Championship roster checklist: How many of the boxes does Broncos' 2019 defense check?

It has been a while since the Broncos have been an offensive based team. Since the ‘Star Wars’ numbers and the hobbled team that won the AFC in 2013, the Broncos' identity has transitioned to a much more defensive-oriented squad.

Of course, the all-time defense of the Super Bowl 50 Champions will go down in lore as one of the best ever, but that unit has been regressing to the mean each season after hoisting the Lombardi. The offense should be better in 2019 than it has been in Denver in a while, but can the defense buck their current slide and start moving back towards the league’s elite under the eye of Vic Fangio?

Continuing our glance over the Broncos’ roster is it pertains to Daniel Jeremiah’s ‘Championship roster contender checklist’, the Broncos didn’t match up on offense but how will the defense stack up?

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Pass rushers

Need: 2

If there is one area the Broncos can stack up with anyone in the NFL, it is in pass rush talent. With the likes of future Hall-of-Famer Von Miller and a budding superstar in Bradley Chubb, the Broncos maywell have the best edge rush duo in the entire NFL.

Miller, entering his age-30 season, is still in his prime. However, hitting that age-30 mark, it is reasonable to wonder how much longer he can he sustain his play as arguably one of the four best defensive players in the NFL (along with Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, and JJ Watt).

Miller cultivated mass to his frame this offseason in order to add more power to his game to compliment his unworldly bend and burst off the edge. He’s on pace to finish as one of the all-time greats and should be appreciated every step along the way.

Chubb, entering his age-23 season, is just starting to come on in the NFL. Odd to say, considering he is coming off of a 12-sack rookie season and legitimately threatened the all-time rookie sack record last season. Chubb has not begun to receive national notoriety that his play warrants, but that time is coming.

From the gushing of the coaching staff about his mentality and ability, to the flashes of dominance in the preseason, Chubb could be entering a breakout season. Given that he has Miller playing on the other side, the duo could be on pace for a 30-plus sack season in 2019.

The Broncos do have some promising depth at edge as well in the likes of undrafted rookie and preseason standout Malik Reed, as well as fifth-round edge/off-ball linebacker hybrid Justin Hollins. Both have flashed in different ways this offseason and should give the dynamic starting duo a breather while the Broncos can still rush the passer. Despite losing two quality depth edge rushers in Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett, the Broncos should still be able to rush the passer with quality and quantity from the edge.

The Broncos' interior defensive line also has some upside as far as rushing the passer. The starting defensive ends have shown flashes in pass-rush ability, Derek Wolfe earlier in his career and Adam Gotsis in flashes, but neither should be considered true ‘threats’ as pass rushers in the NFL given what they have shown most recently.

Both are solid in doing their jobs on the field, from maintaining gaps and pushing the pocket, but neither are likely to be high volume interior pass rushers. The Broncos do have some depth that can rush the passer in theory in 2017 second-round pick DeMarcus Walker, who has been trending upwards with his flashes this preseason, as well as 2019 third-round rookie Dre’Mont Jones, who likely needs a season before being thrust into a more prominent role next year.

An interior pass-rushing option to compliment the dynamic edge duo isn’t really a necessity for the Broncos if one is to follow the checklist verbatim, given having both Miller and Chubb more than qualify for having two dynamic pass rushers, but the old cliche of ‘you can never have enough quality pass rushers’ rings true.

Furthermore, the inside-outside ability rushing with great edge rushers and a great interior guy can really synergize how great the pass rush can be this season. Shelby Harris is the guy for the job.

Despite not possessing a typical body for the 0/1 tech spots it appears he will be manning this season, Harris has flashed in his limited reps. He is coming off of back-to-back great seasons with burst and the ability to beat his man and pressure the quarterback.

Entering a contract season, the best may be yet to come. Given the one-on-ones he should see between Chubb and Von? Opposing teams better double up on their Oxiclean because their quarterback’s jerseys are going to be splattered with grass stains this season.

Pass rushers verdict

2019: 3/2 (Miller, Chubb, Harris)

TBD for future: Reed, Hollins, Gotsis, Walker, Jones

Defensive back seven playmakers

Need: 3

The Broncos are going to have a really good defensive pass rush in 2019 there is no doubt about that, but how will the back seven stack up? It’s unfair to ask them to match the star power that is Miller and Chubb, but a quality back seven is needed from corner to linebacker to safety in order for Vic Fangio to run the defense he likes this season.

The linebackers, unfortunately, fail to possess a true difference-maker at that level. Todd Davis is consistent and solid. From playing the run in the box, coming down and taking on blockers and getting off blocks, and tackling, he is solid as can be, especially for a defense with three-down linemen.

Davis is just not dynamic enough as an athlete in space, pursuit, coverage, or blitzing to be counted as a playmaker. Good? Yes. Underrated? Absolutely. Difference Maker? Probably not.

However, outside of Davis, the prospects of the linebacker group look less promising. The unit really just lacks playmaking upside and athleticism outside of hybrid player Justin Hollins. Josey Jewell played last season and is listed to start, but he was very inconsistent last year.

Small for the position and lacking great athleticism outside of agility, Jewell must win with his instincts and beating blockers to their spots. Last season that wasn’t the case enough as Jewell seemed to misread and get swallowed up by blockers more than he should.

Lucky for Jewell, the Broncos will be going to a more zone-heavy scheme which should help him a lot. Outside of Jewell the only linebacker of note is Alexander Johnson. He has some upside as a thumper in this defense but much like Davis, has athletic limitations that may keep him from being anything more than ‘solid’. It’s hard to see a true difference-maker coming from any of the linebackers the Broncos have on their depth chart right now.

Cornerback has more potential but matching uncertainty. Chris Harris, Jr. is a stud. Period. One of the best cornerbacks in the game and the best cornerback in the NFL as far as playing both the boundary and the slot. While lacking great size, Harris has great ball skills and is a really firm tackler.

He won’t blow guys up, but he also won’t miss in space. Tackling is imperative in this defense and there are no worries with Chris Harris, Jr. This may be his last season in Denver so enjoy the future Ring-of-Famer. Outside of Harris, there is much more uncertainty. Luckily the preseason should allow some hope.

Bryce Callahan is going to be solid if his foot issue doesn’t continue to be a problem, something of worry when the Broncos signed him. He is twitched up and had a great season in the slot under Fangio in Chicago. How he transitions to a more boundary role this season is worth watching.

The corners who received the most meaningful reps this preseason were Isaac Yiadom and De'Vante Bausby. Yiadom appears to be growing from last season into a solid number three corner with starter upside and Bausby has fluidity and length to be a good fourth. There may not be a difference-maker from corner two to four behind Harris, but the depth appears solid and will be valuable.

So far, on the back seven, the Broncos only have one difference-maker — Chris Harris, Jr. This is somewhat alarming but if there is any potential for another two guys to step up and be true playmakers for the defense on the back end, it is the Broncos starting safety duo of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.

Coming off of a disappointing season, Simmons is poised to bust out this season in this system that demands more from him mentally but less positionally. The Broncos put Simmons in many poor spots last season and his play suffered. However, this offseason in training camp Simmons has been a star and should be a dark horse candidate to lead the league in sacks.

Jackson was paid big money by the Broncos this offseason to come help solidify the secondary. Despite being 31 years old, he just finished one of the best years of his career last season. Jackson will be playing more safety this season in Denver, but has the ability to come down and man up as need be based on play call.

A solid tackler (just ask Phillip Lindsay) Jackson could end up being the Broncos’ own version of star safety Malcolm Jenkins in Philadelphia who was imperative for the Eagles in their Super Bowl run.

The Broncos do have some promising depth at safety as well in Will Parks, and Trey Marshall, but all three look more like solid depth players who can come in and be good enough when called upon. If the Broncos need playmakers on the backend to compliment Chris Harris, Jr., then they truly need one of if not both of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson to be ‘the dudes’.

Verdict

Verdict: 2/3 (Harris and Simmons or Jackson)

TBD for the future: Simmons, Parks, Yiadom, Bausby, Hollins

Defensive players Championship roster checklist

Pass rushers: 3/2

Back seven playmakers: 2/3

The defense is easily the more talented unit on the Broncos this season. Given the addition of defensive wizard Vic Fangio and his vaunted scheme and play calling, the Broncos players may even play above their individual talent levels this season, something that did not happen in Denver under Vance Joseph and his staff.

The pass rush is going to be deadly and will create some game-changing plays this season for the Broncos, and the back seven has some depth to compliment the front. However, outside of Chris Harris, Jr., how many true playmakers does the back seven possess?

Linebacker is lacking, and the depth behind Harris should be good, but it will likely come down to the starting safety duo in Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson to compliment Harris if Denver is to fulfill Daniel Jeremiah’s Championship roster checklist on the defensive side of the football.

Final rundown on Championship roster checklist

QB: 0/1

Offensive weapons: 2/3

Quality O-line: 2/3

Pass rushers: 3/2

Back seven playmakers: 2/3

Final Verdict

The Broncos are very likely to have a championship-caliber defense this upcoming season given the elite pass rush potential and solid back seven play, but 2019 will likely be another season where the offense is just simply not good enough.

Rather than hanging up on that fact, the focus should be looking for improvement on that side of the ball, maintaining excellence on defense, and using 2019 as a transition year for contention in 2020 and beyond.

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKendellMHH and @MileHighHuddle.