Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Set To Clash With Top NFL Defenses In 2025

Episode Date: June 30, 2025

Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos offense will face some of the NFL's toughest defenses in 2025. How can Nix and the Broncos play against the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, and that vaunted Super Bowl Championship Philadelphia Eagles defensive units this upcoming season? Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos. WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT?For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today -- Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBroncos?sid=YouTube Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL Follow on Twitter: @CodyRoarkNFL and @SayreBedingerFollow the show on Twitter: @LockedOnBroncos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos offense will face some of the NFL's toughest defenses in 2020. We'll highlight the top three challenges they'll face this season. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up, Broncos country? Welcome into another episode with Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. for all your Broncos news content coverage. And now says more, this is the place to be every single day all year long. So we want to give a special shout out to everyone in Broncos country, all the everyday years out there.

Thanks for tuning in, making us your first listen every single day. However, you choose to do so. And if you're not yet in everydayer, become one. It's simple. Hit that subscribe or that follow button wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube so you never miss out on what's going on with your favorite team. I'm Cody Roark, Broncos reporter from all high sports. And I'm Sarah Bedinger's side expert at predominantly orange. And while the Broncos will have their hands full this upcoming season facing against some of the NFL's top defenses,

Bo Nix and the Broncos offense are looking to overcome that hurdle. They're looking to make some big statements against some of the top defensive units this upcoming season. We'll go through and talk about while their matchup against the Green Bay Packers could be the most underrated defense at Bo Nix and this Broncos offense faces here on the schedule this upcoming season. And inside the AFC West, the Chargers defense is one of the top units last year in the NFL. Will that still be the case for them this upcoming season? And then, of course, a matchup in week five against former friend, Vic Fangio, and that vaunted Super Bowl championship defense in Philadelphia. Tough challenges for Bow Nix and this team and what they can do to overcome that

and maybe beat these teams specifically. We'll go through all that on today's episode of show. Sarah, let's open up. Let's talk about an NFC team that the Broncos are going to face a little bit later on down the stretch of the season here. The Green Bay Packers usually have an underrated defense. In the last couple of years, you've seen them trend up a little bit, courts having, you know, what could be a very good defense.

We've got to see them a little bit up close and personal and joint training camp practices. Last year in Denver, where we saw Bo Nix as a rookie, take advantage. He looked good in that practice, right? But now you get to play that unit this upcoming season, and there are a handful of players on that defensive line at pass rush or at linebacker and new faces in the secondary that will certainly pose a challenge for Nicks in this offense. They've done so well in the NFL drafts. I mean, so many first round picks on that defensive front.

And yeah, they like to bank on their draft picks maybe more than other teams. So they don't necessarily have all the household names, but they've got a ton of guys who play really well together. Rishon, Gary, Lucas Van Ness coming off the edge. They're expecting a big breakthrough from Van Ness this year. Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark on the interior defensive line. They've got guys who rotate in. But one of their secret weapons from last year was rookie Edgaren Cooper, who's now entering his second season. He was a second round pick for them last year.

year, Cody, and they just did so well. They were among the league leaders in terms of turnovers forced with 31, which I know you and I talked about how we hope the Broncos can lead the NFL and interceptions this coming season. The Packers created so many turnovers last year, and they did it without a ton of production, obviously at their, the cornerback position, at least consistently. So Xavier McKinney came in, had eight interceptions for them last season. So tons of guys on the defensive front, they get after you a variety of different. different ways and they've got playmakers that can get that can take the ball away from you. I want to and talk about players to the evident ideal philosophy of that defense there is to

stuff and compress the run and force you into passing situations on, you know, third and medium, third and long where I think they do a really good job of disguising their coverages, mixing up between zone and man a little bit. You'll see some disguised pressure looks from that defense. And the idea is to, hey, let's create a little bit of pressure and then try to get a takeaway or Let's show a look as if we're going to send pressure, drop back, and then take away all the spots that a quarterback can throw to. They do a really good job of showcasing that. It's not like you're going to pick up specific tendencies on this team.

And I think that's just when you talk about a well-coach, well-disciplined team, it factors in. And then when you factor in guys like for Sean Gary, who can rush the quarterback, you know, as at D.N can rotate and rush on the end, you know, on the inside as a one tech if you need him to. This is a defense that has guys at almost every level of the field. that could be impact playmakers, though their biggest loss this offseason was Jaiyre Alexander. They go out there and they add Nate Hobbs, who is obviously a former foe of the Denver Broncos inside the AFC West used to play for the Las Vegas Raiders. He'll primarily play probably inside the slot and the nickel a little bit for them. So I'm very curious to see where this Packers defense is when the Broncos face them on the schedule

because I think, I don't know, and I don't want this to come across as a hot take, but part of me feels like the Packers will end up being better offensive. defensively and defensively this year, then the Detroit lines. I have a feeling Detroit's going to take a little bit of a step back this year. I think the Packers are a team. I think it's going to take a little bit of a bigger rise than I think most people have in terms of expectations inside that division. Yeah, continuity really helps the Packers more than any other team in their division this year.

And the Vikings are changing quarterbacks. The Lions lost a ton with their two coordinators leaving for head coaching gigs. And then obviously that two major departures on the interior line, their edge didn't get better. So Chicago taking a lot of people that helped it could be better. But I mean, Caleb Williams took way too many sacks last year. So I see an in-road for a team like Green Bay,

especially if their defense can play consistently well for them to take that next step in the NFC North and get back to kind of where they were a couple of seasons ago, where they had the 49ers on the ropes and almost made it to the NFC championship game. That defense is going to be good. The question is, are they going to be able to weather the storm in the secondary where their cornerback position is a major question mark.

I mean, they do have really talented guys in this year. They nailed a couple of draft picks last year with the second round pick coming in out of Georgia. That was Javon Bullard is his name. Evan Williams, the safety out of Oregon came in, played really well for them, actually took a starting job right next to Xavier McKinney. So they've got players that can rotate around the defense. And you feel like Jeff Halfley has a good. grasp on how to utilize his guys.

I think the major question mark is, number one, will Lucas Van Ness step up and become that type of rusher they believed he could be when they drafted him in round one? And then number two, do you have the personnel at corner to be able to hold up over the course of an NFL season? Because right now, I think those are the two biggest things facing this team. Underrated addition for them to this offseason, Isaiah Simmons, who can play that hybrid linebacker safety role for them as well. But, I mean, you look at that second level there with guys like Quay Walker,

Edger and Cooper. I mean, they even have Isaiah McDuffey as an option for them at inside linebacker. You're going to have Isaiah Simmons. It's going to be in there. Christian Welch, former Bronco is also on their roster. He kind of returns to the mix a little bit. After Denver saw him in joint practices, he ends up, I think he spent time after the Broncos released him. I think he spent time with Baltimore.

Now he's back in Green Bay after all this time. So we'll see how things kind of transpire there. But where's the challenge here for Bo Nix and this Broncos offense? When we look at the additions that Denver's offseat made this offseason, I really think here the Packers game plan, if we could project it a little way too early, I think it's going to be come out here to try to shut down the Broncos running game, right? And for Sponix and those Broncos team to pass the football a lot more than maybe they'd want to. That's how I see it going. What do you think a counter would be to that?

Like I think this is where you want to see guys like Evan Ingram, R.J. Harvey come in and factor in the equation here because you need to be able to attack that middle of the field there and get some of those. isolated matchups and maybe test this cornerback depth a little bit on the outside with guys like Sutton, maybe with Marvin, Troy, Devon, Valey, and even Pat Bryant. That to me is what I'm excited to see. Yeah, I think against a team like Green Bay, you have the weapons to be able to get the job done. The question is you've got to make sure you're keeping the ball on your side, right? You have to have ball security and you have to win situationally. The Packers had 12 different players last season force at least one fumble, but they still struggled in situational football. Like they were 12th in the NFL and third down percentage, which is solid, but they were

20th in red zone percentage. So if teams started moving the ball on them, they were pretty easily able to score. They were fifth worst in the NFL in opposing drives that ended in a score. So they did give up quite a bit. And they still ended the year with sixth and points allowed. So it was really a matter of, okay, if you're playing against the Packers, and you can have control of the ball. And apparently a lot of teams did not do that

because they averaged almost two turnovers forced a game. But if you can keep the ball and you can win the turnover battle, you have a decent shot against this team. And that's ultimately where I think the Broncos will have to make sure that they're on top of their game is ball security and situational football. Broncos country, luckily this game is in Denver. You don't have to go to Lambeau Field late in the seeds. You want to know your thoughts here on the Packers' defensive challenge

they present to Bo Nix and the Broncos offense. Make sure you share your thoughts on today's episode of the show. But now we're going to take a glance at a divisional opponent that the Broncos have to face here. One of the top defenses from last year, Denver's going to have to face them twice this year. What type of challenge will the Los Angeles Charters defense present, despite some of the changes they've made here to Bo Nix and this Broncos offense. We'll debate that more on today's episode of the show. Broncos country, today's episode, Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by our friends over there at Monarch.

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Are they going to be as good again this coming season? Are they even still the best defense in the AFC West? We're going to talk about that on today's episode, locked on Broncos and tell you what the Broncos have to do to get past a stingy L.A. defense as they were unable to do so in two games last year, losing both matchups against the Chargers. Broncos Country, thanks so much for making us your first listen of the day. every single day. Your boys, Cody and Sarah, got you covered with all things orange and blue. And Cody, let's talk about the Chargers defense. First of all, do you agree?

There's still the best defense in the AFC West after finishing number one in points allowed last year. Kansas City obviously was up there in terms of total points allowed. There was three of the top 10 defenses in the NFL played in the AFC West last season. So I think it's a worthwhile debate to have, but the Chargers may be the toughest in-division defense that the Broncos face in 2025. It's very possible, though, once again, I never like the bank against, you know, Steve Spagnolo. I think regardless of the turnover that they have there in Kansas City, they have some of their

foundational pieces there. I think Kansas City will be the toughest opponent for the Broncos defensively inside the AFC West. I think Denver, if I can, this may be a bold prediction, I think Denver will have the best defense in the entire AFC West out of all these teams. But I think that the Denver Broncos. toughest challenge defensively this upcoming season. I think it'll be Kansas City, but let's say it is a team like the Los Angeles Chargers.

I mean, Sarah, last year I thought the Chargers did a really good job of compressing things for Bonix, compressing the field, especially in that first matchup that they had, they really tried to take away some of his throwing lanes there. They got a lot of interior pressure. And obviously, that was a combination of having guys like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack. Joey Bosa is no longer on this Chargers defense anymore. And so they're running it back with Khalil Mack, so to speak. And the guy that's anticipated to play the other outside linebacker position outside of him is a very, very talented player.

And that's Tui Tulli to in terms of that pass rush position, their opposite of Khalil Mack. He was a young emerging player for them last year. He was a standout guy off the edge. And then I think at inside linebacker, you know, they do have Dionne Henley, who's I think is very talented as well. I think the projection here is Junior Colson to maybe start over Denzel Perry. We'll see where things are at there. I know they have a former Bronco in the rotation right now, at least going into Trenticamp and Knai Maga,

who used to be on Denver's roster back in the day. And then you factor in Derwin James. Derwin's still a dog. He's a heat-seeking missile here, and they're going to play him in the box, play him in the middle of the field. I think that's something you're going to have to account for. And a Loie Gilman was a guy who really emerged for them last season as well.

This is a tough Chargers defense. Don't get me wrong. But I think that Denver in that second game on Thursday night football, They had the formula. They went away from it, Sarah. They, their effectiveness of rushing the football in the second half changed. And they went away from things that were working. They got a little too fancy on some situations.

And it became a little too predictable, I think, for that Chargers defense, which is why they stymied them a little bit in that second half after Denver had an 11-point lead in the second half. So I think that the chargers have the possibility of being maybe one of the toughest indivision defenses that Denver faces. Though I still think that that nod still goes to Kansas City on my end. Where do you land on this? Well, I think one thing that's going to be fascinating to see differently for this Chargers defense in 2025 is, you know, you lose Joey Bosa, which I mean, that I'm sure Chargers fans have mixed feelings about that because he was hardly ever on the field it seemed like. But Puna Ford was another big addition for that team that played really well. And he's now gone.

So how do you replace those guys? Can you effectively replace those guys? Was it the scheme or was it the talent? I think it's an interesting debate to have certainly when you talk about Chargers versus Chiefs as far as the most tough, the tough in division defense. But the Chargers, number one in the Red Zone last year and number five on third down. So it doesn't get much better than that in terms of situational football. To me, you can chalk that up to game planning and scheme as much as anything else because,

yes, the Chargers have talent, but they were also maximizing certain guys out there that a lot of fans had probably never heard of, right? Especially when you talk about some of their defensive backs, like they had Tarheeb still, a fifth round draft pick last year who was playing well for them. Cam Hart, another fifth round pick. You got production out of just pretty much every, like you mentioned, Tuii Pulotu, who kind of came out of nowhere in 2023 and was a really good player for them. So I know he was a second round pick, but not a lot of expectations on him as far as,

especially the other guys in that unit. So we've got a solid group of guys. And I think that situationally, Jesse Mentor has those guys ready to play every single week. So I do think in terms of the Broncos getting over the hurdle of in division defenses, I think the Chargers present a stiff test this coming year. But also last year, if you could run on the Chargers, you were able to have success. Like, they didn't win every single game. They lost a number of games.

And they got blown out. They got blown out by a couple of teams last season. the Buccaneers game, Cody stands out in my memory as one where, I mean, they just got absolutely decimated for over 500 yards of offense. So it wasn't like this defense was immune from the occasional stinker as well. Yeah. And look, I think so much of it, too, is that level of comfortability for some of these second, third year guys that are going to be getting a little bit more playing time this upcoming season.

They even have some veteran guys in the rotation at pass rusher, like Bud Dupree, who could still have a big impact for them defensively. you look at Teir Tart at the no tackle position. They obviously they added Jamari Caldwell, third round pick, obviously in the 2025 NFL draft. This is a, you know, a team I think has solid depth to it. You know, I think this will probably be maybe the strength of their team. Do we feel like the Chargers offense is still going to be their strength this upcoming season?

I know there's a lot of pressure riding on Justin Herber, who in my opinion, didn't have a lot of playmakers to throw to last year. I'm an Oregon Ducks guy. I feel like the conversation on Herbert's different, right? But this is not obviously an episode on Herbert and the Chargers offense. It is their defense. Where do you feel like with this group here defensively in L.A., that the Broncos can have their most success this upcoming season?

Because I think the appeal here, and maybe this is what swayed Evan Ingram to sign ultimately in Denver, maybe there is a belief that Denver's got a better defense versus the Chargers having a better defense, maybe in his perception, so to speak, where it's like, all right, I know I'm going to be part of this offense, which the charges offense, pretty good last season with J.K. Dobbins healthy. We saw what it was like when he was not in the mix for them last year. They kind of struggled a little bit. They have more playmakers around Herbert, though. So for me, it's like, all right, is the belief for Evan Ingram why he signed?

It was like, all right, hey, Denver's got a better defense. Like, we're going to have the opportunity to possess the football maybe a lot more than I would if I was a, you know, member of the Chargers. Yeah, I think that running game with J.K. Dobbins is where the Broncos can really exploit this Chargers defense. I think that's where they struggled last year, 27th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed, Cody. And so you look at that statistic right there. And I just think that that's one area where the Broncos, they saw it late in the season. They saw the weakness in the armor. And they're like, all right, let's pound the ball right down the field.

And they did just that. That first drive against the Chargers last year late in the season was one of the most beautiful, executed offensive drives the Broncos had all year long. And then they kept pouring it on in the first half. I just felt like they were on their way to dominating that game and taking over second place in the AFC West. And then ultimately, you know, let that one trickle down their legs a little bit. And so I think that running, running against the Chargers, especially without Puna Ford there, and with some older guys on the edge, with all due respect to Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree,

players like that, you've got young linebackers out there. I think the Broncos can take advantage of the Chargers run defense, which I would guess is probably their fans' primary concern this offseason as well. We'll see if Denver can find a way to get that run game going. And like I said, they had it against the Chargers in that late Thursday night game in the first half. Then they went away from it. And then it suddenly, everything kind of went downhill for the Broncos offense after there. So I think it gets a team like the Chargers who, you know, while they lost Kalil Mack,

they're returning a large portion of the foundational pieces of their defense. You can't afford to become one dimensional against this Jesse Minter-led defensive unit in L.A. Broncos country, we want to know your thoughts on whether or not you believe that the Chargers or the Chiefs, might be the Broncos biggest threat defensively when they face them twice per year this upcoming season and that challenge that it presents here for Bullnix and that Broncos offense. But we're not done just yet. The Broncos arguably biggest test that they're going to face this year defensively will be that Vic Fangio-led Super Bowl defense in Philadelphia week five.

What will they do to try to make things difficult for Bo Nix in this offense? And what can Bo Nix and the offense do to counter? We'll break all that down and more here on today's episode of the show. After nearly returning to the Denver Broncos to be their defensive coordinator when Sean Payton took over as the team's head coach. Vic Fangio ended up with the Philadelphia Eagles. And in his one season, there in 2024, he helped lead them to a Super Bowl victory where it really was the defense that made life difficult for Patrick Mahomes and company

in a blowout Super Bowl victory. And the Eagles is offseason defensively. They've lost a couple of pieces, but they've retooled it in the NFL draft, adding to a strength of them. and the Broncos. They'll have to face them week five of the NFL season on the road in Philadelphia here. Sarah, do you think that this Eagles defense at Denver is going to be facing this upcoming season?

I mean, when you look at all the teams that they're going to face, do you think that this will be the toughest defense they face all year long? I do. I think the Eagles have the best defense the Broncos will face, and not just because of their personnel on the depth chart, but because of the guy who calls the defense. And that's Vic Fangio, as you mentioned.

He is still a defensive mastermind. He is still capable of dominating NFL passing attacks. I don't know how he's done it, Cody, through the decades, no matter what way the NFL passing attack has evolved to be the reason why teams are winning and putting up so many points, Vic Fangio has been able to adapt. It's what got him hired in Denver in the first place when his Chicago defenses were so dominant against the past. And in Denver even, especially against like Patrick Mahomes,

I don't think people really appreciate just how good Vic Fangio's defenses played against Patrick Mahomes when he was in Denver. And then obviously, you know, he went to Miami for a year. And now here he is in Philadelphia doing his thing again. And personnel-wise, he's still got some dogs out there, doesn't he? I mean, Jalen Carter is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, the duo of Cooper DeGine. And then Quinyon Mitchell in the defensive backfield last year was one of the best rookie dole. rookie pairings in the entire NFL and those guys both played so well for Vic. So you just,

you can look at any numbers, any metric that you want from last season. That Eagles defense, they were terrible, Cody in 2020. Like they were so bad the year before. And it's, it was similar personnel other than the defensive backfield getting overhaul,

which is a big deal. But Vic worked his magic with that team in 2020. Not a surprise either. I mean, the way Vic understood. stands defense. It's incredible. Like the amount of knowledge that Vic has, like, people don't understand. The game of football is so advanced in terms of offenses in today's world, right? Vic Fangio was the architect that revealed the formula of beating that Sean McVeigh, Los Angeles

Rams high octane offense, and Bill Belichick copied that when they beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, right? And then like in terms of, okay, how do you stop what's going on with Patrick Mahomes? Vic Fangers is like the too high safety look is what we're going to emerge to to try to limit that Travis Kelsey, Tyree killed downfield explosiveness that we saw for a while there. Vic really is. I think when you look at architects of the game, when it's all said and done, Vic Fangio will be a Hall of Fame coach because of what he was able to do to shape the way the defense is played in today's game. I think as it evolves forward, you see so many teams trying to replicate what Vic Fangio was doing. Now you look at the personnel that Vic has. Of course, they lost a couple of key guys as well.

They lost Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, C.J. Gardner Johnson. Those are some big losses for them. But you could make the argument that they're okay. I mean, I think that's why the Eagles were okay was letting some of their outside linebacker pass rushing guys go was because of who they had there. You mentioned Jalen Carter. There's Jordan Davis. I mean, you have two first rounders at the nose tackle position. And then you have Nolan Smith, who's obviously a first round pick as well at outside linebacker.

I think really the biggest question here is what's it going to be? be like at D.N. Right now, I think the projection is Moro Ojoomo as maybe one of those guys. And then obviously they added in the fourth round, Ty Robinson into the mix. But I think when you look at their inside linebacker, obviously they got Zach Bonn, who just is a heat-seeking missile. I mean, this is a guy who really was such a steel, was it was a bargain addition for them last year. And then he got the bag this off season. The way that Zach Bond plays at linebacker, you combine that with Nacobie Dean, who's got obviously got some injury concerns there, and they get Jehad Campbell in the first round of this year's draft.

This is a team that is loaded to the brim with talent at linebacker, at safety, at corner, at defensive line. All three levels feature elite level players. That to me is the challenge here. And unfortunately for the Broncos and Bo Nix in this offense, they're going to have to go on the road to Eastern Time Zone game. Week 5 on a short week after you just play the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night football. The recipe, at least on paper, I think a lot of people look at,

at this game saying, okay, this is going to be a rough game for the Broncos. Where can Bow Nix in this Broncos offense, in your opinion, maybe surprise and attack this Eagles defense, which it's going to be hard for a lot of teams? It's one of those defenses that you kind of just have to go after, right? You can't play into their strengths. You can't try to beat them at chess. You have to just go straight out and say,

we're going to put best on best. Whatever we do best, we're going to go at you with it. And that's just what we're going to do. And you're going to have to see, if you can, If you can beat our best, it's kind of like in baseball, Cody, a lot of times, announcers are like, all right, he's going to bring him with the fastball. And if you can hit it, you can rename it, you know, sort of thing. And it's like, that's what it's going to be.

Like if the Broncos are finding a hot hand on the ground, they're going to try to beat the Eagles with the running game. If they're finding Bo Nix has the hot hand at the time, you just got to throw on them. It doesn't matter if they're the number one past defense in the NFL. I think you just have to kind of beat them strength on strength. And you mentioned their personnel in the trenches this year. It is evolving. It is changing.

But it's also fascinating. Like Jalick's Hunt is a pass rusher who had a tremendous postseason for them and gave them every reason to allow Josh sweat to walk out the door in free agency to the Cardinals. Jehad Campbell can rush the passer. Remember, he was in a similar situation that Drew Sanders was in at Alabama, where they were just so good off the edge at Alabama that he had no. playing time. So he had to move to offball linebacker so they can get their best 11 guys on the field, but he could rush the passer. And he's going to be used in that way as a rookie by Vic Fangio. And we know Fangio was obviously around when the Broncos drafted Baron Browning. I don't think that it'll be the exact same projection, but I think it'll be a similar type of deal where you feel

like he can float and play a number of different positions for you on that defense. So really, really excited to see Vic win a Super Bowl last year. I wish him nothing but the worst in week five, but other than that, Bodey, I think that we can all agree that then it's been, it's been validating for all of us who had Vicks back, who really wanted him hired by the Broncos in the first place to see him go out there and do what he's done. I mean, yeah, I do, I still believe the Broncos were just a quarterback away with Vic as the guy out.

I think they would have been able to win a lot of games if he had been the head coach, maybe even in 2022, maybe that's a different discussion for another day. Hey, we can always play one of those like Marvel What If series here with the Lockdown Broncos podcast here. I also think as well, a couple of guys adding the rotation from the New York Giants, Aziz OJulari as a pass rusher, Adori Jackson. I mean, all right, that's just luxury additions at this point. When you talk about depth guys that can start for you, if you need them to, there is that. I also find it a little bit interesting as well as we look at this Eagles defense and how they can evolve and how they keep going forward. They're attacking.

They're smothering here. And for me, I think with Vic and obviously Christian Parker, who was a hot name for a potential defensive coordinator initially during the search and ended up landing in Philadelphia during that time versus returning to Denver, the ties that bind here are always, always interesting, right? Because the Eagles, they got two of the Broncos guys that they want. Like when Sean Payton initially came out of retirement, his ideal defensive coordinator was Vic Fangio to come to Denver.

And I also think this is a tip of the hat to a guy like Vance Joseph because because of that, like people are saying, well, obviously Vance was not the first choice for Sean Payton and the Broncos. What Vance was able to do with this defense that Denver has last year, major tip of the cap to him because there was a lot of pressure on Vance Joseph last year. And I think there will still always kind of be this inherent pressure on him just because of 2023, just because in some moments last year, the Broncos defense did struggle down the stretch there. I think there will always be that inherent pressure factor there. But Vic Fangio, that Eagles defense will be very tough here for Bo Nixon and this Broncos offense. But how sweet would it be if that Broncos offense and Bo Nixon year number two found a way to go into Philadelphia and challenge and throw haymakers against Vic Fangio's defense?

We'll see if they can do that this upcoming season here. Broncos country, did we nail it or did we leave a team off that you felt like was a better defense that Denver's going to end up facing that we didn't include on this list? Make sure you let us know here. But tomorrow's episode, Lockdown Broncos, Sarah and I, we're going to sit down and we're going to discuss the top three wide receivers at the Broncos. They will face this upcoming season. Pat Sir Tan against A.J. Brown, is that the marquee matchup of the year? We'll share our thoughts on that on tomorrow's episode of the show.