches -- Wade Phillips in Dallas and Cam Cameron in Miami.

Mondo: I don't know about you but I'll take the "Live by the blitz...Die by the Blitz" defense that helped us beat the Patriots in the playoffs. Cmon Shanny.....get CREATIVE!!!
jeff_legwold(A) Nobody blitzes Manning and gets away with it over the long haul, even teams that love to blitz. The Broncos could probably have more of a middle ground, and Bates' defenses have had more blitzing in the past, but right now they aren't holding up with some of the basics in the scheme, so they are probably hesitant to add more to it at this point.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Rockies or Padres?
jeff_legwold(A) Cubs....99 years and counting....
Mark_Wolf(P) Thanks to Jeff Legwold for his time and insights into the Broncos-Colts game. And thanks for the good questions.
jeff_legwold(P) thanks for the questions....