Depth is one of the many makings of a great defense.
The Denver Broncos are no exception. When they have an opposing team on the defensive, they have reliable reinforcements that are more than capable of continuing the attack as the starters regroup and get ready to reengage.
Entering OTAs for the 2017 season, the Broncos had no shortage of pass rushers that possess the ability to get after the quarterback. Then the injuries happened. Fourth-year outside linebacker Shaq Barrett was the first to go down. The hip injury he suffered at the end of May kept him out of the remainder of OTAs, training camp and the entire preseason.
On the first day of training camp, linebacker Shane Ray, the Broncos’ 2015 first-round pick who was set to take over full time for DeMarcus Ware in 2017, went down with a wrist injury that his kept him sidelined since. The Broncos made the decision to place him on IR, with the intention to bring him back once his wrist is fully healed.
Just like that, the Broncos were running thin on pass rushers.
Fortunately, Barrett was cleared to play before their season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and has been exactly what the Broncos needed him to be through the first two weeks of the season.
“It was something that we were aware of week in and week out,” Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods said on Thursday. “It was something that they were progressing him through. Our trainers did a great job of getting him back healthy in terms of the rehab and all the things that they put him through. We just wanted to make sure that we bring him back slowly. He probably played more reps than we wanted him to. We have to make sure that we rotate our other guys in there, but right now, he gives us a good compliment to [OLB] Von [Miller].”
Whether or not he played more snaps than he should have in his first two games, Barrett came back with a bang. Essentially coming in cold, he has accumulated eight tackles and one sack as a starter in wins over the Chargers and the Cowboys.
For Barrett to miss an entire summer’s worth of work, training camp and all four preseason games to come back and play at such a high level, he’s certainly grabbed the attention of his head coach.
“It’s a good thing for us,” Head Coach Vance Joseph said on Thursday. “He missed an entire summer and he missed everything. His first time playing was against the Chargers. I’m very surprised that he’s played so much at an effective level.”
While Barrett’s performance may have caught even Joseph off guard, it didn’t surprise one premier member of the Broncos defense one bit.
“Shaq did that last year,” Von Miller said on Thursday. “Shaq was great last year. Shaq has started games before. He’s dominated games before. He’s covered [Patriots TE Rob] Gronkowski and big-time tight ends before. He’s rushed against tackles before. It’s not a surprise. He’s a pro. I think this is year four for Shaq? He’s deep in the game. He’s Shaq Barrett.”
There is one other person that Barrett’s performance through the first two weeks of the season hasn’t surprised either: Barrett himself.
“I know my capabilities and it’s well within my abilities to do what I’m doing right now,” Barrett said on Monday. “Effort is a lot of it and a little bit of technique, but there’s a lot of effort.”
Doctors figured to play a big role in Denver’s pass rush when both Barrett and Ray went down during the lead up to the season. Barrett’s return has been just what the doctor ordered for the Denver D.
