The Broncos’ defensive players could use all the pointers they can get as they prepare to face Steve McNair for the first time.
One place they can go is the offensive meetings room, where assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger knows the quarterback well.
Heimerdinger was McNair’s offensive coordinator with Tennessee for five seasons, including 2003, when McNair shared NFL MVP honors. Hei- merdinger’s advice for the defense is simple if not sage.
“Tackle him with two arms,” Heimerdinger said. “He isn’t going down with one arm. … You better wrap up if you want a chance to bring down Steve.”
McNair is in his 12th NFL season and will make his first appearance against Denver on Monday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. In his first season with Baltimore, McNair is enjoying a resurgence in his career and has instantly made the Ravens respectable on offense.
While defense will always pay the bills in Baltimore, McNair has given the offense a pulse and it has contributed to the Ravens’ 4-0 start. In the past two weeks, McNair has led game-winning drives in the final minute.
With the Titans, McNair made a career of being a timely passer who made few mistakes. Now at age 33 and the survivor of many injuries, he won’t take over games. But he won’t lose many, either. He has completed 55.7 percent of his passes this season, with five touchdown passes and three interceptions.
McNair is just what Baltimore needed after being quarterbacked by first-round flop Kyle Boller in recent seasons.
“You can tell the effect he has had on that offense,” Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “He leads them out of the huddle with a lot of confidence.”
Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Fassel concurs.
“Steve has come in and given the offense a swagger it may not have had for awhile,” Fassel said. “We have a different feel right now. … We’re not perfect, and we have a ways to go, but Steve helps.”
While the Denver franchise has no history against McNair, defensive tackle Gerard Warren does as a member of the Cleveland Browns from 2001- 04. He played against McNair twice. Warren said the Broncos need to approach playing the savvy McNair much like they did Tom Brady in their last game, a 17-7 victory at New England on Sept. 24.
“That’s the same guy,” Warren said. “Steve is a lot like Brady, where he isn’t going to make those mistakes. He’s a tough son of a gun who is going to make wise decisions. The one thing we have to do is stay on him. We have to focus on him all game long because he’ll keep coming. Every quarterback is going to make some mistakes, but McNair isn’t going to make a whole lot. When he does, we have to be on him. If not, he’ll be on us.”
Heimerdinger knows from personal experience how McNair can save a team. He knows Monday night the key will be for the Broncos’ offense to make it impossible for McNair to save another game late.
“The last two weeks were vintage Steve McNair,” Hei- merdinger said. “He keeps his teams in the game and then in the final two minutes he wins it. I’ve seen it time and time again. I just don’t want to see it this week.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
