With the Denver Broncos heading to Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, they will face a Colts’ offense under Daniel Jones that just destroyed the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. While we know the Broncos’ defense is better, they are untested against each new opponent. This early in the season it is easy to assume this offense stinks or that one is good. Fact is, we don’t know how good Jones might be this year. The Broncos can’t let up defensively.
One of the things that they need to rely
on to keep the defense a well-oiled machine of nightmares for opposing quarterbacks if their defensive line rotation. Head Coach Sean Payton was asked about edge rusher Nik Bonitto playing less snaps and he likened the snap count game plan centered around maximum effectiveness in the game. That keeps Bonitto a nightmare on the edge.
“There’s an attrition to doing what those guys in the front do,” Payton said. “I never wrestled, but when I did wrestle, I always felt like I was beat or exhausted. Those guys are wrestling for six seconds a play or five seconds a play. Zach Allen is another one. We just have to be mindful of these guys dressing. To answer your question, yes. If you’re [playing] too many, then at the end you look at it and say, ‘Maybe the effectiveness wasn’t the same as the game wore on.’ A lot of it depends on… There are games where defensively, usually, when the game ends one side of the ball or the other has 10 to 20 more plays and so it depends how the game’s going. We had more plays obviously last week than they did. A lot of it can be dependent on that too.”
This line of thinking played out beautifully in Week 1 with the Broncos defense being the most beastly unit in all of football. Highest pressure rate and one of the best at stuffing the run.
I love it. Strong defense has always been my favorite kind of football. If the offense improves along with it, this team will be a mean opponent.
