Broncos hoping defensive line investment pays off

The Denver Broncos' biggest offseason change besides the exit of Brandon Marshal and the arrival of Tim Tebow has been their investment in the defensive line.

The Broncos made a concerted effort to get tougher upfront, signing veteran linemen Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Jarvis Green to overhaul the front seven.

Bannan, Green and Williams were signed to $22 million, $20 million and $16 million contracts, respectively, to add some teeth to the Broncos' defensive line.

Now, the Broncos are looking for dividends on their investment.

"Obviously they had some things they wanted to shore up," Bannan told the Denver Post. "I think they knew what kind of player they wanted, what we would bring to the table. Does that bring some extra pressure? Maybe, I don't know, but there's pressure every day in this job.

"There are tons of people out there waiting to take your place. Every day you've got to show up for work and get it done. .. We've been around the block once or twice. We know what it takes. When December, January rolls around, we're still going hard and making it happen."

As the article points out, the Broncos' collapse after opening the season with six wins had a lot to do with the lack of run defense.

During seven of the Broncos' final 10 games, their opponents eclipsed 104 rushing yards with five going over 170 yards and the Kansas City Chiefs piling up 317 rushing yards in the season finale.

"The payoff for us upfront is knowing you can play at a level not too many people can reach," Bannan said. "I feel accomplished, I feel happy when I'm exhausted, laying on the field with nothing left.

"That I did something of value in terms of giving something all you have. And winning ballgames too, we're not here just to work hard, and do this and that. We've got to win. Everybody knows that."

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