Justin Bannan is back as a Bronco, and he couldn’t be happier.
“It feels great,” he said. “It’s good to get back out there. It’s weird, it’s kind of like déjà vu to be back out there on the practice field running around. I couldn’t be more excited and driven to have a great year.”
A 16-game starter for the Broncos in 2010, Bannan made 35 tackles along with one sack, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in orange and blue.
That season, however, the Broncos went 4-12. The following season, Bannan joined the St. Louis Rams. He made 32 tackles for the Rams in 15 games played with 14 starts in 2011. But St. Louis went 2-14.
After being accustomed to winning with the Baltimore Ravens for four seasons, the defensive tackle said he’s excited to rejoin a team that has high aspirations.
“I’m tired of losing — it’s been two tough years,” he said. “That’s the nature of the beast. It’s very frustrating. There aren’t many things worse than being on an NFL team that is losing. Last year we won two games. What that does to you mentally is just tough. I’m definitely looking forward to winning this year. Everything looks great on paper, but we have to get out there and work and get it done. We have a lot of work to do. I think everybody has their mind set the right way to come out and have a great year.”
In his career, Bannan has totaled 303 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one interception, 10 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 144 career appearances.
Back in a 4-3 defensive scheme, where he said he feels most comfortable, Bannan is prepared for an “attacking-style” defense.
He said it’s hard to tell what the interior of the Broncos defensive line will look like judging solely from OTAs, but that will come soon enough.
“I think for every group it is fairly early. We’re putting in a new defensive system. From what I understood, it’s kind of similar to last year’s defense, but at the same time, every defensive coordinator has their tweaks and they have their little things they want you to do. Right now it’s a matter of adapting to that and I think right now it’s about keeping your head down and working hard and working on your technique. At the same time, you don’t have pads on. So, as a lineman it’s hard to develop your game without pads on. I always said, ‘The truth gets told in training camp.’ That’s when you put the pads on, that’s when you find out who is who. We’ll see in due time.”
As far as he’s concerned, Bannan has played at least 15 games in each of the past five seasons, and he plans to work to be a big contributor again in 2012.
“My mindset never changes year to year,” he said. “You have to fight for your job every day in this business and you have to be 100 percent every day. If you’re not, somebody will take it. It’s a rare job to have and I’m very fortunate to have it. I think what I tell young guys is, ‘You better come out and you better work every day and give it everything you’ve got because there are thousands of guys out there waiting to take it.’”
Bannan knows there are expectations surrounding the Broncos this season, and it’s up to the group to fulfill them.
“If you look around the league you are going to have 32 teams out there that have the same buzz, same excitement and everybody thinks they’re going to win the Super Bowl,” he said. “As far as the tone being set, it has been set. We just have to come out and make it happen.”
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Justin Bannan
LMAO@TLC!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turtle don’t argue with tlc….she’ll kick your ass,lmao!!!!!!
Ahhh… you will LOVE it Beast!!! I’ve had mine for almost 15 years now!!! Site it in at 200yds! nothing will be safe
Whoah what a 1st blog!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL… AB, see what you mean. I love how Turtle talks about PM like he’s dead.
I think I love it already Turtle and ain’t even cradled it yet bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!HA!!!
BFE… I’d say I perseverate on the Broncos, just a little bit. (I do think I might need professional help)
A good gun is hard to beat Beast… they never back talk!!!
I’m jamming out on a Sony 520 watt stereo,with nobody here but me……poor me…..NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m professional help.what do you need girl?
BFE, what you jammin’ to?
Nice Beast…
No back talk and no saas,lol..
To stop perseverating on the Broncos! I think I’m losing friends over it… no joke! LOL!
Uncle Ted Turtle!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And! AB, he is completely ignoring me. THIS IS AWESOME! I wish you were here!! Where did you go? LOL!!!!!!!!
The first episode of H v Mc was real good… seemed well written, and not biased toward one side or the other really… I’m looking forward to the next one…
South Park on Comedy Central is about as exciting as my night is going to get I think…
tlc…uncleTed!!!!!!
Tellin ya, H v Mc was pretty good. Will watch tomorrow!
The Nuge? His hunting show is pretty sweet! he really believes in the way he lives and you have to respect that!
BT…shame on you bro,I’m getting plastered bro….it’s a holiday weekend,like a need an occasion to get drunk on bro,lol.!!!!!!!!!!!…S.
BFE
Alright guys im out. Fiancee is forcing me to watch the H v M show with her. I have no idea what its even about lol.
Turtle there is nothing wrong with South Park. Best episode is the one with the Goobacks lol
BFE, where’s your help? I need help!
Cat, It was a good show!
Alright guys I love you,but if I get unloaded,it’s my sucky internet,because I plan on staying on until daylight!!!!!!!
tlc…I am here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tlc….I am here all night as long as my dsl stays in…serious!!!!!!!!!!!
Good! Remember? You said you were my professional help so that I stopped losing friends because all I do is talk and think about the Broncos! LOL!
Beast… I’m just sitting here chilling with the dogs and the cats… being a boring dude… my girlfriend is gone and I’m contemplating sleep!!!
Turtle Uncle Ted is the best bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tlc….BT…I am here all night long if my freaking DSL stays in!
Ok, I am gonna have to go bed soon. I have one week of school left!
tlc…we will talk about Broncos ALL night if you want too,I don’t care,I am comfortably numb!!!!!!!!!!!
OI forgot…teachers have a week left,lol.
BFE, I’d love to talk about Broncos forever, but it’s causing problems in my real life and you told me you’d help me out. So, how do I stop thinking about PM and the Broncos and stop talking about it? What are normal things to talk about!? I’ve completely forgotten, I swear.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20720236/denver-broncos-have-starting-jobs-at-defensive-tackle
BRING THE BEEF
I miss Elway 007……….you are just as good tho,and that is a Helluva compliment girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
you could talk about sex or cars or even shopping
Who is this Elway 007? Second time you’ve mentioned them.
Just relax girl…there are many weeks left…I KNOW it’s hard but it will come in time girl!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE has a hard time too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, sex won’t go over real well at school and I honestly don’t like to talk about it. The lack of experience there would have to be a reason! And I’m a good Catholic girl.
Cars are fun… I tried to tell BFE that I love Chevy’s, but it wouldn’t post it!
Shopping is boring. I do most of mine online!
LOL! Good to know. Good to know. I think I’m just that odd duck.
So, I’m watching the NFL analysts argue over Eli and Peyton and like they literally blame the Colts for not finding a better back up and they wouldn’t have been so bad if they had a better back up. Sure, hindsight is 20/20 right? Anyway. The fact that they wanted Kyle Orton…. LMAO!
PM bveatts Elis ass everytime girl,you know that for a fact!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Colts never had a Defense Like the Giants had,but the Broncos have….ByGod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
Chevy Camaros rule,I have a 91 RS Camaro,that will turn heads and kick ass!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone want to race for pinks?????????????
BFE
This I know and I’ve said that he should be number 1 on the list or not on the list at all. It’s either or for me, not in between. When Tommy went down, Matty still won 11 games–tough division that year, did not make the playoffs. Peyton’s gone and it’s the end of everything.
BFE, I want a Manning Bowl in NO this year.
007ELWAY is a girl that posted some great links here,she was great~!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree tlc……I want a Manning Bowl in NO this year,where PM beats Eli’s ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAHA!!!!!!!!
BFE
TD Paralyzed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There have been middle linebackers in the NFL who have played with this injury for years after they received it. They take way more hits and pressure to the neck than the least sacked QB will ever get.
Wouldn’t it be great. NO wouldn’t know what to do. They won’t have their Saints and then they’ll have two home boys throwin the rock back and forth. It would be classic. It would settle it once and for all right? Which Manning is better?