NFL team previews — AFC West
By Adam Schefter
As published in print Aug. 21, 2000
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Broncos RB
Terrell Davis
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For the first time in three seasons, the former back-to-back world-champion Broncos are
not trying to repeat.
The last thing they want is a season in which they lose LB John Mobley, RB Terrell
Davis, an unusually high 10 games and the respect they had worked so hard to achieve.
The rest of the country might not have experienced it, but the Broncos suffered from a
serious Y2K bug in 1999.
"With all the success we had as a football team, we lost a little bit of that edge
last year,’’ head coach Mike Shanahan said at the outset of this summer’s
training camp. ‘‘When things go badly, it’s the natural reaction of
coaches, players, the media and fans to ask: ‘What’s going on here?’
’’
What went on last season — injuries, losses, controversy — is the exact type
of thing the Broncos are trying to avoid this season. To help do it, the Broncos have rid
their roster of some questionable characters and added more upstanding players.
DBs Dale Carter and Darrius Johnson, and DL Cyron Brown — all suspended by the NFL
for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy — are not on the Broncos’
roster this season. The Broncos instead signed DEs Kavika Pittman and Lester Archambeau;
DBs Jimmy Spencer, Terrell Buckley, Darryl Pounds and Billy Jenkins; and WRs Robert Brooks
and Andre Reed.
Some of the players are past their prime, but the Broncos believe they will provide
both talent and character. This season the Broncos believe they have both all across their
roster. And more important, they have a clean slate.
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade C+ |
| The Broncos billed this summer’s QB battle as Brian
Griese vs. Gus Frerotte. Though Frerotte played well, Griese played even better. The
Broncos believe that in his third NFL season and his second as a starter, Griese is ready
to make the jump from an average to a good quarterback. He still does not have a great
arm, but his level of confidence clearly has risen this year. Should Griese falter,
Frerotte will be waiting, much as he was in Detroit last season, when he helped the Lions
salvage a wild-card spot. Top
of page |
| Running backs |
Grade A |
| The Broncos aren’t likely to use an all-Bulldog
backfield, with former overlooked and underappreciated University of Georgia RBs Davis and
Olandis Gary. But separately, each back poses a danger to defenses. Throughout the
preseason, Davis looked as if he had nearly overcome last season’s reconstructive
knee surgery. When Davis did not play, Gary played with brute strength and terrific
results. They give Shanahan a luxury any coach would love to have: two backs who can
exceed 1,000 yards. At fullback, Howard Griffith is headed into his free-agent season and
is hoping for a big year. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade B |
| Broncos WRs Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith form one of the more
underrated tandems in the game. McCaffrey caught a career-high 71 passes last season, and
Smith led the Broncos with 79 receptions. McCaffrey had as fine a training camp as any
Bronco. Smith, however, had to temporarily leave camp to attend a disciplinary hearing in
New York after pleading guilty to verbal harassment, for which he could face a brief
suspension. Denver’s question at receiver has not been with its starters but with its
backups. Last year’s third-round draft choice, Travis McGriff, has stepped into the
No. 3 role. A crew consisting of veterans Robert Brooks and Andre Reed and rookie Chris
Cole also could contribute. The trio of Dwayne Carswell, Desmond Clark and Byron
Chamberlain is competing for time at tight end. Top of page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade B+ |
| There’s a reason the Broncos’ offensive line is
expected to be even stronger this season. For the first time in his 17 years as an NFL
assistant, Broncos OL coach Alex Gibbs should work with the same exact starting unit that
he worked with last season. Before this season, Gibbs had been forced to make at least one
change in his starting offensive line every year he had been an assistant. Not this year.
Tony Jones will start at left tackle, Mark Schlereth at left guard, Tom Nalen at center,
Daniel Neil at right guard and Matt Lepsis at right tackle. However, Schlereth did
experience knee complications this summer after undergoing his 18th knee surgery, the 13th
on his left knee. If he is unable to go, last year’s second-round draft choice,
Lennie Friedman, is coming off an impressive preseason. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade B |
| With Pro Bowl selection Trevor Pryce, veteran Keith Traylor
and blossoming Montae Reagor, the Broncos are going to get plenty of push up the middle.
The question is: Where is it going to come from on the outside? The Broncos signed Pittman
away from Dallas and Archambeau away from Atlanta in the hope that they will be an upgrade
over Alfred Williams and Neil Smith, each of whom was released. DLE Maa Tanuvasa is as
quiet as he is steady at one starting DE position, and backup DE Harald Hasselbach can
play anywhere along the line. Top of page |
| Linebackers |
Grade B+ |
| Were it not for the controversies Bill Romanowski is
embroiled in — allegedly using a racial epithet and being indicted for four felonies
related to a prescription drug case — people would focus on what a fine group of
linebackers the Broncos have. Romanowski still is effective at the age of 34, though the
off-the-field distractions he is dealing with will test him. Last year’s No. 1 draft
choice, Al Wilson, is a budding star and the young leader of Denver’s defense.
Mobley, the other outside linebacker, underwent knee surgery again this summer, and it is
questionable whether he will return in time for the Broncos’ Monday-night opener in
St. Louis. If Mobley cannot, Glenn Cadrez is capable of filling in, just as he is at any
other LB position. Top of
page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade B- |
| This was an area the Broncos needed to upgrade, and they feel
they have, though the preseason did not always indicate it. New CBs Spencer and Buckley
were decent in the preseason, not great. One — probably Spencer — will start
opposite veteran Ray Crockett, who experienced hamstring problems this summer. Jenkins,
who signed a seven-year contract in the offseason, was erratic as the new strong safety.
But Denver expects better play from its defensive backs once the season begins. One thing
is certain: With Jenkins, Eric Brown and second-round pick Kenoy Kennedy coming off the
bench, the Broncos may have the hardest-hitting trio of safeties in the league. Top of page |
| Special teams |
Grade B+ |
| For years, Jason Elam has been one of the most reliable
kickers in the game. During the preseason, Tom Rouen launched one booming punt after
another, demonstrating the most hang time he has ever gotten on his punts. The Broncos are
hoping first-round draft choice Deltha O’Neal is as much a stud returner in the NFL
as he was in college, where he scored six touchdowns last season despite not playing a
single offensive play. Top
of page |
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