Broncos notes: Run defense holding up well

One statistic sums up the Denver Broncos’ dramatic improvement on defense since last season.  

Last year, opponents gained an average of 5.33 yards per carry up the middle against Denver. This season, that number is down to 1.64 yards. That is the third-best mark in the NFL.

The middle of Denver’s 3-4 defense, with three linemen and four linebackers, has been tough to get past.

“My main job is to stop the run, so I feel my play has been good,” nose tackle Ronald Fields said.

Fields was signed this offseason to play nose tackle. He has been strong up front, and behind him, inside linebackers D.J. Williams and Andra Davis have made 34 tackles combined.

“You’ve got to respect that middle,” Fields said. “It starts with the D-line, so I feel comfortable and feel good about that.”

Multiple tight ends
Nursing a lead last week, the Broncos’ offense began using more two and three tight-end sets to run the ball. They scored a pair of touchdowns, after getting two in the previous seven quarters of the season, and held the ball for 9:26 of the fourth quarter.

Using three tight ends in the running game makes the Broncos very big up front, and helps carve out roles for reserve tight ends Tony Scheffler and rookie Richard Quinn.

“When you have talented guys you want to get them on the field and have something for them,” tight ends coach Clancy Barone said.