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Broncos' rookie's two-way play testament to his intelligence

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 18, 2008 at 10:13 p.m.

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Spencer Larsen wraps up Michael Turner of the Falcons on Sunday. Larsen played 55 snaps at linebacker after being exclusively at fullback and on special teams before facing Atlanta.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Spencer Larsen wraps up Michael Turner of the Falcons on Sunday. Larsen played 55 snaps at linebacker after being exclusively at fullback and on special teams before facing Atlanta.

Triple Threat

Linebacker/fullback Spencer Larsen became only the fourth player in the league since 1990 to start the same game on offense and defense. His play breakdown from Sunday's 24-20 win in Atlanta:

Special teamsOffenseDefense
7558

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Turn the pages on NFL history, and Spencer Larsen's name will be squeezed into the paragraphs.

The ones about two-way players in the game's modern era since the linebacker/fullback started on offense and defense Sunday in Atlanta, the first player in Broncos franchise history to do such a thing.

But it was no small decision in this day and age when concern about injuries overrides many other wants and needs during the week and on game day, a decision born of a slice of necessity with a dash of desperation.

"No, that's not something you really want to do with a player," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "I wasn't even really sure of how many snaps I was going to play him. But we had to in our situation. Spencer's a very bright kid, and I thought he could handle it mentally, both offense and defense, and he handled it well.

"How much we do it going forward, we'll see. But you think about those things long and hard. By the same token, you're trying to win games, and with all of the things we were doing on offense, we felt we could manage his snaps."

Larsen played at fullback in the two-back set on offense, at middle linebacker in the base defense and some on special teams.

The Broncos were in a two-tight end set - with one running back - most often, using a two-back set seven times. Larsen also played 55 defensive snaps and eight plays on special teams.

That's 70 plays, or slightly more than linebacker Jamie Winborn. Winborn played 66 snaps on defense because he also was in as the only linebacker in the

passing-down package; Larsen and linebacker Wesley Woodyard left the field for two defensive backs on those 11 snaps.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't play any more than Jamie did," Larsen said. "But it was a little different during the week for me."

Added Shanahan: "We had a plan to at the beginning of the season because we had talked about it. He was a guy who could play both positions. We had it in the back of our minds that he could play both because of his intelligence, and when you've got a guy playing special teams and you know he's going to make your football team, you can consider going beyond that. But he's got to be able to handle the mental part."

Larsen had worked at linebacker during offseason workouts as well as running back, but since the beginning of the season, he had worked on offense.

So last week, with all of those weeks in mind, he didn't meet with the running backs, spending time in defensive meetings with linebackers.

He then met with running backs coach Bobby Turner one morning to go over some video on the Falcons as well as to cover his responsibilities at fullback in the game plan.

"Training camp, you have that whole playbook, it's a lot bigger," Larsen said. "But game planning (each week) . . . there's a few fronts we're going to run, a few coverages we're going to run, and I just had to know those inside and out. . . . I felt like it wasn't that tough a transition."

In the Broncos locker room, or anywhere else in the league, there might be no more leading authority on being a two-way player than cornerback Champ Bailey.

Bailey, who had one reception for 11 yards against the Chiefs in a 2004 game, routinely played both sides of the ball in his collegiate career at Georgia.

He had many games with more than 90 snaps as a sophomore, then topped 100 snaps several times as a junior, including a 120-snap game against Kentucky in a season he also finished with 47 receptions as well as being an All-American on defense.

He started on offense and defense in a game for the Redskins in 2000.

"Practice was the tough part because I practiced both receiver and corner, but in a game, it didn't matter, I loved playing a lot, I always wanted to do more than I was doing," Bailey said. "It was great to have that kind of opportunity. But I had no body fat at the time, so I would have an IV at halftime so I wouldn't cramp.

"The first few times, I would cramp up during the game. I wasn't that tired, but my fluids were off and I would cramp up. My muscles didn't handle it. So I started taking IVs at halftime and that took care of it."

Bailey said for Larsen, it is a way to showcase some multitasking, which, in addition to his special teams hits this season, makes him a valuable player in a league where teams always are searching for ways to maximize 53 roster spots.

"If you did it a lot, it would definitely take a toll on you in the NFL," Bailey said. "The thing it does do, it presents you as more versatile. For Spencer, he can show people he's not just a fullback, he's a linebacker, he can play special teams. That means he has a lot of ways to be professional football player."

Added Larsen: "I'm glad they had the confidence in me to think about doing it. I told them I would do whatever they needed when they drafted me and I meant that. I'll line up wherever they want me."

ETC.: Larsen is a finalist for the league-sponsored rookie of the week award. Fans can vote via cell phone or at NFL.com. . . . After filling up their Dove Valley facility with workout candidates during the past three weeks, the Broncos reported no formal workouts to the league Tuesday.

Comments

  • November 19, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Buddy6 writes:

    We need to eliminate Spencer's "O" reps all together... Switch out the 4 for a 5 and keep him in the middle. Larsen is a ferocious hitter, he is stout, quick enough, and smart...what do we have to loose. We may even find that we don't need to draft a MLB in next years draft! WOW, what a draft...Clady, Royal, Hillis, Larsen, etc., etc...

  • November 19, 2008

    9:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    elgin99 writes:

    Hey Buddy,

    Don't forget 2006 draft.... Cutlet, Marshal, Tony, etc., etc.,
    Could go down as best back to back drafts in history.

  • November 19, 2008

    9:47 a.m.

    voicewithin writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 19, 2008

    9:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Coltgm56 writes:

    Great job Spencer! I agree with Buddy 6. Lets keep playing him at linebacker and see how it goes. He has the desire and heart to progress and get better, that is what we are looking for. Keep developing our younger players. Good job Shanahan on the last couple of drafts. GO BRONCOS!!!

  • November 19, 2008

    11:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Rutabaga writes:

    Maybe Spencer can play safety too? Do you think? I don't mean at the same time he plays linebacker. That would be impossible, unless he had a twin brother. Does he?

    I hope the Broncos aren't forgetting about the Raiders. The Raiders stink like the garbage in my can outside after about a week in the sun. Sometimes when I open the can it makes me want to throw up. So I don't open it much. But I can't pretend it's not there, cause everytime I take out the garbage, I got to open the stinker up. Now, when I take the garbage out, I hold my nose. The Broncos need to hold their nose when they play the Raiders and forget about how bad the Raiders stink, just pretend that the Silver and Black guys are great. That way the Raider stink won't creep up on them and make them hurl and lose the game.

  • November 19, 2008

    11:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RustyWon writes:

    Larsen is a great addition. Like a bigger John Lynch.

    I don't think there is much chance that Shanahan will forget about the raiders.
    He probably has been disecting the whole playbook with Lane Kiffin over the past few days.

    Broncos 34
    raiders 3

  • November 19, 2008

    11:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TONE writes:

    Raider Nation is coming...

    Shanahan will never let the Raider go as long as Al Davis is the owner. Shanahan will find a way to stick it to him if he can. I believe that will always be in Shanahan.

    Rusty, I can't agree with you more. Lane and Mike sitting down together to get back at Davis....hahahahaaa

    Even as bad as the Raider is, I just hope the Bronco go out and humiliate them so they all go jump of the bay bridge...hahahahaa

    Shark feeding on Raider Nation...hahahahahaa

    GO BRONCO!!! don't let your guard down!!!

  • November 19, 2008

    4:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SteveC writes:

    The Broncs may overlook a few teams every now and then but Shanahan will NEVER overlook the raiders. I'm sure by this time poor OLD Al Davis is wondering why Shanny still hates him so much and why he just can't let bygones be bygones. Broncos 35 Raiders 13

  • November 19, 2008

    8:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Shanahan would like nothing better but to see Al "the Leper" Davis go bankrupt. We started by letting him throw a pocketful away for Javon Walker. He would never underestimate or overlook this game. Raiders are going down. 34-13, final score.

  • November 19, 2008

    8:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mrfxx writes:

    Here's the link to the Rookie of the week voting site -
    http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerTyp...

  • November 20, 2008

    9:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Woody writes:

    I hope Shanahan refrains from Reeves' itis. (returning to old players) What a mistake if he doesn't see how hungry the rookies are. Two gut it out wins on the road. Leave 'em in Coach.