Denver Broncos and Bye week coaches film analysis

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Like most QBs I think Kaepernick decides who will get the ball before the snap and is a bit too slow to divert for another option. Ellington was an obvious option but Johnson had been so clutch...hard to go away from him to a rookie.

But that was about the only throw that was really suspect. I thought this was one of CK's better games...just had too many drops and too little time in the pocket.

Yea. I think Kaep played well. That INT was bad, though. But I don't think we had a chance last game anyways. Couldn't stop anything.

Originally posted by WeDidIt:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Like most QBs I think Kaepernick decides who will get the ball before the snap and is a bit too slow to divert for another option. Ellington was an obvious option but Johnson had been so clutch...hard to go away from him to a rookie.

But that was about the only throw that was really suspect. I thought this was one of CK's better games...just had too many drops and too little time in the pocket.

Yea. I think Kaep played well. That INT was bad, though. But I don't think we had a chance last game anyways. Couldn't stop anything.

Yea really the only bad play. They were blitzing hard every 3rd down and Kap was countering with the same throw every time. Only a matter of time before they jumped it.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by thl408:

This reminds me of our interception against Matt Shaub last year. We gave Matt a man look and it was zone and Reid? stepped in and got an INT. Colin will learn from this and he'll make defenses pay next time. He'll hit that underneath route and get a score.

What i don't like is that the proper pre-snap read should have told Kap the completion to slot guy (Stevie) was not not going to be there. Total brain fart.

Originally posted by thl408:
Here's the INT. After the four throws shown above where Kap pulled the trigger when he saw 1v1 man coverage with the CB in a trailing position, DEN opens the second half with this.

3Q 3rd & 3 (first possession of 2nd half)

DEN shows press alignment. Based on how we know this play ends, we can assume Kap has made his pre-snap based on the defensive alignment he sees and how he knows SJ is going vertical. Talib is #21


The ball was just snapped by Kilgore. Notice Talib getting out of his press alignment.


Kap looks straight ahead to hold the deep safety. Talib starts to bail on Ellington. In doing so, Talib is basically giving up any sort of short inside breaking route to Ellington. In this case, a short In.


After holding the deep safety, Kap sees that the CB on SJ has his back turned to Kap. That confirms his pre-snap read of man coverage, trail position. Kap (mid windup) throws to SJ without checking what Talib has done. I say this because had Kap glanced at Talib, there's no way this pass is thrown with Talib watching Kap and bailing while in such close proximity to where the throw is headed.


It happens really fast, but right before the GIF starts, Kap looks to his left (away from where he will throw). Once he gets the snap, he looks straight to hold the middle safety. I don't think he bothered to check what Talib was doing. He assumed Talib was also playing press man based off the pre-snap alignment. Looney gets owned and the pass is off the back foot.

One thing that I really like about this throw as said before is that Kap used his eyes to hold the safety in the middle of the field. This is definite improvement from even just a couple of weeks ago.

This play also shows a couple of things that I think Kap could improve. Using a stop watch I timed it and because Looney blew his block, Kap had 1.5 seconds from the time he got the snap to the time he threw the ball. I think if Kap kinda used the principal "the quicker the throw, the shorter the throw" he would make less mistakes like this. The downside being maybe we dont convert as many 3rd downs, but I see this from other QB's.

Overall though, I think opposing defenses are noticing that Kap gets far more comfortable with SOME of his recievers than all of this targets. This can explain why they left Ellington wide open on this play in order to double SJ. If Kap proves to teams at the beginning of the game that he can complete high percentage passes to ALL of his recievers, it keeps the defense honest and makes them play against ALL of the players on the field, not just the known Kap favorites.

Regarding the INT, I didn't post a very good GIF of what happened presnap from the end zone view. Here's a better one.


I had no problem with his pre-snap read of the defensive alignment. This is my best guess as to Kap's thought process when he saw press alignment on Elilington and SJ: If Talib plays press man coverage on Ellington, Talib will follow Ellington on the short In route. This means the matchup of SJ versus the slot CB is available provided the deep safety stays in the middle of the field (since Talib will follow Ellington).

From the GIF above, it shows how Kap never saw that Talib started to bail just before the snap. In fact, Kap looks away from where he is about to throw. He looks to his left. Post snap, when the immediate pressure up the gut came (thanks Looney), Kap never had time to check if anything regarding his pre-snap read had changed. There was indeed a change and that was Talib bailing to help take away anything vertical to SJ.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by TheRatMan13:
^^^ I guess the good thing here is that Kap is using his eyes to move people away from the throw. Had he had more time, he may have seen Talib and hit Bruce.

This is a part of his game that I think still needs improvement. When he has blitzers in his face, a lot of his INTs come because he throws to a receiver rather than throwing it away. A lot of young guys have this problem, and it has gotten better for Kap, but he still makes these types of mistakes from time to time. Unfortunately, we were already in a position where we couldn't afford to give Denver any more chances.

Yeah, b/c Stevie was facing jam/press (obstacle) he had to defeat the DB first to try and get to his spot and even though he was enroute to get there, the DB was still in position and on his hip leaving a VERY small window to throw into. B/c of the obstacle in front of him, I don't think Stevie was able to fully get to the spot cleanly/timely. You can see CK his his second step, plant to throw and Stevie wasn't there yet. CK also had to rush the throw a bit as well d/t the inside pressure not to mention those were some piss poor QB mechanics as well. Watch his feet on the drop back and arm-sling pass (falling back throw...maybe trying to buy an extra .5 a second for Stevie to get there). It may have just sailed on him and/or Johnson couldn't get to the spot on time or a combination of both (with added pressure). That's what jam/press does though...makes a QB hesitate if played properly and makes it hard for the WR to get to his spot timely.

But SJ beat the CB cleanly off the line of scrimmage and immediately had a step on the CB. The INT occurred because the pass was overthrown due to Kap throwing off his back foot, like you mentioned. The main reason, though, is because Talib was in perfect position to see the throw the whole way as well as play it. The moment Talib bailed on Ellington, this throw had no chance because SJ was basically double teamed. The INT did not happen because SJ was pressed.

I get that you want to so badly find an example where press coverage can throw off timing, and there are many examples of it every Sunday. This is not one of them.

You don't see SJ fighting and having to go through and around the DB to get to the spot while CK tries to buy an extra .5 a second waiting for him to get open? Really? That's what good jam-press does even if not 100% effective (like here). Talib was in the right place at the right time (with a good disguise as well) and not even that close to the route itself until the pass, literally, landed in his lap. CK looks like he's throwing to the spot and SJ couldn't get there...plus, I can't tell from the angle but the pass may have sailed a bit as well d/t throwing off his back foot backwards and slinging it in there last possible second. You don't see the DB as an obstancle there...I do. No biggie.

OK, now with the gif form the endzone, i have to change my opinion, before I thought it was on Kap, it's more on Looney giving up imediate pressure.
Talib was probalby watching Kap and as soon he turned his head he bailed.

i don't know if he could see Talib or not, if he was able to see him and still threw the ball it's his mistake.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by TheRatMan13:
^^^ I guess the good thing here is that Kap is using his eyes to move people away from the throw. Had he had more time, he may have seen Talib and hit Bruce.

This is a part of his game that I think still needs improvement. When he has blitzers in his face, a lot of his INTs come because he throws to a receiver rather than throwing it away. A lot of young guys have this problem, and it has gotten better for Kap, but he still makes these types of mistakes from time to time. Unfortunately, we were already in a position where we couldn't afford to give Denver any more chances.

Yeah, b/c Stevie was facing jam/press (obstacle) he had to defeat the DB first to try and get to his spot and even though he was enroute to get there, the DB was still in position and on his hip leaving a VERY small window to throw into. B/c of the obstacle in front of him, I don't think Stevie was able to fully get to the spot cleanly/timely. You can see CK his his second step, plant to throw and Stevie wasn't there yet. CK also had to rush the throw a bit as well d/t the inside pressure not to mention those were some piss poor QB mechanics as well. Watch his feet on the drop back and arm-sling pass (falling back throw...maybe trying to buy an extra .5 a second for Stevie to get there). It may have just sailed on him and/or Johnson couldn't get to the spot on time or a combination of both (with added pressure). That's what jam/press does though...makes a QB hesitate if played properly and makes it hard for the WR to get to his spot timely.

But SJ beat the CB cleanly off the line of scrimmage and immediately had a step on the CB. The INT occurred because the pass was overthrown due to Kap throwing off his back foot, like you mentioned. The main reason, though, is because Talib was in perfect position to see the throw the whole way as well as play it. The moment Talib bailed on Ellington, this throw had no chance because SJ was basically double teamed. The INT did not happen because SJ was pressed.

I get that you want to so badly find an example where press coverage can throw off timing, and there are many examples of it every Sunday. This is not one of them.

You don't see SJ fighting and having to go through and around the DB to get to the spot while CK tries to buy an extra .5 a second waiting for him to get open? Really? That's what good jam-press does even if not 100% effective (like here). Talib was in the right place at the right time (with a good disguise as well) and not even that close to the route itself until the pass, literally, landed in his lap. CK looks like he's throwing to the spot and SJ couldn't get there...plus, I can't tell from the angle but the pass may have sailed a bit as well d/t throwing off his back foot backwards and slinging it in there last possible second. You don't see the DB as an obstancle there...I do. No biggie.

Yeah I'm pretty tired of this press jam jelly talk. I want to stop before we just start repeating ourselves. No biggie.

Originally posted by thl408:
Yeah I'm pretty tired of this press jam jelly talk. I want to stop before we just start repeating ourselves. No biggie.

You got it!

What cool about the other angle you showed above, it looks like CK (probably on purpose) doesn't look to his right until he throws...he keeps his head to the left until the last second. It seems like he's learning these little nuances we were talking about a few games ago.

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by cciowa:
understand . i was just venting. i told myself i was going to take a week break like the players are doing but i am not mentally tough enough .. you do have to meet me half way and admit, the red mark in the middle of his forehead looks stupid

idk what you're talking about

don't forget about about the two on the side of his head too!

what are you guys talking about

That's what we're talking about ^. Peyton wears his helmet so tight that the inner padding leaves red marks on his ginormous forehead.

Originally posted by JeuSF49:
OK, now with the gif form the endzone, i have to change my opinion, before I thought it was on Kap, it's more on Looney giving up imediate pressure.
Talib was probalby watching Kap and as soon he turned his head he bailed.

i don't know if he could see Talib or not, if he was able to see him and still threw the ball it's his mistake.

Looney certainly didn't help. LOL. The defender did slide by him w/o touching him but it rushed the throw as well. But Johnson was just not open at all. I'd say, "No way!" to him fitting that in there somehow but then again, he has done that before...even in this game, specifically to Boldin. It happens...perfect storm; jam press, blanket coverage, help over the top, inside instant pressure, throwing off the back foot, slinging the ball (can't step into the throw), etc.

Originally posted by SFFanSince72:

One thing that I really like about this throw as said before is that Kap used his eyes to hold the safety in the middle of the field. This is definite improvement from even just a couple of weeks ago.

This play also shows a couple of things that I think Kap could improve. Using a stop watch I timed it and because Looney blew his block, Kap had 1.5 seconds from the time he got the snap to the time he threw the ball. I think if Kap kinda used the principal "the quicker the throw, the shorter the throw" he would make less mistakes like this. The downside being maybe we dont convert as many 3rd downs, but I see this from other QB's.

Overall though, I think opposing defenses are noticing that Kap gets far more comfortable with SOME of his recievers than all of this targets. This can explain why they left Ellington wide open on this play in order to double SJ. If Kap proves to teams at the beginning of the game that he can complete high percentage passes to ALL of his recievers, it keeps the defense honest and makes them play against ALL of the players on the field, not just the known Kap favorites.

But don't you think the depth of the safety was a give away that Ellington was going to have one on one coverage with a lot of space on the under route even before Talib broke off early?

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by cciowa:

understand . i was just venting. i told myself i was going to take a week break like the players are doing but i am not mentally tough enough .. you do have to meet me half way and admit, the red mark in the middle of his forehead looks stupid

idk what you're talking about

don't forget about about the two on the side of his head too!

what are you guys talking about

That's what we're talking about ^. Peyton wears his helmet so tight that the inner padding leaves red marks on his ginormous forehead.

His helmet head reminds me of a swollen thumb.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by JeuSF49:
OK, now with the gif form the endzone, i have to change my opinion, before I thought it was on Kap, it's more on Looney giving up imediate pressure.
Talib was probalby watching Kap and as soon he turned his head he bailed.

i don't know if he could see Talib or not, if he was able to see him and still threw the ball it's his mistake.

Looney certainly didn't help. LOL. The defender did slide by him w/o touching him but it rushed the throw as well. But Johnson was just not open at all. I'd say, "No way!" to him fitting that in there somehow but then again, he has done that before...even in this game, specifically to Boldin. It happens...perfect storm; jam press, blanket coverage, help over the top, inside instant pressure, throwing off the back foot, slinging the ball (can't step into the throw), etc.

Talib was doing a lot of watching CK when in man coverage during the game.


here Denver is going to run straight man at the goal line. You see the inside defender trying to alert the slot corner for the pick play - doesn't get communicated.

You see Denver come with the blitz and the defender who tried to communicate the pick gets picked. This opens up Crabs.

You see when Ck goes to throw - this play looks like it should work. Boldin has the two inside defenders occupied and Talib is on Johnson in man-coverage on a vertical route. However, Talib never turns around to trail Johnson, he works back with him, but keeps his eyes on CK.

The moment Ck throws the ball Talib is able to jump on the route.


He's able to come at Crabtree with a full head of steam - that's just a good play by a good defender. But, it's to show that Talib was watching the QB's eyes a lot in man-coverage.

Originally posted by T-9ers:

Originally posted by SFFanSince72:
One thing that I really like about this throw as said before is that Kap used his eyes to hold the safety in the middle of the field. This is definite improvement from even just a couple of weeks ago.

This play also shows a couple of things that I think Kap could improve. Using a stop watch I timed it and because Looney blew his block, Kap had 1.5 seconds from the time he got the snap to the time he threw the ball. I think if Kap kinda used the principal "the quicker the throw, the shorter the throw" he would make less mistakes like this. The downside being maybe we dont convert as many 3rd downs, but I see this from other QB's.

Overall though, I think opposing defenses are noticing that Kap gets far more comfortable with SOME of his recievers than all of this targets. This can explain why they left Ellington wide open on this play in order to double SJ. If Kap proves to teams at the beginning of the game that he can complete high percentage passes to ALL of his recievers, it keeps the defense honest and makes them play against ALL of the players on the field, not just the known Kap favorites.

But don't you think the depth of the safety was a give away that Ellington was going to have one on one coverage with a lot of space on the under route even before Talib broke off early?

It was a give away that all the defenders were in 1-1 coverage and S. Johnson is your tallest, big bodied receiver on a Nickel back. I'd take that matchup over a rookie against one of the best corners in the league too.