by Dave Krieger , The Denver Post

From Michael Strahan to Jason Taylor, Jared Allen to DeMarcus Ware, Fletcher's build became the template for the modern pass rusher.

So how did the 5-11 Dumervil - "Doom" to his teammates - crash the party? How did the shortest member of the Broncos' front seven doom Browns QB Brady Quinn, sacking him four times and grabbing a share of the team single-game sack record?

"I've been going through it all my life," Dumervil said. "It's easy for me. I have instant leverage, I guess. I'm just trying to key the ball and be explosive."

"We tease him all the time about his size," cornerback Andr? Goodman said, "but for a guy like that to finish the game the way he did was big."

At times, watching Dumervil go up against 6-6 Browns tackles John St. Clair and Joe Thomas was like the famous picture of the sumo wrestler facing off against a child. These are good offensive tackles, but they tend to do better against people their own size.

As offensive tackles get bigger, Dumervil seems to get better.

"It's a chess match out there," Dumervil explained. "You've just got to set him up and make different moves and then, when the time comes, you've got to be able to trigger and make the opportunity."

All of Dumervil's sacks came in the second half, when the Browns were trying to play catch-up. Early in the fourth quarter, he sacked Quinn on consecutive plays, producing the always-promising fourth-and-28.

"It's a little unorthodox," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "The biggest thing is he's got longer arms than most of the guys blocking him, and he's much shorter. So you're reaching for him, but he can get his hands on you first and he's got leverage on you and he can get underneath you and push you back to the quarterback.

"So he's a unique player. He's a unique pass rusher in that his skill set is pretty much alone in this league for a shorter guy with real long arms. And he's got a good burst."

Even after recording 20 sacks as a senior at Louisville in 2005, Dumervil slid to the fourth round of the NFL draft because of his size. There was no way he was going to be able to play defensive end in the NFL at 5-11.

For three years, he did, recording 12 1/2 sacks in 2007 for Mike Shanahan, the man who drafted him. But this year he was forced to change positions as McDaniels installed a 3-4 defense. Dumervil had to give up his traditional three-

point stance and learn to play standing up as a linebacker.

"It's been tough, man," he said. "There was times when I was down on myself in camp. I always had my hand on the ground. Coach McDaniels really helped me out during two-

a-days. I worked really hard this offseason, especially with (strength coach) Rich Tuten, just working on drops and just trying to be a more versatile player. It hasn't been easy. I still have a lot to learn, but I feel like I'm going in the right direction."

The Browns would probably agree. Dumervil was credited with seven tackles Sunday, second on the Broncos to fellow linebacker Andra Davis. He was also credited with forcing the Joshua Cribbs fumble that Brian Dawkins recovered early in the third quarter when the Broncos led by only four points.

Players that appear better suited to the task have struggled much more with the adjustment Dumervil has made. Jarvis Moss, for example, is listed at 6-7. When the Broncos used a first-round draft pick on him in 2007, they envisioned an elite pass rusher. Moss has 3 1/2 sacks in a little more than two seasons. Dumervil has 30 in a little more than three.

"I'm just blessed, man. I just thank God for the situation I've been put in," Dumervil said. "Once the offense gets some points and we get a team one-dimensional, it really makes my job easy."

Scouting has more measurements and videotape than ever, but it's still as much art as science. Some things just can't be measured until the lights come on. That's where Doom comes up big.

Dave Krieger: 303-954-5297 or dkrieger@denverpost.com ------------ Sack masters

Elvis Dumervil's four sacks Sunday put him in a tie in the Broncos' record book for most sacks in a game:

Elvis Dumervil: vs. Cleveland, Sept. 20, 2009

Simon Fletcher: at San Diego, Nov. 11, 1990

Karl Mecklenburg: at Pittsburgh, Dec. 1, 1985

Karl Mecklenburg: vs. New Orleans, Sept. 15, 1985

Barney Chavous: at Seattle, Dec. 21, 1980

Dave Costa: at Buffalo, Sept. 7, 1970

Rich Jackson: at Cincinnati, Oct. 19, 1969

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