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View Full Version : The difference is in the "D"



Denver Native (Carol)
09-28-2009, 01:40 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13434086

The 2008 Broncos allowed 84 points in their first three games. The 2009 Broncos have allowed 16 in their first three.

Um, any more questions from the congregation?

Enough already with the they-haven't-played-anyone argument. It remains to be seen where this ride will end, but this much we already know: The Broncos' defense is vastly improved from the unit that stunk up stadiums from coast to coast during Mike Shanahan's final season.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? If there were an assistant coach of the year award, would Mike Nolan be the early frontrunner? Nolan has pushed all the right buttons so far, the latest coming in Sunday's 23-3 domination of the Raiders at Oakland.

The victory marked the second time since the Super Bowl years of the late '90s that the Broncos had opened a season with back-to-back road wins. Add in last week's victory over the Browns at Invesco Field and, well, ladies and gentlemen, we give you the first-place Broncos.

It's not like Nolan is the only newcomer getting the job done. Josh McDaniels, the subject of much ridicule in the aftermath of the Jay Cutler fiasco, is living large these days. In addition to hiring Nolan to fix the defense, McDaniels appears to have spent wisely on the free-agent market.

Sunday's heroes included four free-agent signees. Renaldo Hill and Andre Goodman had interceptions, Brian Dawkins recovered a fumble, and Jabar Gaffney caught four passes. Even Brandon Marshall, who has let it be known he would rather be playing elsewhere, contributed to the cause, catching a 2-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring.

Now for the best news of all: JaMarcus Russell doesn't play for the Broncos. Russell, the first pick in the 2007 draft, has B-word written all over him. (Hint: rhymes with rust.) Russell at one point had completed 10 out of 19 passes for 65 yards, with two of his passes landing in the hands of Hill and Goodman.

The only glitch for the Broncos came when Richard Seymour picked up a personal foul after pulling Ryan Clady's hair. And you thought the Raiders were good for nothing. Their fans, meanwhile, were pulling their own hair out. Well, those who showed up anyway. The game was blacked out because of the NFL's sellout rule.

Next up for the Broncos? The Cowboys, followed by New England, San Diego, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. A month ago, it was difficult to envision Denver winning many, if any of those games. Today? Last time I checked, teams that don't allow points and force turnovers - the Broncos have eight in three games - usually win.