Broncos Film Room: How Bradley Chubb broke out against the NFL’s best offense

If there was one positive thing to take from the Denver Broncos fourth loss in a row against the mighty Los Angeles Rams, it was Bradley Chubb’s three-sack performance.

Not only did the rookie have his best game in the NFL, but he also did so against a pair of offensive tackles that had allowed one sack between the two of them in the first five games of the year.

The former fifth-overall pick’s big game also came against the NFL’s best offense and played a huge part in limiting the Rams aerial attack to less than 200 passing yards, something no other defense had done all year—the Rams had passed for fewer than 300 yards only once prior to Week 6.

We went back to the tape to break down how Chubb was able to finish so many tackles in the opposing backfield, how his teammates and coaches helped him produce, and what areas of his game he still needs to work on to be constantly great.

How Chubb was so productive

55’s best play of the game wasn’t even a sack but a quarterback hurry that led to a Von Miller sack.

On this particular play, Chubb bull rushed the Rams tight end, Tyler Higbee, gaining leverage to his inside shoulder and knocking him to the ground on his way into the backfield.

In this play, Chubb showed off his power and his ability to dominate one-on-one blocks against tight ends, which should be expected considering his pass-rushing pedigree.

As the rook knocked Higbee on his rear, he didn’t lose any momentum while breaking into the backfield, forcing Jared Goff off his spot and right into Miller’s arms.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Broncos brought pressure with five defenders on the play, a big part of why Chubb faced a one-on-one against a TE. If Denver can win more consistently when rushing five, good things will happen for this defense.

Miller returned the favor on Chubb’s first sack; as No. 58 came rushing from the strong side this time and beat tackle Rob Haverstein off his inside shoulder to bear down on Goff. On the opposite side, Chubb was able to get under left tackle Andrew Whitworth’s pads with a nice bull rush, working him back into the pocket and pouncing when Goff was flushed his way.

In this play, Chubb again flashed his power against an all-world blocker like Whitworth, and his strong hands to swat the LT aside before closing the sack.

No. 55 might not be as bendy as Von, or a technician with length like DeMarcus Ware used to be, but his combination of size, power, and first step quickness, added to his relentless motor showed up in these two plays.

Scheme at work

One of Chubb’s impact plays was a product of a schematic wrinkle we’ve all come to love, NASCAR fronts. This helped produce Chubb’s second sack of the game on 3rd-and-7 with the Rams at about midfield in the final seconds of the first half. 

The front featured Chubb lined up wide right, and Shane Ray across from the left guard, with Von and Derek Wolfe in more conventional spots.

Miller and Wolfe ran a little stunt to the left side, and Von broke through the middle, where he was actually slowed down by Ray, who with a quick swim move broke through the A-gap, forcing Goff out the pocket and into Chubb.

In truth, Chubb is being blocked nicely and kept outside by Whitworth; it’s Ray’s pressure up the middle that allows him to make a play coming underneath.

Not all NASCAR formations worked out perfectly for Chubb and Co., though. 

This blitz out of NASCAR was actually pretty interesting, with Shaquil Barrett this time in Ray’s role as the edge in the middle, with Miller outside and Wolfe lined up over center as a zero-technique next to Chubb. That front worked as a decoy, as the Broncos only rushed three of the four defensemen lined up at the line, bringing Darian Stewart and Brandon Marshall on a blitz and dropping Von Miller.

The blitz didn’t work as intended due to a terrific Todd Gurley block on Stewart, who was coming downhill with bad intentions, but it was an interesting blitz out of NASCAR nonetheless.

Back to Chubb, his third sack was off a stunt inside, an area in which he’s always excelled. Though, this season he hasn’t always succeeded in beating guards off of such plays.

This time, though, No. 55 timed his move perfectly and got through unblocked, leaving Whitworth in the dust as the LT tried to chase him back inside.

While the other sacks were a result of pressure shifting the rush towards Chubb, this sack was completely created and finished by the rookie.

Defending the run still a work in progress

Run defense has been an obvious issue the last two weeks for Denver and Chubb’s been responsible for some big outside runs in that stretch, which isn’t what he’s known for as he’s always been a good run defender in college and was mostly solid to start the year.

Against LA, Chubb battled it out with Higbee, and even if he created push, struggled at times to disengage from his blocks and get a stop.

Now it wasn’t all bad, as Chubb managed to create a run stuff down in the red zone, closing down on a run right at him, which put him in the lead for run stuffs by any Broncos defender.

Consistency in setting the edge and making plays to his side was an issue for Chubb, though he did make a few plays coming from the backside.

What’s working with Chubb’s run defense is his motor and eagerness to get in the mix and make plays, but that youthful exuberance has also cost hi

A long way to go

As mentioned above, Chubb has had issues against the run recently, and it all starts with setting a strong edge.

This is an area where the Rams tight end, Higbee, got back at Chubb.

What hurt Chubb here was losing outside contain and not finishing off the tackle on Gurley in the backfield, instead, letting him escape for 10 yards. 

Losing outside contain was a theme throughout and none worse than this Cooper Kupp reverse, where Chubb was caught peeking inside to make another backside play and got isolated against Kupp allowing a big run.

In this particular run, the rookie edge rusher should only have one assignment, not letting Kupp get outside, but that split second of hesitation killed him.

Beyond his struggles setting the edge, even as a pass rusher Chubb still showed lots of areas that he needs to improve in, as Andrew Whitworth really gave him issues when he got his arms on him. Showing how the developing pass rusher needs to work on counter moves to refine his game against the league’s best tackles.

Right tackle Rob Haverstein’s length also gave him trouble when rushing from the strong side and Chubb didn’t dominate Higbee in stretches like his talent should warrant, particularly in the run game.

Against the tackles, beyond a more refined pass rushing arsenal, Chubb showed how his combination of speed and bend isn’t elite and will need to be improved. He needs to be more sudden, more violent with his hands and quicker off the snap, all with a heightened awareness. 

In conclusion

Chubb’s ability to close on plays was crucial in this one and just what the doctor ordered for a Broncos pass rush that’s created pressure but been unable to finish at times. Like a great finisher in basketball who can dunk the ball home, Chubb has always had a special ability to close down sacks and for the first time this season that was on full display.

His size, power, deceptive athleticism, and especially his motor have already allowed him to have a big impact with 16.5 pressures on the year through six games.

If the former top-five pick can just improve his counter moves and play his assignments, this Denver defense might just have the dynamic pass-rushing duo it’s hoping for.