Browns QB Case Keenum vs. Broncos secondary
After being taken down a few pegs by Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr, the Broncos secondary cannot afford to falter against Browns backup Case Keenum.
“We want (the defense) to do better for the team on the backend,” Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said. “That’s the emphasis for this week.”
The good news for Denver as it attempts to get the secondary back on track is that the Browns’ top-ranked rushing attack will be limited without the services of the injured Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Browns’ wideouts aren’t at full strength, either.
Five-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry may need some re-acclimation time after missing the past four games with a knee injury, while the Browns’ other top vertical threat, Odell Beckham, is dealing with a shoulder injury and doesn’t have a TD this season.
Broncos safety Justin Simmons said his unit is ready to turn its fortunes around. While the Broncos have been ravaged by injuries at other positions such as inside linebacker, the secondary’s health remains relatively intact. Ronald Darby returned from injured reserve last week, coming off a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since Week 1.
So there are no excuses for the secondary to not have a bounce-back performance. Denver’s given up 20 passing plays of at least 16 yards, and 10 of at least 30 yards, over the past three losses.
“A lot of (the recent mistakes) are sometimes (because of) techniques, sometimes communication, and just fundamentals — being where you’re supposed to be, and not doing too much by helping out in areas that didn’t necessarily need help at the time,” Simmons said.
“I’ve been saying that the last three weeks. ‘Yeah, (coverage mistakes are) fixable, it’s fixable, it’s fixable,’ and the same things keep popping up on tape. At a certain point in time, you’ve got to fix it. I think that’s the most frustrating part, but that’s my job. I’m going to fix it.”