There may be a way for the Broncos to no longer waste their 2007 first-round draft pick.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday he is looking at defensive end Jarvis Moss playing outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 system.
“We have the ability to do some things with Jarvis we haven’t done in the past,” Shanahan said.
A speed-rushing force for the national champion Florida Gators in 2006, Moss was the Broncos’ first-round pick, 17th overall, in the 2007 draft. But he has only one career sack and has been inactive in four of his past six healthy games, dating to last season.
Moss entered training camp weighing 248 pounds, light by NFL defensive end standards.
The Broncos started employing a three defensive lineman/four linebacker set for their Week 3 game against New Orleans, at which point it only made sense for Moss to convert to outside linebacker.
The San Diego Chargers also use a 3-4 set. In the 2005 draft, they took Shawne Merriman, a defensive end from Maryland, and converted him to outside linebacker. Merriman had 39 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons.
Pittman promotion.
Shanahan said Monday that short-yardage back Michael Pittman may be moved into the tailback’s five-carry rotation with Selvin Young and Andre Hall.
“Sure,” Shanahan said. “He played very well. He is a tough, hard-nosed runner who made some big plays. He ran over some safeties and ran over some corners. Obviously, the better you play, the more time you are going to get.”
With Young suffering a strained left groin against Tampa Bay, the Broncos could be using a tailback rotation of Hall and Pittman for the game Sunday against Jacksonville. Pittman is averaging 4.1 yards a carry and 15.0 yards a reception through five games.
Spencer steps up.
Converted rookie linebacker Spencer Larsen has supplanted rookie Peyton Hillis as the Broncos’ starting fullback. There had been some question whether the move was temporary because Hillis, the No. 1 fullback through four games, missed practice last Friday and Saturday to attend his grandmother’s funeral services in Arkansas.
“Someone had asked me if it was because of the death in his family, and I said no, we were giving it to Larsen,” Shanahan said. “We want to give him the opportunity to show what he can do. Anybody that hits like that on special teams can hit those linebackers (as the lead blocker).”
Torain update.
Rookie running back Ryan Torain, out since training camp with a dislocated elbow, will see a doctor today.
“Hopefully, he will clear me to get going,” Torain said. “I’m ready to start playing.”
If he’s allowed to shed his cumbersome elbow brace, Torain likely would begin strengthening his arm this week and practicing next week, when the Broncos prepare to play at New England. Shanahan said he doesn’t expect Torain to be ready for game action until the bye week, meaning he likely won’t play until Nov. 2 against Miami.
Mustard returns.
The Broncos made a roster move Monday, again releasing offensive guard Dylan Gandy and again signing tight end Chad Mustard.
“I don’t know what the situation is or for how long,” Mustard said. “But that’s my life.”
Since 2002, Mustard has been signed four times and waived four times by Cleveland, signed and waived by Carolina, and had been signed and waived four times by the Broncos until he signed for a fifth time Monday. And like washing a car is sure to bring rain, Mustard could have figured the Broncos would be calling when he and wife Kalli started packing up their Denver-area apartment Sunday to move back to their Omaha home.
Hamza signs with Cleveland.
Former Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah agreed in principal Monday to sign with the Cleveland Browns. Abdullah, 25, started the final eight games for the Broncos last year and was playing with the first string in training camp this year until suffering a groin injury.
Mike Klis, The Denver Post
