Super Bowl 50

[cdumler7]

So, CD and DC: Any news on the health of the Broncos heading into SB 50? I'm especially curious about our safeties.

Well our first official injury report came out today. We didn't practice but were required to give an injury report. Both Ward and Stewart were listed as "DNP." Now both have said though that they will be ready by the time the Super Bowl is played. Now given players say these type of things all the time so just have to see if the doctors agree. From the sound of it though the injuries were minor. They will probably sit out the entire week then be limited next week to save up their bodies for the actual game.

 

[cdumler7]

I've now watched 4 Panthers games this week. I wanted to see what some other teams have done especially the ones that have had a little bit of success like Atlanta in the 1 loss that Carolina had and then against the best pass rush they faced all year in Houston where they only scored 24 points (these were their 2 worst Offensive outputs). So far what I have seen is a lot of what we did against Green Bay like I said. The outside guys cannot get too aggressive and try to win to the edge. Just like last week where I said our 2 inside guys in Wolfe and Jackson will have to have great games that holds true for this game as well. Newton struggles most when pressure is right in his face. He is a great back foot thrower probably best in the league but he is also wildly inaccurate when he tries to do so. He will complete some passes that just leave you in awe but he will also throw some that sail on him and I think this is where Darian Stewart could have a huge turnover for us in this one.

The other thing these teams did was they were some of the better games where they tackled. Carolina has an offense that requires guys to make people miss. Trevathan, Marshall, Miller, and Ware are all going to have to do a great job of staying disciplined to who they are assigned to then making the tackle when it is their guy who decides to run with it. Honestly if we tackle well we win this game. Easier said than done with Stewart and Cam both being 2 of the toughest guys to bring down in the NFL.

I'm hoping in the next day or 2 to watch the games where teams were able to score on their defense and see if there is anything that shows some weaknesses.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I think Denver needs to watch the game that Carolina played Indy, where Carolina nearly blew it... Check to see what weaknesses the Colts found. Maybe Peyton can phone an old friend in Indy. or the NY Giants game.

Carolina has been very impressive this year but they are beatable. Obviously the key is to stopping Newton. Ginn has been the x factor all year on this team. Corey Brown is sneaky too. I actually feel our D matches up pretty well against their O. I just hope we can score enough points.

Tell us what ya find cdumler. Thanks!

 

[SpringStein]

The one thing that scares me a bit is that, unlike the Steelers and Pats, the Panthers have a legit running game. So we can't just be teeing off for the pass like we could the past two games.

 

[TDs3nOut]

The one thing that scares me a bit is that, unlike the Steelers and Pats, the Panthers have a legit running game. So we can't just be teeing off for the pass like we could the past two games.

That really is a key difference. We caught breaks with injuries to opposing RBs the past two weeks. Add to that the running ability of Cam and the Carolina offense presents a very different challenge. I still think that our defense is up to the task, particularly if our safeties are healthy, but it sure would be handy to get our own running game going.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Here is a piece that some might find interesting, which lists the recruiting rankings for every starter (who is not too old) for both teams: How each Super Bowl 2016 starter was rated as a high school recruit

The Panthers start five players who were rated five-stars, while the Broncos have none. Also found it interesting that all of these Broncos starters were rated two or fewer stars:
Emmanuel Sanders, Matt Paradis, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall, Danny Travathon, Aquib Talib, Chris Harris, and TJ Ward.

Finally, Panthers CB Josh Norman and RB Mike Tolbert, both of whom went to Coastal Carolina, were both rated zero stars.

 

[grim rpr]

Actually listened to some Panthers fans earlier today and yeah they seem to be getting to that Patriot level thinking this one is in the bag. Heck I saw something l like 70% of the country thinks the Panthers win this one. Last week 80% of the analyst on tv picked the Patriots.

I honestly love that we are in this spot. I think the players do too. The pressure is off. If they lose well they were expected to lose. If they win though it shocks the world! All the pressure then is on Carolina to have to go out and perform.

CD.... I really cant stand the so called "experts" they drive me nuts... The only explanation with them have spill over orgasms over the Patriots is that they bring in more money for the league.. NOW.. let me be clear.. I have ZERO clue if this is actually true but its the only thing I can think of?? I know you are full of Facts so maybe you can help out here... The Pats have caused the league headaches for so many years yet they cum any time Brady or Pats are mentioned.. For basically EVERY expert to pick the Pats over the Broncos IN DENVER was down right STUPID.. Yes the Pats have been and will be for some time a force in the league... that I admit.. but cmon man.. Denver has too and have consistently given the Pats trouble in Denver and we are the ONLY team in the league that King Brady has a losing record against and it seems unless he plays 6 more years and wins every year than he will retire with that same stat.... Any other observations here... I understand the SIMMS thing.. we fired his sons ass so he has beef with us and him and Elway never really got along but what is with EVERYONE else??

 

[cdumler7]

CD.... I really cant stand the so called "experts" they drive me nuts... The only explanation with them have spill over orgasms over the Patriots is that they bring in more money for the league.. NOW.. let me be clear.. I have ZERO clue if this is actually true but its the only thing I can think of?? I know you are full of Facts so maybe you can help out here... The Pats have caused the league headaches for so many years yet they cum any time Brady or Pats are mentioned.. For basically EVERY expert to pick the Pats over the Broncos IN DENVER was down right STUPID.. Yes the Pats have been and will be for some time a force in the league... that I admit.. but cmon man.. Denver has too and have consistently given the Pats trouble in Denver and we are the ONLY team in the league that King Brady has a losing record against and it seems unless he plays 6 more years and wins every year than he will retire with that same stat.... Any other observations here... I understand the SIMMS thing.. we fired his sons ass so he has beef with us and him and Elway never really got along but what is with EVERYONE else??

Honestly I would say most of these "experts" have very little more expertise in the field of football than many people who post on here. I know plenty of people on these boards who are very very connected within football and do more research to see those kind of stats like Brady and BB both have struggled against the Broncos and especially against the ZBS. Every coach has an achilles heal and for BB it is the ZBS seems to give him fits. For Brady it is when you can get pressure in his face and take away those quick slant patterns. The Broncos just happen to do both really well. Honestly it is why I felt better as the week went on and went back and watched the teams that did the best against the Patriots even just this year.

Most of it though boils down to these guys are paid to get clicks. Breaking things down further and further does not appeal to the average fan. What they want is to know what Brady had for breakfast the day of the big game. I want to pull my hair out when they start talking about Manziel and what party he was at over the weekend. Who cares? My guess is 1/3rd of the league was at some party. Many of these guys are not saints. They are kids who have just come out of college with lots of money and very little responsibilities. I don't watch this game though because I expect these guys to be my kid's role model. I'm hoping I am that person. Anyway getting off track. We are seeing it again this week though in all anybody wants to talk about is Manning and Cam. To me this game is way more about the OL and DL of each team. Von Miller has a very favorable match up against Remmers who is the weak link on the Panthers OL. How the Panthers handle that situation could be huge. If they bring in an extra TE then that takes others out of coverage and sticks more into the box to help stop the run. If they try to run it more to the opposite side then we can easily load up that side knowing Von does a great job of keeping backside contain.

Same with our OL vs. their DL of to me it is how our interior guys of Mathis and Vasquez handle Short and Lotulelei. If Manning has a nice pocket to step up in then he can eat the zone system that the Panthers love to run. Just have to find the holes in their system and attack. Make them have to adjust and then hit them with the run game. I would also attack Jared Allen's side of the field with the run game. Let's test out that broken foot of his and see how he handles anchoring when the run play is coming right at him. I would also run more than a couple of bootleg plays in this game. The Panthers like us can be overly aggressive sometimes and we can catch them over pursuing. Have Sanders run a double move against a very aged Tillman and I am guessing he can win that one on one match up so just a matter of getting that safety to take one wrong step forward to help with the run game and beat them deep.

 

[cdumler7]

Here is a piece that some might find interesting, which lists the recruiting rankings for every starter (who is not too old) for both teams: How each Super Bowl 2016 starter was rated as a high school recruit

The Panthers start five players who were rated five-stars, while the Broncos have none. Also found it interesting that all of these Broncos starters were rated two or fewer stars:
Emmanuel Sanders, Matt Paradis, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall, Danny Travathon, Aquib Talib, Chris Harris, and TJ Ward.

Finally, Panthers CB Josh Norman and RB Mike Tolbert, both of whom went to Coastal Carolina, were both rated zero stars.

This is just like the whole trying to grade a draft right after it happened. You have no clue how any of these guys will do at the next level. JJ Watt for example was a 2-star recruit that actually first signed with Central Michigan as none of the bigger named schools wanted him.

 

[ebdav]

I finally found you!

Thought it would be good to revel in the season's glory with my old KFFL friends. Nope. After reading a few USA Today articles, I went hunting. HERE YOU ARE!

Missed you guys. How's the weather over here? How about them Broncos?

Draftcrazy! What's up? Been awhile.
Mingo, you must be ancient by now.
Is LGM still around? Still a big bully?
How's the typing Crash?
Springstein, are you still the most unhinged of the group? Least rational, even-keeled guy ever.

Anyway good to see you all. Go Broncos!

 

[Mingo]

I am ancient as is true of all fonts of wisdom.

 

[SpringStein]

Sorry ebdav - hopefully you found us on the USA Today board. Lucas posted where we are and I had a post saying to PM me as I thought they might delete a post about a competitor site. Of course I haven't checked my PMs over there for awhile!

It is time to celebrate - let's hope there's one more major celebration!

 

[TDs3nOut]

One thing that really struck me in the game against the Pats, which I think might come into play against Carolina, is how effectively Brady was sometimes able to avoid getting sacked by throwing the ball away without drawing a flag for intentional grounding. Seems like there were about half a dozen plays where he was in the grasps of a defender, but managed to get the ball past the line of scrimmage and in the vicinity of a receiver.

 

[packerzrule]

I was hoping for a rematch of SB I

 

[cdumler7]

Alright so now looked at the other side of the ball. I watched the games where the Panthers defense struggled some or at least gave up big points.

Few things stuck out

1) First off let me say they have an incredible defense. I would say other than our defense and the things that we can do they truly might be the 2nd best defense in the league. They are disciplined, tackle well, are strong from top to bottom.

2) They run from what I can tell is a Cover-2 trap scheme. They will mix in man coverage to keep things interesting but they love to run this scheme. Essentially it is a cover-2 just a more aggressive one. So what happens is the 2 safeties have deep halves for coverage. The 2 outside corners have anything running from that 5-15 yards along the sideline. The 2 outside linebackers have the quick slant routes where they would jump those. And then the middle linebacker has anything over the middle. When ran well it can be hard to find some openings.

3) Having said that there are some holes. Probably the best thing any team can do to counter a zone like that is to flood one of those zones with more routes making it to where essentially 1 guy is having to decide between 2 receivers of which one to cover. So great example would be along either sideline have 2 WR's with 1 running a 5 yard out route and the other running a 15 yard out. Safety can't usually make it over especially if you say have a 3rd guy running a seam route down the middle holding that safety for just a second.

--Another hole to me at least would be actually attack Luke Kuechly. I know that sounds counter to what you should ever do but again since he is the man in the middle I flood his zone. If you go watch some of the games they ask him to cover a very large territory because he is so good. I would run a 3-wide set with a TE on one side and have the slot guy and Daniels cross across the middle again making Kuechly have to make a decision of who he is going to follow.

As for trying to run the football well somewhat of a good luck kind of situation. The teams that have scored on them did so mostly through the air. I will say the ones who had the most success though were teams that matched the physicality on both sides of the ball as that of Carolina. You can frustrate them especially on the defensive side of the ball if they try to hit you in the mouth and you just hit them right back and get up smiling. Honestly the Broncos need to watch the Giants game. That is the one that seemed to frustrate the Panthers defense the most.

 

[cdumler7]

I will say though that the teams who had a little bit of success running the football were the ones who pushed towards the edge and then cut back up the field. The Panthers have way too much speed to make it completely to the edge but if you can get the DL having to move sideways a bit you can find a nice hole to hit as sometimes those linebackers do over pursue a play leaving that cut back lane open.

 

[iknowftbll]

I will say though that the teams who had a little bit of success running the football were the ones who pushed towards the edge and then cut back up the field. The Panthers have way too much speed to make it completely to the edge but if you can get the DL having to move sideways a bit you can find a nice hole to hit as sometimes those linebackers do over pursue a play leaving that cut back lane open.

This may be a big game for Hilman if this is the case. Hilman seems a lot more reliable around the edge, stretching the defense a long the LoS before turning it upfield. I recall his 71 yarder for a TD against the Vikings came this way.

 

[Mingo]

Super Bowl 50 features first No. 1 vs. No. 2 draft picks

Something I forgot.. Nice one - two punch.

 

[58crash]

Miller can play nice with words all he likes .. The last time he played cam there were shades of taunting from Miller each time he sacked Cam getting up and doing the Superman pose ..

Miller Gets up for Certain team's.. I know he down playing this but he loaded and full bare of arm's is on it's way ..

There is parts about this guy Screams Raiders..

 

[58crash]

Look at how Miller plays against NE ..