The Denver Broncos finished their preseason undefeated, after taking down the Cardinals 38-12 on Sunday.
Here’s how the defense graded out…
Defensive Linemen
Jordan Jackson: A+
Two sacks. What more do you need to know?
Blackson didn’t live up to the standards he set over in the past month, but he wasn’t a problem. He lost his gap because he tried to cheat inside on the first run. He had another tough rep a few plays later. For the most part, he was solid.
Matt Henningsen: B-
Henningsen made a couple of good tackles, including one on a screen. He had a solid rush on Justin Strnad’s forced fumble, too.
Eyioma Uwazurike: B-
Uwazurike made a couple of good tackles in the hole. They weren’t otherworldly plays—one allowed four yards on a 3rd & 2—but they were solid. I had hoped for a little more pop from Uwazurike but didn’t see it. I did, however, like the push he got on a 1st & Goal from the 3-yard line, which led to a tackle.
Outside Linebackers
Nik Bonitto: A-
Bonitto outclasses his opponents in the third preseason game. He didn’t look like he should be out there. His two best plays were when he rushed inside and flushed the quarterback from the pocket, setting up a Jordan Jackson sack, and when he flew in unblocked off the edge for a tackle for loss.
Nobody on the Broncos’ defense played more than Tillman on Sunday, and he made his presence felt. His two batted passes were his highlights. One of them was headed toward a wide-open receiver in the end zone. He made a couple of good tackles, including one inside the 20 on a kickoff. He couldn’t quite make a sack near the boundary, but he set up Justin Strnad to to chase the quarterback out of bounds for a sack.
Jonah Elliss: B-
Elliss was solid but quiet. He had a couple of good rushes but never got home.
Thomas Incoom: D+
This is a tough grade. Incoom made some good plays in the running game, including a tackle for loss when he was unblocked off the edge. Overall, it was a good showing. But a late hit penalty set up a 1st & Goal, and that hurts his grade significantly.
Inside Linebackers
Levelle Bailey: A+
The rookie had a 94-yard pick-six.
Justin Strnad: A+
Strnad got credit for a sack. The quarterback decided to step out of bounds for a five-yard loss instead of throwing the ball away. It’s a good play from the linebacker either way, but he got a little bit lucky.
He didn’t get lucky when he cracked a receiver deep in the red zone and knocked the ball out for a turnover. The power showed up frequently, too.
Cody Barton: B-
Barton came away with a tackle in his 14 snaps. I don’t have much to say.
Cornerbacks
Levi Wallace: B+
Wallace only played 14 snaps. He was targeted once. It was a drag on 3rd & 10. The receiver had the speed advantage on Wallace, but the veteran cornerback took a perfect angle and made the tackle well before the sticks. I think this play sums Wallace up well.
Art Green: D+
Green gave up a couple of catches, including a 13-yard out that got the Cardinals into the red zone. He also had a good cover up the sideline in the third quarter. In an up-and-down day, the 15-yard facemask penalty kills his grade.
Reese Taylor: C+
Taylor nearly had an interception. He jumped an out route. He was in perfect position. the ball was on the way. But Dondrea Tillman swatted it at the line of scrimmage.
Taylor was himself—physical, impactful in the run game—but a holding penalty on a punt kills his grade.
The rookie’s big play came in the middle of the field on a deep dig. He stuck to the receiver through the break and broke the pass up.
McCalister had a touch sequence. On one play, he was called for a 15-yard penalty for a low block. On the next play he gave up an 18-yard catch.
Quinton Newsome: B-
Newsome primarily gave up short catches, but he also gave up a 21-yard back-shoulder catch on the boundary. He wasn’t in bad position, but the receiver made the play.
Newsome broke up a two-point conversion, which saves his grade.
Safeties
JL Skinner: C-
There’s a lot to like about Skinner. He was physical, especially when taking on linemen in the run game. He had a good hit on the first punt of the game.
But the results aren’t all that good. He makes mistakes, like when he was late crashing into the box in robber coverage, which left a receiver wide open on a slant from the slot. He missed a tackle, too.
Skinner has the tools and I think he’s taken a step forward, but he’s still a couple of steps away from being a reliable starter.
Devon Key: B
Key had a short night. He was in position on a couple of screens. He made a couple of tackles. Overall, it was a quiet outing.
Keidron Smith: A-
Smith kept his turnover streak alive. He recovered the fumble that Justin Strnad forced. He also punched a ball out of a receiver’s hands just before halftime, but it bounced out of bounds.
Smith has plenty to clean up—he flipped his hips the wrong way in man coverage from the slot and gave up a 43-yard post—but he’s been remarkably productive in the preseason.
Omar Brown: B+
I’ve been impressed by how Brown plays around the line of scrimmage. On Tuesday, he notched a tackle for loss.
