Denver Post staff writer Bill Williamson posts his Broncos Mailbag each Friday during the 2005 NFL season on DenverPost.com. Also, check back Sunday for more Q’s and A’s in our Sunday supplement, which runs in The Sunday Denver Post print edition, too.
To drop a question into the Broncos Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
What is with Darius Watts? How did he fall so far out of favor with Mike Shanahan?
— Dustin, Denver
The coaching staff didn’t think he was practicing as well as he could, and he dropped several passes throughout the preseason while fellow young players Charlie Adams and Todd Devoe elevated their games. Watts’ time in Denver isn’t over. But he has to regain the trust of the staff, and that may take awhile.
Help me understand why in every other game, the defense is stacking the line and blitzing like madmen. It looked as if the Broncos defense stood in a 4-4, 4-3 or 3-4 look most of the game at Kansas City, going away from the things that got them this far. What gives? Don’t you dance with who brought ya’?
— Sonny, Pueblo
Chiefs quarterback Trent Green is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when blitzed. So, you have to be selective when blitzing him. What has made Denver’s defense so good for much of this season are the subtle changes that have been made to fit each opponent. Sunday, it didn’t work, but it has most of the season.
Are we back to the Jake Plummer of last year? Jake Plummer clearly lost the game at Kansas City for the Broncos. Jake needs to play well in a big game on the road to convince me that he’s the real deal.
— Jim, Iraq
Jim, I think this is a case of blaming the quarterback because he is the most visible player. Sure, Plummer had some poor moments, but he also made some things happen. This loss is on the defense. This unit is better than the one that allowed Kansas City 31 points.
When will Rod Smith get the respect he deserves? At age 35, when most receivers slow down, he’s having another very good season. By the end of the year, he’ll have close to 800 career catches and 70 career TDs to go along with his 10,000-plus yards. Is he going to be a guy who no one will appreciate until he’s gone?
— Jake, Marion, Iowa
Rod probably appreciates the Broncos fans so much. Each week, similar e-mails like this pour in. Thus, Smith is extremely appreciated in Denver. And for Smith, that’s probably enough.
In the offseason, I heard that the Broncos were built in particular to face the Colts in the playoffs. Is this true?
— John, Brookhaven, Pa.
I wouldn’t say so. They were built to improve and extend their season. Of course, getting past the Colts has been a problem the past two seasons. But as far changing the entire plan to beat one team, I’d say that’s a bit of a stretch.
Do you think Gary Kubiak will be considered for the coaching job with his hometown Texans at the end of the season?
— Terry, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Probably, yes. I’d say he’d have a good chance to be interviewed for the head coach in Houston if, as expected, Dom Capers is fired. Other names that could emerge in Houston include Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and even the University of Texas’ Mack Brown.
I always hear the old “one game at a time” cliché from coaches and players, but is that just for TV? I heard that Mike Shanahan had everyone prepared for the Cowboys before they played the Jets.
— Trevor, San Francisco
Actually, Shanahan went to great lengths in the days prior to the Jets game to keep his team’s focus on New York and not the Cowboys. Boring or not, the old “one game at a time” mantra is exactly how coaches approach each week.
Was Jake Plummer’s streak without an interception even close to the all-time record?
— Matt McMullen, Buffalo, N.Y.
Plummer’s streak ended at 229. The NFL record was 308 by Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar.
Bill Williamson is in his second season as a Denver Post NFL writer. To drop a question into his Broncos Mailbag .
