No explanation of why the Broncos’ defense will improve this season can be complete without mentioning Malik Jackson.
He holds an interesting distinction: he may be the fourth-best known pass rusher on his team but he ranked as the third-most productive 4-3 defensive end in the NFL last season.
Jackson carries a lower profile than Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, and at least for now, first-round draft pick Shane Ray. Jackson, though, believes he will transition seamlessly to the new 3-4 scheme run by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips after a first look this week.
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“I think it will be a good fit just from going through the motions as far learning the plays and going out here and doing it so far. It kind of gives us a little more leeway to go straight and get the one-on-one blocks,” Jackson said. “It gives us more free range and get more pass rush opportunities instead of staying on blocks.”
Jackson should be confident. No Broncos player has been more efficient in his snaps the past two seasons. Jackson received a 24.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last year — 0 is baseline for an NFL player — third behind only Pro Bowlers Miller (54.0) and cornerback Chris Harris (28.4) among Broncos defensive players. The difference is that Jackson participated in 578 snaps, significantly less than Harris (1,004), Miller (926), Ware (750) and Derek Wolfe (731).
Previous defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio advanced the theory that less was more for Jackson, casting him as a football equivalent of a platoon player. But Jackson’s continued development suggests the Broncos get him on the field more. Phillips likes to rotate his linemen, which is why the Broncos signed the versatile Vance Walker and veteran tackle pass rusher-supreme Antonio Smith.
“I know how productive a lot of guys are in (Phillips’) defense, and I know how guys like Von and Malik and Wolfe and the new guys that they brought in with Antonio Smith, even the linebackers, are going to be,” Ware said. “Everybody will be able to thrive to a new level because in this type of defense, everybody has to know each other’s job. You never know who could be dropping, you never know who’s rushing.”
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Wolfe refers to the 3-4 alignment as “natural” for him because of his length and size. He’s not a meaty defensive tackle, but not a speed rusher, either.
“I’m kind of tweener, and that’s really what you need at the 3-4,” he said.
The same could be said for the 25-year old Jackson, who stands 6-foot-5, 293 pounds, leaving him just big enough to stymie the run and fast enough to reach the quarterback.
Jackson enters his contract year profiling as the type of young player Denver would like to keep as part of its long-term core. Over the past two seasons, Jackson owns nine sacks and 19 hits on the quarterback. He has maximized his opportunity, and wants to leave little reason for the Broncos not to keep expanding his role, if not his wallet.
“The (contract) is always in the back of your mind. It’s a big year for me. If I told you I wasn’t thinking about that, I’d be lying. I know what I have to do is go out here and produce and make it hard on (general manager John) Elway not to give it to me,” Jackson said. “First thing’s first is getting into the meeting room, learning the playbook, getting through training camp and then getting into the season. I’m just trying to work, stay healthy and slowly chop at getting that big deal.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
