KANSAS CITY, MO. — All were assembled with Mike Shanahan standing in front.
It was the team meeting Wednesday at Dove Valley, a few days after the Broncos were annihilated by the Detroit Lions 44-7.
Shanahan, the Broncos’ coach, started calling out players individually. It was an unusual tactic for Shanahan.
Had he picked on the likes of, say, Chris Kuper or Marcus Thomas or any number of young players who experience growing pains, the message may have carried little impact. But the guy Shanahan lit into more than any other? Veteran offensive tackle Matt Lepsis. Only the starting player who has the most Broncos seniority.
“Honestly, I needed it,” Lepsis said Sunday after he helped block the Broncos to a 27-11 win over Kansas City. “I had a terrible game against Detroit. I think it just showed everybody on the team it doesn’t matter who you are or how long you’ve been here, if you play bad, you’re going to hear about it. I played a bad game and I heard about it. It was a wake-up call for me.”
After the Shanahan scolding, Lepsis bravely stood before his teammates. The coaches were gone at this point, but the players hung out to talk among themselves. Lepsis stood and told his teammates he was looking in the mirror, taking ownership of his mistakes. The kids were impressed.
“He was one of the main guys I was looking forward to seeing the commitment, a guy who has been in it awhile,” rookie running back Selvin Young said. “A guy on the line with a lot of young guys. And for somebody to stand up and say, ‘I’m taking ownership, I’m going to get it done.’ And then he goes out there and gets it done, that means a lot to me for a young guy. That’s a leadership thing that as a young guy, I’m going to hold onto.”
Lepsis was forced to rebound against Chiefs star Jared Allen, who arguably is the NFL’s best all-around defensive end. Allen did get one sack when Lepsis wasn’t blocking him. There was another play when Allen did beat Lepsis (and drew a holding call, which was declined), although Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler got rid of the ball in time.
Otherwise, Lepsis helped anchor an offensive line that opened large holes for Young, who rushed for 109 yards, and protected Cutler, who completed 17-of-29 passes.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
