While the NFL has long ranked its offenses and defenses by yards gained and yards allowed, it has always decided things with the scoreboard.

And when the Broncos began to gather officially this week in their off-season conditioning program - a "voluntary" affair unless, of course, you want to play - they had some points on their minds.

"We need those touchdowns," Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said. "If we're putting up those touchdowns, with our defense, we know we can do some big things. We need some more big plays. We can drive the ball, we've shown that, but those big plays, they are things we've done in the past, and we need to find some more of those."

When it comes to offense, however, and the relationship to important wins, the Broncos have certainly been a quirky bunch in coach Mike Shanahan's tenure. They usually put up the yardage, they usually put up the points and they usually play with the lead.

In Shanahan's 11 years, they have been in the league's top 10 in points scored 10 times and in the top five four times. They have been in the league's top 10 in yards gained nine times and in the top five eight times.

Yet since the end of the 1998 season title run, they have one playoff win to show for a lot of that. Because it's about real power, the meek inherit nothing in the NFL.

Power is the difference between the points scored and points allowed. The years have proved that point differential throughout the league is a rather nice power index.

Look at last season, when the top five teams in the league in point differential were Indianapolis (plus-192, plus-12 per game), Seattle (plus-181, plus-11.3 per game), Denver (plus-137, plus-8.6 per game), Carolina (plus-132, plus-8.3 per game) and Pittsburgh (plus-131, plus-8.2 per game).

Count the ballots, and you find the Colts finished with the league's best record at 14-2, while the other four teams slugged it out in the conference championship games - Seattle and Pittsburgh then played in Super Bowl XL.

That's power.

Kansas City was the league's top offense in yards gained, and it didn't make the playoffs. Tampa Bay led the league in fewest yards allowed and didn't make it out of wild-card weekend.

The league's worst in point differential were San Francisco (minus-189, minus-11.8 per game), Houston (minus-171, minus-10.7 per game), New Orleans (minus-163, minus-10.2 per game) and Tennessee (minus-122, minus-7.6 per game). They finished 4-12, 2-14, 3-13 and 4-12, respectively.

Power? Not so much.

So, armed with two first-round draft picks, including the 15th pick, the Broncos could be in search of some power the last weekend of April. They will also be armed with the knowledge Shanahan's two best teams - the Super Bowl winners in the 1997 and 1998 seasons - were also his leaders in the differential.

The 1997 team was tops in the league in points scored and yards gained, but more importantly was a plus-185 in points. The 1998 team scored a franchise-record 501 points - second in the league that season - to be plus-192.

In Shanahan's 11 years, the team has been a minus once - minus-4 in 1999. That said, however, last season was the first since 2000 where the team's point differential was more than 100.

It was also the first time the team had won at least 13 games since 1998.

Ill-timed decision

As teams around the league are convening for their in-house draft meetings over the next several weeks, Denver native LenDale White may not like what will be - and has already been - said behind closed doors.

Several teams contacted this week were furious White did not run at USC's pro day Sunday; two teams said they had even gone specifically to see him. White told team officials he had a sore hamstring from an injury he suffered at the combine.

White also bench-pressed 225 pounds just 15 times - or one more time than punter Tom Malone did.

Since he didn't work out at the scouting combine, that leaves White without much calendar to work with to help his cause and the very real perception some teams now have that he hasn't been working with his football future on the line.

And make no mistake, perception has pushed more than one player down the board.

The teams who trust the game tape, like the Broncos usually do, will be more apt to grab him, but there is no question his failure to work out has hurt his rating in some of those conference rooms.

He was the first player at USC since Marcus Allen to have back-to- back 1,000-yard rushing seasons - Reggie Bush won the Heisman and didn't do that - and he was the USC back of choice when the Trojans needed to pound the ball in the end zone.

Still, a player who had ankle surgery in January 2005 and was held out of spring drills later that year because of academic troubles needs to slam the door on doubts if he wants to be in the upper half of the first round.

And White simply can't, in some teams' eyes, until he runs 40 yards to do it.

Scoring is not a problem

• The Denver Broncos would like to see more pop on offense this season. Where they have finished in Mike Shanahan's tenure as coach:

Year Points NFL rank W-L

1995 388 9th 8-8

1996 391 4th 13-3

1997 472 1st 12-4*

1998 501 2nd 14-2*

1999 314 18th 6-10

2000 485 2nd 11-5

2001 340 10th 8-8

2002 392 7th 9-7

2003 381 10th 10-6

2004 381 9th 10-6

2005 395 7th 13-3

*Won Super Bowl

That’s what Denver Broncos backup quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt reminded himself.

During the offseason, the Broncos were reportedly interested in one glamour free agent quarterback after another. Denver was allegedly interested in Anthony Wright, Joey Harrington Gus Frerotte ...the names went on and on all winter.

Friends would even point out the speculations to Van Pelt.

“Hey, did you see who might be coming into town for a visit?” they’d asked.

Van Pelt would just shrug his shoulders. He doesn’t much care who’s brought in. It doesn’t bother him the Broncos might be courting other quarterbacks.

“You’re going to see somebody else in here,” Van Pelt said. “I guarantee you that. Someone else will be here to push me. Maybe Joey Harrington. I don’t mind competition; I thrive on it. It doesn’t matter who it is.

“I’ve just got to worry about myself. Ultimately, the competition is within myself.”

The Van Pelt you thought you knew is vanishing. A maturer one is rising to the surface. Remember the Van Pelt who’d show up on the sidelines during the CU-CSU game, proudly waving the Rams banner? Or the one who used to skateboard to class in Fort Collins?

He’s not that person anymore. He can’t afford to be and lead this team, should anything happen to quarterback Jake Plummer.

“I’ve let go a little more of my personal life, and dedicated myself to football,” Van Pelt said. “I know what I need to do. I’m growing up, and realizing the importance of my situation.”

Hold on a second, though. Don’t misconstrue what he’s saying. The fun hasn’t been zapped out of Van Pelt. He still found time to do some deep-water diving in Hawaii and the Cayman Islands, and lounge on the beach in Florida during the offseason.

However, he’s hitting the play book harder than ever. He’s dedicated himself to learning the art of being an NFL quarterback. When he was in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, he hung around the elite quarterbacks hoping their knowledge would rub off on him.

“I never said I was going to be a superstar overnight,” Van Pelt said. “I feel like I have a huge upside.

“But I have to keep chipping away.”

Van Pelt got his feet wet last season when he played significant time against San Diego in the season finale. In that game, he finished with more yards on the ground (48) than through the air (7). That experience opened his eyes. The Chargers defense was a lot quicker than on film.

“I think I made improvements last season, but I wasn’t excited about it,” said Van Pelt, who scored his first career touchdown on a QB sneak against Kansas City. “Obviously, the one opportunity I got wasn’t ideal for me. I hadn’t played for so long. I felt like a sophomore in college out there, and it took a while to calm my nerves.

“But I’m growing up. I’m starting to turn the other way where football is No. 1 in my life. I’ve never given it my all. In college, I was living the college life. I’m going to the next phase now to see how good I can be.”

Since arriving in Denver in 2004, Van Pelt has impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic. He’s the first one on the field, and last to leave. The coaches can glance into his eyes and see how important this game is to him.

“You’ve got to love what you’re doing,” Van Pelt said. “You can’t go through the motions. Teams will cut you. Even if you’re making a couple million dollars, they don’t care. If they can see it in your eyes that you don’t love it, you’re going to be on the outside looking in.”

He’s vowed to not let that happen to him. The rumors, though, can be unsettling. Van Pelt will turn on the radio and hear the rumor.

“Harrington and Denver are talking about a deal,” the announcer will say.

Van Pelt takes the news in stride. Bring Harrington in is Van Pelt’s feeling.

“I’m not competing against someone — I’m competing against myself,” Van Pelt said. “Not a minute goes by where I’m thinking, ‘Wow, I’ve got the second-string job.’ They’re going to find ways to push me. The best man plays.

“I think they believe in me, but they want to see if I’m going to put it all together. I know what I need to do. That’s why I’m letting go of my personal life and pouring everything into football.”

Van Pelt flashed his mischievous smiled as he thought about his diving expeditions. He’s not totally all work and no play.

“You still need a little goof-off time,” he said.