Lynch, Ferguson big hits as Broncos' golden oldies

[dragondawg]

Lynch, Ferguson big hits as Broncos' golden oldies

The NFL's oldest safety tandem shows no signs of slowing. "To us, age is nothing," Ferguson says.

By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer

They stand united, grizzled and wise. They are NFL redwoods, only with greater mobility and limbs that wrap.

It's not enough to say that in John Lynch and Nick Ferguson, the Broncos' safety tandem is among the NFL's oldest. Lynch and Ferguson are the oldest.

"I think anybody you put with me is going to be part of the oldest tandem in the league," Lynch said. "But a guy like Nick, who's been all over the world, I think he's deserving of being part of it."

Lynch, 35, is the senior statesman of NFL defensive backs. He has enjoyed somewhat of a Golden Boy career, with a few stiff fines mixed in for hard hits. A former quarterback at Stanford, a second-round draft pick of baseball's Florida Marlins, a third- round pick of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lynch has won a Super Bowl and been named to eight Pro Bowls.

By comparison, Ferguson is a football vagabond whose career path finally settled a few years ago. He is 32 and coming off season-ending knee surgery - mere nuisances next to the challenges he has already conquered. One of 11 children who grew up in the projects of Miami, Ferguson walked on at two colleges, joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent, played two seasons in Canadian cities of Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, two more in NFL Europe and has been cut by three NFL teams. As recently as 2003, Ferguson was a coaching intern in Europe.

"I love his story," Lynch said. "The guy's so passionate about football. He had a dream and kept after it when a lot of people would have moved on."

These divergent backgrounds have come together for a third season as the Broncos' starting safeties.

Young in life, downright kids at play, Lynch and Ferguson nevertheless constantly hear cracks about their old age. In the relatively brief lifespan that is an NFL career, graybeards are classified as anyone older than 30. For the Broncos' safety tandem, the chronological milestone will only fall further from memory during the 2007 season when Lynch (36 in September) and Ferguson (33 in November) celebrate birthdays.

"The last time I checked, I didn't find any gray hairs in my beard," Ferguson said recently during a mini-camp media gathering. "I'm not dying my hair, either. But, yeah, the big thing this past offseason was not just the injury, but the sense that both me and John are getting older. But to us, age is nothing. It's an afterthought. That's something for you guys to write about."

While Ferguson's defiance is palpable, Lynch accepts his relative advanced years with honor. It sure beats the alternative. Think Al Wilson, the Broncos' Pro Bowl middle linebacker who was just released at 29 amid health concerns, wouldn't mind growing a little older in the NFL?

"It's a blessing," Lynch said. "I say it over and over again, I wouldn't still be here if I didn't think I could play. And, for that matter, this organization - I'm sure they like me and all, but unless you're playing well they aren't going to have you here just to be here. Some people will say, 'He brings leadership.' But believe me, leadership doesn't come unless you can play in this league."

There's not another pair like Lynch and Ferguson, not even close. Only two other teams, New England and New Orleans, have two 30-something safeties on their roster. And from that group, only the Patriots' Rodney Harrison, who is coming off a major knee injury, tops the respective depth charts.

The Patriots just compensated, drafting University of Miami safety Brandon Meriweather with their first-round pick.

Broncos coach Mike Shana- han shared no such concerns. Each of the Broncos' four draft picks last month were linemen - three on defense (Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Marcus Thomas), one on offense (Ryan Harris).

Safety? Wait until next year, at least. The Broncos believed a high-round pick on a safety this year would have gone wasted.

"Who was he going to beat out?" Shanahan said. "Age has nothing to do with it. It's playing ability. Nick played very well and John was in the Pro Bowl. We have good depth at the backup position, when you look at Curome Cox, when you look at Domonique Foxworth, when you look at Sam Brandon. There was a good chance a draft choice would not have made our football team."

Ferguson's wayward travels help explain why he brings so much versatility to his strong safety position. He has played in so many systems, learned from so many coaches, accepted so many roles.

"He's a great cover safety," Broncos tight end Daniel Graham said. "He's very aggressive."

Graham played five previous years with New England and often matched up against the Broncos' safeties, as he does now during mini-camp. While Ferguson often is assigned to covering tight ends such as Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, Lynch usually is free to create havoc from either "the box," where he serves as a fourth linebacker, or farther back to the space where a receiver dares to cross.

Wherever he goes, Lynch often is found seeping inside a pass-catcher's mind.

"Oh, yeah, you're always aware of him," Graham said. "You're always aware of the guy who wants to hit you. You've got to keep your head on a swivel."

Different upbringings and different styles have converged to form the NFL's oldest set of safeties. It's a distinction, not an insult. The Broncos' safeties never would have lived past draft day if Shanahan didn't also think Lynch and Ferguson were among the best.

"As you know, Coach Shana- han is a smart man, and that's a smart decision," Ferguson said. "As far as me and John are concerned, it doesn't matter who you bring in here, they're just going to be standing next to him on the sideline."

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_6024484

[dragondawg]

wonder what happened to kennoy kennedy? i think he sighed with detriot last i heard?

[Natedogg]

If only ferguson wouldnt have dropped that fking pick against pittsburg.

[dragondawg]

he mistimed it, went right through his hands, could of been down 14 instead of 21 at half

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Natedogg

If only ferguson wouldnt have dropped that fking pick against pittsburg.

Champ dropped the first pick that game. When Champ drops a ball that means it just wasn't meant to be.

[dragondawg]

that would of changed the whole game

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Coupla' Jerome Woods.

[kmartin575]

Love how you guys think Hamza Abdullah is going to be so great because John Lynch thinks so.

If he was any good don't you think Shanahan would have mentioned him?

[SportinOne]

So basically what i'm getting from this article is: not only are John Lynch and Nick Ferguson really old and really slow, but they are embracing it. Well, that's rich. What a strange offseason. Can we just skip to 2008? The more and more i see stuff like this the more and more i just don't like our chances this year.

[Florida_Bronco]

Originally Posted by kmartin575

Love how you guys think Hamza Abdullah is going to be so great because John Lynch thinks so.

If he was any good don't you think Shanahan would have mentioned him?

I love how you take a few optimistic comments about the guy and then try to turn it into us thinking he will be great.

Then again, you were never very smart to begin with and it shows in your pathetic attempts at trolling.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by TheChamp

So basically what i'm getting from this article is: not only are John Lynch and Nick Ferguson really old and really slow, but they are embracing it. Well, that's rich. What a strange offseason. Can we just skip to 2008? The more and more i see stuff like this the more and more i just don't like our chances this year.

Come on, give it some time. We have proven safeties in a new scheme that should make their job easier (also with the addition of Bly). With Abdullah, Cox, Brandon, and Foxworth in the wings to help out. My guess is, we see a little more of the young guys and they step up their game. Also, Lynch and Ferg know each other well, know how to help each other out. Experience is important in the backfield, but they also have to win the job to keep it.

There might be 2-3 rookie safeties that make an impact this year, but most will be ST players. D-line was the biggest need to help our safeties, not just new safeties. Hopefully Bates has fixed that.

[DenverBrit]

Originally Posted by kmartin575

Love how you guys think Hamza Abdullah is going to be so great because John Lynch thinks so.

If he was any good don't you think Shanahan would have mentioned him?

Yeah, that is odd. Shanny is well known for handing out praise well before training camp begins.

[BlaK-Argentina]

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

Come on, give it some time. We have proven safeties in a new scheme that should make their job easier (also with the addition of Bly). With Abdullah, Cox, Brandon, and Foxworth in the wings to help out. My guess is, we see a little more of the young guys and they step up their game. Also, Lynch and Ferg know each other well, know how to help each other out. Experience is important in the backfield, but they also have to win the job to keep it.

There might be 2-3 rookie safeties that make an impact this year, but most will be ST players. D-line was the biggest need to help our safeties, not just new safeties. Hopefully Bates has fixed that.

Maybe we'll see a defensive shake up mid-season if things aren't working. Kind of like last year with the offense. The rooks at the dline, young guys at safety, etc.

[rovolution]

Originally Posted by DenverBrit

Yeah, that is odd. Shanny is well known for handing out praise well before training camp begins.

Though sometimes thats not a good thing for the player. Sometimes he is trying to get some trade value for them, i.e. the Darius Watts situation last offseason, where Shanny was bigging him up, and then he cut him (probably trying to salvage something for him, but no one took the bait).

[Requiem]

Shanahan and Sundquist are full of **** about the safety position. Having to place Foxworth their last year, IMO - albeit injuries there - shows we don't have much confidence there.

Fergie a good cover safety? JAHAHAHAH.

[BigPlayShay]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Champ dropped the first pick that game. When Champ drops a ball that means it just wasn't meant to be.

Offensive pass interference on that play, but whatever. Wouldn't have made a difference if you ask me.

[dragondawg]

we're really going to need all the DBs if we play New England in the playoffs

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by BigPlayShay

Offensive pass interference on that play, but whatever. Wouldn't have made a difference if you ask me.

Remember, on the Steelers' first drive Al also forced a fumble that was overturned. It just wasn't our day, and we had zero pass rush.

[ward63]

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

Remember, on the Steelers' first drive Al also forced a fumble that was overturned. It just wasn't our day, and we had zero pass rush.

When was the last time we had a true pass rush?

[Cito Pelon]

It's fluff time from here to opening day. Lynch and Fergie looked like a couple pieces of petrified wood out there most of the time last year. They can roam the middle pretty good, and Lynch especially is in receiver's minds. That dude can launch.

For the coming season, there's pretty much a whole new defensive staff, with this alignment:

Mike Heimerdinger - Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks
Jim Bates - Assistant Head Coach Defense/Linebackers
Rick Dennison - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Bob Slowik - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Joe Baker - Linebackers
Jeremy Bates - Wide Receivers/Quarterbacks
Ronnie Bradford - Assistant Defensive Backs
Jacob Burney - Defensive Line
Dwayne Chandler - Assistant Strength and Conditioning
Charlie Jackson - Defensive Assistant
Bill Johnson - Defensive Line
Pat McPherson - Tight Ends
Scott O'Brien - Special Teams Coordinator
Jim Ryan - Offensive Assistant
Greg Saporta- Assistant Strength and Conditioning
Ryan Slowik - Special Teams Assistant
Jimmy Spencer - Special Teams Assistant
Bobby Turner - Running Backs
Rich Tuten - Strength and Conditioning
Steve Watson - Associate Head Coach

How Shanny came up with that, I don't know. Jimmy Spencer, the former DB assistant becomes an ST assistant. Ronnie Bradford, the former ST coach becomes a DB assistant. Steve Watson the former WR coach becomes an Associate Head Coach in charge of what? Jeremy "Son of Jim" Bates becomes the WR/QB coach. Ryan "Son of newly Titled Defensive Coordinator Bob" Slowik becomes an ST assistant.

Are these coaches qualifed, or is this just some inbred cluster-fark?

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Are these coaches qualifed, or is this just some inbred cluster-fark?

It's very common to rotate coaches between assignments, especially the young ones.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

It's very common to rotate coaches between assignments, especially the young ones.

And where would that be common at? Seems to me at the pro level you hire coaches that know their specialty. If they know their specialty, then you keep them at their specialty. If they do not know their specialty, then shunt them off to special teams, I guess. And if the ST guy does not know his specialty, you flip him with a DB assistant and hire a new ST coach, I guess. And if there are some new big names come onto your staff, I guess you hire their sons and fit them in. And if your WR coach had a decent year last year with his WR corps, but one of the big names you hired has a son that is best slotted as a WR coach, you shunt last year's WR coach to an Associate Head Coach in charge of what?

Sounds like a cluster-fark to me. It's not as if Shanahan has been able to put together a good coaching staff year after year. His staff has been in flux every couple years, and the staffs he's brought in have been fairly pathetic. Basically, Shanahan has mismanaged his assistant staff since '98 when he started losing his SB assistants. He's fired three D coordinators, kept some assistants that the new DC's didn't want, shuffled at least one of them off to ST's, fired some, elevated Slowik to a DC title. Jim Ryan is an Offensive Assistant. A former linebacker an offensive assistant, wth. Sounds like a cluster-fark to me.

The team has one playoff win since '98. Several other playoff appearances that resulted in monumental ass-kickings. That's stinking pathetic. I hope this current staff can make a decent playoff run.

[rubaiyat]

Originally Posted by dragondawg

that would of changed the whole game

Yeah, that went from a pick six, or an INT at midfield, at the least a punt if Champ just knocks it down to a 14 yard completion that got the offense going.

I think we get Big Ben rattled pretty bad if they give up a TD that early in the game.

[bpc]

We had good corner play last year. Yes the pass rush was not very good, but how many times did we have Champ shutting down one side of the field and our safeties still hardly ever made plays.

I doubt it changes much this year. They will be solid in run support and short in pass support.

We could have easily used Griffin or Nelson and they would have had a huge impact on our secondary. Were we saying that Ed Reed couldn't have made our squad a few years ago when we passed on him?

Our coaches just don't think much of drafting safeties high in the draft. The only times they tried, they got burned. Kennedy was very much one dimensional and Cory Gilliard... who?

[~Crash~]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Shanahan and Sundquist are full of **** about the safety position. Having to place Foxworth their last year, IMO - albeit injuries there - shows we don't have much confidence there.

Fergie a good cover safety? JAHAHAHAH.

Fergie is a great Cover safety! I dont ever remimber him getting worked by a TE but I am game point out all the times ? and we play alot of Great TE in our division?