How will teams go at Lock?
Defenses may adjust to what QB has on tape
Q: Now that opposing teams have game film on Drew Lock, what adjustments do you anticipate they’ll throw at him? Brandon Brown, Rogers
RO: Tennessee’s coaching staff, along with those in Pittsburgh (Week 2) and Tampa Bay (Week 3) probably devoted some offseason hours to analyzing Lock’s five-game debut from last year. Lock has not faced any of the Broncos’ first six opponents (Titans, Steelers, Buccaneers, Jets, Patriots and Dolphins).
Two things are common when facing young quarterbacks: Pressure and disguise. From my untrained eye, I can track the pressures, but not the disguises. I would expect teams to mix up their pressures to test the Broncos’ revamped offensive line but also disguise some of their coverages to see how Lock responds.
On the flip side, Lock has five games of experience in how defenses attacked him so he will be ready for plenty of new wrinkles.
Q: Following the practices it looks like Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton seem to be in sync and that Jerry Jeudy and Lock are getting there. What is the chemistry between Lock and KJ Hamler? And what do the rest of the receivers and tight ends look like so far?
Del, Lamar
RO: Since fans aren’t allowed to attend training camp practices this year, I am assuming Del is getting his intel by watching the video clips on the Broncos’ website.
Lock/Sutton. The first 11-on-11 play of training camp was a pass to Sutton and the duo are trending the right away. The in-sync part is important because I haven’t seen a glaring miscommunication between Lock and Sutton yet.
Lock/Jeudy. Agreed on your “getting there” analysis. They’ve had several nice completions, the same for Jeudy and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel.
Lock/Hamler. A tough break for the offense and for Hamler, who is out multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and whose status for Week 1 is in doubt.
Lock/rest of the tight ends-receivers. The players who have stood out catching passes include TEs Albert Okwuegbunam and Jake Butt and WRs Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton and Tyrie Cleveland.
Q: Ryan, you’ve covered plenty of training camps. This year is so different because of COVID. What position groups are least affected by the changes? Which position group is most affected?
David Brown, Lenexa, Kansas
RO: “Plenty of training camps” should be code for “old.” This is my 17th year covering the NFL so I’ve seen a lot of practices and walk-throughs and special teams drills through the years in Washington, Jacksonville and now Denver.
Inside linebackers. Coach Vic Fangio mentioned this group last week. Football remains a contact sport and inside linebackers taking on fullbacks, blitzing up the middle and getting physical in man coverage — they have to throttle back big-time in practice.
Running backs. Look at a guy like rookie LeVante Bellamy. An undrafted free agent, he would have received a ton of carries in the preseason games to show he was worthy of a roster spot.
Safeties. Safety is another one of those physical positions and the first hit they deliver will be against Tennessee. Blitzing, taking on a bigger blocker in the run game and charging up the field to break up a pass — most of that would have happened in a preseason game.