Branden Albert Official Website

 Posted in News on August 31st, 2010 at 11:51 AM

SN correspondents spotlight three players on each team who are poised to step up their games this season:

DENVER BRONCOS

OLB Robert Ayers. He had an average rookie season, and the injury to Elvis Dumervil has shined a white-hot spotlight in Ayers’ direction. He could respond. The coaches have raved about his work ethic, and he seems to be playing more free and loose during preseason.

CB/KR Perrish Cox. His role is undefined right now, but it should grow as the season progresses. Cox’s preseason performance will get him on the field initially as a nickel defensive back. Cox is a quick study, and his playmaking ability has pushed Alphonso Smith to irrelevance. Cox, regardless of his role on defense, is the favorite to win the kickoff returner job.

C J.D. Walton. Denver’s scouting staff fell in love with Walton while watching him scrap and claw against Ndamukong Suh in college. The coaches are even more pleased now that Walton has assimilated the offense quickly and continues to demonstrate an attacking style. Only five first-year linemen in Broncos’ history have started an opener; Walton will join that group. --Lee Rasizer

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

CB Brandon Flowers. He could be ready to become an elite player at his position. Flowers was poised to make that leap last year, but a preseason shoulder injury limited his play all year long. Flowers must improve at making the plays that come his way.

LT Branden Albert. A holding penalty in last week’s game aside, Albert has had a solid preseason. He kept himself in better shape during the offseason and seems more capable of playing at the lighter weight of 315 pounds the coaches prefer him to carry.....