The Broncos don’t need Richie Incognito to become a more physical, nasty bunch up front.
They have all that on the defensive side of the ball. Denver’s defense isn’t just tough against the run. It’s No. 1 in the NFL at stopping the run.
The Broncos are allowing an average of 67 yards rushing per game, 4.3 yards fewer than second-best Detroit. In the six games since their bye week, the Broncos have allowed an average of only 47.8 yards rushing per.
True, nothing helps the defensive rush average like a game against the Oakland Raiders, who for the first time since 2006 had zero first downs rushing in a game against the Broncos last Sunday.
But other teams play the Raiders too, and they’re not No. 1.
“One of the things I hear a lot, which I don’t particularly agree with, is that, ‘Yeah, well, you’re doing that, but your offense gets ahead, so people don’t really have to run or want to run,’ ” said Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. “No, actually, they want to run and keep the ball away from Peyton (Manning). It’s what teams want to do every week.”
It doesn’t hurt that the Broncos’ two premier pass rushers — Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, who have a combined 17 sacks — don’t take breathers on run downs.
“I’ve been on some very good units — I was with the Giants when we won the Super Bowl (in 2011). I played with the Cowboys last year with Jason Hatcher; he was a tackle who got 11 sacks,” said Broncos defensive tackle Marvin Austin. “So I’ve got to see some real ballplayers, and I think we’re doing pretty good right here.”
Pot Roast can dunk? As often happens, Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was in the middle of some locker room jocularity Thursday. This time, it was about Knighton’s claim that he can dunk a basketball from the standing, no-step position.
His high school coach said Knighton could perform the “standing vertical” in his prep days. But because Knighton weighs 333 pounds now and is well into the wear and tear of the season, many of his teammates don’t think he can dunk from a “standing vertical.”
“I’ll show them,” Knighton said. “I did it three months ago.”
Injury report. There’s a decent chance tight end Virgil Green will miss his third consecutive game with a calf injury. He again was a non-participant at practice Thursday. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady (groin) and guard Orlando Franklin (knee) were limited. But they’re linemen. They’ll play.
