Denver Broncos young linebackers ready to step up Sunday
The Denver Broncos are hurting at the linebacker position with both Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis possibly out Sunday. Their backups are ready…
If the Denver Broncos are going to beat the New England Patriots on Sunday, their linebacker group is going to be critical in the process.
The Patriots have done a great job this season of beating teams in a variety of ways, but a couple of things they love to do are get the ball to their backs out of the backfield, make plays after the catch, and beat you up front with a power running game.
The Broncos twice got the best of the Patriots last season, and both occasions, they were in tightly contested battles that were won simply by the Broncos making one more play than New England.
I don’t know if Denver has the ability to win decisively against New England, even at home, but if they are going to win the game at all, a couple of young players are going to have to step up their game.
With Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis nursing injuries, it’s going to be up to primary backups Corey Nelson and Zaire Anderson to be physical, make smart decisions in coverage, and be a wall as a second line of defense against LeGarrette Blount and New England’s running game.
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Nelson has played quite a bit in relief of the injured Marshall this season, and in recent weeks, he’s playing some of the best football of his young NFL career.
Anderson was a practice squad player a year ago, but earned a roster spot after a stellar offseason, training camp, and preseason performance.
The Broncos drafted Nelson in 2014 out of Oklahoma in the seventh round, and found Anderson in the undrafted player crop in the 2015 class. Neither player will face a bigger situation than the one up-coming on Sunday, but both guys are going to be ready. Anderson said he’s preparing like he’s going to start, even though there’s a possibility Todd Davis will still be able to go, but Nelson will be playing a major role with Marshall out.
The Broncos need both of these players to rise to the occasion if they are going to beat the Patriots on Sunday.