The Broncos promoted Jamar Cain to defensive line coach last February.

A big change has come since then.

Defensive end Zach Allen said Cain has implemented a new “attack style” on the line, and it fits him well.

“It’s just attack. It’s just vertical,’’ Allen told The Denver Gazette. “Last year it was kind of reading blocks. I’m really happy about it. … It’s a lot cleaner, a lot better, a lot more flashier, so we’re really excited to kind of show it off.”

How about a second opinion on this?

“Ask Matt,’’ Allen said. “Matt’s happy about it.”

Yes, Broncos defensive end Matt Henningsen is indeed content with the new style.

“It’s nice,’’ he said. “It’s good. It’s more going forward than seeing what’s going on in the backfield before you go forward.”

In other words, the Broncos are looking to be more aggressive this season on the defensive line than they were in 2023, when they were tied for No. 21 in the NFL with 42 sacks.

Allen said this attack style was mostly used when he played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-22 and Vance Joseph was Arizona’s defensive coordinator. Joseph took over that role with the Broncos in 2023, and Allen said he embraces changes Cain has made.

Cain in 2022 was Denver’s pass-rush specialist. He was promoted to defensive line coach after Marcus Dixon left to become Minnesota’s defensive line coach.

Allen said nose tackle D.J. Jones played this attack style while with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-21, and Jones likes it. He said defensive end John Franklin-Myers, acquired from the New York Jets in April, and versatile defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, signed as a free agent in March, are also well suited for it.

Put it all together and Allen said the Broncos could have one of the NFL’s better defensive lines.

“I really do think so,’’ Allen said. “Just looking at it, we’re just so deep now across the board.”

Allen was especially thrilled when the Broncos landed Franklin-Myers. The two are expected to bookend Jones on the defensive line in Denver’s 3-4 scheme with Henningsen and Roach playing key rotation roles.

“It’s pretty crazy,’’ Allen said. “I’d been talking to John for a while about how cool it would be to play with each other. It’s kind of funny how it worked out. I’m really happy to be playing with him.”

Allen and Franklin-Myers developed a relationship after the latter signed a a four-year, $55 million contract extension with the Jets in 2021.

“I texted him congratulations,’’ Allen said. “I always could see from afar that this guy is the real deal and I thought we played similar styles. And seeing a guy like that get paid as much as he did was really cool.”

Allen got his own big deal when he left the Cardinals in March 2023 to sign a three-year, $45.75 million contract with Denver. Franklin-Myers renegotiated his deal after the Jets sought to trade him, and he signed a new two-year, $15 million deal with the Broncos.

Allen and Franklin-Myers are developing a close relationship. From July 15-17, they both will join join pass-rush specialist B.T. Jordan at a camp he holds in Dallas.

Allen said Jordan, a good friend of Cain’s, also is scheduled to join the Broncos for several days at training camp. He will provide additional pointers on Denver’s new attack style.

***

What I’m hearing

—When Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin was an undrafted rookie last season and played in his first preseason game, his name was misspelled “McGlaughlin” on the back of his jersey. It was suggested to him he finally has arrived in the NFL now that nobody is spelling his name wrong.

“I haven’t arrived yet,’’ said the ultra-competitive McLaughlin. “When I feel like I’ve arrived in my head, I’ll probably be done playing the game.”

—Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s wife Kennedy gave birth March 17 to the couple’s second child, son Madden Thaddeus. That followed daughter Lennon Love being born April 1, 2022. “One was born on St. Patrick’s Day and the other on April Fools,’’ Stidham said. “I’ll get to joke with my daughter when she’s older that I forget her birthday every year. But my son, I won’t have an issue celebrating that at all.”

What I’m thinking

—Single-digit numbers are popular with players. All of Denver’s single digits are taken except 7, which is retired for John Elway. During the offseason, kicker Wil Lutz switched to No. 3 from 16 as soon as quarterback Russell Wilson was released and Baron Browning went to No. 5 from 56. Both had worn those numbers before, Lutz with the New Orleans Saints and Browning at Ohio State. “I’ve just been wearing it since I was a kid, from Pee Wee to college,’’ Browning said. Outside linebacker Randy Gregory wore No. 5 last season for Denver before being traded after Week 4. “When it became available again, I just got it,’’ Browning said.

—The Broncos’ signing Thursday of linebacker Andre Smith after a minicamp tryout could be an indication they’re thinking about putting him on kickoffs due to the NFL’s new rules. The rules could dictate more physical players being used since the two teams will line up on kickoffs 5 yards apart. The 6-foot, 240-pound Smith has started just one of the 62 games he’s played in six NFL seasons, but he’s stuck around due to his prowess on special teams.

What I’m seeing

—When Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb works with rookie signal caller Bo Nix, he certainly can speak from experience. Webb was a rookie quarterback just seven years ago after being a 2017 third-round pick by the New York Giants. “I obviously went through it,’’ said Webb, who acknowledged his experience was different since he had future Hall of Famer Eli Manning in the quarterback room. In his second NFL season of 2018, Webb got a perspective perhaps more similar to the Broncos’ current situation when he was with the Jets and their starting quarterback was rookie Sam Darnold.

—With the departures of Wilson, 35, defensive tackle Mike Purcell, 33, and cornerback K’Waun Williams, 32, that has left fullback Michael Burton, 32, as Denver’s oldest player. Burton, who has 71 yards rushing and has caught 31 passes in his career, has lasted nine previous seasons due to his ability to block and play special teams. “There’s a reason he has played this long,’’ said coach Sean Payton. “He understands who he is. … He’s one of those glue guys.”