O ye of little notes. …
The Broncos didn’t have a sack in the first half Sunday. So what else is new? They didn’t have any sacks in their season opener, either.
But then came the third quarter, when Courtney Brown, for the first time in a calendar year, made his presence felt on an NFL field. First he recovered a fumble after Ian Gold sacked Drew Brees. Then he recorded his first sack since 2003, dropping Brees for an 8-yard loss that killed a third-quarter drive.
Not bad for a guy who played in two games last season before going on injured reserve, then missed virtually the entire preseason and the season opener with a dislocated elbow.
“Look how big he is. How big of an impact do you think he makes?” said Trevor Pryce. “I was so happy for him when he got that sack. He told me before the game, ‘I haven’t played in a year.’ That was the happiest I’ve been when I haven’t sacked the quarterback. I just went berserk. I went nuts.” …
Al Wilson on rookie cornerback/kick returner Darrent Williams: “The kid since Day One has been doing nothing but make plays. He showed today that he’s a great pick for this organization.
“He’s a guy who’s going to help us down the road. I’m looking forward to great things from him. I know he’s going to keep his focus and continue to work hard, because he’s just that kind of guy. Hopefully one day he can be one of those all-pros.” …
Some of us aren’t ready to send him to Canton just yet, but Williams has can’t-miss skills at corner, and as a kick returner, witness his 61-yard punt return called back on a penalty.
Said Williams, “I was kind of looking in my periphery. I didn’t see anybody but the punter. I thought, ‘I can go this way or I can go that way.”‘
So he wasn’t worried about getting tackled by Chargers punter Mike Scifres? “Nah. If the punter tackled me, I’d get fined.” …
Sure, the Broncos won, but that offense isn’t going to get it. I hereby vow never again to refer to this team as the Browncos. From now on, it’s the Brncs – no “O”. …
For the record, the Broncos’ offense accounted for 331 yards and 13 points. A week earlier, the numbers were 312 and 10. Said Ashley Lelie, when asked if he thought the offense had played better Sunday, “All we had to do was step onto the field and we would have played better than last week.” …
On the other hand, at least the offense is consistent: three points in the first quarter through two games, three points in the second quarter through two games. …
By the numbers: The Broncos through two games in 2004 had accounted for 298 rushing yards. This year, they’re at 168. …
It’s always something with the Chargers in Denver. They’re 5-31-1 in the altitude since 1969. …
How much of a forgotten man is Darius Watts? He has caught one ball in two games – one fewer than Champ Bailey. …
Pryce, when asked if the Broncos were desperate after trailing at halftime: “There was desperation coming into the game. You get more desperate as the game gets close, but it was desperate. We were desperate after we flew back from Miami. It was desperate on the plane, desperate in practice.” …
Ron Dayne, unceremoniously dumped by the Giants after five forgettable seasons, came up huge in the fourth quarter, carrying six times for 38 yards. So, Dayne was asked, when was the last time you felt like you had contributed that much during your NFL career? Said Dayne, “Ah, probably … never.” …
Wilson, on the 12-men-on-the-field penalty that nullified Williams’ touchdown: “First time in all my years of playing football that I’ve ever seen the referee throw a flag where the runner is almost in the end zone and this guy is 30, 35 yards behind him. You throw a flag because of a celebration. Very bizarre. They should take (the referee’s) paycheck for that.”
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during”The Press Box” on Z560, Colorado’s ESPN radio, and on Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at (303) 820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
