The AFC West by the numbers: defense. Tackling, sacking and intercepting.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 7:11 AM MST

The Denver Broncos are now definitively in the hunt for the playoffs. We are in the 2nd place in our division, where the Raiders are leading. The fact is that our schedule is a bit 'easier' and that's why we are a real contender to take it. We can't discard the Chargers, but they are not showing a great football. And the Chiefs have just lost their starting QB.

So, after 11 weeks (10 games) and a real post-season possibilty, I think we have an enough sample to evaluate our players' perfomances. It's fair enough to compare them with the other AFC West players. So, after the jump, here we go with the defense.

T A C K L E S (at least 35)
TEAM	PLAYER	SOLO	AST	TOTAL
KC	Derrick Johnson, LB	62	21	83
OAK	Tyvon Branch, S	51	25	76
DEN	Wesley Woodyard, LB	50	19	69
SD	Donald Butler, LB	51	13	64
SD	Takeo Spikes, LB	35	27	62
KC	Jovan Belcher, LB	38	22	60
SD	Eric Weddle, S	48	10	58
OAK	Rolando McClain, LB	35	16	51
DEN	Joe Mays, LB	43	7	50
DEN	Von Miller, LB	38	10	48
DEN	D.J. Williams, LB	33	11	44
KC	Tamba Hali, LB	27	15	42
KC	Brandon Flowers, CB	34	8	42
OAK	Kamerion Wimbley, LB	34	7	41
DEN	Chris Harris, CB	33	8	41
SD	Antonio Garay, DT	26	13	39
DEN	Brian Dawkins, S	25	11	36
KC	Jon McGraw, S	25	11	36
OAK	Matt Giordano, S	27	9	36
KC	Kendrick Lewis, S	31	5	36
KC	Glenn Dorsey, DE	15	20	35

S A C K S (at least 1.5)
TEAM	PLAYER	SACKS	FF	REC
DEN	Von Miller, LB	9.5	3	0
KC	Tamba Hali, LB	7.0	1	0
OAK	Kamerion Wimbley, LB	6.0	0	0
SD	Antwan Barnes, LB	6.0	2	0
OAK	Tommy Kelly, DT	5.5	1	1
OAK	Richard Seymour, DT	5.0	0	0
DEN	Elvis Dumervil, DE	3.5	0	0
DEN	D.J. Williams, LB	3.0	2	1
SD	Shaun Phillips, LB	3.0	0	0
DEN	Ryan McBean, DT	3.0	0	0
OAK	Desmond Bryant, DT	3.0	1	0
DEN	Brian Dawkins, S	2.0	0	0
SD	Antonio Garay, DT	2.0	0	0
DEN	Jonathan Wilhite, CB	2.0	0	0
KC	Wallace Gilberry, DE	2.0	2	0
DEN	Robert Ayers, DE	2.0	1	1
SD	Larry English, LB	2.0	0	0
OAK	Jarvis Moss, DE	1.5	0	0

I N T E R C E P T I O N S
TEAM	PLAYER	PASS DEF	INT
SD	Eric Weddle, S	6	5
KC	Brandon Flowers, CB	15	4
OAK	Matt Giordano, S	3	3
KC	Kendrick Lewis, S	6	3
DEN	Champ Bailey, CB	5	2
KC	Jon McGraw, S	4	2
OAK	Stanford Routt, CB	9	2
KC	Brandon Carr, CB	6	2
DEN	Andre' Goodman, CB	4	1
SD	Shaun Phillips, LB	3	1
OAK	Tommy Kelly, DT	3	1
KC	Derrick Johnson, LB	6	1
KC	Travis Daniels, CB	1	1
OAK	Michael Huff, S	3	1
OAK	Chinedum Ndukwe, S	1	1
SD	Paul Oliver, S	2	1
SD	Antoine Cason, CB	8	1
OAK	Tyvon Branch, S	2	1
DEN	Jonathan Wilhite, CB	2	1
SD	Donald Butler, LB	1	1
OAK	Lamarr Houston, DE	3	1
DEN	Cassius Vaughn, CB	4	1
SD	Marcus Gilchrist, CB	3	1
OAK	DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB	4	1
DEN	Rahim Moore, S	1	1
DEN	Chris Harris, CB	4	1

Any thoughts about it? Do these numbers reflect our real defensive perfomance? Do they tell the whole story? Are we a real contender to a post-season appearance?

GO BRONCOS!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Link to the offense

http://www.milehighreport.com/2011/11/23/2582456/the-afc-west-by-the-numbers-offense

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 7:13 AM MST reply actions

Hopefully we can start to force more turnovers in the next few weeks. Our INT total is a little low.

..We're 5-11 till we're not!
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Nov 23, 2011 8:17 AM MST reply actions

But how about our LBs?

They were one of our major weaknesses, but this year they are pretty good compared to our division. KC looks to be the worst corp of LBs…

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 8:21 AM MST up reply actions

I know right! Our LBs are playing lights out. In the last few years we had DBs leading the team in tackles. Not good.

..We're 5-11 till we're not!
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Nov 23, 2011 8:24 AM MST up reply actions

Even more if we consider that Goodman is probably the worst tackler ever to wear a Broncos uni..

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 8:28 AM MST up reply actions

I would like to disagree on behalf of Nate Webster......

The guy never gets enough credit for how poor a tackler he was.

Go-Go Gadget Tebow!!!!

by Kgrone on Nov 23, 2011 1:30 PM MST up reply actions

Tough matchup beetwen them both

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 2:51 PM MST up reply actions

Turn up the turn over machine and we roar passed the West...

I’m not sure I want my Safety (Tyvon Branch) leading in tackles? That tells me the tRaider are letting plays get to the 2nd level and beyond. They have been fortunate so far and their schedule is the toughest I think. We beat SD and the division is ours…

by bfree2bronc on Nov 23, 2011 8:46 AM MST reply actions

It seems they are struggling at the LB position

Ours looks the best of the division. It was a surprise to me.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 9:19 AM MST up reply actions

Our front seven...

…are dominating the AFC West. 7 out of 18 sack leaders are broncos with Von leading in both sacks and FF, and 6 out of 21 players are Broncos in the tackling Dept. It is looking like our D is going to dominate pretty soon.

It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on aimlessly and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.

by metalman5050 on Nov 23, 2011 11:06 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

Not only do we have the best defense in the division, but we have one of the younger defenses in the division.

I would love to see us address middle LB. If Nate Irving’s the answer-great, if not then lets find the answer.

Von Miller doesn't sleep, he waits

by RockyMountainThunder on Nov 23, 2011 11:31 AM MST up reply actions

I wonder what EFX are thinking on him [Nate]

And if they realize he is not our future Al Wilson, if they will have the courage to pick Te’o in 2012’ draft….

I still put a big hope on Nate, but anyway I can see glimpses of a very bright future for us.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 2:53 PM MST up reply actions

Te'o is a stud

I know some sites have Kuechly from Boston College rated higher but I loves Te’o’s athleticism. He would bring back the great MLB tradition of the Denver Broncos. Gradishar, Wilson, etc.

The only thing I don’t know about Irving is how much injuries affected him earlier in the season.

I have seen him play well in special teams but have no idea on him as a MLB>

Von Miller doesn't sleep, he waits

by RockyMountainThunder on Nov 23, 2011 3:02 PM MST up reply actions

I'd love if we pick Te'o

But I admit, I’d love to pick Richardson or Claiborne too. I’m still not sold on who to target. The point is that we have a need at mike, period. I don’t think the past injuries are affecting Nate Irving… for me he is learning the position, and it’s a very hard one to play since he needs to have heart, leadership and awareness.

To be a successful mike, a player needs a lot of skills AND experience. So sit the guy 1 or 2 years, and put the next Al Wilson on the field. Or, sit the guy 1 year and let’s see if he can be our mike. If they think he can’t, please select Te’o.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 3:07 PM MST up reply actions