KRIEGER: Lots riding on Koutouvides in middle

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, May 19, 2008

As a senior at Plainville High School in Connecticut, Niko Koutouvides played quarterback and middle linebacker. He found it a somewhat schizophrenic existence.

"I went from the wild linebacker to the calm, poised quarterback," Koutouvides recalled Monday during the first day of Broncos quarterback camp, where he is definitely not playing quarterback.

It began to occur to him that playing calm and collected might not be who he was.

"It was tougher," he said. "I'm yelling at my linemen. You're really not supposed to yell at your linemen."

Koutouvides represents maybe the most important question mark of Mike Shanahan's latest edition of the Broncos. With Lofa Tatupu playing ahead of him in Seattle, Koutouvides was mainly a special-teams crazy man, although Shanahan liked what he saw of him at middle linebacker in preseason game tapes. Now he's betting Koutouvides can be the run-stopping anchor of the Broncos' refurbished defense.

So much so that last year's much-heralded experiment - moving D.J. Williams into the middle - is already over. Shanahan has decided that Williams belongs on the weak side after all.

That decision leaves the Broncos with established outside linebackers in Williams and Boss Bailey and open competition in the middle, where Koutouvides begins as the favorite.

As you know, I tend to consult The Dude on these things because he's one of about four people on the planet that actually watch the NFL Network.

He agrees with Shanahan. If Koutouvides hadn't been on the same team as Tatupu, he would have been a starter before now, The Dude tells me.

"We all kind of felt that way," Koutouvides said. "Me and Lofa, he's my best friend up there. We still talk all the time. He felt for me. Even the coach, even my linebacker coach, the D-coordinator, they all knew. What are you gonna do? You've got two Pro Bowlers, Julian (Peterson) and Lofa, and then you got another good player, Leroy Hill.

"So there's only so much you can do. I'm not the type of player which, if I'm a backup, I'm just going to go pout and not play hard. Part of my game was special teams. So I said, 'Hey, I'm going to take it and run with it.' I learned as much as I could there."

You may recall that the Broncos finished 30th in stopping the run last season. The numbers got considerably better after the bye week, when power shifted from Jim Bates to Bob Slowik and an eighth defender was allowed in the box, but that 142.6-yard average is indelible, 29 more per game than the year before, Al Wilson's last. This is why Koutouvides is here.

"I've watched him play for four years," Shanahan said. "I've watched him play in preseason. I think he brings a lot to the table. He's a guy that was either first or second or third in the National Football League in (special teams) tackles. A guy who can tackle in the open field and plays the 'Mike' linebacker position. I like what we evaluated in the preseason. It gives us a lot of confidence that he'll come in and play well."

But even Shanahan knows it is not a sure thing. Koutouvides has not been a starting middle linebacker in the NFL before.

"There's still a lot of competition there," Shanahan said. "It doesn't mean that he'll keep that position because you never know through preseason.

"We've got a lot of guys that have some ability and have played quite a bit in the National Football League. So time will tell."

When I asked him to name Koutouvides' competitors, he mentioned veteran Nate Webster, who started on the strong side last season and is now back in the middle. He also mentioned Jamie Winborn, Jordan Beck and sixth-round draft choice Spencer Larsen as linebackers who could play the middle.

"I love the competition because I'll push myself that much harder," Koutouvides said. "If you're the starter, you can get a little lazy. You know, 'I'm the guy,' this and that. But you got someone on your rear end trying to take your job, you're going to push it a little more."

I asked him if that's how Tatupu felt.

"Lofa did until he made the Pro Bowl that first year," he said with a smile.

If Shanahan is right about Koutouvides, he has filled a key spot at a relatively modest cost (three years, $7.5 million) and shored up the Broncos' greatest vulnerability of a year ago, run defense.

If he is wrong, his team will struggle defensively with a hole in the middle where its heart is supposed to be. Koutouvides seems to have the attitude for the job, but he still has to do it.

A lot of ink and cyber bytes have been spilled debating Shanahan's ability as a personnel evaluator. He could go a long way toward shoring up that reputation by getting this one right.

• May 20, 2008

  7:33 a.m.

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  R8R_H8R writes:

  We have been force-fed for 3 years what a Supreme Talent D.J. Williams is. He's been a Starter every year. And now, a career back-up from Seattle, a Special Teams player whom Mike Shana-idiot liked what he saw in PRE-SEASON is the Middle Linebacker? Hello? Fans are really getting sick and tired of these bone-head decisions. How about another oft-injured never played-to-potential D-Lineman Mike?

• May 20, 2008

  8:08 a.m.

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  BroncoRick69 writes:

  lol. Fans don't speak that way of the team or the coach. Fans have better attitudes and trust the decision making of a back-to-back super bowl winning coach. I'm sure you could do a much better job, and ALL of your decisions would be the right ones, right?

• May 20, 2008

  8:19 a.m.

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  JohnnyBallgame writes:

  Hey R8R H8R speak for your self. Every team goes through a rebuilding eventually in we are in ours for the most part and why dont you give Nikko a chance before you right him off. This kid is fast, big and flatout nasty and we need more of that. Al Wilson is done and we all miss him but he could not play forever. From reading your last few posts on her I think you should change your name to R8R LovR because you sure bag on the Broncos.

• May 20, 2008

  8:46 a.m.

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  sbhchawk writes:

  One more question R8R, who do you think the Broncos should put in the middle? Ray Lewis? Maybe Urlacker? Why not Lofu? And once you give us the name of the MLB of the future who is already a star how would you pay him and stay under the salary cap? Your smart enough to answer these guestions I'm assuming. And you bring up linemen and injuries. Well the broncos brought in younger lineman without injury history (RObinson hasn't missed a game) in the draft and free agency last two years haven't they?

• May 20, 2008

  8:52 a.m.

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  Orange_Crush18 writes:

  R&R - thanks for the laugh. I love starting my morning reading posts by "fans" that don't have a clue.

  DJ Williams is a great talent and we are lucky to have him. The problem is because he has talent, and is versatile, he has been forced to fill in and play positions which are not his primary. Sam, Mike, and Will Linebackers each have different roles and different tasks. It is difficult to change year in year out. DJ shoul be applauded for taking everything in stride and never once complaining, instead he came in and played hard. He was playing the Mike role much better by the end of last year, contiously learning and improving at a new position. Good job DJ.

  As for Shanahan, he was utilizing the best resources available to him. Not to mention that last years Defense was initially a creation of Bates. Bates' system often had players utilizing their weaknesses instead of their strengths, such as not have DJ play Will linebacker as he is accustomed or having Champ cover and step up to fill in holes. Bates' sytem is now gone. And as there was improvement on our Defense last year, that improvement should continue this year.

  Thanks again for the laugh R&R. Thanks for being a "fan." You should consider moving back to San Diego....

• May 20, 2008

  9:03 a.m.

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  Batch writes:

  R8R_H8R - This is the type of guy that takes his Madden football team to the SuperBowl every year. He thinks because of this he could do better than Shannahan. Soooo tired of these types. Fact of the matter is the Broncs have been good a long time and because of that we don't get many shots at the "top" talent in the draft. There are plenty of teams loaded with top talent but they don't have a coach. I'll take shanny and less talent over the faiders and whatever coach they are using this week. Plus, Niko was playing behind an all-pro. I haven't heard a bad thing about him.

• May 20, 2008

  12:26 p.m.

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  danglybanging writes:

  I'm a Bronco transplant living in Seattle, this guy can play.

• May 20, 2008

  3:01 p.m.

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  jibbons writes:

  This years linebacking group looks to be head and shoulders above last years. I can't wait to see Niko hit LT for the first time, and then watch boss envelope gates in coverage. My understanding is that last year when Boss covered either Gates or Gonzalez he shut them down.

• May 20, 2008

  3:05 p.m.

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  Soonerhorse writes:

  Call me crazy, but when last years MLB had 170 tackles and you still had a horrible defense, guys like Krieger might just be missing the point. Koutouvides need only be functional to be more than adequet (see Glenn Cadrez as an example of the scheme Shannahan prefers). The big problem last year was on the strong side, where when Nate Webster wasn't taking horrible angels, biting on fakes or generally blowing his assignments, he was giving up on the play all together (how can he possibly still have a roster spot?). Unfortunately, Webster was the better of the Broncos starting outside linebackers, atleast until Winborne replaced Gold. I'm far more sceptical about Boss Bailey than Koutouvides. He hardly has the tool box to play strongside in the NFL and is going to depend greatly on a front four that can protect him. Denver can improve greatly if they can create situations in wich Bailey and Williams can work, but its going to be another long season if Bailey is suppossed to anchor at the point of attack and take on guards and tackles all season. As for Koutouvides, if he can tackle in space and bring some intensity, and play with some instinct-- and he can-- he'll be fine.

• May 20, 2008

  3:27 p.m.

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  TroyJGrice writes:

  Soonerhorse-

  Excellent analysis of Webster. The guy cannot fill, take on a block, take a proper angle of pursuit, contain, or tackle. He is an absolute disaster at LB and I cannot believe he is in the NFL.

  In all honesty, the Broncs have been a 4-4 defense with the SS being essentially a 4th LB. When Lynch went down they were basically playing 11 on 10.

  I was very discouraged that they drafted an OL that will be flat-footed for 5 years instead of an LB which are usually plug-and-play. History dictates that if you want to rebuild, OLs and WRs should come from free agency.

  I imagine the Broncs will get C-gapped to death again unless their Sam is worth anything.

• May 20, 2008

  4:19 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jaeks75 writes:

  I hope we go after thurman after Cincy dropped him. Mike can keep him clean and he will be awesome for whomever he plays for this year. Plus we can get him cheap because of his problems. It would give us a guarentted extra 2 or 3 wins this year.

• May 20, 2008

  4:21 p.m.

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  Jaeks75 writes:

  please somebody close to Mike, ,ake him take a look at this phenom.

• May 20, 2008

  5:09 p.m.

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  AKuser writes:

  One factor not mentioned by Krieger was the importance of strong leadership by the middle linebacker. Al Wilson brought that every week but vocal leadership is not one of DJ's strong points. If the reports out of Seattle are to be believed Koutouvides is a strong leader. If he can take that roll on and be a solid tackler allowing DJ and Boss to utilize their athletic ability on the outside lb's will not be a weakness of the 08 Broncs.

• May 20, 2008

  6:25 p.m.

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  incognitoboy writes:

  please somebody close to jaeks75, make him reconsider this phenom-enally BAD idea.....

  in case you hadn't noticed, the broncs have drafted and signed not just for talent, but for CHARACTER as well, because the locker room has been full of POISON and questionable character lately.

  ANYBODY the cesspool called cincy releases should be AVOIDED at all cost!!!!

• May 20, 2008

  6:33 p.m.

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  myerda00 writes:

  Jacks75 - no thurman, we just got rid of one of those in walker.

  Troychecks - when there is a francise player YOU TAKE HIM. Clady is LT for a decade.

  Niko was special teams captain at Seattle, I think that shows leadership hummmmmmmmmm.

• May 21, 2008

  7:35 a.m.

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  GaryP writes:

  I agree with soonerhorse. Niko doesn't need to be an undisputed stud. He just needs to be solid. I think our defense as a whole will be improved over last year (much improved if Jarvis and Marcus turn into studs in their sophomore year). But the biggest reason our defense will be better is because our offense will be better. If Cutler becomes an undisputed stud and plays to his potential consistently throughout the year (and we can catch a break and actually stay healthy with our OL and RBs), our defense suddenly looks like a solid unit as the other team feels pressure to score touchdowns to keep up with us. But that's the key, we have to score touchdowns when we get to the redzone.

  And I'm very happy that Shanny is building a team with character. Having a poison-free locker room could account for 2 or 3 extra wins right there. A 10-6 season wouldn't suck, especially if we get a wildcard berth.

• May 21, 2008

  7:59 a.m.

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  tahosa writes:

  Some concern over Boss on the strong side. I agree, we will need to see him play, but there is another thing to consider. There's an intangible that didn't exist for Boss in Detroit where it does now. Little brother is going to be playing right in front of big brother Champ on the strong side. I can't imagine that Champ won't ride little brother if he has to come up and make run tackles that Boss missed. Boss won't like hearing it and he should be determined more than ever to not miss a tackle on the sweep. Look for Champ to stay on his a** all season.

• May 21, 2008

  9:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TroyJGrice writes:

  myerda,

  The problem with drafting OL in R1 is that they may become franchise players but at what pace? How many years in? 5? 10? When he finally get's it, what team will he be playing for?

• May 21, 2008

  3:56 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jonnyrotten writes:

  Koutouvides will fit in just fine. There is no way Denver will win the AFC west over San Diego, so the Broncos are playing it smart and re-tooling for a strong push in another year or two. Be patient and enjoy watching some of these young players develop.