Ranking the Broncos Defensive Players in terms of Importance

[Dr Cyanide 28]

1. Von Miller
Best edge rusher in football
2. Aqib Talib
Covers number 1s
3. Chris Harris Jr
Best CB tandem in football
4. Derek Wolfe
Interior pass rush improved tremendously, and already an amazing run stuffer
5. Bradley Roby
Having 3 guys who can cover 1v1? all bump and run corners? Yes. Yes. Yes.
6. TJ Ward
Can set the tone, very important player, but the position of safety itself that valuable? That’s why I drop him down here
7. Brandon Marshall
Maybe one of the best ILBs in football…
8. Demarcus Ware
Edge rushers and corners. Most important positions. Ware will have less snaps this year, but still will be effective
9. Darian Stewart
Fantastic safety. but again, safety doesn’t rank compared to corners and edge rushers
10. Shane Ray/Shaq Barrett
EDGE RUSHERS!
11. Jared Crick/Vance Walker
5 technique combo, honestly not sure which one will win out. but solid
12. Sly Williams
Not that important of a position overall in our scheme. We play a lot of sub, so sly isn’t that important.

 

[Mingo]

I might agree with you on Sly being 12th, but the job he does is vital to the success of the defense - he takes on two players of the offense routinely - leaving 10 defending 9 on offense. He just has a dirty work job and can be replaced without a lot of expense. Still - I would argue the position has a high importance to the D.

 

[Draft Crazy]

The order is tough... Good stab at it.

 

[randymon]

No arguments here.

 

[SpiritOf77]

DeMarcus and Roby should probably switch spots on the list, as I feel Miller is Miller because of having Ware, but Talib and Harris would have the same success no matter who was in the 3rd CB spot .

Not sayin' Roby is not important, but when it comes down to it, Ware, and the chaos her brings, is a bigger factor in making this D click ..

 

[58crash]

I was torn about Ware I want to move him up but to be honest about right .. I do agree with Lucas

 

[SpringStein]

Good list. I'd probably move Marshall up to #5, ahead of Roby and Ward, as the QB of the D.

 

[randymon]

Roby is going to Pro Bowl this year.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Good list. I'd probably move Marshall up to #5, ahead of Roby and Ward, as the QB of the D.

Was thinking the same thing.

 

[SpiritOf77]

Roby is going to Pro Bowl this year.

That would be great ..

He'd then only have to do it 8 more times to match Ware ( .. assuming Ware doesn't get to another )

.. and I can't wait for when Roby makes the NFL All Decade Team

 

[SpiritOf77]

All comparisons aside, this was a thing of beauty

Ladies and germs, we've got a lot of great players on D

 

[SpringStein]

Roby is going to Pro Bowl this year.

Then I'm assuming Harris or Talib are getting hurt early in the season. It would be surprising for the 3rd CB to make it.

 

[Dr Cyanide 28]

That would be great ..

He'd then only have to do it 8 more times to match Ware ( .. assuming Ware doesn't get to another )

.. and I can't wait for when Roby makes the NFL All Decade Team

well when it comes to all time achievement obviously ware is better, but with ware stepping back this year and becoming a situational pass rusher, i just couldn't justify putting him ahead of a guy who will see the field more in 2016

 

[Draft Crazy]

Yeah we probably don't want Roby in the pro bowl this year, all due respect to him.

But in 2017 and beyond......

 

[Draft Crazy]

It is crazy how we spent years trying to get one good corner then finally got Champ and then after he retires we now have 3!

 

[RDog]

Talib is far too overrated. In the playoffs he largely disappeared and then committed his blatant personal fouls when he got frustrated. Roby is much better - rated very high by Football Focus - and deserves to be in the Pro Bowl.

I've also seen lists that have Stewart in the top five - he might just be the glue in the middle of our defense.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Talib is good. He brings that physical style to the team we lacked when we couldn't get over the hump to win the SB cause our D was very soft.

I still think Harris is the better all around CB, but Talib is pretty good. Has a bad game or two a year, but I don't feel he is overrated at all. Nice to have 3 really good CB's. Roby will probably end up startoing the following year and get a Talib like contract from us. Talib was a good signing when we needed him at the most, sorta a year by year signing. With Roby ready to take over it would make sense to get one more year out of Talib and then use his money to re-up Roby long term and search for the next Roby.