His speed and athleticism had shown up on all the scouting reports from the time he joined the NFL seven years ago.
His toughness and instincts became common knowledge through the comments of his admiring, and insightful, peers.
But for all his qualities, the most vital characteristic Champ Bailey has going for him in 2006 may be patience. He had waited and waited for three games, but when the challenge finally was thrown his way nearly halfway through the fourth game, the Broncos cornerback was paying attention.
“That’s something where my age helps,” Bailey said. “Staying focused. I’m not young, so I won’t lose concentration.”
The pass from Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair was lofted into the right corner of the end zone. Bailey saw it all the way. By the time long, tall Ravens receiver Clarence Moore looked back for the ball, Bailey was recoiling the spring in his legs. Bailey leaped and caught the ball with ease, wiping away the Ravens’ scoring threat.
The interception onslaught was on. By game’s end, a 13-3 Denver victory Monday night, each of the Broncos’ three cornerbacks – Darrent Williams, Domonique Foxworth and Bailey – had an interception, the team’s first three of the season.
No one would be surprised if Bailey doesn’t get a chance for a second pick in the Broncos’ next game Sunday night against the Oakland Raiders.
“That ball in the end zone was the first time I remember them throwing the ball to the outside in his direction this year,” Foxworth said. “I don’t think they’ll throw at him anymore after what happened last night. I think he taught them a lesson. I mean, I don’t understand the rationale, throwing at the best corner in the league. I guess some teams don’t want to feel intimidated, but sometimes it’s smart.”
The way it often works in the NFL, coaches live and learn, only to make the same mistakes all over again. Bailey had one of the best seasons in cornerback history last season when, including playoffs, he had nine interceptions with 239 return yards and two touchdowns, and he was a yard away from a third score.
This year, starting with a preseason game against the Houston Texans and coach Gary Kubiak, opponents have approached Bailey’s side of the field like a door-to-door salesman would a home with a “Beware of Dog” decal on the window. With great care. Any pass thrown in the general vicinity of Bailey would be short, and along the hash marks.
Then came the Ravens, who noticed how avoiding Bailey wasn’t helping offenses, either. It may not be a stretch to say that Bailey’s presence is the single greatest factor in the Broncos allowing just one touchdown in 16 quarters this season.
In the red zone, where territory is at a premium, Bailey’s big-play threat on the left defensive side may explain the Broncos’ gargantuan improvement from last season. Ranked 28th in the 32-team NFL in 2005 when 56.4 percent of opponents’ red-zone drives ended in touchdowns, the Broncos are No. 1 this year, allowing just one touchdown in 11 attempts from inside their 20.
In a theory popularized by cornerback Deion Sanders in the 1990s, when Bailey takes away one side of the field, it leaves 10 guys to defend the other side.
“I never knew how that affects an offense until I saw Deion play in his prime,” Bailey said. “And that is effective because you just can’t go to one side the whole game. You’ve got to spread it around.”
Clearly, opponents have yet to figure out where to best throw against the Broncos’ defense. Williams, who starts at the opposite right corner, and Foxworth, the nickel back, are second-year players with rookie speed, 10-year instincts and Bailey-like willingness to bow their necks and hit much larger ball carriers.
They’re no bargains, either.
“I’ve got a few balls thrown on my side, but not as much as you would think with Champ on the other side,” Williams said. “I thought they would be throwing the ball to my side a lot more, but they’ve been mostly trying to pick on the middle of the field.”
That doesn’t work, either, not with arguably the NFL’s fastest linebacking corps in Ian Gold, D.J. Williams and Al Wilson dropping back into coverage. The Broncos’ defense has allowed only 5.5 yards per pass attempt this year, seventh-lowest in the NFL.
But while linebackers are the heart of any defense, cornerbacks anchor the pass coverage. While Bailey rarely is called upon to do little else but support the run – his 23 tackles trail only the 30 by team co-leaders Wilson and Gold – he makes sure his understudies are taking care of business on the other side.
“From a football standpoint, the big thing he has taught me is take it one play at a time,” Darrent Williams said. “Don’t worry about what happened on the last play. If you get beat, or even if you make a big play, that’s the last play. Worry about the next one.”
In this way, Bailey has developed another attribute: leadership. And not just at the team’s Dove Valley headquarters. Bailey, Foxworth and Williams have been spotted together at basketball games and restaurants.
“It’s a big-brother relationship,” Foxworth said. “It’s not so much idolization, but we definitely look up to him. I had an older brother growing up; I still have an older brother. And Champ has provided the same kind of big-brother influence. He doesn’t lead us the wrong way on or off the field.”
Rare is the person who can make a difference just by being there.
The Champ effect
Last season was the best of Champ Bailey’s career, as he made nine interceptions with 239 return yards and two touchdowns, including the playoffs. Until Baltimore’s Steve McNair tested him in the right corner of the end zone Monday night, opposing quarterbacks mostly had avoided Bailey this season. Bailey, who intercepted that pass by McNair, has helped the Broncos defense to a great start through four games:
* Bailey’s interception against McNair was the first of three by the Broncos as fellow cornerbacks Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth picked off passes in the fourth quarter.
* Broncos defense has allowed only one touchdown in 16 quarters.
* Broncos have improved from 28th last season to first in the league at preventing touchdowns when teams reach inside their 20-yard line.
* Broncos have allowed 5.5 yards per pass attempt, seventh-lowest in the NFL.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
