Special Teams Coordinator Brock Olivo Has Options With Personnel

Special Teams is such an important part of the game of football. It’s often overlooked, but Brock Olivo sees the value in winning with special teams…

Brock Olivo brings passion and knowledge to the field every day. Coordinating special teams in the NFL is one of the most difficult jobs to do.

That’s the beauty of the game, where 10 guys can do their job, but if 1 makes a mistake it could cost everybody. For Olivo, there is no thought process to special teams: there is just passion and commitment to the process.

"“It starts with players, it’s all about those guys. We try to keep it really simple so they can play fast. We K.I.L.L. it. We keep it rock and roll and learnable so they can cut it loose and play fast. That’s what wins in special teams in the NFL, speed and toughness. The X’s and O’s piece, that’s easy with the respect to the other things they have to bring to the table — toughness and grit, we talk about that all the time.” – Brock Olivo on the importance of special teams (Via Denver Broncos PR)"

As the Broncos’ special teams coach, Olivo has many options at his disposal who can change the tide of a game at any moment. For Denver specifically, they hope their return game can be more profitable.

Isaiah McKenzie, Carlos Henderson, Kalif Raymond have the ability to break off a return at any moment. Raymond has experience from last season where he provided the Broncos with spark, but also had several drops that led to turnovers.

Enter speedsters like McKenzie and Henderson and Olivo gets excited.

"“We get them out here before and after. They come out and they take it seriously. We watch film together and we coach each other up on that stuff and it’s good. It’s intense, there’s a lot of competition there. We’ve got some good returners in the stall.” – Brock Olivo on McKenzie and Carlos Henderson working on punts after practice (Via Denver Broncos PR)"

For many players, special teams is where jobs are won and lost. Players who may be low on the depth chart could earn a roster spot simply due to special teams play.

Former players like Kayvon Webster, David Bruton, and Wesley Woodyard are examples of guys who earned a roster spot on special teams. They eventually went on to play defense.

Depth at receiver gives guys like Kalif Raymond and Cody Latimer a chance to make the roster with special teams.

Olivo says Vance Joseph’s support is so important to him as it should be the players. “Coach Joseph is behind us 100 percent when he says that special teams are a third of what we do.”

It’s absolutely certain that Olivo loves his job, but also genuinely cares about the process to obtain success.

Brock Olivo: Leadership Academy

Special teams and leadership are vital towards success. Thankfully for Olivo, Denver has some guys who embody what that means.

Last season the Broncos relied on Andy Janovich, Bennie Fowler, Shaq Barrett, and Corey Nelson for plays on special teams. Most of those guys are back, and they have rookies coming up from behind them.

"“Jano definitely had leadership qualities and he’s definitely up there. Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer, those are guys who are veterans who have been four-phasers in the past and will be coming up. Shaquil Barrett and Corey Nelson, we have some younger guys, Virgil Green, even though he’s not a four-phaser, he has that presence about him that guys automatically look up to him. He’s in our meeting room every day. Then there are younger guys coming up. I can’t mention them all because the list is too long but we’ve got a really good group of core special teams players here. The leadership stuff shines through on the field and in the meeting room. I’m really excited and fortunate to be a part of this”  – Brock Olivo on special teams’ leaders (Via Denver Broncos PR)"

What are your thoughts on Brock Olivo, Broncos Country?