RIP, No Fly Zone? Not if you ask Harris
When the No Fly Zone began in 2014, Denver became home to one the NFL’s most feared defensive backfields, but four years later, is it time for the Broncos’ secondary to put the brand to rest?
“It still exists,” cornerback Chris Harris said Tuesday at Dove Valley. “I brought that here. I started that. That’s not going (anywhere).”
While confidence remains high, change was inevitable. Two of the No Fly Zone’s founding members are gone. Safety T.J. Ward was released in 2017 and cornerback Aqib Talib was traded last month to Los Angeles. Harris, a three-time Pro Bowler who received $3 million in additional contract incentives this offseason, headlines a group of returning defensive backs hungry to remain elite.
Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby, a fifth-year pro with 14 career starts and six interceptions, is the early leader to start in place of Talib on the outside. Safety Justin Simmons is back after his first full season as a starter. And the Broncos added safety Su’a Cravens (Washington) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (San Francisco) in free agency.
“As long I’m here and making plays, it’s going to be a No Fly Zone,” Harris said. “We still love Talib. I know he’s very happy with where he’s at right now. I was just with him this past weekend. That chapter is over with him. Now it’s
time for Roby and whoever is going to step up as that third CB to come along and still be top five in pass defense every year. That’s the standard here.”
Even through the course of a demoralizing five-win season a year ago, the Broncos continued to meet that standard with a pass defense that allowed 200.6 yards per game, the fourthlowest total in the NFL. Yet Harris still described Denver’s overall performance as “unacceptable.” All fingers from the Broncos’ defensive struggles last season point to the red zone, where opponents scored touchdowns on 24-of-40 trips there — including 18 passing.
“Guys weren’t on the same page,” Harris said. “We just panicked a lot in that red zone. I think if we fix that and continue to play at a high level, … we’ll get back to being dominant.”
Harris’ increased leadership role manifested itself this offseason with trips to Dallas alongside Roby and second-year cornerback Brendan Langley for personalized training sessions. Harris said his main focus is to “bring these young guys along” — including additions through the upcoming NFL draft.
Regardless of who joins this new-look No Fly Zone, it’s clear last season left a bad taste in the mouth of its leader. Call that motivation to keep the brand alive in Denver.
“This whole offseason, I’ve been mad,” Harris said. “I didn’t get the goals I wanted last year, so my focus is to come back, be all-pro level this year and get this team back winning. Every year up to the past two years, I’ve been in the playoffs and have been chasing Super Bowls. We don’t like having the Chiefs and the Raiders and (Chargers) ahead of us in the division. We don’t like that. We used to have mind control over them.
“We want to bring that back.”
Kyle Fredrickson: kfredrickson@denverpost.com or @kylefredrickson