Danny Trevathan doesn’t want to talk about his injury. He’s had that conversation too many times since the start of training camp – heck, since the start of OTAs it’s all people have wanted to talk about with the Broncos’ leading tackler from 2013. So when he sat down with Gil Whiteley of Mile High Sports AM 1340 following the team’s practice on Monday, he was more than excited to not talk about the three knee injuries that kept him out of 13 games and the playoffs in 2014.
The excitement in Trevathan’s voice was evident as the two dove right into what’s in store for this defense, now being led by a lifelong friend of Whiteley’s, Wade Phillips.
“I think it fits my attitude,” Trevathan said, “because I like to attack first.”
This defense, he notes, is not about thinking; it’s about playing fast and physical. For a player like Trevathan, who in his words “likes to get after it,” it’s a great place to be. But it’s not just the style of play that has players like Trevathan excited, it’s also the way that Phillips leads his players.
According to Trevathan, Phillips is allowing the core of his defensive unit, especially the linebackers like Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Trevathan himself, take ownership and lead
“It’s more put on us,” he says of the way Phillips approaches his players, compared to former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. “It’s our job to get it right – to know our jobs and make no mistakes. It makes us feel like we own this defense. Like this is our defense.”
Yes, Phillips has some big things planned – perhaps even a grouping that puts Miller or Ware in at nose tackle – but for the most part, he’s implementing a system that lets big time players make big time plays.
There’s a new spark to the defensive front seven. Check out the full interview with Trevathan in the podcast below and hear it for yourself.
Listen to Gil Whiteley every weekday from 11a-1p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or Listen Live anytime for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.
