Watching the Denver Broncos go to 6-0 is a shock to me, as well as a shock to the entire football watching world. This team is
predicated on defense, and they have many players who are responsible for the latest version of the ”Orange Crush.” The one guy who sticks out to me is Elvis Dumervil.
Elvis Dumervil, or as I like to call him, ”The Little Elephant,” has truly helped this team’s defense achieve a high status that is feared by opposing coaches and offenses. Dumervil has gotten off to a blazing hot start as he has recorded a league-leading 10 sacks in just 6 games.
Because he is relatively short, strong, and quick, Dumervil has all of the attributes that a pass-rushing outside linebacker needs to be successful. He is able to use his leverage to his advantage, and bigger offensive linemen have a lot of trouble with these kinds of players.
When you look around the league, some of the guys who are most successful at rushing the passer, have all of the attributes that Dumervil possesses. Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole, and James Harrison are all players that fit into that category, and there is no doubt that these guys are game-changers for their teams. In fact, James Harrison was the defensive player of the year last season for a Pittsburgh team that won the Super Bowl. And of course, everybody remembers his enormous touchdown to end the first half during that final game against the Cardinals. He had a visible impact on his team, and he was a key reason why his team won it all.
Now that Dumervil is in his 4th NFL season, it looks like he has come into his own, and he seems to have gotten his role down pat. As long as The Little Elephant continues to rumble and cause havoc on opposing quarterbacks, the Denver Broncos should continue to make a lot of noise in the AFC.
Filed under: NFL
