Player Q&A: Adam Gotsis on going from a 'project pick' to a starter

[Miles]

When Adam Gotsis first joined the Broncos as a second-round pick in 2016, many analysts viewed the Georgia Tech product as a project. Since then, the Australia native has steadily progressed on the defensive line and is now in his third season as a starter — and he’s not done yet. We caught up with him just before the start of the season to get his thoughts on how he wants to improve further, his thoughts on Head Coach Vic Fangio and much more.


When you were drafted, analysts thought you were a project. Now this is your third season starting. Where do you think you’ve made the biggest strides?


“Just everything. I’ve just developed as a player as a whole. My run game has gotten real good, pass game has gotten good — but I’ve just got to improve on that a bit more. I think I’m one of the best guys in the league that can play the run and hopefully turn my pass rush up a bit this year and get to the quarterback a bit more and just see what happens. Coming in, all these people have opinions of you and you as a player, you’ve just got to go out there and play your game and establish yourself as who you are in this league. People are going to find out sooner or later whether you are a guy to grow into a role or you’re a guy that can come in and play right now. For me, it was just coming in, working hard and when that opportunity was there, it was there. I’ve enjoyed it.”


What have your impressions of Vic Fangio been?


“He’s locked in. It’s football, football, football. I think he’s seen that we didn’t really have an identity or culture the last couple years, and I think it’s something that he’s trying to instill, that we’re a workhorse of a team and we’re going to go out there and grind it out and play hard, physical football. That’s just the mentality that he brings every day, the way he comes to work every day, just the way he plans everything.”


How hungry are you for the playoffs?


“That’s one thing I haven’t seen since being here. I came the year after the Super Bowl, and we haven’t been back since. I know there are still a couple guys on this team from the Super Bowl that want to be back there, and I know there’s a bunch of guys that have come in since that want to get back there, too, so that’s the goal: to make the playoffs, and then from that, you want to go all the way to the championship.”