Last year, the Broncos had Shelby Harris begin the season as a nose tackle. He was capable of playing the position but through four weeks, it didn’t seem like the best fit for him in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense.
Fangio then decided to move Harris to defensive end and he inserted Mike Purell at nose tackle. After changing positions, Harris went on to total 30 tackles, six sacks, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Clearly, Harris is a better fit as an end than as a nose. After re-signing with Denver, Harris will likely continue playing as an end in 2020.
“We have a beast at nose in Mike Purcell,” Harris said during a conference call with reporters on April 3. “I think he’s a monster at nose. For me, I feel more comfortable as an end because of the position I played before — I had played zero-nose before.
“With end, there is a little more space. You can use your athleticism to your advantage out here. It’s just something that is more familiar. I feel it opened up my game a little more and I was able to do things that I like to do.”
Going into the draft, the Broncos’ projected starting defensive line is Jurrell Casey, Purcell and Harris with Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker rotating in behind them. The depth chart will likely change after the draft but Denver has built a good foundation for Fangio’s front three.
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