Keith Burns, the Broncos’ on-field special-teams coach, knows the meaning of Sunday night’s aftermath. He knows the immediate task ahead as well.
The Broncos’ special-teams unit, coming off its worst game in an up-and-down season, must rebound against Dante Hall and the Chiefs at Kansas City on Thursday night.
“It’s not going to get any easier,” Burns said Monday. “But we have to find a way. … Special teams is all about want-to. We have to get the want-to-get-it-done.”
The special-teams unit was the only unit to practice Monday as the Broncos squeeze in preparations for Kansas City. The Chiefs took Monday off. The special-teams practice was scheduled before the unit played a key role in the team squandering a 17-point lead in Denver’s 35-27 loss to San Diego at Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday. San Diego’s average starting point on kickoffs was at Denver’s 33.
“In a game of that magnitude it just can’t happen,” Burns said. “We really hurt the team.”
Denver coach Mike Shanahan made it clear Monday he expects a better performance against the Chiefs and Hall, a renowned Bronco killer.
Denver was missing several key special-team players Sunday because of injuries, including Nick Ferguson, Darrent Williams, Patrick Chukwurah and Brandon Marshall.
“It just takes one or two guys here and there,” Shanahan said. “You kind of forgot about the injuries during the game, but we’ve still got to be better than we were. We’ve got to do a better job in all areas. We’ve got to do a better job coaching. We’ve got to do a better job playing. We’ve got to do a better job of demanding more. It starts with me, and we’re just going to keep on working at it.”
Running backs Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp could continue to return kicks. When Williams is recovered from a separated shoulder, he will take over returning punts from David Kircus.
“I hope I stay in on kickoffs,” Bell said. “I love getting my hands on the ball.”
Plummer talk
Shanahan was asked about his confidence in quarterback Jake Plummer, who struggled again Sunday while rookie Jay Cutler stood on the sideline. Plummer completed 13-of-28 passes for 183 yards and threw an interception in the fourth quarter.
“We are just going to keep on working to get better,” Shanahan said. There are “a lot of people, a lot of components that make it work and hopefully we can improve a little bit in that area because we are off a little bit, especially in our drop-back passing.”
Meadows to keep job
Shanahan said Adam Meadows will continue to start in place of George Foster at right tackle. Meadows has started the past two games.
Foster had been lackluster in practice and in games. Meadows is playing in the NFL for the first time since 2003, when he retired because of a shoulder injury.
Injury report
An MRI exam was performed on Ferguson’s left knee. The team is encouraged because Ferguson was able to finish the game Sunday. Shanahan said Tatum Bell’s availability will be evaluated each day. While Bell was out with turf toe injuries, Mike Bell and Damien Nash combined for 142 yards. If Ferguson needs to miss any time, Curome Cox would likely play for him.
Footnotes
Denver’s next home game, Dec. 3 against Seattle, has been moved to 6:15 p.m. and will be televised on NBC. … Shanahan said tight end Tony Scheffler needs to show more consistency in practice. He has been inactive the past two games. … Bradlee Van Pelt worked out for Green Bay on Monday.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
CHALK TALK
Why did the Broncos leave Ebenezer Ekuban alone to cover LaDainian Tomlinson on a 51-yard touchdown pass? Broncos reporter Mike Klis breaks down a strategic element from the Broncos’ 35-27 loss to San Diego:
POINT, COUNTERPOINT: It appeared the Broncos saved their heavy, third-down passing blitz schemes for this game and quarterback Philip Rivers, whom they rattled in the 2005 season finale. In the third quarter, on third-and-3, the Broncos called for an all-out blitz, leaving no safety back in coverage. “Once I saw Al Wilson up on the line of scrimmage, and I saw John Lynch go with the motion guy, I knew there was nobody left to cover me but the defensive end,” Tomlinson said. The Broncos were hoping Tomlinson would flare out to the flat, where it’s easier for Ekuban, a defensive end, to cover. But when Tomlinson ran up the seam, the Broncos were dead. “Once we motioned out, I knew the defensive end had L.T. It was just a matter of, ‘Can we get the ball off?”‘ Rivers said. “But L.T. ran a great route and I was able to drift away from pressure just a little bit.”
FUTURE PROSPECTS: The Broncos learned the hard way the inexperienced Rivers of 2005 is not the poised, confident Rivers of 2006. Ekuban blamed himself for not covering Tomlinson, but credits the Chargers for outwitting the Broncos. “It was a great call by them, isolating (Tomlinson),” Lynch said. “That’s tough duty for anyone, let alone a defensive end.” Look for fewer third-down, cover-zero blitzes from the Broncos when they meet the Chargers in a rematch Dec. 10 at San Diego.
EYE ON … The Chiefs
DENVER AT KANSAS CITY, 6 p.m., Thursday
For the record: The Chiefs are 6-4 and in third place in the AFC West.
Last game: The Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 17-13 on Sunday at Kansas City. They took the lead on a touchdown run by Larry Johnson with less than two minutes to go. The Raiders raced down the field, but Kansas City intercepted a pass by Aaron Brooks in the final seconds.
Streaking: The home team in this series has won the past eight games and 11 of the past 12 dating to 2000.
Who’s hot: Johnson gained 154 yards on 31 carries against the Raiders.
Who’s not: Chiefs quarterback Trent Green had a slow return from a severe concussion. He completed 9-of-16 passes for 102 yards against Oakland. It was Green’s first game back since his Week 1 injury.
Key stat: Johnson has scored Kansas City’s past 28 rushing touchdowns.
FYI: Four of the past five games in this series at Kansas City have been decided by four points or fewer.
Line: Broncos by 1.
Injury update: Tight end Tony Gonzalez and guard Brian Waters didn’t play against the Raiders. They will be monitored today and Wednesday.
Coachspeak: “It was a two-half football game for us. I thought the Raiders did a great job after our first drive coming back and getting some points on the board. Their defense stiffened. I thought that late in the third quarter we got going again offensively. It was a great drive by Trent at the end.” – Chiefs coach Herm Edwards after the win over the Raiders
– Bill Williamson
