Sidestepping the trap

Broncos wary of putting too much emphasis on Green's absence

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 15, 2006 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - Sometimes, on any of those given Sundays around the NFL, a lot of energy gets expended over who isn't playing, over just exactly who won't be lining up in the usual spots.

"And that can be a trap, man," Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said. "Everybody probably looks at it, but it can be a trap. . . . I mean, if we go into it this week basing our whole approach on the fact Trent Green isn't playing, we'll come out of it disappointed."

"You can get wrapped up in that whole thing, he's playing for him, he's playing for another guy, but you still have to play against what they play," Broncos defensive tackle Demetrin Veal said. "You work on the whole thing. Somebody's coming in there to play it and they're going to do what they do."

A familiar AFC West face will arrive Sunday when the Broncos play the Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High (2:15 p.m., CBS 4).

But for the first time in 82 games, Trent Green will not be at quarterback for Kansas City. Green suffered a concussion Sunday and will be replaced by Damon Huard, who will be starting his first NFL game since 2000.

And while the quarterback is the most extreme example around the league this week, there are teams looking at what they will do against somebody's backups, trying to decide how much to go after the new guy or how much to just line up and play it the way they would have no matter who was in the game.

"You can't get into that too much," Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. "People know what they're doing. You've got to beat the team, the Kansas City Chiefs, period. Play our game, they'll play theirs, play hard and go from there.

"So I don't think there is any major deal. I really mean that. This guy is a veteran guy, he knows what he's doing. You can fall into a trap and with their offensive line you're going to pay for it."

The Chiefs last week played Jordan Black at right tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals because the starter, Kevin Sampson, missed the game because of a hamstring injury.

Kansas City already had been forced to make a major adjustment in its offensive front in training camp when 11-time Pro Bowl selection Willie Roaf retired.

So with Black at right tackle because of Sampson's injury and Kyle Turley at left tackle because of Roaf's retirement, the Bengals went hard at the edges of the Chiefs' offensive formations.

The result was seven sacks, all by Bengals defensive linemen, including five combined by defensive ends Justin Smith (three) and Robert Geathers (two).

"You can say it's new guy maybe we can do this or do that when you're talking about it," Veal said. "But you can't go into the game like that. You have to see for yourself on the field, see how they are playing with the changes.

"They say the film doesn't lie, but on the field, you really can't lie. So you've to see it with your own eyes."

There also is the unpredictability of injuries around the league. Teams are required to designate injured players each week on a scale from "out" (not playing) to "probable" (75 percent chance of playing).

But one team's "doubtful" designation - 25 percent chance of playing - can be another team's "questionable" - 50 percent chance of playing. The Titans, for example, spent years listing virtually every injured player as questionable no matter the severity of the injury.

So, unlike a serious injury such as Green's concussion when he spent two nights in the hospital, it's often difficult to assess if some players will be on the field until the game starts.

Teams often will send one of their pro personnel people or a coach to pregame warm- ups to watch the other team's players who were on the injury report through the week to see how much they do before kickoff. Teams do not designate the eight inactive players until 90 minutes before kickoff.

"I don't do anything different, ever," Broncos defensive end Kenard Lang said. "Maybe when you're younger you think it makes a difference, but if you're around this league long enough and want to stay around longer, you prepare, man.

"Because if you don't prepare, on both sides of it, like you're going to play your best against their best, not only do you (mess) yourself up, you (mess) the defense up and you (mess) the team up too. And that's three strikes and you're out."

Big break

Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard who will start Sunday against the Broncos, hasn't started a game since 2000 and has made only six starts in his NFL career. The rundown (all with the Dolphins).

Date Opp. Com.-Att. Yds TDs Int.

Oct. 24, 1999 Philadelphia 15-of-21 142 0 1

Oct. 31, 1999 Oakland 16-of-32 221 0 0

Nov. 7, 1999 Tennessee 15-of-25 210 2 0

Nov. 14, 1999 Buffalo 9-of-25 65 0 1

Nov. 21, 1999 N. England 18-of-30 129 2 0

Nov. 26, 2000 Indianapolis 22-of-33 183 1 0

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