D-line offered silver lining
Nearly every member of the Broncos’ defensive line entered the 2017 season with something to prove.
Domata Peko, at 32 years old, came to Denver to prove he had more in the tank. Adam Gotsis wanted to prove a rocky rookie season wasn’t an indicator of what he could bring to the table as a former second-round draft pick. Shelby Harris just wanted to prove he deserved a shot from somebody. And, as a whole, the Broncos wanted to prove their failures against the run in 2016 were an aberration.
The motivations weren’t hard to find, and they helped Denver’s defensive line form a tight bond while becoming arguably the team’s best overall unit in 2017 — a silver lining in a forgettable 5-11 season.
“Everyone is over here grinding,” Harris said after the defensive line led the way in a shutout of the Jets on Dec. 10. “We play for each other. You can see it in our emotions on the field. We love the game. We love playing. I am just happy to be a part of this. It might not be the best season in our eyes, but I love the guys I am playing with. This is a blessing just being here with them.”
The Broncos finished fifth in the 32-team NFL against the run, surrendering just 89.4 yards per game. It was a major leap from a 2016 performance that was 28th against the run at 130.3 yards per game. During the team’s 3-1 start this season, the Broncos held opponents to an average of just 50.8 yards per game, constructing a wall against a gauntlet of talented running backs such as Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch.
That’s not to say the defensive line was immune to setbacks, most notably when the Broncos surrendered 197 rushing yards in a loss to the Eagles. Injuries to veterans Derek Wolfe and Billy Winn and free-agent acquisition Zach Kerr at times tested the team’s depth. Wolfe’s injured neck especially hampered the line’s pass-rushing ability. Wolfe played in 11 games but was limited in several of those, and he finished the season with just two sacks. In fact, no member of the defensive line had more than five sacks.
Still, there were several players who made big impressions and provided hope that they can be a key pieces to the puzzle as the Broncos aim to return to playoff form for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. That started with Peko, whose 325-pound presence as the anchor of the line was an obvious boon to the team’s rush defense. His ability to hold ground even while absorbing two blocks helped the Broncos swarm to the football and earned him recognition as a Pro Bowl alternate.
There was some doubt as to whether Peko, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the Broncos last spring, would perform at a high level after struggling in the last of his 11 years in Cincinnati. The jovial nose tackle erased it quickly.
“I had to come in here and prove myself again; show these guys, new locker room and new staff, that I can still play,” Peko said. “I had to show them that I wasn’t over the hill. I really thank God for that, for keeping me strong this season and being able to go out there and prove myself.”
Gotsis, too, silenced some doubt after struggling as a rookie. The 2016 second-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech played in all 16 games, starting 13, and finished with 41 tackles and four passes defensed.
But perhaps the biggest revelation on the defensive line was Harris, who signed a future/reserve contract with the team one year ago. The seventh-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2014 had failed to find any traction in the NFL before this season, and he never made it onto a roster in 2016. But he finished with five sacks this season, second on the team behind Von Miller (10).
For all the growth along the defensive line, there is still plenty to address at the position in the offseason. Harris is a restricted free agent. Wolfe’s neck injuries raise doubt about whether he can return to his dominating 2015 form. DeMarcus Walker, the 2017 secondround draft pick, showed some promise late in the season after switching back to the defensive line from outside linebacker. Will he stay there in 2018 and grow into a contributor?
It’s no secret the Broncos struggled to get to the passer this season. They could use more pressure from the defensive line, an addition that could be addressed in the draft. But the Broncos know they have a good foundation, and that’s more than they could have been assured of before the start of 2017.