dragondawg
08-15-2007, 04:48 AM
Defensive tackles lining up to start for Denver
BY FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
The Denver Broncos made no official move Tuesday regarding the future of defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who is being shopped for a trade.
Coach Mike Shanahan said after Monday’s game in San Francisco that the team thought it had a trade finalized, which is why Warren didn’t make the trip.
If Warren is dealt or released, one of the reasons is the coaches are comfortable with their defensive tackles.
“Some of these guys have really stepped up,” Shanahan said.
Sam Adams, who started against the 49ers, and Jimmy Kennedy were acquired during the offseason and have made an immediate impact. The other starting tackle was Amon Gordon.
In April, Shanahan touted Gordon as a player who might adapt well to the new scheme of assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates. Gordon worked his way up the depth chart in training camp and had a nice stop Monday on a first-and-goal run at the 1-yard line.
“I think I obviously have something to give,” said Gordon, who is among the group of former Cleveland Browns linemen acquired by the Broncos in recent years.
Gordon was an afterthought last year after playing in six games for the Browns in 2004 and missing 2005 because of a knee injury. The Broncos claimed him off waivers, but his knee continued to bother him and he spent last season on the practice squad.
“I do feel healthy,” Gordon said. “Hopefully, I can help in any way possible.”
Gordon, who started playing alongside Warren in 2004 as a rookie in Cleveland, said Warren has been a mentor.
“He’s a good guy and I learned a tremendous amount about this game from Gerard Warren,” Gordon said. “He pretty much took me under his wing and showed me things he knows. It helped me out in a tremendous way, and I owe some of my game to him.”
The Broncos are content with the depth they have at tackle. Kennedy was a former first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams. Alvin McKinley started 30 games the past two years for Cleveland. Marcus Thomas was a fourth-round pick this season after slipping in the draft because of character issues. The Broncos felt he had first-round talent. Antwon Burton and Demetrin Veal each played for the Broncos last year, but were listed as fourth string last week.
“Right now in terms of the depth we have at defensive tackle, we all have something great, we all have something we specialize in,” Kennedy said. “We’re making it tough on the coaching staff, as far as picking us.”
Added Gordon: “We’re deep. We got some guys that can play and some guys that are hungry.”
http://www.gazette.com/sports/gordon_26055___article.html/broncos_warren.html
BY FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
The Denver Broncos made no official move Tuesday regarding the future of defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who is being shopped for a trade.
Coach Mike Shanahan said after Monday’s game in San Francisco that the team thought it had a trade finalized, which is why Warren didn’t make the trip.
If Warren is dealt or released, one of the reasons is the coaches are comfortable with their defensive tackles.
“Some of these guys have really stepped up,” Shanahan said.
Sam Adams, who started against the 49ers, and Jimmy Kennedy were acquired during the offseason and have made an immediate impact. The other starting tackle was Amon Gordon.
In April, Shanahan touted Gordon as a player who might adapt well to the new scheme of assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates. Gordon worked his way up the depth chart in training camp and had a nice stop Monday on a first-and-goal run at the 1-yard line.
“I think I obviously have something to give,” said Gordon, who is among the group of former Cleveland Browns linemen acquired by the Broncos in recent years.
Gordon was an afterthought last year after playing in six games for the Browns in 2004 and missing 2005 because of a knee injury. The Broncos claimed him off waivers, but his knee continued to bother him and he spent last season on the practice squad.
“I do feel healthy,” Gordon said. “Hopefully, I can help in any way possible.”
Gordon, who started playing alongside Warren in 2004 as a rookie in Cleveland, said Warren has been a mentor.
“He’s a good guy and I learned a tremendous amount about this game from Gerard Warren,” Gordon said. “He pretty much took me under his wing and showed me things he knows. It helped me out in a tremendous way, and I owe some of my game to him.”
The Broncos are content with the depth they have at tackle. Kennedy was a former first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams. Alvin McKinley started 30 games the past two years for Cleveland. Marcus Thomas was a fourth-round pick this season after slipping in the draft because of character issues. The Broncos felt he had first-round talent. Antwon Burton and Demetrin Veal each played for the Broncos last year, but were listed as fourth string last week.
“Right now in terms of the depth we have at defensive tackle, we all have something great, we all have something we specialize in,” Kennedy said. “We’re making it tough on the coaching staff, as far as picking us.”
Added Gordon: “We’re deep. We got some guys that can play and some guys that are hungry.”
http://www.gazette.com/sports/gordon_26055___article.html/broncos_warren.html