ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — “Doomsday” in the NFL is just over a month away.
By 4:00 p.m. EST on September 2, roughly 1,184 player’s dreams of playing in the NFL will end, at least temporarily, as organizations have to cut their roster from 90 players to 53 by that time.
As “bubble” players will start to emerge over the next few weeks, one potential bubble player can rest easy as his spot on the roster was all but guaranteed after the fifth practice of training camp.
“I love [Andy Janovich],” special teams coordinator Brock Olivo said on Monday. “Love Jano. If we had 22 Jano’s, we would be alright.”
The issue, and why many may see Janovich as a player that could potentially be cut, is his primary position, fullback, is a dying breed. For decades, the fullback was a crucial position, paving the way for destructive running games. Now that the league has shifted significantly towards the passing attack, fullbacks have nearly become extinct.
“It’s the same deal with [fullback] Anthony Sherman in Kansas City — a great special teams player but again, the role of the fullback, is it going to be here in a couple of years? Nobody knows,” Olivo said. “It’s trending that way. Which is why we need to keep Jano on the field. His value needs to be very high for us.”
Fortunately for Janovich, and Olivo, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy carried a fullback on his roster last year with the San Diego Chargers. As McCoy leads the Broncos’ offense through the start of training camp, it appears that he will carry the fullback position to Denver.
When asked if he liked seeing the offense use the I-formation — a formation that includes the fullback — Olivo smiled and said, “Loving it. Loving it.”
Janovich’s value to the Broncos is easy to see, especially in the eyes of Olivo. As a “four phase player” — meaning he can play on the punt and kick return team as well as the punt and kickoff team — he fills multiple spots on special teams with a single roster spot. But the characteristics go beyond just filling a spot when it comes to the second-year player.
“He’s tough. He never says a word, never complains; he just does his job,” Olivo said. “He’s the first one in the meeting every day. He’s on it Xs and Os wise. He knows what to do. He’s tough. He finishes. I love the guy as you can tell. I love him…He’s a really good football player.”
After losing special teams captain Kayvon Webster in free agency following last season, Olivo “definitely” believes Janovich has the leadership qualities to be a captain this year.
If Janovich does indeed find himself on the bubble as September 2 nears, Brock Olivo will “absolutely, absolutely” “stand on a table and bang his chest” to assure he makes the team. However, Olivo is all but sure it won’t get to that point.
“I really don’t think that’s going to be a necessity because our personnel department does a great job in evaluating. Vance does a great job in evaluating,” he said. “They know the value Jano brings to us.”
“We love him.”
