Cravens traded to Denver

[conannilsen]

For lining up against that KC offense, the 3 3 5 will be a necessity.

Sideline to sideline pursuit has been our downfall, and I can finally see that being addressed.

How many times did we see Von be allowed to go free, just to see the RB or TE be free right behind him?

The 3 3 5 means teams can dump it over Von this year and we will have the speed to close on that now.

I hope.

[samparnell]

Any ideas what Joe Woods will do based on how he called games last year? It would be nice to be able change things up and keep the O's guessing but can you foresee any tendencies at all?

Not sure. Run D was greatly improved in 2017. They need to figure out how the 29 TD passes happened and why and fix that. On run D they might try putting D-Linemen in even numbered techniques instead of in gaps. Once a guy is lined up in a gap, that's the one he'll attack if it's a run. From head up, they can go either way which can be mixed and is less predictable.

[Hadez]

Not sure. Run D was greatly improved in 2017. They need to figure out how the 29 TD passes happened and why and fix that. On run D they might try putting D-Linemen in even numbered techniques instead of in gaps. Once a guy is lined up in a gap, that's the one he'll attack if it's a run. From head up, they can go either way which can be mixed and is less predictable.

The offense needs to play better. 2nd most interceptions. tied 6th most fumbles lost. This leads to a lot of short fields to defend.

The game I went to the defense played tough all game but the offense was just complete crap and I watched as in the fourth quarter the defense finally caved in allowing a fourth quarter td pass after the offense failed to score all game.

It is very hard for a defense to carry the offense in this day and age of offense happy rules in the NFL

Also frankly Wade Phillips has a way of defending the pass that Joe Woods did not seem able to match in 2017 as a defensive play caller.

[MH Stampede]

The offense needs to play better. 2nd most interceptions. tied 6th most fumbles lost. This leads to a lot of short fields to defend.

The game I went to the defense played tough all game but the offense was just complete crap and I watched as in the fourth quarter the defense finally caved in allowing a fourth quarter td pass after the offense failed to score all game.

It is very hard for a defense to carry the offense in this day and age of offense happy rules in the NFL

Also frankly Wade Phillips has a way of defending the pass that Joe Woods did not seem able to match in 2017 as a defensive play caller.

This I agree with.

The defense, as good as it has been over the last 4 years or so, simply cant be the entire team all by itself, the other two units have to be better than absolute garbage.. The offense has to do something more than throw interceptions in our own end of the field, in the first quarter...practically every game. And the special teams have to stop coughing up the ball so much too.

[samparnell]

The offense needs to play better. 2nd most interceptions. tied 6th most fumbles lost. This leads to a lot of short fields to defend.

The game I went to the defense played tough all game but the offense was just complete crap and I watched as in the fourth quarter the defense finally caved in allowing a fourth quarter td pass after the offense failed to score all game.

It is very hard for a defense to carry the offense in this day and age of offense happy rules in the NFL

Also frankly Wade Phillips has a way of defending the pass that Joe Woods did not seem able to match in 2017 as a defensive play caller.

Wade Phillips is usually identified with Cover 1/0 and using five to rush the passer. There was a lot of that in 2015 and 2016, but there was one game I remember when he was in cover 8 almost the whole time. It isn't a question of man versus zone, because both must be used including Combo, Zone Blitz, Inverts and Rotations. Combine multiple coverages with line stunts and twists with the Backers and it is possible to present a QB with over twenty possibilities per game with plenty left in the bag for future contests. Another layer is disguising the true identity of the look.

By now, I'm sure each TD pass surrendered has been studied for offensive formation and personnel package, alignment on the O, down & distance, FP, defensive personnel package and the call which includes coverage. What happened will be broken down in categories like: amount of pressure; proper coverage played; containment; which eligible receivers. Common denominators will be found which will inform future calls.

Acquiring Su'a Cravens addresses Denver's difficulties in covering Backs and TEs. Talib's departure doesn't seem to have been fully addressed yet. Maybe we'll see it in the Draft. Pass rusher is a factor in pass coverage which may be addressed as well.

[listopencil]

Wade Phillips is usually identified with Cover 1/0 and using five to rush the passer. There was a lot of that in 2015 and 2016, but there was one game I remember when he was in cover 8 almost the whole time. It isn't a question of man versus zone, because both must be used including Combo, Zone Blitz, Inverts and Rotations. Combine multiple coverages with line stunts and twists with the Backers and it is possible to present a QB with over twenty possibilities per game with plenty left in the bag for future contests. Another layer is disguising the true identity of the look.

By now, I'm sure each TD pass surrendered has been studied for offensive formation and personnel package, alignment on the O, down & distance, FP, defensive personnel package and the call which includes coverage. What happened will be broken down in categories like: amount of pressure; proper coverage played; containment; which eligible receivers. Common denominators will be found which will inform future calls.

Acquiring Su'a Cravens addresses Denver's difficulties in covering Backs and TEs. Talib's departure doesn't seem to have been fully addressed yet. Maybe we'll see it in the Draft. Pass rusher is a factor in pass coverage which may be addressed as well.

At least our coaches had plenty of time to watch film. You know, with not being busy doing anything for the playoffs.

[samparnell]

At least our coaches had plenty of time to watch film. You know, with not being busy doing anything for the playoffs.

Twenty teams had five weeks, four teams had four weeks, four teams had three weeks and two teams had two weeks. After the Super Bowl, everyone was even in the time department again. Guess the Pats lost over a month.