Mile High Monday: An addition to the defense, while the offense struggles

Aug 31, 2020, 5:44 AM

Denver Sports Analyst

The Broncos are getting closer and closer to the start of the regular season. Two weeks from tonight, Denver will open their season at home against the Titans. Time was been winding down in training camp and there is still much work to be done.

I like this time of year because all my fantasy football drafts are this week. With so many teams left with so much to work on (like the Broncos), these fantasy drafts are going to have a wild feeling like never before. You can study the game as much as I do and still get surprised by what happens because of this uncertain offseason.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Much-Needed Help

On Sunday, it was announced that the Broncos had signed veteran linebacker/safety Mark Barron to a contract. Barron was a first-round pick (No. 7 overall) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming out of Alabama in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was a safety in college and began his pro career at the position, but he struggled there and was moved to linebacker when he landed with the Rams in 2014. The injuries to Todd Davis – who may return before the start of the regular season – and the season-ending injury to rookie inside linebacker Justin Strnad prompted this transaction.

This was a much-needed move for the Broncos. The team has struggled with coverage of tight ends and running backs out of the backfield for years. Davis and Alexander Johnson are fine defenders against the run, but both struggled when tasked to make plays against a passing game in space. Barron has incredible instincts and coverage skills which could help him get playing time right away for his new team.

We’ve agreed to terms with former first-round pick LB Mark Barron.

Welcome to #BroncosCountry, @M_B_24!

📰 » https://t.co/N1bT4Rn6im pic.twitter.com/3paczF5Buv

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 30, 2020

We could see the Broncos implement a “heavy nickel” package now that Barron is on the team. Such a package would basically include three safeties on the field at the same time. Barron is going to be listed as a linebacker and he will play on the inside, but he still brings a safeties skill set to the field. Barron was released by the Steelers in a salary-cap savings move, and the Broncos get a solid veteran who should be a versatile – and perhaps key – cog for the Vic Fangio defense in 2020.

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Interceptions Abound

The Broncos held a scrimmage at Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday, and it was a rough outing for the offense. The defense dominated the day with no fans in attendance. The stadium will also be empty when the team plays the Titans in two weeks and it’s something they’ll have to get used to.

Hopefully, Broncos fans don’t have to get used to seeing the offense struggling. The first-team offense was led by quarterback Drew Lock, who threw two interceptions on the day. Lock was behind on passes to both wide receiver Courtland Sutton and tight end Noah Fant, so the defense (Justin Simmons and Davontae Harris, specifically) made him pay.

Drew Lock after stadium practice in which two drives stalled in INTs: “Right now, of course I’m upset. I would have rather have played a lot better. But it’s a learning moment for me.'' (more) #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) August 29, 2020

I’m not worried about those interceptions. Lock said in his post-scrimmage press conference that he would go back and look at the tape to see where he erred, then he would move on.

“I’ve always been the guy who’s able to learn more from mistakes rather than being all daisies, all roses out there. It will be good for us to be able to go back and look at how we struggled, look at what we did wrong, especially like you said for those young guys. It’s big to struggle early I feel like. I got told this when I was in college. I’d rather someone was telling me this, they’d rather me struggle early and be great later on. I’d rather us struggle right now, obviously, then be great when the season comes along,” Lock said.

I love that short memory from the young quarterback. He is a hungry player anxious to prove that he can be the franchise quarterback the Broncos envisioned when they selected him in the second-round last year. Lock will learn from his mistakes, and (more importantly) he won’t let those bad plays dampen his confidence.

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Fox Force Five

The team was able to get the best wide receiver in the best wide receiver draft class in NFL history when they selected Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It was something that I mocked to the Broncos in my one and only mock draft at 1043TheFan.com, but it seemed like a bit of a pipe dream. Instead of being a fantasy, the Broncos were able to make it happen and added perhaps the best player on their roster.

I’ve said it from day one that Jeudy would be an instant impact player for the Broncos. Even though the offense struggled on Saturday, Jeudy looked like a star player with superstar upside. His hands, concentration and route-running ability could make him a favorite target for Lock from day one.

.@jerryjeudy making plays at @EmpowerField. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3HyOjs3Eyq

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 29, 2020

People need to catch up here. Just now, analysts across the country are talking about the high-level impact that Jeudy could make in his NFL debut season. This is an old take as far as I’m concerned. If you’ve followed Jeudy’s game since his days in college, then you’d already know that he could be one of the best receivers in the game today – and that could happen as soon as this year.

The Broncos offense will have its fair share of struggles – any young offense with a new offensive coordinator would – but that unit will look better as a whole if Jeudy is targeted early and often in 2020. I haven’t been as excited about a rookie player for the Broncos since Von Miller came into the league back in 2011.

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Wakanda Forever

The world lost a great one when actor Chadwick Boseman passed away on Friday. It was a shocking development, and we got the breaking news on the Nick and Cecil show on The Fan. Nick and I have the most diverse show on The Fan, with a Chicano and an African-American for hosts, but we also have the nerdiest show on the station.

Both Nick and I are huge comic book fans and Boseman was a favorite for us – especially in his role as Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe. The character of the Black Panther was one that broke down barriers in the comic book industry back when he was introduced in 1966 (Fantastic Four No. 52). He was the first main character from Africa in American comic books, and he led the way for other characters like The Falcon (1969), Luke Cage (1972) and Blade (1973) in the Marvel universe.

Boseman represented such an important character in the pop culture world, and he was a fan-favorite in his own “Black Panther” film in addition to appearances in “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War’ and “Avengers: Endgame.” He brought a regal character to life with such energy and passion for the lore.

Boseman understood that the Black Panther represented more than just another superhero on the big screen. He was perfect for the role, and that came through on the screen.