The Broncos think they can fix their recent rush defense woes. They’ll find out Sunday, either way.
Adding to the diet of Pro Bowl runners Denver had been force-fed, the next challenge is Seattle’s Shaun Alexander, who Monday night against Green Bay proved he is healed from a broken foot as he ran for 201 yards against the Packers.
The game against Alexander follows games against San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson and Kansas City’s Larry Johnson. The two combined for 262 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in the two Denver losses.
“I think it’s an aberration,” Denver cornerback Dominique Foxworth said. “We think we’re a good run defense and we’ve shown that in the past … But Alexander will be a big challenge for us. He’s a hard, smart runner.”
Denver coach Mike Shanahan said the key for the Broncos is to buckle down in the second half. Tomlinson and Johnson wore down Denver’s defense late in the games.
“We have done some good things consistently in some of the games that we have lost but we just have to be a better second-half team and that kind of goes back to practice, conditioning, finishing plays and just doing some of the little things right,” Shanahan said. “That is something that we are emphasizing this week.”
Favre, McNair, Cutler?
Bus Cook has represented Brett Favre and Steve McNair from the beginning of their careers. Neither started an NFL game by their 12th game. But his client Jay Cutler will be.
“I’m coming out for that one. I wouldn’t miss it,” the Mississippi-based agent said Wednesday. “Jay is cut from the same cloth as Brett and Steve. I have the two toughest quarterbacks in the league, and I think I have another in Jay. Jay is going to be playing in Denver a long, long time. Jay is ready for this game. You’ll see a very cool, calm quarterback Sunday night.”
A nod to Champ
When asked to compare left cornerback Champ Bailey to Deion Sanders, Shanahan stumped for his star for the ultimate award.
“Champ, at least in my opinion, should at least be considered the defensive player of the NFL,” Shanahan said. “He is having that type of a year.”
Injury report
Shanahan said starting right tackle Adam Meadows will likely try to practice Friday in an attempt to play Sunday. Meadows didn’t practice Monday or Wednesday. Shanahan said if Wednesday was game day, Meadows wouldn’t have been able to play.
Meadows suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter against Kansas City last week. George Foster – whom Meadows replaced as the starter Nov. 12 at Oakland – took over for the injured Meadows and will start in his place against the Seahawks if needed.
In addition to Meadows, backup Chad Mustard also missed a portion of practice Monday and Wednesday. He will be monitored as the week progresses. There are five Denver players listed as probable on the injury report. Meanwhile, linebacker D.D. Lewis was one of five Seahawks to miss a portion of practice Wednesday with a toe injury and is doubtful to play Sunday.
Footnotes
Denver tight ends coach Tim Brewster’s name has been attached to openings at Arizona State and at North Carolina State. Both processes are in the early stages. Brewster took his name out of consideration for the then-open Iowa State job last week. …
The combined record of the five remaining opponents of the Broncos and Chiefs, currently tied for the two wild-card spots in the AFC with 7-4 records, is 29-26. …
In addition to his news conference Wednesday, Cutler did a conference call with Seattle media. Sports Illustrated is in town doing a story on Cutler.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
