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Denver Broncos: Week 6 Position Grades

By Cameron Parker

Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) reacts as he walks off the field after a 21-13 loss ot the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) reacts as he walks off the field after a 21-13 loss ot the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Defensive Line Grades: B-

Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end Jared Crick (93) and Derek Wolfe (95) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end Jared Crick (93) and Derek Wolfe (95) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Now we get to the “smiles” portion of our position grades. The defense is not as good as last year’s, but it is still a very good opportunistic one. It is great to see the defensive line play with better intensity and gap integrity, but the one play from Melvin Gordon still haunts my memory. The overall grade for the defensive line is a B- grade.

Gordon finished with close to 100-yards on the ground, but 48 of it came on the lone big gash of the night. The Broncos must play better in not allowing the big play on defense from a running back. Jared Crick had a great night getting in the backfield on multiple occasions to pressure Phillip Rivers as the game rolled along.

The defensive line did not play well in the Falcons’ backs, but the San Diego Chargers did not exactly have its full compliment of players last night. Danny Woodhead is the “Wes Welker” in a running back and would present the Broncos a problem based on last week. However, the Broncos defensive line adjusted well in their gap assignments to not allow very many big running plays. They must eliminate the “bend, but don’t break” defense from the repertoire as a whole unit. It is their makeup to beat opposing offensive weapons from the line of scrimmage. We need a nastier defense from the line.

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