Denver Broncos: If…And…But for 2015

Aug 12, 2015; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips during training camp activities at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

If

The Denver defense, now under the direction of coordinator Wade Phillips, can build on last season’s positives this may become one of the more feared units in the NFL.

Only the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions allowed fewer yards per game this past season and only the Lions gave up fewer yards rushing. Then again, this unit didn’t always look the part in 2014, particularly in losses to the Patriots and Bengals as well as a come-from-behind win over the Miami Dolphins.

Now this unit is under the guidance of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the well-traveled specialist who also happened to be the Broncos head coach from 1993-94.

While the team will be without defensive end Derek Wolfe for the first four games of the season due to a league suspension, the front-seven includes third-year defensive end Malik Jackson and the outside linebacker combo of Von Miller (14.0) and DeMarcus Ware (10.0), who combined for 24 of the team’s 41 sacks in 2014. Rookie outside linebacker Shane Ray is waiting in the wings.

The rest of this unit is formidable as well. Inside linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan are complimented by a secondary that includes safeties T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart (who replaces Rahim Moore) while Denver is loaded at the corners via Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and second-year pro Bradley Roby.

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