It is a given and understood by any true fan that an individual honor pales next to team success, but it is still a pleasure to see guys recognized for the hard work, dedication and professionalism which they brought to the Denver Broncos in 2009.
Most recently, The Sporting News on Wednesday came out with its annual all-pro defensive team, and just two teams were represented by more than one player.
One is the Minnesota Vikings, who are poised for and hoping to have a deep playoff run. Defensive end Jared Allen and tackle Kevin Williams of the Vikings both were named.
But the only other team to have more than one player represented on the Sporting News group is Denver, which had both safety Brian Dawkins and Elvis Dumervil named by the publication.
Dawkins came to the Broncos from Philadelphia and immediately branded the defense with his passionate leadership. In 2008 the Broncos ranked 26th in pass defense in the NFL, but in Dawkins’ first year as a Bronco Denver’s pass defense improved to number three in the entire NFL.
During last week’s Dallas-Philadelphia game, the network announcers made a point of noting that the Eagles miss Dawkins and despite moving a lot of people around at the safety position they really missed his play on the field, as well as his sideline and locker room leadership.
And as for Dumervil, he was asked to change positions in an entirely new defense, worked hard, did what the coaches asked of him and led the entire NFL in sacks with 17.
Dumervil had posted just five sacks the previous year, so he went from five to an all-time Denver Broncos team record, etching his name in the Bronco record book as the all-time leader in the 50 years of Denver pro football.
Leading the NFL is certainly impressive enough, but setting a team sack record in a player’s first year playing a new position is worth special citation.
He finished third in the Associated Press voting for 2009 defensive player of the year, the highest finish by a Bronco since Champ Bailey finished second in the 2005 campaign.
So not only were Dawkins and Dumervil big stars locally for their play and their demeanor within the community, but they received national attention as well, which is a compliment to the organization.
Tags: Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil
You’ve gotta love the intensity that Dawkins brings to Denver, and the heart that these guys play with. Looking forward to a better 2010!
Great on these guys…..they were difference makers this year. BUT. We need to stop the run. Teams didn’t have to throw the ball too much cause they ran it down our throats effortlessly. They started out so well in the first 6 games stopping the run, but since that turning point it was all down hill. This definitely needs to be addressed in the off-season.
wow! great recognition for the Broncos. Can’t wait for this season to end..
Losing Dennison and Bobby Turner is going to crush our offense. We need to be able to focus just as much on that as stopping the run.
Two great coaches.
Hurts to lose them.
I don’t know how much losing Dennison will really affect us. This isn’t his offense, it’s McDaniels’. If anything, McDaniels can hire a OC more familiar with it. I’m not bashing Dennison; he was a brilliant OC, but he was better under Shanahan. Bobby Turner will hurt, he is a great RB coach, but I don’t think he’s for sure gone, is he? Good job Dumervil and Dawkins. I find it odd that Dumervil hasn’t been resigned.
Hey I just watched NFL live and they were talking about how Tom Cable might not return to Oakland. From what I remember he was an O LIne coach before being a head coach. Since Dennison left for Houston that leaves a HUGE void NO 1 can fill but we need somone. Tom Cable has shown to be create a very productive O LINE the only problem is he runs the Zone Blocking Scheme wich I doubt McD will run next year.
Give me your oppinion
FOREVER A BRONCO FAN!!!!!!
Bobby Tuner gone. This sucks.
This is why im bailing on the Denver Broncos!!!!!
The entire philosophy has changed. Power blocking over zone blocking?
Short passes instead of bootlegs? When was the last time New England had a 1000 yard rusher???? This whole orinization has litteraly turned into the Ptriots of the west. THATS WHY TURNER AND DENNISON LEFT!!!!
I hate how McD has completely change the ways of the Broncos!!!!!!
I just realized that I have been rooting for the Broncos that Shanahan was coaching. Im going along with him to. If you guys were worried about the 09 season because of the whole Cutler thing the 2010 season is more cloudy. No Turner, Dennison, and possibly no Marshall? Wow I cant go through with it. I know im being a punk but why should I continue to root for a team that does not show succes in return.
All they’ve shown is “POTENTIAL” but that aint good enough to win a superbowl. OH YEA THEYVE SHOWN THEIR THE DEFINTION OF CHOKE ARTIST.
I still havent figured out how to delete my account. Can someone tell me how?
Some Broncos fan you are. Good luck with the Redskins, by the way. You have an old running back who’s wearing out, a quarterback who can’t play, and you paid $100 million to a player who doesn’t even like the team. Good luck, and when the Broncos do good, don’t come crying back.
By the way, Shannahan did AVERAGE over his last THREE years with the Broncos. I’m not taking away what he did, but it’s not like the Broncos did worse this year than they did last year.
You have to read it to believe the reaction of that “Bronco fan” above. I can’t even believe that at one instant he truly thought he was a Bronco fan, putting players and coaches above the team, all he was was a Shanny fan, at least he seems to have come to that realisation, but I got news for him, I have watched the NFL for many moons and the team that he’s chosing to follow along with Shanny, the Redskins has been dreadful for a very, very long time, much longer than even the 14 years Shanny coached here, and I wish him luck because that franchise has disappointed their fans to no end, doing stupid move after stupid move, specially since Dan Snyder took over, you are in for a rude awakening. Don’t worry about been deleted from here, no one will remember you anyway, best of luck with your new team, “Redskins fan”.
Bay, why do stupid people say stupid things on here? Why whould you choose to follow a bad team just because your first team lost an OL coach and a RB coach? I know Dennison and Turner were really good, but them leaving doesn’t make this team bad.
the Redskins have had the following records since 1992: 9-7, 4-12, 3-13, 6-10, 9-7, 8-7-1, 6-10, 10-6, 8-8, 8-8, 7-9, 5-11, 6-10, 10-6, 5-11, 9-7, 8-8 and 4-12. Never won more than 10 games in a season in those 18 seasons. 6 winning seasons, three 500 seasons and 10 losing seasons, that’s what you are up against, thought you should know, because the kind of fan you are, you probably didn’t know. Good luck once again.
Doom92, the one part zone blocking, one part power blocking did not work anyway, had we kept a full zone blocking scheme, it would be a greater loss, but as we had already lost that part of our game, their departure can’t make it any worse than it already was… Duh… Now hopefully we can go at it in one direction only, the power one McD likes, and instead of lamenting over the loss of two guys who teach the way McD didn’t really want to go, I for one am much more concerned, as you all know by now, over the lack of power RB’s on our team, Bucky and Moreno aren’t, Jordan is but he is mediocre at best, and Hillis is also but McD doesn’t use him. That’s the troubling situation, not the coaches departing, IMO.
I agree, Bay. We really need someone who can run the ball up the middle and get the 3rd-and-1. We couldn’t do that this last season.
like i been sayin we need da big wall t cody wit da 9th pick we have pass rushers we just got overpowered n da trenches late n da yr at 1st we was flyin all ova da field then we we were wore down our lbs r great u dont notice it cause tey always havin a line knock them out da play cause our d line gets tossed aside like its easy wit dat guy n their its asure double triple team orton played his ass off ppl yall dont give him credit cause he aint mobile n has cutler arm strength heres a lil fact for yall cutler fans orton wasnt scared of da chargers or rivers 1st thang cutler said when he was traded im sure glad i aint gotta play them guys every yr now orton won his 1st game againt them forced his self n da game bein doubtful cmon bronco nation
wow, some “fan” that guy is…throwing the towl this early?.have fun with those Skins…
Atleast “we” are realizing what it takes to establish a running threat.
We managed to pull out an ACE coordinator ( Nolan) in the offseason. We sure can pull a couple out this offseason. All excited here..all too excited about what Moreno’s capable of one year into the NFL.
“FairWeatheredBroncosFan” is more like it.
dude. it was 1 year. I’ve been a Broncos fan since Kindergarten, You really think I’d change because of 1 year? and it was the same record as last year!!!
Seriously. I tell ya, if there’s any fan I’ve gotta respect, it’s a Lions fan. They’re more hardcore than any fan I know. Probably cause all of the Sh!tty ones got weeded out LONG ago. =)
Haha, I bleed Bronco since my first game I watch in 99, im young
. I believe in the Broncos every year and every game, I believe we are headed in the right direction I mean seriously it could be worse, think about it lol (e.g Lions, Browns, Chiefs, Raiders) I believe with whatever happens this off season we will be a team to recon with next season, favorable schedule versus this season when we were almost always underdogs in every game. I think Orton will even improve his numbers from this year, The hole offense is going to be fine, and really if Tony Scheffler goes, theres going to be a tight end out there and I love DG, and I believe Marshall will be signed I honestly do and if I get shocked that he is traded or released I know someone will step in, nobody knew wes welker before he went to JOSH mcdanielfs, and Benjamin Watson is going to be free agent just FYI guys lol. I love tony, I love Marshall and I love Broncos, will be fine, go Broncos til the day I die, and 54645465 you Phillip Rivers lol!
Ps. Ive almost got to the point I dont believe in the Broncos vs Peyton Manning lol you all no im joking but pssh we cant get him for some reason grrrr…. lol
Some fans really make me shake my head. I’m not the ultimate Broncos fan, I don’t know every bit of knoweledge there is about the Broncos, honestly I don’t get to go to many games. I’ve been a Broncos fan my whole life, ever since I lived in Aurora. When the going gets tough, its not the tough that get going, its the weak. They are the first ones to bail when the first sign danger occurs. You’re free to root for any team you want, but to those “fairweather” fans, you’re really not fans at all. You just follow a team until they start having some skids then you find another team. See baylinorcrush, I told you that you’re correct, the fan base just isn’t what it used to be.
@831_Broncos_Fan: Just e-mail administration and tell them you are no longer a Broncos fan and I’m sure they’ll gladly delete you’re account for you.
since 2000, the pats have been to 4 super bowls, and won 3 of them…broncos….0-0….why wouldnt you want that here?? this isnt the old broncos…and it ISNT the old nfl…ill take championships over sticking to the old way of things..cause lets face it, the old way doesnt cut it…turner was legit but we need new blood…go broncs…
amen to that gracegunner…
the broncos will regain a winning swagger come next season. we saw what pieces coach needed to make his offense work..they will be targeted this offseason…
831_DEADSKINS_FAN,if you don’t wanna be a Broncos fan any more,good riddens to you punk,just get the hell outta here and don’t come back,and quit dissin our beloved Broncos!!!!!!!!!!jeehzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Preech it, Preech it , PREECH IT BeastFromEast92.
I’m dumb, *Preach*. LOL!!!
McD needs new blood anyway,old system fighting against new system won’t work anyway.If he wants to power run now is the time to get the coaches he needs to do so.Still hate to see those guys go,they been in our hearts for a long,long time,Turner is a great RB coach.
Any more turncoats out there,speak up now and we will let you go too.LOL,but when(not if)when we win a superbowl don’t come crawling back,you can’t build a superbowl team in a year,dumbass!!!!!!!!!
Lendale white is a free agent,we need a power runner….hhhmmmm?
BFE92, that would be definitely an option to look seriously into, so is Ronnie Brown with the Dolphins, who will also be a FA. But thats it for power runners in free agency this year, so we might have to look at Toby Gerhart even if we get one of these free agents. I truly believe we need to add two power backs to our O, as we all know you can never have too many backs. I would say LenDale White would be easier to get as they have Chris Johnson, Ronnie Brown would be harder to get considering Williams is getting up there in age and has hinted at early retirement. Ok, I’m happy with White and Gerhart, where do I sign? LOL.
White lost like 30 pounds last year to get into shape,then sit on the bench most of the year so Chris Johnson could get the record.He is a good powerful runner,I really think we could get him,and what a backfield we would have then???????Ronnie Brown or Cadillac Williams would be an asset also,Williams is a free agent too but is injury prone,and a little long in the tooth,we definately need to try to sign somebody.GO BRONCOS 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE92, I was actually refering to Ricky Williams.
Yeah I know but Cadillac Williams is a free agent,I just hate to see us use 2 first round picks on RB’s,McD should’ve drafted a power runner if that’s what he was going to do.
Adam_Schefter -Broncos already are discussing former Patriots DC Dean Pees, who worked with Denver head coach Josh McDaniels in New England.
And also the Broncos will now be called…The Denver Patriots.