D.J. Williams (55) comes out to the field before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 23-29 in overtime. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

In a move that doesn’t surprise many, the Denver Broncos released linebacker D.J. Williams Monday. Williams was suspended for nine games last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and for being charged for driving while impaired.

Williams was taken by the Broncos in the first round of the 2004 draft, and was tied with Champ Bailey as the longest-tenured player on the team. Williams had 886 tackles, 20.5 sacks, two interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries while playing weakside, middle, strongside, and inside linebacker positions during his time with the Broncos.

“We appreciate the contributions made by D.J. Williams during his time with the Broncos,” Elway said. “He was a solid player with this team for a number of years, showing a lot of versatility at linebacker. Our organization wishes D.J. all the best going forward.”

Williams was easily replaced by Wesley Woodyard, who led the team in tackles and was a standout all year on defense.

The team also released backup quarterback Caleb Hanie Monday. Hanie spent just one season with the Broncos and he was generally inactive during the 2012 season. Hanie came into the NFL from Colorado State and spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears before coming to Denver.

The Broncos made sure they kept safety and special teams extraordinaire David Bruton by re-signing him to a three-year contract.

Bruton played in every game last season and led the Broncos in special teams plays. He was named a third alternate for the Pro Bowl squad as a special-teamer.

Bruton has played 61-of-64 possible regular-season games for Denver since he was selected in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft, ranking second on the club in special-teams tackles (32) during that span.

David Bruton (30) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Broncos won 17-9. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

“I’ve always wanted to stay in Denver since my rookie year,” Bruton said. “I fell in love with this place. I fell in love with the organization, how it’s run. There’s opportunities out there, there’s always that chance, but I feel like being here in Denver, I need to make the most of my opportunities.”

For his career, Bruton has seen action in 61 regular-season contests (4 starts), totaling 34 tackles (31 solo), one interception (-2 yds.) and six passes defensed. He also owns 15 tackles (11 solo) and one pass defensed in three career postseason games (2 starts).

“I feel as though they wanted to keep me for special-teams play, especially being a leader out there alongside ‘Wood’ (LB Wesley Woodyard) on the special-teams front,” Bruton said. “Being able to step in there and play whenever my number is called, whether I need to start throughout the playoffs and the last game of the season or come in on certain packages, I feel like they have unwavering faith that I can go out there and play no matter what the situation is.”

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David Bruton breaks up a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Texans in week three. (Chris Humphreys-US PRESSWIRE)

All three phases were right on point for the Denver Broncos who beat up the Oakland Raiders 37-6 in a much needed week four win.

The offense was so on point that punter Britton Colquitt wasn’t needed to boot the ball. He only appeared on field goal and extra point attempts. The Broncos are just the 9th team in NFL history to post over 500+ yards and 37+ points while not allowing a punt or a sack.

Another game changing play game from special teams extraordinaire David Bruton in the third quarter. Bruton got his hands on a Shane Lechler punt allowing it to only travel 2 yards. The play pinned the Broncos right on Oakland’s 18-yard line. Four plays later, Willis McGahee ran it in for a touchdown, and a 24-6 lead.

“I have a game plan versus every wing, every week,” Bruton said. “I got exactly what I wanted, falling deep inside and just rushing his outside shoulder. I wasn’t even supposed to rush that one, but how he was playing me all game, he was playing my up-and-under…I saw that he had a soft shoulder so I just kept going and took a chance and put my hand up there and got my hand on the ball.”

If anyone was surprised that Bruton blocked the punt, they shouldn’t be. He blocked two of them in preseason games earlier this year. For many like Bruton, special teams is how you make the team.

Doing the little things each and every time matters most when there’s a breakdown on the other side. That’s how Bruton found his opportunity, and that’s how the Broncos won this one.

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The Denver Broncos will look for more consistency in the red zone in Sunday's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE).

In what amounts to the last dress rehearsal for starters prior to the season opener in September (starters usually don’t play or play sparingly in the preseason finale), the Denver Broncos will be looking for crisp execution of the offensive and defensive playbooks.  The starters on both sides of the ball will likely be playing at least into the third quarter, so here’s what to look for against the visiting San Francisco 49ers:

Red Zone Offense – Strange game, isn’t it?  The Broncos were abysmal in the red zone prior to Tim Tebow taking the reigns, Tebow is sensational in the red zone even when the rest of his game remained raw, Peyton Manning is brought in through free agency and seen as a huge upgrade, the Broncos go back to struggling in the red zone.  Odd, if not concerning.  So far, the team is 4 for 8 in the red zone and Manning’s first team offense is 1 for 4 with two interceptions.  Clearly it’s early, but don’t think for a second that Manning and the Broncos aren’t focused on scoring touchdowns every single time they cross the San Francisco 20-yard line. 

Special Teams Standouts -David Bruton has been an absolute force for the Broncos on special teams this preseason.  It is critical to have performances like this since aside from Matt Prater and Britton Colquitt, the Broncos have lacked playmaking ability on special teams in years’ past.  Bruton is incredibly fast and plays hard.  Look for him to continue to force his way onto the crowded depth chart at safety simply because of what he’s been doing on special teams (one blocked punt and one tipped punt last week).

The same holds true for Syd’Quan Thompson and whoever else returns kicks on Sunday.  The Broncos are in desperate need of some flash and pizzazz with Eddie Royal‘s departure.  Punt returning has been decent, kick returning has not been.  I would not be surprised to see someone like Thompson, who likely wouldn’t make the roster at cornerback, make the team if he’s up to showing some explosiveness in the return game.

Front Seven – Sure the Champ Bailey versus Randy Moss match up has the appeal of a heavyweight title bout, but Broncos fans need to be focused on the defensive line and the linebackers.  Both have been rocked this preseason by injuries and were question marks coming into the season anyway.  Keith Brooking, Nate Irving, Danny Trevathan, D.J. Williams (suspension), Mike Mohamed, Jason Hunter, Ty Warren, Kevin Vickerson, and Justin Bannan have all missed time at some point this preseason.  The Broncos’ front seven will need to be focused on executing the small things – making tackles, covering receivers in the middle of the field, and putting pressure on 49ers’ quarterbacks.  If the core of the defense can be solid at a minimum, the secondary has the skills to be shutdown which would make this a tough defense to face.  Fail to execute and the formula becomes unraveled.

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