Edebali’s path prepared him for key camp role
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.» Kasim Edebali kept coming. Through the first three weeks of training camp, the Broncos outside linebacker consistently arrived at the feet of whoever was playing quarterback.
Edebali’s fierce rushes wreaked havoc. Take the bending burst around the edge on the third play of last Thursday’s preseason game at Chicago that forced quarterback Mike Glennon to throw into thick coverage, a hurried error that turned into a Chris Harris pick-six.
But as the ball was snapped on an 11-on-11 play at Broncos practice Tuesday, the 6-foot-2, 253pound Edebali took one deceptive step inside and then eased back into coverage. He watched quar-
terback Paxton Lynch‘s eyes and jumped the ball a route over the middle, adding an interception to go with all the de facto sacks and pressures he has piled up this month.
“He’s been great,” all-pro linebacker Von Miller said.
Edebali was propelled into firstteam repetitions at outside linebacker opposite Miller when Shane Ray injured his wrist on the second day of training camp, joining fellow outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett on the injury list. Edebali, who has split some of that top-unit time with former undrafted free agent Vontarrius Dora, signed this spring after spending his first three seasons with New Orleans.
Edebali has forged a career out of turning long odds into big impressions.
“He’s a guy who came on the field every day with energy and passion, so none of it surprises me,” said Steve Addazio, Edebali’s coach during his senior season at Boston College. “He’s one of those guys who takes coaching and just kept getting better and better. He’s a hungry guy.”
Edebali first played football as a 10-year-old in Germany when he joined a flag football club called the Hamburg Huskies. He became captivated by the crowds at NFL Europe games and dreamed of playing for one of the league’s teams in Germany. But the league folded in 2007, and Edebali went to the United States and became an exchange student at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire.
He showed enough in his two seasons as a high school athlete to catch the eye of the staff at Boston College. But adjusting to majorcollege football was far more difficult than adapting to American customs.
“Raw is an understatement,” Addazio said of Edebali. “I had him at the end (of his college career), and when I got here he was raw. I can’t imagine how raw he was when he first got here. But he has a quick twitch, good energy, and he’s a guy you would notice on the film for his unbelievable effort.”
As Edebali developed a greater understanding of the nuances of football, his effort began turning into production. His flexibility, formed in part by practicing gymnastics as a child, translated well to a pass-rushing job predicated on twisting away from massive bodies.
Still, Edebali faced steep odds when he entered New Orleans Saints training camp in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. But much like Addazio saw at Boston College, the Saints’ coaches saw the effort each time they put on the tape after practice.
“I was fifth on the depth chart, but in my mind I was making that team,” Edebali said. “Every day I just approached it like that. When your number is called and you have to step up, you have to be locked in. There’s no margin for error.”
Edebali made the Saints’ 53-man roster that season and played in all 16 games as a rookie. He played in 32 consecutive games over the next two seasons, compiling eight sacks and 53 combined tackles overall during his time in New Orleans.
The Broncos signed Edebali in March to a one-year, $1.2 million deal to add depth. He was already pressed into action during organized team activities in June as Barrett was recovering from a hip injury. Then Ray went down with the injured wrist.
The proverbial blessing in disguise of those injuries is that they’ve provided Edebali more playing time as adapts to Denver’s 3-4 scheme after playing as a 4-3 defensive end in New Orleans. And he is making the most out of his chances.
“He’s been consistent,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “He plays hard. He’s obviously a good rusher. That’s why we signed him. He’s been more engaged now since we lost Shane and Shaq for a couple weeks.”
Edebali, who returns to Germany during his offseasons to run football camps, isn’t concerning himself with what his playing time might look like when Barrett and Ray return. His role still figures to be important as the Broncos and defensive coordinator Joe Woods attempt to keep their band of attacking pass rushers fresh.
“Everybody knows the Denver Broncos‘ defense,” Edebali said. “Once you play here, people go hard, people go fast and people make plays. I was excited to be a part of that.”