dragondawg
05-09-2007, 03:57 AM
BALLHAWKS
Bailey, Bly tandem could lead to more turnovers for Broncos
By FRANK SCHWAB THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD - Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is planning on some more boring Sundays this fall, at least early in the season.
Opposing quarterbacks usually ignore Bailey, who was second in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.
Bailey expects the same outcome in September even though the Broncos traded for Dre Bly, a former Pro Bowl cornerback with Detroit, this offseason.
“Based on the last two years, they’re going to try him before they try me,” said Bailey, who has 18 interceptions the past two seasons despite few passes thrown his way.
Bailey hopes that will change. He fig- ures Bly, who has 33 career interceptions, will get most of the action early on. If opponents can’t beat Bly, they will have to try something else.
“If he’s picking balls, they got to come to my side,” Bailey said. “There’s no way they can avoid me and be successful.”
Bailey benefited the past two seasons from playing opposite Darrent Williams, who Bailey said was the best cornerback he has played with. Bailey played with Darrell Green and Deion Sanders in Washington, but both were past their prime.
Bailey set a career high in interceptions each of his two seasons with Williams. Williams was shot and killed Jan. 1, which led to the Broncos trading for Bly.
Bly went to the Pro Bowl in 2003 and 2004. Bly, who like Bailey was rarely tested as Detroit’s top cornerback the past few seasons, is excited about getting more passes thrown his way.
“It’s scary,” Bly said. “Me and Champ have had a lot of success. Teams are going to have to pick wisely.”
The Broncos built a defense they think can create many turnovers. New assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates will play a lot of tight man-to-man coverage, and he said he will stress turnovers in practice.
Denver invested heavily in its pass rush on draft day, selecting three defensive linemen, including ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, with its first two picks. If the pass rush improves, Bly and Bailey should benefit.
They also plan to create their own opportunities. Both play aggressively, and Bly doesn’t plan on backing off.
“I’m a very confident guy,” Bly said. “Everybody always says I gamble, my whole career. Well, if I’m a gambler, I’m a dag-gone good gambler because I’ve been winning a lot my whole career.”
Bailey is confident, too. There are fewer shut-down cornerbacks in the NFL because many recent rule changes benefited receivers, but the Broncos feel they have two.
“If you look at talent I think we are the best tandem,” Bailey said.
Nash autopsy inconclusive
An autopsy on Broncos running back Damien Nash found no drugs or unnatural substances in his system. An exact cause of death could not be determined, the St. Louis County medical examiner’s office told The Associated Press.
Nash, 24, collapsed and died Feb. 24 after a charity basketball game he hosted in St. Louis, his hometown, to benefit The Darris Nash Find a Heart Foundation, named after his 25-year-old brother.
“It was a natural death of cardiac origin, but we were unable to determine the exact origin,” the medical examiner’s representative said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
PICK OF THE LITTER
Champ Bailey and Dre Bly were drafted in 1999. They rank second and fourth in the NFL in interceptions since then:
1. Darren Sharper, Green Bay-Minnesota 47
2. Champ Bailey, Washington-Denver 39
3. Tory James, Denver-Oakland-Cincy* 37
4. Dre Bly, St. Louis-Detroit** 33 (tie)
5. Ty Law, New England-Jets-K.C. 32 (tie) 5. Patrick Surtain, Miami-K.C. 32
http://www2.gazette.com/broncos/display.php?id=1331053
Bailey, Bly tandem could lead to more turnovers for Broncos
By FRANK SCHWAB THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD - Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is planning on some more boring Sundays this fall, at least early in the season.
Opposing quarterbacks usually ignore Bailey, who was second in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.
Bailey expects the same outcome in September even though the Broncos traded for Dre Bly, a former Pro Bowl cornerback with Detroit, this offseason.
“Based on the last two years, they’re going to try him before they try me,” said Bailey, who has 18 interceptions the past two seasons despite few passes thrown his way.
Bailey hopes that will change. He fig- ures Bly, who has 33 career interceptions, will get most of the action early on. If opponents can’t beat Bly, they will have to try something else.
“If he’s picking balls, they got to come to my side,” Bailey said. “There’s no way they can avoid me and be successful.”
Bailey benefited the past two seasons from playing opposite Darrent Williams, who Bailey said was the best cornerback he has played with. Bailey played with Darrell Green and Deion Sanders in Washington, but both were past their prime.
Bailey set a career high in interceptions each of his two seasons with Williams. Williams was shot and killed Jan. 1, which led to the Broncos trading for Bly.
Bly went to the Pro Bowl in 2003 and 2004. Bly, who like Bailey was rarely tested as Detroit’s top cornerback the past few seasons, is excited about getting more passes thrown his way.
“It’s scary,” Bly said. “Me and Champ have had a lot of success. Teams are going to have to pick wisely.”
The Broncos built a defense they think can create many turnovers. New assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates will play a lot of tight man-to-man coverage, and he said he will stress turnovers in practice.
Denver invested heavily in its pass rush on draft day, selecting three defensive linemen, including ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, with its first two picks. If the pass rush improves, Bly and Bailey should benefit.
They also plan to create their own opportunities. Both play aggressively, and Bly doesn’t plan on backing off.
“I’m a very confident guy,” Bly said. “Everybody always says I gamble, my whole career. Well, if I’m a gambler, I’m a dag-gone good gambler because I’ve been winning a lot my whole career.”
Bailey is confident, too. There are fewer shut-down cornerbacks in the NFL because many recent rule changes benefited receivers, but the Broncos feel they have two.
“If you look at talent I think we are the best tandem,” Bailey said.
Nash autopsy inconclusive
An autopsy on Broncos running back Damien Nash found no drugs or unnatural substances in his system. An exact cause of death could not be determined, the St. Louis County medical examiner’s office told The Associated Press.
Nash, 24, collapsed and died Feb. 24 after a charity basketball game he hosted in St. Louis, his hometown, to benefit The Darris Nash Find a Heart Foundation, named after his 25-year-old brother.
“It was a natural death of cardiac origin, but we were unable to determine the exact origin,” the medical examiner’s representative said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
PICK OF THE LITTER
Champ Bailey and Dre Bly were drafted in 1999. They rank second and fourth in the NFL in interceptions since then:
1. Darren Sharper, Green Bay-Minnesota 47
2. Champ Bailey, Washington-Denver 39
3. Tory James, Denver-Oakland-Cincy* 37
4. Dre Bly, St. Louis-Detroit** 33 (tie)
5. Ty Law, New England-Jets-K.C. 32 (tie) 5. Patrick Surtain, Miami-K.C. 32
http://www2.gazette.com/broncos/display.php?id=1331053