Potential Riley Moss return shouldn't cost Jahdae Barron a golden opportunity

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has a philosophy that confidence is born out of demonstrated ability.

We're fixin' to find out how much he really believes in that on Thursday night when the Broncos play host to the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks are not only the reigning Super Bowl champs, but they boast the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Normally, that would be an assignment for Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II, but he's currently out with an ankle injury.

The initial injury report for the Broncos ahead of Thursday's game indicates that there's a chance Riley Moss could return after missing the Chargers game due to injury, but his (potential) return to the lineup shouldn't rob Jahdae Barron of a golden opportunity to prove himself, either.

Riley Moss return would give Broncos options against Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Let's make something very clear about this conversation up front: Nobody else in the Broncos' cornerback group should be given the PS2 treatment.

That includes Riley Moss, especially given the fact that he's coming off injury this past week.

The Broncos should not be going into this game against the Seahawks with the idea that Moss is going to "follow" Smith-Njigba around the formation. This is the perfect opportunity to put trust in all of your guys at the cornerback position, and it's especially important for second-year player Jahdae Barron to get some chances to go against him.

Smith-Njigba is one of those players that you simply have to expect over the course of a game, he's going to "get his". That's just the type of player he is. The question is whether or not you're going to allow a player like JSN to completely unravel your defensive game plan.

Just like the Broncos made second-half adjustments against Davante Adams when they played the Los Angeles Rams, they are going to have to make in-game adjustments against a player like Smith-Njigba, who will be featured heavily by the Seahawks, no matter who the opposition has covering him.

Even if Pat Surtain were playing in this game, the Seahawks would force the Broncos to adjust by giving JSN targets anyway.

Over the past handful of weeks, Jahdae Barron has quietly played some really good football. Given the fact that he played just six snaps over the first two weeks of the season, there was some justified outrage over not only Barron's (lack of) usage, but also the Broncos' decision to take him in the 1st round at all.

A Pat Surtain injury is not exactly what anyone wanted in order to see Barron actually playing, but the injury to PS2 has given Barron a chance to build some confidence through demonstrated ability. And against the Seattle Seahawks, he will be getting his best chance yet.

Up to this point, Riley Moss has not proven to be the type of playmaker at cornerback that you would give the one-on-one treatment against a player like Smith-Njigba. The Broncos are going to get matchups against JSN with Moss, Barron, and slot corner Ja'Quan McMillian.

And those reps between Smith-Njigba and Barron will be extremely important.

If the Broncos believed that Barron was worthy of a 1st-round investment, then they believed he could eventually rise to the occasion in matchups like this.

Even with Moss potentially returning for this game, and maybe especially with Moss returning, the Broncos can't try to hide Barron or protect him from the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year. It's time to find out if he will sink or swim in a huge matchup.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow