D.J. Williams, middle linebacker?
I’m not saying it’s going to happen. Then again, I’m not saying it’s not. All we can say right now is this: Wesley Woodyard is going to play, even when Williams returns from knee problems.
Woodyard may not get any team MVP votes from his teammates, but at the very least, he’s one of the Broncos’ unsung heroes. Barely a month ago, Champ Bailey was quoted as saying the defense’s “attitude stinks.” Since then, the Broncos have played their best defense of the season, and it’s no coincidence that the improvement has come with Woodyard in the lineup.
The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky “is a beast,” says Broncos defensive tackle Kenny Peterson. Not only has he been a tackling machine, Woodyard has provided a vital intangible to the mix. At a time when the defense was feeling beleaguered, he stepped in and gave his teammates a major jolt of enthusiasm.
Question is, what happens when Williams returns?
Williams is going to play, make no doubt. But Mike Shanahan, when asked about Woodyard Monday, said “We’ll try to keep him out there as much as we can. He’s fun to watch, both on defense and special teams.”
Williams switched to middle linebacker last season before being moved back to his natural position on the weak side. Now, you have to wonder if he’ll move back to the middle, where Nate Webster has been inconsistent, to make room for Woodyard.
At any rate, it’s very clear the Broncos’ three best linebackers are Williams, Woodyard and Jamie Winborn. And you know what Shanahan likes to say. That’s right. The best players play.
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He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
