In a recent article from Pro Football Focus, Josey Jewell was mentioned as someone who could be an unsung hero for the Denver Broncos.
Josey Jewell fits the mold of the Denver Broncos’ unsung hero, but with how talented the 2022 roster may be, there could be several.
Dating back to 2020, Josey Jewell’s play has improved significantly. During the first few seasons, Jewell was hampered due to athletic limitations for the job he was asked to do.
Let’s face it, asking Josey Jewell to go man-to-man with Darren Waller or Travis Kelce just isn’t going to work.
That is ok.
Denver Broncos play to Josey Jewell’s strengths
Part of being a great coach is understanding what your players can do, but even more importantly, what they can’t do. Josey Jewell is a smart, instinctive player who is fantastic if he is able to keep things in front of him.
If he is asked to turn his back and chase an athletic pass catcher, he is probably going to lose that battle.
However, his presence in the run game is missed when it is not available, even his ability to play coverage that operates mainly through zone concepts.
With instinctive players like Jewell, allowing them to play downhill will garnish the most out of them.
In 2020 and the beginning of 2021, Josey Jewell was allowed to play to his own strengths and the Denver Broncos were gifted the great play of the former Iowa Hawkeye that was born on December 25th.
Who could be another unsung hero for the Denver Broncos defense?
Ronald Darby signed a three-year deal worth $30 million during the 2021 offseason.
Looking for a veteran corner who would keep the Denver Broncos away from the nightmare that was the ending of the 2020 season, Darby answered the call.
While Ronald Darby has failed to intercept a pass since 2019 with the Philadelphia Eagles, he has still had busy hands. Dating back to his rookie season in 2015, Darby has had 87 pass breakups in 84 games.
Darby did miss five games last season and that has been a concern, but when on the field, Ronald Darby is an excellent cornerback. Being in the same secondary as Patrick Surtain II and Justin Simmons, Darby does get overlooked at times. His lack of interceptions also plays into that.
One thing that does get overlooked with Ronald Darby is his speed. He is able to match up with faster receivers which complements well with what the AFCWest offers. His style of play fits well in a zone scheme too.
Playing in a zone scheme allows your defenders to play with a bit more space and gives them the ability to keep things in front of them. Darby does well with his breaks on the football and getting his hands involved at the catch point.
That isn’t to say he can’t press, because he certainly can. He has the speed to even recover if he slips or takes a misstep.
If needed, Ronald Darby could be a team’s CB1. Patrick Surtain II is clearly cemented in that role, but having someone on the opposite side who can be just as good gives Ejiro Evero plenty of flexibility with his secondary.
Garrett Bolles will be the unsung hero for the Denver Broncos offense in 2022
Remember what it was like to not have a starting left tackle?
I do.
Garrett Bolles brings one of the better stories from a growth perspective that you will find in the NFL. Much of Broncos Country at one point referred to him as Garrett “holds” in reference to his issues with getting too handsy.
Garrett Bolles did not accept this, he did not crawl under a rock. He persevered, found outside help, and spent time in the lab improving his craft. Garrett Bolles is not the NFL’s best tackle, but he is up there with the top tier.
If the Denver Broncos were to lose Garrett Bolles, his friend and teammate Calvin Anderson would have his back but filling the shoes of recent Garrett Bolles would not come easy.
With the style of play Russell Wilson brings, I expect there to be times where the pass rush does get to Wilson, but remember to look at every play and every snap respectively.
Not every sack given up is on an offensive lineman.
If the offense lives up to the hype surrounding it, players like Russell Wilson, Javonte Williams, Courtland Sutton, or Jerry Jeudy will be the names you find on national media outlets. Just remember, every play starts up front with the big boys.
To be a successful offense in the NFL, your line has to be able to at minimum, control the line of scrimmage. In a perfect world, they own the line of scrimmage but the world is not a perfect one. Garrett Bolles comes off as someone who takes his job seriously and personally, he wants to be great.
One fantastic quote today from Garrett Bolles, he said “You touch my quarterback, it’s like touching my wife. And we’re going to have a problem.” That sounds like a guy who is going to do everything possible to protect his quarterback.
Bonus unsung hero?
Special teams have been a dumpster fire for what seems like an eternity. Have no fear, Montrell Washington is here!
Montrell Washington was a fifth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2022, one that surprised many people.
In my one mock draft this year, I did have the Denver Broncos selecting Montrell Washington in the seventh round, which felt like a long shot at the time.
It was questioned, it was looked at as maybe even as a reach. But when you watch Montrell Washington play football, it changes your opinion. After two days of camp, he has turned heads. Again, it is almost contact-free and just the second day of camp, but he has still been impressive.
He even had what was considered a punt return for a touchdown on the second day of training camp.
Maybe he chips in on offense, but I wouldn’t expect too much production there. That wide receiver group is incredibly stacked. What he can do though is be the best return man the Denver Broncos have had since Trindon Holliday.
Remember when the Denver Broncos’ offense struggled heavily against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional round during the Mile High Miracle debacle?
Trindon Holliday’s heroic efforts came them in the game by scoring not just once, but twice. He became the first player in NFL history to actually have two return touchdowns during the same playoff game.
5 Denver Broncos players showing breakout signs early at training camp
The Denver Broncos just started training camp, but some young players are showing signs of breaking out very early on. Who is standing out?
Montrell Washington has the chance to change a game like that for the Denver Broncos this season. There will be opportunities for the young rookie to put on a show as he did against the Florida Gators.