Denverpost: Browns = Broncos

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

Aggressive D-line not making sacks

By Mike Klis and Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writers

East Rutherford, N.J. - There has been plenty of talk about how much the Broncos' defensive front has improved.

But the Broncos have gone three consecutive games without a sack. They are tied with - get this - the Cleveland Browns for dead last in the NFL with eight sacks. The Broncos have four former Browns on their defensive front - Ebenezer Ekuban, Michael Myers, Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren. They also have Trevor Pryce back healthy.

The Broncos' defensive front has received plenty of praise for its aggressive, furious play. The linemen have hurried the quarterback, deflected passes, drawn holding penalties.

There were times in the first half Sunday when the Broncos appeared to rattle Giants quarterback Eli Manning with their mix of cornerback blitzes and multiple formations.

Manning never was knocked down with the ball in his hand, though, and he wasn't so rattled in the end that he couldn't complete a stirring comeback from a 23-10, fourth-quarter deficit. The Giants won 24-23 at the Meadowlands.

At some point, doesn't all the talk need substantiation with the sack?

"It's always a concern when after the game you don't have any sacks," Ekuban said. "But give credit to (Manning). He stayed composed and didn't get rattled in the fourth quarter when it mattered."

[Lurch]

Remember Vonnie Holliday's first day as a Chief; anyone remember any of his other games? The Donks transformation into the Browncos will have a similar result.