In Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, Champ Bailey held Dwayne Bowe — the league’s hottest receiver after scoring in seven straight games coming in — without a single catch. Defensive Coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale called it “one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.”
Bailey’s reward for the effort? The nine-time Pro Bowler gets a Week 14 matchup with Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald — a four-time Pro Bowler who is one catch away from being the team’s all-time receptions leader.
“It is more of a challenge this week,” Bailey said. “He is more of a polished receiver. He is more experienced. So, my hands will be a little full this week.”
Bailey’s work in Kansas City showed why he’s still one of the most respected cornerbacks in the game.
Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel passed for Bowe three times without success. In the fourth quarter, Bailey drew an offensive pass interference penalty when Bowe pushed off while making a 22-yard catch. He finished the game with four tackles, including a sack, and one pass defended.
“It was just his day,” fellow cornerback Nate Jones said. “He won that battle.”
In Arizona, Bailey will likely be battling the more veteran Fitzgerald attempting to catch passes from an inexperienced quarterback. With injuries to the Cardinals’ top two quarterbacks, it’s possible that rookie John Skelton will make his first career start.
Arizona starter Derek Anderson has not practiced this week, and the defense, which held Kansas City to just 10 points last week, has spent the week preparing for Skelton. Martindale said the team has watched tape of him playing in preseason and in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and called him “a big stationary target back there.”
“I wish I knew more about this guy, but it is what it is,” Bailey said. “I know No. 11 (Fitzgerald) is going to run his routes just the same.”
For his part, Fitzgerald said he’s watched tape of each Broncos game and understands he’s in for a tough Sunday afternoon. The only time the pair have played in the same regular season game, Fitzgerald had five catches for 77 yards but Bailey finished with a pair of interceptions in a 37-20 Denver win back in 2006.
“He’s a competitor and every time you play against him, you know exactly what type of matchup you’re going to be in,” Fitzgerald said in a Wednesday conference call. “It’ll be a competitive fight and it’s always fun to compete against people you respect and admire.”
While it might be hard for Bailey to play up to the incredible standard he set last week, Martindale said Bailey’s consistency remains one of his best attributes. The defensive coordinator knows Bailey will be ready to step up again on Sunday.
“I always joke around with (Jets Head Coach) Rex (Ryan),” Martindale said. “I say he’s got his guy, that’s ‘Revis Island’ and I say, ‘Champ’s island is Honolulu, because he’s over there at the Pro Bowl all the time.’ That’s how I feel about him and he goes about it every day.”
MCCOY MAKES THE CALLS
In his first media session since Josh McDaniels was relieved of his head coaching duties, Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy echoed Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville’s message this week.
McCoy, who will assume McDaniels’ play-calling duties, said the move means plenty of small changes around Dove Valley but nothing drastic as the team heads into its final four games of the season.
“I just have a bigger role now, but we are not changing the way we game plan or anything,” McCoy said. “Everyone is still involved, (and) we are going it the exact same way as it was before on a day-to-day basis getting ready for our opponent.”
McCoy said he has a little bit of play-calling experience from his time in Carolina when then-offensive coordinator Dan Henning would give him the responsibility in certain situations. The second-year coordinator gave credit to the offensive system in place and vowed to avoid changes to a scheme that has served him well since his days as the Panthers quarterbacks coach.
In his weekly press conference yesterday, Kyle Orton said he’s “comfortable” with the coordinator. He appreciates the communication that he’s had with McCoy, a former quarterback himself, during games. While Orton said it will be different having a new voice talking to him in his helmet during games, he’s confident in McCoy’s ability to handle the new duty.
McCoy, who called the coaching change “an unfortunate part of the business,” said he’s ready for the new challenges he’ll face down the stretch.
“I have been very fortunate since the day I got in this business back in 2000 to work with some great coaches, and they have prepared me for this opportunity that I have now,” McCoy said. “From the very first day to the last day Josh was here, I have been very fortunate and they have all prepared me for how to plan for games.”
Matt Prater made his first appearance on the injury report this season as he was limited in Thursday’s session with a right groin injury. Andre Goodman (quadricep) and Darcel McBath (quadricep/ankle) also had limited participation in the session.
Brian Dawkins (knee), Spencer Larsen (hamstring) and Demaryius Thomas (ankle) missed their second straight workout and Studesville said previously that all three will miss Sunday’s game.
For the Cardinals, Anderson (head) was the lone player to miss Thursday’s practice. WR Steve Breaston (knee), DE Calais Campbell (ankle), K Jay Feeley (right groin), LB Clark Haggans (groin) and LB Joey Porter (knee) practiced with limited participation. CB Michael Adams (shoulder), DT Darnell Dockett (shoulder) and CB Greg Toler (foot) had full participation in the session.
- Eric Detweiler, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2010, Champ Bailey, Defensive Coordinator Don 'Wink' Martindale, Denver Broncos, Week 14
SIGN CHAMP!!!!
Its all in his hands now! he has to pick us now and if I had to guess, he won’t
who knows, maybe we`ll bring back Mike Nolan as DC. Hard to tell right now what Champ is gonna do. Can you blame him. No way.
Prater limited with a groin injury? Wow, never want to hear that with a Kicker….
Martindale telling Ryan you may have Revis island, but I got Honolulu island, for Bailey always in the pro Bowl, haha good one.
Now we are going to have to talk about McC, instead of McD, I don’t know how confortable I am with that… too close for comfort?
And about comparing the challenge for Bailey to cover Fritzgerald this week to Bowe last week is pretty much an impossible task because of who is throwing the ball, Cassell or Skelton! I would be shocked if Fitzgerald has a big game is all I’m saying.
Yes, this QB is a unknown. You don`t know what your gonna get.
Guys, the real problem with Champ is the guys who walked out on his contract negociations, Bowlen and Ellis, they are still here..
So is Prater questionable or what?
In the DP a few days ago, Champ said it all depended on who was coming in as HC.
Most interesting part about these first two Stud’s practices is they are being held in complete secrecy, second day in a row not a single description of it here, never seen that this year… Different allright!
strandoftds, you are kidding right? You don’t think it’s all up to Bailey after the bosses walking out on him, do you?
Bay,you’re right Mr.B and Ellis were the ones who cut off negotiations with Champ,I got a bad feeling,but who knows now that McD is gone and hopefully Xanders,Champ might stay on,BIG mistake if we let him walk!
I don`t think the Broncos are gonna want to let him walk away. Gut feeling is he`ll be back.
Big Bummer about Prater,especially a Kicker with a groin injury,could possibly be out the rest of the year.
Sign Champ to a 3-4 year deal,and give him the big bucks,he’s damn well worth it!
No no BFE, they said Prater participated in a limited basis, if it was that serious he would not of practiced at all.
Well they did say limited in practice. I hope it`s just a precausion.
It would be real hard to watch Champ play for any other team,it’s ridiculous to think a player of his caliber might not retire a Bronco!
Champ`s still got it. SIGN HIM!!
I think Bailey goes simply because he doesn’t care to start from scratch once again at this time in his career, a top team with strong super bowl aspirations can snatch him up in a New-York minute, just saying.
Sorry,I thought he was out,don’t take much to turn a minor groin injury into a major one when it’s a kicker tho!
Every team in the league are probably licking their chops!
This is a good week for Prater to have a pulled groin, if we need him to beat the Cards we are way worse than I thought.
If so, we made a big mistake pulling out of the contract the way we did. That would suck.
I respect MR.B,especially now that I know he is behind the fans(always),but it falls on him if Champ walks,just saying.
There`s some truth to that. Go for two. Just kidding.
That’s why Bailey has been playing so hard in a losing season:
INTERVIEWING!
Strand, we’ll go with your gut! What kind of gut you got? LOL.
Hopefully we can score TDs and not have to settle for many FGs,give us time to work on some 4th down plays I guess.
Mines usually full of Bud Light…HERE WE GO…LOL
A medium beer belly. Haha!!
Well I don’t know if I can buy that gut feeling then, haha.
Any chance Mr.B starts contract negotiations with Champ before seasons end?probably only shot we got at keeping him,at least he would know he is wanted,just saying.
Hey I got six pack abs,and 12 pack abs too.LMAO.
HaHa!!! you guys are crazy! Patience huh?
No way Jose, the reason they pulled out is because of the labor talk gridlock.
Later guys time to get some grub,Bronc on.
We can always hope.
Ok BFE I might buy your next gut feeling then…
I`m a small framed dude. Three years ago I couldn`t gain a single pound. Now it`s all beer belly HaHa!!!
Oh! You DO eat, cool, haha.
Ok Good Mood Boncos, hasta luego.
Boncos, sorry, infamy!! Broncos…
Funny Bay. HaHa!! I`m going to a Sports bar for the game tonght. I`ll eat there. LOL. Where`s my brewsky? I`m dry!
Wow Arizona’s kicker is Questionable with a….. wait for ittttttttt…… Groin Injury!! Oh my goodness!!
after watching Studes talk the past three days I hope he gets to stay as the running back coach no matter who the new head coach is. atleast it sounds like thats wear his heart is. calling the running backs his guys and all good stuff im so ready to see the new product thats gonna make us proud to be fans
or so they say
I love his positive vibe and it seems everyone else is also. I think the culture has changed bc both coaches and players feel like they can now be themselve.
That’s ok with me for now, but it will very likely all change this off season, very rarely do you get new GM and HC without changes at most every coaching position, so I take it all with a grain of salt, even if Studs passes the 4 week interview with flying colors for a HC position there is no guarantee a new GM would want to go this direction, it is what it is, new GM’s come in with their vision, and HC’s do too so don’t anyone get too attached to anything you see in these last 4 meaningless games is all I’m saying.
And with all due respect Studs is nothing like HC material at this point, he happened to be chosen for the interim job among a field of coaches who are absolutely nowhere close to be HC’s, the only one we had fit for the job was Nolan but McD saw to it to get rid of him so he could have complete control, just saying it like it is. It’s not like the situation in Dallas and Minnesota where their interim coaches had already been part of the talk for head coaching jobs the last few years, this is just to bridge us from here to there, make no doubt about it.
I do like to see you guys enthusiasm about it all here and now, but I’m just trying to keep it in perspective for the long run.