Denver Broncos scrimmage: What to watch for

Outside Linebacker Depth

Injuries to Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray have paved the way for players like Kasim Edebali and DeMarcus Walker to show they can provide necessary depth at the outside linebacker position.

In particular, I’m interested to see how Walker does in more live action. He was put on his back by Garett Bolles at one of the practices I attended, but his willingness to learn from Von Miller and get his technique up to speed has been admirable.

Despite getting put on his butt once, Walker has really responded well to his new role. He’s being asked to play a role on the Broncos’ defense that is pretty unheard of to this point.

Walker had 16 sacks last season at Florida State, and did most of his best work from the interior defensive line. When Walker was asked to play off the edge, he was much slower off the ball.

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That’s something he’s undoubtedly working at getting better on this offseason, and you could see how important the Broncos feel he is to this defense.

During practice, defensive line coach Bill Kollar was pulling Walker aside and having him repeat drills to get his form perfect. When Kollar was done with him, Von Miller pulled him aside and showed him some of his own tricks.

There’s going to be high expectations for the second round pick, but it’s important to keep in mind the fact that he’s playing a brand new position.

He’ll likely get some work with the first team, and so will veteran Kasim Edebali, a player who came in from New Orleans projected to be the team’s fifth edge rusher and one of the primary special teams players this season.

Edebali will likely share first team reps not only with Walker, but Vontarrius Dora as well.