Here’s the $10 million question, Broncomaniacs:
If defensive tackle Gerard Warren was a 325-pound round peg in a square hole, how long before the pieces start to fit on Denver’s defense?
This team has issues bigger than Warren. Any NFL franchise that gives a player big guaranteed money one year and the Denver boot before he can spend it all just might be suffering from an identity problem.
Football championships are won with dominant defenses.
The curious timing of Warren being blown up as a cornerstone of the team, going from No. 1 on the depth chart to nowhere to be found, is a huge indication the Broncos haven’t figured out exactly what they’re doing on defense.
“Change is never easy. We’re hoping we’re where we need to be as a defense by Game 1. But this may be a work in progress, because it is new,” veteran safety John Lynch said this week.
The concerns about Denver’s defense are legitimate and real, especially when there’s a cautionary sign being waved by Lynch, whose football résumé includes a Super Bowl victory and eight trips to the Pro Bowl.
All this chatter about how quickly and gracefully young quarterback Jay Cutler can ascend the NFL’s learning curve is so much buzz, buzz, buzz. While Jay-C will undoubtedly experience bumps along the way, the dude can undeniably play.
It’s the heart of this defense that makes your faith skip a beat.
As new defensive guru Jim Bates is discovering, there are more suspects than superstars in the defensive line and at linebacker.
While toasting the arrival of space-eating defensive tackle Sam Adams, we can only hope his old bones stay on the field long enough for us all to crack open a cold brew. Bet you a six-pack that the 34-year-old Adams plays fewer than 50 percent of the defensive snaps.
The only category in which this D-line might lead the league is name tags. Although you can’t tell Ebenezer Ekuban from Tim Crowder or Jarvis Moss without a scorecard, quantity does not guarantee quality at defensive end.
At the point of attack, sack-happy Elvis Dumervil and linebacker D.J. Williams represent the team’s two biggest talents, yet your new favorite pass-rusher is 5-feet-11 only if he wears football shoes with stiletto heels. And all Williams must do is master a new position, replace the grit of departed Al Wilson and shake off the dreaded sports curse of unfulfilled potential before anybody begins whispering something about him being an underachiever.
And, by the way, the old clock on the wall says it’s 24 days until the Broncos open the regular season at Buffalo. Anybody know where Denver’s new strongside linebacker is? Didn’t think so.
There’s no questioning the talent in the secondary, and the no-nonsense schemes of Bates have proved to work in the NFL. But the same reason Warren fell from favor is why the Broncos seem destined for hard knocks to their egos along the way. Denver thought it was pretty tough on defense a year ago. And proud athletes can be hesitant to mess with success.
“It’s been very clear that the guys who buy in have done well, because it is different. It’s not the defense we’ve been playing. There’s still some adjustment, but you’ve at least got to buy in,” Lynch said.
With Norv Turner doomed to wreck the Ferrari in San Diego, the Chiefs not sure if Larry Johnson cares more about getting paid or making plays, and the Raiders waiting, waiting, waiting for Al Davis to exit stage right, there’s no reason Denver cannot win the AFC West.
But, if the Broncos thought they could baby Cutler in his first full season as a starter, they better pick another “Jeopardy” category and look for a different way to frame the question.
Sure, the original plan was for a iron-fisted Denver defense to have Cutler’s back and lessen his load as a young quarterback.
Be prepared for some heavy lifting, Mr. Cutler.
A quarterback can never rest when his defense is a work in progress.
What’s the best assurance of a fast start to the season by the Broncos?
Think shootouts, not shutouts.
Staff writer Mark Kiszla can be reached at 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com.
