As the Broncos transition to the 3-4 defensive scheme, one of the major differences is going to be the switch for some players from defensive end to a hybrid defensive end/rush linebacker.

One of the great debates of this offseason was who the Broncos would recruit to play such positions, and which players already on the roster would make the switch.

When dissecting Denver’s previous group of defensive ends, it seemed that many, if not all of them, were qualified and perhaps better fit to play as rush linebackers in a 3-4 scheme.

The only problem is, these players will not only have to develop their craft as pass rushers standing up; they will have to learn how to excel in pass coverage.

For what the Broncos may lack in some other areas on defense, they definitely do not have a shortage of high-profile players who will transition to rush linebackers.

Among this group are the players who have led the Broncos in sacks over the last three seasons, two top-20 draft picks, a second-round pick, and a YouTube legend.

One starting spot at this new position will be filled undoubtedly by former fourth-round draft pick Elvis Dumervil.

Dumervil was taken in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisville following a stellar collegiate career where he was named first team All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award recipient, and finished his senior season with 20 sacks—second all-time for a single-season NCAA total.

Why was he picked in the fourth round?

Despite Dumervil’s superior skill as a pass rusher, he stands at only 5’11” and 248 pounds.

In three seasons with the Broncos, Dumervil has 26 sacks, which are the 13th highest total in the NFL during that time frame. He has started every game for the Broncos over the last two seasons, and is an impact player on this defense.

Despite Dumervil’s career success, many vastly underrate his abilities, especially the people at Madden NFL ’10, who gave the Broncos’ pass rusher a sub-70 overall rating. 

In case one is not in the know—that is horrible.

Even though Dumervil was not carrying a large enough chip on his shoulder for being passed on for over three and a half rounds of the 2006 NFL Draft because of his size, he now has this to use as motivation.

Dumervil was quoted earlier this offseason as saying this year’s Denver defense will be “nasty.” He needs to get a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback in order for that prediction to hold true.

The biggest asset to Dumervil’s game is his long arms. In fact, the length of his arms can often off-set his shorter stature to get separation from bigger offensive tackles.

Lining up on the opposite side of Dumervil could be rookie Robert Ayers, a first-round draft pick out of Tennessee who was one of the pieces in the Jay Cutler trade.

The 6’3″ 274 pound Ayers has drawn comparisons to fellow AFC West hybrid linebacker Shawne Merriman. The Broncos hope to get Merriman-like production out of the second team All-SEC selection.

Ayers has an excellent combination of size and speed, and although he was not a superstar for the Volunteers, he led the conference with 15.5 tackles for loss, which will help the Broncos tremendously.

Many scouts believe Ayers is in the beginning stages of showing what he is capable of doing, and the Volunteers’ Most Improved Defensive player from 2008 needs to make great strides in the Mile High City to help this porous defense.

There were some in NFL circles who felt Ayers improved his draft stock dramatically with one of the best performances at the Senior Bowl. Too be honest, there were too many red flags for this Bronco enthusiast to get excited about the prospect of Ayers joining this team.

I felt he was a better fit for a 4-3 defensive end, but what did I know?

An NFL.com top-five list ranked Ayers as the top impact rookie in the entire NFL, and he was called the “best defensive prospect in the draft” by NFL and NCAA football analyst Mike Mayock.

Ayers has worked on his game, especially standing up and improving in pass coverage over the last few months. He has also spent a ton of extra time in Denver doing so this offseason.

In addition to Ayers, Broncos fans will be able to look forward to another new face at this position: former Indianapolis Colts special teams ace Darrell Reid.

Reid is the biggest hybrid linebacker on the Broncos’ roster, where they list him at 6’2″ 288 pounds.

I stated in the opening that Reid is a YouTube legend, and you can view that clip here.

Reid has been the leader of the Colts’ special teams over the last four seasons, ranking first on the team with 45 special teams tackles over that time span.

The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota provides the Broncos with an extremely athletic option at this position, especially for his size.

Reid started the offseason as one of the first team rush linebackers with Denver, and could be a dark-horse to start the season in that role.

One player who surprisingly is seemingly on the bubble heading into training camp is former first-round draft pick Jarvis Moss.

Moss is entering his third season out of Florida, and it was rumored that the Broncos were attempting to deal him for a seventh-round pick in April’s draft. However, those reports were never confirmed by the Broncos.

If one thing is for sure, it is that Moss absolutely looks the part of a pass rushing phenomenon. He stands at 6’7″ and checked in to minicamps at 257 pounds. Moss compares very favorably in size to the great Jason Taylor, but he has yet to live up to his lofty potential.

One thing Broncos fans learned about Moss is that he does not fit into a conservative defense, which the team has run for as long as I can remember.

Now, the fans are expecting a more aggressive approach to the defense, especially via the pass rush.

Many feel and have felt since Moss entered the league in 2007 that he was best fit for an aggressive defense where he can utilize his quickness. He is not a run-stuffer by any means, and the Broncos would love to have six, seven, maybe eight sacks out of him as a third down specialist.

In two seasons with Denver, Moss has recorded only 3.5 sacks, but he has only played in a total of 18 games over that time frame. However, the jury is still out on him. He is not yet a “bust”, but he is flirting with the fine line between prospect and failed project.

Another player who is in the same boat with Jarvis Moss is former Texas Longhorn product and 2007 second-round draft pick Tim Crowder.

Crowder had high expectations for his sophomore campaign after a rookie season where he recorded four sacks.

Instead of bringing hope to the Broncos’ pass rush, Crowder was only penciled in for six games in 2008. 

Still, head coach Josh McDaniels has seen enough from him that the third year player has seen time in mini-camps as the first string outside linebacker.

Because he has played in only 19 career games, the jury is still out on this kid.  He has great potential with his combination of size, speed, and strength, and perhaps like many of the other Broncos’ defensive linemen, he could just be a better fit for the 3-4 scheme.

The biggest part of the defensive transition for the Broncos, these linebackers in particular, will be the challenge of standing up and defending the pass.  

If these young kids can bring some “heat”, shades of defenses past will re-surface in the Mile High City.

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