Game grades are back!
We dug into the tape to grade nearly every Denver Bronco who saw the field in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
As you’d probably expect given that the Broncos pulled out a 34-30 win, the grades look pretty good.
Since it’s the start of a new year, let me remind you of the process…
Players are graded based on the opportunities they are given. Results are more important than process. If somebody is on the field for one play and he creates a turnover, odds are that’s an A+. In other words, a small sample size can lead to extreme grades.
I consider an average grade to be about a B- or C+. Better than average is a B. Below average is a C. Earning an A+ or an F is tough to do.
Here’s how I graded the Broncos’ defense and special teams on Sunday…
Click here for the offensive grades.
Defensive Linemen
DJ Jones: B-
The Broncos’ veteran defensive lineman was quiet in a limited role on Sunday. He didn’t make it into the stat sheet.
I didn’t think DJ Jones had a bad day, though. He fought well in the trenches and collapsed an early run for a short gain.
Malcolm Roach: A
Malcolm Roach wreaked havoc in his first game in a Broncos uniform.
The new addition was everywhere.
His high motor showed up on a leaping, diving tackle of quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Then he threw a lineman to the side and stuffed a run for a loss of a yard. He helped bottle up a screen for a loss in the third quarter. He penetrate and flushed the quarterback to set up Jonah Elliss’s sack.
Jordan Jackson: B+
Jonah Elliss had the pressure that forced Keidron Smith‘s interception, but Jordan Jackson was only a step away from the quarterback.
Jackson’s best play was a tackle for loss when he tracked a screen perfectly in the third quarter. He had had other solid moments, like when he flowed with a quarterback scramble to the boundary and shut it down after one yard.
I noticed Jackson being pushed backward a couple of times, including on a read option deep in the red zone, but I thought it was a solid day overall.
Angelo Blackson: C
The veteran lineman had a quiet day. I’m going to chalk it up to this: he played 17 snaps and 12 of those were passing plays.
While Angelo Blackson is a very solid run defender, most of the pass-rushing reps will go to the Broncos’ big-name linemen. And that’s for good reason.
Blackson’s presence wasn’t felt on Sunday, and I’m the absences that forced him into a different role.
Matt Henningsen: A
Matt Henningsen‘s best play was falling on a fumble. It’s a case of right place, right time, but I’m giving him credit for not blowing the opportunity.
The nose tackle was firm holding his ground. The best examples came close to the goal line, when he looks particularly stout. He was able to hold his ground, and maybe even push him backward, and then separate and get a hand on the running back a couple of times. He wasn’t able to nab the tackle on either, though.
Henningsen only notched a half tackle, but I liked what I saw.
Elijah Garcia: B-
Elijah Garcia‘s only mention on the stat sheet is a tackle assist, but I liked what I saw from him in the running game.
Garcia was strong the point of attack deep in the red zone. Even on the short touchdown run, it took two linemen to move him an inch.
Jordan Miller: C-
Jordan Miller only played eight snaps. Seven were passes. Like Blackson, I see Miller finding more success in the run game than the passing game. I think he caught a tough break. I noticed him on the one run, though, when he almost got to the running back.
Outside Linebackers
Baron Browning: B-
Baron Browning‘s only impact on the game was a beautiful spin move. The pass came out quickly, though, so it didn’t matter.
Jonathon Cooper: B+
The stat sheet won’t back this up, but I thought Jonathon Cooper had a great showing.
My favorite play came on the second drive, when he collapsed the edge on a run. The Colts sent a puller to his side of the field, and the poor guy didn’t stand a chance. Cooper bottled the run up for two yards.
Jonah Elliss: A+
Jonah Elliss had a sack on Sunday but calling it that might be generous. A defensive lineman chased the quarterback out of the pocket, and Ellis chased him out of bounds for no gain.
The better play was when Elliss dipped around the tackle and hit the quarterback as he threw a downfield pass. The pressured made the ball fall short and into the arms of Keidron Smith for an interception.
Elliss was also solid in special teams, including the first kickoff when he made the tackle.
Durell Nchami: D+
After a great training camp, Durell Nchami was surprisingly quiet on Sunday. He didn’t show up in the stat sheet. I hardly noticed him on defense. His best plays came in kick coverage.
Thomas Incoom: C
Like Nchami, I was surprised that Thomas Incoom was so quiet on Sunday. He made some special teams plays, and he got a hit on the quarterback on a long ball to a tight end, but there isn’t much to write about.
Dondrea Tillman: B+
Dondrea Tillman had a fun sequence in the fourth quarter.
The former UFL star lost contain on a read option. He wasn’t prepared for the quarterback (who is a part-time receiver as well) to pull the ball and run outside. Luckily, the play was called back for holding.
On the very next play, the quarterback pulled the ball on a read option. Once again, Tillman bit on the run. The quarterback ran for 11 yards.
Three plays later, the quarterback tried to escape the front of the pocket but Tillman was there to knock the ball out of his hand for a strip sack and a turnover.
Inside Linebackers
Alex Singleton: A+
Alex Singleton was everywhere on Sunday.
His blitz on the second play of the game was well-disguised. He got to the quarterback and forced an incompletion that set up a 3rd & 8.
On the next drive, a tight end beat Singleton on a quick drag on 3rd & 7, but Singleton was able to close and bring him down short of the sticks.
He got into the backfield and made a red-zone tackle for a two-yard loss.
On a 3rd & 7, he popped a receiver as the ball arrived and forced an incompletion.
He slipped a block and made a strong tackle of Sam Ehlinger.
He made another strong tackle up the middle that stopped a 3rd & 6 yard for one yard. The Colts missed the ensuing 54-yard field goal.
That’s a hell of a day. Singleton led the Broncos in tackles.
Cody Barton: C
Cody Barton worked with the starters, but I didn’t think he had a great day.
He had his moments, like when he helped bottle up a run on the first play, but he also got caught in traffic, allowing a running back to pick up 12 yards on a catch in the flat.
No big issues, but not enough plays made to make up for a couple of plays missed.
Jonas Griffith: D+
Jonas Griffith made a couple of tackles, but the most notable play didn’t go his way.
Griffith was in coverage against a tight end, who beat him on an out-and-up for 26 yards.
Levelle Bailey: C+
Levelle Bailey didn’t shine in the preseason game like he has in training camp.
I didn’t come away with major concerns, which is a good thing for a 225-pound linebacker, but I would have loved to see him slip a block or make some plays in the running game.
I’ll give him credit for making a tackle short of the sticks on 3rd & 6. But on the next play he got caught in traffic and couldn’t keep up with a fourth-down wheel to a running backs that went for 15 yards.
Bailey looked great in special teams, though.
Andre Smith: B
Andre Smith didn’t get much run, but he came away with a pair of tackles. The bulk of his work was in coverage, and I didn’t notice any hiccups.
Alec Mock: B
Like Smith, Alec Mock didn’t play very much on Sunday. He did hit the quarterback on a blitz, though.
Safeties
PJ Locke: C
PJ Locke‘s highlight: a tackle for loss in the red zone with Alex Singleton.
Locke’s lowlight: allowing a tight end curl in front of him, and then missing the tackle which cost 15 yards.
Devon Key: B-
Devon Key‘s debut in the starting lineup was quiet. For a safety, that can be a good thing.
The fourth-year safety made a tackle. He didn’t get home on his only blitz.
JL Skinner: C
JL Skinner gave up a curl for five yards and a deep dig that cost a dozen. He helped with a third-down stop, too.
Keidron Smith: A
The Kentucky alum took advantage of an easy opportunity, when a lobbed pass fell into his arms.
Keidron Smith made a couple of other good plays in the running game, one deep in the red zone and another when he shot a gap for a run stuff.
Omar Brown: C+
Omar Brown played the fewest snaps of any Broncos safety. He finished with one tackle.
Cornerbacks
Riley Moss: B
Riley Moss wasn’t perfect in coverage. He gave up 11 yards on a comeback route. He gave up six yards on a quick curl, but made the tackle quickly.
His best play was when he covered a slant. He was physical at the top of the route and nearly picked the pass off.
Damarri Mathis: C-
Damarri Mathis nearly had an interception, but he was beaten on the play and helped out by the receiver getting caught in traffic. He gave up a 15-yard out route to Juwann Winfree later in the game. Mathis was in decent position but the ball sailed just past his fingertips.
Mathis looked good as a gunner.
Ja’Quan McMillian: B+
Ja’Quan McMillian made a play that might go under the radar.
On 3rd & 8 early in the game, Mathis was beaten on a dig route. The receiver had a step. McMillian was covering a crossing route going the other direction. When the two receivers crossed, McMillian gave a little bump to the other receiver, which disrupted the timing of the pass and forced an incompletion.
It was a vet move.
As always, McMillian was valuable in the run game.
Tremon Smith: D+
Tremon Smith was as important as usual in the kicking game. He made a tackle on the first kickoff. He forced a fair catch. He stumbled on a promising kick return, though.
Unfortunately, Smith’s time at cornerback didn’t go as well. The worst moment was when he gave up a 39-yard catch-and-run on a dig.
Reese Taylor: D+
Reese Taylor didn’t have his best day.
Taylor bit on a run fake in the red zone and left his man wide open in the back of the end zone. He was lucky the pass was missed.
Later on, he was beaten on a post in zero coverage for a touchdown.
Taylor had his moments, like a good cover on a fade route that forced an incompletion, and good tackles in the running game and the kicking game, but overall it was a tough showing.
Kris Abrams-Draine: A
Kris Abrams-Draine had an awesome debut.
The big moment came on a weird play that looked broken in a late-game two-point conversion attempt. The receiver he was covering stuttered off the snap and called for the ball on a slant. There was traffic and Abrams-Draine was able to undercut the throw for an interception.
The rookie had other moments, too, like a great cover on the boundary that set up a 3rd & 14.
Art Green: F
Art Green wasn’t on the field long before he tried to deliver a blow over the middle of the field. The receiver ducked his head, which led to a targeting penalty when Green launched himself to make the hit. The play cost 15 yards.
Tanner McCalister: D+
Tanner McCalister was only on the field for a dozen snaps. He gave up a quick out that turned into a 10-yard gain. The small sample size hurts him.
Quinton Newsome: D
Like McCalister, Quinton Newsome didn’t get too much run. He gave up 18 yards on a corner route.
Special Teams
Wil Lutz: A
Wil Lutz was two-for-two on field goals and four-for-four on extra points.
Riley Dixon: B+
Riley Dixon averaged 48.5 yards on his two punts, both of which ended up inside the 20.
