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Broncos settle starting jobs before preseason finale

Camp, three preseason games give coaching staff enough information

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 25, 2008 at 7:35 p.m.

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Nate Webster won the starting job at middle linebacker over free-agent pickup Niko Koutouvides. "Signing Niko just made me lock in and focus a little bit more coming into camp," Webster said.

Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky/2007

Nate Webster won the starting job at middle linebacker over free-agent pickup Niko Koutouvides. "Signing Niko just made me lock in and focus a little bit more coming into camp," Webster said.

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Key Dates

* Today: NFL rosters must be trimmed to 75 players by 2 p.m. MDT. The Broncos were down to 77 players on Monday night.

* Friday: Broncos' preseason finale, at Arizona, 8 p.m. MDT.

* Saturday: NFL rosters must be cut to 53 players by 2 p.m. MDT.

* Sept. 8: Broncos' regular-season opener, at Oakland, 8:15 p.m. MDT (ESPN).

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The votes are in.

The questions, for the most part, have answers. And the Broncos, with only their preseason finale remaining and no starter expected to play Friday night, largely have turned their attention to their regular-season opener Sept. 8 in Oakland.

"It's all about opportunities," said Broncos tight end Nate Jackson, who moved up the depth chart far enough this offseason that he now gets plenty of snaps with the starters. "You don't know how many opportunities you're going to get, in practice or in games, so you have to take advantage every time you have one.

"That's what offseason workouts are about, that's what training camp is about and that's what preseason is about. The people who take advantage of the opportunities show what they have to offer for those 16 games to try and get into the playoffs."

And when the Broncos' regulars finished their preseason's work against the Packers on Friday night, the quest for most of the remaining starting positions that hadn't been spoken for also concluded.

Especially at middle linebacker, where the Broncos entered March in pursuit of Niko Koutouvides in free agency with the idea he would play there.

The Broncos got most everything they wanted from Koutouvides in the offseason program and in training camp, but they also got a surge from Nate Webster. And it is Webster who won a tight race for the job, by a jersey thread or two.

"Signing Niko just made me lock in and focus a little bit more coming into camp," Webster said. "I was thinking that was a bit on the edge, but Mike (Shanahan) is a man of his word and he said it was going to be a fair battle and may the best man win."

"He did a hell of job out there . . . ," Koutouvides said. "That can motivate anybody. You sign a guy . . . so he probably felt, not disrespected, but a little motivated. . . . Obviously, I didn't get it done."

Koutouvides was not a defensive starter in his time with the Seahawks - he was in line for the job just before the team selected three-time Pro Bowl selection Lofa Tatupu in the 2005 draft.

Webster, who has battled some knee injuries in his career, started 13 games at strong-side linebacker for the Broncos last season, which was more than the 11 combined starts in his previous seven years in the league.

The ninth-year veteran still is considered a quality striker by opposing personnel executives, but many worry about his durability over the long haul. With at least two knee surgeries in his past, he played in only six games in the three seasons combined before he came to the Broncos.

Webster said he knows the landscape as well at the Broncos' Dove Valley complex and that nothing is chiseled in marble on the depth chart.

"Yeah, man, knowing coach (Shanahan), if I don't do what I'm supposed to do, he'll play somebody else," Webster said. "That's every position. I hold that to myself to be a pro and stay focused and handle business week in and week out."

Added Koutouvides: "I'm not going to sit here and give you a bunch of excuses. . . . Two guys competed, one guy wins."

Moving into position

In the offensive line, guard Chris Kuper officially has won a job that wasn't really slated to be open for bidding when camp started. But when Montrae Holland arrived at least 25 pounds overweight and spent the opening two weeks being held out of practice to get his weight down, Kuper went about making himself a starter at right guard.

Kuper, a third-year player, won the job despite playing with a cast on his fractured right hand throughout the preseason. Off his right shoulder, second-year tackle Ryan Harris also officially made the most of his opportunity.

Broncos coaches like the way Harris rebounded from a four- penalty game in Houston to start the preseason.

Having played both tackle spots in his career at Notre Dame, Harris had the savvy to adjust and showed his quickness in his next two starts.

Harris also held his own against the likes of Dallas' Greg Ellis and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman - a combined 241/2 sacks in 2007 - as neither had a sack in limited playing time against Harris in the preseason.

"Those guys have done a great job up front," said quarterback Jay Cutler, who was not sacked during the preseason. "You couldn't ask for more."

Competition continues

At punter, though, the Broncos are going to take one last look Friday against the Cardinals (8 p.m. MDT, CBS 4). But visions of Dallas punter Mat McBriar might be dancing in the Broncos' heads as they consider the two.

Most personnel executives polled Monday consider rookie Brett Kern to have a more powerful leg overall, but that Sam Paulescu, with a little more NFL experience, is the more consistent of the two.

McBriar was in Broncos camp in 2003 as an undrafted rookie, but Denver chose consistency over his booming leg and he was traded to Seattle for a conditional draft pick.

He since has been named to a Pro Bowl (2006) in Dallas while finishing fourth and first in the league during the past two seasons in gross punting average.

"We'll rotate this game," Shanahan said. "Sam will start it off and we'll see; hopefully, we won't get too many punts."

Kern also has been the first- team holder for kicker Matt Prater throughout the preseason.

"We are trying to get the best 53 players, top to bottom, that give us the best chance to win games," Shanahan said. "And I've always said it's a day-to-day evaluation. We have starters, but they are starters as long as they practice that way and play that way.

"So we're making decisions, but decisions aren't always final."

Comments

  • August 25, 2008

    8:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    I thought Webster played a little better as well. But Niko will be a force on ST's play. He has experience and leadership to step in.

  • August 25, 2008

    8:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    aragornzxl writes:

    Is it just me or do i get the impression from the article that Kutouvides is not very happy about this? If he starts to whine, we're going to have some problems.

  • August 25, 2008

    10:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    aragornzxl, he's not very happy, but for 7.5 million, he can adjust. Plus, he will still get some time in on ST's. For 7.5 million, I'd be the waterboy.

  • August 26, 2008

    1:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoFaninLA writes:

    Who's happy when they're a backup?

  • August 26, 2008

    2:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    OPETH72 writes:

    According to this article, Webster has never started a full season anywhere. I am sure Niko is aware of that fact and knows he is one play away from becoming the starter. And please, no one take that wrong. I am not wishing injury on anyone, especially the Broncos! For a lot of these guys it is all about making the team. Anything can happen after that. We see it year in and year out.

  • August 26, 2008

    3:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncoflow writes:

    If you want the best team out on the field, start your best players. Enough said.......

  • August 26, 2008

    7:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Littleboyblue writes:

    Did anyone see Niko? He's slooooowwwwwwww to the ball and takes poor angles. That's why Seattle drafted Lofa. We better hope that Webster hold up because if we have play #53 it's gonna be a long year.

  • August 26, 2008

    7:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    GaryP writes:

    Of course he's frustrated. As the article said, Webster barely beat him out. Honestly, I like Niko a little better because Webster can over-pursue and take himself out of a play. But when Webster connects, he seems to be the harder hitter. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Niko gets some playing time on the defense as the year rolls on.

  • August 26, 2008

    8:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    myerda00 writes:

    I was not too concerned about who starts. Both give us an average MIKE. I thought Niko would win out because Champ and DJ said "he is smart and reads offenses". But Niko excells at ST. Webster, please leave your helmet on, slapping it off to get better noticed is bush. You were warned three times last year by officials so lets play some good MIKE. Thanks for listening.
    DJ is great and Baily and Winborn are above average. Woodyard will make 53. Larsen to the PS. That leaves Green and Beck ??

  • August 26, 2008

    8:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    hoppman writes:

    I think Kouti will be a fine backup to Webster if Webster gets injured, he should be able to step right in and would continue to improve with more time in the defense. Kouti can play special teams and will hopefully shore up the pathetic coverage units the Broncos have been putting on the field the last few years. Prater and Kern/Paulescu could go a long way towards helping the STs by getting touchbacks on kickoffs and punting away from teams with dangerous returners. Are you listening and paying attention Broncos (NOT SO) Special teams coach?!

  • August 26, 2008

    9:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    smuchris writes:

    Well, hindsight is 20/20 on McBriar. The draft pick was conditional on that McBriar making the Seahawks roster. He did not and we did not receive any draft pick for him. He turned out good eventually....but you could also say that for many players (e.g. Eddie Mac)

  • August 26, 2008

    10:15 a.m.

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    bigbadthor writes:

    I am not impressed with either of them, Niko is too slow and takes poor angles, Webster over-pursues and doesn't wrap up, looking to make a impact hit but not fundelmentally sound. Let's all hope that Rey Maguala from USC lands in our laps next year in the draft. Also I am more worried about the strong side LB, Boss obviously has injury issues and our depth is lacking.

  • August 26, 2008

    11:13 a.m.

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    Willy writes:

    Despite the comments about Harris, did anyone else see that he was pushed all over the field by Kampen on Saturday. Broncs ran one running play to his side which was stopped at the LOS then never ran to the right side again in the first half..

  • August 26, 2008

    6:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sdbroncfan writes:

    Who cares if Harris gets pushed around on the field. Kampman did not get to Cutler one time. Considering the sacks he got last year, he is no slouch in that department. Give Harris the benefit of a few more games to get his technique in sync with the rest of the line. Then we can say whether he will make it or not.