Broncos John Mobley off for the 2004 season

Camp hasn't begun, but the Broncos have already lost a player for the season.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Tuesday afternoon that linebacker John Mobley will miss the 2004 season as a result of the neck injury he incurred last fall at Baltimore.
At the team camp in June, Shanahan indicated that Mobley would return if he passed a physical in July. Tuesday, Shanahan confirmed that Mobley failed the physical, and that the team would have to release him for now, although the door is open for a return if he heals and can play again.
"Basically what you do is you have to release him to get down to the maximum amount of players you can have on your team," Shanahan said. "That does not mean we don't want John Mobley on our football team. He understands why."
Mobley's absence -- along with the offseason departure of Keith Burns -- leaves Al Wilson as the team's most experienced linebacker; the sixth-year linebacker signed a new contract in the offseason.
"It's a unique experience because not only is John gone but Ian's gone, and it's putting new people in those places," defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. "I think both John and Ian (Gold) set the bar and we're not going to let the bar slide. Guys that want to play in those positions will have to step to that level. But we're going to miss Mobley."
Coyer was prepared for the news, but was disappointed nonetheless.
"(It's) tough," Coyer said. "He's a great guy and he's a heck of a football player. He's a constant with me since I've been here. He's tough, he's capable of playing in any game. To lose a man of that caliber, other guys have to step up."
Last year, Jashon Sykes assumed the strongside slot in Mobley's place. Mobley started six of the first seven games in 2003 at strongside linebacker, then shifted to the weak side for the fateful game at Baltimore, two weeks after Gold was lost for the season. Sykes averaged 7.3 total tackles per game in eight 2003 starts at strongside linebacker.
The experience of Sykes -- and weakside linebacker Donnie Spragan, who replaced Gold -- and the decision to draft D.J. Williams and Terry Pierce in the first two rounds the last two years seems to indicate the Broncos will have the depth to withstand Mobley's absence.
"We drafted Terry Pierce in the second round, D.J. Williams in the first round (and) Jashon Sykes and Donnie Spragan started a year ago," Coyer said. "So the talent excuse would not be there."
Pierce is also in the mix on the strong side; he arrived last year as a middle linebacker but was pressed into action on the weak side against New England in November when Spragan was injured. Two weeks later, Pierce tore a pectoral muscle, ending his season prematurely.
"He went through a transitional year, and I think coming as an underclassman from college to professional football shocked his soul," Coyer said. "Then he was injured. But he is very bright. He's had a great offseason. He's instinctive. He'll be very competitive. He's had no problems moving outside."

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