Broncos will miss Wilson's mean streak in the middle

[dragondawg]

Broncos will miss Wilson's mean streak in the middle
By DAVID RAMSEY

LaDainian Tomlinson wanted to dance. He was running free, eyes on the end zone.
Then he put a high-stepping move on Aldra Kauwa Wilson, better known to all as Al.

Boom.

Tomlinson, the San Diego Chargers superstar, dropped to the turf, and Wilson stood above him as the triumphant tough guy of the Denver Broncos defense.

Hard to believe Wilson is almost certainly finished with football after suffering a neck injury. Hard to believe this proud middle linebacker never again will punish runners and receivers in the open field.

He leaves behind a gifted Broncos defense. The Broncos are fast and crafty. The Broncos boast Champ Bailey, the best cornerback on our planet. This isn’t a depleted unit.

But the defense lacks one crucial element.

Intimidation.

With Wilson gone, only safety John Lynch looms as a brain-rattling hitter. This brings us to the biggest question of the offseason:

Who will frighten the dancers?

Coach Mike Shanahan said the question fails to worry him. “Most of the guys” on the Broncos’ defense rank as “big-time hitters,” according to Shanahan. He’s confident D.J. Williams, sleek and young, will serve as a properly violent replacement for Wilson.

Anyone who wonders about the Broncos’ hitting prowess is “caught up in the hype and doesn’t really look at what our players do,” Shanahan said Tuesday.

Lynch agrees. He’s a polite soul, unless you happen to be an opposing receiver. He calmly suggests safety Nick Ferguson ranks as a dangerous man to encounter in the secondary. He, like Shanahan, believes Williams possesses everything required to become a star.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Lynch said.

Fine? Sure. Special? Maybe.

Shanahan traded for cornerback Dre Bly and drafted defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder. Jim Bates, the assistant head coach for defense, promises a more aggressive, more daring defense.

With all the new faces, Wilson’s exit might seem easy to shrug off. The NFL has become an endless revolving door. Players grab a cup of coffee and vault off to a new city. That’s the reality of the free-agent era.

Shanahan chooses a calm, optimistic response to change. We’ll adjust, he says. We’ll thrive.
“Any time you lose a player, it’s always tough,” Shanahan said, “but it’s an opportunity for another player to earn the position.”

Shanahan can’t mourn. He can’t obsess over one player.

Still, Wilson won’t be so easy to replace. He brought a special, slightly sinister presence to his job.

He took his task seriously, always remaining in character. When you saw Wilson, he was scowling. Didn’t matter if the Broncos won or lost. He still looked angry.

“A lot of people tell me I look mad when I’m happy,” Wilson once told me while flashing a rare smile. “I guess that’s just the way God made me.”

Wilson will be missed. He thirsted to deliver his brutal brand of football justice. He wasn’t dirty, just extremely dangerous.

As the Broncos prepare for the 2007 season, there’s plenty of promise.

But there’s also a hole, a big one, right in the middle of the defense.

http://www.gazette.com/sports/wilson..._shanahan.html

[cmhargrove]

I agree, I miss Al already and will still wear my 56 jersey a lot this year. But, I am also hopeful for this dude... Look at his face, isn't he ready to dish out some "football justice" as well? We'll all see by the preseason how hard DJ is willing to hit (and if he wraps up).

[Spider]

what we will miss more is Al Wilsons ability not to over commit , mean streak , just about any linebacker at most levels have a mean streak , not all of them can read plays though .... thats what we will miss

[WoodMan]

Originally Posted by dragondawg

Who will frighten the dancers?

I believe that Pacman has taken that job.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Originally Posted by WoodMan

I believe that Pacman has taken that job.

haha thats a good one. Yeah, the Broncos will miss him so much they were willing to give him away for a late third round pick this year.

[vancejohnson82]

Amazing that we have another linebackers career cut short due to a neck injury....although Al only had a few more seasons left in him

anyone have the video link to him lighting up LaMont Jordan on that 4th and 1 play in the snow on Sunday/Monday night at Invesco??

[bronco610]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

what we will miss more is Al Wilsons ability not to over commit , mean streak , just about any linebacker at most levels have a mean streak , not all of them can read plays though .... thats what we will miss

Love the sig Spider, has your wife seen it?

[bronco610]

I will miss Wilson, he was a great leader of our def. However I also wouldnt want him to have to go through life crippled. His play had declined because of the pain and I think it bothered our defense more than people think as seen in the colapse at the last half of the season on 3rd down. When everyone has to play a certain role or gap, then if one player is hampered some one else has to get over to make the play which costs yards. I would of hated to see Al's skills fall further and have fans turn on him. This way he still goes out with people wanting more.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by bronco610

Love the sig Spider, has your wife seen it?

I tell her what side the bread is buttered on , I dont answer to her I am the boss ......
no she hasnt seen it

[bronco610]

Didnt think so!!!!

[maven]

I won't miss Al's missed tackles, lack of int's, and lack of sacks. He can be loud all he wants, but I sure as heck won't miss him. It was time for him to go.

[HorseHead]

Al was a warrior and a leader. But Maven is right, there were alot of whiffs the last couple of years.....

[DBroncos4life]

I wish we could have worked something out so he was IR'd and he still would have been on the sideline as a leader. I agree that he missed tackles more last year but he was beat up and you could see it.

[maven]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

I wish we could have worked something out so he was IR'd and he still would have been on the sideline as a leader.

There will be plenty of players to take over the leadership role.

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by maven

There will be plenty of players to take over the leadership role.

Pretty sure you can never have too many players to light fires under eachothers asses.

[azbroncfan]

Al Wilson as much as I like him won't be missed as much as the fans and media portray it. LB isn't as important as the DL or secondary and Lynch is probably a bigger leader than AL was and Champ can take the role as John's sidekick.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by vancejohnson82

Amazing that we have another linebackers career cut short due to a neck injury....although Al only had a few more seasons left in him

anyone have the video link to him lighting up LaMont Jordan on that 4th and 1 play in the snow on Sunday/Monday night at Invesco??

I loved that play too, but it was Crockett (big dude) not Jordan. It was a year before they got Jordan from the Jets. Everything was perfect for that game until we let our lead slip away in the fourth quarter. That might be our last loss to the Raiders (2 years ago?).