Only time will tell if Broncos’ offseason moves pay dividends

DENVER — The Denver Broncos spent the offseason revamping their defense, bringing in backs Champ Bailey and John Lynch and using their first-round draft pick on linebacker D.J. Williams.

Now they get to see if the changes live up to the hype.

There are plenty of questions on offense with the losses of Clinton Portis, Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey, but the focus will be on the new defense when the Broncos open training camp today.

“If we come together and play hard, then we’ll have a chance to be good. We have more ability than we had a year ago,” Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “But we can talk all we want. Until you pass the test you really don’t know.”

The Broncos know all about failing at the wrong time.

Denver had one of the league’s best defenses most of last season despite numerous injuries to key players. But the Broncos apparently weren’t as good as their numbers indicated.

Against Indianapolis in the first round of the playoffs, the Broncos’ lack of talent and inexperience at key positions became apparent. Peyton Manning picked Denver’s defense apart, throwing for 377 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-10 Colts’ victory.

Now, Bailey gives the Broncos the shutdown corner coach Mike Shanahan has wanted since he arrived in Denver 10 years ago.

The Broncos got Bailey in a trade with Washington in March, sending Portis to the Redskins after the running back threatened to hold out if he didn’t get more money.

“To get a guy like Champ is something that doesn’t occur very often,” Shanahan said. “With Clinton not happy with his contract and the possible problems that I saw coming with Clinton, I said, ‘This could be a slam dunk. The only guy I’ll trade Clinton for is Champ Bailey.’ “