Broncos' defensive front is team's biggest strength and hasn't reached its ceiling

“Tiiilll!” Wooo! That boy Till!”

Dondrea Tillman had just spent the better part of three hours chasing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield through the thick Florida air, but now the heat was really being turned up. Tillman had just recorded two sacks in his NFL debut, making him the first Broncos player since at least 1970 to have multiple takedowns in his opening game. That brought a horde of reporters to his stall inside the visiting locker room at Raymond James Stadium. And it brought the noise from Tillman’s teammates, including fellow outside linebackers Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto and nose tackle D.J. Jones.

“Look at Till! He’s cheesin’!” one of them said as Tillman tried in vain not to let a smile creep onto his face.

Yes, Denver’s cast of D-linemen and linebackers were having fun Sunday. It comes naturally when you lead a defensive effort that includes seven sacks, two takeaways and a meager opponent average of 3.3 yards per dropback. For Tampa Bay, blocking Denver’s interior and outside pass rushers was like trying to slam a revolving door. Every time it spun, another Broncos defender came screaming through the opening. The Buccaneers had the worst expected points per dropback figure (-0.52) in the league in Week 3, according to TruMedia.

“We got our a— kicked,” Mayfield said afterward.

It was as dominant a performance as Denver has had since Sean Payton arrived as head coach in 2023 with a plan to build a deeper, more ferocious defensive front. Since Payton took over, there have been big-money signings (Zach Allen), a savvy draft pick (rookie Jonah Elliss in the third round), a deft trade (acquiring John Franklin-Myers for virtually nothing in April), a targeted veteran addition (Malcolm Roach) and the evaluation, acquisition and development of under-the-radar prospects (Tillman, Jordan Jackson).

There is still more building to be done, but the picture is beginning to come together for the Broncos, who enter Week 4 tied for the league lead in pressure rate at 44.7 percent, according to TruMedia. Allen, one of the NFL’s top interior pass rushers through three weeks, could feel a shift as soon as training camp began.

“We brought in some really good guys who play the game the right way,” Allen said. “On top of that, (defensive line coach) Jamar (Cain) came in playing more of a style that is conducive to the guys we have in that room because we have some good athletes. It’s a really fun defense to be in. I think it’s been helping us out a lot and it helps clear things up for the guys in the back end, too. It’s good complementary football. Obviously, the way we’re playing right now, it’s not perfect, but I’m happy with where it’s going.”

Zach Allen sacks Baker Mayfield during the second half Sunday. (Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)

Allen, now in his sixth NFL season, has set the tone for the group. He is third among all defensive linemen with 161 snaps played and has two sacks. He ranks 11th among all defensive linemen with at least 100 snaps in pressure rate (20.9 percent) and is tied for fourth in quarterback hits (six), according to TruMedia. Allen was optimistic in training camp that adding more talented depth along the defensive front would lead to more one-on-one matchups this season. It has played out that way through three weeks and Allen has taken advantage.

“Good veterans figure out ways to make plays within a scheme,” said defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who has coached Allen for his whole NFL career dating back to his four years with the Arizona Cardinals. “He does that very well. We have, in my opinion, better-rushing sides next to him. So the (double team) is not always going to Zach Allen. Last year, everyone turned to Zach. Now, we have guys inside who can rush opposite Zach, so it’s pretty fair. He’s getting some one-on-ones, and he’s winning.”

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Pass rushers and linemen have also benefitted from Allen’s approach to film study. Jones, now in his third year with the Broncos, said he learned quickly last season that sitting next to Allen in meetings was a good way to prepare — even if it meant copying down the copious notes the defensive end piles up during film sessions.

“Ask him about his notebook,” Jones said during camp.

Relayed that question, Allen said some of his approach to preparation was adopted from Chandler Jones, his former teammate with the Cardinals.

“With him, he wouldn’t always be watching our film — he was watching a lot of film from around the league of guys,” Allen said. “What was working this week and what’s not? The past couple of years, I have taken a lot of pride in trying to watch a lot of guys from around the league and watch as many games from around the league (as possible) to see new things. It’s cool that you see the trends and everything like that. I’ve kind of gotten D.J. on it. Sometimes we’ll be watching it together. It’s been a good way to kind of keep learning. This game evolves and you always want to be a student.”

The overall talent has evolved for the Broncos, too, and Tillman is a strong example. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound linebacker was signed by the Broncos in June, shortly after he helped lead the Birmingham Stallions to a championship in the United Football League. Tillman, who wasn’t drafted by an NFL team after finishing his college career at tiny Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2022, played for the Stallions for three seasons. It wasn’t a conventional path, but Tillman said it’s allowed him to develop his strength and technique with ample reps — ones that may not have been afforded to him had he spent that same period on an NFL practice squad.

“Any type of reps you can get will definitely help, no matter what type of league I’m in,” Tillman said after Sunday’s game. “That’s a great league I’m in. A lot of guys (in the UFL) had played in the NFL. So any league you can get reps in, that’s what matters the most.”

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Tillman was a somewhat surprising cut after a strong preseason that included a sack, a forced fumble, two batted passes and nine pressures among his 52 pass-rush snaps. The Broncos were able to keep him on the practice squad, and he was signed to the active roster last week after right tackle Mike McGlinchey went on injured reserve. With outside linebacker Baron Browning also landing on IR, Tillman’s promotion to the active roster came with an immediate and substantial role. He created pressure on 23.1 percent of his 13 pass-rush snaps against the Buccaneers, often winning one-on-one matchups created in part by Joseph’s timely blitz calls.

“I was pleased with his effort,” Payton said of Tillman. “He’s strong. I’ve mentioned earlier in the week, we’ve seen a lot from him. I was excited to see him take advantage of the opportunity.”

The entire defensive front showed on Sunday what it could do when playing with a lead. That ideal won’t always materialize this season as Denver’s offense grows around rookie quarterback Bo Nix. But the front seven is a clear strength for the Broncos that must set a tone each week for this team to find a groove.

When that group is flying around like it was able to do Sunday, there will be plenty more cheesin’ in the locker room.