DE Bert Berry did a fabulous job for Denver last season. But he did so at the expense of Trevor Pryce, who took most teams double teams.
This year Berry will be the Arizona Cardinals’ Pryce. Will he be able to come up with 8.5 sacks facing double teams every down, as Pryce did last season? Probably not. And who will take advantage of Berry’s double teams for AZ? Berry got a nice pay day, and he deserved it, but it was also a move that will make him look like a one year wonder if head coach Dennis Green doesn’t get him some first rate help in the next year or two. DE Reggie Hayward will be replacing Berry and he should more than make up for Berry’s loss. If he’s as good as he seems, he could be the one eating up some double teams, which will free up Trevor on the other side more frequently. It seems a no win situation for opposing offenses.
I don’t mean to imply that Berry would have flopped in Denver this season. Overall I think he brings more balance than Hayward, being able to play well against both the run and the pass. But Berry is no Trevor Pryce and will not be able to equal Pryce’s performance vs constant double teams.
But against the pass, I see Hayward as a definite upgrade.
But, as Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News has asked, as Hayward steps into Berry’s spot at RDE and covers Berry’s production, who will make up for Hayward’s 8.5 sacks as a back up?
There won’t be any one player who steps in and makes up for Hayward’s numbers as a backup. There isn’t any backup DE with that much talent and drive. But, barring injury, I’ll predict that Nick Eason will make up for most of that.
D.J. Williams will make up what’s left over and more. Larry Coyer has got to be drooling when he witnesses Williams size, speed and athletic ability. I expect to see him become a major force in blitz packages.
However, the real difference maker will be Luther Eliss in the middle. He may not have but four sacks all season long, but he’ll be forcing QBs to shift over toward the DEs and into the arms of incoming blitzers.
I don’t see any possibility (other than serious injuries) for Denver’s sack total to do anything but rise.
As for Mike Shanahan, a lot of people are saying that he’s stealing a page for the Patriots play book, that he’s mimicking Bill Belichick. That’s a mistake.
If there is a parallel then it would be with Brian Billick, another coach considered and offensive genius, but one who had to change the way he approached his team because he didn’t have the personnel to work things to his liking.
Billick has proven he isn’t simply an offensive genius, he’s coaching genius. He doesn’t force his players to fit his team, he molds his team to fit his players. This year we’ll see if Mike Shanahan is made of similar stuff.
It should have been clear to most people, and certainly was to Shanny, that the offense was going to slip this year. Too much age, too little realistic hope for serious upgrade on that side of the ball.
At the same time there were possibilities to upgrade an already excellent defense, with the Bailey trade being the key.
Recent SBs have shown us again and again that a rock solid D can overcome a mediocre O. Shanahan moved in the right direction for the right reasons.
So Denver’s O finishes this season ranked somewhere between 10th and 15th? It shouldn’t matter, because they should have a defense that could end up being one of the historically great units of the NFL.
Now we just have to wait and see if he’s a football genius, or simply a great offensive mind.
10 replies on “Broncos: Berry- Hayward and Shanahan”
LB questions and more I know you an optimistic Denver fan, but thinking Denver’s defense might rank up there with the best in history? I’d say that’s a pretty big leap. Who is going to replace John Mobley and Ian Gold at the OLB positions? Yes they have a great rookie in DJ Williams, but he is still just an unproven rookie. John Lynch and Luther Ellis are both question marks because of the injury history and Hayward still has to proove he can replace Berry’s production on the field. They could be a solid defense, but I think they have a lot of questions that need to be answered.
Denver So there was a significant drop off in Denver’s defense after Gold and Mobley got hurt? Their replacements did a more than adequate job.
Both Spragan and Sykes averaged more tackles per game than Mobley and Gold.
They were good enough to help Denver finish the year ranked 4th over all, 7th vs the rush, 6th vs passing, and 9th vs pts scored. Are you telling me that Denver will be WORSE by adding Bailey, Williams, Elliss and Lynch?
Hayward is an easy upgrade as a pass rusher. His 8.5 sacks came as a backup.
The only question mark, at least for fans, because it isn’t one for Larry Coyer, is can Hayward be as good against the run as Berry was?
Historical greatness is a very good possibility.
Histroical Greatness? Are you guys juss joking becsue if you are its ok.
You cannot honestly be serious in thinking that the denver Broncos will have one og the greatest defenses ever! this subject isnt even debatable but here it goes anyway:
The Broncos dont even have the best defense in the NFL this year. The Pats will have a better defense, and the Panthers will havea better defense, no questions asked.
Being ranked 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th is good, but how can those numbers even be considered some of the best ever?
Hayward is an easy upgrade as a pass rusher. His 8.5 sacks came as a backup.
Upgrade? If hes so good, why was he a backup?
BAckups dont make all-time great defenses, great players do.
There are no facts that you have presented taht would lead me to believe that this above average defense can even be considered one of the best ever. Seems ur juss sepecualting on last years facts and also u seem to think that these backups are going to do really well.
D You make a ridiculous statement about Carolina, offer no facts to prove that N.E. will be superior to Denver this season, and offer no facts to prove that Denver’s personnel can’t get the job done. In fact, you aren’t big on facts in any of your comments. Yet you expect to be taken seriously?
I have offered facts. You disagree with them, so you choose to pretend they were never presented at all. That’s pretty common practice around here.
Historical greatness…only if Denver wins the SB Yes, discussing historical greatness about a defense that got absolutely shredded last year in the playoffs is somewhat of a joke.
The facts are Denver did get the shutdown corner in Bailey that they need. This will help the secondary, but the other pickups all have major question marks.
Can Lynch still be as effective after the neck surgery? The Bucs didn’t think so.
Does Ellis still have enough left in the tank after years of pounding in Detroit? You’ve mentioned that Warren Sapp is all washed up, but you have faith in Luther frickin Ellis?
DJ Williams could be great, but to expect a rookie to match the production of Mobley or Gold right away is expecting a little too much.
If the Broncos win the Super Bowl on the strength of their defense I will eat my words, otherwise all you can say is this unit may be one of the better defenses in the AFC. That is about it.
All speculation I dont know what your obsession is over facts, you want facts here they are:
Your Broncos have too many question marks on defense. They are starting some players i havent even heard of before u came along. U dont need stats to tell wat is crap and wat isnt and ur radical statemnets are crap.
How could u think that the Patriots wont have a better defense then the Broncos? There is just no possible way. The Patriots have the players to be considered one of the greatest of all time. I dont even need to present stupid statistics to tell u that. No comparison needed.
The Panthers also had the best defensive line last year n another guy, RICKY MANNING!!! He put on a show in the playoffs. This defense is great.
And I dont expect to take u seriously when u throw out these obsurd opinions. O yea, right, the Broncos defense is going to be one of the greatest ever, whos on that team again??? Give me a break.
Do u even realize wat u r sayin “historicly great”. How can u even think that. Even with the stats u presented, that isnt all time great material, even if they perform better than expected. This subject is insane.
OPINIONS And besides the point, ppl have opinions. Thats what makes sports so great. We can throw stupid stats at ppl all we want but if they dont agree, it makes no difference. Obviously u dont have an opinion. Those numbers rule all ur thoghts, i can see that. U should juss think past the numbers for once in ur life and think logically. They have NO SHOT AT GREATNESS!!!!!!
D You can talk your weak smack about one game last year all you want. That’s all you have to fall back on. What should I expect from a man who thinks Ricky Williams is the best back in the league, and of course, can’t back it up.
I’ve been pretty clear that, on a limited basis, Sapp still has something to give. The problem isn’t only phsical decline, but that he just doesn’t care anymore. He coasts on his reputation. He takes plays off. He can’t be relied on to even give consistant effort.
On the other hand, Eliss has no quit in him. If he’s on the field, he’s giving everything he has. So, yeah, at this point in their careers, I’d take Eliss over Sapp without hesitation.
As always, you base your opinions off of reputation and “accepted wisdom”. Hype is more important than performance. You haven’t a clue about what either Mobley or Gold’s production was last year or what would be required to exceed that production.
I love both players and wish we still had them. But they’ve already been succesfully replaced. Williams is icing on the cake at this point.
D First you whine that I give you no facts, then you stomp your feet and scream that I give you nothing but facts. Which is it? Both statements can’t be true. Your ability to think critically is, to be polite, underwhelming.
Here is the sum of your “rebuttal”.
NE will be great because I say so!
Carolina will be great because I say so!
Denver will not be great because I say so!
Yep, those are opinions all right. Unsupported and thoughtless, but still opinions.
Congratulations. Would you like a nice, shiny silver star, now?
For finding it so hard to respect my opinion, you sure to spend a lot of time hyperventilating over it. My goodness, look at all the pretty exclamation points you used.
Facts Your radical and sensational views on sports have somewhat disturbed me.
you dont need facts to support the notion that the Pats will be a great team, the fact is they won the SB.
Wat u r sayin doesnt even require facts for a rebuttle. U think that the BRONCOS defense will be one of the greatest ever, that is the dumbest idea i have ever heard, and i dont need stupid stack u, the fact is that they are juss not good enough.
Not everything in sports has to be explained with stats.