Randy Gregory pulls a fast one on the Dallas Cowboys as the Denver Broncos address their pass rush to help in fortifying a defense.
Randy Gregory has worked diligently and tirelessly to get his life on track since coming into the NFL. Talent has never been a question for 29-year old Gregory joined the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of draft from Nebraska. He is a fluid, active pass rusher who uses his ferocious hands to create free lanes to a quarterback.
You won’t see a lot of pass rushers with the athleticism and dip he has. Gregory’s high motor along with his bend offers his new team the Denver Broncos a unique pass rusher.
Life has always allowed us to learn, grow and develop into better people. We are all afforded opportunities to learn. When teams throw endless amounts of resources a player needs to realize the willingness to change. You can understand the frustration from owner Jerry Jones’s perspective.
When Gregory was drafted by the Cowboys the team assigned him an accountability partner to live with him for four years. Gregory would consider marijuana over and over again because he never like the person he was becoming thus resulting in anxiety issues.
Every single suspension related to marijuana Gregory has owned to exactly the root cause of the problems. He routinely said it was a marijuana problem. The marijuana led to anxiety and negative self-talk. If a person believes in negative self-talk, then it will create plenty of bad habits that person will not want. In this case of comfortability, Gregory resorted to marijuana.
Since being reinstated for full-time work, Randy Gregory has been awarded leadership duties and become a more vocal leader in the locker room. Gregory joined the leadership council. Before the 2021 season, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy outlined a 14-player council chosen by the coaching staff.
Gregory was selected for that council.
The Denver Broncos’ new leadership led by George Paton and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett is one of teaching. Growing together as a family vibe is something that should be enticing for Randy Gregory and personal growth. If Gregory was the team’s number one option at pass rusher, then it would not be surprising to see Denver do extensive work in Gregory’s background and willingness to continue his growth.
We mentioned up top Gregory’s talent has never been of the question for teams. Looking beyond the sack numbers Gregory is a productive turnover creating pass rusher. He calculated five turnover plays which tie him for first in the NFL. Denver needs to find multiple ways to create turnovers and Gregory was the best at that in 2021.
His freakishly gifted athleticism and bend give him a unique opportunity for creating turnovers. One question will be the transition from 4-3 to 3-4 defensive scheme. My guess is Gregory will play primarily on the edge giving him ample time to consistently wreak havoc on a quarterback.
His film is a beautiful study because any executive can tell there’s a lot left in the tank. Hackett has brought up the word “juice” a few times and Gregory from a pass rush perspective brings the juice.
The Denver Broncos finally have an appropriate blend of speed and power again with Bradley Chubb. Chubb provides the brute strength and force to bull rush to a quarterback. Both have availability concerns, but there’s no reason to think production and game tape will be at a solid level.
If Ejiro Evero wants to go more to a six defensive back look he will need every ample player to rush the passer to make a defensive back’s life easier. Gregory gives Denver the pass rusher offering pure speed.
One glaring impact this might have is on the pass rush with Malik Reed. Reed is a good pass rusher but at times finds himself lacking awareness. He is just a step behind in both setting the edge or filling run gaps.
For Gregory, while he is pure speed, there is ample strength to his game offering his services in run defense. He’s not a complete player by any means, but he’s done a solid job in the run defense department to bring value even with Reed in the building. What will remain to be seen is if Denver is done adding to the pass rush market with a decision looming on Reed.
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Paying a player five years $70 million is a lot. However, if the production happens on the field Broncos fans will forget the deal took place. The fact of the matter is, Denver got themselves a pass rusher alongside Chubb and one who can create nasty pressure in AFC West as a duo.
Welcome to the Denver Broncos Randy Gregory.