TAMPA — The copycat nature of the NFL sparked a near league-wide examination this past winter into what exactly the Broncos did during Super Bowl 50 to unnerve quarterback Cam Newton and unseat the heavily favored Panthers.
General Manager Jason Licht led that investigation for the Buccaneers, combing repeatedly through the Super Bowl 50 game tape. What he discovered was the secret formula the Broncos used to free up defensive ends DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller.
Miller and Ware combined for six quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and two tackles for loss in that game, a 24-10 Denver victory, but Licht discovered defensive tackles Malik Jackson and Sylvester Williams were as critical to the Broncos’ success that day as Miller and Ware.