January 5, 2009 8:06 AM
Defense a calling card in postseason
Offense wins games. But watching the Baltimore Ravens play defense on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins sure was fun.
Wasn't it?
What, you didn't enjoy seeing guys like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott, Ed Reed and Trevor Pryce maul and mug quarterback Chad Pennington and the Dolphins' offense?
The visiting Ravens intercepted Pennington four times in Sunday's 27-9 AFC wild-card game win. The Broncos finished the year with six interceptions - tied at third-lowest in NFL history for a 16-game season.
Soon we'll find out if a Steve Spagnuolo, Raheem Morris, Josh McDaniel, Rick Dennison or whomever gets Denver's head-coaching job can implement a more aggressive, intimidating, blood-smelling, fear-ringing, predator-like, point-prevention scheme of defense.
Is it as simple as a new coaching staff converting the current group of players, or can the Broncos be savvy enough to draft immediate impact players?
Or, will the Broncos have to spend in free-agency - and do they have the money if a hefty sum is required to assemble new parts to rebuild the defense?
Until those questions are answered, keep watching the playoffs. More defense is on the way . . .
Last week I was reminded that Dolphins coach Tony Sparano was head coach at New Haven (Conn.) in 1998. His team lost 51-0 to Northern Colorado in the Division II championship game . . .
Would it have been fun to watch a playoff game played in the cold and snow at Invesco Field at Mile High last Saturday night? Or would the cold weather (like that 17-degree chill for the home finale) have kept Bronco Fan seated inside by the fireplace? . . .
Nine wild card teams have reached the Super Bowl. Five - including the 1997 Broncos - have won it. Could this be the first year we see a Super Bowl played between two wild card teams? Sunday's winners - Baltimore and Philadelphia - would have to meet. Wild-card teams have won two of the past three titles.
January 5, 2009
12:31 PM
gofastgo writes:
I may only hope that Bowlen doesn't hire an offensive coach for the Dummies.
What we need (and I've been wanting Shanny gone for about 3 years now) in here is a guy who can MOTIVATE, a fire-breathing goliath, Butkus type of guy who has to have at least one 'motor-running all-the-time kind of guy on defense' Al Wilson was the last to kick these guys in the butt and get them going. I've watched every team in the NFL and NO other team has the lack of pass rush that the Denver Broncos have exhibited over the last 3 or 4 years now, not one. Even the 0-16 Lions had more the game I watched them play.
Spagnuolo, Cowher, Parcells, (bring back Lombardi) don't care for another x's and o's type of guy, give me a fire-breather.
January 8, 2009
10:53 PM
bronco57 writes:
Just watched Stoops get out-witted, out-guessed, and out-coached.
I hope and pray that Bowlen was watching and taking a lesson.