3 Looks Ejiro Evero could use to maximize Broncos defensive talent

Denver Broncos defensive looks on 3rd-and-long

For a generation, 3rd and long in the Mile High has been the property of Von Miller. It seems that’s when he really kicked things into gear, and now it’ll be up to the next class of pass rushers to bring down QBs to 4th and longer situations.

Back in the Vance Joseph era, we heard much of the NASCAR package, with Von Miller/Shaq Barrett outside and Bradley Chubb/Shelby Harris inside.

The one year we got to see Von and Chubb together, this was a special package that maximized our pass rushers on obvious passing downs, setting them loose at the quarterback while the remnants of the No-Fly Zone held it down on the back end.

With our talent in the front seven now, it seems likely Ejiro plans on drawing up his own version of a 4-man blitz package. We’ll call it Formula One.

As it stands, the depth chart at edge rusher is wild. Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Nik Bonitto, Malik Reed, Jonathan Cooper, and (possibly?) Baron Browning.

I’d feel comfortable enough with any two of these guys lining up outside at any given time, and the depth here will give Evero the opportunity to keep everyone fresh late into games and the season as a whole.

For the sake of this situation, I would imagine he’d want to field his top two speed guys outside, which would be Gregory and Bonitto, both of whom possess 4.5 speed and high-level burst off the snap.

I think Chubb will primarily be used outside, but he’s a bull, and certainly has the power and push to kick inside. He’s listed at 275, which is plenty of bulk on the interior. Aaron Donald plays at 280.

Our defensive lineman depth chart has a lot of interesting names as well. With guys like DJ and Dre’Mont Jones, and Mike Purcell, penciled in as the starters, I would imagine it’d be one of the Joneses slotted inside here.

DJ and Dre’Mont both flash serious disruptive abilities, and Dre’Mont especially can kill a drive by himself. Saw it myself last year vs. Detroit.

With Gregory/Dre’Mont/Chubb/Bonitto lining up in the front, having a backer like Baron Browning behind the line would be a boon in both phases.

Browning proved himself last year in coverage, so he could drop back, he has the lateral quickness to run spy vs more mobile quarterbacks and can turn it up in the pass rush as well if Evero wants to send a 5th guy.

I’m salivating just thinking of what this lineup could do versus the Chiefs and Chargers offensive lines. Two fast guys outside bending around the edge, with two powerful disruptors inside with the ability to stunt and push. Love it.