Denver’s defensewon’t look familiar toMetLife
By Mike Klis, The Denver Post
This time, DeMarcusWare accompanied the Broncos to New Jersey. It was criminal, the way the Broncos played their last game atMetLife Stadium. The Broncos return to the scene Sunday, only this time it will be against the woebegone 2014 New York Jets, not the mighty 2013 Seattle Seahawks. It’s not the where, but the who. “There’s not going to be a stadium revenge,” said Broncos coach John Fox. “We were 1-1 in that stadium last year. We’re 0-0 there this year.”
The Broncos drilled the sorryNewYork Giants 41-23 in regular-season gameNo. 2 last year in East Rutherford, N.J. Itwas the Broncoswho had to apologize for their pitiful Super Bowl performance there Feb. 2.
The newwho for Jersey’s football fans Sundaywill be the players on the Broncos’ defense. Seven defensive starters, and nine of the Broncos’ top 14 defensive players, didn’t play in the 43-8Meadowlands Massacre.
“They’re going to see a difference,” said Broncos safety RahimMoore.
The four remaining Broncos defensive starters fromthe Super Bowl: defensive tacklesTerranceKnighton and SylvesterWilliams, linebackersDannyTrevathan andNate Irving. Afifth Super Bowl starter, Malik Jackson, plays half the snaps off the bench this year. That’s it. “That’s crazy, man,” Williams said. “We’re ready to go back out there. We didn’t win there the last time, butwe got some new tools in the offseason andwe’re ready to go.”
The changes in Denver’s defensive personnel:
Ware instead of Shaun Phillips. Ware was signed as a free agent and has three sacks. Phillips left as a free agent and has zero for Tennessee.
DerekWolfe instead of Jackson. Wolfe missed the final eight games, including the postseason, because of seizurelike symptoms. Jackson is a top defensive line backup.
VonMiller instead of Irving. Miller was out with a torn ACL. He has four sacks in four games this season. Irving is now the Broncos’ starting middle linebacker, replacing Paris Lenon, whose career probably is finished.
Left cornerback: Aqib Talib instead of Champ Bailey. Talib signed as a free agent and is widely considered one of the league’s top five cover corners. Bailey has since been twice released and is unemployed.
Chris Harris instead of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Although D.R.C. is a terrific cover corner, he ismaking $10.73million this year. Harris, whowas out with a torn ACL, is a better all-around football player and is making $1.43 million.
Bradley Roby instead of Tony Carter. Roby, a first-round draft pick, is playingwell. Carter has been inactive in two of the first four games this season.
T.J. Ward instead of Duke Ihenacho. Ward is the only Bronco who has been on the field for all 296 defensive snaps. Ihenacho was cut and suffered a sea- son-ending foot injury inWashington.
Moore instead of Mike Adams. Mooremissed the Super Bowl with a lower leg circulatory disorder. He has two interceptions in five games, while Adams has two picks in six games with Indianapolis.
“I’m definitely appreciative of having this chance to go back to that stadium,” Moore said. “That was one of the worst days of my life not being healthy, not being able to perform and help our guys in that game.”
Marvin Austin instead of Mitch Unrein. Austin has been playing 25 percent of the snaps. Unrein has been inactive in three of four games.
The Broncos return toMetLife Stadium with two distinct changes: The Jets aren’t the Seahawks. And the Broncos aren’t the Broncos, at least not on defense.
“It’s totally different, man,” Knighton said as he dished out Italian meals to his teammates Friday. “I don’t know ... I’m ...”
I had accomplished the impossible. I had picked a subject Knighton didn’t want to discuss. “I’m just tired of talking about Seattle, man,” he said.