SB Nation User Blog: hoosierteacher

MHR University - Ted Block part 2, Specific Tactics (by hoosierteacher and tedbartlett905)

hoosierteacher — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:21:41 -0000

(Many, many thanks to Ted Bartlett for putting in the time to put together the diagrams to illustrate an example Ted Block play. He was able to knock out the diagrams in less than a day! My attempts at diagrams take much longer and don't look nearly as good. Please join me in appreciating his hard work).

In the last MHR University, we took a broad look at the Ted Block scheme. The concept (used in San Francisco under new Broncos DC Mike Nolan) is very likely going to be seen in Denver's 3-4 this year. The scheme calls for the LILB to block the way to the QB for the ROLB.

Andra Davis may be the right guy (not very fast, but very physical) to line up at LILB. Spencer Larsen, who has played at LB but has also played run-blocking duties as a FB is another terrific candidate to clear the way to the QB.

Join Ted and I, as we take a closer look at the Ted Block, including a look at how the different D-Linemen and LBs affect the scheme in a hypothetical play.

As with all play designs in the 3-4, everything starts with the NT.

First, picture the NT lined up head-on with the offensive center. We call this alignment "zero technique". As the play starts, the NT will drive towards the center, then lock up. We'll say the play calls for the NT to rotate into the gap between the center and the left guard. He now tries to move around the center in a semi-circle to the left, but will keep facing him. We now have the OC engaged, and the NT moving into the gap between the center and the left guard.

If the NT is big enough to demand a double team (and remember, in a 3-4 we demand excellence from the NT), the RG should now be concerned, as well as any RBs kept behind to block for the QB.

We (the defense) don't really expect our very large NT to get to the QB. We only want him to be a threat to the QB; enough to pull a double coverage of pass blockers. If he can get through, fine. But it isn't our goal. We want him to tie up two players. In our case, we want him to keep the center away from the blitz lane we are setting up between the OC and the RG.

So now we should have the center facing to the left trying to block out the NT. At worst, if the center is very good and keeping himself squared to the line of scrimmage, the NT is moving to the center's left and drawing in the LG. Either way, a gap is being widened to the right of the center's position.

How do we handle the other threat to our gap; the right guard? Enter the left defensive end. We lined him up at 3 technique (on the right guard's right shoulder), and assigned him to shoot the gap to the right guard's right side. Unlike our "2 gap" NT (who is trying to occupy offensive linemen), our DE is actually trying to get to the QB. Instead of taking the direct route though, he is trying to go between the right guard and the right tackle. His odds aren't great, but he (like the NT) is drawing coverage away from our real lane.

The LOLB gets into the act too. He'll play 5 technique (right tackle's right shoulder). He'll shoot the gap wide around the right tackle, helping to pull even more support from the widening gap between the center and right guard.

If our guys mentioned so far are playing their roles with good, sound techniques, then there should now be a wide gap between the right guard and the center. As a bonus, if our NT is superb, the offensive center has been rotated to face away from the gap. Rather than take the glory of getting a sack or pressuring the QB, we want our NT to be patient and to be a team player. By staying in his assigned role, someone else will get the glory, but the play will work because of him.

Now comes the LILB, the "Ted blocker". Offensive linemen are used to doing two things. Driving into defensive linemen (the aggressive "run block"), or just pushing off defensive players who are trying to get around them (not through them ("pass block"). They are not used to being targets themselves. That's what makes the Ted block a punishing surprise.

If the offense plays two TEs, there is little (or no) RB support to protect the QB. If the center has been rotated, the LILB comes flying at the right side of the center's body, and drives into him. With the center out of the way, you now have the DT, the Ted blocker LILB, and the ROLB all driving on the QB. If the center isn't rotated, he is at least already moving laterally to his left with the DT. The Ted can now drive on any RBs in the way (who are only expecting to block the Ted, not to be hit by him). The entire time, regardless of which scenario pops up, our LILB has been shooting the gap towards the QB unconcerned about anyone in the way.

If there is only one TE, the Ted blocker will drive against the RB assigned to pass block (if there is one). The more guys the offense has held back to pass block, the less passing options they have (which makes things easier for the DBs). But we'll more likely save this play for when our opponents present with two TEs.

To buy time for our blitz to work, we'll assign our CBs to "bump and run", preventing quick passes and making longer routes take that much longer. Our strong safety will take the strong side TE if that TE goes into a route instead of blocking. Our ROLB will cover the weakside TE if needed, starting his assignment in zone.

Our safeties play deep zone, ready for anything. If the right TE goes into a route, our SS covers him. The nice thing about that variation is that, without a TE in blocking, our "distraction" pass rush from the left DE and the LOLB now become as much of a threat as our interior blitz.

What if the play is a run? No problem. We've tied up the gap between the OC and RG (the most common run lane in football), we have a ROLB zoning the weakside who can plug a gap if the play shows run, and the strong side is being tied up by the LOLB and the left DE.

Another factor that makes this play effective is that the 3-4 more often blitzes from the outside, not the inside. The combination of two unexpected issues (an inside blitz, doubled with a linebacker who is going to punish a pass blocker instead of evading him) is potent.

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I recently received an e-mail asking if MHR-U could be translated into Mandarin Chinese for fans in Taiwan who are learning about American Football. The process is underway with a translator, and all of us at MHR wish our friends in Taiwan the very best. I would like to thank all of the members of MHR who take part in discussing the articles in the comments section. Your comments and questions are what really makes the articles educational and fun. Thanks to you, the reader, for making MHR such a great place and giving the stories a life of their own. Our international family keeps growing and growing!

Educated Guess - 2009 Depth Chart Thoughts

hoosierteacher — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:23:08 -0000

It is still too early to have a good idea of what depth chart Denver will be using. But members of the media and fans at Milehighreport.com will put up depth charts anyway because it is fun to speculate on who will play at what positions. I love depth chart projections because the conversation that ensues serves to educate. Some folks will share information about a player trait that others weren't aware of, and discussions of schemes ensue.

Most longtime members of MHR love the annual depth-chart breakdown that Guru does. It was my favorite feature of MHR before I joined the site a few years ago. If you want accurate predictions, that's your story. If you want some educated guesses and a good discussion, I hope you'll enjoy the following....

As I've written consistently, this is a tough year to guess on our final roster and dept chart. New coaches, new system, a radical change in player-use philosophy, and a major turnover in players makes this year tricky, but very intriguing. We'll know much more when camp is fully underway, but here are some of my thoughts thus far.

DEFENSE

SAFETY

One of my most difficult tasks is to guess whether or not Brian Dawkins plays at his historical free-safety position or moves to strong safety. There are strong arguments both ways. Even at his age, Dawkins had a terrific season again last year. He still has speed and range, and can sack quarterbacks from the deep safety position. He still has the hands to intercept. And when he hits a ball carrier, the stadium hears it. Brian Dawkins remains a terrifying force on the field. I would like to see him stay at FS, but I'm starting to lean towards a move to SS. I have a few reasons for this, but I'm not 100% comfortable with making a firm projection.

First, Dawkins will be getting older, and the eventual slowing will make him a better fit at SS. Second, I'll take Dawkins covering a TE over some of the prospects at LOLB. Third, in most schemes the SS will have more run-support responsibilities, and Dawkins is one of those safeties that can consistently bring down even the biggest of RBs.

Renaldo Hill would then become my guess at FS. Coming off of the good year he had last year, I think he is a definite upgrade at FS. Given his age, he will likely be holding the position for a young up-and-coming player in the near future.

Darcel McBath is my favorite for the backup FS spot. He should do well on STs, but I think he will be the future at FS, and a player to watch. I think he'll see some playing time this year. For the fourth spot on the safety chart, we might see a duel between Vernon Fox and Josh Barrett. Fox could win out because there is talk about Barrett getting some looks for an OLB position.

Where does this leave the "other" rookie (David Bruton)? I think he has a shot at being a special teams ace for now, and a project for a future role at safety.

Cornerback

Superstar Champ Bailey is a lock for the #1 CB position. Andre Goodman was brought in to take over at the #2 position, and should do a great job there. Controversial draft pick Alphonso Smith will be exciting at nickel back, and is likely going to be a #2 CB in the near future.

I love what the team has done at safety and corner. We have two future-Hall of Famers at defensive-back positions, a hot rookie, and two solid veterans. The battle for the final spot will be between Jack Williams, Josh Bell, and Rashod Moulton.

Inside Linebacker

In my last article, I wrote that I was proud of myself for predicting that D.J. Williams would again be moving, this time to RILB. It is his natural spot, and one that he is happy with. He will be the anchor for the LBs. At LILB, Andra Davis will be stopping runs and "ted blocking" the way to sacks for the RILB. Beyond these two, nothing is sure.

I'm guessing that Larsen will be a FB / ILB hybrid. Someone pointed out a fact to me in the last couple of weeks, and I buy the reasoning - Larsen would make a great LILB because (as a FB) he is already capable of blocking the way through the trenches. I buy that, so Larsen becomes my pick for #2 LILB. Woodyard is my pick to back up Williams.

Outside Linebacker

With hybrids, this is a very tough call. Until he gets injured, Boss Bailey has a shot at starting LOLB, and Jarvis Moss is my guess to compete for the spot. The more I think about it, I like Elvis Dumervil at ROLB. He isn't big enough to play RDE in a 3-4, but his rush skills would make him a feared presence in a 3-4 played with a 5-2 look. I'm not sure who backs up Dumervil. With safety Josh Barrett getting looks at LB, I think he could go ROLB or LOLB. For now, let's consider ROLB a possibility.

Nose Tackle

The early favorite is clearly Ronald Fields, who was projected to start for the 49ers this year. Carlton Powell and Marcus Thomas are both bulking up and fighting for a spot, and I think there may be a better competition for the spot than earlier thought.

Defensive End

Let me throw out the names in the mix as I see them (in no special order) - Robert Ayers, Tim Crowder, Ryan McBean, Kenny Peterson, and Nic Clemons.

I think Ayers, McBean, and Crowder compete for the LDE spot. I think Peterson starts RDE, with Clemons or one of the three players competing for LDE backing him up.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Kyle Orton had a lesser offensive line and lesser receivers in Chicago, but still managed more wins than Denver's previous QB. He may not have the physical tools and potential of a Jay Cutler, but he also lacks the drawbacks (forcing the ball into interceptions, not looking off receivers, decision making in general). Chris Simms is not likely to be the starter, but could be a surprise if called in during an injury to Orton.

Tom Brandstater may be a long-term project, or a desperate emergency player in the event of a catastrophic string of injuries. The only real question is, "Do we carry three QBs on the roster, or keep Brandenstater on the practice squad but suited up under the NFL's emergency 'third QB' rule"? Tom is a very smart kid, and may be a surprise in a couple of years.

Running Backs

Denver is loaded at this position. I was sorry to see Arrington not pass the physical, but Denver didn't lose much in the signing. Still, Denver finally has a workhorse RB in 1st-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. The next question is, do we go committee or run a prime back? Do we spell or rotate? Peyton Hillis is a proven commodity as a power back, but can also block as FB or gash defensive lines running the ball from the FB position. Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordon are solid backs, not castoffs. The running game will not be an issue for Denver this year.

Larsen and Hillis can both play FB. Hillis is good enough to start at RB (with Moreno), and Larsen is good enough to play at LILB (likely rotating behind Davis).

Denver has a lot of options.

Receiver

Brandon Marshall starts at #1, and Eddie Royal starts at #2. Brandon Stokley is probably still going to be our slot receiver, and that's a good thing. This is a great starting group. Competing for the coveted 4th-receiver spot are Jabar Gaffney, rookie Kenny McKinley, and Chad Jackson.

Tight End

Daniel Graham is not only the clear starter, but has played in the NE offensive program before. He is an outstanding blocker, but can cause defenses problems if he goes out to catch. Tony Scheffler is too good of a receiving TE not to be in the mix, and will see the field in a lot of two-TE sets. Jeb Putzier and rookie Richard Quinn will fight for the 3rd TE position. Putzier has the advantage in catching, but Quinn is a heck of a blocker.

Center

Casey Wiegmann will start. Kory Lichtensteiger is being groomed as his replacement. Blake Schlueter (rookie) is either going to back up Kory next year, or might back up one of the guards this year.

Guard

Ben Hamilton starts at LG, and Chris Kuper starts at RG. Seth Olsen and (perhaps) Blake Schlueter are my guesses to back up.

Tackle

Ryan Clady is a lock at LT, and Ryan Harris is a lock at RT. Tyler Polumbus is a likely backup, but Brandon Gorin might give him a run for his money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special teams is settled at K, P, and long snapper. The only question is whether Royal will be relieved of his return responsibilities.

As mentioned earlier, without knowing the systems we'll be running, and with the added complexity of the Amoeba philosophy and the hybrid scheming, this is a tough depth chart to figure out. I'm certain that I'm going to be wrong on a least a few of my early guesses, but my overarching hope is that we as a group can discuss the roster and use the chart as a good base to exchange ideas.

I look forward to hearing from folks on their thoughts!

Poll

Assuming that Marshall, Royal, and Stokley start at the first three WR positions, which of the following players should start at #4 WR?

Jabbar Gaffney

726 votes

Kenny McKinley

83 votes

Chad Jackson

66 votes

875 votes | Poll has closed

MHR University - The "TED Block" scheme (and why DJ should play RILB)

hoosierteacher — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:11:59 -0000

A little over a year ago, "Fooch" (Editor of Niners Nation) interviewed me about the Ted position and a nifty scheme that the 49ers run on defense (linked further down). After the 2008 season, former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan came to Denver and brought his (and head coach Josh McDaniels) 3-4 to town.

Flash forward...

Some months ago (Feb 08), I commented under a post that D.J. Williams should move to RILB, and a month later (Mar) I wrote in a story that Williams was better suited for RILB. "Move him AGAIN?"

Flash forward again...

Wednesday, May 27th I read the Associated Press wire that defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is now going to play D.J. Williams at RILB.

Rock Me Amadeus! (Some of you old timers will get the inside joke).

No, my real name is not Coach Nolan. But more of the pieces of the defense are coming together. Could it be that we can have a "penetrating" defense (as stated recently by McDaniels), but might I still be correct in thinking that we will be a 2-gap defense? How can that be? A one-gap defense (such as the "Phillips") is the "penetrating" defense that we might expect. On the other hand, a "Fairbanks-Bullough" defense can be penetrating too, if you use the TED Blocking scheme, and guys are bulking up to play the line. Hmmmmmm.

Read on.....

The TED Block scheme

First, some background.

There are several ways to refer to linebackers in a 3-4. The two guys in the middle are called inside linebackers (ILBs) and the outer two are called outside linebackers (OLBs). MLB (or middle linebacker) is used when talking about the middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense.

Nomenclature (naming system) for football positions are based on the team being referenced. In other words, if I say "Right outside linebacker", I am speaking about the LB on the right of the defense. If you were looking from the perspective of the offense, it would be the LB on the far left.

I use the terms ROLB, RILB, LILB, and LOLB to refer to LBs by position. But other people do it differently, and it is still perfectly correct. In some places (from right to left) we would say Will, Mike, Ted, and Sam. Will ("w" for "weakside", the side the TE is not on), Mike ('m" for middle), Ted (has been ascribed to a former player who played the position), and Sam ("s" for "strongside", the side with the TE).

So what is the TED Block scheme? It's an interesting use of the Ted Linebacker (LILB) on certain plays. Instead of playing "man", "zone", "blitz", or "contain", the linebacker does something completely different. He blocks the way to the QB for the Mike (ROLB)! He has to have the power to perhaps push off an OL, and likely a FB kept in to pass block.

Why is this interesting to us?

1. Well first, new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is associated with the scheme (it was a part of the 49ers defense). You can read a little about it here, where I was interviewed just over a year ago by our friends over at Ninersnation.com. I expect to see it used in Denver, too. I'll leave the details to that link. I think it is kind of creepy that I engaged with the Niners blog on the subject well before Nolan headed to Denver.

2. And second, it becomes important because of another coincidence...

Why should D.J. Williams should play at RILB?

Some months ago I had the audacity to write (both in a story and in comments under other stories) that I advocated Williams be moved to the RILB position. Some folks may have felt that he should stay at WILL (ROLB). I thought he was a good candidate for RILB for a few reasons. One, he is a proven force at both ROLB and MLB in a 4-3. Second, Andra Davis (slower and more of a run stopper) is a better fit for LILB (the area where most runs go to). Third, Davis can block the way for Williams if we use a TED block (playing to both players' abilities perfectly). Davis the big blocker, and Williams the speedy blitzer and LB commander. Sounds good, right?

Lo and behold, the Denver Broncos coaching staff must have liked my thinking. From our friends at Yahoo Sports (AP writer Graham) on Wednesday came this news:

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—The Denver Broncos value D.J. Williams’(notes) versatility at linebacker even if at times it’s vexing for him.

This season, he’ll be asked to relocate to another new linebacking spot, his fourth change in six seasons.

But he’s not grumbling because Williams feels like he just landed a plum position. With Denver switching to a 3-4 formation, Williams will play inside and away from the tight end...

That's right. Williams will play RILB, and I think it was the right call. This is a major piece of the puzzle out of the way for those of us who love to prognosticate over the depth chart. Now we know Williams is at RILB instead of ROLB, and this makes Davis my top contender for LILB (the TED blocker on some plays).

Read the entire article here. It tells a lot about how Williams is happy with the move to RILB, and goes on to tell how the new guys (Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, and Andre' Goodman in the secondary) are eager to make the defense something special in '09.

Now all that's left is for us to guess at the OLB and DL spots.

(Josh Barrett has been practicing at SS and even at LOLB, and claims he can cover any TE in the league! Boss Bailey is still in contention, as is Wesley Woodyard. Spencer Larsen may give Davis a run for his money. I like Dawkins and Hill to start at safety for the full year. The big question is which safety will play free and which will play strong. Darcel McBath will get his chance next year, unless Hill stumbles).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm putting together a piece on "sky" and "cloud" coverages, two-zone defensive plays that are common in football at both the high-school and pro levels. I'm also putting together a story on the oft misused "H-Back" term. Let me know if there is anything else you might be interested in by using the comments section below.

All the best,

MHR University - The 3-4; Red-Zone Adjustments

hoosierteacher — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:13:43 -0000

If you ever get out to Indiana and decide you want to try your hand at coaching 7th-grade football, be careful. Just north of Indianapolis lies Westfield Middle School (home of the Shamrocks). I've seen the facilities on the east side of 31 driving to Indy, and they are very, very impressive. There, Coach Todd Hagemeier runs a 3-4 defense. Not a lot of middle schools can go that route, and he even tells me they also use a scheme that transposes from a 3-4 into a 46. Wow!

Todd writes this e-mail to MHR University:

...I started doing some digging on the 3-4 and your site came up. You do a great job and I plan on using your info for my 7th grade team this fall. I am also living in Indiana AND a Purdue fan. So getting to my questions. Have you considered writing about the aspects of the 3-4 in the red zone, how a coach should call the defense, and maybe even more importantly what NOT to do in the red zone?...

This is a wonderful question, and well worth the time for all of us to look at in some depth. Let's take a look at implications...

3-4 and 4-3 Distinctions

First, let's look at a few generalizations about the 3-4 (compared to the 4-3) to get some context.

The 4-3 has one more D-Lineman at the line of scrimmage (LOS), making interior runs by the offense more difficult. Because of the extra D-Lineman, the LBs get better protection from the DL so that they can do their job. In fact, LB great Ray Lewis once famously said he was thrilled one year when the Ravens went to a 4-3 because he wanted more protection from run blocking O-Linemen.

The 3-4 is spread out more horizontally (East - West), so it can be more effective at stopping runs to the edges (such as "sweeps").

In football, most plays are runs, and most of those are interior runs. For this reason, the 4-3 has been dominant for some time. But the 3-4 is gaining adherents because it brings a lot of advantages.

For one, a lot of folks believe it is easier to find quality LBs than quality defensive linemen. Because of the extra LB, another school of thought says that the LBs can be a little less skilled than their 4-3 counterparts. Because of the athleticism of LBs (supposedly over D-Linemen), there are more playmakers on the field in a 3-4 to make tackles, zone, man, get to a fumble, and intercept. And while a 3-4 may give up short yardage up the gut, it also plays into a "clock control" scheme where the opposing offense has to use a lot of time to drive down the field, and thus has more chances to make mistakes (such as turnovers). With the pro's having gone from a running game in the early years to a more balanced approach, the 3-4 provides more playmakers in passing lanes, and more complexity in blitz schemes.

Why am I impressed by a middle school that can run a 3-4? A lot of 7th grade programs (small programs in particular) are run-oriented on both sides of the ball. A lot of programs use 1-WR sets, and a lot of defenses run with 1 CB and 1 SAF (often a 4-4). A 3-4 formation has more complexity that the 4-3. This tells me that Todd's program likely falls into a few categories...

A large school with a lot of players to recruit from (in the case of Westfield, I believe this is certainly the case)
Intelligent players that can handle more responsibilities than the 4-3 (again, a large recruitment pool is part of it. Quality coaching is another).
With two CBs on the field, the school is probably playing against opponents who are willing to throw the ball. These opponents may come from programs as large and effective as Westfield (perhaps they play some of the large Indy schools?)

I got my start in 7th-grade coaching. We ran 4-4 at the middle-school level, and only bumped up to 4-3 at the HS level (some of our HS opponents were smaller programs using a 4-4 as a base formation).

3-4 Red Zone Adjustments

What makes the red zone an issue in play-calling? Well, the ratio of defensive players to available field of play (AFP) is greater, so the job of the offense is made more difficult.

AFP? That's a fancy acronym I picked up from notes at a football seminar. The concept is that the offense is only working with the field to their sides and front. As they move down the field, less plays and passing routes are available (such as long passes). Add into the mix that the defense becomes denser (because they are playing on a smaller field), and the AFP doctrine dictates that the defense is at an advantage. But there's more.

The offense has some advantages too. For one, the field-goal potential is there. The defense has to balance the potential of a TD with the potential to get in range for a sure 3 points. This is easier for defenses at the 7th-grade level, where FGs may be less common than the pros.

Another offensive advantage is that a shot at the end zone for a TD is easier in the red zone, because it doesn't require a long and precise pass as it would if LOS was on the other end of the field.

So how does the 3-4 fit in?

The shortest path to the end zone is a straight line. This is a good thing, because most of us coaches don't want to mess with difficult, non-Euclidean concepts. The 4-3 stops the straight line (interior running) more effectively than the 3-4 (on balance), so perhaps the 3-4 might be considered a lesser alternative.

Not so fast.

Consider the concept of AFP again. The field shortens vertically, not horizontally. The 4-3 has the advantage of stopping dives and gut runs, but in a shortened field the player positions are like putting all of your eggs in one basket. Picture a 4-3 on a field, and the field being shortened (and the players in the 4-3 being bunched together towards the LOS). There are a lot of holes outside the DEs for the offense to exploit. In 7th-grade football (where QBs are not pros), the passes are easier to make, and it only takes a pass or two in short yardage to score. (Note that a 7th-grade red-zone is shorter than a pro red-zone. The actual defining yard line for a red zone depends on what each coach thinks his red zone is).

Now picture a 3-4 in the same shrinking field.

via www.monsterden.net

There is now a wall of players covering a wider area of the field, making passes more difficult (as well as runs to the edges). There is also space for defensive players to work in, allowing more freedom of movement as well as more visibility of the ball carrier (which is made more difficult with a wall of defensive linemen).

Thus, the 4-3 takes away the most potent weapon in the red zone (interior running), but the 3-4 takes away more weapons overall (everything else). So what adjustments does the 3-4 defensive coordinator make?

On one level, it depends on his players and the tendencies of the other team. But we can still name some adjustments that are important overall. A coach should adjust the thinking on the following, based upon their knowledge of their own team and the opponent.

First, Shore Up the Interior

Player placement and play calling on defense should adjust for the weakness of the 3-4 interior when the red zone is reached. Giving up short yards is no longer an option when short yards are near the end zone. Consider an ILB manned on the RB, or at the very least to be zoned near the DL. Plugging up the gaps with both ILBs (with a SAF in the box) is another route.

Next, Contain the Edges

3-4 OLBs in the red zone often play containment. This means that they zone over the LOS on the offensive side of the ball. If a run comes to them, they DO NOT make the tackle until the RB turns upfield (this requires a smart kid at OLB who is also patient).

There are 10 defensive players behind a RB nearing the edge of the field, and when he turns back, any of a number of players can take him. But if he reaches the sideline and then turns upfield, there are few (if any) players to make the tackle. A missed tackle in this postion is unthinkable. So the OLB stays in front of the RB (and slightly upfield), running with him and pressuring him to make the cut upfield with every step to a useless sideline. When the RB turns upfield the OLB can make the tackle, and the delay in time allows other defensive players to close the distance.

In this instance, the job of the OLB is to "vector" the opposing player back to the interior, where more defensive support exists. It also has the major advantage of placing an OLB in a passing lane used for screens, a common offensive passing-technique in the redzone.

Player Adjustments

The size of the field has shrunk. Speed is less of a factor. Power is more important on offense, and tackling is more important on defense. Pull any fast guys who aren't the best tacklers. The small size of the field (and the higher ratio of defensive players to AFP) should balance for any disadvantages in speed.

Ironically, the 4-3 is different. Because the players are bunched more to the center of the field (and because you lose a faster linebacker to a an extra D-Lineman), you need a little more speed to cover the open areas in the seams.

Tone Down the Blitzes / Take Away the Run

Blitzes are great, but they often put players out of position if the offense is running the ball. In the red zone, take away the run. The reasons are many:

On a short field, chances are good that the defense is wearing down. If the defense is 3-4, the chances are good that the offense got into this position after a long drive (and some bend-don't-break play).
Turnovers are more likely on a pass play, as are plays with no gain in yardage.
The shortened field makes passes more difficult against a 3-4, while the run can still be more effective.
Less blitzing invites more passing (playing into the 3-4s shortened field advantage).

Simplicity

Tired players, and/or players who have to think are going to be at a disadvantage in the red zone on defense. One reason is that trick plays or even very choreographed / massively practiced plays by the offense are unleashed more often in red zones. Mistakes that can be recovered on any other part of the field are deadly in the red zone. Now is the time for players to be able to play on instinct and rehearsed reaction instead of trying to remember a tricky play where a player may have multiple responsibilities.

This goes for offenses too. If the team was good enough to get to the end zone, they should be good enough to just keep punching it in. But a lot of coaches (I'm sure you know a few) like to drop what worked for them and get "creative" in the red zone. Something about the red zone makes some offensive coordinators too "chancy", while others become too cautious. Caution is less of an issue at the 7th-grade level, because the sure thing of a FG is less likely for most 7th-grade teams.

Either way, now is the time for the players on the defense to take advantage of the short field, play their own portion of the field, and use the good athletic skills of an early teenager (but not the excitable and mistake prone minds of same).

Motivation

There are times to fire up 7th graders, and there are times when firing up a kid is a mistake. For instance, firing up a kid to make a goal-line dive is excellent. His mind is focused, the task is simple and physical. But firing up a kid before he is called on to execute a complex scheme is a bad call. I've seen plenty of times when a coach has fired up the team at the wrong moment, and the players skills disintegrated.

As a coach, one can talk to, shout at, or whisper to a kid during a football game and see the same thing. Kids often have a faraway look, thinking about what they just did or what they are going to do. Coaches often shout at players not because the coach is a drill sergeant, but because the testosterone and andreniline in a young athlete is blocking out the words of the coach.

The opposing offense is on your side of the field, and you've correctly simplified the plays for your defense. Go ahead and fire up the team. Each player should have a simple responsibility at this point, to wit; tackle the ball carrier, plug a gap, play man or zone, or contain the edge (the most difficult). Note the "or" in the last sentence; no "and". Keep the guys simple, angry, and focused.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sure Coach Todd knows his team and his competitors well, and knows which things I've written will help in his situation and which won't. But the overall concepts are useful for watching a 3-4 in use during an NFL game.

Much of the issues are different. The pro players are less excitable (for the most part), and focus much better. They've been doing this for years, and at a level that a 7th grader can only dream about in terms of practice and complexity. Pro-level teams have a further range for FGs, and much more complex pass schemes (and much more accurate and stronger QBs). This makes the red zone trickier for defenses at the NFL level. Then again, the defensive players and minds are a lot sharper too.

But the inherent advantages and disadvantages of the 4-3 and 3-4 remain pretty close. One isn't "better" than the other. They are just meant to do different things. Each is played differently, depending on what part of the field the team is on (as well as consideration for down and distance).

I'm hopeful that a look at the 3-4 (in the red zone and at a 7th-grade level) helps to bring out some knowledge of these differences to make everyone's football watching a little more fun.

All the best to everyone, and a bit of extra good luck to the Westfield Shamrocks and Coach / faculty member Todd Hagemeier on their campaign this year.

(Courtesy - County29.net)

An MHR University Special - Building Your Rep at MHR

hoosierteacher — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:07:50 -0000

So you want to be a sportswriter? Perhaps you just want to be noticed more at MHR. Maybe you want to write some of the articles that get linked at Sports Illustrated, or to interview your favorite player, or get invited to the draft?

It's all possible. At MHR, your dreams can come true. We at MHR pride ourselves on providing a service that everyone can jump on.

For the fan - a place to come and read, write, discuss, debate, ponder, predict, analyze, learn, and teach about the Denver Broncos and football.
To rise above the nasty message boards of mainline media publications, where folks insult and degrade each other.
To create an atmosphere that is family friendly, appealing to young and old alike.
To create a "family" atmosphere, where friendships blossom, and members take a genuine interest in each other.
To provide the most up-to-date, accurate, and best-analyzed news and reports on the Denver Broncos.
To provide multiple, daily stories for the membership; ensuring that there is never a day without several articles to read.
For the Broncos organization, we provide an unofficial outreach to fans beyond just the borders of Colorado. Our membership is global, with fans from around the world.

And how do we do this? The secret ingredients come from our Chief Editor and leader, Guru. Here is his special approach:

The site is always for and about the members, not the staff. The staff keeps things moving along, and serves the membership. But the members will always be the true, driving force. Front page stories are nice, but the conversations they generate are the heart and soul of the site. FanPosts and FanShots are where the majority of MHR's expression come from, and a recommended FanPost gets longer exposure than even the front page.
Respect is key. Newcomers (many from the hate boards of other media), learn quickly that we don't tolerate personal attacks. We all enjoy a good debate, but we don't allow full-blown arguing.
Accessibility is a priority. At MHR, if you like what you read (or even if you don't), you have a direct line to the writer. More importantly, he or she will respond to you. Try that with a mainstream-media sports-site, magazine, or radio show!

Currently, the Denver Broncos are having a crisis between the new coach and the franchise QB. This has brought in a lot of folks to check out MHR. Awesome! But some of the strong feelings about the team's situation have started to spill over to the site. No problem. We're going to weather that, and here's how...

Below the fold, we're going to explore several ideas. We're going to show how YOU can be a better sportswriter, a better commentator, and a better member. If we each follow the guidelines below on how to "fit in" at MHR, we can each bring our respective talents and gifts to the table and make the experience a better one for everyone.

Read on...

Each member of MHR has a special gift (or gifts), and we are grateful for any that can be shared. Before we flesh out your gifts, let's look at what some folks bring to the table.

I'll never be the writer that Styg50 is. Styg has a special gift for writing, in addition to his skills with computer software and his incredible mind. Styg is very rare, in that he has a mind for science and the arts at the same time. I'm dabbling with some novels, but Styg will get published before I do, and get rich at it.

On the other hand, I have gifts as well. I've coached football at the HS level, and was lucky to be with a program that sent us to some amazing seminars with presentations from pro- and college-level coaches. I'm more of a technical writer, covering Xs and Os during the season, and writing educational pieces in the reloading season. My background as a former teacher helps me get difficult concepts across to experienced and novice football fans alike, and I'm proud of that. My passion is covering the different styles (or systems) that teams use.

MHR is also blessed to have TedBartlett. Ted knows Xs and Os like I do, so MHR has two in-depth analysts. But where I have a background as a defensive coordinator, Ted knows offense. Ted also has something that I don't - a complete multimedia "film room" setup that he can use to break down and analyze games and players. Together, Ted and I provide work for fans that you just don't get from mainstream sound-bites.

Then there's Zappa. Zappa is the "kid" on the staff. He's there because of his pure, unadulterated passion. He bleeds blue and orange. When a troll visits our site and attacks our team, someone gets assigned to hold Zappa back. If Zappa had been at the Garden of Gesthemene, he would have been the guy cutting off the soldier's ear in defense of Christ. Zappa writes the history articles for MHR, displaying a special affection for those who went before him.

BroncoBear is a physician. Few things are as valuable as having a doctor around to discuss sports. Medical issues are a daily point, whether we are discussing the Mile High altitude, injuries, conditioning, or drills. In addition to his medical background, Bear is also one of those genuine author-types. Like Styg, Bear writes articles that read like poetry.

There are many more names amongst the staff and membership. News gatherers like NYCBroncosFan and Mdierk, opinion-piece artists like Nickt84, graphic artists like Sirsam, optimists like Mike Clark, wise sages like FirstFan, lawyers like TrinidadJack and Bradley, and even salary-cap experts like MattR, etc. And let us not forget leaders like Guru. There are many ways to contribute.

Let's look at three ways to use your gifts. First: writing skills.

Writing Skills

Chicks dig guys with skills. Nunchucks skills, Bo Staff skills, and other Napoleon Dynamite skills. Those aren't what I'm talking about.

From a previous article I wrote:

What makes a good diary?

First, diaries aren't a competition. Never worry about if your diary is as good as someone else's. Write what you think is pertinent to football or the Broncos without worrying about if it is "professional enough".

Next, keep on top of the comments in your diary. If someone takes the time to write a comment, consider commenting back. Be sure to thank folks who give you or your diary a kind word.

If someone disagrees with something you wrote, take it as a compliment! Agreement or disagreement isn't a commentary on your work, it's a conversation. And people converse on interesting diaries whether or not they agree on the content.

Plus, whenever you create a discussion in the comments threads you are increasing the comments in your diary. Many members go to read anything that has a new comment, whether the diary is to their liking or not.

How important are the number of comments you get?

In terms of the site they are very important because the comments sections (where members get together to post) are the heart and soul of the site. But in terms of self worth comment counts mean nothing.

Notice how the godfather of MHR (Guru himself) will sometimes post a front page story and it receives zero comments. Is he any less of a writer? Or how about the Mdierk "Horse Tracks" articles that may not generate a ton of comments. It clearly isn't a grade on someone's work.

I recently got well over a hundred comments in a recent article I wrote, but around half of the comments were personal attacks against me and our team, and the rest (for the most part) were folks trying to reason with someone who was more concerned with arguing for the sake of arguing. I jokingly commented that I was grateful to the offending (since banned) person for my comment count, but in truth I was disappointed that there was little discussion about my article. In this case, the high comment count meant zero towards the value of my article (just as low counts mean zero towards other articles).

If you must be concerned with how many people read your diary, add a poll. People love to have their opinions heard, and polls are hard for most members to pass up on taking part in. I have written diaries with very few comments, but many, many poll contributors. I knew I was getting read!

How important is spelling, grammar, and other English stuff like that?

Do your best, and don't worry beyond that. We have some foreign members of MHR who do a great job, and nobody notices any errors. In fact, it is bad manners to point out if someone makes a mistake(s). The better you do, the easier the diary is to read. But we're family here, and we all recognize that there are different backgrounds involved. I'm a pretty educated guy, and I was even a teacher once upon a time ago, but I make my share of mistakes.

This isn't English class. It's a place to share about your favorite team and sport. Just do your best.

Having Class

From a different article I wrote, here are 10 guidelines on how to earn respect in the MHR family:

Be humble. There are a lot of sharp folks here with a lot of expertise in areas ranging from coaching to law to salary cap rules to combine evaluations. There are also a lot of wise experts, those who realize that they don't know everything. The best experts are the humble ones.

Ask as many questions as you answer. I get a lot of questions in some of the stories I write up for MHR. It makes me feel good to be able to answer questions for folks (if I know the answer). But I also realize that there are a lot of things that I want to learn, and I also realize that other people like to be asked questions too.

Speak up! People want to hear from you. Never be afraid of giving your view, asking a question, or giving an answer. This is a friendly place, and nobody should feel that what they have to say may be ignorant.

If you write a diary, try to respond to comments that you get. People enjoy the chance to speak to authors (something they can't always do on sports media sites).

Don't ever feel that your diary isn't valued because it might not get a lot of comments. Comments are not a grading system. One of the best front page stories at MHR is "Horse Tracks", where MHR members can get all of their Broncos news. It doesn't always get a lot of comments, but several people have MHR set as their front page on their home PC because of the Broncos news they get from Horse Tracks.

Be quick to thank people, and be quick to say "I don't know" when you don't know.

Even if you disagree, do it with respect. I like to find things I agree with when I write about something I disagree with. Also, try to know the difference between "fact" and "opinion". As a coach, I might know that a certain term used in football has a certain meaning, so that is a "fact". But I'm always careful to realize that even an informed view of play calling or position evaluation is "opinion". I have a lot of "informed views" on things relating to football, but they are still just opinions and no better than anyone else's.

Trash talk is fun, but it can get over the top. Never make trash talk personal, and try to keep it "on site" (in other words, don't pee on someone else's carpet; AKA don't go to another site to trash talk someone else's team). It invites flame wars back to this site. Friendly trash talk is always good stuff though (I personally refuse to capitalize "oakland" or "raiders", and encourage you to do the same).

Have a sense of family. This site has members from around the world, young and old, men and women, fans who are new to the game and fans who have have studied aspects of the game for years. We have a class act leader in our editor/radio show host Guru, a great group of editors who share his passion for the Broncos and the MHR family, and the best members of any sports blog going. Be proud of your site. It belongs to you, and you are the reason the site is so valuable. The front page stories bring people in, but the diaries and the comments sections are the true heart and soul of the site.

Have fun! We're glad you're here, and we're dying to hear from you.

Find Your Gift

It doesn't matter who you are, YOU have a gift to bring to the table.

Have you played football? I'll bet you have stories to tell. Folks love football stories.
Been to a game? Tell us about it! Many folks have never been to one.
Just learning the game? Write a post about your question (no question is too simple), because a lot of other people are wondering the same thing. The conversation you generate will be tremendous!
Don't know what to write about? Find a news story from Horse Tracks, or even a comment from a story that you can expand upon. When the staff puts up front page stories, we're generating material for folks to expand on in their own posts.
Don't want to write a post, but enjoy what you read? Compliment the writers in the comments sections! You are providing a valuable service if this is something you enjoy doing. The staff and members don't get paid, but we DO live for the kind words that others send our way.
Have ideas for site technical improvements? E-mail Guru! SBN's technical support staff is first rate, and they incorporate ideas from site editors in new versions. (Push for spell check! That's my big request!)

Briefly, there are three things to stay away from. With the recent controversy surrounding Cutler - Cook - McDaniels, we are getting a lot of FanPosts that are only one or two short paragraphs long, and they are "expanded comments" instead of a true write-up. These posts bump down other posts that folks have put a lot of hard work into. If your post could be used as a comment in someone else's post, do that instead. If your post can't muster more than a few sentences, use the FanShots section.

Also, name-calling is classless. The staff hates to delete material because the site is considered a "fan-run site". But name-calling brings the quality level of MHR down. If someone calls another member names, they're on their way out the door. But if the point of a post is to just express frustration (such as "Cutler is a punk, blah blah blah") with little more than just name-calling, the post might vanish.

Third, there is no room for vulgarity. We have a lot of kids on the site that follow their favorite team, and the adults on the site love 'em for choosing MHR. We love our younger members, and will defend them as vigorously as if their parents were here with them. Don't even think about sneaking in the F Bomb by using symbols or dashes with only a visible letter or two. If there's any doubt, toss it out.

(Guru is kind. He asks little.)

And now an unpleasant word of caution. Like Xerxes, Guru is kind. Guru is merciful. Guru has been known to let trolls dance at MHR well beyond the patience of the rest of the staff. Guru is a gentle creature. But make no mistake about it. MHR is a labor of love, and Guru has his limits. Neither he (nor the staff) will allow MHR to become a den of anger and hate. We pledge to you, our fellow members and family, that the staff will guard the gates at MHR with firmness and resolve. We will defend the house that Guru built.

Debate - that's a central tenet to sports writing. Talk Trash - within reason. Be Passionate - love the team. Be Critical of the Team, Players, or Coaches - that's a part of being a fan. But if any of it becomes personal, the MHR Quick Reaction Team will lock the offender in a room, and throw away...

...the room.

(Trolls who have attacked MHR are tucked away - indefinitely)

Now get out there and write something! We're all glad that you're here, and we each look forward to standing with you as you start (or continue) your journey as an ace writer with Mile High Report.

By the fans, for the fans. Your source for Broncos news and comment. Always.

For further reading:

More about building credibility, and how being humble is a powerful weapon for a budding writer.

Even more about building credibility, you can't have too much.

Guru puts the smack down on some recent silliness, and the fans roar their approval!

Context, Paradigms, Perspective, and other Big Words.

hoosierteacher — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:45:19 -0000

Context is a fun concept. Really, I've gone drinking with him before.

I'm not here to open a discussion on "best player available" versus "Needs based drafting". What I want to do is paint a picture to make a point.

I'm doing this because folks differ on certain arguments, but go right past each other and miss context. Let me explain:

If I were a humanitarian, I would say an event that cost the lives of tens or hundreds of thousands of men was a disaster. If I were a military historian, I might say that the D-Day landings in Normandy were a total victory. The same event, but two different views. And both views are correct.

If you have a meal in mind, you go to the grocery store and buy the ingredients for the meal you want. Congratulations! You got the meal you wanted (though the ingredients may or may not turn out to be the best).

But here’s how I grocery shop. I go to my local grocer, and buy only the best ingredients out there, regardless of meal. I’ve been doing this for years (and this is how many chefs approach shopping). Do I have the specific dinner I wanted? Maybe, maybe not. But I have several advantages that you don’t. I have only the best ingredients (you might or might not), and I have several meals to choose from.

My way isn't right or wrong. It works (as does your way). But don't come to my place complaining that you can't have a hamburger. Not when I'm running the most expensive seafood restaraunt in town.

You may be a great French author (say, a young Victor Hugo). I grade your paper in an English class. I give you an “F” because your paper was in French. Fine. But this is a French paper submitted in a French class. Should it receive an "F" because it should be viewed in an English context?

An umpire declares my team a loser because my team didn't score any home runs. The problem is, we're playing football. A referee would call my 32 - 10 game a win.

This brings me to how to evaluate a draft. If a team isn't even trying to get players for a certain position, it's kind of odd to criticize the team for not getting who you wanted. Conversely, If a team is trying to fill a certain position, it is also bizzare to down grade the team because a better player was not picked.

I recently wrote an article that explained that the draft made no sense to me. I liked the two early picks as players, but didn't think our needs were being addressed. When the 3rd and 4th picks rolled around, I realized I had been judging the draft the way a baseball umpire refs a football game... the wrong context. So I started looking at the draft the other way. I looked at it the way a math teacher grades a math exam, not how a math teacher grades an English paper. The draft became clear, and it then made sense.

I now understood that the Broncos weren't even trying to score points by getting particular players for particular positions. They took a different approach entirely. When properly graded, it would be hard to give them a bad score.

I read the recent Horse Tracks at MHR. Many of the old media sports reporters are calling the Invasion of Normandy a failure (and they aren't writing from the German perspective). The funny part is that they agree that the players are very good.

From MHR member ChiBronx comes this funny and proper response:

Every Pan I Read Makes Me Feel Better
To say somebody drafted good players and give them a grade of D is pundit villager thinking at its best. I absolutely love that all of the criticisms of the Broncos’ draft cite the good talent they got. If only I could fail so wonderfully in life.

AnotherNYCbroncofan adds this insightful point (Bolding is my highlight):

I'm with you...
I don’t know why, but I still catch myself every year looking to the national pundits for their “analysis” of the Broncos’ drafts. They rarely seem to have done any significant research on the team and they always put things in terms of filling holes or team needs…. Their grades usually just reflect the conventional wisdom about the team’s needs without applying any of the particulars or digging deeper into the meaning behind the picks. The various posts and comments here on MHR have done a much better job of pointing to and exploring other factors such as special teams, longevity of current starters, schemes, and overall philosophical approaches that can also influence the team’s draft.

Look. Sharp minds can call this draft a good one or a bad one for Denver. But the funny part is, many of the people critical of the draft are trying to couch the draft in terms of need, and then complain that their favorite player wasn't selected. A great example is Raji. Every NFL team passed on him in the first.

The funny thing is, if you are complaining about the draft because you didn't get who you wanted, I agree with you! I also think you are missing the point. We weren't even trying to get the players that you and I wanted! That wasn't our goal (just like you don't score home runs in a football game, and you don't complain about the lack of pork at a Jewish deli).

We got what the team wanted, not what you and I wanted. When you get that, it really makes it hard to have a good argument against this draft. I offered some arguments against our own draft in my article (that some folks may have missed). Why take an OG that doesn't look like a good zoneblocker for our system? Why take a safety who wasn't (perhaps) the BPA? Folks had good answers for the safety (good special teams fit / perhaps underrated), and not many for the OG.

But I couched those arguments in the proper context.

Now, did we get good players? Argue that. Todd will disagree, especialy when it comes to character. From Todd Jewell:

I love this part!

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9003 — almost every individual paragraph about the pickups:
“Team Leader”, “team captain”, “team captain”, “ex-marine”[team player imho], “all time leader”, “named after rulon jones” — sorry that last one just made me chuckle =)

For player ability, I'll let my previous article speak for itself.

Denver fans, last year's ('08) draft was a best player draft. I remember the kool aid crowd loving every player (they were each good players, so of course). The doom and gloomers complained that Royal (and others) were not needed. In fact, there were even some "skilled position or bust" folks who didn't like taking an offensive lineman with our top pick. It was one of the best drafts Denver has had in recent years.

This year in terms of "need", I agree that the draft didn't get the results folks wanted. I'M a needs guy, and I very much wanted a NT. At the same time, I was a needs guy last year, and didn't understand the Royal pick at WR. (We had a lot of great players, right? Colbert, Jackson, Marshall....) Why bring in Royal? A lot of us needs guy were wrong (thank God).

The argument (in a context of BPA) is "Did we get good players?" - I believe that we did. The argument (in a context of Need) is "Did I get who I wanted?" - The answer is no.

The real argument is "Are we now a better team?" I think we are.

Back to the grocery shopping example:

If you have a meal in mind, you go to the grocery store and buy the ingredients for the meal you want. Congratulations! You got the meal you wanted (though the ingredients may or may not turn out to be the best).

But here’s how I grocery shop. I go to my local grocer, and buy only the best ingredients out there, regardless of meal. I’ve been doing this for years (and this is how many chefs approach shopping). Do I have the specific dinner I wanted? Maybe, maybe not. But I have several advantages that you don’t. I have only the best ingredients (you might or might not), and I have several meals to choose from.

This is what recently happened in NE. Brady got injured. But a QB who hadn’t played a down of football since HS was able to step in without the team missing a beat. Why? Because he was surrounded by – the best players available.

MHR University Special Report - A Profoundly Powerful Draft Strategy (2009)

hoosierteacher — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:12:48 -0000

Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts.

The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't.

The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet.

Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige".

-From the movie "The Prestige"-

Denver scored on this draft in so many ways it would be difficult to make a credible case against it. Denver brought in solid players (indeed, players considered the best at what they do), and brought in youth where Denver is thin (where Denver has aging players). While homemade draft boards are based entirely on who folks want at a given position, Denver followed the successful Patriots strategy of going for best available, a concept that always confounds mock drafts.

Denver not only caused confusion amongst the "my player or it must be a bust" crowd, but doubled down on the type of draft they had last year (where Denver also confused the "need-based" crowd, but scored with solid picks). If Denver had used the drafting style favored by the Patriots like they did this year and last, Denver would be further along by now.

Read further to see the point illuminated.

In fact, midway through this epic, long article I promise to share the "meaning of life" I discovered for this team, and I'll do it in giant, bold, easy-to-find print.

It is worth repeating again (a quote I made before the draft started):

People forget the natural progression of draft day.

1) The team likely makes several picks that few people saw coming.

2) Fans are flabbergasted!

3) On further reflection (about 3 or 4 days after the draft) folks research the new players, and find that they were great picks all along.

4) When camp rolls around, reports on the rookies are stellar (for the most part).

5) Everyone now thinks the draft went great.

One thing to keep in mind: for all of the sleep we have all lost trying to mock and analyze the draft, the pros in the war room have done several hundred more times worth of effort and research. I’m prepared to give my opinions tomorrow, but in the context that I trust the coaching / management staff to know more about what’s going on behind closed doors than I do.

When I coached at the HS level, locals sometimes questioned a decision we made as a staff. We had the advantage of years of coaching, an (always) winning program, up front and personal insights into what was "really" going on in the locker room, at practice, and in the private lives of the players. But there were always folks that seemed to "know better" than we did.

Now I’m on the fan side of things. I’m going to question some decisions, but always with the respect that goes with knowing the team’s coaches really do know more than I do.

This is why I avoid making mock predictions, and why I leave draft boards and college players to others with more skill than I have. I focus on the result of the actual draft, and make my case there.

A Draft is Not What it Seems...

The draft is like a lottery, and it is a grand illusion. Folks think that the purpose of a draft is to build a team through bringing in young talent. That sounds like it makes sense, but it ignores what a draft really is.

The pledge...

The turn...

The prestige...

The draft is a system of probability. For example, if we were using money as the base for discussion, the first round is like buying 500,000 lottery tickets, and hoping one of them pays off. A lower round is like buying less tickets. You can hit in any round (with any batch of tickets), but you have a higher probability of hitting with a bigger batch.

Most folks look at the draft as if a certain player is the winning ticket. In their mind, this player is already worth the million dollar payoff. But this is an error in thinking. Teams spend picks on a system of probable payoff based on a system of odds. Those odds dictate (like a lottery) that a pick of a particular candidate (or ticket) may win or lose. You minimize your odds of winning by picking a ticket based on need, but increase your odds if you pick your ticket based on probable payoff. What does this mean?

Let's say you "need" a nose tackle. Many in the media and the fan base immediately look at the "best" nose tackles in the draft. Each of these nose tackles has a probability of success. But such an approach limits the pool of success to just one player (or slightly better, one position). If none of those players has a high-end chance of success, a wise team will pass on the position.

Here is an extreme example to make a point. Let's say we still have Jay Cutler at QB. Let's also say that we have a terrible NT. Most folks will say, "We need to draft a NT, and the QB position is safe". The illusion comes crashing down with a misdirection. What if the team has scouted and found a young LaDainian Tomlinson at the RB position? NOBODY considered the RB position, because we don't have a need. The QB position is considered safe, the NT position is considered a need. The RB position wasn't even considered - at all! It never entered the discussion!

So folks will take several paths. Many will complain that the need wasn't met. That's okay. Many will complain that the player they penciled in wasn't taken. That's okay, too. Many will declare the draft a failure. That's okay. Some will result to name calling. That's okay, if you are on a low-class message board. It won't fly at MHR. But many will say, "This player is more of a sure thing, even if he wasn't the pick that was expected".

What has really happened in the example? The team has picked up the "best" player based on the probability that the player will succeed (a young LT), regardless of the position he plays. Had the team picked up seven NTs in the draft, though none was scouted as probable for success, would that have done any good? In the line of thinking that "the team needs a NT", the fallacy enters the thinking when the fan (or expert) assumes that one of these "tickets" will pay off. The catch is that it isn't likely to. One "Tomlinson" ticket is more likely to pay off because he is rated as the most likely to succeed regardless of position. Seven NT tickets are not likely to succeed because they aren't rated on a probability to win, but rated on a desire to see a certain player or position (which limits the pool).

Let's look at the '09 Denver draft, and apply this principle.

Denver's Picks - The Pledge

via static.nfl.com

Knowshon Moreno - Your new RB

Use the context I have provided, and drop the mental trap of being in a paradigm based on positional need. This is the best running back in the draft.

This is RB Moreno. He is something Denver has NEVER had (based on probability).

Moreno had only two full campaigns with his college team as the starter. Despite that, he averaged 105 yards gained per game, and nearly broke every RB record with the team.
He is an every-down RB, and a one-cut specialist. This fits Denver's zone-block scheme, but now we are using a high-end talent instead of "just any RB who will gain 1000+ in our system". Imagine what a true franchise RB could do in the system, instead of a sixth- or seventh-round talent as we are used to.
Is considered so strong at receiving, he can be split out wide as a receiver. Think about that for a moment. No, really. Pause and think about that.

Now go read this page at NFL.com. Click on both the "overview" and "analysis" buttons. The first thing you will notice is a storm of positive scouting reports, and a thin, one line negative.

Denver just took the highest-probability RB that they have ever picked since the zone-block system came to Denver.

They also denied that player to the one team that really wanted him - SD (division rival). Denver now has that player for (likely) a decade.

Some will still argue need, and we can point out that the rest of the RB roster (including favorites like Torain and Hillis) spent last season on injured reserve. But forget insurance. This kid is the starter. Also, consider that the shelf life of Denver's RBs just skyrocketed, because despite having an every-down back, we can spell each of the RBs during a game with a dangerous speed threat over several, bruising-style RBs.

This pick helps to provide cover for our new QBs, because the ground game will:

Wear down defenses,
Cause defenders to move to the line to stop the run.

It will aid the defense too, because:

Denver can now control the clock.

And why does this pick aid our new system, instead of just addressing a non-system-based need?

Denver will be using the 3-WR set as its base offensive-formation (like the Patriots and even the Colts do). This means no FB as a lead blocker. This means a need for an elite RB who can catch or run better than most. Hillis (a favorite of mine) will still be a short-yardage specialist, and an excellent spell for Moreno. But on typical downs, Moreno is the type of threat that keeps a defense from being allowed to focus on the idea that three receivers are on the field.

This player is likely the face of the Broncos offense for years to come. Remember the last Georgia Bulldog that played RB with John Elway? That's right. Davis was the help that Elway needed to finally win two Super Bowls.

via static.nfl.com

Robert Ayers - Your new DE

So you want to fix the defense? The front seven in particular? Got it. Denver took the best player available again, and this guy happened to be a LB/DE (I'll be addressing him as a DE, because he is heavily projected to play DE in Denver).

Here's what you need to know. Depending on who you read or listen to, he has been called "the best defensive player in the draft" or just "the best defensive lineman in the draft".

Let's get the major criticism out of the way. He doesn't get a lot of sacks. Fine. I've written on this before. "SACKS ARE FOR FANS, PRESSURE IS FOR COACHES".

Let me put on my defensive-coordinator hat and break this down. Ayers is not intended to be a sack artist, anyway. His job as an outside two-gap DE will be to occupy an offensive tackle and (perhaps) a tight end (sometime an OT and OG). What Ayers does is critical. He creates pressure, which in the 3-4 system that Denver will run (Fairbanks-Bullough) will allow the LBs a lane to the QB. Moreover, Ayers brings something else to the table - the long lost art of stopping the run for the Denver Broncos.

His is a position that won't shine or get credit (with fans). He'll be tying up two opposing players so that someone else gets the glory. Those who are critical of his sack numbers have never coached a down of football.

Pressure leads to turnovers. It leads to offensive errors. It leads to bad throws, and it leads to botched handoffs to the RB. It leads to fumbles and interceptions. Sacks are nice, and big crowd-pleasers. But any coordinator or coach will tell you, "I'll take a pocket pressure over a sack any day". A sack is only the result of good pressure. But it is the least desirable of many other alternatives (such as turnovers).

Ayers is a pressure machine. He instantly upgrades the linebackers by tying up the line, and makes the job of the NT slightly easier.

He's also versatile. The poor guy got moved all over the place at TENN, but can play anywhere on the front 7. Like the other picks, he's a team leader and has good character.

NFL.com gets the probability matrix:

Could be an ascending player who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his vast potential.

Denver's Picks - The Turn

So far, fans were okay with the draft. But when Denver made the next pick, many fans became confused. But this pick was what made me realize what Denver was doing. I closely watched the rest of Denver's picks over the weekend. It became clearer with each pick. I had been fooled. But I was thrilled. I got it. I got it, and I understood completely what Denver was now doing.

via static.nfl.com

Alphonso Smith - Your new CB

What? A CB? some fans were confused. Some became angry. Some became inappropriate. Me? I was shocked too.

A good coach recovers quickly, and tries to find an answer. Sometimes the answer is ugly. Sometimes, it is elusive. Sometimes (as with a couple of picks later in the draft) it is just disappointing. But what I found after my initial shock were two things.

We got a player that you won't believe (once you've read the following), and
We were now fully embarked on a system of drafting that has kept the NE Patriots on top of a league that is built to maintain parity.

Once again, we got a "best". Best RB, best defensive player (or d-lineman, depending on whom you read), and now "best intercepting, ball hawker".

Big deal? Read the following, again from NFL.com:

Smith is just the third player this century to amass 20 or more interceptions in a career, joining Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin (21, 2001-04) and Mitch Meeuwsen of Oregon State (20, 2001-04), and only the second in Atlantic Coast Conference annals to reach that lofty mark (Dre' Bly of North Carolina had 20, 1996-98). Only nine other players in the history of college football (all levels) have produced more interceptions in a career than Smith.

Smith is just the third player this century to amass 20 or more interceptions in a career, joining Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin (21, 2001-04) and Mitch Meeuwsen of Oregon State (20, 2001-04), and only the second in Atlantic Coast Conference annals to reach that lofty mark (Dre' Bly of North Carolina had 20, 1996-98). Only nine other players in the history of college football (all levels) have produced more interceptions in a career than Smith.

That's enough to make a grown defensive coordinator cry. It's also enough to make a grown offensive coordinator throw up on his play chart.

We could stop there and be in awe of this kid. But there's more...

What makes Smith even more valuable at his position is his ability to make big plays in the backfield. Few cornerbacks, much less ones that stand just 5-feet-9 can boast having nine sacks, 23.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and eight forced fumbles on those hits during a career. He also adds to his resume as a capable kickoff returner, averaging 20.7 yards for his career, along with using his superb leaping ability and timing to block five kicks during his time at Wake Forest.

I agree with several other MHR staffers. This kid is the steal of the draft, even if he isn't a "position of need". But there's more.

Read this link at NFL.com. The kid also block punts, is a monster in the return game, and is a sack machine from the CB position.

Do you understand why I laugh when people say, "But he's too short"? Positional need? No. Not on a team with Bailey, Dawkins, Hill, and Goodman. But consider two points -

We can now add an elite, dangerous nickelback to the field. Now, all five DBs on the field in a nickle are monsters.
Those four DBs I mentioned? All of them are over 30, and contracts are coming up.

And one more point. MHR has a soft spot for Darrent Williams, who was gunned down and taken from us and his family. Darrent Williams gave his time and money to children without hope. Darrent Williams was going to be the next Champ Bailey. Darrent Williams had the wit of Shannon Sharpe, the hairstyle of "Pink" (a mohawk), the skills of a young Bailey, and the heart of a gentle lion. Darrent Williams was a man.

So listen closely, because I'm only going to say this once:

Darrent Williams was short. At 5'8" he was an inch shorter than Alphonso Smith. If anyone wants to talk about height when a player clearly performs at an elite level, you'll get little mercy in the arena of debate with MHR members. From me? You'll get a can of whooped tail that you'll never recover from. Don't even step on the field.

Denver's Picks - The Prestige

via static.nfl.com

Darcel McBath - Your New Safety

This proved it. Denver threw "need" out the window and took players with high impact. Dawkins is 36, though still playing at a Hall of Fame-level. All of our DBs (as mentioned earlier) are in their 30s.

But many fans see that safety is not a "need", and will not understand the pick. We already have our starters at safety, right? I agree. We need a NT, right? Yep. I've even written that all needs beyond NT are a distant second. I understand.

But a pick on a NT with a low probability of success is a wasted pick. This isn't MADDEN, where you can increase a player's stat from nothing to legendary overnight (so I'm told. I confined my coaching to real players). Denver proved what I was understanding after the third pick.

It is all about probability, and being a "best" at something. This kid is a ball-hawking safety. What he is best at is something Denver hasn't had in ages. This kid is the best deep-coverage safety in the draft. And anyone who reads my work at MHR (or has read Styg50's thoughts on the safety position) will understand something right away. Denver has ignored the use of the classic "deep coverage" safety for far too long (two years). So strong are his deep-coverage, zone skills that the term "center fielder" comes up in more than one site's analysis of this player.

His weaknesses don't matter if he plays as a deep-cover safety. Height (been there, dispelled that) is an issue that is supposed to move him up close to a box-safety position, where he is unable to play man against anybody well and unable to shed blockers (his two, true weaknesses). But he isn't a box safety now, is he?

His deep cover skills are excellent:

He keeps the play in front of him,
tackles well in open space, and
reads the play

Those are all of the skills I look for in my favorite position on the football field. He also has what I have written many times is the "frosting on the cake" for a safety. He has good hands, and gets interceptions. If you read MHR University, you know that fans want good hands at safety, but defensive coordinators are more concerned with the other three skills I just described. But to have those 3 skills AND good hands?

Jackpot.

From NFL.com:

It's easy to understand how a defensive player can fly under the radar when he plays for a team with one of the most prolific offenses in the nation.

That didn't stop Darcel McBath from being one of the best playmakers in the Big 12. Having to practice against a top offense -- namely sophomore WR Michael Crabtree -- is sure to help any defensive back hone their coverage skills. McBath, a former cornerback, was the Red Raiders' secondary anchor at the demanding free safety position since shifting there as a sophomore, going on to start his final 39 games.

The opposition, often playing from behind and passing on most every day, challenged the middle of Tech's defense last season. McBath more than stood up to the challenge, pulling in seven interceptions that included a school season-record tying two returns for touchdowns. Six of his seven pass deflections came on third-down plays.

A safety that anchors the defense, instead of a left cornerback? 7 interceptions in a season?

That's right, fellow fans. Denver has moved away from the system-less '08 season, and the failed experiment at "contain" football in '07. Enter now the Fairbanks-Bullough at the front seven, and a "ball-hawking, interception-prone" attitude at the defensive positions - for years to come.

>>>>>>No more changing systems from year to year. We have the best players based on a system, not need.......

....and that my friends is The Prestige.<<<<<<<

That is the answer to our draft strategy questions, and the new meaning of life for the Denver Broncos. Do I like all of the picks? No. I'll have some critical comments in a moment. Do I like the strategy? Yes. Hell yes.

via static.nfl.com

Richard "Big Rich" Quinn - Your New Blocking TE

Again, stunned fans. "We have Graham, we have Scheff. In a pinch, we even have Putzier! What gives?"

Okay, set aside Daniel Graham's age and contract. People focused on need over "best" will too. Big Rich (he already comes with an existing nickname, so MHR readers can save a little time) is the best blocking TE in the draft. Why is this "system critical" for a team focused on system over need?

Because our RB will be running out of 3-receiver sets. He won't have a lead blocker. In passing situations, our QB won't have a FB in to pass block. Against 3-4 defenses, our two TE sets will be the only thing between our QB and the OLBs.

The answer is to pass on other players on the board, and even other TEs. Denver saw the best blocking-TE was left, and pulled the trigger. You don't have to like the pick. You don't. You just have to recognize the system that the ~~Patriots~~ Broncos are running, and realize that the best player on the board (that fits the system, offense or defense) is still there.

Folks will be critical of his reception ability. It's the only critical issue of him as a TE. Fine. Big Rich is not supposed to go out there and catch the ball. Like Ayers (who isn't supposed to get sacks) or McBath (who isn't supposed to be a box safety), the criticisms fall away when the player is meant to be part of a team-focused system that eschews individualism. Moreno is going to be a star. Smith is going to be a star. Quinn, McBath, and Ayers are going to make stars out of their teammates.

It doesn't stop with the 5 jewels in the crown Denver got in the first two rounds.

via static.nfl.com

David Bruton - Your New(er) Safety

The first pick that I didn't like. That's right; I can love the draft strategy, and love most of our picks, and still not like them all. And you know what else? I can dislike the pick, but still understand it.

Bear in mind that our starting CBs and SAFs are all in their 30s, and this pick makes sense. MHR points out that Bruton makes sense because, "...Denver will have lots of options when it comes to structuring rosters, and more importantly, contracts."

But I dissent from MHR's comment: "Yet another DB to add to the backfield, and it makes you wonder just how much confidence Denver has in the current crop." I think Denver is very, very happy with the current crop of Bailey, Dawkins, Hill, and Goodman (and nickelback / future #2 Smith). I think Bruton (like McBath) are for future talent.

But McBath can compete right away to start. Bruton won't. Bruton (like every other player we took in this draft) is a character guy and a leader (a team captain, like a few of our other picks). Like McBath, he is a deep-zone coverage guy that would struggle in the box. His athleticism is excellent. But his skills are average. I don't think he was the best player on the board at this point. Again, I'm not focused an any position in particular (everyone, including me, would have liked to have seen a NT, no matter how many better players were available).

I don't think Bruton is a bad player. I think he would be strong on special teams. He has the raw ability (in spades) to turn into a beast of a player. He has a good chance to prove me wrong (and a legendary Dawkins to teach him). He is a ball-hawking safety, which fits the new scheme for DBs in Denver.

NFL.com agree he has a lot of potential, but isn't there yet:

Bruton flashed as a play-maker in his first season as a starter in 2007, when he had 85 tackles, three interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss. His production increased in some ways during his senior year (91 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles), but his overall play did not result in Notre Dame's defensive improvement. A team captain, he has the size, speed and athleticism to potentially be a good starter and very good special teams player at the next level.

I just don't see the talent on display enough to justify the pick. I don't see that he's a "best". But I understand it. And (perhaps) the coaches saw something they can develop quicker than I give Burton credit for.

via static.nfl.com

Seth Olsen - Your New RG

Another pick I'm not fond of. Does he fill a need? Yes. Denver is thin at the the interior line on offense. Is this guy a great OG? Yes, I really think he is.

From NFL.com:

When you draft an Iowa lineman, you know he's technically sound and has been well-coached. Olsen has great strength and can step in and play guard right away. He's similar to Marshal Yanda, who was drafted by Baltimore a couple years ago. He's got strong hands.

So why don't I like the guy? I've read a lot since the pick. Olsen is a beast. He loves the rough and tumble of fighting at scrimmage. He's strong. He's a good pass blocker. He's a good kid. He knocks the crap out of people. But he doesn't do what I would like for him to do.

He doesn't fit the mold of a zone blocker (in my opinion). Yes, he's a little lighter and very athletic, but he doesn't block well at the second level. He has good lateral speed to pass block, but doesn't have the agility to move in closed space and take on a tackle without losing speed. In other words, he doesn't seem to have "quick feet".

I'm willing to be proven wrong. It is reasonable to assume that OL Coach Dennison had input on this pick, and he knows a heck of a lot more than me about OL measurables. TedBartlett905 is the Xs and Os expert on MHR's staff, and might disagree with me as well.

As a straight-up guard, I love this pick. I just question his zone-blocking skills in the running game. Perhaps Dennison can fix that. The kid IS a natural athlete.

via static.nfl.com

Kenny McKinley - Your New WR

I think this pick is a sleeper. That's right. This is my pick for the late-round player that becomes something special.

MHR's take:

This is a pick Broncos fans will learn to dig, just give it a little time. After seeing the WR board devastated in the third round, Denver waited like a crouching lion to pounce on McKinley. they just had to knock some other teams out of the way to do it, is all.

...and I agree.

From NFL.com:

The former Gamecock is a productive slot receiver with outstanding quickness. McKinley is a polished route-runner with good hands, and he'll give the Broncos another athletic receiver to add to their spread formations.

The Gamecocks struggled mightily without McKinley in the lineup for a three-game stretch in 2008, when he was clearly the team's most indispensable player. Called the best receiver he has ever coached, head coach Steve Spurrier had more than enough evidence to back up that statement.

McKinley's production stands out, especially when the Gamecocks' instability at quarterback is factored into his output. He set school career records for receptions and receiving yards, while also closing out his career second on the school's all-time touchdown catches list.

McKinley placed his name in the Southeastern Conference record books. His 207 receptions placed third in conference annals, becoming just the fifth SEC player to amass more than 200 catches in a career. He also became the 12th player in league history to record more than 2,700 receiving yards (2,781).

The best receiver that Steve Spurrier ever coached. You can get a lot of stats from the films, from the combine, and from the "experts". But there's nothing like the words of a head coach.

Does the kid have some problems? Sure; that's why he was in the fifth round. He isn't tough over the middle, had some hamstring problems, and his top-end speed isn't elite. But he separates well, has excellent hands, and (most importantly, even if other folks always ignore it) runs excellent routes.

He's a solid pick with a decent chance to surprise folks.

via static.nfl.com

Tom Brandstater - Your New QB

I like this pick a lot. This is the perfect QB to learn under McDaniels. He's smart (a rookie who is almost finished with his master's degree?) and looks solid ("According to reports, Brandstater was the most impressive quarterback throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine - SBN's mockingthedraft.com)

Ok, the best QB at the combine, if you will. But allow me to disagree strongly with a point made by mockingthedraft.com, which says "In the pocket, Brandstater is a statue. He lacks any mobility and struggles to avoid sacks".

That clearly flies in the face of this report from NFL.com:

He's got good speed and athleticism for his size...

...Despite his size, his feet are good enough to be effective on the bootleg and moving within the pocket.

I read that he has terrific speed despite his size at several sites, so that's where I'm putting my chips.

Another disagreement with MTD comes with this statement, "...but regressed some as a senior. He threw only 18 touchdowns, compared to 12 interceptions while completing less than 60 percent of his passes."

According to the official numbers found at (again) NFL.com:

Brandstater arrived back on campus for 2007 fall drills having already earned his degree. It was time for him to also earn some national recognition. He finished 23rd in the NCAA with a 140.49 passing efficiency rating and finished sixth in the WAC with an average of 213.23 yards per game. He amassed 2,654 yards on 211 of 337 passes (62.6 percent), connecting for 15 touchdowns against only five interceptions.

The three-time Academic All-WAC choice topped his previous season's numbers as a senior. He ranked fourth in the league in passing efficiency and total offense, as he hit on 221 of 371 tosses (59.6 percent), generating a career-high 2,664 passing yards to go with 18 touchdowns, as he collected 2,614 yards in total offense.

The MTD numbers are correct, but it was an improvement over the previous year. The context is also a poor one. Those are good numbers! (In fact, 4th in the League good!)

More on McDaniel's new project from NFL.com:

Brandstater is a big, strong quarterback. He's a good football player who was productive in college at Fresno State. He's got good speed and athleticism for his size and comes from a good college system. He gives Josh McDaniels a young signal-caller to develop over the years, like he did with Matt Cassel.

Regards as the premier quarterback in the Western Athletic Conference, Brandstater possesses the range and arm strength that National Football League teams look for in a pro style quarterback. The unquestioned leader of the team put up impressive numbers since taking over the starting position as a sophomore, but has also excelled in the classroom, earning conference academic honors the last three seasons. His intelligence on the field is evident, but academically it is even more impressive, having graduated before his junior campaign and is finishing up work on his Master's degree.

Fresno State has boasted some great college quarterbacks in recent years and Brandstater has placed his name right next to the likes of Kevin Sweeney, Trent Dilfer, David Carr and Billy Volek in the school record books. He closed out his career ranking fifth in school annals in pass completions (584) and fourth in pass attempts (989), while ranking sixth all-time with 6,857 yards passing and 7,006 yards in total offense. His 47 touchdown passes placed him seventh in Bulldogs annals.

And an excellent point is made by mockingthedraft that I couldn't find anywhere else (except for some of the reporting on Brandstater, MTD is the best draft site on the web). Imagine how good this guy might really be when you read this:

Brandstater showed intelligence and resolve at Fresno State after playing for four offensive coordinators in four years.

How a guy can put up solid numbers under 4 different coordinators is beyond me. He's obviously smart. He'll learn under McDaniels. He may very well be a surprise starter when someone gets hurt, or in 2 to 3 years.

Blake Schlueter - Your New C

MHR gets it right again.

This is a smart move, even we don't see immediate dividends.

He is a bargain basement fill in at center, with the agility and quicks to make you feel confident in his upside.

An excellent pick. Another diamond in the rough. This kid's only negatives don't apply to him in Denver, where he will zone block (not bulky or big enough). He's fast, he's agile, he's quick, he's ours.

NFL.com:

Schlueter is a football player, plain and simple. He's very mature and has unbelievable quickness and agility as an offensive lineman.

Schlueter opened some eyes and left scouts buzzing at the TCU Pro Day after a solid workout. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, had a 35-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 3-inch long jump, a 4.28-second-short shuttle time and a 7.42-second three-cone drill.

And he fits the pattern. Yet another team captain in college. He's known for his maturity. He's a prototypical OL that no other gap block team wants, but Denver knows they can get him in the 7th and he'll rock. Wiegmann is likely in his last year at center for Denver. This is a home-run pick.

Overview

Every player filled a need, even if it wasn't a glaring need.

RB - We have great running backs already, but none of was able to start and finish the season with us without being on IR. Think about that.

DB - We have legendary DB already, all in their 30s.

OL - Our interior OL is thin and aging.

TE - Age and contracts coming due.

DE - Our current DEs are headed to OLB.

Slot WR - Brandon Stokley is the best slot receiver in the game, and old.

Every player matched the system.

Ball-hawking secondary, one-cut runner, blocking TE, zone-block OL (I might quibble with our OG pick-up).

EVERY SINGLE PLAYER IS A LEADER AND A QUALITY GUY OFF THE FIELD.

Note the number of team captains in this mix. All of these guys have notes at different sites that praise each player's maturity, academic prowess, and leadership. Our top "star" player (Moreno) is not a "me" player. In his interview, when asked how he would contribute and what he would bring to Denver's running game, he replied that he would be only one of several RBs who would serve his team with everything they've got.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you were hoping for certain players or certain positions, this clearly wasn't your draft.

If you wanted very sound players, leaders and playmakers, with every pick...

If you wanted players that match a system and not just a roster spot...

If you wanted hope for a long term dynasty instead of a few quick fixes...

This was your draft.

Yours,

Hoosierteacher

Poll

After reading this article....

I still think we had a good draft

650 votes

I always thought we had a good draft

576 votes

I still think this draft was terrible

209 votes

I always thought this draft was terrible

48 votes

1483 votes | Poll has closed

Just some fun, silly thoughts...

hoosierteacher — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:23:20 -0000

1) I think it is great that the Armour All commercial features a song from School House Rock ("Verb"). Wow, a cross between Saturday Morning cartoons and what, Marylin Manson?

2) Is it just me, or is the chick in the Alka Seltzer Commercial kind of cute? ("What kind of girl do you think I am, exactly?" I know what kind of girl I hope she is!)

3) I know a lot of folks don't like Chucky, but I'll take an NFL coach's thoughts over a talking head any day.

4) NFLN blows ESPN's coverage out of the water. Much more serious. (As I speak, Chucky is beating the snot out of his broadcast partner AGAIN!)

5) There is a difference between some of the folks on the site who disagree with Denver's draft strategy and back it up, and the guys that just spew negativity and try to pass themselves off as fans.

6) I'm not a Treckie, but I am SO there for the movie.

7) Those Golden Corral commercials make me hungry.

8) I hate fluff in sports broadcasting (or in any news), but the big head hijinx on NFLN last night was very, very funny!

That is all.

MHR University - 2009 Draft Picks (1st two rounds) - Bronco Brilliance!

hoosierteacher — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:08:22 -0000

"The Chess Game that McDaniels and Manager X Just Pulled Off"

Denver fans were surprised that Denver took a RB with their first pick (though many, including some staff, really wanted this guy).

Many fans were surprised that we took a certain DE with the 18th overall pick.

Shock hit the community with Denver's trade of a first pick in '10 for a CB that some fans hadn't heard of.

McBath? Who?

What was Denver thinking? They out-thought the fan base (myself included), and confused the "experts" (except, perhaps, for a particular NFLN expert who seemed to love Denver's picks).

What gives!?!?!?!?!

I'll tell you. Hang on tight.....

More below the fold

I wrote this comment under a fanpost before the draft even started -

People forget the natural progression of draft day.

1) The team likley makes several picks that few people saw coming.

2) Fans are flabbergasted!

3) On further reflection (about 3 or 4 days after the draft) folks research the new players, and find that they were great picks all along.

4) When camp rolls around, reports on the rookies are steller (for the most part).

5) Everyone now thinks the draft went great.

One thing to keep in mind: for all of the sleep we have all lost trying to mock and analyze the draft, the pros in the war room have done several hundred more times worth of effort and research. I’m prepared to give my opinions tomorrow, but in the context that I trust the coaching / management staff to know more about what’s going on behind closed doors than I do.

When I coached at the HS level, locals sometimes questioned a decision we made as a staff. We had the advantage of years of coaching, an (always) winning program, up front and personal insights into what was “really” going on in the locker room, at practice, and in the private lives of the players. But there were always folks that seemed to “know better” than we did.

Now I’m on the fan side of things. I’m going to question some decisions, but always with the respect that goes with knowing the team’s coaches really do know more than I do.

Xanders and Coach McDaniels tossed the "need" book out the window, and went for best available. Each of their picks is a "best" at something, and they each build towards an overall plan that didn't become clear to me until the Smith pick.

Denver's pick of a HB just built our defense, and covered for our new QB

The running back we just took is considered the best RB in the draft. SD doesn't get him, and the LT replacement in SD was just shot down.

Sure, I wanted defense with this pick. But we got it. The solid running game we should have for years to come takes time off the clock, and takes pressure off our newest QB.

The rest of our RBs are terrific, but are they all going to hold up this season from injury? If not, Moreno will be our superstar starter. If injuries don't happen, we get something like what the Panthers have - a Thunder and Lightning rotation of backs. (Did I mention that the Panthers are also an Ameoba Philosophy team, like the Patriots?) Imagine Moreno trading time with Hillis, and perhaps Torain!

Here's another point we might have missed: This pick must have had input from our famed RB coach (Turner) and our OL coach (Dennison). They always find "diamonds in the rough". But this time they wanted a first rounder, even with the existing talent on the team. What does this mean? It means the guys who bring us consistent 1000 yards rushers with late picks saw something that trumped anything else on the board. How elite can this guy be?

Beyond anything we've ever seen.

But that's just one piece of the plan. It all still wasn't clear to me. I didn't want a RB!

Denver then took a defensive lineman (DE)

Why? Everyone wanted a NT or a LB, right? Well wait a minute. What DEs are in the Broncos stable right now? There's a good chance that any player you named is being moved to OLB (Crowder, Doom, Moss). A few "experts" call Ayers the best defensive player in the draft. On the NFLN, I heard appraisals ranging from "top 3 player in the draft" to "best defensive" player.

So are we going to get upset because he wasn't the name or position we had penciled in? I've been consistent that the front 3 was our biggest need, and we've just spent a 1st rounder on 1/3 of that need.

This indicates two further probabilities.

The available NTs in the draft did not impress the Broncos, or
Denver has a secret weapon that nobody knows about. (Carlton Powell is a name bandied about. Injured in his rookie season, nobody except the coaches really knows what we have with him).

It was starting to gell. The best RB, the best defensive player... and then,

We trade a future first for some no name CB?

For a moment I was stunned. And then, the whole plan became clear.

Again, the commentary from NFLN got me to do some research. They pointed out (and I confirmed), that this guy is the best at something. Is he the fastest? No. He's even a little short for the position. Why, why, why?

He's the best ball hawking CB in the entire draft. Throw out the "measurables" that Denver relied for in the past few drafts, and look at actual performance. This guy gets ints, and gets them a lot.

Ted's comment says it all:

I love Alphonso Smith!!!! This guy has tremendous ball skils and anticipation, and will always be among the league leaders in INTs as a Number 2 CB. He's a starting nickelback right now. This is a great pick.

And now it clicked. Denver is going to be a ball control offense, and a a defense that gets turnovers. This was confirmed with the fourth pick that Denver had.

Denver takes a safety that we never heard of

Who else gets it besides me? Of course. Our leader (on site in NYC), who wrote:

The Broncos have a definite strategy so far in this draft, going after highly productive college players with a nose for the football. McBath is no exception, having picked off 7 passes in 2008 returning two for touchdowns.

Overall, McBath started 39 of 45 games in his career at Tech, mostly at safety. The Broncos needed to overhaul the secondary and they have done so with Smith and McBath.

It is true that neither of these guys are household names, but worry not Broncos fans, both of these guys have skill and ability. They know how to go get the football and were highly productive.

Conclusion -

Folks, the staff of MHR gets it. Each of us had pieces of the puzzle. Zappa wanted Moreno. He wanted him like a little girl wants a puppy! LOL

I knew that fans would be dissapointed if Denver took the strategy of picking best available instead of players targeted by need. Did I see it coming? No. Was it the way I wanted to go? No. But after it unfolded, I understood.

Ted was perhaps the first to see thorugh the illusion of trading a first rounder for the best ball hawker in the draft.

Guru saw the value in our safety pick, and agreed with Styg's take.

And it doesn't end there! We still have picks left tomorrow. Lots of picks!

Get ready for a team that can run the ball. Get ready for a team that nobody wants to throw against (Bailey, Dawkins, Goodman, Hill, and a ball hawking nickle that might be a #2 CB someday).

If I'm right, we have the LBs in place already (DJ WIlliams, Barrett, Larsen, Bailey, Doom, Crowder, and Moss. That sounds like plenty). We spent high pick on the DL.

Folks, I feel great.

And did I mention that the Raiders drafted poorly? How about the Chargers (who don't get Moreno now to replace an aging LT). And KC had to leak that they were spending their only first day pick on a player that wasn't the best on the board: again, Ted:

This is not surprising, considering the team has been leaking this to the media for a week, so as to limit the criticism for reaching. Jackson is talented, and will fit well in the scheme that KC is implementing. This is philosophy over value, because there are better players available.

Denver fans, we had a great day. I expect more unexpected picks tomorow, and more brilliance. I'll sleep well tonight. The team is in good hands.

POST SCRIPT!!!!!!!!!!

As I'm writing, Denver has traded in to get the last pick in the second!!!!

I sensed this in the force (I had e-mailed Styg to warn me if Denver did this while I was writing. As it turned out, we saw it at the same time).

NFLN crew agreed that Denver's picks may have sounded weird, but agreed that they are all solid players, and that that's all that matters.

So Denver just took Quinn, the best blocking TE in the draft (another "best").

So Denver ended up with 5 picks in the first two rounds.

I love it!!!!!

Poll

The Broncos grade after the first two rounds....

"A" - I get it. Assured elite talent.

246 votes

"B" - Ok, very good. But not great.

399 votes

"C" - Not good, not bad. Some starters; maybe.

277 votes

"D" - Sorry HT. It was bad, and you know it!

179 votes

"F" - Down there with the raiders in terms of stupidity!

151 votes

1252 votes | Poll has closed

Stay Tuned to MHR...

hoosierteacher — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:05:18 -0000

As you know, MHR has staffers from Alaska and California, across the heartland, and into NYC to cover this draft.

Our editor is one of two SBN bloggers granted press credentials and is on site at the NFL Draft. We'll have moderators in the comment threads, constant presentations of new stories, and several wrap ups after the first day ends (a League overview, a Broncos overview, and no doubt an insider's wrap up from Guru in NYC).

Don't forget to take part in the contests that are ongoing through today (raffles and prizes).

In short, MHR is the perfect compliment to your television viewing today.

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Stick with us all draft weekend for 48 hours of fun and knowledge. Then get some sleep, and stay right here.