Three Keys Against The Broncos: Defense

by Steven Schweickert on Dec 10, 2011 11:01 AM CST in Notes

1) Stay Disciplined In Coverage

Tim Tebow has ten freaking passing touchdowns on the year to one interception. I know I made a big deal out of it in this week's PTMY, but, um, yeah, it is. Part of that is when Tebow starts running around in the backfield, the cornerbacks and safeties have tended to be lax on coverages. And Eric Decker has been quite the beneficiary of this. The Bears cannot allow receivers to get open in these instances because, yes, even Tim Freaking Tebow can hit a wide open target with a dying duck of a pass.

2) Pressure Isn't Enough

With a player like Tim Tebow, it's not going to be enough to flush him from the pocket, especially given point one. Fortunately, the Bears have more speed on defense than most defenses in the league. Julius Peppers is one of the fastest defensive ends in pursuit, and Brian Urlacher's often been used in spy situations against Michael Vick. Tebow may be built like a linebacker, but I'm not sure he can outrun the Bears' linebackers. Bring him down so he can't make a throw over the top of a charging linebacker or run-supporting safety.

3) Bring Steltz in Run Support

Major Wright being out tomorrow may not be the worst thing with Craig Steltz starting, and I'm sure you never thought you'd hear me say that. Steltz doesn't have the speed Wright does, but he's a surer tackler and will play strong in run support, especially in Cover 1 situations where Chris Conte plays "centerfield." I'd be expecting lots of these Cover 1 looks with Tillman and Jennings sticking to their targets like glue.

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Make him throw, it will be high or low, grab the ball and run it in the end zone. Roy , yes I’m talking to you, the reason the Bears signed is to grab , and hold on to brown thing coming at you, Knox make sure you know this is Hanie and not Cutler, adjust. As for Hester, just run baby, he should have a good game.

by transylvanian bear on Dec 10, 2011 11:07 AM CST reply actions

scairt yet?

He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which.
Douglas Adams

by Whidbey Bronco on Dec 10, 2011 12:35 PM CST reply actions

Yes sur

Eyes scairt. Now if I only knew what it means. Bronco fans are the ones without cheese on their heads, that talk stupid on other teams blogs.

by Rainman9856 on Dec 10, 2011 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Now I looked up your word

since it’s not english but irish in nature. It says “to be scared of something that you shouldn’t be scared of”.

by Rainman9856 on Dec 10, 2011 1:01 PM CST up reply actions

Deception

I have studied Tim Tebow and the Broncos offense from several angles for several weeks and there is only one way to beat it, with deception.

Tebow has admitted often the Broncos offense is based on deception. If Tebow knows what the defense is going to do,he will kill you. He is that good. He has a PHD is running the spread option offense.

But the advantage Tebow has: No team has enough time to prepare for it while Tebow has spent years refining his skills. Once the mistake is made he will eat you alive.

And even if you are like the Jets who made few mistakes against the Broncos for 3 and 1/2 quarters, the Bears are bound to suck for air in the thin Denver air while Tebow is getting his second wind as he enters “Tebow time” late in the 4th quarter.

The only way to beat Tebow and the Broncos: Get a huge lead early. Unfortunately with Cutler and Forte out I don’t see that happening.

by technopeasant on Dec 10, 2011 1:42 PM CST reply actions

blitz

the blitz will make it throw the ball a lot faster.

by Tudy on Dec 10, 2011 2:07 PM CST reply actions

Bears dont blitz very much

The Tampa-2 is predicated on pressure from the front 4 and blitzing isnt a huge part of it. Also everyone in the MSM claims Tebow is carving teams up in single coverage. Lots of blitzes mean lots of man/single coverage and thats a no no against this guy. Expect a lot of cover 2 zones all day. Expect 6-7 defenders in the backfield alot. Peppers and Melton and Izzy are going to have to get it done without LB help from a pressure the QB standpoint.
Anyway look how good our D line looked against Mike Vick, hopefully we can repeat that tomorrow.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 10, 2011 2:32 PM CST up reply actions

Agree and disagree

If you do blitz, make sure the edge containment is there. That’s how he often scampers off. So yeah, agree for the most part.

As to putting 6-7 defenders in the backfield a lot… not so much. Tebow and the running game face 8 and 9 man fronts far more often than not. Even with that, the Broncos are rushing for 159 yards per game (1st in the league). More impressively, We’re rushing for exactly 200 yards per game in Tebow’s 7 starts. And again, that’s with epically stacked boxes all day long. If you’re playing with 6-7 guys in the defensive backfield, Denver’s running game will have an absolutely field day. And that’s the reason Tebow faces single coverages…. because teams are right to be more afraid of the run than the pass.

Our Broncos have lost three home games this year while no only division leader has lost more than one. It's time to make Mile High our house again. And it starts Sunday with Caleb Hanie.

by Rodney A on Dec 10, 2011 7:27 PM CST up reply actions

Our team speed on defense is going to be a factor

There is no doubt that we can hold Tebow to 21 points or less, my only concern is scoring any points on offense. As many have pointed out our offense couldnt beat a quadrapalegic in a tug-a-war.
Anyway I am excited to see how Tebow deals with Peppers, Urlacher, and Briggs who are as big or bigger than him and as fast. Should be a fun one tommorow.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 10, 2011 2:28 PM CST reply actions

No blitzing please

They have to keep Tebow in the pocket in order to force him to throw into coverage. I’d imagine the front seven will be asked to stop their option running game. Conte can run, so like you stated Steve, they may mix it up a little to help with defending the run.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Dec 10, 2011 3:44 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

It sounds like the game plan is to force Tebow to exploit the cover-2 zone

It can be done as we saw Brady carve us up last season. The question is does Tebow have the mental game/knowledge to exploit the cover-2. Typically young QBs struggle against it. Expect lots of double coverages and lots of LBs dropping into coverage with the expectation of one LB spying at the line of scrimmage. Tebow is going to need to show he has the mental chops to find the holes in the Tampa-2. This should be fun to watch tomorrow, my X-factor is our offense but thats for another thread.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 10, 2011 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

Doubt he can beat it

Did you see those long throws last week? Ducks. Vikes secondary is that bad. I’m afraid of them running the ball down our throats all game and winning at the end. I’m going to the game.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Dec 10, 2011 4:17 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

If we gang tackle and everyone takes responsibility for their assignment we can handle it

If we get a defensive performance like Detroit Monday night where people arent in their gaps it could be a long afternoon. When all 8 cyclinders are firing we pursue and tackle as well as any top tier defense out there, no doubt we can stop their run attack, question is will we get an all hands on deck performance from all 11 guys? Going to need it for 4 quarters tomorrow.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 10, 2011 4:54 PM CST up reply actions

Tebow's no Brady

But it was a Tampa Two 43 defense that he worked over last week when the Broncos put up 35 points on the Vikings. Your secondary is better than theirs, no doubt. Just pointing out that this is the second week in a row he’s faced this type of defense. That’s got to count for something in a young and incredibly raw quarterback’s reading of the defense.

Our Broncos have lost three home games this year while no only division leader has lost more than one. It's time to make Mile High our house again. And it starts Sunday with Caleb Hanie.

by Rodney A on Dec 10, 2011 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

Worst secondary in the league

The Vikes were starting scrubs cause their starters are injured.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Dec 11, 2011 11:08 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

The most underrated feature of Tim Tebow

His football IQ.

You don’t win 6 of 7 games if you can’t read defenses.

Tebow, contrary to the football pundits, is not a deer in headlights. Sure what he does is often unpredictable to the opposition, but not to himself.

He is really good at what he does well.

by technopeasant on Dec 10, 2011 4:48 PM CST reply actions

But has he seen a real zone defense yet?

I havent watched enough of the guy to know if he is in fact the smart football player you are describing. However all most all rookies make a few mistakes at some point. We will see if the Bears system gives the guy problems, we all know the cover-2 is beatable, question is can Tebow do it this early in his career?

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 10, 2011 4:51 PM CST up reply actions

Not a rookie

I do think the Bears can disguise some of their coverages though. They first have to stop the run.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Dec 11, 2011 11:09 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Tebow is notoriously inaccurate.

The main objective, flat-out, is to minimize the run. McGahee is already banged up. Force the Broncos to rely on Tebow on 3rd and long. Test his low accuracy and scrambling ability against our zone coverage and athletic front 4 which are adept at stopping those 2 things.

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."

by GriggsBriggs on Dec 10, 2011 7:02 PM CST reply actions

If the Bears allow Tebow to run...

for 1st downs and not have to pass to get them they are not going to hold him down. Blitzing is not useful, but it would be smarter to play more single high safety. Keep Tebow throwing desperation passes into zone coverage. It’s OK if Tebow runs for good yards on any play as long as he doesn’t get first downs. Play simple gap control with edge containment responsibility; the DEs and LBs can run laterally, so keep Tebow from making 1st downs with his feet. The base defense the Bears run should be the most effective because discipline and big play control are it’s strengths. Tebow cannot throw the kinds of passes necessary to beat the classic Tampa-2, so make him try.

FORTE: PAY THE MAN!

by LostInSTL on Dec 11, 2011 6:54 AM CST reply actions