Getting to Know New Safety Brian Dawkins

Safety Brian Dawkins was the heart of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense for 13 years before signing with the Denver Broncos. What does the safety bring to the Broncos’ defense and the team as a whole?

Q. After spending the first 13 years of your career with the Eagles, how does it feel to be part of another team?

Q. The Broncos defense struggled last season. How can you help put this defense on the map once again?

Q. You played in a 4-3 scheme in Philadelphia. The Broncos are switching to a 3-4 this season, so how do you feel about playing in that scheme?

Q. The Broncos had problems pressuring the quarterback, and you have been part of a blitzing, aggressive defense that always put pressure on the QB in Philadelphia. Do you feel you will help by blitzing for the Broncos or by staying back in coverage?

Q. You are part of a rebuilt secondary, with Champ Bailey as the only returning starter.  How do you feel about playing with one of the best cover corners in the game?

Q. You were a leader in Philadelphia. Are you looking to take on the same role in Denver?

Q. Some feel that coach Josh McDaniels has made some questionable decisions during the offseason. Including trading Jay Cutler and drafting Knowshon Moreno.  What do you think of the Broncos’ offseason as a whole?

Q. Mike Nolan was hired to run the defense. What do you know about his scheme, and what is your relationship with him?

Q. The Broncos could not stop the run last season. Can you help the run defense by providing run support from the safety spot?

Q. You have 34 career interceptions and 21 career sacks. Do you enjoy rushing the passer or staying back in coverage more?

Is Knowshon Moreno a Perfect Fit For Josh McDaniels’ System?

Josh McDaniels had running backs with good hands when he was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

He hopes to bring that same attribute as head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009.

While the offensive coordinator from 2006-2008, Patriots running backs caught 183 passes under McDaniels. In the same period, the Broncos had 145 catches by their running backs.

Kevin Faulk was the main source of receptions out of the backfield in McDaniels’s offense. He had seasons of 43, 47, and 58 catches, respectively.

The highest catch total for a Bronco in that three-year span was 35 by Selvin Young in 2007.

McDaniels’s new offensive system relies on running backs to not only be runners but also receivers. Before the draft, the Broncos’ current running backs were not known for their passing-catching ability.

Although McDaniels hired Mike McCoy to be the offensive coordinator, he will be the one calling the plays on game day

LaMont Jordan had 70 catches for the Raiders in 2005, but did not catch a pass for the Patriots last season under McDaniels’s system. J.J. Arrington has 91 catches in his career.

Peyton Hillis had 14 catches and Ryan Torain had zero for the Broncos last year.

McDaniels may have drafted his new Kevin Faulk in Knowshon Moreno. He saw him as a complete back that could fit into his pass-first system. Moreno is bright and will bring many different skills to the team.

McDaniels felt the running back had “very good hands” and “catches the ball extremely well.”

Moreno had 53 catches during his career at Georgia, but he won’t be just a receiver in the new system. McDaniels sees so much more in him.

In a new system that will feature the quarterback dropping back, there is a need for a running back with pass-blocking skills. Moreno seems to be that back, blocking for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in quarterback Matthew Stafford while at Georgia.

Moreno won’t be the only back catching passes for the Broncos this season. McDaniels’s system spreads the ball around and will use a variety of different running backs.

The running backs will not only be used for screen patterns, but will be split out wide and will run patterns like wide receivers in the offense.

McDaniels’s system has made many no-name players into stars. No one had ever heard of Wes Welker or Kevin Faulk before being put in McDaniels’ system.

Moreno may be that next big-time player, thanks to McDaniels’s new system.

2005 Denver Broncos: Snake Bitten

The Broncos lived by “The Snake” and died by “The Snake” during the 2005-06 season.

That snake was quarterback Jake Plummer.

When Plummer signed before the 2003 season as a free agent, many fans, including myself, were worried and confused. Plummer was always known as a guy who could make an amazing play but also be a complete bonehead the next one.

All Bronco fans remember the right-handed quarterback trying to throw with his left hand.

The Broncos made the playoffs in each of Plummer’s first two seasons. The results in the playoffs were not good as both resulted in blowouts at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.

2005, on the other hand, was a different year for Plummer (not just because of his new “Unabomber” look) and the Denver Broncos as a whole.

The Broncos rode into the 2005 season with not a lot of exceptions. The Chargers, as they have been for a while now, were the picked to win the division. The Chiefs and even the Raiders were also getting picked.

The Broncos were heading towards a 7-9 season many critics thought.

The team looked to be proving the critics right after getting beat in Miami 34-10. This team became a favorite for what happened the next 15 games.

Led by Plummer, a balanced running attack with Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, the savvy leadership of wide receiver Rod Smith, and a ball-hawking cornerback in Champ Bailey, the Broncos won 13 of the last 15 games.

The two losses were by a combined five points.

Plummer was a different player. He become controlled, smart, and a leader on the team. Coach Mike Shanahan seemed to have corralled “The Snake.”

“The Snake” completed almost 61 percent of his passes, threw 18 touchdowns, and only had seven interceptions.

The offense was good through the air and on the ground. Plummer threw for 3,366 yards, Anderson ran for 1,014, and Bell had 921.

The defense was pretty tough as well.

Bailey showed why he was worth trading away All-Pro running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins. He had eight interceptions and 60 tackles. The corner was all over the field and returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns.

The team had only 27 sacks but they pressured the quarterback. Safety John Lynch was one of three players with four sacks.

This great regular season resulted in a 13-3 record, the No. 2 seed in the AFC behind the Colts, a first-round bye, and a home playoff game.

But all that led to a divisional round matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, who had not lost a playoff game with Tom Brady as their quarterback.

That Saturday night in January, the Broncos put a one in the loss column of Tom Brady’s playoff record.

Plummer was controlled and efficient in the 27-13 win. He threw for 197 yards and a touchdown, but Plummer did not make the play of the game.

With the Broncos clinging to a 10-6 lead, Bailey picked off a pass in the end zone as the Patriots were looking for the go-ahead score. He returned it 100 yards to the Patriots one yard line.

Anderson scored on the next play to make it 17-6 and the Broncos never trailed in the victory.

The next day the Steelers stunned the No. 1 seed Colts in Indianapolis, setting up the AFC Championship between Pittsburgh and Denver at Invesco Field.

Bronco fans had an easy win and a trip to the Super Bowl on their mind.

But we were snake bitten.

Plummer fumbled once and threw two picks in a Steelers’ 34-17 win. The quarterback seemed to revert back to his old unreliable self.

Although Plummer took a lot of the blame, he was not the only one at fault. There was no running game and the defense could not get Ben Roesthlisberger off the field.

The Steelers controlled the whole game.

Plummer went on to play one more season with the Broncos but was replaced 11 games in by now departed rookie Jay Cutler.

That season was a complete roller-coaster ride. It did not end the way fans wanted it to but it was still one of the best Denver Broncos teams.

From their quarterback’s “Unabomber” beard to their star cornerback picking off passes effortlessly, this Bronco team should be remembered as a fan favorite.

2009 Denver Broncos’ Changes Could Lead to Same Results

The Denver Broncos will be a different-looking team this season.

Change is not always a good thing, and the Broncos may find out the hard way.

The Broncos have brought in a new coach in Josh McDaniels, traded a Pro Bowl quarterback in Jay Cutler, brought in three new quarterbacks in Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, and rookie Tom Brandstater, and signed free agents to help a defense that was one of the worst in the league.

All the changes lead to another January sitting at home, watching the playoffs on TV.

McDaniels was hired to bring fresh blood and a new fresh look to a team in need of a change.McDaniels is an offensive guru who helped create the offensive power that was the New England Patriots.

The only problem is the Broncos have no Tom Brady—or Matt Cassel, for that matter.

The offense was the strong point of the Broncos last season. Cutler was slinging the ball to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. The running game was good when the backs were healthy, which was hardly ever during the season. 

So why bring in a offensive guy to a team that struggled on defense?

Because this Broncos team is all about change this coming season.

After trading Cutler to the Bears, the Broncos are going to turn to Orton as the starter. Orton will be pushed by Simms during training camp but as of now Orton is the starter.

Orton can manage a game, which is what McDaniels wants. His system will make the Broncos score points, not the players.

Orton will have to limit his mistakes, because he will attempt plenty of passes in McDaniels’ system. Marshall, Royal, Tony Scheffler, Brandon Stokely, and newly signed Jabar Gaffney should all have big statistics this season.

The running game looks to be an attack by committee. The team drafted Knowshon Moreno with the 12th overall pick, signed J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, and Lamont Jordan, and still have holdovers Ryan Torian and Peyton Hillis.

All those backs may not make it to the opening day roster, but the running game will be in good hands.

Every Bronco fan knows the defense was the problem, not the offense.  The offense will have no problem scoring, but how many points will the defense give up?

Changes were needed on the defense, and some were made.  With hiring of Mike Nolan as the defensive coordinator, the Broncos will switch to a 3-4 scheme. 

The switch is designed to help the Broncos pressure the quarterback, which they struggled to do last season, recording only 25 sacks and forcing only six interceptions.

But defensive line was not really addressed in free agency or the draft. The team signed Darrell Reid and Ronald Fields, but never really made a big splash.

Marcus Thomas and Kenny Peterson are expected to contribute on the line.  Robert Ayers from Tennessee, taken No. 18 overall, could play linebacker or defensive end.

D.J. Williams is a mainstay at linebacker if he stays healthy, and Andra Davis was signed to play the other inside spot.

Elvis Dumervil will slide to outside linebacker, and Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder also will try to make that transition. Wesley Woodyard also will be in the mix.

The secondary struggled last year, but that had a lot to do with the team’s lack of pressure on opposing QBs, as well as the injury to Champ Bailey. 

Bailey will be the only starter returning to the unit. Andre Goodman, Renaldo Hill, and the explosive Brian Dawkins were brought in. With Bailey and Dawkins the Broncos have a lot of leadership in the secondary.

Change, change, change on the defense and the offensive end. All this still adds up to 7-9 or maybe 8-8. The schedule is tough, the division games are always dogfights, and the team is rebuilding, whether they admit it or not.

The Broncos are at least one year away from contention, and maybe more. McDaniels will bring a new attitude to this team, and his offense will be good, but it will not be enough to get the Broncos back to the playoffs.

Patience will have to be on the mind of Bronco fans.

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