Broncos have new look on both sides of ball

A 9-7 record in 2006 simply wasn't good enough for Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. So, after his team's struggles down the stretch caused it to miss the playoffs, Shanahan turned the Broncos into the NFL's version of "Extreme Makeover."

A defense that dropped to 12th in the league in 2006 -- after finishing in the top four in both 2004 and 2005 -- will look much different this season. Shanahan changed defensive coordinators and remade the unit along the line, at linebacker and in the secondary.

On the offensive side of the ball, the coach changed running backs, spent $6 million a year for tight end Daniel Graham and opened up the right-guard position.

If this were New York, Shanahan would be called Steinbrenner and the roster intrigue would be bannered across the back page of tabloids.

"When you end up 9-7, you try to improve," Shanahan said. "Hopefully, we can."

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo -- Five observations from Denver Broncos training camp, gleaned from the team's practices: