Broncos Need to Keep an Eye on Ndamukong Suh
If the Denver Broncos have three wishes, outside of winning the Super Bowl, Ndamukong Suh is the final one.
The first was John Elway getting Gary Kubiak and the coaching staff put together. The second is the return of quarterback Peyton Manning. By all accounts that will happen – the most recent sign came from former Broncos safety John Lynch when he told a local radio station he would be shocked if Manning didn’t come back.
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That leaves the final wish, and there’s no doubt it’s the signing of Suh. Still get Terrance Knighton signed but also get Suh. He’s what that defense needs. The Broncos need that fire. That intensity. That nastiness. Paired with Pot Roast, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller with the aggressive style new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips brings – look out. It really would be the second coming of the Orange Crush. Imagine if what we suggested earlier with linebacker Patrick Willis comes to fruition. Are you kidding, Broncos Country?
With the obvious roster moves Elway will (should) make, that will put Denver well over $30 million in salary cap space. That’s without asking Manning to take a pay cut. If Elway and the Broncos do, that would push the cap space closer to $40 million. That’s more than enough room to re-sign Demaryius Thomas, Orlando Franklin, Terrance Knighton, maybe Rahim Moore, get Willis and still sign Suh to a long-term deal.
As Elway proved last offseason with Emmanuel Sanders, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and DeMarcus Ware, he knows how to make those long-term deals a series of one-year deals. He would do the same with the Suh.
There’s no doubt some members of Broncos Country hem and haw over the way Suh crosses the line. Check that, takes a tank to that line. They say there’s no place in Denver for a player like Suh. The problem with that is two-fold: Lyle Alzado and Bill Romanowski. Both were very similar to Suh in how they played and what they did.
Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Still, what they brought to their respective Broncos teams is undeniable. Alzado made the Orange Crush that nasty unit. He put the fear into opposing offenses and made them question what they were in for. The same was true for Romo on Denver’s back-to-back Super Bowl teams. You never knew what would happen with Alzado and Romanowski on the field, but you did know you would get their absolute best and everything they had – even if it was dirty.
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Suh is the same way, and he’s the perfect player for Phillips’ brand of defense. Suh is akin to a wild animal, and whenever the Broncos take the field he would get unleashed. That’s been missing from the Denver defense, and it needs it in a big way.
When and if Manning comes back, Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison will have the offense taken care of. If they were able to get tackle Bryan Bulaga, that would solidify the offensive line – mainly the right side. (That’s next in this series we’re doing – at least from me).
If Elway and the Broncos were able to re-sign Knighton, possibly get Willis and then Suh? Man, oh man what a special defense Broncos Country would see.
Time for Elway to cross off the last of his wishes.
Next: Should the Broncos Target Patrick Willis?
Next: Who Have the Broncos Taken in the Latest Mock Draft?
Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown (12) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Detroit won 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports