Sam and others who know, help me out.

[16TheSnake]

sua would have to move to lb and play will in a 4-3 cause we don't got any backers that could play that spot

Isn't Brandon Marshall a will backer in a 4-3?

[Kyousukeneko]

sua would have to move to lb and play will in a 4-3 cause we don't got any backers that could play that spot

[Zealander]

Now I'm not qualified for x and o analysis as when I was a lad I chose to dominate in different athletic arenas. I am however fully qualified "orange glasses" observer. Born into fandom...

I don't think position assignments matter much for this group. I think realistically, we've got one of the deepest DL groups in the league. Last year's addition of Kerr and Peko don't get enough credit in totally changing this team's ability to stop the run last year.

Wolfe, Harish Walker and Chubb... We are absolutely stacked.

I think the key will rather be producing a wide variety of looks in blitz packages to get to sacknasty dance packages of victory.

[samparnell]

Defensive alignment is part of the defensive scheme, but what the players do from it is more important. The D lines up on the offensive formation and has run and pass responsibilities. The call includes alignment and coverage plus stunts and blitzes if used.

The Front Seven can tell from the first steps of the O-Line if the play is run/PAP or Pass/Draw. The reason PAP is effective is that defenses will always play the run first. There are two basic types of run D: one-gap control/spill runs to the sideline; and, two-gap/set the edge/funnel runs to the middle. One or two gap run D can be played from either a split front or an odd front. Two-gap is more common from an odd-front and one gap is more common from a split-front. Denver uses three down linemen in their base D and play one-gap run D.

Last I checked, the Broncos were still playing one-gap/spill especially from their base look which some consider a 3-4 but which is more of an overshifted split-front with a standup 5/9 on the split side. Or, call it a 50 D with the 0 Aggied to tight side 1, split side 5 Eagled to a 3, split side OLB at LOS in a standup 5/9 and 5 tech on the tight side.

On a run play, the Front Seven must fill the A-B-C gaps with pursuit to the sideline and backside defenders at ball depth and LOS. So far, Denver has chosen to put their down linemen in odd numbered techniques which commits them to that gap. For this, the D-Linemen and Backers must be quick off the ball into their gap assignment. Their first move is into the gap and they must not go upfield unless they read pass or see that they can make a play on the ball carrier.

I do not recall seeing Denver in a 4-3 alignment. The Nickel package they often use takes a down D-Lineman out and puts an extra DB in, usually a Corner, but could be a Safety. If a third Safety is in, it resembles a split-front 4-2-5 D with two 2/3 techs and the OLBs in 5/9 techs. Two Inside Backers stay in at Backer depth usually over the A Gaps to guard against a run and to cover a Back if the coverage is 1/0.

The Broncos currently have seven D-Linemen who seem like they will make the team: Derek Wolfe, Domata Peko, Clinton McDonald, Adam Gotsis, Shelby Harris, Zach Kerr and DeMarcus Walker. The base D will have them in a rotation. Peko will be in a 1 with either McDonald or Kerr rotating. The 3/5 techs would be Wolfe with the other guys playing opposite/rotating. They all seem suitable for the one-gap/spill run D. They all seem capable of generating pass rush/pocket push from their position if it's a pass.

When Denver is in their split-front Nickel package, they want two of their best pass rushing D-Linemen at 2/3 techs. The top candidates for that would seem to be Wolfe, Harris, McDonald and Walker. Looks like Denver will be at least two deep at OLB unless one is traded. That would be Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett. It is possible that Jeff Holland will make the team at that position. Miller must be on the field at all times. We will have to see how Chubb and Ray do and how much of a case Barrett can make for playing time on D.

[broncos SB2010]

Thankfully you don't have any input! Purposefully not playing our best DLman doesn't sound good to me.

Also, people are going to be surprised by Gotsis. He's a lock to be a starter I'd say, but that's because I'm expectING an improvement over his improvement from last year

i don't think we know who the best DEs are yet. Gotsis, Wolfe, Walker, and Harris are all in the mix with no one guaranteed anything at this point.

[gtown53]

Wolfe HAS to be a starter IMO.

Other then you putting Pekko over Wolfe, we have the same starters on DL

Curious as to why you think Zaire Anderson would beat out Brandon Marshall to start at LB?

In my opinion our best 7 "front 7" players are:
1. Miller
2. Wolfe
3. Chubb
4. Marshall
5. Barrett
6. Ray
7. Harris
* Walker

I'd like to get all 7 on the field in whatever base package we go with, though I am not sure they can; interesting decisions.

-GB2

Wolfe missed 5 games last season because of chronic neck issues. AND he had neck surgery. Is he okay now, or is that problem going to continue? I'm sure that the Front Office is asking themselves the same question.

[16TheSnake]

Interesting. I'd go Walker/Harris/Peko/Chubb on the LOS with Miller/Anderson/Ray at LB.

Wolfe HAS to be a starter IMO.

Other then you putting Pekko over Wolfe, we have the same starters on DL

Curious as to why you think Zaire Anderson would beat out Brandon Marshall to start at LB?

In my opinion our best 7 "front 7" players are:
1. Miller
2. Wolfe
3. Chubb
4. Marshall
5. Barrett
6. Ray
7. Harris
* Walker

I'd like to get all 7 on the field in whatever base package we go with, though I am not sure they can; interesting decisions.

-GB2

[maaskesr]

Thankfully you don't have any input! Purposefully not playing our best DLman doesn't sound good to me.

Also, people are going to be surprised by Gotsis. He's a lock to be a starter I'd say, but that's because I'm expectING an improvement over his improvement from last year

I think there is a different reason people aren't mentioning Gotsis.

[Papa-pwn]

Interesting. I'd go Walker/Harris/Peko/Chubb on the LOS with Miller/Anderson/Ray at LB.

Thankfully you don't have any input! Purposefully not playing our best DLman doesn't sound good to me.

Also, people are going to be surprised by Gotsis. He's a lock to be a starter I'd say, but that's because I'm expectING an improvement over his improvement from last year

[listopencil]

For Base 4-3 I'd go like this:

starter/backup rotation

DL
Walker/Barrett (LE) - Harris/McDonald (UT) - Wolfe/Gotsis (DT) - Chubb/Ray (RE)

LB
Miller/Davis (Sam) - Jewell/Anderson (Mike) - Marshall/Holland (Will)

-GB2

Interesting. I'd go Walker/Harris/Peko/Chubb on the LOS with Miller/Anderson/Ray at LB.

[16TheSnake]

All of what I'm about to post relies heavily on speculation, so I apologize if my surmising varies greatly from what you see the roster looking like on opening weekend.

If we stick to a base 3-4, I feel fairly confident in the following lineup: Wolfe, Peko, Harris (I know Gotsis gets some play, but it [I]felt[I] like Shelby did enough last year to get starting reps heading into camp), Chubb, Davis, Marshall, Miller. I'm hopeful Walker finds a way to supplant Harris/Gotsis and give the line back the dominant Ends we had when Malik was opposite Wolfe, but I'm realistic in thinking that could take time given the year he (Walker) spent trying to be an outside linebacker.

What does our 4-3 package look like? In my head, I have Miller and Chubb on the edges with Wolfe and Harris inside. I'm drawing a complete blank on linebacker though. Does Ray move to WLB, with Marshall (or Davis) in the Middle and Shaq at SLB? Or does Cravens slide up in the box somewhere?

For Base 4-3 I'd go like this:

starter/backup rotation

DL
Walker/Barrett (LE) - Harris/McDonald (UT) - Wolfe/Gotsis (DT) - Chubb/Ray (RE)

LB
Miller/Davis (Sam) - Jewell/Anderson (Mike) - Marshall/Holland (Will)

-GB2

[broncos SB2010]

All of what I'm about to post relies heavily on speculation, so I apologize if my surmising varies greatly from what you see the roster looking like on opening weekend.

If we stick to a base 3-4, I feel fairly confident in the following lineup: Wolfe, Peko, Harris (I know Gotsis gets some play, but it [I]felt[I] like Shelby did enough last year to get starting reps heading into camp), Chubb, Davis, Marshall, Miller. I'm hopeful Walker finds a way to supplant Harris/Gotsis and give the line back the dominant Ends we had when Malik was opposite Wolfe, but I'm realistic in thinking that could take time given the year he (Walker) spent trying to be an outside linebacker.

What does our 4-3 package look like? In my head, I have Miller and Chubb on the edges with Wolfe and Harris inside. I'm drawing a complete blank on linebacker though. Does Ray move to WLB, with Marshall (or Davis) in the Middle and Shaq at SLB? Or does Cravens slide up in the box somewhere?

I think that's a pretty broad question. It would depend on a lot of things such as down and distance, position on the field, score of the game, game plan for the week, team they are playing against, etc...

[Letswinplz77]

All of what I'm about to post relies heavily on speculation, so I apologize if my surmising varies greatly from what you see the roster looking like on opening weekend.

If we stick to a base 3-4, I feel fairly confident in the following lineup: Wolfe, Peko, Harris (I know Gotsis gets some play, but it [I]felt[I] like Shelby did enough last year to get starting reps heading into camp), Chubb, Davis, Marshall, Miller. I'm hopeful Walker finds a way to supplant Harris/Gotsis and give the line back the dominant Ends we had when Malik was opposite Wolfe, but I'm realistic in thinking that could take time given the year he (Walker) spent trying to be an outside linebacker.

What does our 4-3 package look like? In my head, I have Miller and Chubb on the edges with Wolfe and Harris inside. I'm drawing a complete blank on linebacker though. Does Ray move to WLB, with Marshall (or Davis) in the Middle and Shaq at SLB? Or does Cravens slide up in the box somewhere?