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znModeratorznModerator‘We Read Them Like a Book’
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and his unit utilized ‘green-dog’ blitzes and an extra lineman to overwhelm Cam Newton and a Panthers offense that had no answers in Super Bowl 50
by Andy Benoit
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/02/08/nfl-super-bowl-50-denver-broncos-defense
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — All week long the question was, How would the Broncos react to Cam Newton. Sunday’s answer: they’d make Newton react to them.
“He really doesn’t scramble a whole lot,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said, holding the Lombardi Trophy. “He tries to throw from the pocket.”The Broncos at times dedicated a spy on Newton in situations where he would be more inclined to scramble, but mostly they went into attack mode, blitzing Newton out of their man-to-man packages.
Phillips’ biggest decision heading into this game was what to do with his extra defenders. He knew that in man coverage he’d often have at least one, and maybe two. The Panthers, after all, like to keep a tight end and/or fullback in to help their athletically average offensive line in pass protection. So what do you do with the man-to-man defenders who are assigned to the tight end or fullback?
Phillips’ solution was to have them blitz. This tactic, known as green-dog blitzing, is an aggressive yet relatively safe way to combat a dual threat quarterback like Newton. As long as the green-dog blitzers are patient and sure that their man is not just chip-blocking but actually staying in all the way, and as long as they’re disciplined in their rush lanes so as not to disrupt the four rushing defensive lineman, it can be a lethal approach.
Linebacker Brandon Marshall, who has been a key green-dog blitzer for Denver all season, said this was the plan every time they saw extra men stay in to help pass protect. “In a lot of games we saw on film, Newton was just sitting back, patting the ball,” Marshall said. “We’d see two [free defenders] in the middle of the field just not doing anything.”“They did everything that we saw on film,” Marshall said. “That’s the crazy thing. Nothing new.”
Another crucial benefit of green-dog blitzing is it prevents those extra blockers from doing what they’re employed specifically to do, which is help the offensive line. Tight end Ed Dickson can’t help heavy-legged right tackle Mike Remmers with a double team on Von Miller if Dickson has to react to a safety coming after his quarterback. Fullback Mike Tolbert can’t lend a hand to slower-footed Michael Oher against DeMarcus Ware if a linebacker has suddenly pinned his ears back and is rushing.
And often, the Panthers like to have Dickson and Tolbert blocking on the same side so that the entire O-line can slide the other way. By green dog blitzing, that O-line slide gets nullified because the green-dog blitzers become the edge rushers, allowing the D-lineman to run twists and stunts just a few slots over against the sliding blockers.
With this proactive approach, the Broncos turned in one of the most dominant Super Bowl performances in history. The Panthers offense scored a season-low in points (10) and gave up season-highs in turnovers (four) and sacks (seven).
Adding players to the pass rush “flustered them a lot,” said safety T.J. Ward. “They didn’t expect that.”
Ward was asked if the Panthers showed them anything that they didn’t expect. “No. We read them like a book.”
“They did everything we watched on film,” said fellow safety Darian Stewart.
The safeties weren’t the only ones saying this. Marshall, when asked the question, laughed. (Causing linebacker Todd Davis, one locker over, to also laugh.) “They did everything that we saw on film,” Marshall said. “That’s the crazy thing. You’d think with two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl, they would do a new wrinkle. They did everything the same. Nothing new.”
The only man who could think of any unexpected play from Carolina was, of course, Coach Phillips. He cited the Ted Ginn throwback attempt to Newton (which the Broncos took away) and the misdirection third-and-short throw to Greg Olsen (which got the Broncos).Besides green-dog blitzing, Phillips’ other big focus was taking away Carolina’s running game. The Panthers, with all of their heavy two-tight end and two-back sets, present a lot of moving pieces on the ground. But they’ll also run the ball out of what’s become the default formation leaguewide: three wide receivers. Phillips noticed something here. “They can’t run against a seven man front with three wide receivers.”
Few teams had exploited Carolina here because defenses often play a six-man front against three-receiver sets if it’s a passing situation. The Panthers are willing to still run in those situations, which concerned Phillips. So, to put an extra body in the front—which was crucial given that Newton must be treated as a ballcarrier—Phillips in certain scenarios replaced one of his nickel safeties with a fifth defensive lineman. That gave the Broncos five men along the line of scrimmage but still three corners in coverage. It’s a brilliant ploy because corners Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and Bradley Roby can easily cover Carolina’s mediocre wide receivers one-on-one. An extra safety wasn’t necessary.
Taking away the run was critical for two reasons: (1) It’s what the Panthers do best; and (2) Stopping it creates the third-and-long situations that allow guys like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware to tee off on iffy offensive tackles.
Not to mention, Denver felt that Carolina in obvious passing situations was schematically limited. “You can tell they spend more time on their run game than their passing game,” said Ward. “Their run game is intricate, with the hand-offs and the option runs, and guys pulling. Their passing game is pretty much what they show you in their previous weeks.”
And so the team that John Elway built to win via defense has claimed the franchise’s third Super Bowl thanks to a destructive defense. Talent was key, as it always is. But just as important is identifying the most advantageous ways to use the talent. The Broncos did this with tactical aggressiveness in all phases.
February 9, 2016 at 9:45 pm in reply to: Browns indicate they'll cut Johnny Manziel March 9 when league year opens #38790znModeratorBrowns lied about Manziel concussion to cover up his drinking
Michael David SmithReport: Browns lied about Manziel concussion to cover up his drinking
In a report on the league’s own network, the Browns have been accused of lying about Johnny Manziel having a concussion in an effort to cover up that the real problem with Manziel was showing up to work drunk.
“Johnny Manziel, going into what would have been a start late in the season, showed up drunk at practice on a Wednesday. The Browns lied and said he was in the concussion protocol. Let me repeat that: The Browns lied, to try to protect, and I would argue enable, this irresponsible and very troubled young man,” Mike Silver said on the air on NFL Network.
As PFT pointed out at the time, there’s always been something very fishy about Manziel’s Week 17 concussion diagnosis. On Monday of the last week of the season, then-Browns coach Mike Pettine said he planned to talk to Manziel about a video that appeared to show him drinking alcohol and partying. At that time, there were no reports that Manziel being checked for a concussion.
Then, when Manziel showed up to work on Wednesday, it was announced that he had a concussion and couldn’t play in that Sunday’s season finale. It was never explained why the Browns only diagnosed this concussion three days after it supposedly happened, and two days after Pettine said he was going to have a stern talk with Manziel about his off-field issues.
If NFL Network’s report is correct, the NFL should come down hard on the Browns. The league has spent the last few years repeating, over and over again, that concussions are to be taken seriously. If the Browns are using bogus concussion diagnoses to avoid having to discuss players’ off-field problems, that would be an appalling misuse of the league’s injury reports.
So while the Browns are done with Manziel, they may not be done paying the price for hitching their wagon to him. Cleveland could be facing league discipline for lying about a concussion.
znModeratorEli Manning Finally Explains His Sad Super Bowl Face
https://www.yahoo.com/news/eli-manning-finally-explains-sad-214000947.html
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is ready to explain his meme-inspiring Super Bowl moment.
When his brother Peyton Manning’s team, the Denver Broncos, scored a critical touchdown that helped them defeat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, cameras captured Eli looking less than enthused about his older brother’s soon-to-be victory.
On Monday the Giants star answered the question on everyone’s mind – why the heck did he look so unhappy watching his older bro on the field?
“I was focused on whether they were going for two, and knew the defense had to step up and make some stops,” Eli told TMZ.
February 9, 2016 at 1:21 am in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #38770znModerator2016 Mock Draft Roundup: First Edition
By Myles Simmons
With the Super Bowl complete — congratulations to the Denver Broncos, by the way — it’s time to close the chapter on last season and begin anew with 2016. Here on therams.com, we’re getting the ball rolling on the offseason with our first edition of the mock draft roundup.
There are a lot of draft analysts out there and many have thoughts about what the Rams will do with their first-round pick at No. 15 overall. In each roundup leading up to the draft on April 28, we’ll take a look at a few predictions from around the web.
As a disclaimer, do keep in mind that these are, at best, educated guesses. We’ll all find out Los Angeles’ pick at the same time in the spring when commissioner Roger Goodell reads the card from the podium in Chicago.
Without further ado, let’s get to those mock drafts.
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Given the Rams’ struggles offensively in 2015, it’s no real surprise to see many analysts predicting the club addressing the game’s most important position at No. 15. To start, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the team taking Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in Rd. 1.
“Do I think Lynch is a Week 1 starter? Absolutely not. Do I think he has significant upside and would be a potential starter in Year 2 with a roster still on the rise? Sure,” Kiper writes (Insider subscription required — $$).
Lynch was a common prediction for Los Angeles’ first-round pick throughout January. Kiper’s ESPN colleague, Todd McShay, also had the Memphis quarterback going to the Rams in his second mock of the offseason.
“While I still have more work to do on him, Lynch does have a lot of the tools you look for in future NFL starters — size, arm strength, mobility and the ability to create when the initial play breaks down,” McShay said (Insider subscription required — $$). “Two concerns I have early in the pre-draft process: his inconsistent decision-making and accuracy.”
Three at NFL media concur with the pick, as Daniel Jeremiah, Lance Zierlein, and Chad Rueter all have L.A. selecting Lynch at No. 15. Jeremiah noted, “Lynch is very raw, but he has unlimited potential.”
Widely considered one of the top-three quarterbacks in the 2016 draft, Lynch spent three years as Memphis’ starter, improving leaps and bounds over that time. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Lynch completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,056 yards with just nine touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 5.9 yards per attempt. But as a redshirt junior in 2015, Lynch completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,778 yards with 28 touchdowns, just four interceptions, and 8.5 yards per attempt.
The signal-caller tied an FBS record with seven passing touchdowns in a half during Memphis’ 63-0 blowout victory over SMU on Nov. 28. Lynch had only nine total completions in that game.
Lynch recently told a San Francisco radio station he intends to throw at the combine, which will add to the intrigue of the event later this month.
——————
One notable exception on the Lynch-to-the-Rams narrative is Rob Rang of The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com. He’s sticking with the quarterback position, but instead of Lynch, Rang has Cal quarterback Jared Goff falling to the Rams at No. 15.
Rang writes Goff could be the missing piece for Los Angeles contending in the NFC West, as the club already sports “Pro Bowler Todd Gurley and the playmaking Tavon Austin on offense, and the NFL’s most ferocious defensive line.”
“Goff lacks the build and arm strength scouts would prefer but he is an instinctive quarterback who wins with anticipation and accuracy,” Rang adds.
As another top QBs in the draft, Goff has come off the board within the top five picks from many analysts. He was a three-year starter for the Golden Bears, beginning that process as a true freshman in 2013 — setting numerous program single-season records that first year. He continued to re-write the Cal record books for the next two seasons, finishing 2015 completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 4,714 yards passing with 43 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 8.9 yards per attempt.
Goff has also indicated he plans to throw at the combine.
————
Finally, for a pretty out-of-the-box prediction, the folks at Walter Football have Los Angeles selecting defensive tackle Andrew Billings out of Baylor at No. 15. Yes, you read that right, a defensive tackle.
“This may seem like a weird pick, given that the Rams have Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers starting at defensive tackle, but they’ve shown that they’re willing to take the best player available if he happens to be a very talented defensive lineman,” the site says. “That happens to be the case here, as Andrew Billings could easily be chosen in the top 10.”
Billings was the Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year after registering 15 tackles for loss and registering 5.5 sacks — a mark that tied for the team lead. The defensive tackle is on the young side, as he turns 21 in March. But based on his size and strength, he does have a chance to make an impact inside early on in his career.
znModeratorThe Broncos set a record with 12 straight failures to convert on 3rd down.
Yet some idiot Ram fans would have you believe that Fisher doesn’t know how to build a championship offense.
You jest, but this is interesting.
We all know it’s easier to get somewhere with a top qb.
But then having a top qb isn’t as easy when that qb is facing a defense of high quality. Like, for example, Denver’s.
So, post-season and regular season combined, Denver’s record against top 15 qbs in 2015 (measured by qb rating) was 9-2. That includes games against Brady, Newton, Stafford, Roethlisberger, Smith, Rivers, and Rodgers.
Every single one of those qbs was ranked higher in 2015 (again by qb rating) than Peyton.
Actually Nick Foles was ranked higher than Peyton.
.
znModerator10 Takeaways from the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 Win
Randy Karraker
It wasn’t a Super Bowl for the ages, but it was an upset and perhaps dramatic because it was likely Peyton Manning’s last game of a Hall of Fame career, a 24-10 win over Carolina that gave Manning his second championship. Ten takeaways from the Bronco victory…
1) Lady Gaga turned in a magnificent rendition of the National Anthem. She’s theatrical and her 2:30 made people that bet the over happy. But she’s an amazingly talented singer and did herself proud with her performance.
2) Peyton Manning looked and played like an old man. He was 4-6 for 37 yards on Denver’s first drive, and just 9-17 for 104 yards after that. He was able to ride a great defense to the victory, but just didn’t play well. This is the ideal way for Manning to go out. Be remembered for going on with a Super Bowl win, not in another foreign uniform with a losing record.
3) The Denver defense may be one of the best ever. ESPN’s John Clayton asserted that the “Orange Rush” might be among the best five or six defenses in NFL history, and I questioned that. But when you look at their talent, their overall success and their historical place, it’s reasonable. The Broncos were first in overall defense and first against the pass, and third against the run. If they would have allowed 2.2 fewer yards per game against the run, they would have been the third team since 1970 to finish first overall and first against the run and pass. Then in the playoffs, they shut down a diminished Steelers team and stifled the Patriots before allowing the powerful Carolina offense just ten points. One of the five or six best ever is fair.
4) You need to protect the passer…even if your quarterback is Superman. Cam Newton was sacked six times by the ferocious Denver defense. He was sacked five times in ALL of September and six times in October, and wasn’t sacked more than five times in a game all season until this one. The Bronco defense didn’t give him a chance, and that was the story of the game.
5) Kony Ealy did Mizzou proudly. The Tiger had three sacks, an interception that looked like it was going to be a James Harrison type return, and also a strip/sack/recovery. He was the best front seven player for the Panthers in the Super Bowl.
6) Denver couldn’t take advantage of turnovers and a long punt return. Of course, the Broncos got the late touchdown after a strip/sack of Newton. But the Broncos couldn’t take advantage of starting position at Carolina’s 14 (field goal), their own 40 (Ealy’s interception), and their own 34 after a missed field goal (field goal). They finally got a seven (actually an eight) rather than a three late in the game to put it away, but they left themselves in a precarious position when they didn’t take better advantage of opportunities.
7) Ballpark Village exploded during and after Terry Crouppen’s #SlamStan commercial. Of course, the spot went viral nationally last week, but we wanted to see it during the broadcast here in St. Louis. It’s always good to see and hear someone defend our community, and Mr. Crouppen did a great job of it. I was at Ballpark Village for their party, and he got a rousing ovation. Otherwise, my favorite spot was the Shock Top commercial with the guy (comedian T.J. Miller) talking to the Shock Top mascot on the draft beer lever. Very funny.
8) Discipline was perhaps a product of inexperience for Carolina. After committing only three penalties in the first half, they were flagged nine times for 82 yards in the second. It seemed like the lost some poise after halftime, and those penalties played a role in their inability to come back in the second half. Only six Panthers had played in the Super Bowl. The stage may have been too big this time.
9) Did we need Coldplay at halfime? They were fine, but Bruno Mars and Beyonce stole the show. In five years, we’ll remember the “secondary” talents, rather than the “main attraction.”
10) Ten franchises have accounted for 63 of the 100 Super Bowl appearances, and 39 of the 50 Super Bowl wins (78%). Those ten teams are the Steelers (8 games, 6 wins), Dallas (8/5), New England (8/4), Denver (8/3), San Francisco (6/5), New York Giants (5/4), Green Bay (5/4), Washington (5/3), Raiders (5/3) and Miami (5/2). Buffalo and Minnesota are both 0-4 in Super Bowls too, so 71 of 100 appearances have come from 12 teams, 29 appearances and eleven wins are from the other 30 franchises.znModeratorWhat It’ll Take To Get LA Memorial Coliseum Ready For Rams
What It’ll Take To Get LA Memorial Coliseum Ready For Rams
VID AT LINK
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — From two Olympic Games to the first Super Bowl fifty years ago, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has a rich and storied history.
Now, the stadium may have to get prepared for a blast from the past as the Rams, who played here until 1981, prepare to take the field again.
In fact, the Rams will call the Coliseum home for three seasons until the Inglewood project is ready.
“The NFL has walked this grass. They’re happy with it. We should be just fine with this turf,” said Joe Furin, the coliseum’s general manager.
“There are things we don’t necessarily meet NFL standards. The question is going to be, ‘Will the Rams want them on short-term basis or be able to live with what we have?’ ” he said.
One such thing may be the stadium lights.
“There’s a range on how low or how bright they can be. We’re on the lower end right now. The NFL standards are a little higher than that,” he said.
And the Trojan-branded locker room.
Furin says real estate is tight and there’s not much room to build anything new.
“The challenges are going to be on Saturday and Sunday, changing out from a USC look and branding to whatever the Rams branding is,” he said.
But Furin says, just like the Staples Center flips the floor, they’ll flip the field.
USC plans to spend $270 million to upgrade everything down to the seats on the aging stadium. Hosting an NFL team like the Rams will certainly help with that cost.
Those renovations won’t start until 2019 after the Rams are set to move.
The NFL has used temporary collegiate stadiums before. Two years ago, the NFL and the Vikings spent nearly $10 million to upgrade TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota, so they’ll likely kick in for upgrades here.
“I talked with the head coach for the now Los Angeles Rams Jeff Fisher and he made it clear that the only thing that they need is good seats and green grass and they will do the rest,” said County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Ridley-Thomas is the president of the Coliseum Commission. He says hosting the Rams is a chance for Angelenos to root for the home team while watching history repeat itself.
“People will have that as an extra, added feature of what will make the next three seasons very special right here in Exposition Park,” he said.
Serene BransonznModeratorGurley salutes St. Louis fans in winning NFL honor
Jim Thomas
SAN FRANCISCO • Other than perhaps a playoff berth, Todd Gurley couldn’t have asked for a better rookie season in the NFL.
Capping an inaugural season in which he topped 1,000 yards rushing and made the Pro Bowl, the Rams’ running back was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year as voted on by the Associated Press.
Last month, Gurley also was named rookie of the year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
His voice nearly cracking with emotion, Gurley told a national television audience during Saturday’s NFL Honors show that the award: “Definitely means a lot. You know, a year ago, battling from an ACL (knee) injury to being offensive rookie of the year. I definitely appreciate everybody who voted for me.”
Gurley also had a shout-out to the fans of St. Louis during the telecast, while also saying hello to his new Los Angeles fan base.
“I just want to say something to the St. Louis fans,” Gurley said. “I know you all might be disappointed that we’re leaving. But you know, I still support the fans. … We’re gonna be in LA next year, so hopefully we’ll make some noise out there.”
Still emotional after a brief press conference backstage, Gurley said his remarks to St. Louis a few minutes earlier on TV were heartfelt.
“This is for them,” Gurley said, clutching the award.
Gurley is the first Rams offensive rookie of the year since quarterback Sam Bradford in 2010, but the team has now gone back-to-back in rookie honors because defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the AP’s defensive rookie of the year last season.
Donald was a finalist for defensive player of the year this season, but the award went to Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt on Saturday.
Only two other Rams besides Gurley and Bradford have won offensive rookie of the year awards – running backs Jerome Bettis (1993) and Eric Dickerson (1983). Both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This season, Gurley finished with 1,106 yards rushing and scored 10 touchdowns despite playing in only 13 games. He missed the first two games as he completed rehab work from a knee injury and subsequent surgery in 2014 in college at Georgia.
He also missed the season finale in San Francisco with turf toe, but played in the Pro Bowl and said Saturday night that the toe is fine.
Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 125 yards or more in four consecutive games. His 566 yards rushing in his first four starts are the most for a rookie in the Super Bowl era.
“I couldn’t even picture myself being in these shoes a year ago,” Gurley said. “My biggest thing was to just try to get back playing on the field and get healthy. To get this award is definitely a blessing. I couldn’t imagine this in a million years.
“Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and everybody that believed in me and helped me get to this point.”
znModeratorCould Nick Foles be headed for a Philadelphia reunion?
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — If the Los Angeles Rams are going to add to their quarterback position this offseason, the reality is that they’re going to have to subtract at least one of the players currently on the depth chart.
Odds are that if they have to choose one signal-caller to delete, it will be veteran Nick Foles. Last week, I explored the Rams’ options and what it would cost to let Foles go.
Of course, that didn’t account for the (seemingly unlikely) chance that they’d be able to trade Foles. That could be where the Philadelphia Eagles come in, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Schefter reported that new Eagles coach Doug Pederson could be interested in a reunion with Foles as the Eagles go into this offseason. That’s because Schefter also reported that though Philadelphia has interest in keeping quarterback Sam Bradford, it is unlikely to use the franchise tag to make sure that happens. If Bradford walks, the Eagles would be in the market for a quarterback all over again.
So, is an Eagles-Foles reunion feasible and would it work? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Phillyvoice.com’s Jimmy Kempski makes the case for a Foles-for-DeMarco Murray swap.
NJ.com’s Elliott Shorr-Parks is far more skeptical of a possible Foles return.
Regardless, the Rams have to find a way to get better at quarterback. Finding a taker for Foles, especially via trade (even if it only nets a late-round pick), would be ideal because it would save the Rams a big chunk of money against the salary cap. Of course, that’s also the reason it will be very difficult to find a team willing to trade for him.
znModeratorDENVER BRONCOS / NFL
Von Miller, defense carry Broncos to Super Bowl 50 victory
Miller: “This is magical. It’s something you dream about”By Troy E. Renck
The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29489135/von-miller-defense-carry-broncos-super-bowl-50
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Von Miller leaned through the mass of reporters and photographers, angling his body to his cubicle in the back of the locker room. It was his most difficult path of resistance here Sunday night.
Miller and the Orange Rush attacked the Carolina Panthers with breathtaking ferocity, tired of hearing about their quarterback, Cam Newton, tired of seeing their dancing moves, exhausted by a perceived lack of respect.
When Miller reached the corner, a call came out, “Von, turn the music on. It’s time to celebrate!”
The Broncos smothered the Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50, gold confetti cascading onto the Levi’s Stadium at the end of one of the most dominant defensive performances in the game’s history. For all the importance of Peyton Manning’s likely final game — he will take time to make up his mind — Miller and the Orange Rush broke the Panthers’ will and their hearts.
“This is magical,” Miller said. “It’s something you dream about.”
It’s time to party like it’s 1999, Broncos fans. Denver owns its third championship, and it’s most unlikely since John Elway guided the Broncos to a 31-24 upset of Green Bay. That snapshot exists forever as owner Pat Bowlen stood on the podium and gave credit to Elway. Eighteen years later, Elway returned the favor.
“This one’s for Pat,” the general manager said of the team’s longtime owner who is at home resting and fighting the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Irony dripped throughout the victory. On a team constructed by a quarterback, coached by a quarterback and known for a quarterback, the Broncos defense delivered a breathtaking performance.
Miller was a lightning bolt, racing around Carolina’s tackles. He finished with 2.5 sacks and most valuable player honors, catapulting him into an offseason where he’s in line to become the league’s highest-paid defensive player.
Miller’s rage symbolizes a Denver team that had grown weary of praise for league MVP Cam Newton. The Broncos held the Panthers to a season-low 10 points. Newton spent the evening fleeing, taunted by the Broncos.
“We let them talk all week. We talk with our helmets and shoulder pads. We are not about that flashy life. We about putting that grind in, putting in that work,” said safety T.J. Ward, whose fourth-quarter fumble recovery set up the Broncos’ lone offensive touchdown. “They wanted to be famous. They want be rappers and backup dancers.. We want to play football. We wanted to be champions.”
The Broncos’ unit ranks among the all-time greats after delivering seven sacks, producing four turnovers and a touchdown. Newton completed 18 of 41 passes and left after brief comments on the podium.
“Cam, Cam, Cam. It got old listening to all the talk about him all week,” defensive Malik Jackson said. “We dominated them. We should be talked about now among the all-time greats.”
Miller punctuated the argument with an endless assault on Carolina’s overmatched tackles. It was as if the AFC championship game never ended. Newton, named the league’s MVP Saturday night, spent Sunday fleeing for his security and shaking his head in disgust.
“They just played better than us,” Newton said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
One play said everything about the bare-knuckle Broncos march to their third title.
With the Broncos’ offense nothing more than a water break for the defense, Denver stared down Newton with 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. A 16-10 cushion felt, if only briefly, vulnerable.
The Panthers faced a third-and-9, Newton dropped back to pass. Carolina had to make a difficult choice.Double Miller or peel off to chip a blitzing Ward. They miscalculated. Before Newton could sling his arm forward, Miller swatted the football out of his hand. Ward pounced on it, setting up the Broncos’ only offensive touchdown, a 2-yard run by C.J. Anderson.
“This means the world to me, to be able to coach this group,” said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, tears in his eyes. “What an effort by these guys. I love coaching them.”
The past two performances by the Broncos in the playoffs, stifling Newton and battering New England’s Tom Brady, leaves their defense favorably mentioned with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and 1985 Chicago Bears among the all-time best.
When repeatedly asked last week how the Broncos would stop Newton, the league MVP, Broncos strong safety Ward blurted, “Shouldn’t the question be the other way around?”
Manning walked away a winner, and into history’s embrace. At 39 he became the oldest quarterback to claim a Super Bowl title and the first to start and win for two different franchises.
“It’s very special,” Manning explained, saying he would take time before deciding if he will retire. “It’s important to take this all in. I am just glad we didn’t have to play against our defense.”
While the Panthers’ near spotless record and mauling defense convinced many the Broncos would be easy prey, Denver entered with confidence gleaned from the game plan and Saturday night speeches from Ware and Manning that defensive end Antonio Smith called “inspiring, emotional and spiritual.” Manning stepped into the huddle with his chest puffed out. He enjoyed his best week of practice and built on it early.
He opened with an 18-yard completion to Owen Daniels. He connected with Andre Caldwell for 22 yards. Manning went four-for-six for 47 yards, leading to Brandon McManus’ 34-yard field goal. It marked only the fourth time a team has scored on Carolina on the opening possession, but represented an aberration. The Broncos managed only one additional first half first down, finishing with 117 yards, 56 coming on two plays. The Broncos finished with only 194 yards, again turning the game over to its defense in the second half.
“We did just enough,” Anderson said. “I love it. I love it.”
What happened early made the Broncos’ role reversal from two years ago feel complete. Remember when one team had a defense playing on high speed and the other was on dial-up? The Broncos became the Seahawks. On third-and-10 from Carolina’s 15-yard line in the first quarter, Miller burst into the backfield and Newton’s face. Miller grabbed the football as he shoved Newton down. It sprang loose and Jackson scooped it up for the first Super Bowl fumble recovery touchdown in 22 years. He fired the football into the stands to orange-splashed fans in section 124. The noise of Broncos fans created issues for the Panthers throughout.
“I was going to do a dead fish soccer celebration like in a video game,” Jackson said. “But maybe a kid got a souvenir instead.”
Carolina, as expected, surged back behind Newton. He established the ground game with Jonathan Stewart hurting and punished the Broncos’ man coverage. Stewart plunged in from 1-yard out to shave the Broncos’ lead to 10-7 with 11:25 remaining in the second.
The Panthers’ defense began to play more aggressively at the line, leaving special teams as Denver’s primary weapon. Jordan Norwood fooled Carolina, walking into fair catch position. He raised no hand and took off, galloping 61 yards for the longest punt return in Super Bowl history. But a reserve lineman ran him down, and Denver fizzled on fourth-and-1 as officials flagged right guard Louis Vasquez for holding. Out trotted McManus for a 23-yard kick to inflate Denver’s cushion to 13-7.
The Broncos never will complain about leading in a Super Bowl given their previous five losses in the big game, but missed a chance for more points. With the Broncos in field-goal range midway through the second quarter, Manning misread a zone drop by defensive end Kony Ealy. Manning threw his first interception in 11 quarters and snapped his streak of 164 postseason passes without an interception.
A failure to convert on second-and-third and short undermined the the Broncos in the first half. Denver let its hair down after halftime, with Manning looking downfield. With Carolina conerback Josh Norman shadowing Demaryius Thomas, Manning turned to Emmanuel Sanders. He shoved the Broncos into the red zone for a third time. And yet it produced a third field goal, McManus’ 30-yarder widening the lead to 16-7.
In the days leading up to the game, Denver displayed bravado, not panic.
The Broncos humbled Newton, who struggled on zone reads, and couldn’t trust his tackles. Ward thwarted a third-quarter drive with an interception. The Broncos caught a break — luck figures into every special season — when Carolina kicker Graham Gano ricocheted a 43-yard field-goal attempt off the right upright. Denver entered the fourth quarter with five sacks and three takeaways, allowing it to lead despite an offense with 140 yards and one third-down conversion.
The onus was on the defense. Exactly what the Broncos wanted.
“You can forget the dab (dance). There ain’t no dabbing going on,” Ward bellowed as players passed around the Vince Lombardi Trophy. “They can go dab their eyes.”
znModeratorGreatest Show on Turf Celebrate Orlando Pace
Members of the Rams Greatest Show on Turf era share their memories of Hall of Fame offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
Dick Vermeil Talks Orlando Pace
Former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil talks about the contributions of offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
Those vids (linked in the previous post)…they’re good.
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znModeratorGreat for manning to go out. Like elway. Good for him.
Yes.
Also…this: last 4 superbowls, both teams win or lose, their defensive and offensive rankings —>
Broncos O: 16th D: 1st
Panthers O: 11th D: 6thPatz O: 11th D: 13th
Seattle O: 9th D: 1stSeattle O: 17th D: 1st
Broncos O: 1st D: 19thRavens O: 16th D: 17th
49ers O: 11th D: 3rdavg O: 11.5 D: 7.5
znModeratorApparently there was something called “a halftime show.”
I can’t verify that because I was outside getting wood for the woodstove.
znModeratorSo far it’s the Denver defense that’s driving this game.
Carolina back in it. They seem to have adjusted to the defense. Next move: Denver has to adjust back.
znModeratorPart 2
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Can move to Los Angeles help Rams in free agency?
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The offseason is here for the Los Angeles Rams and now that we know where they’ll be playing their home games for the long term, things have settled down enough to spend our weekends answering a few of your Twitter questions.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner and fire away with any Rams-related questions you might have. Please use hashtag #RamsMail so I can see them.
On to your questions.
Jerseyram1 @Rdvez1
@nwagoner #Ramsmail. Knowing the cost of living is higher in LA, however more sponsorship $ available to the players-does it help in FA?@nwagoner: It’s an interesting question, and it’s one that can really only be answered when we get there. The Rams have a lot of free agents so there will be ample sample size to find out how it helps in retaining their own as well as adding from the outside. I also have wondered if the Rams have been unable to get deals done with some of their own free agents until their future was settled. From an agent’s perspective, a deal is worth less in Los Angeles than it was in St. Louis based on state income tax so it’s possible it factored in to some of those discussions. On the other side, there’s no doubt that Los Angeles offers a more appealing lifestyle to many players, particularly the younger, single types. The weather is better and, as you point out, there’s more endorsement opportunities. I tend to think that in general, it won’t make a huge difference either way. Most players want the same thing that Rams owner Stan Kroenke wanted when he elected to move the team: the most money possible. That will always be the primary goal for free agents. If the Rams are competitive in that regard, perhaps the L.A. lifestyle could be a tiebreaker, but it’s not likely to be the primary reason for a player signing, no matter what they might say after the fact.
Mitch Friedman @mitchf7
@nwagoner #ramsmail what do you think the long-term plans are for Chris Long? What are Ramblings about resigning secondary? Hope u continue.@nwagoner: I wrote about Long’s future a couple of weeks ago here at ESPN.com, but we can revisit. At this point, it seems unlikely he returns, especially under his current contract which calls for a salary cap hit of more than $14 million. By his own admission, his production the past two years hasn’t met his salary, and he knows that puts him in a precarious position moving forward. He told me that he’s open to coming back at a reduced rate, but it could be difficult to make it work. It’s a very real possibility he has played his last game as a Ram. As for the secondary, the Rams have interest in bringing back all four of the starters from that group: Rodney McLeod, Mark Barron, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. It also might not be possible to make that happen. My hunch is that they’d prefer to keep Jenkins over Johnson if forced to choose but also know that Johnson might be cheaper to retain. They are still going through the process of figuring out Barron’s best fit, and until they do that it will be difficult to put a dollar value on him. There could be some shuffling on the back end depending on how it all plays out. There’s no doubt that the Rams’ offseason will be shaped largely by what happens with their defensive backs.
znModeratorOn the other hand……
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Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
A name to watch with Eagles’ off-season QB maneuvers: Nick Foles. Eagles’ HC Doug Pederson drafted Foles and is interested, per NFL sources.Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Eagles are not expected to use franchise tag on QB Sam Bradford, per league sources, though they still have some interest in re-signing him.znModeratorAfter watching Foles implode last season, who in their right mind would want him?
Well, just because it would be fun, I want the following to happen:
1. Rams sign Bradford
2. Eagles trade for Foles
znModeratorTodd Gurley wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
Rams running back Todd Gurley wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year at the 2016 NFL Honors.
znModeratorFoles and re-acquire the quarterback — especially for $8.75 million, which Foles is set to make next season.
Getting facts right.
Near as we can tell from public info currently available, anyone trading for Foles (or signing him if he’s cut) gets him for 1.75 M in 2016. Rams eat the rest.
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znModeratorCor-yell is a Hall of Famer in my book.
I’ve told my Coryell stories a million times. I was in St. Louis in the Coryell years. Then was in San Diego in the Air Coryell years. I even went to Chargers training camps a couple of times. I was a Rams fan when in SD, so mostly that led to me wishing the Rams could have an offense like that. And then in 99, they did.
San Diego was also my first experience with “don’t be THAT guy” kinds of fans. I remember listening to phone-in sports radio while driving, and guys were phoning in complaining about Fouts after a loss. Like, why couldn’t the Chargers just go out and get a qb who could run the ball some. This was in 79, when they went 12-4. Some fans were mad after a loss because at one point in the game, Fouts had a chance to run in the redzone and didn’t. (Or he tried and it didn’t work…I actually forget which it was.) So it was “dump this guy, find a real qb” day on San Diego sports radio.
I even remember what one caller said. “You know, it can’t be that hard just to get a guy in there who can run. You know, just get a guy in there. How hard could that be.”
So in 1979, some irate fans were complaining after a loss that Fouts was useless and Don Coryell didn’t know what he was doing.
..
..znModeratorDick Vermeil Talks Orlando Pace
Former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil talks about the contributions of offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
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Greatest Show on Turf Celebrate Orlando Pace
Members of the Rams Greatest Show on Turf era share their memories of Hall of Fame offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
February 7, 2016 at 10:40 am in reply to: 32 crazy stats from the 2015 nfl regular season (w/ 3 from Gurley) #38706znModeratorGurley also averaged an insane 8.0 yards per attempt on his 32 carries that came in the fourth quarter of one-score games. Altogether, 36 percent of his yardage came in the fourth quarter.
That really is a crazy stat.
znModeratorjust scratching the surface. yeah. and i don’t think he was fully himself physically in 2015. should be at full strength in 2016. and hopefully the oline gets better.
I have hunches about that.
I think both the OL and Gurley get better, so I agree with you.
Interestingly, the Rams young OL in 2015 was weaker at run blocking than pass blocking.
The conventional wisdom is that younger linemen are going to be better run blockers than pass blockers.
But the way the Rams have been under Boudreau/Fisher, they have actually kept in injured veteran linemen for (I firmly believe) their run blocking. That means, I think, that the Rams run schemes are classic OL group efforts and don’t reduce to one on one blocking.
So for example, the combo of Long and Chris Wms. actually got a lot out of Stacy in 2013, yet Stacy has not done anything since.
And in 2015 they got a lot out of Mason in spite of having to start an injured Saffold and an injured Wells.
This is just me thinking out loud.
Gurley, of course, adds his own element to the run game. You didn’t need stellar blocking to get things out of him.
But then imagine, as you say, an improved Gurley plus an improved OL.
znModeratorAs great as Pace was, I always got the impression he wasn’t putting all of his effort into it. The game always came easy for him so maybe he learned early on that he didn’t have to try as hard as others? I don’t know. This is just a feeling I have – I can’t back it up, but I thought he was a little lazy. So I often wondered how great he would have been had he truly been committed to his craft.
That’s fair.
The big question mark about Pace always was, what if the Rams just stayed put in the 97 draft and picked Walter Jones instead of trading up. Jones got in before Pace.
Martz on the other hand said the GSOT couldn’t have worked without Pace, since they could just count on him to hold his own.
That of course doesn’t address the Walter Jones issue.
I think a lot of Rams fans have reserved feelings about Pace because of the holdouts.
Not taking sides on this, just speculatatizing.
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znModeratorFor a long time my take on Manning was that he was a great example of the fact that many elite qbs who can keep teams alive and winning by passing alone crashed and burned in the post-season, because having that is not enough. You need something else—a defense, a more balanced offense, etc.
Ironically if Denver wins today he will then be a past-his-prime qb who helped a loaded defensive team win.
znModeratorWhen asked if he was surprised about the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, Finnegan replied: “Not surprised. I knew it was coming two, three years ago. They had already said it was gonna happen. We knew.”
This statement has attracted a lot of attention out there.
Interesting, too, what he says about JL.
znModeratorOrlando Pace’s Hall of Fame dreams started when he was young
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — It’s a 109-mile southeastern trip across Ohio to get from Sandusky to Canton. But the journey from high school basketball player to enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame was much longer for former St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
Pace, 40, remembers his first visit to the Hall.
“I was in high school, we were playing a basketball game in Canton and part of our trip was to go visit the Hall of Fame and take a tour,” said Pace, a Sandusky native. “It was pretty cool just to see. I was obviously into football, but to see all those great players — as a kid it seems so far-fetched that you’d have an opportunity to possibly be there. But you play this game to be great, you want to be one of the greats of the game. That’s what I think all players, especially professional players strive to be there.”
Pace realized that goal on Saturday night when he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Orlando Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 draft, earned seven Pro Bowl trips during his NFL career.
This was Pace’s second year on the ballot after just missing the cut in 2015. He learned plenty from that first time through, acknowledging that he was nervous and made the mistake of reading and listening to everybody telling him he was a lock to be voted into the Hall.By the time the Saturday voting process began last year, Pace was nervous and didn’t have any good diversions.
He vowed not to make that mistake again and made sure to fill up his itinerary with things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area this time around. Pace said earlier this week that he and his wife, Carla, planned to spend Saturday visiting nearby Napa, California.
“Last year, being that it was the first year, I didn’t know what to expect, and now I do,” Pace said earlier in the week. “You can handle it a little bit better the second time with the nerves.
“You’ve got to find something to do during the day to keep your mind off of it.”
Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 draft, earned seven Pro Bowl trips, five All-Pro honors and landed a spot on the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team. He helped the Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV and return to the big stage for Super Bowl XXXVI.
He blocked for two MVPs, protecting Kurt Warner’s blind side and opening holes for Marshall Faulk, as the Rams finished in the top 10 of total offense seven times and led the league in total yards, passing yards and points three straight seasons (1999-2001). Additionally, Pace was the left tackle for an offense that finished in the top five in passing yards for eight consecutive seasons.
But for all of those achievements, it’s this testimonial from former teammate Isaac Bruce that might best sum up why Pace is in Canton for more than just a visit.
“A guy like Orlando Pace, there’s no replacing him,” Bruce said. “How do you do what you do without him there? He was the one guy we didn’t want to lose to a knee injury or for two or three games. Oh no, that changes everything. So to me, he’s the guy. He’s the guy that you didn’t want to have to replace. Thank god we didn’t have to.”
It’s sentiment like that Pace values the most.
“That’s what you play for,” Pace said. “You can get your own stats or accolades, but when your peers respect you and peers say those types of things about you, that’s really why you play the game, to be respected by your peers. When they hold you in that high regard, that means a lot. It means a lot to me.”
And now the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton beckons a kid from Sandusky.
“Being from Ohio, having the chance to visit the Hall of Fame as a young player, you envision yourself being in that room or having your own bust. And for me, it’s always been a goal of mine to do that,” Pace said. “It’s just the chance to close out my career by meeting that last goal, that final goal I set out for.”
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Orlando Pace
Offensive tackle
6-7, 320
Ohio State
1997-2008, St. Louis Rams; 2009, Chicago Bears• Selected by St. Louis first overall in 1997 draft; first offensive lineman selected first overall since 1968
• Started all 16 games seven times during his 13-season career
• Blocked for three straight NFL MVPs (QB Kurt Warner, 1999, 2001, and RB Marshall Faulk in 2000) for “Greatest Show on Turf”
• Five-time All-Pro
• Seven-time Pro Bowler 2000-06
• Pro Football Hall of Fame 2nd team All-2000s Team
• Member of Super Bowl XXXIV champions and of 1999, 2001 NFC championsznModerator7 things to watch: Super Bowl Sunday
Jim Thomas
The No. 1 storyline of the game. Will it be the coming out party for young Cam Newton? Or the last rodeo for Peyton Manning? It could be both. Manning gets by on savvy more than skill these days, but has played better in the playoffs and certainly won’t be intimidated by the big stage. Newton, 13 years younger than Manning at age 26, is simply the best player in the NFL at this time — strong-armed, fleet-footed, and brimming with confidence. He accounted for a league-high 45 TDs this season passing and rushing.
THE DEFENSES
The QBs get most of the attention, but when all is said and done the defenses may have more to say about who wins this one. Led by pass-rushing bookends Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, plus a pair of Pro Bowl corners in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, Denver has the league’s top-ranked total defense and passing defense. Carolina isn’t far behind, ranking sixth in total defense and fourth in run defense. Sorry J.J. Watt (and Aaron Donald), but Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly may be the NFL’s best defender.TURNOVER TALE
During the regular season, Carolina led the league in takeaways (39) and takeaway-giveaway differential (plus-20). That hasn’t changed in the postseason, with the Panthers tops with nine takeaways and at plus-8. Keep in mind, Manning threw 17 interceptions in the regular season, tied for second-most in the NFL. And the Panthers don’t just take the ball away, they take it to the end zone. Including the playoffs, Carolina has a league-high six INT returns for touchdowns. Kuechly has two “pick 6s” in the postseason.CLOSE CALLS
Carolina outscored its opponents 266-121 in the first half during the regular season. In the playoffs, it’s even more lopsided at 55-7. But if the Broncos can avoid getting steamrolled in the first half, look out. Their defense keeps them in games, and Manning has a long career’s worth of experience closing things out. The Broncos are comfortable living on the edge. During the regular season and postseason, Denver is 11-3 in games decided by seven points or less. Those 11 such victories are an NFL record.X-FACTORS
OK, he’s no Rob Gronkowski, but Carolina TE Greg Olsen is a force, with 89 catches for 1,294 yards and eight TDs in the regular season plus playoffs. He never leaves the field, lines up everywhere, and has great rapport with Newton. Meanwhile for Denver, WR Demaryius Thomas is the first Bronco to log four consecutive 1,200-yard seasons and just the second with back-to-back 100-catch campaigns. But he has only six catches this postseason and should get aggressive press coverage from Panthers CB Josh Norman.GROUND FORCES
Carolina had the No. 2-ranked run offense behind the power running of Jonathan Stewart, the ultra-power running of fireplug Mike Tolbert, and the short-yardage and improv stylings of Newton. The Panthers were among only four teams that ran more than they passed. Denver ranked 17th in run offense, and has been worse in the playoffs averaging 3.3 yards per carry and 104 yards per game with the tandem of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. This could be the biggest matchup mismatch of Super Bowl Sunday.GO FIGURE
A mere two seasons ago, Cortland Finnegan was an opening-day starter and Darian Stewart started six games for a nondescript Rams secondary that finished 19th in pass defense and 28th in yards per pass. They have featured roles in Super Bowl 50: Stewart starts at free safety for Denver; Finnegan is Carolina’s nickel back. Wait — there’s more. Mike Remmers, buried on the Rams’ practice squad in 2014, is the starting right tackle for a Carolina offensive line that bullied Seattle and Arizona in the playoffs.znModeratorEmotional Todd Gurley caps long recovery with Offensive Rookie of the Year award
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — It was a long and arduous road back to a football field for Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley.
But after Gurley was officially named the Associated Press’ Offensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday night, he let out all of the pent-up emotion of a year spent rehabilitating from a torn left ACL.
“I think at this moment, all the emotions are pushing out,” Gurley said at the annual NFL awards ceremony in San Francisco. “I think besides this award, the Pro Bowl was another accolade that just brought all of the emotions out of me. It’s definitely a proud moment in my life so I’m gonna have my friends pick on me by crying but I’ll be fine.”
Gurley should be more than fine after taking home the highest honor for an offensive rookie. He adds the award to the same honor from the Pro Football Writers of America as well as his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
In his debut season, Gurley finished with 1,106 rushing yards, joining Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis as the only Rams rushers to reach 1,000 rushing yards in their rookie year. He was also first among all rookies in yards from scrimmage (1,294), second in total touchdowns (10) and first in 100-yard games (five).
Along the way Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 125 or more yards in four consecutive games. His 566 yards in his first four starts set an NFL record for the Super Bowl era, and he’s one of three rookies since 1970 to rush for 700 or more yards in his first six starts.
All of that despite playing just 13 games. Gurley, 21, missed the first two still working his way back from the injury he suffered in October 2014, then missed the season finale with a turf-toe issue.
“Coming off the ACL a year ago, to be able to win this award, it definitely means a lot,” Gurley said. “It’s a gift from God. I can’t say nothing else about it. Thank you to my teammates, coaches and everybody that believed in me and helped me get to this point.”
Gurley became the first Ram since Sam Bradford in 2010 to win the offensive rookie of the year award and his victory comes on the heels of Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald claiming the defensive version last year. He’s also the third running back in Rams history to win the offensive award, joining Hall of Famers Jerome Bettis (1993) and Eric Dickerson (1983).
Pretty good company for a player most believe is just scratching the surface of his potential and only figures to be better when he’s another year removed from that devastating knee injury in 2016.
“I couldn’t even picture myself being in these shoes a year ago,” Gurley said. “My biggest thing was to just try to get back and playing on the field and be healthy and to get this award is a blessing. I couldn’t have imagined this in a million years but it definitely happened.”
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