Less than twelve hours from now, the Broncos will be on their way to Kansas City as they look to move to 4-0 in 2008. As the team wraps up their preparation for Sunday’s gameplan, they can look forward to the fact that one of their previously hobbled defensive players will be close to returning to full form.
Elvis Dumervil had the pins removed from his right pinky finger on Tuesday, meaning that he is that much closer to being 100%. Though he started each of the Broncos’ first three games, he wore a bulky cast over his hand to protect the finger, which he broke during the preseason.
With the pins out, he now has just a splint on the injured finger.
“This is just to protect it still,” Dumervil told reporters after Friday’s practice. “As far as the pain, the sharp pain I was feeling, that was due to the pins, and I finally got them out.”
For a defensive end, using both hands effectively is key to beating offensive linemen and getting to the quarterback. Dumervil has recorded 21 sacks in the last two seasons, but has yet to notch one in 2008. He hopes to change that this weekend.
“It has been frustrating. Before it was painful when I hit, but now I can deal with it,” the third-year defensive end said. “I had a couple (sacks) almost, so hopefully I can get close to getting there this weekend. I feel like I’ve had a great week of preparation. I studied a lot of film this week on these guys, and I’m ready for this weekend.”
PLENTY OF MOTIVATION
Dumervil and the rest of his teammates on the defensive side of the ball will face off against a Chiefs team that has been struggling early in 2008. The Chiefs have started a different quarterback in each of Kansas City’s first three games, and they have started the season 0-3.
But that doesn’t mean the Chiefs don’t present a challenge for the visiting Broncos.
“Teams in this league are going to win eventually,” Champ Bailey said. “Nobody goes defeated in this league — I don’t think it’s ever happened. People are going to win games, and you don’t want the streak to start with you.”
Bailey believes that thought alone should be enough to motivate any NFL player.
“If you can’t get motivated for an NFL game, then you need to be in another league. Any given Sunday somebody can whip your butt.”
The Broncos know that any game played in Arrowhead Stadium presents a challenge, and this weekend will not be any different. They’ve studied the film, and since they play the Chiefs twice a year, every year, they know what their division rivals can do.
And though starter Brodie Croyle will remain out, Damon Huard has shown that he has what it takes
“I know they’re not stable at quarterback and I think that’s been the biggest key,” Bailey said. “Everyone knows that’s the most important position in football, and if you don’t have a sure thing than it’s hard. But Huard, he’s a guy that’s played a while in this league, and that’s who I would go with if I were them, because he’s a guy who can get back there and put up 300 yards, you never know.”
INJURY REPORT
For the Chiefs, Croyle will miss another game with the right shoulder injury he suffered Week 1. Linebacker Donnie Edwards will also miss Sunday’s game. Most interestingly, cornerback Patrick Surtain will not play this weekend after limited participation during this week’s practices. That means the Chiefs will start two rookies at cornerback in Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers.
For the Broncos, Darrell Jackson, Josh Shaw and Ryan Torain will not play this weekend.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Adam Zinser, Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil, Kansas City Chiefs
Good luck Elvis. Cant wait to see you in action……West Coast
Actually Champ, the Bucs one season didn’t win a game.
Now get some picks!!!!!!
2 rookie corners huh??? Could be a looooong day for them
Lets see that rebuilt defense get the job done! Good luck fellas- bring home that W!!!
top-five ranking defense ey???
We’ll jst have to put that to the test…..and see where experts rank em’ after they play the Broncos………
not in the 16 game format though no one has lost dolphins wanted to. hopefully crazily we show the patriots how to go 19 and 0 lol
Thats top-five passing defense ranking. Not just defense ranking.
As you know, if other teams can run on you then your pass defense will be great.
Take Denver, they load the box so the run is limited but give up passing yardage.
IMO I would rather have a little of each.
2 rookie Brandons vs THEE BRANDON sounds like 200yds… Go for it Jay…
Not only will B. Marsh tear up theose rookies our rookie Eddie Royal will show up yet again and burn the Chiefs corners making them look like Deangalo Hall did week one versus the Raiders (who beat the Cheifs at home a few weeks ago)
If the Broncos take care of business, they should be able to crush the Chiefs. That’s all there is to it. While the Chiefs should be fired up, they’re not good enough. It’s in their best interests to trade Tony Gonzalez as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history deserves better.
What’s up Elvis!
Do you feel comfortable being an OLB pass rusher? Have you practiced standing up and rushing the QB? I really like the 4-3 to 3-4 looks but I think you should be like D. Ware (Cowboys), and I think you would be a absolute monster!
What is going on with Moss and Crowder? I thought that they would have a bigger role in the rotation? Will someone like yourself take time out of your day to teach Pratter and Kern better tackling techniques as well as what weight training they came do to contribute to tackling on special teams? The last thing I would like to ask is that it seems like we are loosing halftime adjustments. Please try to help us come out at halftime the way we have come out in the first quarter. Thank you for your time!
We need passrush , we need to press the QB game long so Elvis , it’s your time but you can’t be alone so Jarvis and Tim , you must step up !!Go Broncos !!!
Doom whats up? its good to see your getting better i dont think id like having pins sticking out of my hand either. Its amazing how good you can be with a cast on your hand, but you looked damn good out there for having to deal with that pain. Its sack time the chiefs are a weak team and youll be lined up on rookie brandon alberts i like your advantage there i look forward to seeing you play at 100%. . Keep up the good work your the man.
Unfortunately, the Broncos have no defense, how is possible to lose in kansas?
Welcome to reality Shanahan, and a mediocre season again. Fired defensive coordinator
Doom…..Just watched the game and seriouly our defense is a joke. How do we give up almost 400yards to the Chiefs? My question to you is this……Last year we kept hearing after every game that our defense must get better but we sucked from start to finish and now it looks even worse. Can you tell me why? Maybe we need to bench like half of the starters?