Elway’s Memory Still Sharp Broncos Qb Hoping For Rebirth Of Dominance Over Seahawks

Survey Seattleites and he might be voted Public Enemy No. 1. OK, Public Enemy No. 2, behind Ken Behring.

Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway has tortured the Seattle Seahawks like no other player the last 13 years. But 1995 was the rare season in which Elway didn’t chew up Seattle and spit out two wins.

The Broncos lost both of their matchups against the Seahawks (27-10 and 31-27), with Elway accounting for only 382 passing yards and two touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions.

And Elway has not forgotten the defeats.

“We lost two times to Seattle and we were one win away from making the playoffs,” said Elway, priming for Sunday’s rematch in the Kingdome. “It’s always been a great rivalry.”

Easy for him to say. Elway has more 300-yard games (five), more touchdown passes (30) and more passing yardage (5,511) against Seattle than any other opponent. In his career, Elway has directed 37 fourthquarter, game-saving drives, two against the Hawks.

But even the staunchest Hawks fans must admit that Elway’s career, though missing a Super Bowl ring, has nevertheless been a jewel.

“It was vintage Elway as you look at the video of the Jets game (Sunday) where he scrambled out, stepped up and threw a post for a touchdown,” said Seattle coach Dennis Erickson, who has known Elway since the quarterback was in grade school. Erickson coached with Elway’s dad, Jack, at San Jose State.

When he entered the NFL in 1983, Elway could run 40 yards in 4.65 seconds and chuck a football 80 yards. His physical skills have diminished, he admits, but he’s compensated in other areas.

“I’m a lot smarter,” he said, “and nothing makes up for experience.”

Elway will set a franchise record by playing in his 192nd game as a Bronco on Sunday. Elway’s durability can be “It is (amazing),” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. “I think he’s missed nine games through the years.”

To put Elway’s longevity into perspective, Denver rookie linebacker John Mobley was 9 years old when Elway broke in as a rookie.

Elway is signed through the year 2,000. He’s already in the top five in most all-time quarterback statistics. So what motivates him?

“I still enjoy the game and they (ownership) are trying to give us every chance to win,” said Elway, the losing quarterback in three Super Bowls. “I’m not ready to quit.”

Orange Crush revisited

Denver’s defense had nine sacks in Sunday’s 31-6 pasting of the New York Jets, who played without two starting offensive linemen.

“I wasn’t sure we had that many sacks last year,” Shanahan said.

The defense has become well stocked with the additions of Bill Romanowski (linebacker), Jumpy Geathers (tackle), Alfred Williams (rush end) and Mobley.

The Broncos signed some of those newcomers by using some of the money it saved in trimming wide receiver Mike Pritchard, who latched on with the Seahawks.

“He was making $1.8-$2 million and we needed more defensive players,” Shanahan said.

Second-time around

Broncos players are raving about the strides they’ve made as they enter their second year under Shanahan. You may recall Seattle players saying similar things in their second camp under Erickson.

The difference is Denver displayed improvement in drilling New York while Seattle belly-flopped in losing to San Diego.

“Everybody’s a lot more comfortable with the scheme, which is (important) because our starters are pretty much the same as last year,” Elway said.

Notes

Denver’s Mobley, at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, returned kicks at tiny Kutztown (Pa.) University and briefly did the same for the Bronocos in preseason.

“He was doing a good job catching those punts and kickoffs,” Shanahan said. “I told him he was going to be the starter and (then) he kept on dropping everything, so I figured he didn’t want to do it.”

“I don’t think too many of the opposition (in college) wanted to get in my way when I was going full tilt,” said Mobley. Denver’s first-round draft choice.

Erickson said several changes have been made in the kick-return unit, but none involved Steve Broussard, who fumbled once and averaged only 13 yards on five returns against San Diego. Erickson said faster up-field blockers have been inserted.

Hawks linebacker Terry Wooden (hamstring) is listed as questionable after missing last week’s game.

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