November 21st 2024.
During a game in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen couldn't help but notice that he was being double-teamed more often than usual. It wasn't surprising, considering the impressive performance he had been putting on throughout the first three months of the NFL season.
One thing that has changed for Allen this season is the addition of a teammate on the defensive line who is just as capable of causing trouble for offenses. John Franklin-Myers, who the Broncos acquired during the April NFL draft, has been a game-changer for the team. In fact, he has recorded two sacks in the past three games and has been making more big plays as Allen continues to command attention from opposing teams.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has taken notice of Franklin-Myers' impact, saying, "If you're rushing four and the center turns to Zach and he's getting double-teamed, 'JFM' has had success. So now they have to make the decision on who they turn the center to. That's the beauty of having JFM in the lineup for us, on passing downs especially. He can win a one-on-one."
When the Broncos traded for Franklin-Myers, coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton were impressed by his consistent pressure rate. In his previous four seasons with the New York Jets, Franklin-Myers had recorded 40-plus pressures and a double-digit pressure rate each year. He has continued this trend with the Broncos, with 24 pressures and an 11.9% pressure rate so far this season.
Allen is thrilled to have Franklin-Myers as his teammate, saying, "He's one of the top, top rushers in the league. Coming here, maybe not a lot of people had heard his name, but I for a long time have always thought he was the real deal. To see him do it here and for us to do it together, that's a big piece."
Allen believes that the best pass-rushers in the league often have two interior players who can make plays. This season, he and Franklin-Myers are proving just that. Allen leads all defensive tackles with 46 pressures, while Franklin-Myers has five sacks. This has also opened up opportunities for edge rushers like Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper.
Not only is Franklin-Myers excelling as a pass rusher, but he has also seen an improvement in his run defense. Joseph praised his impact on the run game, saying, "He's been huge for us, first of all as a run defender. He's been stout."
The Broncos have also seen an improvement in their run defense as a whole this season, which Joseph attributes to a combination of factors. He believes that the personnel on the defensive front has improved, and the team has also changed their philosophy to be more aggressive and explosive. This has allowed them to create more tackles for loss and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Everything on the defensive front works together like a puzzle, with players like Franklin-Myers, Allen, Malcolm Roach, and D.J. Jones all contributing to the team's success. Even though Franklin-Myers was acquired for just a sixth-round pick, he has been a major game-changer for the Broncos this season.
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