The Denver Broncos defense could be further ahead right now going into training camp compared to where they were last year. Scheme continuity, staff retention, and new players buying in have Alex Singleton believing that the defense is in a better spot as training camp begins.
Denver Broncos defense further ahead going into 2024 training camp
Last season was a disaster in the early portion of the year for the Denver Broncos defensively. Without having to rehash the 70-point debacle in Miami and the consistent struggles with Denver’s run defense, Broncos inside linebacker Alex Singleton believes the team is further ahead right now going into training camp than they were last season.
After changing the scheme midway through the season, the Broncos began to find their groove defensively, going on a run of forcing turnovers left and right that helped fuel a five-game win streak — ultimately putting them back into the playoff picture after a 1-5 start. However, defensive lapses against the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, and the Las Vegas Raiders to close the season deflated their hopes down the stretch.
“I think we’re further ahead,” Singleton said. “Having the staff two years in a row, you’re not relearning the new stuff. We know how practices are going to go; we know the warmups, and we know the meeting schedules. That stuff I would say we are way further ahead, and I just think we’re just practicing faster. We said it during OTAs, but I think it’s the same thing. It’s just year two with the same staff, so it’s going faster.”
Even with continuity on the coaching staff and with the defensive scheme remaining intact, personnel changes this offseason have various players competing to fill those shoes. In particular, Josey Jewell and Justin Simmons departures have left some of those big shoes to fill.
Cody Barton and Jonas Griffith appear to be the two players right now going into training camp who are seriously vying for the starting job next to Singleton, who will be wearing the green dot for Vance Joseph this season.
Both players made some plays in 7-on-7 and Denver’s lone team period on Wednesday’s first training camp practice.
“It’s obviously different, but so much of my career, I have been that guy for a lot of it,” Singleton said. “Fighting for a spot or fighting for playing time. It’s good. I think today [Cody [Barton] and Jonas [Griffith] were getting a lot of reps with the two periods. They’re going to rotate and let the best guy win. I think there are a lot of competitions on the team, not just in our room. It makes the team better and VJ said last night that who starts Game 1 doesn’t decide a season. There have been multiple times in my career that in Week 1 or 2 where I’m not starting but I end up starting 15 games. You tell those guys you are competing every day to start Week 1, but that’s not a 17-week decision. That’s a Week 1 decision. Just keep getting better every single day and fit into the best role you can on this team and help us win football games because that’s the ultimate goal of everything.”
With Denver’s additions of John Franklin-Myers, Angelo Blackson, and Malcolm Roach joining Zach Allen and D.J. Jones in the trenches, the Broncos defensive line should be more stout against the run which opens up more opportunity for the inside linebackers to make more plays.