As the Broncos continue their preparation for their rematch against the Patriots Saturday, one theme has been consistent throughout the defensive circles in the locker room; they need to limit the Patriots’ yards-after-catch.
In the last game, on multiple instances, the Patriots were able to pick up big chunks of yards after short completions. The Broncos know they can’t let that happen this game.
“It’s very critical,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “You see a lot of short throws, and then here you go — a missed tackle here, a missed tackle there; a guy will make you miss. They’ve got a lot of good players that can run after the catch, and if we don’t limit that, we can see what can happen, because that’s what happened in the first game.”
All week, the Broncos have emphasized tackling. With the size and athleticism of the Patriots two tight ends — Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski — bringing them down will be tough, but necessary at first try.
“One busted coverage and tackling played a huge part of it,” safety Quinton Carter said. “The catch wasn’t that many yards, it’s the run after. So we have to tackle better.”
The last game against the Patriots in Week 15 was the Broncos’ first game this season without veteran safety Brian Dawkins, who was out with a neck injury. With the exception of a small part of the next game against Buffalo, he hasn’t played since then.
The Broncos defense has improved since that game as they get more comfortable playing without one of their captains. The three games the Broncos have played since these two teams last met have given them a chance to cut down on their mistakes.
“(The mistakes) will be (cleaned up),” Bailey said. “I know that for a fact. We’re not going to make all the mistakes we made the first game. The thing is, now you’ve got to go stop them. Whether you’re in position or not, they still have good players, so you’ve got to find a way to stop them.”
With one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, led by three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots are tough to stop. But if the Broncos defense can play like it has in the last two weeks, the group likes its chances.
“They’ve got a lot of weapons,” defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. “We also feel confident with our guys. We’ve just got to play sound, play smart and I think no blown assignments. Everybody does their job and executes, and it will give us a good chance.”
BAILEY VISITS PRACTICE
On Sunday, quarterback Tim Tebow hosted Bailey Knaub, a 16-year-old girl who’s had more than 70 surgeries due to a rare vascular disorder, at the Broncos-Steelers game. He met with her and her family before and after the match.
Thursday, they were back with Tebow at Dove Valley. They watched practice, got a tour of the facility, ate lunch and met with the Broncos quarterback after the team’s training session.
“Football is amazing,” Tebow said after Sunday’s dramatic victory. “We love it and we’re so passionate about it—you can see right there (in the dramatic finish), but the real win, at least that I would take today, is being able to comfort a girl who’s gone through 73 surgeries before the game and get a chance to go hang out with her now. So that’s the biggest win of the day. They are both exciting, but that’s what I’m even more proud of.”
INJURY REPORT
Here is Thursday’s injury report.
For the Broncos:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S Brian Dawkins (neck), WR Eric Decker (knee), LS Lonie Paxton (non-injury).
LIMITED: S David Bruton (Achilles), TE Daniel Fells (ankle), DE Elvis Dumervil (ankle).
FULL: LB Von Miller (thumb).
For the Patriots:
LIMITED: CB Kyle Arrington (foot), OT Marcus Cannon (ankle), C Dan Connolly (groin), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb), S James Ihedigbo (shoulder), G Logan Mankins (knee), LB Rob Ninkovich (hip), WR Matthew Slater (shoulder), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), OT Sebastian Vollmer (back/foot), WR Wes Welker (knee) and LB Tracy White (abdomen).
Below are some photos from Thursday’s practice.
-Kenny Legan
nobody gave us a chance last week either..just puts an extra fire under our guys…its all just fuel for the boys..nothing like playing to shut up the non-believers. guys like tebow come around once in a lifetime..lets just enjoy the show..win or lose, tebow is still tebow..and as for ne and mine…we believe..
Me Too!!!
i meant me and mine..lol
I like that article in the usa today. All the you tube videos are great too! Optimus Prime is my choice nickname for DT but I like Omega Supreme too! No Im not a 14 year old boy
is that you daddybronc??????
Yes the Dad13 label is me.
missed seeing you ..new handle?
Something I haven’t gotten sorted out with the blog administrators.
I’ve been on regular.
sorry if you already posted why..just skimmed through the posts
i see…classified huh.lololol,,,,always a pleasure reading your posts..one of the true fans.
I posted an answer to OC on a 4:47 post this blog.
i have a ? do the blogs continue after the season and we are sb champs?
that tebow pic!! whoa on the throwing motion…but it works.
I’ve heard that the blog continues fast and furious with some sort of prediction contest around the draft.
just saw it thanks….
teeeebow whoooa teeeebow whoooa. lol love the nfl network guys when they do that.
alright thanks daddy
just heard a rumor that if things go bad in the first quarter..elways coming in….lol nice dream huh.
If you could guarantee Elway he wouldn’t get hit – I bet he’d do it!!! LOL
So, somebody who knows about playing ball in very cold weather…
How does single digit temps (but no snow/ice) affect passing?
Kicking?
I’m assuming no effects on running other than frostbite!
This helps us and hurts NE, right?
if elway comes in, then they should put romonowski too..lmao
with a spit mask of course………
well with the passing game its a little harder to grip the ball if your hands are numb.
Tim Tebow’s Best Day Ever
by Greg Cosell
Last weekend, Tim Tebow played the best game of his NFL career for one reason, and one reason only: he threw the ball exceptionally well.
In the NFL, high level quarterback play results from passing the ball, and in the Wild Card round, Tebow was remarkably accurate on almost all his intermediate and deeper throws.
There’s a larger context, of course, one that’s compelling both in the short term as Denver prepares for its rematch with the Patriots, and in the long run, as Tebow’s performance is further analyzed and evaluated.
Here’s the link for the entire article since it’s fairly long.
http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/01/11/cosell-talks-tim-tebows-best-day-ever/
Times like this have me wishin’ we’d practice outside regardless of the weather.The game gets played regardless.It’s best to be prepared for ALL conditions not just the ones we can possibly control.
im not sure about the kicking game all i can think of is maybe the ball travels shorter in cold weather, air pressure in the ball may be differant in the cold.
going to start a new club in colorado springs…….rocky mnt believers… with weekly beatings for non believers..lol
lol@777
just kidding admin..just kidding.
Gonna use a Tebow jersey and football studded cat o nine tails for those beatings 777?
What do you gain by betting agaisnt the Broncos??? At this point of the season I’d rather pick them and be wrong then pick agaisnt them and be right!!!
GO BRONCOS
true crusher true
Raiders are gonna suck for another decade. I don’t think Mark Davis or Mckenzie have a clue what they’re doing. And with the quarterback situation and everything else. Back down the toilet with them
DEMARYIUS PRIME, I like that one, where is MAGATRON!! He’s back in cold storage while Tim and the Prime take down the Steel curtain, ALL HALE THE BRONCOS! ELVIS , is in the House and the Ayers are full of Gloom, Champ is STILL THE CHAMP! and DJ Williams still cleans up the room, Say hey, there’s Joe Mays hanging out with a Goodman, there’s a Bruton taking orders from the B Dawk the wise ol’e sage and this whole thing is led by the Duke and a Fox. And then there is the the whole TEBOWING THING? and a NEW COMEBACK KING?! LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION AND FREAKING HOLLYWOOD COULDN’T RIGHT THIS….THERE IS ONLY ONE LOGICAL CONCLUSION TO THIS ALL…WIN IT ALL AND WRITE A NEW CHAPTER IN THE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME!!!
We are currently living in Wisconsin, but are Broncos fans, even against all odd here and the cheese heads. GO BRONCOS and Tebow, quit scaring us. The only good thing about all this is we might get to see Tebow go against Rogers. Oh I would die to see that. Go after Brady, get the picks, and have fun. You guys can do this, give me something to make our miserable Wisconsin winter, worth while. LOL, sorry good luck and best wishes