Pound per pound, inch per inch, Elvis Dumervil always has been considered one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing defensive ends.
But now that the 5-foot-11, 248-pound Dumervil also gets a chance to become a normal-sized outside linebacker, it may be time to drop the qualifiers.
Dumervil, with a running start, might have a chance to become the James Harrison of the Broncos’ defense and become one of the league’s best pass rushers, period.
Dumervil tied a Broncos record Sunday by getting four sacks, all in the second half, against Joe Thomas, the Cleveland Browns’ highly touted left tackle, and Brady Quinn, the Browns’ well-hyped quarterback.
“He’s low to the ground and he always will win the leverage battle,” Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said of Dumervil. “That’s the key to being a great defensive lineman, regardless of how you’re built. You win the leverage battle, you’re going to win your fair share of battles up front.”
Dumervil had 8 1/2 sacks in part-time duty as a rookie in 2006, and 12 1/2 in 2007. But a badly broken pinky finger and constant double teams with no other pass-rushing help along the Broncos’ front four were reasons Dumervil had only five sacks last season.
Considered undersized as a 4-3 defensive end, Dumervil was asked to stand up and become an outside linebacker in the Broncos’ new 3-4 set.
But on most passing downs, Dumervil lines up with his hand on the ground, wide of the offensive tackle — just as Harrison, the NFL’s defensive player of the year last season, often does for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos also will line up Dumervil on the right and left sides.
As for his four sacks Sunday, Dumervil credited the Broncos’ offense for building a lead and forcing the Browns into an all-pass offense, and his secondary for covering the receivers.
“The quarterback had to hold the ball a little bit, and I was able to make some pressures and make a couple plays,” he said.
Sack masters
Elvis Dumervil’s four sacks Sunday put him in a tie in the Broncos’ record book for most sacks in a game:
Elvis Dumervil: vs. Cleveland, Sept. 20, 2009
Simon Fletcher: at San Diego, Nov. 11, 1990
Karl Mecklenburg: at Pittsburgh, Dec. 1, 1985
Karl Mecklenburg: vs. New Orleans, Sept. 15, 1985
Barney Chavous: at Seattle, Dec. 21, 1980
Dave Costa: at Buffalo, Sept. 7, 1970
Rich Jackson: at Cincinnati, Oct. 19, 1969
