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Aggressive style is signature for Broncos cornerback Bailey

Small for position, cornerback proud of tackling ability

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 30, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.
Updated October 1, 2008 at 9:16 a.m.

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Tackles leaders

The Broncos' top tacklers after four games, based on video review by Denver's defensive coaches.

Player, Pos.: Solo / Asts. (Total)

Nate Webster, LB: 31 / 5 (36)

D.J. Williams, LB: 28 / 6 (34)

Marquand Manuel, S: 21 / 6 (27)

Dre Bly, CB: 21 / 5 (26)

Boss Bailey, LB: 15 / 8 (23)

Champ Bailey, CB: 15 / 6 (21)

Marlon McCree, S: 17 / 4 (21)

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey upends Chiefs running back Larry Johnson on Sunday. Bailey caused a fumble, which the Broncos recovered. "Champ can do whatever you need to be done," coach Mike Shanahan said. "Cover, tackle, play the pass, play the run, , play the run."

Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey upends Chiefs running back Larry Johnson on Sunday. Bailey caused a fumble, which the Broncos recovered. "Champ can do whatever you need to be done," coach Mike Shanahan said. "Cover, tackle, play the pass, play the run, , play the run."

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It was an unlikely picture, a curious snapshot in a game gone awry for the Broncos.

There, in the pile on Sunday, was cornerback Champ Bailey, one of the league's elite at a position many personnel executives say isn't always populated with those willing to roll up their sleeves and get dirty in the run game.

All 192 pounds of Bailey, down low, flipping 230-pound Larry Johnson heels over head, to end a 3-yard gain for the Chiefs running back.

"I'm smaller than most guys on the field," Bailey said. "I can't just hit everybody up high, they'll run right through me. So, low is where I go."

In the expected post-loss hand- wringing since their return from Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos - from coach Mike Shanahan on down - cited "missed tackles" for at least some of their defensive woes.

And Bailey, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, considers missed tackles one of the most repairable items a defense can have on its to-do list.

That's because, as former Broncos defensive coordinator and current Buccaneers assistant head coach Larry Coyer has put it:

"(Bailey is) an elite tackler. Not just good, great. Really great. Maybe nobody better."

"Champ can do whatever you need to be done," Shanahan said. "Cover, tackle, play the pass, play the run. You don't see many like him."

In addition to the tackle on Johnson, Bailey made an open- field stop on Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson in the third quarter of the Broncos' 39-38 victory Sept. 14.

In the books, it was a 2-yard gain, but had Bailey not brought down the 241-pound Jackson in the open field, he likely would have scored because no other Broncos defender was visible in video on that side of the hashmarks.

Bailey also currently leads the Broncos with two forced fumbles this season and is tied for sixth on the team in tackles, he and safety Marlon McCree each having made 21.

"One thing I know, and I understand, I've got to be perfect," Bailey said. "Because any receiver gets the ball in space, he can make a move and make you miss."

Bailey has talked often of a similar-looking play to the one involving Jackson, in 2006, when then-Eagles receiver Terrell Owens slipped a Bailey tackle in the open field and turned what was a quick-hit play toward the sideline into a 91-yard catch and run for a touchdown.

"But if I do everything the right way, the receiver can't make me miss," Bailey said. "Just break down, get your feet under you, when he commits to a certain side, I've just got to make sure I'm there as quick as possible.

"It's really, you've got to have some talent to do it, I'm not going to lie. But really, it's just an attitude. I learned a long time ago, people can't run if they don't have control of their legs. A basic thing. That's my key - get down, get their legs, then you stop them in their tracks, they can't go anywhere."

The most significant injury Bailey has suffered in his career, a dislocated left shoulder he suffered in Miami in the 2005 opener, came on an open-field tackle of Ronnie Brown, a 232-pound Dolphins running back.

Bailey stopped Brown on the play for no yards after contact and still wears a harness on the shoulder during games.

That same year, Bailey suffered a hamstring injury while tackling former Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson.

"You have to make those plays," Bailey said. "I take pride in tackling. I want to cover, I want to tackle. You win games when you do those kinds of things."

Slow down the game video, and it's clear Bailey keeps his head up and eyes on the target longer than many players do. At times, players going for the big hit will drop their eyes just before contact. It's at that moment, even if a player is squared up to the ballcarrier, where a potential tackle can become a missed tackle.

"It's second nature, when I go to hit guys, I like to see what I tackle," Bailey said. "If you put your head down, he can be a foot away from you and they can still make a move to get around you.

"Don't leave any room to do anything. And go strong because guys like to put their hand into your face or on top of your helmet and push you down so you slide off. I don't like that."

INJURY REPORT: The Broncos had several players in for treatment Tuesday, including receiver Clifford Russell, who suffered a sprained neck in Sunday's loss in Kansas City.

Russell was taken from the field on a backboard after experiencing numbness on his right side and spent a few hours at a hospital before returning to Denver on the team's chartered flight. He is not expected to practice this week.

Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, who did not play Sunday, also will be evaluated through the week.

Comments

  • October 1, 2008

    6:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SE7EN writes:

    If only we had 10 other guys on the field like Champ, we'd have a top 10 defense.

  • October 1, 2008

    7:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Rutabaga writes:

    I think the Bronco defense likes to close its eyes during every play this season (except for Champ most of the time). It's really really hard to do that and line up the way they are supposed to before the other team snaps the ball if your eyes are closed. Trust me. I give them credit for that. Just think what they could do if they started opening their eyes during the play....

  • October 1, 2008

    7:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    hdfresh writes:

    I love Champ's tenacity on the field. I agree with Coyer that Bailey is one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to tackling especially in the open field.

  • October 1, 2008

    9 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    Forget top 10, if we had 10 other players on the field like Champ, we'd be a top 1 defense. Of course we'd also be about $100M over the salary cap. Since we can't do that, the coaches should let Bailey run an hour of practice every week so he can teach form-tackling. Or another option is that the coaches could teach it themselves, since they are, after all, the coaches.

  • October 1, 2008

    1:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ShowMe writes:

    Seriously, can't we get Lynch back just so we can make some tackles in the secondary?

  • October 2, 2008

    1 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gidngord writes:

    Why with the two best corners in the NFL, does our defensive coordinator keep them playing zone? Get a clue.

  • October 3, 2008

    7:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    When an opposing quarterback ignores the HYPE and actually passes to the receiver Champ is covering, they find that it's actually pretty easy to do. I'm really tired of thought-less bobble-heads continuing the hype. I was excited to get Bailey, but by the end of his second year I'm looking around puzzled asking, "why all the hype?" This guys coverage is terrible. Mediocre at best. Blanket coverage? Hardly. More often than not, he is FAR off his assigned receiver, biting on the run fake, which he does routinely. Fortunately, the q.b. doesn't even look his way, because of reputation.

    Philip Rivers passed on Champ early and often, and made a mockery of his lack of coverage, and laughed about it after the game. Dang I hate Rivers, but he ignored the hype and showed just how good Bailey is when tested. "Blanket Coverage"? Not even close. Not that week. Not this year. Not last year. Not the year before that.

    Honestly, it's like people aren't even watching the game. Champ Bailey does NOT do a good job covering receivers. Are you watching? Why are so many continuing to say he's good? I watch the games, his coverage is terrible and Champ Bailey is the most over-hyped player the nfl has ever seen.

    QUIT LISTENING TO THE HYPE AND ACTUALLY WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE FIELD