On March 22, following a figurative explosion of personnel moves to maintain the Broncos’ defense by retaining multiple players and improving it by adding two cornerbacks, coach/defensive play-caller Vic Fangio called for a quick chat.
Reporter: “The pressure is on now, Vic.”
Fangio: “You mean it wasn’t on before?”
Reporter: “Fair point. How about the pressure is turned up?”
Fangio: “I would rather have it turned up with high expectations than turned up with low expectations.”
Entering Sunday’s opener at the New York Giants, any expectations of success start with the defense. They are sky-high after general manager George Paton re-signed defensive end Shelby Harris and safety Justin Simmons, kept outside linebacker Von Miller (existing contract) and safety Kareem Jackson (new, lower-priced deal), signed veteran cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller, and drafted cornerback Pat Surtain II ninth overall.