What is the best way to improve our pass rush?

[Jesse]

look, i'm not suggesting we don't take him. but i just don't know what his deal is, i don't think making the team more like UNC is going to motivate him.

Maybe the change of coaches? Now I'm don't necessarily want him, but just a proposition.

[panthers55]

Overview: The Jim Johnson 4-3, was pioneered by the late Jim Johnson (1942-2010), the illustrious Defensive Coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The scheme bases it's basic premise off of pressuring the Quarterback through the pass game, as well as the run game, via mismatches created from zone blitzes. The Defensive Line will lineup in the traditional one gap alignment, as seen in a Base 4-3 Under arrangement

The Linebackers of a Jim Johnson 43 Defense need to be disciplined as well as fleet footed and agile. More often than not, the LB's will line up in a 4-3 Under alignment, with The Will LB lined up over the B Gap, or between the DE and DT on the Weakside, The Mike will line up over the A Gap on the opposite side of the 1 Technique, and the Sam will typically lineup on the line of scrimmage over the outside shoulder of the TE on the Strongside. The WLB's responsibility is maintaining Gap discipline, and covering for any missed gaps on the weak side; The Will will rarely blitz, and will cover many intermediate and short routes. The Mike Linebacker is primarily charged with playing zone coverage in the middle of the field, however, Mike also blitzes more often than any other LB, and is integral in a zone blitz. The Sam is charged with covering any runs towards the outside of his sector, and will often cover short routes in the flat; Sam will blitz on and off during the game depending the flow of action. The Defensive Coordinator will typically mix up the lineup of LB's in order to confuse the origin of a blitz, as well as the coverage being played.

The Jim Johnson 43 Defense relies primarily on zone reads, with Zone Blitzes executed by the Front Seven, as well as Zone Coverage in the Secondary, in order to make up for the deficiencies of the group, or to roll coverage onto a studly WR or TE. It all starts up front, with the lanes opened up by the DLine, creating gaps for the LB's to blitz through, creating pressure which forces the QB to chuck an inaccurate ball unto which the Secondary makes a play, hopefully forcing a turnover. The different units of the Defense must work in unison, or else the effectiveness of each unit will become moot. For example, if the Defensive Line is being blown off of the LOS, and can't do their job, it prohibits the blitzing LB's from completing their own tasks, allowing an opposing QB/RB to gash the defense as a whole. Furthermore, having subpar players executing a zone will create a weak link in the zone, or an open target for the opposing offense

I posted this in another thread. Here is the whole article:

http://www.derp/2012...son-4-3-part-i

[jtnc]

Elvis isn't a DT...and DT play wasn't strong.

Denver lost a starting DT similar to us w/ Edwards they were banking on aiding them. Was a weakness in 2012.

Pressuring the QB doesn't mean you have to draft a DT this year. Ron Rivera made it clear we were so bad all over he couldn't even get aggressive (and his scheme, at least what we believe we will run, is about bringing it.....not a Tampa 2 rush your front 4).

D should look different this year. Should be the first glimpse of what we really are going to be.

They very well did benefit from Bunkley being a force in the middle.

10 games into the season, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is exactly what Dawkins said he would be: a powerful presence in the middle of the defense.

haven't had a guy like that, not since I've been here," Dumervil said. "He's been like a monster in there. You see a big guy dominating in there, dominating the centers, you see the job he did dominating an all-pro center like (the New York Jets' Nick) Mangold last week. That's a difference-maker."

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19415002?source=bb

[CRA]

They very well did benefit from Bunkley being a force in the middle.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19415002?source=bb

again, DT play was weak overall. I can literally find you 3 articles about the DT play being weak for every one you can post about 1 player.

Denver DT play was an issue for them. Doesn't mean your one guy couldn't of had moments.

[jtnc]

"He's the guy we've been looking for," Dumervil said. "You can have the pass rushers and the guys at corner, making interceptions, but if you're going to be a good defense, you have to have that guy in the middle. He's our guy in the middle."

At first glance, Bunkley's statistics — 23 tackles and no sacks — look modest. But with players such as Miller and Dumervil attacking the edges, Bunkley anchors the interior.

......

[Snake]

The fact is we dont have a solid Front four or a solid backfield and you need one or the other to pressure the QB on a regular basis. Part of that problem is the unwillingness of Hurney/Richardson to plug good vet on the team the other part is poor drafting.

[CRA]

......

again, DT play overall was an issue in Denver. Having a teammate compliment one guy doesn't change that. Your boy, stepped up...Elvis was doing othing but stating that. The DT play overall in Denver wasn't strong.

It would like Senn stepping up at LB and someone saying he played well (he did some games)....doesn't make LB play overall good last year.

Denver had LOTS of DL injuries and issues.....you are just google searching. Von Miller generated good pressure w/o good DL play often early on. We can improve our QB pressure also based on Rivera/McD's scheme without drafting a DT.

[panthers55]

Here is where football outsiders ranked Denver- 9th in rushing defense, 5th in passing defense.

As for the NT position and runs up the middle they were ranked third.

Take it for what it is worth.

http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl

So quit the squabbling and settle this like statisticians. LOL

[SauceBoss]

Trade for Osi. Draft the best DT available at 9. Get Edwards healthy.

[Woodie]

Also, one of Rivera's hot buttons this year was the poor tackling. So I think we will look for someone that can help the pass rush, but is also a very good and reliable tackler...and to me, that sounds an awful lot like Luke Kuechly.

He's a tackling machine that is solid in coverage, but also has the speed and athleticism to be a very good blitzer (despite not being asked to do it much in college). And if we sign a guy like Garay, that would give us the nesessary push up the middle that we need while our young guys learn and develop. There should also be some very good edge rushers available in the second round, such as Curry or Jones, if Rivera and Co. feel we still need more.

[mmmbeans]

all this talk of Kuechly, can he play outside?

[Woodie]

all this talk of Kuechly, can he play outside?

Yes. Probably better suited for SLB rather than weakside.

[chubs2496]

Honest to god I haven't even give us drafting kuechly a thought but the more I think about it the more I fall in love with it. Although I'd rather have a stud DT. But the reality is that they're not any in this draft. Also rather have a cornerback. But I'm cool with kuechly

[panthers55]

all this talk of Kuechly, can he play outside?

Played Will his freshman year in college. Was second in the nation in tackles. Moved inside and led the nation the next 2 years.