Better pass rush from middle of D-line should be a Broncos priority

[JayJack]

Today's question about the Broncos comes from John Irwin:

Q: When was the last time the Broncos had a really good pass-rushing defensive line? How many defensive positions must be upgraded during the offseason/draft/free agency periods for the defense to be much improved?

A: John, most defensive coaches will tell you that a consistent, productive pass rush can't be measured with just sack totals. Often, however, those are the same defensive coaches who don't have very high sack totals at that moment.

But in the big picture that is true. Consistent pressure, making quarterbacks uncomfortable in a variety of situations, is more than just sacks.

That said, over the last nine seasons, the Broncos have not finished in the league's top nine in sacks. They were tied for 10th this past season with 41 in Dennis Allen's only season as defensive coordinator and finished 10th in 2009 in Mike Nolan's only season as defensive coordinator.

In 2009 Elvis Dumervil was the league leader with 17 sacks, lining up both as a stand-up outside linebacker and down in a three-point stance at defensive end.

Since the start of the 2001 season, the Broncos' 41 sacks this past season represented the team's highest total over that span. They had 40 in 2002 and 39 in 2009 and 2001.

Most offensive coaches I've spoken to in recent weeks considered the Broncos a difficult pass-rush team to deal with this year because of the variety of rush packages Allen used. The feeling was with an offseason of work, the Broncos would continue to play better in the rush in 2012.

However, with Allen having taken the Oakland Raiders' head coaching job, it remains to be seen what kind of rush philosophy the team will have under a new defensive coordinator. With John Fox still the head coach and with his defensive background, though, it would stand to reason the Broncos will look similar in their defensive-line play under a new coordinator.

And that's some of the issue, the continued change at the coordinator spot; Allen's replacement will be the team's seventh coordinator in a seven-season span. The Broncos need some consistency in the role of the defensive play-caller before they can fill their depth chart with players who get more comfortable in a scheme season after season.

The Broncos' focus in the upcoming draft and free agency as far as the defensive front goes is expected to be in the interior at defensive tackle. With Dumervil and outside linebacker Von Miller as the edge players in the rush, the Broncos feel they have impact on the outside but need to be able to stress the middle of pass-protection schemes.

They need better ability to collapse things on the inside.

The Broncos are hopeful that defensive tackle Ty Warren, who missed this past season with an arm injury he suffered in training camp, will return. Warren was one of the Broncos' major targets in free agency — he and Willis McGahee were the only free agents the Broncos signed who got multiyear deals — and the Broncos hope his return will give them a little more pop up front.

But it will be a surprise if the Broncos don't add another impact player or two at defensive tackle in both the draft and free agency.

Fox wants speed and athleticism up front, and, after reviewing the season's video again, it's clear the Broncos offered too many quarterbacks the ability to slide forward in the pocket to avoid pressure from the edge.

That was especially true in the season-ending loss in New England, when Tom Brady consistently stepped forward to buy time and finished with six touchdown passes.

The Broncos moved Miller inside at times this season to add a little more zip in the rush, especially out of their nickel and dime packages, but the impact from that kind of move will increase if the Broncos are stronger inside.

And the Broncos won't have to do it so often to try to kick-start things.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19829808?source=rss

[InsaneBlaze23]

I see where you are getting at, but I think on the defensive side of the ball, the secondary should be the priority.

Our DB's are weak outside 2-3 players, we need some more good young talented players back there to stop Elite QB's from making us look like fools.

I expect us to do well with the DT spot and Ayers is actually showing progress, and Doom is....well Doom.

Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, draft Mike Martin and Alameda Ta'amu, Ty Warren will be back, see if he can actually do something.

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

I see where you are getting at, but I think on the defensive side of the ball, the secondary should be the priority.

Our DB's are weak outside 2-3 players, we need some more good young talented players back there to stop Elite QB's from making us look like fools.

I expect us to do well with the DT spot and Ayers is actually showing progress, and Doom is....well Doom.

Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, draft Mike Martin and Alameda Ta'amu, Ty Warren will be back, see if he can actually do something.

I disagree.

You could have Bailey, Revis, and Samuel back in coverage and it won't amount to anything if QB's like Brady get 5 seconds to throw the ball.

All of our defensive tackles are not good pass rushers so I really hope we get a good 3 tech tackle.

Then we can worry about the secondary.

[westcoastbronco15]

We do need some pass rush from the inside but what if we bring in a middle linebacker like Burfict, Hightower, or Cole who can blitz instead of getting a lineman? I say we take the best available player at MLB and DT with our first pick.

[calabose]

Mountains in the middle

I think we need to address the secondary(minnifield) and rb second(martin). A couple of mountians in the middle would be really, really, be nice!........

DT==1)dotari poe/memphis
2)alameda ta'amu/washington

:thumb:

[Kno-Sean]

I disagree.

You could have Bailey, Revis, and Samuel back in coverage and it won't amount to anything if QB's like Brady get 5 seconds to throw the ball.

All of our defensive tackles are not good pass rushers so I really hope we get a good 3 tech tackle.

Then we can worry about the secondary.

Prime example... the Green Bay Packers.

All world talent in the secondary, and last year when Clay Matthews and company were getting pressure on the QB the defense was deadly, forcing many turnovers.

This year, no pressure = what looked like a terrible secondary. Which resulted in a bad defense.

[JayJack]

We do need some pass rush from the inside but what if we bring in a middle linebacker like Burfict, Hightower, or Cole who can blitz instead of getting a lineman? I say we take the best available player at MLB and DT with our first pick.

I believe the ultimate goal is to generate a good pass rush without blitzing.

[15thebeast]

We do need some pass rush from the inside but what if we bring in a middle linebacker like Burfict, Hightower, or Cole who can blitz instead of getting a lineman? I say we take the best available player at MLB and DT with our first pick.

all teams will do is just use the screen or a slant across the middle if we blitz every down, i say we focus on generating a consistent pass rush from our front 4 and use Miller on the blitz when its an obvious passing down

[Kansas Bob]

I firmly believe that a great pass rush makes a average secondary into a good secondary. Question is, who do we get to get more rush up the middle? Cox seems to be the fastest DT in the draft, Brocker and Still seems to be the best overall run stoppers but does anyone offer both speed up the middle and run stopping ability?

[JayJack]

I firmly believe that a great pass rush makes a average secondary into a good secondary. Question is, who do we get to get more rush up the middle? Cox seems to be the fastest DT in the draft, Brocker and Still seems to be the best overall run stoppers but does anyone offer both speed up the middle and run stopping ability?

Sign DT Jason Jones (Titans)

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

I think we need to address the secondary(minnifield) and rb second(martin). A couple of mountians in the middle would be really, really, be nice!........

DT==1)dotari poe/memphis
2)alameda ta'amu/washington

:thumb:

I don't like the assumption people have thinking we can just plug and chug a huge defensive tackle and expect them to generate a pass rush.

More than likely these guys are gap consumers which means they plug holes in the run game while still commanding a double team. Most of time these guys will not be effective at all at pass rushing and will be substituted out in passing situations all together.

You just named two 0 tech defensive tackles who we most definitely don't need since we already have those type of players already.

[primetime714]

Sign Bunkley and Jason Jones. Those two with Warren, Ayers, and maybe a draft pick would form an excellent combination in the middle. Then with Doom, Von, and Ayers outside the Broncos will be in good shape to defense both run and pass.

Marcus Thomas was good against the run, but offers relatively nothing against the pass. Bunkley was far better against the run anyway.

[primetime714]

Sign DT Jason Jones (Titans)

You just beat me to it. Totally agree, a perfect fit for what this DL needs.

[-Rod-]

DL or DBs? The Broncos need both. Inside pressure is an issue, but the secondary lacks playmaking ability. The team improved the pass rush, 41 sacks is the best number in a long time.

How many interceptions with a better pass rush? Only 9 interceptions, 28th in the NFL. The secondary dropped a lot of balls and allowed too many big plays (13 plays of 40+ yards, second most in the NFL).

DL and DBs go hand in hand. Better pass rush helps the secondary and better secondary helps the pass rush and creates more turnovers.

John Fox said the best pass defense is the pass rush. So, there you go. DL should be the priority. But talk is cheap. I want to see the Broncos actually bring top talent to the DL and build a respectable front four.

Look at the last 3 draft classes. The Broncos drafted a lot of DBs. Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, David Bruton, Perrish Cox, Syd'Quan Thompson, Rahim Moore, Quinton Carter. Cassius Vaughn and Chris Harris made the roster as undrafted free agents.

During the same period, the Broncos only drafted 1 DL. Jeremy Beal in the 7th round. 2 if we count Robert Ayers, who was drafted as a 3-4 OLB. Hello? I think it's time to draft some DL. If they take time to develop, then be patient. Better late than never. The other teams are drafting DL, retaining the talent and putting pressure on the QB.

I will stay with Jerel Worthy as my 1st round choice. If Fox wants "speed and athleticism up front", then Fletcher Cox fits the description but I think Worthy is a superior DT. Worthy/Brockers/Cox.

Ty Warren might be done. Apparently, he was not looking good before the injury. And he has not been a pass rusher for a while. Unless his number of QB pressures is high. But Warren has only 7 sacks in his last 3 seasons with the Patriots. Is Ryan McBean our best option? We need an upgrade.

EDIT: Mayock's DT rankings:

1. Devon Still
2. Jerel Worthy
3. Mike Brockers
4. Brandon Thompson
5. Fletcher Cox
5. Dontari Poe

[johnlimburg]

I don't like the assumption people have thinking we can just plug and chug a huge defensive tackle and expect them to generate a pass rush.

More than likely these guys are gap consumers which means they plug holes in the run game while still commanding a double team. Most of time these guys will not be effective at all at pass rushing and will be substituted out in passing situations all together.

You just named two 0 tech defensive tackles who we most definitely don't need since we already have those type of players already.

Alameda Ta'amu is not just a 0 tech. Ta'amu has a different skill set to anyone of our defensive tackles. He has explosion. He is very quick. He has great strength and can collapse the pocket. He can bend the O line back. We need that. His size gives a perception of he is a 0 tech only but he is more than just that. For his size he isn't even great against the run so a 0 tech is not his best fit IMO.