Why Shane Ray Will Have Breakout Season for Denver Broncos in 2016

It’s no mystery that the strength of the Denver Broncos is on the defensive side of the ball. They won Super Bowl 50 largely because they were able to dominate on defense with one of the most intimidating groups ever seen in the NFL. The Broncos had the league’s best defense in 2015, and they’ve got some emerging stars on their roster that could make a larger impact in 2016.

One of the brightest young stars on the team is linebacker Shane Ray.

The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft so they could select Ray with the 23rd overall pick. It was the first time general manager John Elway had moved up in the first round to snare a player he coveted. Ray showed the ability to be an impact player in college at Missouri, and he could develop into one of the best defenders in the NFL.

As a rookie, Ray played in 14 games and finished his first year in the pros with four sacks. He was eased into action with the Broncos last year, but in 2016 he will be asked to do even more. With his natural talent, ferocity and athleticism, Ray has some of the most exciting upside of any defender on this world-class defense.

Here are a few reasons why Ray will have a breakout season for the Broncos in 2016.

More Comfortable

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During his rookie season, Ray’s head had to be swimming. Like most of the Broncos defenders, Ray was learning defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' system. He was also learning what it meant to be a pro in terms of weekly preparation, staying durable and honing his craft.

Ray has a better feeling entering his second season in the NFL.

“I feel like I’m very comfortable," Ray said. "This offseason I’ve put in tons of work and just made myself more of a complete player. Last year, I was limited to playing a lot of "Will" linebacker, which was majority rushing. But now, I can play the "Sam" just as freely as I played the Will as far as drops and coverages and just knowing my assignment and what I’m supposed to do.”

Ray is fortunate because he gets to learn from two of the league's best pass-rushers in DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller. He covets the tips and tricks he picked up from Ware and Miller.

“I think it was a whole season worth of learning for me," Ray continued. "Just staying in D-Ware and Von’s ear, and [outside linebackers] Coach [Fred Pagac] Pug, and learning what I needed to do to get better. I think everything I took from last year just helped me advance so much better this offseason in preparation for the season.”

His versatility means that Ray can not only fill in for Ware, but he could also get on the field in place of Miller if the Super Bowl 50 MVP ever needs a breather. Ray has a nose for the ball, and now he’s going to be able to play with the freedom he’s gained from pro experience.

Staying Healthy/Better Shape

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Part of why Ray fell in the 2015 NFL draft was the fact he was dealing with a foot injury that slowed him during the predraft process. Ray missed some time as a rookie as he dealt with injury.

The 2015 season was an eye-opening experience for Ray. Getting in even better shape should help him stay healthy and make a larger impact in year two.

“The injury set me back like four games, but during that time I was able to still study, get back in the weight room and basically pick up where I left off," Ray explained. "I think coming back, I had a pretty good second half of the season. Of course, having to deal with that injury, it took a little bit more time to feel more comfortable and feel like I was me and 100 percent.”

Ray has added muscle this offseason to stay durable as he takes on the punishment of the NFL.

“I think I put on almost eight pounds of muscle in this offseason," he said. "I combined that with a really strict diet. I’ve really excelled in that aspect of being a pro and I think that the results that my body has received—my body fat is the lowest it’s ever been. As a player, I feel as big, fast and explosive as I’ve ever felt.”

Larger Role?

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We saw the Broncos change things up during their amazing run through the postseason on their way to a Super Bowl 50 victory. During that time, Ware played more snaps (153) than Ray (59) in three playoff games. Ware averaged 51 snaps per game in the playoffs, but during the regular season he was only on the field for 30 snaps on average. Ray played around 21 snaps per game in the playoffs, and during the regular season he averaged around 19 snaps per game.

The way the team used Ray and Ware in the postseason may get flip-flopped this year—at least during the regular season. Ware battled through back problems last year and only appeared in 11 regular-season games. With a more comfortable Ray, he should be in line for more work.

Using Ware less to get Ray onto the field seems like a recipe for continued success. Last year, Ray ranked 43rd out of all defensive rookies with only 295 snaps played in the regular season. His four sacks tied for fifth-most of any rookie, and Ray had that production on the second-lowest amount of snaps for any rookie with four or more sacks.

The second-year pro has higher expectations for himself in 2016.

“I wanted to be bigger, faster and stronger and when I came back be able to combine that with the knowledge that I have now," Ray said. "My expectation for myself—I set the bar high for myself last year and the bar hasn’t changed. I still want to dominate and be the best I can be for this team.”

Ware is not getting any younger, so it makes a lot of sense for the Broncos to try to keep the future Hall of Fame pass-rusher fresh by using Ray more this season.

Summary

The Broncos have a star in the making with Ray. On a defense full of stars, Ray may emerge as one of the team’s brightest and best.

Ray is more comfortable entering his second year as he understands how to prepare his body for the rigors of an NFL season. In addition to reshaping his body, Ray has reworked his game by learning the best tips and tricks from superstar teammates like Ware and Miller.

It’s foolish to immediately write off the 2016 Broncos defense as “not as good” as the 2015 version that won it all. Yes, the team lost two key starters in defensive end Malik Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, but there are nine starters returning from one of the best defenses in league history. Combine that with the talent the Broncos added to the defense through the draft and free agency, and one can paint a picture where the Broncos can be even better this year.

Ray believes the defense can be improved in 2016.

“The expectations for us as young guys is to step up, do what we’re supposed to do and help lead this team," he said. "I think defensively we’re bringing a lot of guys back and we’re probably bringing in a little bit more firepower.”

We’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg with Ray. With a larger role that should feature him regularly on defense, Ray could have a breakout season in 2016.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided by the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.