Denver Broncos: Outside linebacker 2018 position preview
The Denver Broncos are absolutely loaded at the outside linebacker position, starting with Von Miller. We preview the entire position group…
Despite the fact that, on paper, the Denver Broncos have had the most enviable group of outside linebackers since the start of the 2014 season, sacks have not been easy to come by.
In 2014 — DeMarcus Ware’s first season in Denver — the Broncos racked up 41 total sacks as a team. In 2015, that number jumped up to a league-high 52.
Both seasons, Miller and Ware led the way, combining for 32.5 of those 93 sacks.
In 2016, the Broncos’ sack numbers dipped back down to a (still respectable) 42 as a team, though Ware was replaced in second place by Shane Ray, who had a career-high eight sacks as the Broncos failed to reach the postseason for the first time in the John Elway era.
In 2017, the Broncos took a huge dip without a healthy Ray and Ware retired. They finished the year with just 33 sacks, a number far too low for a team that is already getting at least 10 every season from Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller.
The Broncos identified that area of weakness and attacked this offseason, with a bit of good fortune.
Let’s take a look at the team’s current situation at outside linebacker player-by-player…