Ziggy
07-20-2008, 09:31 AM
Young Broncos linemen eager for a second chance
July 19, 2008 - 6:53PM
By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD At the end of preseason last year, the Denver Broncos' promising rookie defensive linemen talked about the big season they expected from themselves.
Then the season started and ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder and tackle Marcus Thomas played like rookies. Moss had one sack, was inactive in the seventh game and broke his right fibula a few days later. Crowder didn't realize how much a high ankle sprain in training camp set him back.
He didn't get his first sack until Nov. 11. Thomas had the best season of the three, but endured a stressful offseason.
Denver used three of its four draft picks in 2007 on those defensive linemen, including a first-round pick on Moss and a second-rounder on Crowder. One of the more important issues in training camp is figuring out if the Broncos' investment in those players will pay off this year.
None of the three topped the depth chart at his position in the offseason, but the team is hoping for big contributions from all of them.
"Time will tell," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "We're expecting that. If they keep progressing, absolutely."
The New York Giants built last season's Super Bowl team around a stellar defensive line. But top defensive linemen are highly sought in the draft and free agency, so mimicking the Giants' approach isn't easy. As the Broncos found out with their rookie trio last year, defensive linemen often need time to develop.
Moss will be under the most scrutiny. He showed some promise last year. The defense used a special package against Indianapolis, moving Moss around near the line of scrimmage to feature his talents. But Moss wasn't very effective for most of the season. He was a healthy scratch against Green Bay before he broke his leg in practice.
The leg won't be a problem, Moss insists. He said he feels good and is much more comfortable with the mental part of the game.
"I'm just lining up," he said. "There's less thinking, more playing. I can line up and not worry about Is coach going to worry about this or yell at me for that?' I don't have that feeling anymore."
The Broncos were excited about Crowder before his ankle injury, which happened before the first preseason game.
Crowder did have four sacks in a three-game stretch in November and could have a breakout season if he stays healthy.
"I could have done better," Crowder said. "That's why I can't wait for this upcoming season to get started."
Thomas' solid rookie year, in which he started six games, was clouded by some off-field controversy. On March 1, he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. He claimed the cocaine found in a car he was riding in wasn't his, and the charges were dropped in early May.
With that incident behind him, he can concentrate on football. He was rotating with the first-team defense in the offseason, coming in after Alvin McKinley. Like his fellow second-year linemen, he was confident about what he can do this season.
"I expect a lot more out of myself," Thomas said. "I expect to really lay it down this year. Last year I didn't play nowhere near my abilities."
July 19, 2008 - 6:53PM
By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD At the end of preseason last year, the Denver Broncos' promising rookie defensive linemen talked about the big season they expected from themselves.
Then the season started and ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder and tackle Marcus Thomas played like rookies. Moss had one sack, was inactive in the seventh game and broke his right fibula a few days later. Crowder didn't realize how much a high ankle sprain in training camp set him back.
He didn't get his first sack until Nov. 11. Thomas had the best season of the three, but endured a stressful offseason.
Denver used three of its four draft picks in 2007 on those defensive linemen, including a first-round pick on Moss and a second-rounder on Crowder. One of the more important issues in training camp is figuring out if the Broncos' investment in those players will pay off this year.
None of the three topped the depth chart at his position in the offseason, but the team is hoping for big contributions from all of them.
"Time will tell," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "We're expecting that. If they keep progressing, absolutely."
The New York Giants built last season's Super Bowl team around a stellar defensive line. But top defensive linemen are highly sought in the draft and free agency, so mimicking the Giants' approach isn't easy. As the Broncos found out with their rookie trio last year, defensive linemen often need time to develop.
Moss will be under the most scrutiny. He showed some promise last year. The defense used a special package against Indianapolis, moving Moss around near the line of scrimmage to feature his talents. But Moss wasn't very effective for most of the season. He was a healthy scratch against Green Bay before he broke his leg in practice.
The leg won't be a problem, Moss insists. He said he feels good and is much more comfortable with the mental part of the game.
"I'm just lining up," he said. "There's less thinking, more playing. I can line up and not worry about Is coach going to worry about this or yell at me for that?' I don't have that feeling anymore."
The Broncos were excited about Crowder before his ankle injury, which happened before the first preseason game.
Crowder did have four sacks in a three-game stretch in November and could have a breakout season if he stays healthy.
"I could have done better," Crowder said. "That's why I can't wait for this upcoming season to get started."
Thomas' solid rookie year, in which he started six games, was clouded by some off-field controversy. On March 1, he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. He claimed the cocaine found in a car he was riding in wasn't his, and the charges were dropped in early May.
With that incident behind him, he can concentrate on football. He was rotating with the first-team defense in the offseason, coming in after Alvin McKinley. Like his fellow second-year linemen, he was confident about what he can do this season.
"I expect a lot more out of myself," Thomas said. "I expect to really lay it down this year. Last year I didn't play nowhere near my abilities."