The battle on the defensive line – the famously reconstructed front that will look nothing like the group that took the field last year – has been and will be the fiercest competition of Broncos training camp.
Every day, a long list of veterans has duked it out, jockeying for their roster lives. When the Broncos’ final 53-man roster is determined, the line, which was a weak spot on an otherwise strong defense last year, should be stronger.
“The only question is who’ll be on it and who’ll be playing,” said Andre Patterson, a new coach to the Broncos line, who joins incumbent Jacob Burney. “It’s going to be a wild camp.”
For the first four days of camp, the starting lineup on the line has consisted of a four-time Pro Bowl player attempting to return from a serious back injury and three former Cleveland Browns trying to resurrect their careers out west. Trevor Pryce, a nine-year Broncos veteran, has lined up with Courtney Brown at the ends, with Gerard Warren and Michael Myers in the middle. Myers has been somewhat of a surprise, supplanting Mario Fatafehi and Monsanto Pope from the starting mix.
If all four continue to play well, this could be the lineup that faces Miami on Sept. 11 in the season opener.
However, in a system that relies on heavy rotation along the defensive line, the starting four is only the beginning of the story. Ebenezer Ekuban has been working with the first-team nickel defense.
Others in the camp rotation include end Marco Coleman, whose strong play was noted during Pryce’s absence last season; end John Engelberger (acquired from San Francisco last month for cornerback Willie Middlebrooks); end Anton Palepoi; end Raylee Johnson; and tackles Luther Elliss and Dorsett Davis.
Of the 17 defensive linemen in camp, 12 have a legitimate chance at making the roster. Teams usually keep nine defensive linemen, but the Broncos may have to keep 10, perhaps 11.
Incumbents such as Johnson, Elliss and Palepoi will need to have strong camps to keep their jobs. Davis, a promising player whose career has been thwarted by injuries, could be late- camp trade bait.
Whatever happens, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said the competition is good for the team.
“We like what we see, but guys are really going to have to fight for it all the way through the preseason,” Shanahan said. “They’re already fighting. We think we’re going to be pretty good there.”
With Pryce out for almost all of last season, the team had little pass-rush punch, finishing with only 38 sacks. Reggie Hayward, who led the team with 10 1/2 sacks, left through free agency to sign a $10 million signing bonus with Jacksonville. The Broncos decided that was too rich, but made upgrading the position a major priority during the offseason. The team hopes it found answers with the free-agent signing of Brown and the trades for Myers, Ekuban and Engelberger.
Questions linger. Brown and Ekuban are coming off injuries, and Warren was questioned about his passion for the game while in Cleveland.
Brown and Ekuban have experienced good health, and Warren has been working diligently in camp.
“We’ve got a chance,” defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “In the end, we should have a pretty good line, but all of these guys have to earn it.”
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
