“Whatever a team does good, we’ll take it away.” – Joe Collier
Louie Wright shared that quote in front of a packed house at the Denver Broncos Quarterback Club meeting on Saturday. “Collier was an innovative defensive genius,” Wright said of his former defensive coordinator. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was an assistant under Collier for two years. “I see Belichick using a lot of Joe Collier’s strategies with the Patriots,” said Louie.
This was one of many interesting stories and insights Wright shared with the long time Bronco fans of the QB Club. What were some of Wright’s most memorable plays?
In the Broncos 30-7 win over the Oakland Raiders in the magical 1977 season Wright intercepted Ken Stabler to make the score 27-7, virtually clinching a victory over the hated Raiders. “I was out of position on that play,” Wright said. “I play on the left side of the field. I misread Cliff Branch’s route and ended up on the right side. Stabler didn’t see me so I was able to pick off his pass.”
Another highlight was Wright’s return of a blocked field goal for an overtime TD vs the Chargers in 1985. “Dennis Smith said in the huddle he thought he could block the field goal so I was ready,” Wright relates. “And that’s what happened. Dennis Smith blocks the field goal and I pick it up expecting to run for a score. But the refs stop me and say ‘Denver called timeout’ negating the play. ‘Who called timeout???!!!’ we asked in the huddle. Mike Harden quietly said, ‘I did – coach Reeves asked me to’ No problem for Dennis Smith as he blocked the kick a second time and I ran it in for a TD – this time it counted!”
Who was the toughest receiver you played against?
“John Jefferson of the Chargers. He was only with the Chargers a few seasons and then was traded to the Packers in a contract dispute. But when he was with the Chargers he was extremely tough to cover.”
What wide receiver talked the most during a game?
“Charlie Joyner of the Chargers. It wasn’t trash talk, though. He’d say ‘how’s the family Louie?’ and other personal stuff. I thought ‘shut up – let’s just play!'”
In his 12 year Bronco career Wright played for John Ralston two years, Red Miller four years, and Dan Reeves six years. “Ralston was a good talent evaluator. Miller was totally different – Red was real intense and that carried over to the players. The first team meeting Red had with us he said ‘we are going to kick the raiders’ ass!! We are not going to take s*** from anybody!!’ That got us fired up and that’s what football is all about. Reeves was more of a tactician in the Tom Landry mode – he wanted to out scheme the other team. All three were good coaches in different ways.”
Wright told us how he actually quit football to concentrate on track only while in college at San Jose State. Then in the offseason there was a coaching change at San Jose State. One of the new coaches watched Louie workout for the track team and afterwards asked Louie, “You’ve played football in the past, want to give it another try?” Fortunately for the Broncos Louie said yes, and his later play for San Jose State made him the Broncos #1 draft choice in the 1975 draft.
Louie told these stories and more to our Broncos QB Club group. Afterwards he was very gracious in signing autographs and talking to fans one to one. It was another great meeting for the QB Club!
