Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (11-15)

Nov 24, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (not pictured) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos 12-4
Last Season’s Rankings: #19 Overall Defense (356 total yards per game allowed) #27 Passing Defense (254.4 passing yards per game allowed) #8 Rushing Defense (101.6 rushing yards per game allowed)

Last Season
As everyone saw, heard and watched, the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl in 2013 and, (had it not been for the worst defensive showing in Super Bowl history), could have took home the Lombardi. In 2013 saw some suspensions like that of Von Miller rattle the Broncos defensive efforts. Now while their offense was the best in the history of the NFL, their defense was average at best, averaging 356 total yards per game in 2013. Their passing game in particular struggled, allowing 254.4 passing yards per game in 2013. Due in part to their lack of effective safeties, the Broncos suffered at times because of their inability to stop the pass. 2014 features some new talent that should give this Broncos’ defense a whole new look.

Run Defense
In another one of the Broncos biggest moves, DeMarcus Ware (along with his $10 Million a year contract) will be taking his talents to Southern Colorado to play with the defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos. What will Denver be getting in DeMarcus Ware? Well for starters they’ll be getting a formidable pass rusher who has averaged 64 total tackles, 13 sacks and 3.55 forced fumbles per season. Although Ware wasn’t the same LB or DE he was back in 2007 or 2008, he still has the skills and athletic ability to make a difference for this Broncos team. Considering that the Broncos lost DE Robert Ayers (29 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two tackles for loss) and Shaun Phillips (35 tackles, 10 sacks, three tackles for loss, five passes defended and two forced fumbles) to free agency, Ware is probably the best guy they could have picked up. Look for him to most likely close out his career with the Broncos, helping them get Peyton to the playoffs (and Super Bowl) one last time.

In 2014, the Broncos will not have their two best pass rushers, however with Ware, the Broncos should not expect any monumental differences. For instance, LBs Von Miller (55.3 tackles, 11.6 sacks, 3.6 forced fumbles, 9.6 tackles for loss and 2.3 passes defended per season throughout his three year career), Danny Trevathan (129 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss, 10 passes defended, three interceptions and four forced fumbles in 2013) and Nate Irving (41 tackles and eight tackles for loss) will be joining DE Derek Wolf (16 tackles, four sacks and three tackles for loss), DT Sylvester Williams (19 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss), DT Terrance Knighton (31 tackles, three sacks and two tackles for loss) and Ware on the defensive line. Unfortunately for the Broncos, 28 year-old LB Welsey Woodyard (84 tackles, four tackles for loss, four passes defended and three forced fumbles) will not be returning in a Broncos’ uniform next season.

While I do not expect the Broncos defense to be necessarily as potent as last year with Phillips and Ayers gone, I do expect them to be a decent pass-rushing, run-stopping force in the AFC West. OLBs Lamin Barrow and Corey Nelson give some much needed depth at the line backer position. I expect huge things for Von Miller coming off a season where he only played nine games. Look for Ware and Miller to be ravaging opposing QBs all season. Considering that the Broncos were able to rank eighth best in the league in rushing defense without Von Miller, 2014 should be very similar.

Pass Defense
Although the AFC Champions didn’t have many problems last year, one of the Broncos biggest problems last year was their pass defense. In 2013 the Broncos allowed 254.4 passing yards per game (ranked 27th in the NFL), to go along with 24.9 points per game allowed (ranked 22nd). After both Champ Bailey and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie took multi-year deals in other cities, the Broncos most definitely needed former Patriot CB Aqib Talib to sure up their secondary. With Talib, the Broncos are getting a solid corner who was able to defend 14 passes and intercept four passes even though he only played 13 out of the Pats 16 games. What Denver is getting is not necessarily a shut-down corner in Talib, but rather a corner who can take them to the playoffs and perhaps beyond. The key though for Talib is to remain healthy. Not once in his entire career has Talib remained healthy enough to play all 16 games. I think though for the time being Talib will be very productive for the Broncos. Give him two or three years and he’ll be a star in Denver.

The third free agency signing from the Broncos features former Cleveland Brown DB T.J. Ward who was given the big bucks in order to come to Denver and play for John Fox. With the addition of T.J. Ward, the Broncos will get a solid safety to go along with Talib and Ware. The Broncos’ pass defense killed them in the Super Bowl. Perhaps with Ward the Broncos could end up with a W next stop around.

Losing your Pro-Bowl, All-Pro, future Hall-of-Fame Cornerback is a pretty big blow, however the Broncos were prepared and made some big moves in the off-season. They picked up Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, as well as T.J. Ward to help out their defense. With that in mind, the Broncos can move on from Bailey and look towards the future with their revamped secondary. Their selection of Ohio State CB Bradley Roby will most certainly give the Broncos the needed pass help that they needed on offense last season. In his final two seasons at OSU, Roby was able to average 15 passes defended, 65.5 tackles and two interceptions.

Think of this season’s Denver secondary: CBs Chris Harris (14 passes defended, three interceptions and 65 tackles), Bradley Roby and Aqib Talib to go along with FS Rahim Moore (44 tackles, six passes defended and two interceptions) and SS T.J. Ward. Besides the abilities of Moore, I think 2014 has the Broncos being top-15 without a doubt. Harris is and up-and-coming star, Talib is already one of the best in the league, Roby is young, but talented, Moore can hit and T.J. Ward can break up passes with the best of them. The recipe and ingredients are there, now it’s time to make that pie. (Mmmm, pie).

In The End
Without a doubt the losses of Ayers, Woodyard, Phillips and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will hit the Broncos hard in 2014, however I think that with their newest acquisitions, the Broncos will have an even better chance in 2014. I think that any team can stop the run if they’re lucky, but not every team can stop the pass. I believe that if the Broncos focus on the passing side of their defense that they should see good things come their way this season.