Denver Broncos: 11 questions and answers leading up to training camp

How can Vic Fangio’s presence help the inside linebackers?

Answered by: Shelby Manning

It’s no secret that the inside linebackers group was a little disappointing under the coaching of Vance Joseph, mainly because there was so much talent on the roster and not a lot of production from them.

With departures of guys like Brandon Marshall, it is vital that guys such as Todd Davis and Josey Jewell are ready to step up and take on the workload.

If anyone can get them there, it is a guy like Vic Fangio. His impressive résumé speaks for itself—he has been coaching successful defenses for years. Fangio was at the helm of the famous New Orleans Saints “Dome Patrol”, a historically great defense.

He coached the Super Bowl contending Panthers in 1995, coached Ray Lewis in his time with the Ravens, gave the 49ers’ defense a brand new look and most recently, coached a great Chicago Bears defense.

Coaching players like Ray Lewis and Khalil Mack, Vic Fangio can share their expertise and experience with the developing Broncos linebackers.

Another important factor that plays in is the respect already being shown to Fangio by the Broncos’ locker room. The players respect Fangio and have expressed that while he likes to have fun, they know when he is ready to get to work.

Last year, we often saw a lackluster Broncos team on the field, and many accredited that to the players not enjoying their jobs and perhaps not enjoying Joseph either.

Derek Wolfe has previously expressed that under Fangio it has become a completely different atmosphere and that coming to work is fun again, not just another day on the job. I expect the Broncos’ linebackers to thrive with Fangio at the reins and to play to their full potential.