The Defense for the Denver Broncos will be Better with Time
By Joe Morrone
Sep 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) and defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) in the second quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos made a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball in the offseason, and most people expected them to be much better in 2014 than they were in 2013. Most of those same people have been disappointed through the first two weeks of the season. However I firmly believe the defense will be better but some patience is going to be required.
I’ve touched on this idea a couple of times in other articles but thought it was worth examining in more detail. Let’s begin with a simple point of reference.
Two years ago during Peyton Manning’s first season in Denver, the offense was expected to be great from day one. The truth is they struggled through the first five plus games. It took that long for Manning to adjust to a new team, new teammates and so on. It also took that long for the Broncos to adjust to Manning and through five games, they were sitting at 2-3.
The first half of the sixth game was not any better as the Broncos fell behind the San Diego Chargers 24-0, and then something clicked. The Broncos scored 35 second half points and they’ve been scoring ever since.
In my opinion, this defense deserves some time together before we start making definitive judgments. Before the season opener versus the Indianapolis Colts, this group had never played together in a regular season game. Common sense says that there are going to be growing pains and they will get better as they play more together.
Remember if you count the players who are playing a different position, the defense has nine different starters from the defense that lined up on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s a lot of change and expecting them to be clicking on all cylinders from day one is completely unrealistic.
Both Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr. are coming off of ACL injuries and while they are back playing, the odds are they won’t be completely back until midseason. Both players will be much better by week eight than they are today. It’s one thing to practice but it’s quite another to play in a game.
The Broncos signed three big name free agents in TJ Ward, DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib in the offseason. While each of them has played well individually through the first two weeks, there is still an adjustment period that both the players and the Broncos must go through.
As the defensive tackles continue to play alongside Ware, they will learn more about one another in certain situations. For example, Terrance Knighton probably is still learning about what Ware likes to do on 3rd and 8 and vice versa. Those kind of growing pains are one of the reasons for the struggles on 3rd down. The more Ware and the rest of the defensive line play together, the more second nature it will become and the better the results will be.
The pass rush has obviously struggled and has not lived up to the expectations of anyone, but it will get better. Defensive line play is about more than just beating the guy in front of you, it’s about working with the guy next to you in stunts and double teams. As with everything else on the Broncos defense, the pass rush will get better with time. They have the individual talent to get to the quarterback, now they just need to learn how to play together.
In his three seasons in the NFL, Rahim Moore has never played with a safety like Ward. Both players need time to play with one another and learn each other’s style. Moore, in the past, has had to play it safe because he hasn’t had a strong safety he could count on to back him up. Again as Moore and Ward play together, that communication will become automatic needing nothing more than eye contact and a head nod.
Then there’s Danny Trevathan who has missed the first two games and is likely out for at least one more week, although he did practice on a limited basis on Thursday. Trevathan may not be a household name nationally or even to the casual fan but he is the quarterback of the defense, and very well could be on the verge of being a Pro Bowl type player. He has that kind of talent and leadership.
Getting Trevathan back will help with the growing process of everyone simply because he knows where to put people, and how to help the players around him.
The bottom line is this, the Broncos have a lot of talent on defense but its talent that has not played together a lot in key situations. There’s just no way to simulate game situations in practice and it’s just going to take time.
In looking back over the article, I’ve noticed that the one key word throughout the piece is time. I understand it’s frustrating for fans to see all that individual talent on the field and not see the results, but it will come.
I can’t tell you when the light is going to go on just like no one could have predicted that the Broncos offense was going to explode for 35 second half points in San Diego that night, but I can tell you this.
The defense you are watching right now will not be the same one you are watching in November, December and January. It just takes time!