ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — There might be a few defensive linemen who are as strong, quick and dominant as the Broncos’ Zach Allen. Not many but a few.
It’s possible no defensive lineman, though, has greater stamina than Allen.
The Broncos’ defensive end played an astounding 65 of 67 snaps in the game Sunday at Seattle. That’s 97% of the defensive snaps, an unheard of total for defensive linemen. And quality snaps, too. Allen was a game-wrecker, especially in the first half, registering a safety and hit on Seattle quarterback Geno Smith.
But it was the durability that really set Allen apart. Next most among defensive linemen in Seattle’s 26-20 win was the Seahawks’ Leonard Williams, who played 45 snaps – 20 less than Allen. Next most among Denver D-linemen was nose tackle D.J. Jones with 37, nearly 30 fewer.
“Came out good. Yeah. Felt good out there,’’ Allen said at his locker Thursday.
Settled into his Denver-area home a year after signing with the Broncos as a free agent, Allen was able to pay full attention to his offseason conditioning program.
“It was more refining than doing something super different,’’ Allen said. “Probably a little extra stuff, extra conditioning. I kind of fell in love with the Echo Bike. But the main stuff comes from practice and the offseason so it wasn’t like a complete 180-degree change in the workout program.”
There is more to playing nearly every snap along the body-banging business of the defensive line, though, than cardio exercise. This is a full contact, high-exertion, muscle-straining, strength-resistant activity on every play. Or darn near every play in Allen’s case. He’s 6-foot-5, 285. Seattle’s left tackle, Charles Cross, is 6-foot-5, 311 pounds.
It’s one thing for Cross to play all 67 offensive snaps. He absorbs. Allen as the defensive lineman combusts more energy as the attacker.
“I put on some good weight, so that helped a lot too, to kind of brace for those double-teams, stuff like that, especially as the game wore on,’’ Allen said. “I definitely got more double-teams which is something I expected this year. But obviously you have to push it and play better in that second half to finish better. And that’s what we’re working towards.”
