dragondawg
06-13-2007, 09:07 AM
Broncos
Chris Shelton
The biggest Colorado sports story so far this summer slipped under the radar, taking a backseat, temporarily, to the recent winning ways of the Rockies.
But next fall when the Broncos are competing for a Super Bowl, the team's success will be traced back to the recent beefing up of the defensive line.
The additions of 330-pound tackle Jimmy Kennedy (via trade), 350-pound tackle Sam Adams (signing) and 296-pound tackle Marcus Thomas (draft) will completely change Denver's defense.
Here's how:
New defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Bates wants to plug up the middle with Kennedy, Adams, Thomas and Gerard Warren (plus, they drafted defensive ends Jarvis Moss in the first round and Tim Crowder in the second round this year).
Cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre Bly are obviously good enough to cover receivers one-on-one.
That leaves everyone else free to pursue the quarterback.
This year's defense is expected to be fun to watch as the Broncos try to sack the life out of their opponents.
Denver's plan makes sense for another reason, too.
Quarterback Jay Cutler hasn't started a full NFL season and will need time to develop, so the Broncos will try to win a Super Bowl with defense.
Sounds big.
Rockies
Josh Lindenstein
Late-July meltdown? There's plenty of history to suggest that there's one looming again for the Colorado Rockies. Only division title contention in late August could make Colorado sports fans believe otherwise at this point.
That doesn't take away from the fact that the local nine's play of late has been the story most worthy of following on the Denver-area sportscape recently.
So the Broncos bolstered their defense with a wall of sumos. That will be fun to see play out in September when the games are actually being contested.
The Rockies are getting results right now thanks to a transformation that was hardly fathomable little more than three weeks ago.
The Rockies were nine games below .500 and had just lost a series at home to the Royals. The team wasn't scoring runs, and everyone wanted Clint Hurdle's and Dan O'Dowd's heads on platters.
Fast forward.
The Rockies have won 13 of 19 despite Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Fenway Park against Boston. They've won five of their last six series and split the other 2-2 with the defending world champs. Todd Helton is playing like Todd Helton. Matt Holliday is leading the NL in hitting. The pitching is showing life. And, for once, things seem to be moving full-speed ahead at 20th and Blake.
And that's not news Coloradans often get to follow.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/jun/13/broncos-rockies-whos-got-your-attention/
Chris Shelton
The biggest Colorado sports story so far this summer slipped under the radar, taking a backseat, temporarily, to the recent winning ways of the Rockies.
But next fall when the Broncos are competing for a Super Bowl, the team's success will be traced back to the recent beefing up of the defensive line.
The additions of 330-pound tackle Jimmy Kennedy (via trade), 350-pound tackle Sam Adams (signing) and 296-pound tackle Marcus Thomas (draft) will completely change Denver's defense.
Here's how:
New defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Bates wants to plug up the middle with Kennedy, Adams, Thomas and Gerard Warren (plus, they drafted defensive ends Jarvis Moss in the first round and Tim Crowder in the second round this year).
Cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre Bly are obviously good enough to cover receivers one-on-one.
That leaves everyone else free to pursue the quarterback.
This year's defense is expected to be fun to watch as the Broncos try to sack the life out of their opponents.
Denver's plan makes sense for another reason, too.
Quarterback Jay Cutler hasn't started a full NFL season and will need time to develop, so the Broncos will try to win a Super Bowl with defense.
Sounds big.
Rockies
Josh Lindenstein
Late-July meltdown? There's plenty of history to suggest that there's one looming again for the Colorado Rockies. Only division title contention in late August could make Colorado sports fans believe otherwise at this point.
That doesn't take away from the fact that the local nine's play of late has been the story most worthy of following on the Denver-area sportscape recently.
So the Broncos bolstered their defense with a wall of sumos. That will be fun to see play out in September when the games are actually being contested.
The Rockies are getting results right now thanks to a transformation that was hardly fathomable little more than three weeks ago.
The Rockies were nine games below .500 and had just lost a series at home to the Royals. The team wasn't scoring runs, and everyone wanted Clint Hurdle's and Dan O'Dowd's heads on platters.
Fast forward.
The Rockies have won 13 of 19 despite Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Fenway Park against Boston. They've won five of their last six series and split the other 2-2 with the defending world champs. Todd Helton is playing like Todd Helton. Matt Holliday is leading the NL in hitting. The pitching is showing life. And, for once, things seem to be moving full-speed ahead at 20th and Blake.
And that's not news Coloradans often get to follow.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/jun/13/broncos-rockies-whos-got-your-attention/