Are you ready for some notes? …
Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce, on quarterback Jake Plummer‘s performance against the Chiefs: “I think Jake played one of the best games I’ve seen a quarterback play around here, and I played with (John) Elway for two years. … He made some throws on the replay, and I was like, ‘Don’t throw that … oh, good completion!”‘ …
Not that Plummer needed that 12-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith in the first quarter, but his season red-zone totals before that play were uglier than the federal deficit. Said Plummer: “It was big. Obviously, the struggles are there, but we’ve got to forget about it each week and try to go and make yourself better in the red zone. We were able to start fast and obviously, that set the tone.” …
Broncos safety John Lynch, when asked if he felt the San Diego and Kansas City games were the best Broncos back-to-
back defensive efforts in his season-plus in Denver: “I’d say yes. I’ve always said to these guys, ‘If you want to be special, you’ve got to do it over and over and over again.’ It’s tough. You’ve got to be mentally tough to do it. It starts on the defensive line.” …
Did you notice? Pryce was the only remaining Broncos defensive lineman who started last year’s season opener against the Chiefs. Two others, Mario Fatafehi and Raylee Johnson, were cut during training camp, and a third, Marco Coleman, was inactive for Monday night’s game. …
Pryce, on the state of the Broncos’ D-line: “It’s a pretty high standard that I’ve set for myself as far as judging all of us as a unit, but I do think over the last four or five years, this is the best group I’ve been with. … They’re a much more professional group than I’ve been around in a long time.” …
Add Pryce: “It’s going to take a little more than two games to kind of get the sense of exactly where we are as a defense. We played two teams that I don’t think were in sync. I know the Chiefs weren’t. Priest Holmes, I don’t think he … I think he’s hurt. Quite honestly, I think there’s something wrong.” …
Just the fax: There have been two 100-yard rushing performances by an opposing running back since Invesco Field at Mile High opened in 2001. Both have come courtesy of Holmes, who had 161 in 2002 and 151 in last year’s season opener. …
Notice the opposing running back part of the previous note. Michael Vick ran for 115 yards at Invesco last season. …
The Broncos’ old nemesis, Dante Hall, didn’t account for any big plays in the return game.
Good thing. Ian Gold, among other Denver veterans, is sick of seeing Hall beat the Broncos. Take his 93-yard punt return at Kansas City in 2003. Said Gold: “To this day, they show it on highlight reels. That’s the last thing I want to see.” …
Not that Hall loves facing the Broncos, but he has three 100-yard receiving games in his career, two against Denver. Of his four career receiving touchdowns, half have come against the Boys of Bowlen. …
The Chiefs started five of nine drives at or inside their 20, a stat that wasn’t lost on Broncos coach Mike Shana- han. “‘We knew how great Dante Hall is. Anytime he touches the ball, he’s got a chance to go the distance. … To have that type of effort and discipline on special teams gave us the opportunity for the (Chiefs) offense to go the distance. It’s tough when you don’t have any hidden yardage like they have in the past.”
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrongatdenverpost.com.
