Before becoming the Broncos’ head coach, Vic Fangio coached defenses — and defensive players — at some level of football dating all the way back to 1979. He’s a defensive mastermind and a bit of a linebacker guru.
Consequently, Denver’s defense (especially the linebackers) should look improved in 2019.
“It’s awesome being able to work with these guys every day and being able to hear Coach Fangio talk in our defensive meetings,” linebacker Josey Jewell said after practice on May 20. “Stuff like that’s been cool. We’ve really learned a lot about defense and different types of concepts.
“I think with his defense what’s really cool is they [the offenses] are never really knowing what you’re in — what coverage you’re in. It really disguises everything really well.”
Broncos linebackers have struggled to cover tight ends over the last several years and Fangio could be just what the doctor ordered to fix that problem.
In addition to teaching the defenders better technique in coverage, Fangio will also install a system that could confuse quarterbacks, decreasing the chances of a linebacker getting matched up one-on-one with a tight end.
“With a bunch of different coverages that he has and the way he disguises things, sometimes a quarterback is not going to know what you’re in and not going to know where to pick on you at,” Jewell said.
“Say you’re in Cover-3 and he thinks you’re in man or something like that. He’s not going to be able to pick it out and know exactly where to go right away and have those quick throws.”
If the defense successfully confuses QBs like Jewell says it could, tight ends shouldn’t be as big of a problem as they have been in the past.
Jewell and fellow inside linebacker Todd Davis could be poised to have career years if Fangio’s past success with LBs continues. Even if the two defenders don’t put up big numbers, though, fans in Denver will be thrilled if they’re not beat by TEs often in 2019.
