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Depth Is a Big Reason Why Denver’s Defense Is Elite
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- Depth Is a Big Reason Why Denver’s Defense Is Elite
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Denver Broncos have been riding their defense hard, and it's been working . The defense is winning games as the offense continues to get its issues sorted out, and part of the reason is that the Broncos have stars at every level.
But that's not the only reason the Broncos are winning. As Sam Jane of the Denver Post noted, the Broncos' depth is in a rare class, and the recent injuries have given several depth players the opportunity to step up.
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The injuries have been to cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, with linebacker Jonathon Cooper out after being placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list following a domestic abuse incident back in the summer.
The names of the players who have stepped in may not be familiar, but many of the performances have been first rate. Que Robinson has stepped in at linebacker, while Kris Abram-Draine, Devon Key and Taylor Rapp have all had their moments in the secondary.
Sean Payton has said he's "grateful" for the depth, and he noted that the NFL is always about ongoing attrition. He added that "It's one thing to say next man up, but having developed guys and having that depth in key areas [is important]," with cornerback being one of them.
He's especially right about cornerbacks. Most teams struggle mightily when their top cornerback goes out, but the Broncos done more than just survive in multiple games now with both cornerbacks unavailable.
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Jane also added that it helps with future planning as well. Cornerbacks Randy Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian will become free agents this offseason, and the money may not be there to extend them given some of the other needs that have emerged.
Meanwhile, players like Robinson are trending up. has posted a 14.1 percent pressure rate, second on the team among players with at least 100 pass-rush reps, according to Next Gen Stats. Abrams-Draine and Rapp have also gotten valuable game experience, and Cooper is back with Hufanga and Surtain soon to return.
That means a unit that's even stronger overall, and it gives defensive coordinator Vance Joseph even more weapons to use. That's essential given how much the offense has been up and down, and the Broncos may have to continue to rely on the defense to win games.
The good news is that Bo Nix is finally starting to look like himself again, and Jonah Coleman has given the Broncos some semblance of a running game. It's a good place to be after seven games, as Denver seems to have weathered the storm after a tough early schedule.
