After a short introduction, Williams beckoned first-round pick Jarvis Moss to stand in front of his new teammates and open the morning's work. But Moss couldn't captivate their attention with a dance, nor could he work them into rhythm.

This was no time for a tepid response. Not at the first practice of the year, the opening session of the Broncos' 14 organized team activities between now and June 7.

"It's the first day and we needed more intensity than that," Williams said. "I could tell (Moss) was a little nervous.

"So I sent up one of our oldie-but-goodies, (David) Kircus. He's always going to get up there and give you a good dance."

Kircus worked the practice field as though it were midnight at a fashionable dance club rather than midday in the middle of a suburban office park. His teammates laughed heartily, clapped in perfect time and howled with delight.

Mission accomplished. Williams had passed his first test as a leader.

Granted, it might have seemed like an examination that was as significant as a summit meeting between Mauritius and Luxembourg. There will be larger, more pressing issues for Williams to handle as defensive ringleader.

But in the eyes of assistant head coach Jim Bates, Williams is already in his depth at middle linebacker.

"He's done a good job right from the start," Bates said. "He's hitting it with both barrels loaded, and we're fired up with him."

The obvious comparison will come with Al Wilson, the recently released Pro Bowler who was the Broncos' primary middle linebacker for eight years -- and the catalyst for the practice-opening breakdown for almost as many.

Wilson is, to put it most succinctly, vocal. His pregame huddle speeches -- which often make their way into the archives of NFL Films and Broncos TV -- are the stuff of rhetorical legend, often peppered with a fusillade of profanities that would make Tommy Lasorda proud. Williams, on the other hand, has always seemed more stoic -- which was apparent on his first visit to Broncos headquarters after being drafted in 2004.

Some draft picks enter the building with eyes as wide as frisbees and a giddiness to match. Williams, on the other hand, was professional and composed. Not quite icy, because a courteousness and sincerity was immediately evident, but nevertheless cool, striding through the building as though nothing in the NFL could intimidate him.

So after three seasons as a starter -- one on the weak side and two on the strong side -- he's ready to go inside and become the fulcrum of a tweaked defense.

"I'm ready for a team leader role," Williams said. "I've studied for four years here and played under Al amd when you have a guy like that and watch him, you automatically learn how to be a leader."

But that doesn't mean Williams will lead like Wilson.

"Everybody has their own personality and everybody leads differently," Bates said. "The mike linebacker is in control of the huddle. He's in control of the checks and people are going to look to him.

"But just (from) being around D.J. and his personality and getting to know D.J. -- he's going to be an excellent leader for us."

And that breakdown? It stands to reason that Williams should take the baton of leadership there, just like the middle linebacker that preceded him.

"It was a little awkward at first, but the guys chose me to go up there," Williams said. "I'm comfortable with all these guys. I've been around most of them for four years. I watched Al do it and I've seen it done plenty of times, and it was honored that they asked me to go up there and do it.

"You still have butterflies the first time you're doing something but I think I did a pretty good job of it."

The Broncos hope he's just as good in the huddle and on the field.