Chris Harris: Broncos Defense has No Weaknesses

[RayClay]

By the way, it would be wrong, but wouldn't it be funny if everyone copied the little NFL logo on all the anonymous youtube uploads you make?

It would be wrong, of course.

 

[FourierSeries]

Their weakness is our offensive personnel. It has already been proven. Harris and Talib cannot match up with Edelman or Amendola. They have no answer for Gronk or Lewis.

They will try to get to Brady, but pressure off the edges doesn't affect him very much, and we know Bill will devise a game plan to negate their pass rush.

This is a perfect match up for us so long as we have our key players healthy.

 

[VrabelJr]

I'm more worried about their defense could play dirty and try to cause injuries. We all know Ward is one of the dirtiest out there. Miller has that attitude where he's right on the edge and if he gets frustrated I could see him doing something dumb. Not sure about Talib, I liked him when he played for us but he has an edge too and he could be more
motivated. Playing in Denver doesn't help.

That's a weird thing to worry about.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Our offensive line is worse than the 2013 AFC CG?!!! Where do we make this stuff up?

2013 AFC CG: Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, and Cannon/Svitek. Not to mention our super sexy backups Chris Barker and Josh Kline 1.0 (more on that in a moment)

Our line this year for the Denver game is likely:

Vollmer, Mason/Kline, Stork, Kline/Jackson, Fleming/Cannon

Fleming/Cannon is the only weakness, just like in 2013. Let's look at the rest:

Stork is a significant upgrade over Wendell

Mason is better against the run than Mankins at that point in his career. Especially because Mankins crapped the bed as he tends to do in the playoffs.

Kline 2.0 is better than Connolly and and a lot better than Kline 1.0.

Jackson is just the cherry on top and having.

Andrews to backup Stork is a side of gravy if you need it.

The Broncos also had Terrence Knighton who was great against the run and pulverized Wendell. We play against Knighton's new team tomorrow. Let's see how Andrews does.

I think the stat on Mankins in 2013 was that his run blocking was still very good but his pass blocking had regressed. I read it somewhere....I'll need to dig it up.

In 2013 Cannon was in the top 5 in pressures allowed per dropback. I'm sure he had some help but thats pretty good.

Agree on everything else you said.

 

[VrabelJr]

I think the stat on Mankins in 2013 was that his run blocking was still very good but his pass blocking had regressed. I read it somewhere....I'll need to dig it up.

In 2013 Cannon was in the top 5 in pressures allowed per dropback. I'm sure he had some help but thats pretty good.

Agree on everything else you said.

I also forgot to add: in 2013 AFC CG we didn't have Gronk who is the best run blocking TE in the game.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

I also forgot to add: in 2013 AFC CG we didn't have Gronk who is the best TE in the game.

Fixed

 

[RobertWeathers]

I also forgot to add: in 2013 AFC CG we didn't have Gronk who is the best run blocking TE in the game.

Yep! The past is the past but if Talib doesn't get killed by WW and Gronk is 100% they win that game.

Beating SEA in the SB is a different story.

 

[FourierSeries]

I have to remind everyone that Pot Roast last year stated something along the lines of, "we aren't afraid to play anybody anywhere; we can win in any stadium."

Then after the playoffs DT admits that most of their players were scared ****less of coming to Foxboro.

Denver is known for being soft and insecure. This example of Harris stating their defense has no weakness is just another example.

 

[neuronet]

I will admit it, I'm scared to go into Denver. That crowd is f'ing crazy, puts ours to shame. That defense is amazing. The offense? Not so much.

Should be a great fight. Will be a playoff-like game.

Which means Manning should choke.

 

[Oswlek]

Guys, we have some really great math experts on the site. Why not figure out a way to see if the Pats really:
--Do indeed have the best D

I can't claim to be a statistical expert, but I would seriously question any stat that says the Patriots have the best overall D. Top 10 is perfectly fine with me for the time being.

 

[ExpatPack]

The Denver defense is really good, but it is getting really overrated now that they shut down Aaron Rodgers. Even though they did a great job on Rodgers, people are acting like they are shutting down the Packers offense of last year.

Since the first three weeks of the season, the Packers' offense has been very average. Especially on the road (they have scored a total of 27 points combined in their last two road games). I mean the 49ers held them 17 points.

The fact is the Packers' offense isn't built to beat the Broncos' defense. Rodgers has made his bones extending plays by running around in the backfield and vertical passing. He is not at the short quick passing method. You beat a defense like the Broncos' with short quick passes and not holding onto the ball for 3-4 seconds. Also, other than Cobbs, the Packers do not have a receiving target that needs any extra attention.

I have heard people compare this defense to the 2000 Ravens and other all time great defenses. I call BS. They are really good, but they haven't really been tested yet.

I think your analysis is about 95% correct. Add to it that the Packers basically did the same thing they'd been doing for the last 3 weeks, which wasn't working well as you pointed out, and looked like they did almost not extra preparation for Denver and you have the result.

I would also add that the Packers have absolutely no one like Gronk. Gronk changes everything out there. Defenses must do something to try and at least slow him down.

BTW Rodgers and the Packers are capable of going to the short passing game, but for some reason they haven't done it this year. Hence the criticism of Rodgers & co. that they have limited their passing game and other teams have less difficulty defensing it.

 

[VrabelJr]

When you have a TE like Gronk you effectively get to run against nickel and dime defenses. It's a huge advantage.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

The more they (Denver/anyone) believe they are #1, the mightier the fall.

I think the Jets were the #1 defense, until they played the Patriots. We're the #1 offense, despite playing plenty of really good defenses. Imagine if we got to feast on the AFCS (oh wait, we will get that chance )

 

[BingoBrown]

I think we will see a lot of Gronk and Chandler in the Broncs game.

 

[sieglo]

Anybody know Tom Brady's record when playing in Denver?

I think 2-5.

 

[Lansdowne]

I think 2-5.

This is correct.

2001 Week 7, L 20-31
2003 Week 9, W 30-26
2005 Week 6, L 20-28
2005 AFC Div, L 13-27
2009 Week 5, L 17-20
2011 Week 15, W 41-23
2013 AFC CG, L 16-26

 

[rosco1]

Where do I start? Well in reference to the jets defense who gave up 30+ points to the raiders. That defense is beyond overrated. Denver D held that offense to 10 points.
As far as points allowed it should be 94 not 112 due to 18 of those points came from 3 pick 6s manning threw.
Brady has a quick release,but that isn't going to do Brady any good if no one is open.
wade phillips didn't have in Houston what he has in denver. In Houston he had watt and a bunch of scraps.
another thing is,and what needs to be considered is our pass rush is going to force gronk to stay in pass protection a lot more than he's used to. Brady got sacked 5 times against Dallas and all they got is hardy.
we're at 29 sacks so far this season,we only 41 all last season, we'll be well past that by the time of the game,scheme makes a big difference. NE isn't going to be able to dbl team miller or ware.
watch our games,our back ups (our depth) get rotated in regularly to give miller & ware breathers and our D isn't missing a beat with our back ups playing.
miller & ware have a combined 9 sacks this season those other 20 are coming from somewhere.
Miller & ware stats wise aren't having a great yr.

Anyway it'll be a great game.

 

[neuronet]

Where do I start? Well in reference to the jets defense who gave up 30+ points to the raiders. That defense is beyond overrated. Denver D held that offense to 10 points.
As far as points allowed it should be 94 not 112 due to 18 of those points came from 3 pick 6s manning threw.
Brady has a quick release,but that isn't going to do Brady any good if no one is open.
wade phillips didn't have in Houston what he has in denver. In Houston he had watt and a bunch of scraps.
another thing is,and what needs to be considered is our pass rush is going to force gronk to stay in pass protection a lot more than he's used to. Brady got sacked 5 times against Dallas and all they got is hardy.
we're at 29 sacks so far this season,we only 41 all last season, we'll be well past that by the time of the game,scheme makes a big difference. NE isn't going to be able to dbl team miller or ware.
watch our games,our back ups (our depth) get rotated in regularly to give miller & ware breathers and our D isn't missing a beat with our back ups playing.
miller & ware have a combined 9 sacks this season those other 20 are coming from somewhere.

Anyway it'll be a great game.

Welcome to the site, and we appreciate the analysis from an enemy scout.

 

[FourierSeries]

This is correct.

2001 Week 7, L 20-31
2003 Week 9, W 30-26
2005 Week 6, L 20-28
2005 AFC Div, L 13-27
2009 Week 5, L 17-20
2011 Week 15, W 41-23
2013 AFC CG, L 16-26

Those were some bad teams he took into Denver in those 5 losses, with the exception of 2001 which was his rookie year.

This is easily the best team he will go into Denver with. I wouldn't be surprised if it plays out like that 2011 game.

 

[FourierSeries]

Where do I start? Well in reference to the jets defense who gave up 30+ points to the raiders. That defense is beyond overrated. Denver D held that offense to 10 points.
As far as points allowed it should be 94 not 112 due to 18 of those points came from 3 pick 6s manning threw.
Brady has a quick release,but that isn't going to do Brady any good if no one is open.
wade phillips didn't have in Houston what he has in denver. In Houston he had watt and a bunch of scraps.
another thing is,and what needs to be considered is our pass rush is going to force gronk to stay in pass protection a lot more than he's used to. Brady got sacked 5 times against Dallas and all they got is hardy.
we're at 29 sacks so far this season,we only 41 all last season, we'll be well past that by the time of the game,scheme makes a big difference. NE isn't going to be able to dbl team miller or ware.
watch our games,our back ups (our depth) get rotated in regularly to give miller & ware breathers and our D isn't missing a beat with our back ups playing.
miller & ware have a combined 9 sacks this season those other 20 are coming from somewhere.
Miller & ware stats wise aren't having a great yr.

Anyway it'll be a great game.

Your guys can't cover our receivers. That's been proven. They'll have no issues getting open. Your D also hasn't fared well vs TEs, and we've got the best TE of all time on our side (who has killed your D time after time.)

Our defense will have far greater success against your pedestrian offense than yours will have against ours. Remember, we're only 3 sacks behind you, and Manning has been awful this year when pressured.