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Lonestar
07-24-2009, 06:24 PM
By Chris Gentilviso
DenverBroncos.com

Editor's Note: In the days leading up to training camp, DenverBroncos.com will examine several key areas on the Broncos roster to give fans an idea of what to look for as the season approaches. Fifth in the eight-part series: linebackers.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The arrival of new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan brought several changes to the Broncos' defensive outlook for 2009.

A new 3-4 scheme. A new attacking attitude. A new mixture of veteran and rookie personnel.

The X's who are arguably most amped to adapt to these changes happen to be the "4" in that equation: the linebackers.

As five-year mainstay D.J. Williams best put it, every player has their opportunity to make a highlight-reel play within this system.

"We've got a lot more packages, a lot of disguises, a lot of different things and we can have a lot of fun and highlight certain players," Williams said. "We can highlight Elvis (Dumervil) and certain things he can do, we can highlight me, we can highlight 'Dre (Goodman), we can do things for Champ (Bailey), all these other different guys, the interior guys, so I think the defense is going to be pretty fun."

Standing as the most movable pieces, the linebackers will be most crucial to making that potential a reality. Here are the old and new faces in that equation.

THE VETERANS

Williams turned in his third career 100-tackle season a year ago. But for the first time during his pro tenure, injuries hampered his time on the field.

After surgery in January to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the five-month recovery period did little to sway Williams away from immersing himself in Nolan's system.

Adjusting in stride, he was a mainstay at Dove Valley during the offseason. He also already concluded that his new "jack" linebacker slot -- the inside position on the weak side -- is tailored to his strengths.

"I love my position," he said. "I don't want to give away too much about what my position is and what I get to do, but I think the position highlights what type of player I am."

That type of player is a "swarming" defender, a term epitomized by the ferocious pass rush of Elvis Dumervil. In three years with the Broncos, Dumervil has recorded 26 sacks, ranking 13th among all NFL players over that span.

With his past success and his new outside linebacker/defensive end position in hand, Dumervil has his sights set on even higher totals for this season.

"I'm ready to get this season started," Dumervil said. "Hopefully I get like 16 sacks, so that's my number this year."

The 3-4 system has permeated the minds and boosted the expectations of Dumervil and his veteran counterparts. Tim Crowder shifts to that same outside linebacker/defensive end position, with four sacks in 19 career games for the Broncos. Joining him is fellow third-year end Jarvis Moss, who sees the new spot as one that will allow him to better use his speed and athleticism.

Moss had no sophomore slump a year ago, doubling his games from six to 12, and increasing his sack output from one to two-and-a-half. The arrival of Nolan and Josh McDaniels has Moss looking toward another fresh, healthy campaign.

"This 3-4 defense, you know a lot of teams were looking for me to be a 3-4 player when I was coming out, so I'm excited about it," Moss said. "It will give me a chance to show that I'm versatile, and kind of a new beginning. I get to start all over with the new staff and coach in here."

For some it marks a fresh beginning. For others, the 3-4 system continues to let them make history.

A year ago, Spencer Larsen became the first Bronco and fourth player in the NFL since 1990 to start on both offense and defense in a single game. By season's end, Larsen had 15 tackles on defense, while carving holes in the backfield at fullback.

Now, McDaniels and his staff are asking the 25-year-old to reprise his role from last season. The opportunity to continue being a two-way player is exactly how Larsen wants it.

"That (McDaniels) was able to look at last year and decide to keep me on and give me a chance is exciting," he said. "Whatever they have me do, I'm excited about it and I'll do my best with it."

Larsen also made his impact on special teams with nine tackles. Mario Haggan returns for his first full season in Denver, after registering 20 tackles, a sack, and four special teams stops in eight games. Both players are expected to contribute greatly in special teams coordinator Mike Priefer's scheme.

The difference between 2008 and 2009 has been a full 360-degree turn for Wesley Woodyard. Last season, Woodyard was fighting to make the roster in training camp, as an undrafted rookie.

A year later, he is in the thick of the Broncos' defensive plans, after recording 54 tackles and 11 special teams tackles in 16 games. Drawing from his own strength in completing a successful rookie season, Woodyard has the antidote for a better 2009 season.

"Last year we just didn't finish," Woodyard said. "That's something Coach is focusing on this year. We've got to be great finishers, and that's something that we didn't do last year and something we have to improve on or we won't have a winning season this year. We have to be able to finish close games and pull out the close games."

THE NEW GUYS

From 1999-2006, a No. 56 anchored the middle of the Broncos defense. He was drafted out of the University of Tennessee and his name was Al Wilson.

Now, in 2008, another Volunteers standout wearing No. 56 has the chance to make his mark in the thick of the Denver defense.

Rookie Robert Ayers made a name for himself in Tennessee's backfield last season, leading the Southeastern Conference in tackles for a loss with 15.5. As the team's leading tackler with 49 stops, he helped the Volunteers finish 10th in the nation in scoring defense at 16.8 points per game and 12th in the country in rushing defense at 103.1 yards per game.

Ayers received Wilson's blessing before selecting his number. But he added that mirroring his jersey does not mean he can create the same legacy Wilson did with the Broncos.

"I could never be an Al Wilson, whether I have his number or his cleats or whatever I put on of his," Ayers said. "I'll never be another Al Wilson, I'm just going to try to be Robert Ayers, play my game, bring my type of intensity and do the things that I do well."

Fellow rookie Lee Robinson hopes to do the same. His model happens to be Woodyard, who made a name for himself during the first half of last season as a rookie on special teams. Rewarded with six starts in the latter half of the season, Woodyard produced with 36 tackles in those games.

Like Woodyard, Robinson comes in as an undrafted rookie. A tackling machine at Alcorn State, Robinson totaled 334 tackles (193 solo) in 43 career games, and believes he can use the blueprint from his new teammate.

"I look up to him because he came in, in the same situation as me," Robinson said. "I’m just going to come in, like he did, and continue to put my head down and work."

Working has been Andra Davis' forte over the last seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Excited for the change of scenery to the Rocky Mountains, Davis is coming off a 16-game, 134-tackle season, in which he posted six 10-tackle games.

Beyond bringing productive numbers, Davis is intent on serving as a model for younger players like Ayers and Robinson.

"I can bring a lot," Davis said. "I can tell them a lot, but I'm not a guy who's just going to be telling them what to do, I've got a lot of game film and I think I can show them a lot better by showing them."

Nick Greisen adds another veteran presence to the Broncos' corps, with 98 games of NFL experience under his belt. The eight-year pro signed with Denver on April 29, three months after appearing in three postseason games for the Baltimore Ravens.

Much of Greisen's impact in the playoffs came on special teams, and the Broncos added another veteran stalwart in that department via free agency. Darrell Reid helped the Colts post a 49-15 record in his four seasons in Indianapolis. He sports a Super Bowl ring on his finger, and a versatility that stands to enhance the Broncos' options with their new 3-4 system.

During his tenure with Colts, Reid appeared in 55 games, registering 79 tackles and 2.5 sacks at the defensive line position. But he especially proved his worth on special teams, leading the club with 45 tackles. Those intangibles have put Reid in the mix to move to the outside linebacker/defensive end position this season - a change that doesn't phase the fifth-year pro for several reasons.

"Coach McDaniels told me two things," Reid said. "No. 1 -- we're not rebuilding, we're building. No. 2 -- you define your role. Whatever role you want to play, that's going to be your role." "Those are the two things he told me and as I said, through these practices, the more we get on the field and actually start putting the system into play, the more my role will be defined."

While the roles of each of these additions may take time to mold, they all share a paramount goal: winning.

"I've been in the league long enough that it's not about just going out there and playing -- I want to win," Davis said. "I know every year I play in this league my time is getting shorter. So I want that ultimate goal, which is to win that Super Bowl ring. A lot of us don't have a lot more time left, so it's about winning right now. You've got a guy like (Brian Dawkins) who's been out in Philly, and wants to win that Bowl. Everybody has that same passion, and we just want to come out here and do our part."

MEET THE PLAYERS:

INSIDE LINEBACKERS


Andra Davis registered at least 10 tackles in 39 of his career 105 NFL games.
Nick Greisen has appeared in at least 14 games in six of his seven NFL seasons.
Mario Haggan hosted a radio show on FM 103.3 The Edge called “The Specialists” with teammate Josh Stamer during the 2006 season in Buffalo.
Spencer Larsen was named Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after logging 66 snaps - 3 offense, 55 defense, 8 special teams - and seven tackles against Atlanta in Week 11.
Lee Robinson ranked fifth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with 9.3 tackles per game during his senior campaign to earn first-team all-conference honors.
D.J. Williams has started 70 of his career 75 games with the Broncos.
Wesley Woodyard tied for fourth in the league with 36 unassisted tackles during weeks 10-14 last season - the first five starts of his NFL career.


OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS/DEFENSIVE ENDS


Robert Ayers earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior at Tennessee in 2008.
Tim Crowder scored a touchdown on a 50-yard fumble recovery on Sunday Night Football vs. Pit. on Oct. 21, 2007, becoming the first Denver defensive lineman to score on a fumble return since 2002 (Chester McGlockton).
Elvis Dumervil has seven career multi-sack games over his first three pro seasons. The Broncos are 5-2 in those games.
Jarvis Moss notched the first multiple-sack game of his career with two sacks against Miami last season in Week 9, adding six tackles.
Darrell Reid helped the Colts post the NFL's second-best record (49-15/.766) during his four seasons with the club.


http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9166

SoCalImport
07-25-2009, 07:33 AM
I'm excited to see what Ayers can do outside. I think He'll be great.

Dre'Davis and DJ in the middle is solid.

BUT!!...If the D-line struggles then it could be a real trial for these guys to fight past the extra blocker that'll be coming their way.