TXBRONC
11-11-2009, 10:38 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13757148
Analysis: Law looks fine in Denver debut
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/11/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
It got lost in all that didn't go right Monday night, but the fact cornerback Ty Law played as much as he did for as long as he did just days after signing with the Broncos is a testament to his ability and intelligence on the field.
Law on Friday agreed to terms of a one-year contract, signed the deal Saturday, practiced a couple of times and then played a full allotment of snaps Monday against the Steelers when the Broncos went to their nickel package — five defensive backs.
Occasionally the Broncos used safety Josh Barrett in the nickel to relieve Law — three snaps through three quarters — and give themselves a bigger look, but Law handled his business well overall.
Over the long term, the jury is still out about whether Broncos coach Josh McDaniels did the prudent thing by releasing second-year players such as punter Brett Kern and cornerback Jack Williams to replace them with 35-something players Mitch Berger and Law.
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan often backed the team up against the salary cap and turned back the development of young players by leaning so hard on veterans signed to one-year contracts to cover things in the short term.
But for one game, Law held up his end of the bargain. He often found himself on one of the better slot receivers in the NFL, the Steelers' Hines Ward.
Ward's production was limited out of the slot. He scored two touchdowns against the Broncos, but one came after he ran past, and jumped over, Champ Bailey in coverage. He averaged just over 6 yards a catch for the night.
The Broncos have plenty of teams left on the schedule that can stress a defense with three or four wide receivers on the field, most notably the Chargers, Giants, Colts and Eagles. So working out of the nickel is going to be important.
The Broncos rarely have worked out of the dime (six defensive backs) this season — only a smattering of snaps, and none since the opener at Cincinnati. So they choose to get things done in the nickel package when offenses try to spread them out.
That makes Law's role, and his ability to keep his 35-year-old body in the lineup, all the more important.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Analysis: Law looks fine in Denver debut
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/11/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
It got lost in all that didn't go right Monday night, but the fact cornerback Ty Law played as much as he did for as long as he did just days after signing with the Broncos is a testament to his ability and intelligence on the field.
Law on Friday agreed to terms of a one-year contract, signed the deal Saturday, practiced a couple of times and then played a full allotment of snaps Monday against the Steelers when the Broncos went to their nickel package — five defensive backs.
Occasionally the Broncos used safety Josh Barrett in the nickel to relieve Law — three snaps through three quarters — and give themselves a bigger look, but Law handled his business well overall.
Over the long term, the jury is still out about whether Broncos coach Josh McDaniels did the prudent thing by releasing second-year players such as punter Brett Kern and cornerback Jack Williams to replace them with 35-something players Mitch Berger and Law.
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan often backed the team up against the salary cap and turned back the development of young players by leaning so hard on veterans signed to one-year contracts to cover things in the short term.
But for one game, Law held up his end of the bargain. He often found himself on one of the better slot receivers in the NFL, the Steelers' Hines Ward.
Ward's production was limited out of the slot. He scored two touchdowns against the Broncos, but one came after he ran past, and jumped over, Champ Bailey in coverage. He averaged just over 6 yards a catch for the night.
The Broncos have plenty of teams left on the schedule that can stress a defense with three or four wide receivers on the field, most notably the Chargers, Giants, Colts and Eagles. So working out of the nickel is going to be important.
The Broncos rarely have worked out of the dime (six defensive backs) this season — only a smattering of snaps, and none since the opener at Cincinnati. So they choose to get things done in the nickel package when offenses try to spread them out.
That makes Law's role, and his ability to keep his 35-year-old body in the lineup, all the more important.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com