Denver Broncos: Positives to build on from week one loss
Courtland Sutton, WR
The Denver Broncos needed Courtland Sutton to emerge in 2019, and it looks like he’s up to the task.
Last season, Sutton was literally one of the best 50-50 receivers in the league. He was known coming out of SMU for being able to win jump-ball situations with his great athleticism, but there were concerns about his ability to create separation in the short-intermediate passing game.
Sutton caught exactly 50 percent of his targets in 2018 (42 of 84 targets) for 704 yards and four touchdowns.
Against the Raiders, Sutton caught seven of eight targets for 120 yards, his first game in the NFL with over 100 yards receiving.
It wasn’t just that Sutton was catching passes, either. He was doing things against the Raiders defense we didn’t see him do most of or at all last year.
The Broncos lost last night against the raiders, but some young players played very well.
— PFF DEN Broncos (@PFF_Broncos) September 10, 2019
Dalton Risner finished Monday with a 84.2 grade and Courtland Sutton finished the game with his highest graded game ever with a 86.3
He was making plays over the deep middle of the field, catching the ball in tight spaces, and making plays after the catch. Last season, it was basically a matter of whether or not Sutton would catch two or three of the bombs Case Keenum threw him downfield.
In this game, he was working to get a good release at the line of scrimmage, get inside leverage on the defensive back, and then use his strong hands to make the play.