BSN Exclusive: Why a former weakness is now Su’a Cravens’ biggest strength

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Last season, Su’a Cravens never saw the field.

This year, he’s the piece that’s going to allow Joe Woods, his new defensive coordinator, to transform the Denver Broncos’ defense.

“I think bringing in Su’a just gives us another level of our defense that we can totally explore into,” fellow safety Justin Simmons said during the team’s third week of OTAs. “Su’a has been awesome.”

“He’s also another smart safety, too,” Simmons added. He’s already picking up the defense, knows it well and is making his checks. Su’a already seems like he’s been a day-one guy. Like he’s been here since all last year. So, I’m really excited to have him, and like I said, another part of the defense that just makes us that much better.”

Last year, amidst an incredibly disappointing and forgettable year, Denver’s defense actually performed incredibly well — ranking in the top five in total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed.

Yet after finishing with the eighth-worst scoring defense, allowing 23.9 points per game, and more importantly a 5-11 record, John Elway put a plan in place this offseason to make the defense better.

That plan included Bradley Chubb, the fifth-overall pick in the draft, and another player they had a first-round grade on two years ago.

“Coming in here, they obviously had a plan for me. When I got here they told me that they wanted me when I was coming out of the draft,” Cravens told BSN Denver on Thursday. “They run a lot of defenses that utilize a lot of things I can do, and whatever they need me to do, I’m happy to do it.”

After Washington selected him with the 53rd overall pick in 2016, Denver’s plan had to be put on hold for two years. But after Elway traded the equivalent of a fourth-round draft pick to acquire the talented safety back in March, that plan is back on track.

“They obviously want me out there when it comes to teams going wide, teams creating mismatches with their big tight ends or athletic tight ends,” Cravens said, giving an idea of his role in the defense. “They think that I can fit the role of being able to cover and being able to play the run at the same time.”

The best word to describe Cravens’ game is simple: Versatile — a characteristic Denver’s entire defensive backfield now possess thanks to the addition of the third-year safety.

“I mean, he gives us so much more versatility and mobility, both at safety and if we put him at like our dime and nickel packages,” Simmons stated.

Now, paired with Simmons, Darian Stewart, Will Parks and Jamal Carter, No. 21’s presence gives the Broncos “rare” depth in the defensive backfield, according to Woods.

“In the safety position, we can play strong, free and dime. It gives us the versatility based on matchups to move guys around,” Denver’s defensive coordinator explained with excitement in his voice.

“It could be — let’s just say it’s a team and they’re running the ball more. We can put Su’a down there. If it’s a team and maybe they’re passing more, maybe we can put Justin down there. But we can have more on the field and say, ‘Hey on this call, you guys play these positions.’ It makes it easy for me.”

But this elite versatility hasn’t always been labeled as an advantage for the young safety.

“My whole life I’ve heard being a tweener is bad, but I guess nowadays in the NFL you need guys that are not 190 pounds and fast, you need guys that are around 215-220 area that can not only cover, but run and play the run,” Cravens said, explaining how a former weakness now plays into his favor greatly.

With a wide smile that never left his face for the entirety of the interview, he added, “I guess I provide that.”

To put this in perspective, Cravens 6-foot-1, 224-pound body is 10 pounds heavier than fellow-safety Stewart, 22 pounds heavier than fellow-safety Simmons and falls three pounds short of the desired playing weight of linebacker Brandon Marshall.

“He’s a unique player. You can see his natural instincts when he’s in the box. When he’s in the box, he fits the run like a linebacker. Right now, you can see that. You can see it’s easy for him,” Woods said, giving positive initial feedback on his new versatile weapon. “I think he’s going to really help us in terms of what we’re able to do with our sub-packages. I think there are a few things actually we can do that we couldn’t do last year.”

One of the things the great Broncos defense couldn’t do last year — not from a scheme standpoint but from an execution standpoint — was cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. This year, Woods said he will plan on using a combination of safeties and linebackers in order to do that difficult task.

Woods then admitted Cravens will play “a big part” in covering tight ends and running backs. However, the man described by many as a hybrid linebacker-safety could very well end up being Woods’ one-stop shop in the defenses greatest area of weakness.

Another perceived “weakness” — or at least significant concern — of Cravens was his love and commitment to the game. Now, after having football yanked away from him for an entire season, no one can question the 22-year-old’s passion for the game.

“It’s great to be out here. It’s great to be out here,” Cravens emphasized as his smile nearly leaped off his face. “Nine months ago, I was in a place where I don’t ever want to be. I couldn’t play football—not by choice—and the fact that the Broncos gave me another opportunity at playing football is just a dream come true. I’ll never take it for granted.”

Simply asked if he was happier with the Broncos, his facial expression answered the question before his words.

“Oh yeah.”