The Denver Broncos’ decision to fire Vic Fangio following the 2021 season was understandable, but the team’s defense might take a step back without him in 2022.
Denver went 19-30 during Fangio’s three-year tenure, and his defense certainly wasn’t to blame for the team’s struggles. The Broncos allowed the third-fewest points per game in the NFL last year (18.9) and the defense typically was a bright spot during the Fangio era. He’s since been replaced by offensive-minded head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who brought in former Rams secondary coach Ejiro Evero as Denver’s new defensive coordinator. Evero did coach under Fangio with the 49ers in 2014, so his defensive scheme will likely have similarities, but he won’t have the same personnel.
The Broncos traded star OLB Von Miller to the Rams mid-season last year (he’s now with the Bills) and Denver didn’t re-sign CB Bryce Callahan or LBs Alexander Johnson and Kenny Young. Miller was replaced by Randy Gregory in free agency and veteran addition K’Waun Williams will replace Callahan in the slot. It remains to be seen what Denver has planned at inside linebacker — candidates to step up this year include Alex Singleton (who’s been best on special teams to this point his his career), Jonas Griffith (a third-year pro who started four games last year) and Baron Browning, who’s been working at outside linebacker this spring.
Finishing as a top-three defense again in 2022 might be a tall order, but Evero will try to fit the pieces together to ensure the defense remains a strength of the team going forward.
This post originally appeared in a special edition of USA TODAY Sports: NFL Forecast 2022.
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