Warren, Ekuban leave big gap for Broncos

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 20, 2007 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD — Long ago in a practice far, far away, the Broncos were reveling in the depth and competition in their defensive line.

OK, it was roughly three weeks ago, but it now seems like an eternity.

"It does," Broncos defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy said. "But I think we have people here ready to play."

There were 17 defensive linemen on the roster when the Broncos opened training camp, a long list of names the Broncos believe meant they were sporting plenty of options.

But with the trade of defensive tackle Gerard Warren to the Oakland Raiders on Monday and Ebenezer Ekuban's season-ending right Achilles' tendon injury Saturday, there suddenly are questions waiting for answers.

"We just have to adjust . . . ," Broncos assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates said. "We will be adjusting people during the week to see what we have on Saturday night" against the Cleveland Browns (7 p.m., Invesco Field at Mile High, CBS 4).

Defensive end Tim Crowder still is recovering from a sprained left ankle, defensive end Jarvis Moss is playing on a sore left knee, and the Broncos know defensive tackle Kenny Peterson will miss the first four games of the regular season because of a suspension for violating the league's policy on steroids and other banned substances.

With Warren and Ekuban out of the lineup, that's two starters gone from last season in a four- man defensive line — and only 20 days until the Sept. 9 opener to decide who will replace them.

As a result, veterans on the defensive line might play a little more in the last two preseason games — Saturday against Cleveland and Aug. 30 against Arizona — than those at other positions.

"You never have enough depth . . . ," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Obviously, it's tough to lose not only a great football player but a great leader like Ebenezer. That's what happens during the season, during the preseason; guys got to step up.

"Who will that be? I'm not really sure at this time. We've got some depth, and we'll keep evaluating. That position, if we're not sure who it is, then that position will get more playing time."

The Broncos' first two preseason opponents — San Francisco and Dallas — pounded out plenty of rushing yardage against the Broncos.

The 49ers finished with 144 yards; Dallas had 190.

The Broncos weren't executing a specific game plan, but their tackling in their base defense was not what they expected.

"I take it as a smack in the face any time a team runs the ball on us . . . ," Kennedy said. "We all have great upside, and we'll find out how we respond."

Ekuban was scheduled to get some additional medical opinions this week about when to schedule surgery on his leg.

But the Broncos placed him on reserve/injured Monday, formally ending his season.

Ekuban's loss affects several defensive situations because not only was he starting at end, but he moved down inside to tackle on some passing downs.

Moss has played as Ekuban's backup but has not played inside.

The Broncos consider Peterson a swing player who could play at end and tackle, as could Crowder.

Warren's trade — the Broncos will get a fifth-round pick in 2008 if he is on the Raiders roster to start the regular season but nothing if he is cut — pushes rookie Marcus Thomas and Alvin McKinley up the depth chart.

"I was in the same situation Gerard was, getting shipped out of St. Louis," said Kennedy, whom the Rams traded to the Broncos in June.

"I wish him the best. I have to get myself straight so I can help this team win."

"(I) talked to Gerard (on Monday) morning," Shanahan said. "Sometimes it's tough to let a guy go, but it comes down to a business decision at a certain position and salary as well."

Warren's impending salary numbers — his $595,000 base salary this season jumped to at least $4 million, $4.63 million and $4.68 million during the final three years of the deal — and the Broncos' decision to move Amon Gordon into the starting lineup contributed to trading a player the Broncos deemed worthy of a $36 million deal just last year.

The Broncos do get significant salary-cap savings (almost $17 million over the last three years of the deal, 2008 to 2010) from the move.

The last three years of Warren's contract, if the Broncos did not rework it down the road had he stayed, would have carried salary-cap charges of a little more than $20 million combined.

Oakland now takes on his contract.

Asked if it was odd to not only trade Warren to a division rival such as the Raiders but to the team that once fired him, Shanahan said: "You've got to make a decision about what's best for your organization."

Cost of Warren

The Broncos say they made a "business decision" in trading Gerard Warren to the Raiders for a conditional fifth-round draft pick. The financial impact on both teams:

• Raiders, if he makes the roster and the team doesn't rework the deal Year Salary

2007 $595,000

2008 $4 million base, $1 million workout bonus

2009 $4.63 million base, $500,000 roster bonus, $1 million workout bonus

2010 $4.68 million base, $1 million roster bonus, $1 million workout bonus

• Broncos Year Salary-cap hit

2007 $742,000

2008 $2.23 million

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359

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