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Published on 09/21/2009 at Mon Sep 21 16:05.
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Josh McDaniels: What 4-3?

Posted Mon Sep 21st by

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels' decision to build the defense's 3-4 scheme from scratch is paying off. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels' decision to build the defense's 3-4 scheme from scratch is paying off. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

In what can easily be interpreted as the first jab from current Denver Broncos Head Coach to former, Josh McDaniels looked dumbfounded when asked why the team made the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 in one season instead of making a gradual change.

His response, simply: What 4-3?

“The 4-3 really wasn’t here,” McDaniels said in his Monday press conference. “The way that they had played, the style and the guys, we just felt like it wasn’t like we had a solid 4-3 defensive scheme in terms of our personnel to fit that scheme. In other words, why take a year and (transition gradually) when it really wasn’t in place to begin with?”

McDaniels has a point. The 2008 Broncos defense was historically bad, culminating in a three-game losing streak that allowed over 30 points per game and knocked the Broncos out of the playoffs.

When a defense is playing that poorly, can you really call it a defense at all?

So the Broncos didn’t rebuild, they decided to just build. Champ Bailey is the only 2008 Bronco playing in the same position and at the same spot he was a year ago, while newcomers like Brian Dawkins and Ronald Fields have set a physical, aggressive tone.

Cleveland Browns Jerome Harrison (C) is tackled by Denver Broncos Wesley Woodyard (L) and Ronald Fields (R) for a loss during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado September 20, 2009. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

Cleveland Browns Jerome Harrison (C) is tackled by Denver Broncos Wesley Woodyard (L) and Ronald Fields (R) for a loss during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado September 20, 2009. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

So far, it’s paid off. Mike Nolan‘s revamped 3-4 defense has allowed only 13 points (one touchdown) in eight quarters of football. And this 3-4 is nothing like the 3-4 looks ex-defensive coordinator Bob Slowik liked to mix in with the base 4-3 package.

“The 3-4 they played last year was more kind of a hybrid, gimmicky type of deal,” he said. “I don’t think that it created much success when they played it anyway.”

“We just said, ‘Hey, just make the change. Just go,'” McDaniels said. “Everything from the first few weeks that we got here moving forward, we just said, ‘We are going in that direction, regardless, and it might not be perfect, but we are going to get it as close to perfect as we can get it by the time we start playing games.'”

Job well done, I say.

  • broncotalk

    Testing fancy schmancy new comments system.

  • broncotalk

    Testing a REPLY to a fancy schmancy new comment, using the fancy schmancy new comments sytem.

  • Jeff

    Fine idea to switch the defense right away, at least so far. If other teams can’t score, then they can’t win and all the O has to do is have modest success for the broncos to win. The Bengals and Browns are far from great teams, but a tough defense can overcome terrible days by Kyle Orton when he has one. This team is trying to style itself like the 2001 Ravens-super dominant defense, passable offense that overall, can win when it counts. Though I don’t think Denver can be compared to this Super Bowl team yet. Maybe we could do this in a couple of years. This year, I’d be happy to see them just reach the playoffs, and it can be done.

  • steeplebomb

    Fancy Comment system. +1. The previous system was getting old. Sure you here it all the time but thanks again for always trying to make this site better.

  • WhidbeyBronco

    hmmm

  • WhidbeyBronco

    ok I believe I'm here…. Hoping for a better interface….
    yay

  • broncotalk

    We're working out the kinks with this system – it's supposed to import all of the old comments, but thus far no luck. Stay tuned!

  • Nisse

    nice new fancy pancy comments system youve got going here :D

  • Nisse

    is the zone blocking scheme back btw? didnt see it myself, but kerry mentioned that they started using it in the second quarter in another post.

  • robtink242

    Okay lets start the Raider insult. okay the object is to not properly cover the receivers due to Russell's inability to hit an open receiver.

  • kerry

    yeah in the second half you could see the O-line began to move as one instead of having one on one assignments. specifically on the long buckhalter run when he cut back and went the distance.

  • kerry

    if the receivers had a cheeseburger painted on them he could hit them.

  • broncotalk

    Nah, then I think he'd tackle 'em. Would be as productive.

  • robtink242

    see broncotalk your wrong only if the burger has bacon he tackles

  • robtink242

    I’m surprise no love for mike bell. david kircus, jay cutler, kennison, and a long list of losers. but no love for my boy mike bell. He’s very talented and i cant figure why we let him go for selvin or andre hall, bryd, pope, tatum, pittman, or w/e other back we used.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Ha!

  • DenversFinest

    I think our real test starts with oakland. they have been bad but they always play us tough. I love our odds though. All they have is their run game on Offense. I would love to see their 300 lb QB try and beat us. It would be a hay day. On Defense they look ok. Their D line is pretty good, but our line should be able to neutralize them. Look for Orton to play a solid mistake free game. I see the score as 6-20 BRONCOS!!!

  • DenversFinest

    Kyle my name is DC but it won't let me use it…..bummer!

  • kerry

    yeah and why am i only able to post as a guest?? what the hell is with this new fancy thing??

  • broncoNM

    McD is right… there was nothing in denver last year that even resembled an NFL caliber Defense. The last game of the year against SD still makes me puke in my lap… Webster, McCree, Engelberger, Boss, robertson, etc… are all out of the league now. Im impressed with the player evaluation from McD and Nolan. Dumervil looks like he was born to play OLB and im impressed by andra Davis too. I didnt think he still had gas in the tank but he has contributed nicely. This defense is far from perfect a lot of work still needs to be done but the improvement from last year is astounding from what we have seen the last 2 games. I got a feelin Doomer might start to see some double teams and RB's chipping him so im hoping we can have someone step up on the other side with some pressure… haggan? Reid? Ayers?

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Information on new comments – Register and get your name and add a picture!

    http://broncotalk.net/new-comments/

  • broncoNM

    nice upgrade kyle!

  • Broncos4ever

    Cool new fancy upgrade!

  • Broncos4ever

    Avatar feature is cool

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    That would be a stretch for even J. Russell.

  • Mike Nolan

    im gona bring the heat all day on sunday against the fat boy wearing #2 and make console himself in kfc afterwards with a family bucket!!

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    Just dropping my own test of our new fancy schmancy comments system. Ahhh… very nice.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Nested comments FTW!!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    See the New Comments link up top.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    See the New Comments link up top.

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  • JoeDoGG

    your an idiot

  • JoeDoGG

    FUDGE THE RAIDERS

  • JoeDoGG

    FUDGE THEM STRAIGHT TO HELL