Broncos 2019 Training Camp Preview: inside linebackers

The Denver Broncos want to get back to their winning ways in 2019. They’ve completely revamped the roster with the hopes that this combination of players makes a run at the postseason — or at least plays .500 or better football.

This roster is full of talented players on both sides of the ball, but there are questions that need to be answered during training camp. In this series, we will go through each position group searching for those answers.

Today, we’ll take a deep dive on the inside linebacker position.

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Starters: Todd Davis, Josey Jewell

The Broncos could have selected an inside linebacker in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Michigan’s Devin Bush was on the board when their No. 10-overall pick came up. But instead, Denver traded the pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected the instant-impact rookie.

That move to pass on a player like Bush is a great sign for both Todd Davis and Josey Jewell.

Davis has flourished during his time with the Broncos, especially during the past season. Undrafted out of Sacramento State in 2014, Davis originally was signed by the New Orleans Saints. He did play in one game for the Saints, but they toyed with the waiver wire and lost the young linebacker.

New Orleans waived Davis so they could stash him on their practice squad, and that’s when the Broncos swooped in and put in a claim. The pro scouting department of the Broncos has done this before (see linebacker Brandon Marshall) and they clearly identified untapped potential with Davis.

Todd Davis stats:

During the next two seasons, Davis started a couple of games each year but was mostly a backup behind Marshall and Danny Trevathan. But in 2016, Davis finally got his chance to be the full-time starter.

He played 614 snaps in 2016 (14 games), compiling 55 tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Davis’ numbers were fairly similar in 2017 (14 games), when he finished with 49 tackles and 1.0 sack.

After two seasons, Davis looked like a replacement-level player, or “just a guy” in scouting lingo.

Then, in 2018 his game launched to a much different level.

Davis exploded in 2018, playing most defensive downs (842 snaps) and posting a career-high 112 tackles and seven pass breakups. In his previous 45 games, he had broken up just four throws.

Simply put, Davis looked like a different player.

His problem of guessing wrong as a run-defender was gone. Davis worked diligently to improve his read-recognition skills, and it was clearly evident in the way he played last season.

As highlighted earlier, his play in coverage was vastly improved. Davis became the player the Broncos had always hoped he would. Now, in 2019, it will be fascinating to see what more Davis can do.

A fourth-round pick for the Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Jewell was known for being an incredibly productive player. Jewell started three seasons for the Hawkeyes, leading the team in tackles each season.

Jewell wastes no time finding the ball. He does a good job of anticipating where a play is flowing, and he stays disciplined as he works towards the ball-carrier. In fact, some in the scouting community feel that Jewell has a “sixth sense” when it comes to diagnosing a play that unfolds in front of him.

Josey Jewell stats:

Don’t ask Jewell to cover tight ends or running backs out of the backfield, though. Jewell lacks the speed to stay with those players on downfield routes. Not only does he lack speed but also Jewell lacks length as a coverage player. Measuring in at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Jewell lacks the wingspan to bat passes away from a player just slightly in front of him.

As a rookie in 2018, Jewell appeared in all 16 games for Denver. He played 458 snaps and racked up 37 tackles and 21 assists. With improved play, it’s easy to project Jewell for around 65-75 tackles in 2019.

His game is not built on elite-level athleticism. In fact, Jewell is mostly a two-down player. But on those two downs, he can stand out.

Jewell will take is discipline to the next level as he continues to learn the pro game. His upside is somewhat limited by his athletic profile, but expect Jewell to get the most out of his skill set.

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Reserves: Dekoda Watson, Alexander Johnson, Kieshawn Bierria, Joe Jones, Joe Dineen, Josh Watson

The Broncos have two of these players listed as just “LB” on the official roster, while the rest of the players listed above are clearly “ILBs.” This is an interesting group with a versatile veteran on his second stint with the Broncos, a player just trying to reclaim his football career, a special teams player looking to be more, an undrafted rookie who was a tackling machine in college, a hard hitter on the bubble, and a rookie who got this opportunity because of his work at the local pro day.

Dekoda Watson was a favorite of mine on his first stint with the Broncos back in 2016. A seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft, Watson has bounced around the league to six different teams.

He’s only played a full 16-game regular season twice in his career, but one of those seasons was with Denver. In 2016, Watson signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. He played only 44 snaps on defense, finishing with seven tackles and 1.0 sack.

Watson is mainly known for his strong play on special teams, but he can play outside or inside linebacker. Last season, in just four games, Watson collected 2.0 sacks for the San Francisco 49ers.

He’s smart, strong and gets to the ball carrier quickly. Watson is a good locker room guy and known for his incredible work ethic. He can be asked to rush the passer, but Watson also has the athleticism and spatial awareness to drop back in coverage.

The Broncos traded the 49ers a fifth-round pick for Watson and a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s just got to stay healthy in training camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Alexander Johnson is still working on his fresh start. The Broncos picked up Johnson last year in August, signing a three-year deal worth $1.7 million with $50,000 guaranteed. It was an unusually high guarantee, but Johnson is an unusual case — and there were plenty of other teams interested in the 26-year-old rookie.

Known as A.J. Johnson during his college career at the University of Tennesse, he went undrafted in 2015 after being accused after rape. Three years after being accused, Johnson was acquitted. And that’s when the NFL came calling.

His game is built on power and ferocity as a tackler. During his time playing for the Volunteers, Johnson became just one of four players to compile 400 tackles for the university. Johnson knows how to “scrape and flow” when going to the play. He doesn’t bite on play fakes and doesn’t get caught up in the wash when running to the play. Once he arrives, Johnson brings down his opponent with a thunder.

Johnson appeared in one game for the Broncos in 2018, but he mostly just bounced on and off the practice squad. The path to the 53-man roster is more cluttered this year, so Johnson will have to stand out on special teams if he wants to make it.

Kieshawn Bierria was on track to be a first-round pick before his senior season at Washington. Instead of being a top pick, Bierria’s instincts were off in his final season for the Huskies, and he was caught out of position too many times. His senior film was near a complete 180 from what he showed in previous college seasons.

Denver was able to get a potential steal in the draft when they selected Bierria in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

So which Bierria are they getting? He has athletic traits that others on this list don’t possess. He’s fluid with his movement and does a good job of turning his hips in coverage or bursting out of his backpedal to make a tackle in front of him. He can be disruptive behind the line of scrimmage and has a good closing burst to the football.

However, mental miscues plagued Bierria, which he needs to overcome. He did appear in 12 games for the Broncos last year, mainly on special teams, but he played 18 snaps on defense and compiled three tackles and two assists.

Bierria is looking to do more this year. He’s going to have to earn that playing time, but the upside and potential are off the charts if he can get his game back on track.

Joe Jones is one hard hitter. He does all this as a tackler while also being a fine option as a coverage linebacker. That’s what Jones mostly did in college at Northwestern, and he used his freakish athleticism to make plays on the pass, sometimes lining up against the slot.

Jones, who went undrafted in 2017, was originally picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but eventually found his way to Denver. He’s a mature player who is trying to fulfill his dream of playing in the pros.

His off-the-charts athleticism and ability in coverage make him standout from others at the position. We’ll see if that’s enough to earn a spot on the final roster when training camp and the preseason are done.

Joe Dineen was a tackling machine in college for the Kansas Jayhawks. The Broncos added him as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and Dineen is one of the most instinctive players at his position.

Dineen does not have an outstanding athletic profile, but he produces with intelligence, guile, and discipline. Don’t ask him to make a play in coverage, but do ask him to attack rushing lanes in front of him.

He can play special teams, and that’s Dineen’s best route to the 53-man roster. However, I think keeping him around on the practice squad makes a lot of sense if there’s just not enough room for him on the 53.

Josh Watson took advantage of appearing in the Broncos local pro day earlier this year. The CSU linebacker was one of a few dozen prospects from local area high schools or colleges looking to get a shot. Watson earned that right with Denver and now may work his way onto the practice squad.

NFL scouts don’t consider him overly fast, but what makes Watson stand out is his nose for the ball. He has good instincts and diagnoses a play quickly when it is breaking down in front of him. Watson called the checks for the Rams defense and was known as a team leader.

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Summary

The NFL world was convinced the Broncos needed help at inside linebacker this offseason, either through the draft or free agency. Everyone was wrong, as the team feels they have the best options for them in 2019 already on the roster.

Davis is the player that has elevated his game the most over the last season. He no longer makes simple mistakes and now seems to be constantly around the ball. Davis has improved his recognition skills, and that helps him play better in coverage.

If Davis improved like this on his own, imagine what he can do under the guidance of Vic Fangio?

Jewell is a solid player but his upside may be limited by his lack of elite-level athleticism. Like Davis, Jewell will get a “Fangio bump,” and that should make him a solid starter for the Broncos in 2019.

Expect Jewell to come off the field on passing downs, but expect him to mostly make plays as a run defender.

The Broncos reserve inside linebackers have talent. If injuries strike on the depth chart, they have plenty of options to go with. Depth at this position is no concern whatsoever.

It will be fun to see what kind of production this team can get from their defense, especially with the inside linebackers doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Follow @CecilLammey