NFL team reports:
Secondary aims to play even better
Can Broncos defensive backs get even better? Carolina faces Super Bowl runner-up’s challenges.
Just in case the star-studded secondary returned to work this spring planning to merely ride the success it had in helping the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl last season, defensive backs coach Joe Woods had other ideas.
Shortly after players returned to the facility this spring, Woods cued up the tape from 2015.
No, not replays of cornerback Aqib Talib’s three interceptions, including the two he returned for touchdowns. Not Chris Harris’ stingy man-to-man defense or open-field tackling. Not even the interception and recovered fumble safety T.J. Ward had in that Super Bowl win against the Carolina Panthers.
Woods wanted to make sure his players started their preparation for 2016 knowing all the ways they could get better, so he called up the biggest mistakes.
Surely there were clips from a regular-season loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when Harris — who hadn’t given up a touchdown in two years, got burned by receiver Antonio Brown. Surely they also watched a late-game meltdown against the Oakland Raiders in December and scrutinized how New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski got open for two huge catches, including a touchdown, in the AFC Championship Game.
“He showed us every play we messed up last year. That’s what we’re trying to do, fix all those mistakes and get better as a defense, as a team,” Talib told USA TODAY Sports in May. “If we can get better than we were last year, we might put ourselves in position to repeat.”
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips hasn’t taken quite as much of a tough-love approach. He wants his players to be proud of their accomplishments from last year and made sure they knew each of the 14 defensive categories they led the NFL in last year. But in doing so, Phillips is subtly pointing out the places where the defense can improve.
“One thing was we didn’t lead the league in the most picks (14, 10 fewer than league-leading Carolina),” Harris said. “That was a big thing. If we can get the most picks this year, that would help us out.”
Denver returns its full starting secondary. That group suffered a setback in early June when Talib suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his right leg. The team is hoping he’ll be healed in time to be back when training camp opens in late July.
With questions elsewhere on defense, from linebacker Von Miller’s offseason absence while he and the team negotiated the six-year, $114.5 million contract he signed July 15, from veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Ware’s balky back and the need to replace defensive end Malik Jackson and linebacker Danny Trevathan, the secondary could be even more important.
“We already know, every time we step on the field on defense, we have to be the best defense on the field. That’s our goal every week,” Harris said. The most important position is up for grabs, with veteran Mark Sanchez (acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in March), 2015 seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian and 2016 firstrounder Paxton Lynch vying to replace Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler. Sanchez has a slight edge because of his experience, but the player who wins the job will be the one who can show head coach Gary Kubiak he has the best grasp of the playbook and will make the fewest mistakes.
RUNNING BACK
The roles for C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman likely will change. After Anderson, who replaced Hillman as the starting tailback in the Super Bowl, signed a four-year, $18 million contract
this offseason, the team is expecting him to carry a larger load as well as become an offensive leader. Hillman, meanwhile, could see his role reduced to complementary third-down back. The Broncos also added rookie Devontae Booker and likely will use a fullback, something that was missing from the roster last year.
WIDE RECEIVER
The duo of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders rivals any of the best tandems in the NFL. The question is who becomes the No. 3 receiver? Look for thirdyear players Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer to compete for that spot during training camp. Other names to watch include slot receiver Jordan Norwood, who could have an inside track to a roster spot because of his contributions on special teams, and Jordan Taylor, a favorite of Manning last season while Taylor was on the practice squad.
TIGHT END
Will this finally be the breakout season for Virgil Green? This is his best shot to make an impact on the offense, after the team released veteran Owen Daniels. But can Green stay healthy enough to become a consistent offensive weapon? The Broncos also hope to get significant contributions from Jeff Heuerman, a third-round draft pick in 2015 who lost his rookie year to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This group again is in flux. Only center Matt Paradis appears on track to start at the same position he played last season. Newcomers include left tackle Russell Okung from the Seattle Seahawks, right tackle Donald Stephenson from the Kansas City Chiefs, with 2015 rookies Ty Sambrailo (who started a few games at left tackle before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury) and Max Garcia playing guard. With a question at quarterback and an increased emphasis on the running game, the Broncos surely hope this overhauled offensive line will develop chemistry quickly.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Broncos must figure out how to replace versatile Jackson, who signed a massive free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in January. Look for the competition to start opposite Derek Wolfe to come down to Vance Walker, a role player last year, free agent addition Jared Crick and rookie Adam Gotsis. Another player to watch is 2013 first-round pick defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, who is entering a contract year.
LINEBACKER
Outside linebackers Miller and Ware combined for 181⁄ regular2 season sacks last year. But Miller, the Super Bowl MVP, missed the offseason because of his recently resolved contract dispute while Ware was held out of workouts because of a lingering back injury. Having Miller under contract in time for training camp is huge for the defense, but if Ware is limited at all, the Broncos will have to rely on young pass rushers Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett even more than they did in 2015. Todd Davis is the most likely candidate to replace leading tackler Trevathan, who signed with the Chicago Bears.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The secondary gave itself the nickname the “No Fly Zone” in 2015, and that group — corners Harris, Talib and Roby and safeties Ward and Darian Stewart — returns in 2016. The Broncos also are trying to build depth at safety, and rookie Justin Simmons could see plenty of playing time in the dime package.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Even President Obama noticed the clutch play of placekicker Brandon McManus in the postseason, and indeed McManus has become one of the NFL’s more consistent kickers. Longtime punter Britton Colquitt faces a challenge from seventh-round pick Riley Dixon, and the jobs at long snapper and punt and kickoff returner are open.
COACHING
Kubiak didn’t get enough credit for his coaching job in his first season in Denver, and now he faces another big challenge in picking the right quarterback to lead the defending Super Bowl champions. His staff was largely unchanged this year, and the most important piece of that could be defensive coordinator Phillips, who won over his players last year with his combination of defensive play calling and off-field dance moves.