Over the previous two seasons, the Denver Broncos protection has been a pressured to be reckoned with. Their penchant for sacks has been their forte. With out query, their means to get after opposing quarterbacks is second to none. They’ve executed properly limiting large performs down the sector and tout one of many high performing third down models in all of soccer.
Even so, the protection stays hungry. This yr, the coaches and gamers need to construct upon ‘the standard’ they’ve set for themselves in current seasons. Yesterday, after the group’s second ramp-up apply of coaching camp, security Talanoa Hufanga took time to area questions on how the Broncos’ protection could make strides and be even higher in 2026.
“What does that standard look like? It’s guys being in early, it’s guys staying late, it’s guys studying and it’s guys learning. At the end of the day, it’s really the type of style that you play. The schematics is always going to be down there and that’s game plan to game plan, but what’s the style that you want,” acknowledged Hufanga.
DENVER , CO – JANUARY 17: Talanoa Hufanga (9) of the Denver Broncos jogs earlier than the sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photograph by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Submit) Denver Submit through Getty Photos
Hufanga, one of many spotlight free agent signings from final season, took shortly to Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s scheme. He was an impression participant on the squad in his first season donning orange and blue. The stalwart security began each sport for the Broncos and amassed 106 tackles, 2 sacks, 11 passes defended, and one pressured fumble. That top-tier play and manufacturing earned him second-team All-Professional honors.
His knack for bone-crushing hits, means to cowl properly, and make performs in opposition to the run was a terrific addition to the backend of the Broncos’ protection. Getting into his second season with the franchise, he feels much more comfy with the playbook and what Joseph needs to name all through the course of the sport. Such data ought to bode properly for his gridiron endeavors in ’26.
Nevertheless, he and his teammates know they’ll increase ‘the standard’ even larger this season. Which means performing higher in a single key class—turnovers—which was the foremost level of emphasis for them on the introduction of coaching camp and earlier within the offseason.
“For sure, it was the first thing. For us, it’s just really attacking the ball. Whether it’s in the air or in the ground game. For everybody, it was really just a lack of turnovers,” acknowledged Hufanga.
DENVER , CO – JANUARY 25: The Denver Broncos protection huddles through the first quarter in opposition to the New England Patriots at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, January 25, 2026. (Photograph by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Submit) Denver Submit through Getty Photos
“We did a really good job of getting sacks, but how can we get to sacks with a force fumble? Or how can we change this pass deflection into an interception or a tip just to get somebody else an interception? It’s been talked about and it’s been drilled.”
Final season, Denver’s protection was tied for the fourth least turnovers within the league with simply 14 through the common season. That’s nineteen turnovers shy of the Chicago Bears who led the NFL in that class in 2025, and about seven turnovers under league common.
Under common gained’t lower it for this yr’s Broncos. That actually doesn’t meet ‘the standard’. So as to forge themselves into true Tremendous Bowl contenders, preventing and clawing their means from the underside of that listing in direction of the highest might be mission important.
Only one large turnover can change the momentum and course of the sport. The Broncos did properly in one-score battles final season. However, discovering a method to create extra turnovers by the course of the upcoming season will assist flip a few of these shut video games into decisive victories.
“I really messed up last year when it came to those things. I left a lot of—we call it money—but money on the field as a team. For me, I’m going in and working and hopefully coming down with a few this year.”
