Troy Renck: The 1970s had the Crush, 2015 boasted the Rush, and in 2024, the Broncos feature the Orange Crutch defense. The Broncos are averaging 15.5 points per game. They are winning, two straight as of Sunday, because Vance Joseph’s defense is attacking, netting 19 sacks in four games. It is weird talking about the Broncos suffocating opponents a year after being the league’s worst through the first month, but well-deserved. But what about the CU Buffs? Robert Livingston is emerging as a legit defensive boss. He makes more adjustments in one series than his predecessor did all last season. So, Sean, who do you think is the better and hotter defensive coordinator right now: Joseph or Livingston?
Sean Keeler: VJ’s building a beast. The Broncos came out of Sunday night ranked third among NFL defenses in points allowed per game (13.8), second in total yards allowed (256.5) and fourth in opponent passing yards per contest (146). When the names change and the numbers improve, that’s a hat-tip to the coordinator. All that being said, I’d still give Livingston the nod. Why? I’ve got a few stats, but this is the biggie: In roughly a season, the Buffs have gone from being ranked 117th, per BCFToys.com, in points allowed per drive vs. FBS foes (2.78) in 2023 to 34th (1.70) through five games in 2024. The last time CU had a defense ranked among the top 40 nationally in scoring efficiency? 2016. That fall sure worked out OK, didn’t it?
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Renck: CU stopping anyone after last season comes as a surprise. So we are all recalibrating. The Buffs are good defensively and getting better. They have figured out the personnel at linebacker, and are getting great anchoring inside. But just because you held Central Florida, the No. 1 rushing team, to 177 yards, 198 below their average, it was not more impressive than what VJ’s Broncos did in sloppy MetLife Stadium. They left Aaron Rodgers flustered, confused and bruised, sacking him five times, including twice in the fourth quarter. And they had no margin for error while pulling this off.
Keeler: Can’t argue with the Broncos learning how to do more with less. But let’s also give Mother Nature at least a little assist for this past Sunday’s sludge. And speaking of calibration, full props to Sean Payton for realizing early that Week 4 was going to be a rock fight in the rain and adjusting his game plan accordingly. (Punt to win!) Takeaways last fall, sacks this one. But like 2023’s turnovers in bunches — is that kind of pace sustainable over a 17-game marathon?
Renck: Now, Livingston deserves praise. I can’t help but see the parallels between Livingston and Joseph. Both learned their craft as defensive back coaches for the Cincinnati Bengals. Both relate well to players while creating accountability. Livingston is beginning to distinguish himself. Joseph is already there. His defense rebounded last season and fueled a five-game winning streak with 16 takeaways. And with improved personnel along the defensive line, Joseph has turned this group from interesting to menacing. “They did a great job this offseason of getting the guys VJ wanted, and, on top of that, we are all playing with a chip on our shoulder,” safety P.J. Locke said. Joseph deserves not only praise but also a second chance as an NFL head coach.
Keeler: Ah, the NFL circle of life: If VJ keeps this up, Payton could well be looking for a new DC. But I’ll give you two more reasons why Livingston’s the right call. One, he’s never been a coordinator before this fall. Anywhere. For anybody. At any level. Two, as I pointed out in The Post at the start of the Broncos’ preseason, the last time Joseph got a second season as an NFL DC, with the Cardinals, his Year 2 unit shaved five points allowed per game off its Year 1 clip and jumped from 30th in points allowed per drive to 11th in the league. VJ hasn’t just done this before — he’s done this Year 2 jump before, too.
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