LeSueur is Broncos' safety net

[SoCalBronco]

LeSueur is Broncos’ safety net
Player turns corner on position switch

By Pat Graham
For the Reporter-Herald

ENGLEWOOD — There are the good moments when Jeremy LeSueur is glad he was switched to safety.
Like when the Denver Broncos’ second-year player correctly read the eyes of quarterback Jake Plummer and intercepted a pass during training camp drills.

But then there are those forgettable times that make him miss being a cornerback.

Like when he had cleat marks on his chest from when rookie running back Maurice Clarett stomped all over him.

LeSueur is going to have up-and-down days. That’s an occupational hazard of learning a new position in this league. It wasn’t until two months before camp was set to begin he even found out about the position change. The Broncos asked him to switch and he willingly accepted.

[anthonypacino]

La sauer was already used to having Clarett's cleat marks on him back in college...GO BUCKEYES!!

[SoCalBronco]

“I have no problem with the move,” said LeSueur, who missed all of last season due to a sports-related hernia injury. “It’s going good. I’m coming along good.”

Moving cornerbacks over to safety isn’t unprecedented. Denver’s Nick Ferguson was a cornerback at Georgia Tech before being shuffled to safety. Third-year player Chris Young, a fellow Yellow Jacket himself, followed the exact same path as Ferguson.

“If you’re going to make the ultimate safety, you might play him at corner in college for a couple of years because you’d get those cover skills,” safety John Lynch said. “Playing cornerback helps you tremendously.”

It worked out well for Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. He was a cornerback at USC before San Francisco converted him. All he did was revolutionize the position.

Former Denver safety Mike Harden can offer LeSueur tips on making the switch as well. Harden played cornerback for the Wolverines. He’s also LeSueur’s cousin.

“You look around and there are a lot of guys who’ve made the switch,” Lynch said.

So far, LeSueur has shown promise. He’s also in the running for the nickel position, a spot Kelly Herndon filled before injuries forced him to become a cover corner last season. Herndon has since moved on to Seattle.

“Kelly left some big shoes to fill, but I like the way Jeremy’s approaching this,” Lynch said.

Who knows? If the LeSueur switch works out, maybe defensive backs coach Bob Slowik will suggest moving Champ Bailey to safety?

“I don’t think coach Slowik will allow that, right coach?” Ferguson said as Slowik walked by.

“No, no,” Slowik answered. “I’m going to leave that position to Nick Ferguson.”

If LeSueur wants to follow the same road as Ferguson, he needs to learn how to smack people. The Claretts of the world can’t plow him into the turf. Being a hitter is the primary prerequisite for a safety.

[SoCalBronco]

“If you’re not used to being a physical guy, it’s going to be a harder transition,” Ferguson said. “Jeremy’s a smart guy; he’ll get that part down.”

If not for the hernia injury, LeSueur may have never been converted. Maybe things would’ve been different?

The Broncos struggled with depth in the secondary last season — they were forced to start undrafted rookie free agent Roc Alexander in the playoff game against Indianapolis and so they drafted cornerbacks Darrent Williams, Karl Paymah and Domonique Foxworth in this year’s draft. The Broncos now had depth at cornerback, and LeSueur had to be relocated.

He might have ended up being a good corner, too. While at Michigan, LeSueur had four interceptions and 27 pass deflections. During his senior year, he earned all-Big Ten Conference honors.

Not that he minds the switch.

“I just want to play,” he said.

This could’ve been a tip. The 2004 NFL.com draft analysis of LeSueur read like this: “Has good upper body muscle development with broad shoulders. ... Better hitter than tackler, but will show no hesitation coming up and making the stop at the line of scrimmage in run support.”

The description sounded like that of a safety.

“He’s doing a really nice job,” Lynch said. “He’s learning the craft.”

That’s easy when you have Lynch and Ferguson as mentors.

“I’m always asking for their advice,” LeSueur said. “They tell me to learn, pay attention and ask questions.

“It’s going good so far, but it’s going to take time.”

[Atlas]

Former Denver safety Mike Harden can offer LeSueur tips on making the switch as well. Harden played cornerback for the Wolverines. He’s also LeSueur’s cousin.

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Did the writer have to bring up Harden as an example. I don't think if I was Shanny I would want Lesueur to get any tips from Harden. Harden was a good CB and safety but he was great at scamming women out of thousands of dollars!! Isn't he in jail anyway???

[Old Dude]

If LeSueur is our safety net, someone better invest in a big spatula.

[bpc]

i'm really pulling for this guy...

[SoCalBronco]

La sauer was already used to having Clarett's cleat marks on him back in college...GO BUCKEYES!!

Go Maurice! :thumbsup:

[footstepsfrom#27]

Did the writer have to bring up Harden as an example. I don't think if I was Shanny I would want Lesueur to get any tips from Harden. Harden was a good CB and safety but he was great at scamming women out of thousands of dollars!! Isn't he in jail anyway???
I didn't know any of that...but I recall it being Hardin that Earl Campbell gored like a runaway bull and tossed about 10 yards downfield after picking up a long gain after a full head of steam. By comparison, MoC's cleating was gentle. Betcha young Jeremy decides to think thigh pads next time he's a stationary target and some 230 pound back is going full bore at him on a running start... :thumbsup:

[SoCalBronco]

Im just glad Jeremy isnt embarassing himself at this year's camp and actually appears to be doing well, leading the nickel corner competition and simultaneously doing well at safety. Very good. Now we wont need to invent a fake injury again to put him on the IR. The 2004 Draft Day 1 keeps getting better.

[Atlas]

I didn't know any of that...but I recall it being Hardin that Earl Campbell gored like a runaway bull and tossed about 10 yards downfield after picking up a long gain after a full head of steam. By comparison, MoC's cleating was gentle. Betcha young Jeremy decides to think thigh pads next time he's a stationary target and some 230 pound back is going full bore at him on a running start... :thumbsup:

Bo Jackson ran over harden in 1986 or '87 Earl Cambell ran over Steve Foley and knocked him out in 81 or 82