dragondawg
06-06-2007, 02:32 AM
At 350 Pounds, Adams Fits Defense's New Bill
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Jim Bates spoke with local media for the first time after becoming the Broncos' assistant head coach/defense, he disseminated his defensive philosophy in precise detail.
But one thing became clear from his words -- the Broncos had to get bigger up front and in the middle to run the defense the way he wanted.
"We were able to manage with 290, 285-pound defensive tackles (in Miami from 2000-04)," Bates said in March, "but it makes the defense work a lot better if we have big guys up the middle."
Enter Sam Adams, who carries 14 years of experience, three Pro Bowl appearances and, perhaps most notably, 350 pounds of blocker-obstructing, gap-clogging heft.
Is the 1994 first-round pick what the defense needed to complete its offseason overhaul?
"I don't know if we needed it, but I kind of had my eye on (Adams) from the start," said safety John Lynch.
Earlier in the offseason, the Broncos executed a trade with the Miami Dolphins for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, but the deal was voided four weeks after it took place. In between the announcement of the swap and its nullification, the Cincinnati Bengals opted to release Adams after a one-season stint there during which he started all 16 games.
"When he was released), I kind of thought (Adams would fit)," Lynch said. "I knew Bill Johnson and he had a background and I know Coach Bates likes big boys up there and he fits that bill."
Johnson coached Adams at Texas A&M and helped mold him into the eighth overall pick in the 1994 draft -- seven picks after Wilkinson.
"I know what type of player he is," Johnson said. "We're looking for big people inside that can take two (blockers), so we might as well give him a chance."
Added Head Coach Mike Shanahan: "He's part of our football team now. It will be interesting to see what type of shape he's in and how he contributes to our team, but we're happy to have him."
Lynch is understandably curious how Adams will fare, as well. The Pro Bowl safety feels that picking up the Broncos' defensive scheme at this relatively late juncture in the offseason will not be too troublesome for Adams.
"I'm not worried about the system; I'm worried about the altitude and Rich Tuten," Lynch said with a knowing smile borne of four seasons of workouts under the stewardship of the longtime strength and conditioning guru. "People understand early that this is a little bit different of a strength and conditioning program.
"It doesn't matter who you are, you run here. That's my big concern. (Adams) is going to play fine. But he'll be pushed here and that'll be a good thing.
"That's why I think he'll get the most out of himself."
To that end, Johnson expects that Adams will play somewhere below the 350 pounds at which he was listed in 2006.
"He wasn't 350 (at Texas A&M), and hopefully we get him below that," Johnson said. "I really think he's going to be a little bit lower than he's been in the last few years -- and I hope he is -- because he's getting older and doesn't need to carry as much."
Adams also arrives after offseason knee surgery, but Shanahan believes that won't be a lingering issue.
"He had a little arthroscopic surgery at the end of the season," Shanahan said. "He's been in Cincinnati's offseason program for a couple of months, and he should be ready to go."
Added Johnson: "I think he's still got some miles left, some tread on those old tires, and we'll see. But the biggest thing is that we're familiar with him and had a relationship with him.
"(It) seems that some other teams were trying to get him, but it worked out for him to come here."
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6858
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Jim Bates spoke with local media for the first time after becoming the Broncos' assistant head coach/defense, he disseminated his defensive philosophy in precise detail.
But one thing became clear from his words -- the Broncos had to get bigger up front and in the middle to run the defense the way he wanted.
"We were able to manage with 290, 285-pound defensive tackles (in Miami from 2000-04)," Bates said in March, "but it makes the defense work a lot better if we have big guys up the middle."
Enter Sam Adams, who carries 14 years of experience, three Pro Bowl appearances and, perhaps most notably, 350 pounds of blocker-obstructing, gap-clogging heft.
Is the 1994 first-round pick what the defense needed to complete its offseason overhaul?
"I don't know if we needed it, but I kind of had my eye on (Adams) from the start," said safety John Lynch.
Earlier in the offseason, the Broncos executed a trade with the Miami Dolphins for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, but the deal was voided four weeks after it took place. In between the announcement of the swap and its nullification, the Cincinnati Bengals opted to release Adams after a one-season stint there during which he started all 16 games.
"When he was released), I kind of thought (Adams would fit)," Lynch said. "I knew Bill Johnson and he had a background and I know Coach Bates likes big boys up there and he fits that bill."
Johnson coached Adams at Texas A&M and helped mold him into the eighth overall pick in the 1994 draft -- seven picks after Wilkinson.
"I know what type of player he is," Johnson said. "We're looking for big people inside that can take two (blockers), so we might as well give him a chance."
Added Head Coach Mike Shanahan: "He's part of our football team now. It will be interesting to see what type of shape he's in and how he contributes to our team, but we're happy to have him."
Lynch is understandably curious how Adams will fare, as well. The Pro Bowl safety feels that picking up the Broncos' defensive scheme at this relatively late juncture in the offseason will not be too troublesome for Adams.
"I'm not worried about the system; I'm worried about the altitude and Rich Tuten," Lynch said with a knowing smile borne of four seasons of workouts under the stewardship of the longtime strength and conditioning guru. "People understand early that this is a little bit different of a strength and conditioning program.
"It doesn't matter who you are, you run here. That's my big concern. (Adams) is going to play fine. But he'll be pushed here and that'll be a good thing.
"That's why I think he'll get the most out of himself."
To that end, Johnson expects that Adams will play somewhere below the 350 pounds at which he was listed in 2006.
"He wasn't 350 (at Texas A&M), and hopefully we get him below that," Johnson said. "I really think he's going to be a little bit lower than he's been in the last few years -- and I hope he is -- because he's getting older and doesn't need to carry as much."
Adams also arrives after offseason knee surgery, but Shanahan believes that won't be a lingering issue.
"He had a little arthroscopic surgery at the end of the season," Shanahan said. "He's been in Cincinnati's offseason program for a couple of months, and he should be ready to go."
Added Johnson: "I think he's still got some miles left, some tread on those old tires, and we'll see. But the biggest thing is that we're familiar with him and had a relationship with him.
"(It) seems that some other teams were trying to get him, but it worked out for him to come here."
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6858