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          Vance Joseph open to Wade Phillips' return, but calls it 'work in progress'

          • Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterJan 12, 2017, 03:50 PM ET
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              Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
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          ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Newly minted Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said Thursday he intends to talk to Wade Phillips about returning to the team as the defensive coordinator but called Phillips' future, as well as the construction of the Broncos' entire coaching staff a "work in progress."

          As Joseph was introduced as the Broncos coach Thursday, questions of Phillips' future and the future of the Broncos' top-end defense were among the most asked.

          Phillips, who arrived with Gary Kubiak in 2015, has directed a defense that finished No. 1 in 2015 and powered the Broncos' Super Bowl run followed by a No. 4 finish this past season. Though Phillips has said he wants to return, his contract with the Broncos is up.

          "I will say this: Wade is one of my football dads," Joseph said. "I spent a lot of time with Wade; we talk three or four times a week. That’s being considered. If Wade wants to be here, that’s going to be talked through. I would absolutely consider it, but it’s not worked out yet. It’s a work in progress."

          Joseph and Phillips were on Kubiak’s staff with Houston and worked together on a defense that finished No. 2 and No. 7 in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Joseph, who has spent his 14 years as an NFL assistant on defense, did say Thursday that he does not want to call defensive plays, so that could open the door for Phillips to return.

          Joseph also extolled the virtues of current Broncos secondary coach Joe Woods as a future defensive coordinator. Woods, a bright coaching prospect, would be in line to be the Broncos' defensive playcaller if a deal for Phillips' return doesn’t get worked out.

          "Joe’s a bright coach, and he’s obviously ready to be a coordinator in this league," Joseph said. "Joe is a guy who can obviously defend the NFL pass game. ... I love Joe; I’ve been friend with Joe for a long time. He’s a great ball coach."

          Said Broncos safety T.J. Ward: "Joe would do a great job. He did a great job with everybody in the secondary. ... He knows what this defense is about."

          It is such a front-burner issue because Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway has said the team's "No. 1 priority" this offseason is to "stay great" on defense. Despite almost season-long struggles defending the run, the unit finished No. 4 in overall defense, No. 4 in scoring defense, No. 1 against the pass, No. 3 in sacks and includes three first-team All Pro players -- cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib, and linebacker Von Miller.

          "That’s the spearhead, that back end, because they’re engaged, they’re physical and they love to play no matter where, when or what we’re playing for," Joseph said. "When you can play man-for-man up close and middle ... if you have rushers and you have cover guys you can play great defense because scheme don’t matter."