PatsWin2002
08-25-2005, 07:34 PM
Posted on Thu, Aug. 25, 2005
Broncos taking rookie route on the corner
BY FRANK SCHWAB
The Gazette
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - (KRT) - The Denver Broncos will have at least one rookie cornerback play a lot this season. Depending on their luck with injuries, two more rookie corners might see playing time with the defense.
For better or worse, the pace that rookies Darrent Williams, Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah develop will be a factor in how Denver performs on defense this season. Denver used its first three picks in April's draft on those three cornerbacks.
"It's kind of hard to play a rookie and not lose a step," defensive backs coach Bob Slowik said. "There's a lot of growing pains, unfortunately, when they have to step in. But these guys have made tremendous progress."
Denver got a glimpse of how important the rookie cornerbacks might be this season when cornerback Champ Bailey missed Denver's first two preseason games with a hamstring injury. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who said Wednesday he figured Bailey would miss all four preseason games, gave Bailey a slight chance to play Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.
But Bailey probably won't play, and Williams would once again start in his place and Foxworth would play as the third cornerback in the nickel defense. When Bailey and Lenny Walls have been healthy, Williams has been the nickel cornerback.
This week's opponent, The Colts should be a good test for rookie cornerbacks. Indianapolis blew out Denver in the playoffs each of the past two seasons and exposed the Broncos' lack of depth in the secondary.
Saturday's game doesn't count in the standings but the Broncos should be able to tell if their rookie corners are ready for the regular season. The starters from each team, including the Colts' offense led by NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, will probably play into the second half.
So far, the Broncos' rookies have been promising. Williams has made some mistakes - he missed a tackle that led to a big play and picked up a pass-interference penalty in the first preseason game - but has created turnovers in practice.
The rest:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/12478198.htm
Broncos taking rookie route on the corner
BY FRANK SCHWAB
The Gazette
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - (KRT) - The Denver Broncos will have at least one rookie cornerback play a lot this season. Depending on their luck with injuries, two more rookie corners might see playing time with the defense.
For better or worse, the pace that rookies Darrent Williams, Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah develop will be a factor in how Denver performs on defense this season. Denver used its first three picks in April's draft on those three cornerbacks.
"It's kind of hard to play a rookie and not lose a step," defensive backs coach Bob Slowik said. "There's a lot of growing pains, unfortunately, when they have to step in. But these guys have made tremendous progress."
Denver got a glimpse of how important the rookie cornerbacks might be this season when cornerback Champ Bailey missed Denver's first two preseason games with a hamstring injury. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who said Wednesday he figured Bailey would miss all four preseason games, gave Bailey a slight chance to play Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.
But Bailey probably won't play, and Williams would once again start in his place and Foxworth would play as the third cornerback in the nickel defense. When Bailey and Lenny Walls have been healthy, Williams has been the nickel cornerback.
This week's opponent, The Colts should be a good test for rookie cornerbacks. Indianapolis blew out Denver in the playoffs each of the past two seasons and exposed the Broncos' lack of depth in the secondary.
Saturday's game doesn't count in the standings but the Broncos should be able to tell if their rookie corners are ready for the regular season. The starters from each team, including the Colts' offense led by NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, will probably play into the second half.
So far, the Broncos' rookies have been promising. Williams has made some mistakes - he missed a tackle that led to a big play and picked up a pass-interference penalty in the first preseason game - but has created turnovers in practice.
The rest:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/12478198.htm