Callahan embraces role as bridge to Fangio defense

A new defensive install is playing out at Broncos training camp with an evolved scheme, different terminology and many personnel changes under a fresh coaching staff.

Any questions as to how it might look on game days under coach Vic Fangio’s direction?

Bryce Callahan is happy to fill you in.

“Swarming to the ball, big hits and turnovers,” he said Friday after practice. “Just an aggressive defense.”

Callahan knows from experience. The 5-foot-9, 188-pound cornerback signed a three-year contract with the Broncos in March to solidify their secondary, but Callahan spent the past four seasons in Fangio’s Bears defense. Callahan started 29 games for Chicago and compiled 122 tackles, 20 pass deflections and four interceptions at mostly nickel cornerback in the same defensive system he now enters in Denver.

Classes are in session at the UCHealth Training Center. Callahan has embraced the role of teacher’s assistant.

“In OTAs when everybody was first learning the terminology and all that stuff, they were asking me questions; and that’s kind of what I’m here for,” Callahan said. “You can learn better from a player sometimes than you can from a coach. In that aspect, I can help the guys a lot. … It’s the same message but just worded differently.

“We’re out on the field playing together. So when you hear it from a teammate, it kind of rings different. I’ve been in the defense longer, so I’ve seen the plays longer. If I do see something out of place, I can give that extra voice.”

Fangio’s prior defensive success was often rooted in disguising coverages where pre-snap secondary communication is essential. Safety Justin Simmons will carry much of the responsibility for that chatter in 2019. He believes Callahan is a bridge toward better understanding — and so much more.

“Not only does he know this defense inside and out already,