Why Joe Schobert wasn’t worried about waiting five months for a new home

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The trip to Dove Valley was quick for Joe Schobert. 

“When I got in, people asked me, ‘Where are you coming in from?’” Schobert said before his first practice with the Broncos on Monday. “I was just like, ‘25 minutes down the road.’ It wasn’t bad this morning. The traffic on I-25 was good.'”

Schobert and his wife moved to Castle Rock five years ago because they liked the outdoors. While they waited for Joe to sign with his fourth NFL team in four seasons this summer, they hiked and fished and his wife worked at her dance studio. They weren’t worried.

“I’d be out in the mountains with no cell service,” he said. “I knew my time would come. I knew I’d wind up somewhere.”

Schobert, 28, worked out for the Broncos last week and signed a deal with the team Monday morning. The news broke two days after projected starting linebacker Jonas Griffith went down with a dislocated elbow that the Broncos expect to keep him out for four-to-six weeks. Schobert figures to fill in as the starting linebacker next to Josey Jewell for the firs couple of weeks of the season, and maybe beyond that if he plays well.

“This will be my seventh different defensive scheme in seven years,” Schobert said. “It’s much to think about, but I’ve been pretty much on every single scheme you can have in the NFL. I’ve played with a lot of good guys and a lot of good defenses. I just want to bring experience and help the room grow.”

After entering the league as a fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2016, Schobert quickly became one of the league’s premier inside linebackers. He was a Pro Bowler in his second season, after leading the NFL with 144 tackles. He was the only Cleveland Brown to earn the nod. He surpassed 100 tackles in both of his next two seasons before hitting free agency. The five-year, $53.75 million contract from the Jaguars was the third-largest of the 2020 offseason and is currently the 10th-largest ever given to an inside linebacker. 

But Schobert was underwhelming in his first season in Jacksonville, despite playing 99% of the Jaguars snaps, making 141 tackles, intercepting three passes and forcing a pair of fumbles. Before last season, he was traded to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick. He played 84% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps and wracked up 112 tackles but was released from the team this offseason which saved the Steelers nearly $8 million in cap space. 

“I started in Cleveland and then Jacksonville and didn’t have too many successful seasons while I was out there,” Schobert said. “Being on a team that was more veteran-oriented in terms of the coaching staff and the players and being able to learn a lot from those guys. You have a coach like Mike Tomlin, who’s a great leader of men. Being able to be in those rooms and experience that was good for me last year.”

Schobert made his money because of his versatility; he was a very good cover linebacker who could also play downhill in the running game. He was valuable on every down, a rarity for linebackers. Now he and Jewell need to figure out how to play together. That process started Monday.

Jewell says they’ll spend plenty of time together outside of practice to figure out their fit.

“He’ll pick it up fast,” Jewell said. “He’s been in the league for seven years and he’s been a good vet so I’m not too worried about it.”