Storm- News » Broncos at Redskins: The No Bull Review

The most significant game of the preseason is in the books and Broncos Country was treated to some pretty darn good football from top to bottom.As we inch closer to regular season action Andy Janovich Jersey , the clouds are starting to part quite a bit about what our team is going to look like and where the problem areas are on the roster. Given that, I’m going to focus this review a little more closely on what I see as the teams strengths and weaknesses.DefenseAgain in this game we saw a weakness in run defense. You wouldn’t know it based on the post-game interviews as the coaches and players all talked like it was a pretty stout outing from the defense, but my eyes told me a very different story.That being said, it is always important to keep in mind the nature of preseason football: vanilla schemes, mix-and-match personnel, and experiments from the coaching staff are the order of the day.So while I point out the flaw, let me say that I’m by no means saying it is a glaring issue.Front 7The best showing of the game from the front 7 belonged to Adam Gotsis. He did it all: 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, and a partridge in a pear tree. Honestly, I’m very comfortable with him taking a lot of early snaps or stepping in for Wolfe if there’s an injury. He’s got a ton of game.Domata Peko again stood out to me for his play early on. He’s a beast of a man and on two different plays I saw him occupy and move 2 blockers on the line. It is the kind of thing that oftentimes goes unnoticed, but is the very key to a great pass rush or run stop.Another guy that stood out to me as a guy many in Broncos Country probably aren’t noticing is Demarcus Walker. He had two hits on the QB and was a disruptive force on the interior. He’s shaping into the kind of player many of us thought he would become when we drafted him last yearBradley Chubb got a lot more work in this game. He was in on 陆 a sack, had a couple of QB hits himself, and was mostly up with one down play I noticed against the run. What I’m seeing mostly here is the coaching staff feeding him as much action as possible to get him coached up as quickly as possible to the NFL level. The rotational guy worth talking about is Josey Jewel. Once he joined the fray, it was kind of a showcase of how well he plays the run. He was in on everything when Washington tried to run.Shane Ray did himself a very good favor with a sack and a TFL with the 2s...though I honestly about fell out of my chair with the big time celebration. C’mon son. This is the preseason and you are out there owning backups at best. Let’s not get carried away.SecondaryDymonte Thomas was eye-popping good coming in as a safety. He was in on 5 tackles and had a really impressive pass defense. He’s the young guy out of the safety group that I think is likely to make the team assuming the numbers work out.At this point we know the Broncos have made a move to get Adam Jones to strengthen the cornerback position. It is a darn good thing they are honestly. While the team has some guys that look like they may be able to develop like Isaac Yiadom, none of them has stood out to me as actually being ready to play week 1. Yiadom is by far the best of the bunch behind our starters and while he’s shown excellent technique and being in the right position, he’s made no plays that have been there to make.Brendan Langley hasn’t had a good showing so far in 2017. He looks like a guy I try to stash on the practice squad as I honestly don’t see how another team would look at his film and think he’s worth going after on the waiver wire.OffenseI thought the offense looked all the way around pretty darn solid. The run game worked (as long as talent was carrying the ball), the pass game flashed, and for the 1st and 2nd teams, things looked to be clicking fairly well. What I liked most about the offensive performance was that in the only game in the preseason where the team had any kind of game plan, the offense looked well prepared and ready to play. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been able to say that about this offensive team.QuarterbacksCase Keenum looked like the solid QB we all hoped we were getting. He was highly accurate with the ball and didn’t throw a pick. While I’m just a little concerned about the lack of passing TDs, the team kept getting close and then winning with the run game.Chad Kelly looked like a guy that sealed the deal on being the Broncos backup QB to start the season. No picks, looked super comfortable as the leader of the offense, and had some really impressive read progressions.Paxton Lynch again showed us that he doesn’t have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Sure he didn’t throw any picks, but he also looked mostly lost / ineffective.LineHonestly I was most impressed with the play of our offensive line moreso than any of the other position groups. It looks very much like the Broncos have a line that is going to be able to win up front and open some lanes for the run game and hold their ground against the pass rush.One guy I’m going to point out specifically is Max Garcia. He was a monster at both run blocking and pass blocking. I was blown away with how good he looked in this game. While I’m still solidly behind starting Ron Leary and Connor McGovern at guard, I’m honestly very comfortable going into the season with Garcia being our backup G/C.Running BacksRoyce Freeman is the truth, ladies and gentlemen. He runs the best of any of the running backs and looks like a #1 RB out of the backfield. He belongs as our #1 back and should start the season as such in my opinion.Davontae Booker on the other hand is JAG. He has always been JAG. He will always be JAG. Sure it was only 3 carries, but he still only averaged 3 ypc. He just doesn’t have any kind of upside you want to see in your backfield. He’ll likely make the team because the coaching staff doesn’t have the stones to cut him, but I’m honestly more comfortable with Freeman, Henderson, Lindsay, and Janovich than I am making room for Booker.Finally, we need to give it up for Phillip Lindsay. That kid is busting his ass and it is paying off big time. I can’t see any way that the team doesn’t take him on the roster heading into the season. He looks like a serious speed weapon a la Christian McCaffrey. ReceiversEmmanuel Sanders is going to have a career year by the looks of it. He’s looking so quick and fast and excited to play football with a guy who can get him the ball in space. Look for him on that end around a few times this season...I bet he’s likely to have similar results to what we saw in this game if the team blocks for him like they did.Courtland Sutton also really jumped out to me as a guy who’s got the stuff to play big time football in the NFL. He looks honestly like a young Demaryius Thomas and is likely going to get some big time rookie success with us this year.Really the team looks to be in very good shape with Wide Reciever talent. We have threats for every level of the field and guys with talent galore as possession receivers (Thomas, Sanders), deep threats (Sanders, Sutton), quick route runners (Sanders, Hamilton), and jump ball specialists (Thomas, Sutton, Patrick).The only worry I have at all in the passing game is our tight ends. They didn’t get much work in this game. While I liked what I’ve seen especially from Jeff Heuerman this preseason, there just hasn’t been the volume that has me feeling confident in what they’ll be able to do in the regular season.Special TeamsI honestly think Isaiah McKenzie isn’t long for the team (and I had that noted before the signing of Adam Jones for the record). He had the one really awesome return in week 1, but he just hasn’t shown much more and hasn’t found a niche to help the team outside of Special Teams. Holding a roster spot just for a guy who’s track record says is an iffy returner just doesn’t make sense to me.But enough downer stuff...let’s talk about Brandon McManus. My goodness, what a friggin’ machine he was in this game. The dude hit 2 really big time 50+ yard kicks and was 5 for 5 on field goals with 2 for 2 on extra points.Final ThoughtsWhile this week’s game won’t be terribly interesting in all honesty Max Garcia Jersey , it has been a pretty promising preseason for the team. We have two QBs who look like they can play, an offense that appears to be dynamic and solid in both areas, and a strong defense with a ton of talent.Hit me up in the comments and let me know what you thought of the team. Who is your dark horse guy that is going to be a big surprise to make it on the final roster?Who’s your surprise cut? Could Bush be the Broncos answer at inside linebacker?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Broncos NewsBroncos 2019 Draft ClassBroncos PodcastsBroncos 2019 ScheduleKey Offseason DatesCommunity RulesFull ArchiveBroncos StoriesScheduleRosterStatsOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Denver Broncos 2019 Draft2019 NFL Draft: Scouting Michigan linebacker Devin BushNew,61commentsCould Bush be the Broncos answer at inside linebacker? 2019 NFL Draft: Scouting Michigan linebacker Devin BushRick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsOne prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft is former Michigan linebacker, Devin Bush. He’s a 5’11”, 234lb linebacker who is considered one of the top off the ball linebackers in the entire draft. Bush is ranked as the second best linebacker in the 2019 NFL Draft according to The Draft Network, and is ranked as the 13th overall prospect in the entire draft. NFL Network’s draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks Bush as his 14th overall prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft. Bush played a total of three seasons at Michigan and was a consistent force for the Wolverines defense. During his three-year career at Michigan, Bush totaled 172 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 1 interception, and 11 pass deflections. This past season, Bush totaled 66 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and 4 pass deflections. Here are the accolades Devin Bush earned during his time at Michigan via mgoblue.com.Consensus All-American in 2018Two-time Walter Camp All-American (first team, 2018; second team, 2017);Two-time Associated Press All-American (second team, 2018; third team, 2017)Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-American (first team, 2018)Sporting News All-American (first team, 2018)Sports Illustrated All-American (first team, 2018)American Football Coaches Association All-American (first team, 2018)Two-time Butkus Award Finalist (2017-18)Bronko Nagurski Award Finalist (2018)Big Ten Woodson-Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year (2018)Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year (2018)Two-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team, coaches, 2017-18; first team media, 2018; second team, media, 2017)Associated Press Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2018)All-Big Ten selection by the Associated Press and The Athletic (first team, 2018))Second team All-Big Ten honoree by the Associated Press (2017)Recipient of the 2017 and 2018 Roger Zatkoff Award, presented to Michigan’s top linebackerRecipient of the 2018 Team Defensive Player of the Year Award Played in 39 career contests, including 32 at linebacker, with 25 startsThree-time letterman (2016-17-18)Two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2017-18)Voted a Team Captain by his teammates (2018)Devin BushLinebacker | Junior | MichiganHeight: 5’11” | Weight: 234lbs | 40-time: 4.43 secondsArm length: 32” | Hands: 9 5/8”Bench Press: 21 reps | Vertical Jump: 40.5 inches | Broad Jump: 124.0 inches3-Cone Drill: 6.93 seconds | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.23 secondsFilm Room:Scouting Report:Strengths:Compact but well built frameStrong and balancedExcellent range and closing abilitySideline to sideline playerExplosive playerProductive blitzerViolent tackler who finishes his tacklesEffective in coverageSmooth player with quick feet and loose hipsHigh football intelligence who trust his eyesMotor never quits and plays with his hair on firePlug and play starter at ILBTeam captain in 2018Weaknesses:Shorter than you prefer but fits the new NFL mold at LBLack of height could be an issue in coverage at timesOveraggressive in pursuit at timesBlock shedding bigger lineman will always be an issueMay never be the best run defender Mockdraftable Spider Graph:Quotable:The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs on Michigan linebacker, Devin Bush. “Devin Bush is a player who is set to benefit from this new era of play in the NFL. Bush’s mobility experience in numerous types of responsibilities against the run and upside as a 3rd down defender (blitz ability and potential in coverage) set him up for an impact role. Traditional reps thumping into interior gaps vs. OL takes Bush away from strengths, however. He should be utilized primarily in a gap penetration scheme with a strong DL.”Does linebacker Devin Bush make sense for the Broncos in the first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft?:I really like how Bush plays and he would fit exactly what the Broncos need.He has smooth hips an quick feet to effectively drop back in coverage. He has the speed and range to be a sideline to sideline player making tackles all over the field. He’s a new-age linebacker who will thrive in nickel/sub-packages He will need defensive lineman to eat up blocks and allow him to make plays in the backfield or blitz to be an effective run stopper. He’s not going to shed blocks very well and could be a liability in these situations. But these situations are becoming less and less prevalent so I am not sure how big of a deal it actually is. Now he is undersized, but he’s not much smaller than Devin White who is a fan favorite. These measurements go height, weight, arm length, hand length, and wing span and official measurements from the Scouting Combine.Devin Bush: 5-11”| 234lbs | 32 | 9 5/8” | 76 1/2Devin White: 6-0” | 237lbs | 32 1/8“ | 9 3/4” | 75 7/8So they’re one inch and three pounds different than each other. So if one prospect is considered “undersized” then the other is as well. I wouldn’t be upset if Bush is the guy at 10th overall, but I think that would be a tad early for a player like him with these limitations, but again, I wouldn’t be upset about it all. He would step in and be an effective sub-package player who has the potential to be an effective three-down linebacker who’ll be a tackling machine.