Saturday Morning Quarterback: It’s time for a Breath of Fresh Ayers

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Dumervil is gone so we MUST sign Dwight Freeney! Freeney has lost his mind and thinks he’s worth more than Dumervil… ok, we MUST sign John Abraham. As Bronco fans lament the loss of Elvis Dumervil, and there have been some very grave lamentations to be sure, perhaps it is time to look at what remains. Arguably one of the top five defenses in professional football!

Lost in the media reports, the prognostications and the DOOM and gloom is the fact that the Broncos defense is still one of the best and is perhaps better. With the additions of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Terrence Knighton the Broncos immediately improved their pass coverage and their run stopping ability. Chris Harris had a breakout season and now can return to his natural safety position, a role in which he thrives (as if he didn’t thrive at corner last year). Wesley Woodyard emerged as a legitimate force as well last year. Have fans fogetten him? Of course, there is also Derek Wolfe who turned out to be a complete animal on the end. No one is expecting a regression this coming season.

While it is true that Dumervil may be missed in the sack department, reports of Von Miller suddenly becoming ineffective without him make little sense. Dumervil drew double teams on less than 20% of the downs he played. Miller will still be feasting and the man who can help him is Robert Ayers. Ayers seems like the man on the roster that will have to step up and he can. Bronco fans should know who Ayers is by now. He was a first round pick in 2009. His 2010 season was a bit of a disappointment but he showed progress in 2011 with 39 tackles and 3 sacks in 13 games. While that is a far cry from Dumervil’s production Ayer’s has another year under his belt and another year under Jack Del Rio. The word on Ayers coming out of Tennessee is that he had the potential to become an elite player. Now he needs to become one.

This defense is fine… better then fine, so let’s move on. There is still a draft and possible free agent signings yet to come as well. However, looking at this Denver defense on paper makes for a good read. There’s no use living in the passed or holding grudges now. It’s time to forget about Who?mervil…

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