Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Broncos have the NFL’s most surprising defense
The Denver Broncos’ defense has been COOKIN’ recently.
Despite an ugly 0-2 start to the season, the Broncos have won two straight games, and a large part of it has been due to their defense. A defense that, according to Sports Information Solutions, is third in the NFL in pressure rate, first in ESPN’s pass rush win rate, and eighth in EPA/play allowed. Despite being a unit I wasn’t as high on entering the season, they’ve surprised me a lot, and on Sunday they pitched a complete game, upsetting the Jets in the rain 10-9. What really stood out was that pass rush and defensive line, a group of guys that have played really well to start the season, so let’s hop in and see who’s standing out.
Against the run, the Broncos were incredibly stout, only allowing 64 yards on the ground and a paltry 2.3 yards per carry. The Broncos’ edge defenders are more built to defend the pass, but the way they defended the run was pretty impressive. Watch defensive tackles DJ Jones and Zach Allen deconstruct these blocks and clog the lane, allowing the linebackers to fill.
Against the pass, Denver was able to harass and make QB Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable all game. Denver finished with a 27.5% pressure rate on the day, 14 total pressures and five sacks coming from different areas of the line. What was cool to see from Denver was the growth of their young edge rushers and how Broncos DC Vance Joseph used their speed to manipulate the Jets’ OL. The Broncos are in Cover 1 on this play, but watch the front on this blitz. LB Cody Barton fakes like he’s dropping into coverage, but then flies around the edge. I think what this does is limits the chance of Rodgers escaping to his right with a guy who’s faster than him on that side.
Over to the left, EDGE Nik Bonitto absolutely blasts past Tyron Smith with a phenomenal ghost move, one of the best pass rushes I saw from the week. The result is a sack and negative play.
On one of the final plays of the game, the Broncos schemed up the Jets in a really cool way to get a sack and force a fumble. Denver is in a BOSS front (Bigs On Same Side) with Allen and Malcolm Roach both to the right of the formation. 2 linebackers are on the left side, and Bonnito is out in Staten Island. The Jets end up in man protection, with Hall picking up an LB, but Bonnito’s wide split here is intriguing. It forces Smith to run all the way out to get him, and gives the LB a two way go against RB Breece Hall.
Roach actually hits a sweet arm over move and gets the sack, but creating those isolated matchups was sick by Joseph.
With one of the final sacks of the game, the Broncos gamed up the Jets in a super cool way. With pressure, you always want to show from one area, to bring the heat from another area. If you wanna bring pressure from the edges, you show up the middle and vice versa. The Broncos are in a mugged front, with two linebackers standing right in front of the center. Safety PJ Locke is out on the edge to the left. The Jets see this and slide their protection to the numbers on the left side, with Hall blocking the mugged linebacker to the right. However, at the snap both the mugged linebacker and the EDGE to the right drop into coverage, wasting the right tackle and back in protection.
Locke comes screaming off the edge unblocked because the center, left guard and left tackle all have men to block. A perfect finishing touch on a dominant defensive day.
Denver’s defense has been a pleasant surprise to start the year. They’re getting really good contributions from DT Zach Allen, CB Riley Moss and EDGE Nik Bonnito to go along with players such as CB Pat Surtain II, DT DJ Jones and nickel Ja’Quan McMillian. Now that they’ve found a defensive back group they truly like, I’m curious how they play from here on out. Denver has a date with Las Vegas at home on Sunday, so be on the lookout for this defense continuing to turn up the heat on their opponents.
