Lang planning to feast on quarterbacks

Former Brown hungry for sacks as he returns to end

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 15, 2006 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - Kenard Lang is aware of all the hand-wringing around the Broncos nation about how, exactly, the Denver defense will get to opposing quarterbacks this season.

He has heard all the chatter about age and injuries.

"But that's all 'he said, she said,' you know," Lang said. "I'll tell you this: I'm back at defensive end, I love the group of guys I'm with, and I'm with a team that has a chance at the Super Bowl.

"Man, I'll do whatever they want me to do just as hard as I can do it. If you're used to eating Spam for these past four years - Spam, Spam, Spam, you know what I mean? - and then you have a chance to eat some steak and some lobster, some filet mignon, you're going to do everything you can to stay that way. I'll do whatever I can to make sure we get to the quarterback."

Lang is in his 10th NFL season and, along with rookie Elvis Dumervil, constitutes the only significant change in the defensive front this season. It's a season, they have made it clear, they need more from the guys up front and, thus, have adjusted the scheme to try to get the linemen up the field to do that.

So when the talk turns to a pass rush, Lang is just happy to be in the conversation after a "completely frustrating" season in 2005 when the Cleveland Browns moved him to outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.

It ended a four-year run with Cleveland in which the team won only 23 games combined and appeared in one postseason game. When Lang signed with the Broncos, they made it clear they wanted him to play end, which is why he signed on the bottom line.

"I knew I was going to move to 3-4 linebacker when Romeo Crennel got the job (as Browns head coach)," Lang said. "They wanted me to be there and be part of the team. The main thing about it, I just want to play . . . But it's not my cup of tea, put it like that.

"I almost say defensive linemen . . . you've got this gap, this man and, boom, you go get it. Linebacker, a guy goes in motion, things switch up, you drop, you cover - that was too much for me, I had too much smoke coming out of my ears."

Against Detroit on Friday night, Lang looked happy enough. In his first game with the Broncos, he had three tackles alone on the Lions' first drive, including one for a 3-yard loss.

With Courtney Brown out for the remainder of the preseason after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Lang will get a little more work with the Broncos starters.

Brown is Denver's end of choice on run downs when he's able to play, and Lang would be used more in passing situations. But Lang played on the early downs against Detroit and said he was glad to have the opportunity.

His tackle for loss came on a first-and-10 play with the Broncos in their basic 4-3 look.

"When you're used to having that hand down, down in your stance, that's where you want to be for an end; something else can seem foreign, even for a veteran player," said Broncos safety John Lynch, whom the Buccaneers tried to make a linebacker early in his career. "People think, 'What's the big deal?' but it is a big deal, especially since he probably played defensive line since youth football.

"It's almost harder for an older guy, it's what he knows. Sometimes you get converted coming out of school and you're trained. Lots of times when you're a veteran player like Kenard, they just say, 'Just go do it.' "

The result was a lackluster, 43-tackle season for Lang in 2005 to go with two sacks, his lowest total since his rookie year with the Washington Redskins in 1997.

Most pro personnel executives contacted recently say the impact Lang had last season came on the smattering of situational plays when he did line up at end rather than at linebacker.

He also played at just under 250 pounds at linebacker, but he is back to what he calls a "more normal 263 or so" with the Broncos.

And with the ranks of available defensive linemen thin these days, it will be difficult for the Broncos - even with a potential trade for Ashley Lelie - to add a player who can significantly impact their rotation.

That likely puts the pass rush in the hands of Lang and the rest.

"Me be the piece?" Lang said. "Hopefully I fulfill that role. My goal is whatever they want me to do, I'll do because I just want to win, you know, eat some of that filet."

Sack man

With 44 career sacks, Kenard Lang is the career sack leader among Broncos defensive linemen:

Year Sacks

1997 1.5

1998 7

1999 6

2000 3

2001 4

2002 5.5

2003 8

2004 7

2005 2

Camp report

• Today at camp: The Broncos will practice twice at their Dove Valley complex. The morning practice will be at 8:30 with the gates opening at 7:30. The afternoon workout will begin at 3:40 and feature special teams only. Special teams practices are abbreviated and do not include the entire roster. Gates open at 2:40. Admission to practices and parking on the west side of the complex are free.

• Day in review: It was a salty day at times with defensive coordinator Larry Coyer vocal about what he called unsatisfactory tackling in the morning practice and with special teams coach Ronnie Bradford equally fiery when he didn't like how a kickoff return drill was going in the afternoon . . . The defense had some nice moments in a 7-on-7 drill in the morning workout, with Darrent Williams snatching an interception and Domonique Foxworth knocking a pass away from Javon Walker a short time later . . . Safeties Nick Ferguson and Hamza Abdullah each had interceptions in the afternoon practice, with Ferguson snaring a Bradlee Van Pelt pass while Abdullah grabbed a Jake Plummer throw . . . Coach Mike Shanahan trimmed one 10-minute period off the afternoon practice because of lightning in the area . . . Running back Ron Dayne, who said Sunday he expected to be back to practice, was held out of both practices Monday with a toe injury.

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359

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