It’s Adam Gotsis’ turn to contribute. Whether he’s ready or not, the Broncos need their second round defensive end to step up in their time of need.
Gotsis is learning the nuances of the NFL game. The 6-foot-4, 287-pound Australian is modeling his game after defensive end Derek Wolfe, the Broncos’ longest-tenured and best defensive lineman.
“He’s always watching. I can feel him watching. Itap kind of creepy,” Wolfe said. “He’s always watching everything I eat, watching me period. Itap like a little puppy following me around.”
Wolfe said he did a similar thing as a rookie, following former Broncos defensive linemen Elvis Dumervil and Justin Bannan.
Gotsis, or veteran defensive end Billy Winn, are the most likely options to get the start Sunday in place Wolfe who will miss 2-4 weeks with a hairline right elbow fracture he suffered when the Broncos lost at Oakland on Sunday. Winn has played 29-percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps this season. Gotsis has played 14-percent. Backup nose tackle Darius Kilgo may also see time at defensive end.
Both Winn and Gotsis are more traditional run stoppers. Winn, who has 21 starts over five seasons, said he feels no pressure in taking a larger role and he’s ready to “carry the flag.”
Gotsis’ potential led to defensive line coach Bill Kollar to bang on the table to have the rookie in his room. That potential is still promising even if the 2016 on-field production hasn’t been impressive.
“He’s got a long way to go,” Kollar said. “Itap almost like that for every rookie on the defensive line. It takes guys a long time to get used to it – the technique. You’re playing against guys that weigh 320-350 every week. He might’ve been playing at Georgia Tech against a kid thatap 17 years old and 230 pounds. It just takes time. He’s got a ways to go to get where we want him to be.”
With a leaky run defense facing an explosive Saints offense, the Broncos will need Gotsis and Winn to step up.
