A Look at the Upcoming Denver Broncos 2009 Season (Part Two)

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(This is the 2^nd part of the following article)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/169633-a-look-at-the-upcoming-broncos-2009-season

Defense

The 2008 Denver Broncos Defense was one of the hardest squads to watch, in my time.  It was like watching Corey Dillon breaking the single game rushing record (278 yards Bengals vs. Broncos, 2000) 16 times. 

This defense couldn’t have stopped the run if William "The Refrigerator" Perry was toting the ball. 

It was completely demoralizing as a fan to watch the offense score, only to have the defense give up an easy seven. 

Follow the links for last year’s starting team and this year's projected starters.

The Defensive line

I get chills when I look at last years starting four lineman.  These players just didn’t work well together at all.  Ranking No. 27 overall in rushing yards allowed, this line get’s all of the blame.

John Engelberger was a high-energy guy and a coach’s favorite, but so was Rudy Ruettiger. 

He wasn’t big enough to stop the run and wasn’t fast enough to create pressure.  Engelberger would have been more suited for a second string role at that point in his career. Engelberger has been released by the Broncos.

Dewayne Robertson was a huge disappointment.  I thought that the Broncos really had something there.  He was a veteran with injury issues, but I figured he could provide support at the defensive tackle position. 

I was wrong.  As a backup, I would have been happy with Robertson’s production, but the Broncos shelled out a ton of cash for this guy. He just wasn’t worth the investment.  Robertson has been released by the Broncos.

Elvis Dumervil is a passing situation lineman only. He’s a sack master, but struggled against the run and maintaining the corner. He wasn’t big enough to be a 3-4 down lineman, which the Broncos needed.

I look for Dumervil to start in 2009 in the Broncos newly added 3-4 defensive scheme as an outside linebacker.  If he can make the switch to linebacker and increase his coverage skills, he will be a huge defensive threat of the corners. 

Marcus Thomas was a shining light on the defensive front.  In his sophomore season as a Bronco, Thomas tallied 34 total tackles and even caught an interception for 11 yards. As a fourth-round choice the Broncos couldn’t have been happier with his production. 

As Thomas grows, he will only get better.  Yahoo has Thomas slated at the second-string Nose Tackle position, but I just don’t agree with this move. 

Thomas should be a starting end in the 3-4 defense and could also vie for the starting Nose Tackle position, although he may be better suited as a back up to the bigger prospects on the roster at this time.

The Linebackers

With the front four not holding their blocks or creating pressure, the linebacker squad for the Broncos was put in position all season. 

D.J. Williams is one of the top defensive players on this team and the AFC, in my opinion.  If this squad was as popular as the Baltimore Ravens squad, he would be considered a perennial pro bowler. 

Williams could only do so much to help out the defense, and injuries hampered him last season, making his production minimal.  I look for Williams to have a career year in this revamped defense.  He’s had 100-tackle seasons before and I believe he will return to dominance.

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