Dumervil's sack totals are no small feat

[Mediator12]

After spending a week at the Pro Bowl in February 2006, the Denver Broncos' coaching staff returned to the Rocky Mountains with more than a late-winter Honolulu tan.

They came back with a plan to solve their pass-rush issues: Go small.

Mike Shanahan's staff was given a Hawaiian consolation prize for losing the AFC Championship Game to the Pittsburgh Steelers to end their 2005 season. The staff made the best out of the situation. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and Shanahan were smitten by Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. The pair was amazed at how Freeney was such a dominant force as a pass-rusher despite being a smaller player. Freeney is listed as 6-foot-1, 268 pounds. He's probably smaller, though.

With Freeney serving an inspiration, the Broncos' staff became more open-minded about finding a pass-rusher. Then, studying prospects for the upcoming draft, the Broncos became smitten again.

Elvis entered the building.

The Broncos drafted Elvis Dumervil out of Louisville in the fourth round. A prolific sack master in high school and college, Dumervil was shunned by most teams because of his small stature. Dumervil is listed as 5-foot-11 and 248 pounds. However, that 5-11 claim should be investigated. He doesn't appear to be a shade over 5-10.

Still, the Broncos were not deterred.

“We think he could be another Freeney,” Coyer said then. Ironically, Coyer is now Freeney's defensive coordinator in Indianapolis.

So, if Coyer's quarterback, Peyton Manning, becomes another name on Dumervil's long list of sack victims Sunday when the 8-4 Broncos visit the 12-0 Colts, it will be partly Coyer's fault.

Dumervil, drafted in the same round as Denver star receiver Brandon Marshall, has been a major reason for the Broncos' success in the first year of the coach Josh McDaniels era.


“ 'Doom' " is amazing,” said Denver linebacker Andra Davis, calling his teammate by his nickname. “God has blessed him with an incredible ability to sack the quarterback.”

While breaking the record this season might be a long shot, Dumervil has thrived against long odds.

“He's a guy you root for but then you ask yourself how he'd fit in the defense,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said. “But he is just a natural pass-rusher. He may be small, but he engages. He knows how to use his pads and get leverage. He plays much bigger than he actually is.”

Dumervil showed sparks of becoming a high quality NFL pass-rusher in his first three NFL seasons. He had 26 sacks in three seasons entering this one, including 12.5 in 2007. However, Dumervil is having his best season, Horton believes, because he is playing the position that best suits him.

When McDaniels took over the Broncos in January, he hired former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan to be the defensive coordinator and to run a 3-4 defense. Dumervil was a situational defensive end in the 4-3 for the past three seasons in Denver.

Now, though, he is an outside linebacker in the 3-4. Dumervil is an every-down player. When he isn't rushing, he darts back into coverage.

“He's a rugged player,” Horton said. “He can play every down.”

Elvis Hopes to Join the 20 Sack Club
Elvis Dumervil is on pace for 20 sacks this season. He hopes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 20 sacks in a season. Here are the seven players to have accomplished that feat.

Player Team Sacks Year
Michael Strahan NYG 22.5 2001
Mark Gastineau NYJ 22 1984
Chris Doleman MIN 21 1989
Reggie White PHI 21 1987
Lawrence Taylor NYG 20.5 1986
Derrick Thomas KC 20 1990
DeMarcus Ware DAL 20 2008
Dumervil leads the NFL with 15 sacks. He needs one more sack to tie Simon Fletcher for the Denver season record of 16 sacks, which Fletcher set in 1992. Dumervil is on pace for 20 sacks. Only seven players have registered at least 20 sacks in a season since the NFL began to recognize the sack as an official statistic in 1982. Dumervil is eight sacks from breaking Michael Strahan's season sack record of 22.5 set in the 2001 season.

The rest is here: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...-no-small-feat

[TheDave]

Damn, look at that list of guys to hit 20... That is some rare company to be mentioned in.

[Bronx33]

love the picture

[That One Guy]

Having another 4 sack game would be huge at this point. He needs to come out and light someone up.

[Bronco Yoda]

I want him to get it. On the other hand I'm wondering what it will cost us to keep him now.

[Hamrob]

How do we keep both him and Marshall? Both guys will want $50m contracts.

Regardless, what's impressed me more than his sacks...is that he's also making solid tackles on running plays etc. I think he's turning out to be more than just a one dimensional player.

In addition, how many sacks do we have as a defense...30 something? Pretty impressive, considering our recent past.

[Bronx33]

This team needed pass pressure for years and finally it here i really don't see pat passing this opportunity up.

[McSchism]

If you have to choose between Doom and Marshall, it's a no-brainer in all honesty.

[baja]

You guys crack me up. Neither Doom nor Marshall are going anywhere but if they do it's won't be because of money it will be that someone doesn't fit into the overall plan.

I think this team would like to stay together because they are very confident Josh is something special and this is a chance to have fun and win...

[Hamrob]

Originally Posted by McSchism

If you have to choose between Doom and Marshall, it's a no-brainer in all honesty.

So, we would let Doom walk then?

[SJ Bronco]

Originally Posted by Hamrob

So, we would let Doom walk then?

I'd take doom. A dominate pass rusher is a little rarer. I hope not to have to make a choice though. I'd like to have them both.

[atomicbloke]

Doom's sack total would be even higher if he weren't blatantly held every play.

[Rock Chalk]

If they both want 50 mil contracts, give them both.

There is no ****ing salary cap next year dumbasses.

God damn you are all so worried about a cap, but there isnt one. There is NO WAY the CBA is going to be finalized by then.

We can not only sign them, but we can sign them to big money contracts and not have to worry about cap hell because of it.

[atomicbloke]

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

If they both want 50 mil contracts, give them both.

There is no ****ing salary cap next year dumbasses.

God damn you are all so worried about a cap, but there isnt one. There is NO WAY the CBA is going to be finalized by then.

We can not only sign them, but we can sign them to big money contracts and not have to worry about cap hell because of it.

They are not worried about the cap.

They are worried if Bowlen can afford it.

[snowspot66]

Originally Posted by atomicbloke

They are not worried about the cap.

They are worried if Bowlen can afford it.

The guy can afford it.

[bpc]

Pay this man. He has 20 sack potential, for the next 3 or 4 years in the 3-4.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

If they both want 50 mil contracts, give them both.

There is no ****ing salary cap next year dumbasses.

God damn you are all so worried about a cap, but there isnt one. There is NO WAY the CBA is going to be finalized by then.

We can not only sign them, but we can sign them to big money contracts and not have to worry about cap hell because of it.

It doesn't work that way. A lot of the teams are going to have less money to spend next year and there will be several provisions preventing spending. A capless year does not mean everyone will magically have an infinite amount of money. It means a no cap floor, so less money for the rank-and-file players and most of the teams will have either spending limits or little not money to spend. It's going to suck for all parties and they designed it that way on purpose.

[McBronco_Doug]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

It doesn't work that way. A lot of the teams are going to have less money to spend next year and there will be several provisions preventing spending. A capless year does not mean everyone will magically have an infinite amount of money. It means a no cap floor, so less money for the rank-and-file players and most of the teams will have either spending limits or little not money to spend. It's going to suck for all parties and they designed it that way on purpose.

So what happens if a few of the teams that seem to have money to spend (Wash. Dallas. ect...) go out and spend a ton on players, then the new CBA institutes a salary cap? Do they have to cut salary to get under the new cap if there is one?

[DenverBroncosJM]

Has anyone even heard Elvis mentioned for dpoy?

[bpc]

If it comes down to BMarsh vs. Elvis getting resigned, Dumervil should be first priority any day of the week.