Sylvester Williams earned a bigger role in the Broncos’ defense over the past month, securing the starting nose tackle job. When he begins training camp next month, he will be a bigger man. Williams revealed Wednesday that his offseason of positive adjustments will include an additional wrinkle. He plans to return to work at 320 pounds, roughly 10 pounds more than he currently weighs.
“Talked to (defensive line) coach (Bill Kollar) (Wednesday), they want me up some. That would be the heaviest I have played my whole career. I am fine with it,” Williams said. “I am so focused on making plays, on getting tackles for losses. I know that’s the player I can be.”
Kollar has left his imprint on the linemen, his style a jarring change. He demands maximum effort, and wrings it out with a barrage of compliments and criticism. Malik Jackson and Williams admit it has helped them progress this offseason. Kollar isn’t looking for credit, just performance.
“The product they are putting out out on the field is a reflection of how we are coaching them. You don’t want players who aren’t hustling to the ball, aren’t running to the ball,” Kollar said. “You want guys who are going full speed all the time. And if they get tired, you rotate a guy in.”
Marshall plan. Recovering inside linebacker Brandon Marshall wants to play in the preseason, even if only for a few series, to test his surgically-repaired right foot. Two screws were inserted in March to fix his Lisfranc injury. Recovery time ranges from five-to-six months, meaning Marshall will be racing the clock for the season opener on Sept. 13.
“Just because it’s a new defense, I’d like to play. But mentally I have always been locked in, so I think I will be able to handle it if I don’t get as many reps as they would want me to get,” Marshall said. “I wish I would have gotten (the surgery) done sooner (which he sought when his foot didn’t heal). It’s your foot, it’s annoying. But I will get through this.”
Anunike moves inside. Kenny Anunike was poised to the make the Broncos’ opening day roster last year before tearing his left biceps tendon in the preseason finale. He remains a strong roster candidate, though in a different spot. A defensive end last summer, he has bulked up from 260 to 270 to operate inside at tackle.
“It’s working in the phone both. I am learning. I will try something different, and coach Kollar will yell at me, ‘What are you doing!’ Then I get back to doing exactly what he says,” said Anunike, a former Duke star. “I fully recovered around the 10th game of the season. It’s even stronger now. I am excited to see what this season holds for me.”
Footnotes. Defensive tackle Marvin Austin was limited in practice recently. It involved a groin injury, not the back problem that nearly derailed his career. … In a procedural move, the Broncos waived guard John Moffitt, who was on the reserved-retired list. He plans to attempt to come back with another team.
