For a second consecutive year, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is about to begin the regular season without benefit of playing in the preseason.
Oh, he was out there nine days ago in the exhibition game against the Houston Texans. But for all the action Bailey got at left corner, he might as well have slept through another curfew.
“I didn’t even touch the ground in that game,” Bailey said. “Not once.”
More than any other opposing coach, Houston’s Gary Kubiak knows the Broncos, having been coach Mike Shanahan’s right-hand man for 11 years. What Kubiak knew was to not even bother pretending to keep Bailey honest.
With his offense in hurry-up mode near the end of the first half and down 10-0, the Texans threw six consecutive passes to the left side of their center, or short middle, far from where the ballhawking Bailey roams.
After the sixth play in the sequence, Bailey could be seen standing by himself in his clean uniform, hands on hips, shaking his head. As if to say, “Why am I out here?”
Darrent Williams may be no slouch at right corner. The second-year speedster was a step away on several passes from making a big play himself against the Texans. But if the Broncos are to repeat their success of last season and then some, someone besides Bailey probably will have to come to the rescue.
Given the choice of attacking Bailey or anybody else, it would appear opponents are going to choose anybody else.
“There’s only one other corner who’s played this game who’s had a similar reputation to Champ, and that was Deion Sanders,” said Nick Ferguson, the Broncos’ starting strong safety. “And that reputation is, you can throw over there every once in a while, and you might make a couple catches every once in a while, but sooner or later, he’s going to burn you.”
Say something Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Drew Bledsoe doesn’t already know. The Broncos may not have defeated New England in an AFC playoff game last season if not for Bailey. After calling for a defensive switch with Williams in the end zone, Bailey intercepted a Brady pass and took it pylon to pylon, give or take a few feet.
It turned out to be a 14-point swing that turned a potential 13-10 deficit into a 17-6 lead. The Broncos won 27-13 and advanced to the AFC championship game.
Bailey’s impact on the Broncos’ 2005 season goes much farther. It’s not a stretch to think the Broncos might not have won the AFC West had Bailey not stepped in front of a sideline pass thrown by Brees, then playing for San Diego, in the second game of the season.
The Broncos were drubbed 34-10 in their opener at Miami – a game in which Bailey suffered a dislocated shoulder – and booed off their home field at halftime of Week 2. With doom approaching, Bailey opened the second half against the Chargers with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown that reversed his team’s season.
Later, during a Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas, Bailey interceped a Bledsoe pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.
Not a bad year for someone who missed all four preseason games to nurse a badly strained hamstring. This year, Bailey was scheduled to play in two preseason games, but he was benched from one for dozing through curfew, and the Texans tried lulling him to sleep in the other.
“It’s OK,” Bailey said. “I know you can’t go over to the other side the whole game.”
Don’t be so sure. The only way Bailey figures to have another big-play season is if opposing coaches start taking heavy doses of stupid pills.
Should Bailey become virtually sidelined while on the field, the most important player in a new Denver season may not be quarterback Jake Plummer or wide receiver Javon Walker, but Williams.
“I expect they’re going to be coming at me a lot this year, so that’s why I worked so hard this year in training camp and offseason,” Williams said. “Champ is the world’s greatest corner. So of course they’re not going his way too many times. But that will give me the chance to prove how good I am.”
If it becomes obvious opponents are game-planning away from Bailey, don’t be surprised if Shanahan and defensive coordinator Larry Coyer make some creative adjustments. But in keeping their best all-around player active, the Broncos’ best move may be to keep Bailey put.
There’s a reason the best defensive backs play the left corner: Most quarterbacks are right-handed. And for all the intricate formations, shifts, fakes and personnel packages involved in an NFL offense, right-handed quarterbacks usually make stronger throws to the side they are facing.
Beginning Sunday with Marc Bulger and the St. Louis Rams, the Broncos are projected to face all right-handed quarterbacks this year, with the possible exception of Arizona rookie Matt Leinart on Dec. 17.
So if the Rams have Torry Holt, who has averaged 94.5 catches the past six seasons, split out right, Bailey eventually will be challenged. Especially if Williams already has made a big play on the other side.
“If Darrent plays well, they have no choice,” Bailey said. “I don’t think he’s the type of guy they’re going to want to throw on all game long. I’m glad he’s on the opposite field. Because he’s aware of what’s going to happen. He knows he has to be ready.”
Actually, as he waits, and waits, and waits, staying ready might be Bailey’s only challenge in 2006.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
