Broncos rookie safety Will Parks is moving along smoothly with his first season in the NFL. The advantage in his growth is learning from leaders of the best defense the game has seen in quite some time.
With all of the success the defense has experienced, Parks knows as a rookie, there is still a lot of learning to do.
“I feel good. I feel like my pace is up to par with the team,” Parks told Nate Lundy and Shawn Drotar on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7. “But there is always room for improvement. I’ve got a long way to go.”
The defense wasn’t given any favors when the schedule was made for this season and the Broncos are handling it week by week with victories, so far. The defense enjoys the pressure that is put on them, facing three of the league’s top quarterbacks in the first three weeks, and Parks is no different.
“I like a challenge like that,” Parks said. “Three teams with the top quarterbacks in the league always brings forth a challenge. I’m getting ready to make some plays against those guys. The first three games are tough ones. All games are going to be tough and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Rookies can latch on to a big brother type to help mature in this league. There is no shortage of big brothers on this team, which has helped Parks make the transition from college to the NFL.
“T.J. [Ward] has definitely helped me, Corey Nelson, Darian Stewart, Chris Harris, Aquib Talib; those are definitely the top five guys that’s helped me making this transition,” Parks said. “They’ve helped me day in and day out, giving me the ins and outs of this game. I am definitely glad to have those guys.”
The amount of talent on the defensive depth chart goes very deep. With the re-addition of Shiloh Keo this week, the Broncos are stacked in the backfield.
“That just adds more depth back there,” Parks said. “If one guy goes down, God forbid, another guy can step up and be ready. With Keo back, it’s definitely a blessing. He’s an asset that we need.”
Wade Phillips, the coordinator of this monster defense, has a long history in the NFL. Parks is still amazed to be is playing for him.
“It’s like a dream come true to see a guy that’s coached a whole lot of teams, growing up,” Parks said. “I mainly paid attention to him when he was coaching the Cowboys. That’s when I started to see the way he ran defenses. They were a dominant defense. And then to come in here and play for him and actually know what’s going on and knowing how to do stuff, it’s just crazy.”
Parks plays behind Ward as the backup strong safety and is always ready to get in the game. He is learning from the best and soon he hopes to play like the best.
To listen to the whole interview with Will Parks, including his thoughts on the DeMarcus Ware injury, click the podcast below…
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/9-21-16-broncos-safety-will-parks-likes-the-challenge-facing-3-of-the-nfls-top-qbs-lundy-drotar
Catch Nate Lundy and Shawn Drotar Monday-Friday from 7a-9a 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.