The sun has come up despite such a poor showing on Thursday Night Football by the Denver Broncos (and the Colts). While there doesn’t feel like there is a lot of good to talk about on this gloomy October Friday, there actually is. Baron Browning was a really good find for the Broncos. The move to put him at outside linebacker has paid off, and a big “thanks” goes to Ejiro Evero.
It’s not easy to change positions in the NFL unless you were just naturally born to play that new position. Sometimes it pays off.
With Browning, it did.
As the president of the Baron Browning fan club, it's my responsibility to report:
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 7, 2022
Browning had 6 QB hits last night
- Most QB hits in a game by any player since T.J. Watt had 6 in Week 13, 2021 vs BAL
- 1.5 sacks tonight vs IND (0 sacks in 18 career games entering tonight)
Broncos ED Baron Browning had 10 QB pressures on 20 pass rush snaps and was charted as winning 12 of 20 reps.
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 7, 2022
The 50% pressure percentage and 60% pass rush win rate are both the top marks in PFF history (since 2006) in a game where a player had at least 20 pass rush snaps
I was more than impressed by Browning’s showing on Thursday night.
The Broncos have a few outside linebackers that have done really well, in Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory. It just feels like Evero will always and forever put these players in the right position to make a play on the ball, whether it is through a sack or an outside run.
There were actually a few snaps in which Browning jumped off the line like Von Miller used to do for this team. There is no doubt in my mind that a guy like Chubb has helped Browning transition to this new role on the defense. Chubb knows some ins and outs of the position and got that same help from Miller when the two played together for a couple of years.
Check out this sack in which Browning was on the right side (of the offensive line), dipped inside once the play started, and got to Colts quarterback Matt Ryan. Things like that are just a thing of beauty. I want more of it.
Honestly, I don’t really care for the, “well it was just the Colts” chatter. You play who’s on your schedule. I’m not sorry. I’m not sure how the rest of the 2022 season will go for the entire team in terms of their record, but seeing Baron Browning succeed this much is a pleasure to see.
So, while it was quite painful to sit through this slugfest of a game, one of the silver linings was Browning. I am so excited to see where he can go in terms of his production going forward.
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Hopefully, Browning will be able to bring the heat when the Broncos face off against tougher teams and quarterbacks of the elite level.