Denver Broncos: The return of Bradley Chubb

A torn ACL sidelined Bradley Chubb for the majority of the 2019 season, but with his talent, he is primed for a huge bounce-back year with Denver Broncos.

In some ways, it is eerily similar to what Von Miller encountered in the 2013 season. Both Denver Broncos outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Miller dealt with ACL injuries in the early stages of their careers. Chubb’s injury came early in 2019 and sidelined him for the rest of the Denver Broncos’ season. He expects to be full-go for 2020 and looks healthy for a monster return to the field in 2020 (if the NFL has a season barring everything happening right now).

The return of Chubb is one of many storylines for 2020 and his presence makes him a much-needed addition to a roster that expects to be a playoff contender.

Chubb is the type of talent like Von Miller that is a game-changer or game-breaker. Both players are capable of being a defensive player of the year candidate. Chubb will need to add elusiveness like Miller, but in terms of pure strength of a pass rush, Chubb is one of the most talented in the game.

The bull rush of Chubb is brute strength and he’s capable knocking tackles into their quarterback. Chubb has done a terrific job of adding a variety of pass rush moves to his game making it more refined with still more work to be done. While sacks are great and all, that is not the only area where Chubb affects games.

The run defense was instantly better with the addition of Mike Purcell and Alexander Johnson in the Jacksonville Jaguars game. However, with Chubb in the mix, the run defense gets exponentially better. Chubb has enough awareness to seal the edge and not allow running backs to get to the outside. He keeps containment enough that the back has no choice but to cut inside.

Coming into the league Chubb was an outside linebacker, but with Fangio in the second season together it may be possible we see some design plays with Chubb at the as an edge rusher with his hand in the dirt.

Both Chubb and Miller are creative defensive pass rushers that Fangio can get creative to use them appropriately.

We mentioned sacks earlier. The other facet both Chubb and Miller bring to the team is overall pressures. In terms of Chubb and his Comeback Player of the Year campaign, the Broncos will have a player get after the quarterback, striking fear into him. Like his bull rush, he can create many opportunities to wreck games with his pressure and quarterback hits.

Denver will be happy to have Chubb back on that defense.

In terms qualifications of a Comeback Player of the Year, Chubb will have to accumulate 16 sacks if not more to garner the attention he needs to win the award. Chubb also would need to add close six to eight tackles for loss as well with numerous quarterback hurries and hits.

It goes without saying Chubb will have an uphill climb to get the award. It is not that he is not deserving because he is very deserving. The problem becomes other candidates will be looked at for the award. Also, Von Miller has not won a Defensive Player of Year award. It is what it is with Miller and that award, but Denver simply does not get the recognition they deserve with these awards. Chubb is qualified and more than capable to blow the voters away.

Chubb is without a question a Comeback Player of the Year candidate and has a shot at the award. Surely, Broncos Country agrees on this one.