Days later, teammates still marveling at Broncos running back Javonte Williams’ run through Baltimore defense – The Denver Post

Eleven things about the Broncos heading into Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh:

1. Days later, teammates were still marveling at rookie running back Javonte Williams’ 31-yard run/rampage through the Baltimore defense last week that led to the Broncos’ only touchdown. “Luckily I haven’t had to tackle the guy,” defensive end Shelby Harris said. “That was a good (bleep) run. It’s crazy because you rarely see runs like that, but when the whole team is trying to take you down and you go 30 yards on them, that’s something special. Hopefully, we’ll get more of that.”

2. Outside linebacker Von Miller: “Man, the guy is so incredible when it comes to breaking tackles. He just has a sixth sense when it comes to breaking tackles. I’ve never seen a play like that and I’ve been in the league for 11 years. He’s a hard runner and he means business. I’m so happy that he’s on our team and I’m not out there trying to tackle him.”

3. Tight end Noah Fant: “It was just a base block for me, trying to keep my guy out of the play. Javonte ended up hitting it back-side and did the rest. The play was designed to hit the front-side, but just the way it came out, he spun out the back end, broke all those tackles and dragged the one dude (cornerback Marlon Humphrey) for 20 yards. It was really all just him.”

4. Receiver Courtland Sutton: “I was blocking the first guy that hit him and I was like, ‘Dang. Shucks. That’s on me and I’m in the way.’ Then I look and boom, he hit another (player). I’m peeking over and boom, he hit another. (I thought), ‘This dude is not going down.’ It just gives everybody that juice to strain and block their guy for another 2-3 seconds.”

5. When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made his first NFL start on Sept. 26, 2004, Broncos rookie safety Caden Sterns was four years old. Sunday, Roethlisberger appears in his 260th regular season/playoff game and Sterns his fifth. “It’s pretty cool,” Sterns said. “I’m still kind of mind-blown. Just to be in the same game as him, it’s pretty cool to (play) him because you watch his career and the (two) Super Bowls he won, he’s a really good player.”

6. Sterns had a really good game against Baltimore, sacking Lamar Jackson twice and breaking up a downfield pass. “Against Lamar, it’s just making sure I don’t get embarrassed and just make the tackle,” he said. “(There was) a really big emphasis of, ‘Don’t go for the ball when you (hit him), just make sure you wrap up because he’s a very elusive guy.’ I made sure I got him on the ground.”

7. The emphasis on playing the base defense (three linemen, four linebackers and four defensive backs) limited Sterns to seven dime (six defensive backs) snaps against Baltimore. Sunday figures to be a return-to-norm for the Broncos’ sub-package of nickel (five DBs) and dime because the Steelers play so much three-receiver personnel.

8. When cornerback Ronald Darby returns from his hamstring injury, coach Vic Fangio will have some juggling to do in the secondary. The questions to be answered: Have a three-player rotation as the two base-defense cornerbacks (Darby, Pat Surtain II and Kyle Fuller)? Has Surtain done enough to stay on the field full time, thus reducing the snaps of Darby and Fuller?

9. Back in 1988, Fangio was the New Orleans Saints’ linebackers coach when the team drafted running back Craig “Iron Head” Heyward in the first round (No. 24 overall). Heyward played the first five seasons of an 11-season career with the Saints. His son, Cam, is a two-time All-Pro defensive lineman for Pittsburgh. “I’ve always followed him and watched him,” Fangio said. “He’s real stout against the run, a good pass rusher and chases the ball. He’s really one of the top interior D linemen in the league.”

10. This year, opposing quarterbacks facing the Broncos against a pass rush of at least five players are 19-of-37 passing for 245 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and have been sacked four times. Last year against the Steelers, the Broncos rushed at least five on only nine of Roethlisberger’s 42 drop-backs (21.4%; he was 6 of 9 for 128 yards and an 84-yard touchdown).

11. The distance of the Broncos’ touchdowns — 70, one and one yards rushing and two, four, 12, 14 and three yards receiving. The opponents’ touchdowns are 37, 25 and 49 yards passing, four and 11 rushing and a 103-yard kick return.

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