The Broncos have made three key hires so far this offseason. Two are long-time Sean Payton lieutenants and the other is new defensive assistant Jim Leonhard. What sold Payton on the assistant whom a former player calls a "football genius?"
This isn’t the first time Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel has faced the challenge of building on the accomplishments of a popular predecessor. Tressel is taking over for Jim Leonhard, whose Wisconsin defenses annually ranked among the nation’s best. Tressel is following the same advice that worked for him at his last job.