Broncos, Joseph learning what approach they’ll need against offenses adapting to defuse pass rush

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph knew something was off among his players as they warmed up last Friday night prior to what would be a 33-13 preseason throttling dealt to them by the Green Bay Packers.

“Yeah, I kind of felt it there,” Joseph said.

But this was preseason. A game where the win-loss result is quickly forgotten. So, as he observed his Broncos defense going through its paces, he didn’t correct. He first wanted to see if the players themselves could find the space he wanted.

“And you want your team to grow and control that part, right? If you feel it as a coach in the regular season, you address that.

“But obviously, in training camp, I want to see how they would respond to a long camp and playing a better opponent in Week 2. So, disappointed in how we came out.”

The Broncos defense was off, even though it did come within an eyelash of a forced fumble on the second play of the game before an instant-replay reversal erased all traces of Pat Surtain II’s takeaway from the record books. Miscommunication dotted the work for the defense.

But the lesson of last week was about more than the approach, which Joseph dubbed as “unengaged” and “a little bit lazy.” It was also a glimpse into how Joseph expects opponents to attack a defense that led the NFL in sacks in each of the previous two seasons.

“We’ve seen how offenses see us,” Joseph said.

“Lots of boots, lots of misdirection, outside runs more often than not, max-protection passes, quick game. Teams don’t want to lose first down because if they do lose first down, our rush, it comes alive. So, I think that that game was an example of what is coming in the future, how teams see us.

“… Winning first down with quick game boots, outside runs more often than inside runs. So, to me, it was a great lesson on both ends of when we play, it’s a standard and I want to see it all the time.”

Meeting that standard will require some adjustment — which is part of the reason why Joseph has emphasized the need for takeaways so much in recent months. A successful season for the Broncos defense isn’t likely to look the way it did last year, with the team floating at or near the top of the NFL in total defense. Instead, it is more likely to come with short field set up by turnovers — some of which can be forced by the quick throws to which Joseph referred, as they often happen without a full read from the quarterback. If the defenders are on point in knowing what’s coming, they can jump the route, get their hands up and get it on the football.

And then if Joseph’s defense flourishes in that regard, there will be another countermove from opponents — and it could play right back into the Broncos’ pass-rushing hands.

JOSEPH LOVES THE PROGRESS OF BRONCOS 2025 DRAFTEE QUE ROBINSON

To that end, look for second-year edge rusher Que Robinson to be involved on a rotational basis. With three quarterback hits and a sack in the last two preseason games, he’s lived up to the Broncos’ hopes for him.

“Last year, he didn’t play enough and I knew that this year he would take that step and he’s obviously one of our guys that we’re going to depend on to win games,” Joseph said. “I mean, he is that important to our rotation. He is very smart. He’s got the size you want. He’s a prototype. He drops in coverage, can catch the football. He can rush, set edges.

“So, he’s what you look for in the draft for that position, which is hard to find.”

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