I ain’t got no money, but I sure got a whole lotta notes. …
They’re fast, they’re athletic, and every once in a while, they get close enough to the quarterback to make out his number.
It wasn’t just me. Other members of the unwashed masses of media were waiting for Jim Bates, too. They wanted to know if Bates, the new man with the plan for the Broncos’ defense, was going to use his linebackers in the pass rush more than his predecessor, Larry Coyer.
Al Wilson, D.J. Williams and Ian Gold generally are regarded as one of the NFL’s top-notch trios. And what did it translate into last season? Two sacks – one by Wilson, one by Williams.
Nothing out of the ordinary there. The previous season, they accounted for six – three apiece by Wilson and Gold.
The obvious question: Will those numbers go up in Bates’ more attack-oriented defense?
“It all depends,” Bates said. “We’ll see how we are as far as rushing with the front four. We know we’re going to be good in coverage. Then it depends on game situation and how the offense is doing.”
Translation: Don’t count on it.
The good news for Bronco Nation is Bates has a history of getting pressure on the quarterback from his front four. Three times in a span of four seasons with the Dolphins he had two D linemen account for 28-plus sacks. The Broncos had 35 last season. …
And for the record, it wasn’t just a matter of Bates having talented linemen in Miami. He coaxed a career-high 16 1/2 sacks out of Trace Armstrong at age 35. …
The Broncos are committed to Gerard Warren as a starter, but beyond him, they have question marks on the D line. That said, feel free to pencil in Ebenezer Ekuban at defensive end. He played for Bates back in the day with the Cowboys. …
By the way, don’t sleep on Domenik Hixon as the Broncos’ punt returner next season. Hixon, a fourth-rounder whose rookie year was washed out by injuries, was on new special-teams coordinator Scott O’Brien’s radar last year in Miami. O’Brien’s McScouting report on Hixon: makes you miss.
“We all saw him coming out of Akron,” O’Brien said. “I like him. He’s not a one-cut guy.” …
Strangest – OK, worst – deal of the NFL offseason: the Bears trading Thomas Jones and a No. 2 pick to the Jets for New York’s second-rounder. The move leaves Cedric Benson as the go-to guy in Chicago, a development that will be as popular as jock itch in the Bears’ locker room. …
The Nuggets win one, then lose one. One day they have the No. 7 seed, the next they’re No. 8. Your thoughts, George Karl? “Our mental toughness and somewhat our physical toughness is way too soft to be a big-time team in the NBA.” …
Strange days indeed at the Pepsi Center. No? Then maybe you can explain how the Nuggets were 14-9 with Andre Miller in the starting lineup, but 11-15 with Allen Iverson as a starter going into Wednesday night at Golden State. …
They may be riding a 10-game winning streak, but these aren’t your daddy’s Spurs. To wit: They’re .500 (13-13) vs. teams with winning records. …
It’s the national pastime, all right – in Japan. According to reports, 14 million Japanese fans watched Daisuke Matsuzaka’s first inning of work at spring training – against Boston College. …
My newest hero in sports? That would be Angels owner Arte Moreno. First he lowers beer prices. Now he’s putting Gary Matthews Jr.’s feet to the flames, insisting on a public statement about Matthews’ alleged involvement in an Internet steroids ring. …
Headline in Salt Lake City’s Deseret News after Utah pink-slipped hoops coach Ray Giacoletti: “Hit the road, Giac”. …
And finally, welcome home, Daniel Graham. Thanks for bringing some decent weather with you.
Staff writer Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
