And then there were three.
Well, four, if you count Tom Nalen. Four starters remaining from the Broncos’ 2005 team, the one that lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game.
The roll call includes D.J. Williams, Champ Bailey and Ben Hamilton. And Nalen, who figures to start the season on the inactive list because of a knee injury, but regain his spot in the lineup ASAP.
There are no starting wide receivers left from the ’05 team, and no starting running backs. And while we’re on the subject, there are no starting defensive linemen, either.
Remember the Browncos? Courtney Brown, Michael Myers and Gerard Warren? They’re long gone. So are John Lynch and Nick Ferguson and Al Wilson. Oh, and Jake Plummer, if that name rings a bell.
In their place, for the most part, are young players who’ve been starting for a year or two. Either that or they’re rookies such as Ryan Clady and Eddie Royal.
Why bring it up today? To point out the Broncos’ inexperience. To paint the picture of what they are, a.k.a. a team in transition. They’re a team with young players at several key positions.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Broncos have several players who have stardom written all over them. Question is, will they emerge as stars this soon, this season?
Only time will tell, but, given all that youth on the roster, Mike Shanahan and his coaches have a great challenge ahead of them.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s Broncos updates on The Jimmy Page at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
