Derek Wolfe

[Mingo]

Derek Wolfe is a serious man and a true Broncomaniac

Wolfe is always an interesting interview.

A couple of things - he said - defense is about effort. This is so true and offense is about execution.

Wolfe says the defense is dedicated to being #1 defensively in more than the just 14 categories they were #1 in last season. When experts football prognosticators opine that the Broncos will have troubles this season due to no stable starting QB - they are not factoring in the possibility that this defense is still on an upward arc in getting better. What you hear from Bronco defenders is they want to fix last year's mistakes - and it is essentially the same team playing side by side in the Phillips system for just a 2nd year.

Wolfe truly seems to want to be a Denver Bronco for life - and a guy who wants to prove to the fans he is worth the money he is being paid.

 

[randymon]

He's finally gaining a lot of respect not just from organization or teammates but from other players and the more educated football observers. He's made life a lot easier on Miller,Malik,etc by getting the attention most teams have been realizing that he is a force to pay attention too. He's just now reaching his potential. I expect him to get his first pro-bowl this season.

 

[DownSetHutch]

Great post, Mingo.

Derek Wolfe is a badass.

 

[cdumler7]

I love his attitude. I love that he talks about how this team has a standard that has been set and that any player not living up to that standard will be gone. Heck heard Kollar got after some rookie the first day of OTA's because he was only going half speed. There is accountability among this team that they will not stand for anything less than greatness.

 

[58crash]

TY Mingo

 

[Draft Crazy]

Our most improved player last season. Thanks to the defensive scheme change.

 

[Mingo]

I think Wolfe will have a bigger season this season than he did last year.

 

[iknowftbll]

I think Wolfe will have a bigger season this season than he did last year.

I think it's definitely reasonable to expect him to have a bigger season than Malik Jackson will. Jackson is a solid player but he won't have the benefit of the insane depth of this Broncos front 7. Wolfe will help those around him and he'll benefit from those around them. There is some serious synergy with these guys. Perhaps any given one of them are not the single best at a given position (you can make a case for Von Miller) but the sum is greater than the parts, and it shows on game day.

 

[Mingo]

I think it's definitely reasonable to expect him to have a bigger season than Malik Jackson will. Jackson is a solid player but he won't have the benefit of the insane depth of this Broncos front 7. Wolfe will help those around him and he'll benefit from those around them. There is some serious synergy with these guys. Perhaps any given one of them are not the single best at a given position (you can make a case for Von Miller) but the sum is greater than the parts, and it shows on game day.

What I will add to this is that Wolfe - got a release from the JR defense where he was the stay at home run stopping cleanup guy - while Malik got the make plays - this season the new kid from Australia will have the dirty jobs.

 

[58crash]

I think it's definitely reasonable to expect him to have a bigger season than Malik Jackson will. Jackson is a solid player but he won't have the benefit of the insane depth of this Broncos front 7. Wolfe will help those around him and he'll benefit from those around them. There is some serious synergy with these guys. Perhaps any given one of them are not the single best at a given position (you can make a case for Von Miller) but the sum is greater than the parts, and it shows on game day.

I bet Jared Crick has a better season than Jackson ..I still wish Jackson would of stayed ..

 

[Draft Crazy]

I don't agree with Crick having a better season then Jackson, but I like Crick as an added piece.

 

[cdumler7]

I don't agree with Crick having a better season then Jackson, but I like Crick as an added piece.

To me it depends a bit on what you mean by better season. I honestly think they could be close on sacks for the season. That doesn't mean Crick is a better pass rusher though of the two. Just means he has the better supporting cast that takes pressure off him and gives him some easy pass rush situations.

 

[58crash]

That is what I am talking CD ... I did say I still wanted Jackson on the team for a reason

 

[cdumler7]

That is what I am talking CD ... I did say I still wanted Jackson on the team for a reason

I would love to have Jackson for sure. He was a very good player for us. I do think though the rotation of Crick, Walker, and Gotsis can replace most of what we lost with Jackson.

 

[WalkerBoh]

I suspect we will miss Malik Jackson about as much as we missed Pot Roast.

 

[iknowftbll]

I suspect we will miss Malik Jackson about as much as we missed Pot Roast.

You know, this is a really good point. That the Broncos didn't bring back Pot Roast for the 2015 season was the subject of much criticism among the national sports media. And the team was just fine. In a defense as insanely talented as this one at all the positions groups and levels of the defense, one or two players departing will not make the difference between a great defense and an awful one. I've heard a lot of people hedge their bets with arguments like "The Broncos defense will still be pretty solid, BUT...(insert re-tread argument overstating the degree of turnover on the unit.)" A counter argument you are starting to hear out of Dove Valley is the players believe they'll be even better. It's the second year in the system. Things they were learning last year they are building upon this year. That you don't hear this discussed, even as just a possibility, out of any of the national media should tell you everything you need to know about the simplistic analysis at that level.

 

[WalkerBoh]

This is also where that "talent conveyor belt" I've mentioned in the past starts to pay dividends. It means that when higher profile players leave via FA , that there is a more than competent replacement waiting in the wings. This concept works especially well on the defensive side of the ball as well as Special Teams. It also works well in systems that value the team approach over catering to specific veterans.

 

[58crash]

You know, this is a really good point. That the Broncos didn't bring back Pot Roast for the 2015 season was the subject of much criticism among the national sports media. And the team was just fine. In a defense as insanely talented as this one at all the positions groups and levels of the defense, one or two players departing will not make the difference between a great defense and an awful one. I've heard a lot of people hedge their bets with arguments like "The Broncos defense will still be pretty solid, BUT...(insert re-tread argument overstating the degree of turnover on the unit.)" A counter argument you are starting to hear out of Dove Valley is the players believe they'll be even better. It's the second year in the system. Things they were learning last year they are building upon this year. That you don't hear this discussed, even as just a possibility, out of any of the national media should tell you everything you need to know about the simplistic analysis at that level.

Pot roast came into Denver during FA this year telling 9 news how much he wanted to be a Bronco still ....Our staff never sniffed him..

I think we are way better at the Position if the Guy from Duke stays health ... not because of him only but all the other guys and add in his pass Rush from the out side will be killer .. We should lighten his load during the preseason and give him 15 snaps a game his knee might hold up to that .. then you rotate the rest as fit to down and distance ..

 

[58crash]

Wolf at the end of last year was better than Jackson IMO

 

[Draft Crazy]

I don't think that is far fetched. While Jackson's supporting cast is better in Jax then it would have been a year ago, Wolfe's supporting cast is much better.