ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The way Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall sees it, there is no reason, or at least none that has crossed his mind, the team’s defense can’t impact games in 2016 just like it did in in 2015.
And ’15 was special, historical really, as the Broncos led the league in most of the major categories a team would want to lead the league in, including total defense, pass defense, sacks and third-down defense. The Broncos also scored six touchdowns on defense to go with one more on special teams.
“We think we can play that way,’’ Marshall said. “We can rush and we have the guys in the back who cover and Coach Wade [Phillips] knows where to put us.’’
As good health will be a key factor, and players such as defensive linemen Jared Crick and Adam Gotsis as well as linebacker Todd Davis will have to replace Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, who left in free agency.
Broncos defense/special teams
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 141.4 points
Over or under: Under, but just slightly. The Broncos will again be one of the league’s best on defense, especially if Von Miller has the season everyone, including Miller, expects him to have. But the defense in ’15 was the franchise’s best statistically and the first in the franchise’s history to finish No. 1 in total defense. That is a historical bar to try to reach once again. The Broncos showed in their training camp practices as well as their work in the preseason, they are a talented group, however. If they avoid a cluster of injuries, they should power the Broncos to the postseason again. There are some questions, however, and as the preseason progressed the Broncos were still on the hunt for impact in the return game and still had not selected a punt or kickoff returner. Something to keep an eye as well is kicker Brandon McManus may work with a new holder if rookie punter Riley Dixon ends up winning the punting job from Britton Colquitt. McManus didn’t look as consistent at times in training practices as he was in ’15 when he was 30-of-35 in field-goal attempts.
