European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday. September 12, 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 23 no Way to have it both ways offence defense is an either or proposition a sports writer it has become a Law of nature in the nil you can i have everything in you have a powerful offence you re doomed to have a mediocre defense and vice versa for More than a decade the Denver Broncos thrived on a stingy gang tackling defense while tolerating often pathetic attempts by he offence. With inc mat urn i Ion of quarterback John Elway and he development of a set of fast receivers the Broncos arc West preview finally have the Quick strike capability they lacked. Ironically or perhaps inevitably the defense has sagged. In inc highly competitive acc West where weak Nesses lend to be magnified Denver s ability to successfully defend its division title is in jeopardy. Many Prognoli Calora Are picking the Seattle sea Hawks 10-6 last year to unseat the Broncos 11-5 in the regular season and inc arcs super bowl representative. The los Angeles raiders with perhaps the Divi Sion s Best defense always Are a Factor in the race. Kansas City coming off a playoff season is the division s biggest question Mark and san Diego continues to rebuild under coach Al Saunders who succeeded Don Coryell at mid season last year. The biggest change in the Broncos this tall will be new faces on defense necessitated by the retirements in the past 12 months of end Barney Chavous nose tackle Rubin Carter linebacker Tom Jackson free safety Steve Foley and cornerback Louis Wright All Long time starters. Their replacements appear to be adequate but a concern for head coach Dan Reeves and defensive coordinator Joe Collier is inc loss of leadership. A i easy to replace Guys physically says Reeves but the hard part is replacing the intangibles they. Brought to the team leadership emotion work habits. That son of adding to Reeves worry was the tendency of the Bron cos undersized defense to Wear Down. In Trie last seven games of 1986, including two and the super bowl Denver Yick i More than 30 Points per game. The Broncos Wei into inc draft looking primarily for size Al outside linebacker and fullback. They got neither. Steve Sewell 6-fool-3 and 210 pounds May wind up As the fullback but he s hardly inc pile mover Reeves covets although Simon Fletcher 6-5, 245 and Bruce Kloster Nan 6-4, 225 will be tried at Strong Side line Backer he Broncos Likely will open the season with 215-Pound Jim Ryan there and Ken Woodard. Another 215-Poundcr, replacing Jackson on the weak Side. The draft did produce some help however. Top pick Ricky Kalliel a speedy wide receiver and kick returner from Florida has caught everything thrown his Way and he gives Elway another deep threat logo with Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson Wilh no significant changes Al running Back the of sense will continue to depend on Elway who came of a a in leading inc Broncos 98 Yards in the closing minutes in inc acc championship game Victory Over Cleveland. Seattle sea Hawks Seattle ended 1986 As the acc s hottest team win Ning its lost five games and outscoring opponents by an los Angeles raiders John Elwy head Tup offence but defense has declined. Average of 33-15, but that was after a four game losing Streak and the sea Hawks missed the playoffs the Seahawk fortunes Rose and Felt with Schizo phrenic quarterback Dave Krieg. In the last five games Krieg completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,288 Yards ii touchdowns and just one interception. But during the losing Streak he was benched for inconsistency. When Krieg is on his favorite target is Sieve Lar genl who enters his 12th season As the nil s second leading All time receiver with 694 receptions. The Elu Sive Curt Warner led the acc in Rushing last year Wilh 1.481 Yards Seattle s defense slumped to 22nd in the league in 1986. Coach Chuck moved to bolster the line backing corps drafting Tony Woods and Dave Wyman with his first two picks and obtaining Brian Bosworth in the supplemental draft. Bosworth and Woods arc expected to Start. The flamboyant outspoken Bosworth is a Welcome physical addition but it remains cd a Rushing touchdown All season they Are belter than the team we played in 1980," Carolina coach Dick Crum says. They re the no. 1 team in the country and Complete in every department. From what i understand this might be the Best Oklahoma team Ever based on How they finished the season Lasi year i can believe that. They have great spa d and skill at every position. Jamelle to Licu is just a great Wishbone Luuru rack. I thought . Walls was a great pm Var but this Vij is better. Not Only Dot s he run the Wishbone like a magician but he s a Bel Ter passer than Walts Oklahoma is a 23-Poim favorite but Bear in mind that North Carolina has a classic drop pack passer in Mark Maye. Also Bear in mind that outstanding pass ers have Given Oklahoma ills in the past. John Elway was 2 i f.l4 for 237 see sooner on Page 26
