One of the more intriguing personnel-related storylines last season revolved around the playing time into which Sam Brandon grew during the 2005 season.

A year earlier, he’d seen limited defensive action in just two games — both blowouts — while playing in nine games on special teams, He logged no defensive statistics that season, representing a dramatic fall from the year before, when he’d made 57 total tackles and started 10 games.

As he entered 2005, he was a backup safety, just as he was the year before. But in the season-opening loss at Miami, injuries sprouted among the cornerbacks faster than weeds develop in a damp Florida garden. Brandon was forced into action at cornerback — and acquitted himself well under some dire circumstances.

Recalled Brandon: “I was covering tight ends all during camp last year and I guess when they put me in at corner vs. Miami, it was like, ‘This kid can make plays and hold his own at corner; maybe we should get him on the field a little more.’”

Enter the “big nickel.”

Seven days later, Brandon found himself playing extensively as part of a formation that helped keep Chargers tight end Antonio Gates from making big plays. He still managed 80 yards on six receptions, but none went for touchdowns after he had scored 11 times in the Chargers’ previous nine games — for a tight end, an almost unfathomable scoring pace.

The Broncos were on to something. The “big nickel” was a part of their plan, and Brandon had a clearly defined role on the defense.

“It’s mine, really. That’s what I want to say,” Brandon said in training camp. “I feel like it’s mine, so I’m real comfortable.”

The “big nickel” would also help contain Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez later in the season; he averaged 3.0 receptions and 27.0 yards per game in the two Broncos-Chiefs duels last year. But Denver’s recent success against two of the league’s best tight ends went back to 2004, as well.

That year, before Brandon saw extensive “big nickel” work, the Broncos still defused Gates and Gonzalez, using a combination of packages. Some used cornerbacks like Champ Bailey on the tight ends, others utilized linebackers such as D.J. Williams. What they shared was a collective effectiveness.

A year later, the “big nickel” became a valuable part of dealing with Gonzalez and Gates, but still just part of the whole, nothing more.

“You throw a lot of different packages (and) a lot of different guys (at them),” safety John Lynch said. “You put one guy on those guys enough, they’re too good football players (and) they’re going to figure some things out.

“So you keep throwing different guys, different packages, zone, man, combo, coverages at them, and it puts a little indecision in their mind and the quarterback’s mind.”

The end results? The Broncos have been successful at muzzling the two recent Pro Bowlers, evidenced by how their numbers against the Broncos compare to those against other NFL clubs. To wit:

TONY GONZALEZ, 2004-05:

ANTONIO GATES, 2004-05:

Seeing Gonzalez or Gates gets Brandon primed; he admits to being “a little more geeked” for games against tight ends of that elite ilk. He’ll be a vital part of what the Broncos do to try and defuse and confuse Gonzalez and the Chiefs offense Sunday. But he knows he’ll be far from the only part

“We have a lot of different schemes to scheme against (Gonzalez),” Brandon said. “You just try to switch the different people on him.”

And all Brandon and the Broncos hope is that they keep doing what they’ve done the last two years — to take one of the NFL’s finest tight ends and make him less of a factor than he usually is.

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Sam Brandon

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