Take it from someone who knows. The Broncos run game is already improved.
Consider him an inside source, as in inside linebacker.
Broncos inside linebacker Brandon Marshall knows, because he’s been facing that same run game in practice and training camp for the past four-plus years. He’s seen the offense at its best (in 2013 and ’14) and at its not-so-best (2015 and ’16), and says this year’s run game is looking solid.
Marshall spoke with Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro on Monday, and shared what he’s seen so far in training camp and practices as a linebacker defending the run.
“Absolutely. Definitely,” he said when asked if this is an improved unit from last year.
The difference?
“I think the guys [are the difference] – who we put in there,” Marshall said. “Ron Leary, [Matt] Paradis, you know [Connor] McGovern is actually playing really well, Menelik [Watson]. Those guys are more stout in the run game. So I think that’ll leave more holes for C.J. [Anderson] and those guys, and the scheme that Mike McCoy brings is excellent. So I have no worries about that phase.”
The running game will get its second test of the preseason this week in a pair of practices with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by Saturday’s preseason game in Santa Clara.
Listen to the full interview with Marshall, including how the defensive line is responding to a recent spate of injuries, in the podcast below.
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Catch Afternoon Drive with Goodman and Shapiro every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
