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Offensive-minded coach Mike Shanahan can thank his deep, cat-quick defense for the Broncos' 3-0 start

By Peter King

Trailing 14-7 with just under two minutes left in the first half on Sunday in Denver, Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who on his previous drive had directed an 80-yard touchdown march, took charge at the Buffalo 20 following a Broncos punt. The way he had thrown this season, Bledsoe seemed perfectly capable of driving the Bills to a tying touchdown, especially with momentum on his side. But on first down left end Trevor Pryce shot through a tackle-guard gap and forced Bledsoe to throw the ball away before he got leveled. On second down Bledsoe tossed a screen pass to fullback Larry Centers, who was pancaked by linebacker John Mobley for a three-yard loss. On third down Denver sent the house, blitzing a corner and a linebacker. Nickelback Bertrand Berry sacked Bledsoe for a nine-yard loss. So much for momentum.

Mobley didn't let Bledsoe down easy on a first-quarter sack of the Bills' quarterback John W. McDonough

"Drew was one score away from taking over the game, and we couldn't let that happen," Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said following Denver's 28-23 win. "In the huddle, it was like, 'It's on us to control this game!'"

For the first time since the Orange Crush ruled the AFC West in the mid-1970s, Denver's defense is winning games for its poorer offensive cousin, which has sputtered through a 3-0 start. The front seven is as deep and as fast as any in football. The acquisition of 306-pound free-agent tackle Lional Dalton (formerly of the Ravens) enabled Denver to switch Pryce from tackle to his more natural end position. Now the line has speed at end and bulk in the middle, with Dalton alongside 334-pound tackle Chester McGlockton. The Broncos didn't make a serious effort to re-sign cagey linebacker Bill Romanowski because they thought third-year man Ian Gold was ready to play. They were right. According to Bledsoe, Gold, Mobley and Wilson are so fast that they could play in the secondary for most teams.

Denver has shown not only defensive speed but also backbone in wins over the Rams, 49ers and Bills -- no offensive slouches there. Over a postgame beer on Sunday night, coach Mike Shanahan, who built his reputation on his offensive acumen, was asked about the difference between this year's Broncos and last year's. "We're playing defense," were the first three words out of his mouth.

Issue date: September 30, 2002

For more Inside the NFL see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, September 25. Click here to subscribe to SI.

 

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