Broncos to rely on coordinated effort

Slowik hopes not to fumble his shot in a position that is rife with turnovers

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 21, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos

Bob Slowik inherits a defense that allowed 25.6 points a game last season.

Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos

Slowik, left, is the Broncos' third defensive chief in three years and isn't lacking in confidence. "I've been in enough places and coordinated enough, for almost half my career."

The third time's supposed to be the charm.

But here's Bob Slowik, on chance No. 4 as a defensive coordinator with the Broncos, via Chicago, Cleveland and Green Bay.

What the heck do you call that?

Good fortune, for starters.

Perseverance. Hard work.

"It just points out to me that you know he's good," said Dave McGinnis, now the Tennessee Titans assistant head coach and a member of the Bears' coaching staff with Slowik in the mid-1990s. "A lot of times you have to see through things that happen, such as, 'What were the injuries?' and get the overall picture."

When the Broncos report to training camp Thursday, Slowik will face the challenge of strengthening a defense that allowed 25.6 points a game last season, 28th in the NFL.

"I certainly don't lack confidence in what I do," said Slowik, the Broncos' third defensive chief in three years. "I've been in enough places and coordinated enough, for almost half my career."

Slowik, 54, was named the Broncos defensive coordinator in January 2007 after Larry Coyer's exit, but the top responsibilities fell to Jim Bates, with Slowik concentrating on the defensive backfield, much to the chagrin of many players who felt he deserved the promotion.

It wasn't until Bates left seven months ago that Slowik got another opportunity for the role he has longed for since heading the Packers defense for one maddening season in 2004.

Before that, Slowik's Bears teams (1993-98) finished fourth, 13th, 19th, 12th, 12th and 14th in total defense. But the group also finished in the top five in rush defense three times in his final five seasons before he followed head coach Dave Wann- stedt out the door in 1998.

"Given where we were and the talent we had, I thought he did a very good job," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations for the Arizona Cardinals and formerly a member of the Bears' front office during Slowik's six years in Chicago. "He utilized people very well and got the most out of them. . . . I think Bobby is recognized by most people in the league as being an outstanding defensive coach."

A mishmash of talent greeted Slowik during his one year heading the defense for the expansion Browns in 1999. The results were predictable: last-place league rankings in total yards, rushing yards and interceptions.

He spent several years working with defensive backs in Green Bay before becoming the coordinator. But playing three rookies at cornerback in '04, the Packers yielded a stunning 33 touchdown passes and forced a franchise-low 15 takeaways.

But more than time has passed since then.

"There's a lot to learn, and you keep learning and try to get better at what you do," Slowik said. "And I think I've grown since those jobs."

Computer whiz

That growth isn't limited to football concepts. Slowik also has tweaked his methodology.

He began to implement computer technology into his teaching during his brief stay in Cleveland. Mainly self-taught, he refined his skills with the Packers.

The past several years with the Broncos, Slowik has wowed his defensive backs with computer animation to add life to X's and O's.

"He believes if you see it, it registers a lot more with people," Broncos safety John Lynch said. "So he creates motions of the teams we play. It's like you're watching Madden football. It really helps. He goes to all lengths to be extremely detailed."

The thought behind the technology is that game tape, text and PowerPoint presentations don't have the same impact as making characters move, through computer modeling, like they would in a normal play.

"Right when he puts it up there, he knows exactly what he wants to do. And he never gets flustered about it," Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey said. "It's kind of weird, because none of the coaches do it. And other guys in the room will be like, 'Hey, why don't we have that?' It's just funny to see the guys' reaction when coach 'Slo' puts stuff up there."

Slowik's technological malleability is an offshoot of his overall personality. He's detail-oriented, but things aren't always black and white.

"He's got a brilliant mind. He really does," said Coyer, who worked alongside Slowik in Denver for two years. "He's got great ideas. He's inventive."

Slowik appears to have forged tight bonds with Broncos defensive backs, the position he coached in 2005-06, his first two seasons in Denver. Still, he has been known to be tough with players when needed while patting them on the back when warranted.

"The one thing I like about 'Slo' is that he takes input from his players, his veteran guys," cornerback Dre Bly said.

And when things don't work out, "He sticks behind his players," Bailey said.

Challenges await

The rebuilding job Slowik faces with the Broncos defense doesn't compare with the task he once had as a coordinator for an expansion franchise, but it will present its own challenges.

The Broncos finished 19th in yards allowed last season, 30th vs. the run. They also were in the bottom half in yards allowed per play (22nd), net passing yards per play (29th), interceptions per pass attempt (18th), first downs (22nd) and third-down efficiency (27th).

In the midst of compiling those numbers, Bates' seven- man front was scrapped after five games. Slowik took on more responsibility, implementing an eight-man alignment designed to shore up the run defense.

"Contrary to what was said, my role was virtually the same role throughout the season," Slowik insisted. "Did I know maybe the scheme we evolved to a little bit more so than Jim did? Yeah, because I've been around it. That didn't change my role in any way, shape or form other than having a greater familiarity with what we're doing. There was no play-calling, no installing, no anything of that nature."

That all changed in January with the announcement Bates had declined a demotion to linebackers coach and Slowik would be given full oversight.

"We've got a philosophy on defense that I'd like to get back to a little bit," coach Mike Shanahan said in announcing Slowik's promotion. "Bob knows that philosophy and we've had some success with it. That's why I think he'll do a great job."

Slowik's top task is keeping the eight-man front to stop the run and pare points off the 409 allowed last season, a total that was fourth worst in team history.

" 'Slo' knows how important it is to get the run stopped and get it stopped in a way that you can still protect yourself versus the pass," McGinnis said. "I was really impressed with how bright he was with how everything tied together between the front and back end during our time together."

The Broncos relied heavily on the blitz under Coyer but dialed it back under Bates.

"Bobby will be aggressive," Graves predicted. "He's about attacking and trying to make things happen."

Slowik promises only a "good mix," while adding, "I don't think you can have blitzmania."

Implementing his vision

Some of the free-agent pickups the Broncos added this offseason, including linebackers Niko Koutouvides and Boss Bailey, safety Marlon McCree and defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, should provide options.

"One of Bob's great talents is, he believes in certain principles of football but also believes in and utilizes his players well," Lynch said. "So it's not a set scheme. It's, 'Here's my collection of players and what they do best. Let's create a scheme.' I think that's what you'll see with Bob."

It's a delicate balance, though, in implementing that vision.

Some Broncos admitted to being confused about their roles last season. But in the offseason, Slowik got rave reviews from several veterans regarding the implementation of his vision.

"I know we'll be prepared and do what we're supposed to, because he's not only an X's and O's guy but a great teacher," Bly said. "And he's a guy the players want to perform for. We want people to talk about what 'Slo' has been able to come in and do this year."

• July 21, 2008

  6:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  orangeblood2 writes:

  This all sounds great but I need to see it on the field. Last year I was all excited to have Jim Bates. I will remain cautiously optimistic until I see some improvement in preseason. I know preseason is vanilla with the offense and defense, but it will be easy to tell whether or not the defense will be improved. Remember last year when Dallas totally smoked us in the preseason game? The Denver players were complaining about them. That was frikin embarrassing and it was a sign of what was in store for us that year. We practice and play them again this preseason. Hopefully we will be much improved. I think it will be easy to tell.

• July 21, 2008

  11:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jvill writes:

  Agreed. Bates came in with much fanfare only to fizzle out embarrassingly and publicly.

  All of this is just puff until we see what happens on the field.

  I will say I'm excited about a coach that adapts to his players, vs. dropping players because of blind faith in "a system". I'm no football coach, but that certainly seems like the obvious approach.

• July 21, 2008

  2:02 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  frosty writes:

  OK, so one of the softest teams in the league is now going to use computer enhanced graphics and games to learn, great, now they can be even softer than before. You go Bob!

• July 21, 2008

  2:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jackalope writes:

  "We've got a philosophy on defense that I'd like to get back to a little bit," coach Mike Shanahan said in announcing Slowik's promotion. "Bob knows that philosophy and we've had some success with it. That's why I think he'll do a great job."

  This sounds like a regurgitation of what Mikey said when they gave Bates the defensive coordinator's job. Regardless, I'm optimistic. After all, it couldn't get much worse.

• July 21, 2008

  2:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  R8R_H8R writes:

  3 D-Coordinators in 3 years. And Dont forget Greg Robinson, Ray Rhodes....the list goes on... Bob, I HOPE you are looking for your NEXT JOB right now, because, given shannyhanny's track record, he's already looking for his next Scape.Goat.....ooooops....i mean, his next Defensive Coordinator.

  We were told how brilliant Rhodes was, Coyer was, Bates was, and now we're being told how brilliant Slowik is. Reviewing his success (lack of), i think he'd be Hard Pressed to get a job as a D-Coordinator elsewhere.

• July 21, 2008

  2:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  R8R_H8R writes:

  Last season, with 2 Premier Corners, this team was a DISASTER vs. the Pass and # of int's.

  Dr. Dre is great.....but........ we DIDN'T need another *!#^! Cornerback. Foxworth was Fine. The Denver Broncos were in dire need of quality defensive linemen, so what does the bone-head-called shannyhanny do?.......... he gets a High-Priced Cornerback instead.

  A team can win with top knotch D-Linemen and adequate Corners. A team can NOT win with Top-knotch Corners, and average Linemen. Every football fan on the PLanet knows this. So WHY IS IT that shannyhanny can't comprehend this simple fact?

• July 21, 2008

  5:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  mpbarker writes:

  Many of you seem to be under the impression that the perfect players are always available to meet current needs--and apparently also under the impression that the other NFL franchises will willingly hand them over. Oh, and I guess the salary cap doesn't apply in your fantasy world, either. Anything less than a 19-0 season, avg score 54-0, and some of you think everyone at Dove Valley is an incompetent. Most of you probably weren't even backups on the JV team in middle school, but are experts in formulating and coaching a championship NFL team.

• July 21, 2008

  5:29 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  AKuser writes:

  Rada Hate please enlighten us specifically with your list of free agent additions the Broncos should have brought in to give them a "top Knotch D-Line". You act like the Broncos had every opportunity to sign pro bowl d-lineman and decided to pass on them to add backup corners. Give me a break, the Broncos like every other team are trying to get a good d-line together, see Dummerville, Moss, Crowder, Thomas. To get someone like Jared Allen with drug baggage it took a 1st and two 3rds. If Denver made this trade you and drama queen crew would be on here crying saying you dont win a title by trading away picks for 1 player.

• July 22, 2008

  5:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  DenverBroncosFan writes:

  We do need to have a good D line for the corners to look great. I think Bly is a bit overrated and I like Foxworth better. Bly shies away from tackling. Champ is an amazing open field tackler.

  I think the key on our line is how much progress last year's draft choices make. Its very hard to tell how good a D lineman will be in his first year. Look at Mario Williams. He seemed like a bust his first year and was dominating last year. I didn't see much from the young guys last year and I don't know if its because they aren't that good or there were too many other problems that there was no way anyone would have looked good.

• July 22, 2008

  10:39 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  EdMcCaffreyFan writes:

  Fans, R8R_H8R has it pegged exactly: d-lines win games, not corners, and aside from a developing Dumervil who do we have for a pass rush? Help me understand why Shanny didn't concentrate on this?!?
  Consider what would happen if we played the Patriots right now...the Giants took them down by keeping Brady on the run. Give someone like Brady enough time and Bailey/Bly just don't have a chance. I just don't think the Cornerback position was even designed for quarterbacks to have the time that our D seems to give them. Watch the old games! Count how long opposing QBs have!
  One more ponderance: why can Coyer? Weren't we thriving?

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