Elway’s bigger gamble – not doing more at OT or CB?
Keeler: Over the past two months, Broncos general manager John Elway has pulled off an awful lot to like. The Broncos have built up arguably the fastest wide receiver unit in the division. The interior of the offensive and defensive lines can wrestle in the mud with anybody. Drew Lock can hand off to either of two Pro Bowl tailbacks. The tight ends are young with speed to burn. And yet this roster still came out of the draft looking relatively thin at two of the most critical positions on the field in cornerback and tackle. Which spot is a bigger throw of the dice?
O’Halloran: Offensive tackle by a wide margin because at least the Broncos did something at cornerback, getting A.J. Bouye and Michael Ojemudia. The skill position additions and at right guard (Graham Glasgow) will undoubtedly help Lock. But what about the edges? Left tackle is an open competition between Garett Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson. Right tackle is all about Ja’Wuan James. I think the bigger gamble is counting on James to stay healthy after knee issues prevented him from finishing the three games he started last year. If he goes down again, the Broncos would have to move Wilkinson back to right tackle and hand Bolles the left tackle post. The status quo at offensive tackle leaves plenty to be desired.
Keeler: Man, you can’t shake the feeling that this secondary could end up going as Bryce Callahan goes. Or Callahan’s left foot, anyway. Coach Vic Fangio got the most mileage out of him in the slot with the Bears, which also happens to be Duke Dawson’s best position in the secondary. Speaking of Dawson, quarterbacks who threw at him completed 75% of their throws last fall, according to ProFootballReference.com. Passes at Isaac Yiadom were completed at a 70.4% clip. Fangio’s zone looks can mask some sins, but if there’s a weak link in the defensive backfield, quarterbacks will find it.
O’Halloran: If Callahan is injured, the Broncos don’t have a ready-at-the-calling nickel back option. Dawson had a shot to become the primary nickel last year, but couldn’t stop committing penalties. Yiadom is an outside cover man only and he also struggled. But the bigger problem is if James is injured. I thought the offseason program was going to be important for James because it was an opportunity for him to get on the field, build chemistry with Glasgow and build some self-confidence going into training camp. Now, whenever the pads do go on, the Broncos will have to figure out a way to a) get James ready for Week 1 while b) keeping him healthy.
Keeler: At least the tackles have experience under their belts, even if some of it was unpleasant. Ojemudia’s baptism could turn into a 5-alarm fire. And if Callahan can’t run at full tilt, where is Bouye’s help on the boundary?
O’Halloran: I think coach Vic Fangio wants to run more dime personnel (six defensive backs) this year, but that depends on Callahan’s health and finding a third safety (Will Parks’ old role) to play in that package. At tackle, veteran Jason Peters is available, but if they felt he was worth a one-year deal, the Broncos would have already explored that. The bottom line is, Elway and Co., are banking on three big things: 1. Bolles plays with more consistency and fewer penalties. 2. James stays healthy. 3. Lock’s mobility will cover up for some of his tackles’ shortcomings.