Denver Broncos: Shane Ray, Su’a Cravens benched vs. Browns
The Denver Broncos are taking some (kind of) desperate measures, benching pass rusher Shane Ray and safety Su’a Cravens vs. Cleveland.
The Denver Broncos are checking feelings at the door and doing whatever it takes to win, even if that means making some pretty significant changes in the lineup.
As first reported by Mike Klis, the Broncos are planning on making former first-round pick Shane Ray and offseason acquisition Su’a Cravens healthy scratches against the Cleveland Browns.
Why were these players benched? The only reasonable explanation is that the Broncos feel like players behind them on the depth chart can perform at a higher level in the same roles, specifically with what Ray and Cravens are tasked to do defensively which is rush the passer and cover backs and tight ends, respectively.
Ray has one sack this season for the Broncos in 13 games. Wrist injury or not, Ray has made himself available and has not produced this season at all. With Shaquil Barrett also not playing in this game, the Broncos could finally be turning to undrafted rookie Jeff Holland out of Auburn.
Holland may have some extra pep in his step, and the Broncos will need someone to give Von Miller and Bradley Chubb a breather at some point in this game.
They can use a few different players to get it done.
DeMarcus Walker, another player who has been a healthy scratch most of the season, could see some play as an interior rush specialist with some other players moving to the outside as the Broncos attempt to get in the face of Baker Mayfield.
As for covering tight ends and running backs? The Broncos promoted Trey Marshall this week, but we are more likely to see more of Dymonte Thomas defensively with Cravens inactive.
Ray is in a contract year with the Broncos, and it’s expected he is going to be moving on after this season.
Cravens is in his first year with the Broncos and missed the first eight games of the season with an injury. The Broncos designated him as a player to return off of IR and he has had mixed results, but was particularly ineffective against the 49ers whose tight end George Kittle had a career game.
Cravens also had a couple of penalties in that game.
I personally have no problem with the Broncos changing things up like this. Ray is not going to be with the team beyond this season, and therefore the chance to evaluate Holland in such a big game is appealing.
dark. Next. Interview with Bradley Chubb
Cravens’ ineffective play against the 49ers and Thomas’ upside in the secondary certainly warrant the opportunity for the former Michigan product to show what he can do. The Broncos need a solution and they can’t keep going back to the same well if it’s not working. Cravens has a couple of years left on his rookie contract so the Broncos don’t have to give up on him by any means.
This is just a wake-up call.