Chatter inside a football locker room often downplays the importance the outside world places on the quarterback.
The quarterback gets too much blame. The quarterback gets too much credit. In a game in which 22 players are on the field at one time, often too much attention is paid to the quarterback.
Sorry to do this, Jake Plummer, but this week, of all weeks, the enormous expectations placed on the quarterback may be justified. Run through the scenarios as the Broncos play their home opener Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, and the importance of their quarterback’s play can’t be overstated.
This may be one game when Plummer not only is asked to help manage his team to victory, he might have to win it.
“That’s one of those things where you don’t know whether a player wins you a game until after the game,” Broncos fullback Kyle Johnson said. “There’s been games where I thought Jake was the difference. But there were other games where I thought Al was the difference, Rod the difference,” he said, referring to middle linebacker Al Wilson and wide receiver Rod Smith.
“We all prepare like it’s going to be us that wins or loses the game. That’s what keeps us up at night.”
Valid points, but consider the factors for this game that put the onus on Plummer. First, the Broncos’ running game may be hurting with the rib injury to starting tailback Mike Anderson. Second, the Chargers’ passing defense is hurting after it allowed the Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe to become the NFL’s passing leader, among qualifiers, in a 28-24 first-week loss.
“We have to improve our overall coverage efficiency. I don’t think there’s any other way to express it,” Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
When it comes to stopping the pass, the Chargers’ secondary is lagging behind the rest of the team. Overall, the Chargers went from 4-12 in 2003 to 12-4 last year, but their pass defense ranked 30th last season. And in their first game of 2005, the Chargers were scorched by Bledsoe for three touchdowns, no interceptions and an NFL-best 143.4 passer rating.
“Just because Drew did it doesn’t mean we’re going to go out there and do it,” Plummer said. “It gives us the opportunity to go out there, and there are definitely some plays to be made.”
The pressure on Plummer to perform Sunday is magnified by the Broncos’ possible must-win situation after they were drubbed by Miami. In the season opener, the Broncos’ offense had only 57 yards rushing, 89 yards passing and three points through three quarters.
“I’m surprised and shocked that we’re still talking about it,” Plummer said. “We’re playing San Diego this week. You guys are talking about it amongst yourselves; we’re moving on. As players, you have to. I’m not going to sit here and mope and whine.”
A Broncos loss could be devastating. Consider an 0-2 record with the nondivision likes of New England, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, the Jets and Baltimore left on the schedule.
That group might appear less daunting if the Broncos stood 1-1 after the Chargers game.
“This is just a big win that we must get, and they are in the same boat and they need it bad,” Plummer said.
This is Plummer’s ninth year in the NFL, third with the Broncos. Coach Mike Shanahan has said he expects Plummer not to have a good season, but a great one. If Plummer is to have a great season, he may have to be better than good Sunday against the Chargers.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
