Rookie Ayers Making Waves on Defense

Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Robert Ayers (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The question revolving around the new Denver Broncos 3-4 defense isn’t so much a matter of “who” as it is “where.”

There are plenty of players on the to-be-trimmed-roster that will fill one of the holes on the front seven. Where they will make their mark, however, is still very up in the air.

Case in point: Robert Ayers. Denver sources indicate that the team’s first round draft pick has been impressive, and will almost certainly start on the new 3-4 defense from day one. But where? Word is that Ayers has been taking a decent share of snaps at starting outside linebacker, Pro Football Weekly reports, but is still expected to play some at defensive end.

We hear Ayers, the 18th overall pick in the draft, picked things up quickly during offseason activities and received a good deal of reps with the first-team defense. It’s certain he’ll start at one of the front-seven spots on defense from Day One, but exactly where is something the Broncos still have to figure out. He was mostly lining up at outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 set, according to observers, but he could be moved to defensive end, and most likely will rush with his hand on the ground on passing downs.

Coming from the Patriots system, there’s no doubt Josh McDaniels would love to use Ayers as a hybrid defensive player and confuse opposing offenses. I can’t wait to get a good look at Ayers during training camp.