We’ve reached the halfway point in the season. It’s time to take a look back at the first eight weeks of Broncos football.
We’ve got two things today: awards for the first half of the season and grades for all of the Broncos’ key players.
Let’s Ride.
Mid-Season Awards
MVP: Pat Surtain II
The Broncos’ most valuable player is hardly a conversation. Pat Surtain has been one of the top defensive players in the league this season. He plays an important position and he plays at a high level. No other Bronco has a case for MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jerry Jeudy
This one is a lot tougher. Russell Wilson isn’t deserving. None of the running backs are deserving. Quinn Meinerz has been the Broncos’ best lineman, but he’s only played in four games. Greg Dulcich has been a revelation at tight end, but he’s only played three games. Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy are the clear top candidates and I’m going with Jeudy. He’s just behind Sutton in yards and catches but has scored three times.
Defensive Player of the Year: Pat Surtain II
As noted above, Surtain is the Broncos’ top defender. He’s a clear choice here. Honorable mentions go to Bradley Chubb and Dre’Mont Jones.
Rookie of the Year: Greg Dulcich
While the small sample size holds Dulcich back from Offensive Player of the Year consideration, he’s easily done enough to earn rookie of the year honors. Expanded roles for Nik Bonitto and Damarri Mathis give them a chance at the full-season award, but Dulcich is the eay answer for now.
Comeback Player of the Year: Bradley Chubb
The Broncos should have plenty of candidates for this award next season. This year, not so much. Bradley Chubb played seven games last year before he was sidelined, but he bounced back nicely before being traded to the Miami Dolphins last week.
Coach of the Year: Ejiro Evero
The Broncos defense is playing at an extraordinarily high level. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero doesn’t deserve all of the credit, but as the leader of a dominant unit, he earns the honor.
Mid-Season Grades
It’s time to look back at how everybody performed in the first half of the season.
Here’s how I did it: I averaged out all of the grades from the first eight weeks of the season. Then I made some tweaks. For example, Quinn Meinerz earned an A for his work in Week 1, but he only played 15 snaps, so I weighted that game a little bit less. Alex Singleton has been solid on defense, but he’s also had some outstanding special teams performances that have bumped up some of his grades. I balanced those out too.
In any given week, there’s variation in the grades. Pat Surtain is the Broncos’ best player but he could wind up in the middle of the pack based on his performance that week. I was surprised at how predictable these grades turned out to be. Everybody feels like they’re in the right place and it only took an eight-game sample size.
The criteria are the same as always; how much you play doesn’t matter. How well you play in the time you get does. Keep in mind that I consider a B- an average grade.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson: C-
Brett Rypien: D+
Russell Wilson has not lived up to expectations. He was brought in to be the Broncos’ savior, but he hasn’t been able to produce standard quarterback play. Brett Rypien graded out slightly behind him.
Running Backs
Javonte Williams: B-
Melvin Gordon: C-
Mike Boone: B-
Latavius Murray: C+
The Broncos have rotated a handful of backs following Javonte Williams’ injury and they still haven’t found a great solution. Melvin Gordon’s fumbles have tanked his grade. Mike Boone is injured. Latavius Murray is solid running straight ahead but doesn’t provide much pop. Maybe Chase Edmonds or Marlon Mack can turn the tide.
Tight Ends
Greg Dulcich: A-
Eric Saubert: C+
Eric Tomlinson: C-
Albert Okwuegbunam: C-
Andrew Beck: B-
Greg Dulcich has been a revelation. The Broncos rotated a bunch of tight ends through the lineup in the first five weeks of the season and got a couple of solid performances. Albert Okwuegbunam had a good first outing. So did Andrew Beck. Eric Saubert has earned a couple of B+ grades. Dulcich’s string of three good to great games should lead to him being the top tight end the rest of the way.
Wide Receivers
Courtland Sutton: B-
Jerry Jeudy: B
KJ Hamler: C+
Courtland Sutton has disappeared recently with 50 total yards in the past three weeks. Meanwhile, Jerry Jeudy has slowly closed in on Sutton in yards and catches. KJ Hamler has alternated weeks with a big play over the past month or two, which has helped his grade.
Offensive Line
Garett Bolles: C
Dalton Risner: C+
Lloyd Cushenberry: C-
Quinn Meinerz: B+
Graham Glasgow: C
Cam Fleming: C
Billy Turner: C+
Calvin Anderson: C+
Somehow, almost all of the Broncos’ linemen graded out similarly. Cam Fleming’s grades varied the most. Lloyd Cushenberry had ups and downs as well. Garrett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz are the only linemen to earn A grades in a game this season, but Bolles’ grade was knocked down by a could of penalty-plagued games.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
DJ Jones: B+
Dre’Mont Jones: B+
Mike Purcell: B-
DeShawn Williams: B-
Matt Henningsen: C+
DJ Jones has never graded below a B- this season. Dre’Mont Jones has a pair of A’s under his belt. Mike Purcell and DeShawn Williams have lived up to expectations in their roles. Matt Henningsen opened the season with a D but has slowly worked his way up during his rookie campaign.
Outside Linebackers
Bradley Chubb: B+
Randy Gregory: A-
Baron Browning: B
Nik Bonitto: C+
Jonathan Cooper: C
Baron Browning’s big games are the story of his season, but a couple of duds (in particular against the run game) keep his grade modest. Randy Gregory barely edges out Bradley Chubb for the top grade for an outside linebacker (availability isn’t a factor). Nik Bonitto’s performance in London bumped him up.
Inside Linebackers
Josey Jewell: B
Alex Singleton: B
Jonas Griffith: C+
Alex Singleton has earned a couple of A grades, but Jonas Griffith is still getting the bulk of the No. 2 linebacker snaps. Josey Jewell’s grade could be much higher if not for a dud against the Raiders.
Cornerbacks
Pat Surtain II: A
Ronald Darby: B
Damarri Mathis: C-
K’Waun Williams: B
Pat Surtain grades out as the Broncos’ top player in the first half of the season. Ronald Darby was a solid pairing before his injury. Damarri Mathis is slowly climbing back from his three-pass interference performance in his first start.
Safeties
Justin Simmons: B
Kareem Jackson: C+
Caden Sterns: B-
Justin Simmons has lost points for missed tackles and a couple of penalties. Kareem Jackson’s performance in London tanked an otherwise solid grade.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brandon McManus: B-
Corliss Waitman: B
Montrell Washington: C+
Only one of Brandon McManus’ four misses has come from within 50 yards. Corliss Waitman’s 45.9-yard average is nothing special, but his 19 punts inside the 20 ties for the second-most in the NFL. After a hot start, Montrell Washington’s return average has turned south.
