Irving, Texas — If the first-string Broncos took anything from their embarrassing preseason performance here tonight, it’s that John Lynch is far from washed up.
A month away from his 36th birthday, Lynch is the NFL’s oldest defensive back. Yet, if Lynch wasn’t coming up to make a tackle or break up a pass in the first quarter, the Dallas Cowboys weren’t stopping.
Thing is, Lynch is a safety. When the team’s safety is making tackle after tackle, the defense generally has a problem.
The Broncos have some problems.
This may only be the preseason. The best part about the Broncos losing 31-20 to the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium was that it didn’t count.
Just the same, perhaps the Broncos should table discussions about pushing for the Super Bowl. They can get back into the conversation later. There’s still plenty of time.
But let there be no doubt, the Broncos have to improve considerably if they are to become a playoff-caliber team this year.
The Broncos played as if they’ve been together for only a couple of weeks. Which is the case with its overhauled roster, particularly on defense. Apparently, Jim Bates’ new defensive system comes with a slow learning curve. The first-string defense has allowed 34 points in roughly three preseason quarters.
For many reasons, the Broncos’ near weeklong stay here in the steaming heat of north Texas did not go well. The steaming heat was one of the reasons. All those practices in temperatures in the triple digits may have zapped the energy from the unaccustomed Broncos by game time.
There was also the distraction of Gerard Warren’s non-trade. The defensive tackle was starting in the final week of training camp, but was left home from this preseason trip to San Francisco and Texas. When the team returned home early Sunday morning, however, Warren remained officially a Bronco.
More concerning is the team’s overall well-being. Running back Travis Henry and defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban had to be carried off the field during the game. Ekuban suffered a strained right Achilles, an injury that has the frightening sound of possible season-ending implications.
Henry, the Broncos’ biggest offseason prize, suffered a sprained left knee, although he was able to limp off the field unaided. Nickel safety Curome Cox (shoulder strain) and backup running back Mike Bell (hip strain) also left with game-ending injuries.
Those injuries came after a practice week in which rookie defensive end Tim Crowder (sprained left ankle) and right tackle Adam Meadows (calf strain) went down with serious injuries.
It was the injury to Meadows, combined with physical setbacks to left guard Ben Hamilton (concussion), left tackle Ryan Harris (back surgery) and right tackle Jacob Rogers (knee) that left the Broncos’ offensive line decimated for this game against the 3-4 attacking Cowboys defense.
The Broncos are closer to broken than battered. And the regular season is three weeks away.
The Broncos’ O-line situation was so desperate, Erik Pears had to play the entire first half at right tackle, then began the second half playing left guard for the second-team offense. Chad Mustard, a tight end when the week began, played right tackle in the second half Saturday. Mustard also ran a tackle-eligible pattern right into tight end Nate Jackson in the back of the end zone on a third-and-goal play from the 2. Naturally, such imprecision left the pass caught by no one.
The Cowboys showed no mercy. They harassed Jay Cutler on nearly every play, and the Broncos’ second-year quarterback endured some tough lessons learned. With the first team playing so poorly on both sides of the ball, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan had his starters play the entire first half, or at least half-a-quarter more than planned.
Cutler and the outmanned Broncos offense managed just two, first-half field goals with both of those scoring drives starting well into Cowboy territory.
The night wasn’t a complete disaster. Despite the second string’s patched up offensive line, quarterback Patrick Ramsey threw touchdown passes of 90 yards to Brian Clark and 5 yards to Quincy Morgan. Nate Webster may have secured the starting strongside linebacker spot. Lynch was in on four tackles before the game was 10 minutes old, but he wasn’t the only Bronco defensive back who showed toughness.
Champ Bailey led the Broncos’ first team with six tackles, one more than strong safety Nick Ferguson. Dré Bly had an interception and was in on four tackles.
Add it up and the Broncos’ secondary was making way too many tackles. When the secondary leads the team in tackles, chances are the team has some work to do.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
