To fully comprehend the gravity of the comment, some background must be reviewed.
Mike Shanahan is an offensive-minded coach who helped Steve Young win two NFL most valuable player awards and a Super Bowl in three years at San Francisco. Later, as the Broncos’ head coach, Shanahan helped John Elway win Super Bowls in his final two years as quarterback.
This suggests Shanahan’s offensive standards are higher than most. Now for his comment regarding the Broncos’ offensive performance in their season-opening 34-10 loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins.
“I was thinking about all my years as a head coach, and all my years as a coordinator,” Shana- han said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had an offense that put as much pressure on a defense the way we did in that game.”
Shanahan thought his team’s offensive ineptitude led to the cramping problems that sidelined dehydrated cornerbacks Lenny Walls and Darrent Williams in the third quarter, and explained why the defense melted amid the stifling South Florida heat in the fourth quarter.
“I thought our team was in pretty good shape,” Shanahan said, “but when you’re three plays and out and the defense is on the field as much as they were … We couldn’t keep any drives going. And when you can’t keep drives going, your defense is going to wear down sooner or later.”
The defense held the Dolphins to six points at the half, 13 after three quarters, but didn’t put up much fight in the fourth quarter, allowing two touchdowns.
However, safety John Lynch deflected blame from the Broncos’ offense and put it right back on the defense.
“I had a lot of experience in Tampa where we had a putrid offense for a lot of years, and when we finally decided that it didn’t matter what happened on the other side of the football, that’s when you become not just good, but special,” Lynch said.
Dayne on main roster
With running back Mike Anderson’s health iffy for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, the Broncos will activate Ron Dayne, who will join Tatum Bell as a backup. Dayne was inactive for the game against the Dolphins and his absence was felt, particularly in goal-line situations, after Anderson suffered rib-cartilage damage early in the first quarter.
“I couldn’t do anything about it, so there was no reason to get mad,” Dayne said.
To make room for Dayne on the Broncos’ 45-man game roster, kickoff specialist Paul Ernster might be deactivated.
Footnotes
As expected, the Broncos brought back receiver David Terrell, although it is unlikely he will play much, if at all, against the Chargers. …
Former Broncos safety Jeremy LeSueur is likely to sign today with the New York Jets. …
Shanahan, on receiver Ashley Lelie letting Jake Plummer’s short pass that would have been a touchdown zip through his hands in the second quarter: “You’ve got to make that catch. Ashley knows that. When you go on the road, you’ve got to make those plays.”
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
EYE ON THE CHARGERS
San Diego at Denver, 2:15 p.m., Sunday
* For the record: The Chargers are 0-1.
* Last game: San Diego fell 28-24 to visiting Dallas, losing on an interception in the end zone on fourth down in the final seconds.
* Streaking: San Diego has lost five straight games in Denver, and last won here in the 1999 season finale. Thus, the Chargers never have won at Invesco Field at Mile High.
* Who’s hot: Chargers receiver Keenan McCardell had nine catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas.
* Who’s not: Star running back LaDainian Tomlinson started slowly, gaining just 72 yards on 19 carries against Dallas.
* Key stat: San Diego converted 2-of-3 fourth-down tries against Dallas.
* FYI: Former San Diego tight ends coach Tim Brewster is now the tight ends coach in Denver. Brewster was credited for helping Antonio Gates become a Pro Bowl player and for contributing to make the Chargers the top red-zone team in the NFL last year.
* Injury update: Defensive end Igor Olshansky will be listed as questionable with a calf injury. He would be replaced by rookie Luis Castillo.
* Coach speak: “We have to eliminate self-inflicted wounds. We had them stopped and all of the sudden, the flag was there. We can’t put ourselves in positions like that.” – Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer
“You have an AFC West game coming up, and you know how important it is. You better get ready for the Chargers, because the Chargers are a good football team.” – Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
– Bill Williamson
