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ADAMS: Showtime for Broncos defense?

By Sam Adams, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 21, 2008 at 10:36 a.m.
Updated August 21, 2008 at 10:36 a.m.

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NFL teams like to go vanilla during the exhibition season, but the third game usually is the "dress rehearsal" for the starters. So I'm wondering what flavor you're expecting to get from the Broncos starting defense against the Green Bay Packers.

Vanilla? Neapolitan? Orange sherbet? Or maybe last year's flavor -- Rocky Road?

They say exhibition games don't mean anything. They definitely don't count in the standings. But I think this Broncos team needs to develop a winning attitude. Beating the Dallas Cowboys was a good start. Handling a Green Bay team that is trying to find itself without Brett Favre would be meaningful too -- especially for the Broncos defense.

The Broncos should not want Aaron Rodgers to come into Invesco Field at Mile High and have his first big moments as the Packers' starter come against their defense. And progress-wise, just where is the defense? We saw the first-string play well against the Cowboys. But Dallas claimed to have been in vanilla mode on offense.

The Packers will be looking for their first-team offense to move the ball and produce points this week. The Broncos first-string defense ought to take it as a challenge -- regardless of the exhibition game status -- to put pressure on Rodgers and produce some sacks and turnovers.

The Broncos' defensive line, in particular, is under the microscope. It's simple in football -- no pressure from the D-line, no problem for the opposing quarterback to make plays. I'm curious to see if tackle Dewayne Robertson can dent the middle of the Packers' line. I'm expecting to see Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder come from the ends to get to the quarterback.

Am I making too much of this one meaningless exhibition game -- or are you also expecting answers from Denver's first-string defense against the Packers?

Click here to join the discussion on this story at Sam Adams' Open Mic blog.