Nate Webster Update

Q: How long before the Broncos make a change at middle linebacker? Nate Webster has been almost invisible this season -- other than the fumble return (for a TD). For a position that should be involved in most plays, he's been conspicuous in his absence. The only time he's visible is when he's over-running plays, filling the wrong hole, or chasing a tight end or running back downfield after a pass reception. Could Spencer Larsen or Niko Koutouvides be any worse? Nate has been around long enough for coaches to know that what you see is what you're going to get.

A: Also in some of the Webster questions were add-ons about the team's ability to improve the pass rush as it goes along and any potential for some trades.

Right off the top it has to be noted the coaches' video review has Webster leading the team in tackles, being a couple ahead of D.J. Williams and, in their minds, he won the job in training camp.

Whether folks watching the game at home would agree with that or not, Webster is still the official leader. He has over-run some plays in his zeal to make something happen - that is the one thing opposing offensive coordinators do point to at times when looking at his game - but he has not been alone, especially in Kansas City when Larry Johnson gained a significant amount of yardage coming out of the back side of the play after the front side - or "play" side - was bottled up.

The Broncos had certainly signed Koutouvides with the intention of playing him at middle linebacker and would have if he would have done a little more in the preseason. Even Koutouvides admitted that he did fine when it came to assignment football, but that he felt like he didn't "make enough plays'' to tip things his way.

Webster won the job with his best offseason in quite some time with efforts the Broncos likely didn't expect when last season ended.

But Koutouvides would be put into the lineup if Webster graded out poorly enough at some point for the coaches to believe they needed to make a change. And if they are thinking anything close to that right now, they have not conveyed that to any of the players at the moment.

Also, certainly if Webster got hurt Koutouvides would be in the lineup.

But right now they have big picture problems on defense that require their attention rather than simply tinkering with the depth chart in one or two places - that's just smoothing a rough edge or two to replace a player here and there.

(blogs.rockymountainews.com)