The names have changed, but the issue remains the same.
Larry Coyer and Jim Bates are gone, leaving Bob Slowik as the latest candidate to turn around the Broncos’ defense.
Everyone thought Bates was the one who could do it. But trouble arrived early in 2007 and never left.
That’s early, as in the preseason, when the Broncos couldn’t tackle anybody a year ago. They allowed almost 325 yards rushing in their first two games.
By season’s end, Bates was gone and several veterans were calling the Broncos a team in search of an identity. A defense is more like it.
A year ago, Sam Adams was trying to fit in, D.J. Williams was adjusting to life at middle linebacker, and the three rookies on the line were trying to figure out life in the NFL.
This year, Nate Webster and Niko Koutouvides are competing at middle linebacker, Dewayne Robertson is adjusting to a 4-3 defense, and those three rookies are trying to become quality young veterans.
Different names, same issue: Can the Broncos assemble a playoff-worthy defense? If so, Saturday in Houston wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
“Set the tone,” said Webster, when asked what his goal was for the preseason opener. “Get out there and try to make a name for our defense immediately, not wait until the season comes around.
“We want to have a taste in our mouth, get off to a good start. We’ve been having good practices here . . . but the real test is going to come once we play games.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
