Kiz: If football is won in the trenches, are the Broncos in for a rough season? The buzz heading into training camp has been about how well Denver will be able to block with a reconfigured offensive line that could start rookie Ty Sambrailo at left tackle. But with the news of defensive end Derek Wolfe’s four-game suspension on top of the departure of nose tackle Terrance Knighton in free agency, does apountry have a new, legitimate worry?
Renck: General manager John Elway hired Gary Kubiak to avoid exasperating letdowns in big games and lead a coaching staff that can create impact performances from young players. Kubiak prides himself on teaching. The onus is on the coaches to raise the level of play of Sylvester Williams, Vance Walker, Kenny Anunike and Darius Kilgo, among others. Bill Kollar, the high-energy, full-throttle boss of the defensive linemen, represented the Broncos’ best hire during the offseason. He demands effort, with his screaming voice serving as a reminder of expectations. One player to keep an eye on with Wolfe out is Anunike, who spent last year on injured reserve. He’s a sleeper to step forward.
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Kiz: We like to think of defensive linemen as big, tough grunts who bring the violence but don’t have to exert much brainpower. Well, think again. It can take time for a new D-line to jell. And that’s what concerns me. Early in the season, the Broncos will face dangerous NFL running backs Justin Forsett, Jamaal Charles and Adrian Peterson. Kubiak wants to exert physical dominance by running the football. But will it be the Broncos who are pushed around by run-oriented, ball-control offenses?
Renck: The Broncos won’t stop the run as effectively as they did last season. And that’s a good thing. They committed so heavily to stopping the run, they set a season franchise record for fewest yards rushing allowed per game — and it led to a vanilla defensive scheme averse to turnovers. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips excels at creating flexible fronts using stunts and linebackers to stop the run. The Broncos should be fine against the run, but their depth is a huge concern given the issues at linebacker and defensive line.
Kiz: Under the direction of Elway, Denver has whiffed on too many high draft picks. Wolfe, taken 36th overall in the 2012 NFL draft, has been a disappointment. But Elway’s scouting staff has struck it rich with diamonds in the rough, former fifth-round pick Malik Jackson being a prime example. Jackson has what it takes to make it to the Pro Bowl. Let’s hope he blossoms into a bona fide star in 2015. If not, the Broncos’ defense could get bullied.
Renck: I agree. Jackson remains a budding star. He is the Broncos’ version of Michael Bennett, one of the best defensive linemen people have never heard of. Jackson plays with an edge; he plays tough, and gets into the opponent’s head. He won’t get pushed around, and with additional snaps he can exert his personality more. In an ideal world, Wolfe returns in October and provides fresh legs for a unit that will rotate players to keep the best performers effective in the fourth quarter.
