BigRedChief
09-08-2004, 02:54 PM
says we are still sore after getting run over by portis last year....humor I guess...here's the link
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7655472
DENVER (Sept. 8, 2004) -- One game set up two teams' offseasons, now culminating in an opening-weekend matchup that will provide the first hints about whether the moves were right or wrong.
One player propelled the Kansas City Chiefs (http://www.nfl.com/teams/news/KC) and Denver Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/news/CAR) to make the seismic offseason changes they did, each on display Sunday night for the football world to begin to judge.
When running back Clinton Portis (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302215) gashed the Chiefs on their most recent visit to Denver in December for 215 rushing yards (9.9 yards per carry), and touchdown runs of 11, 1, 59, 28 and 53 yards, Kansas City knew its defensive coordinator had to go.
When Portis spent the final moments of Denver's 45-27 victory against Kansas City strutting around the Broncos sideline wearing the heavyweight championship belt Southern rapper Pastor Troy had sent him, Denver knew its running back had to go.
Subsequently and predictably, the Chiefs fired their former defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, and hired their former head coach, Gunther Cunningham, to replace him.
More surprisingly, the Broncos traded Portis for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133217), giving Denver a real heavyweight cornerback for a defense that lacked one for far too long.
Now Cunningham leads his Kansas City defense back into the same stadium where it was humiliated last December. Bailey anchors a Denver defense that has looked stronger and stouter than a less explosive Broncos offense. And fans will be focused on the two individuals for whom these franchises built their offseasons and hopes around.
Makes sense, too. Nobody has shut down the usually potent Mike Shanahan-led offenses the way Cunningham has. During the six seasons Cunningham served as the Chiefs defensive coordinator, the Broncos struggled with his defensive units more than any other.
Whereas they averaged a gaudy 27.5 points per game against the rest of the league from 1995-2000, the Broncos averaged only 18.9 points per game against Cunningham and the Chiefs.
Whereas they compiled an impressive 60-24 record against the rest of the league from 1995-2000, the Broncos struggled to mount a less impressive 4-8 mark against Cunningham and the Chiefs.
Cunningham tormented the Broncos so much that, only days after the 2000 season, after the Chiefs had fired him, Shanahan pursued him for Denver's coaching staff.
After Shanahan fired Greg Robinson -- the same defensive coordinator whom Dick Vermeil later hired, and fired, in Kansas City -- he narrowed his choices to Cunningham and Ray Rhodes, the coach who had been promised the job. Shanahan made his choice, and Cunningham made his.
With a chance to become New England's defensive coordinator, Cunningham opted to go back to coaching one position -- linebackers -- with the Tennessee Titans. Three years away from the coordinator's pressure and the corresponding spotlight made Cunningham yearn for it more.
http://images.nfl.com/photos/features/img7655704.jpg Clinton Portis' knockout performance last Dec. 7 changed the face of two teams.
Now he has back his old job, with his old team, going against Kansas City's old nemesis.
But that nemesis is not the same team Cunningham would remember. Heading into its 45th season, Denver has more offensive questions than it has ever had under the offensive-minded Shanahan.
Running back Quentin Griffin (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/395972), next up in the NFL's longest running success story, has proven he is a quality back to his organization but not to anybody else in the league.
Tight end Jeb Putzier (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302110), succeeding a future Hall of Fame tight end, has been entrusted with a task not a whole lot less enviable than quarterback Brian Griese (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12409) once was in Denver.
Offensive tackle Matt Lepsis (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/3827) has been shifted from right to left tackle, where he has been overpowered and overmatched this preseason. Former first-round pick George Foster (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396157) has been inserted at Lepsis' old right tackle position, ordered to take his first NFL snaps.
And everybody around Denver has been waiting for the next wide receiver other than Rod Smith (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1220) to consistently make plays.
Yet after an offseason extreme makeover, this Denver team is banking on more plays from the defense that Bailey has bolstered. It is a defense, the Broncos believe, constructed for Sundays in January.
But on this Sunday in September, when two teams storm onto the field and into the 2004 season aiming to score their points, remember one other one.
A running back now in Washington impacted Sunday night's game in Denver without coming close to playing in it. Clinton Portis left his mark on this game as much as the one last December
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7655472
DENVER (Sept. 8, 2004) -- One game set up two teams' offseasons, now culminating in an opening-weekend matchup that will provide the first hints about whether the moves were right or wrong.
One player propelled the Kansas City Chiefs (http://www.nfl.com/teams/news/KC) and Denver Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/news/CAR) to make the seismic offseason changes they did, each on display Sunday night for the football world to begin to judge.
When running back Clinton Portis (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302215) gashed the Chiefs on their most recent visit to Denver in December for 215 rushing yards (9.9 yards per carry), and touchdown runs of 11, 1, 59, 28 and 53 yards, Kansas City knew its defensive coordinator had to go.
When Portis spent the final moments of Denver's 45-27 victory against Kansas City strutting around the Broncos sideline wearing the heavyweight championship belt Southern rapper Pastor Troy had sent him, Denver knew its running back had to go.
Subsequently and predictably, the Chiefs fired their former defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, and hired their former head coach, Gunther Cunningham, to replace him.
More surprisingly, the Broncos traded Portis for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133217), giving Denver a real heavyweight cornerback for a defense that lacked one for far too long.
Now Cunningham leads his Kansas City defense back into the same stadium where it was humiliated last December. Bailey anchors a Denver defense that has looked stronger and stouter than a less explosive Broncos offense. And fans will be focused on the two individuals for whom these franchises built their offseasons and hopes around.
Makes sense, too. Nobody has shut down the usually potent Mike Shanahan-led offenses the way Cunningham has. During the six seasons Cunningham served as the Chiefs defensive coordinator, the Broncos struggled with his defensive units more than any other.
Whereas they averaged a gaudy 27.5 points per game against the rest of the league from 1995-2000, the Broncos averaged only 18.9 points per game against Cunningham and the Chiefs.
Whereas they compiled an impressive 60-24 record against the rest of the league from 1995-2000, the Broncos struggled to mount a less impressive 4-8 mark against Cunningham and the Chiefs.
Cunningham tormented the Broncos so much that, only days after the 2000 season, after the Chiefs had fired him, Shanahan pursued him for Denver's coaching staff.
After Shanahan fired Greg Robinson -- the same defensive coordinator whom Dick Vermeil later hired, and fired, in Kansas City -- he narrowed his choices to Cunningham and Ray Rhodes, the coach who had been promised the job. Shanahan made his choice, and Cunningham made his.
With a chance to become New England's defensive coordinator, Cunningham opted to go back to coaching one position -- linebackers -- with the Tennessee Titans. Three years away from the coordinator's pressure and the corresponding spotlight made Cunningham yearn for it more.
http://images.nfl.com/photos/features/img7655704.jpg Clinton Portis' knockout performance last Dec. 7 changed the face of two teams.
Now he has back his old job, with his old team, going against Kansas City's old nemesis.
But that nemesis is not the same team Cunningham would remember. Heading into its 45th season, Denver has more offensive questions than it has ever had under the offensive-minded Shanahan.
Running back Quentin Griffin (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/395972), next up in the NFL's longest running success story, has proven he is a quality back to his organization but not to anybody else in the league.
Tight end Jeb Putzier (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302110), succeeding a future Hall of Fame tight end, has been entrusted with a task not a whole lot less enviable than quarterback Brian Griese (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12409) once was in Denver.
Offensive tackle Matt Lepsis (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/3827) has been shifted from right to left tackle, where he has been overpowered and overmatched this preseason. Former first-round pick George Foster (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396157) has been inserted at Lepsis' old right tackle position, ordered to take his first NFL snaps.
And everybody around Denver has been waiting for the next wide receiver other than Rod Smith (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1220) to consistently make plays.
Yet after an offseason extreme makeover, this Denver team is banking on more plays from the defense that Bailey has bolstered. It is a defense, the Broncos believe, constructed for Sundays in January.
But on this Sunday in September, when two teams storm onto the field and into the 2004 season aiming to score their points, remember one other one.
A running back now in Washington impacted Sunday night's game in Denver without coming close to playing in it. Clinton Portis left his mark on this game as much as the one last December