Place where rookie may start
Inside linebackers; running backs coming Tuesday
The true value of inside linebackers in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme was revealed in the Broncos’ 20-18 AFC championship game win over the New England Patriots.
Time after time, Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan lined up in man-to-man coverage against running backs, tight ends and even wide receivers. More often than not, the linebackers won their battles, and that helped Denver get to the Super Bowl.
Fast forward to the 2016 offseason and there will be no Trevathan, who signed a four-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Marshall hasn’t signed his restricted free-agent ten-
der but is expected to be a Bronco in 2016. Beyond that, there are questions.
Coach Gary Kubiak said Todd Davis and Corey Nelson will have a chance to start beside Marshall. Davis and practice squad linebacker Zaire Anderson have received praise from Kubiak and teammates as guys to watch for in training camp.
“We need to get better there,” Kubiak said. “We need to improve our competition, which we’ll do through the draft.”
General manager John Elway has done well finding gems in the draft and free agency. All of the Broncos’ inside linebackers, plus Trevathan, were third-day selections or undrafted.
UCLA’s Myles Jack (6-foot-1, 245 pounds), Alabama’s Reggie Ragland (6-1, 247) and Ohio State’s Darron Lee (6-1, 232) are the top three draft prospects capable of playing inside linebacker, but none is expected to fall close to the Broncos’ No. 31 pick Thursday night. But if any of those three fall into the 20s range in overall selections, the Broncos could be tempted to trade up for a playmaker and possible early starter.
Intriguing linebackers who figure to be selected Friday, on the second day of the draft, include USC’s Su’a Cravens (6-1, 226), Oklahoma’s Dominique Alexander (6-0, 232) and Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers (6-0, 245).
All fit the mold of the modern Broncos linebacker: undersized but good in coverage.
Cravens was a safety/linebacker hybrid in college and made appearances in plenty of highlight films.
Alexander allowed only 13 receptions for 141 yards last season, or one reception per every 34.5 plays in pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. That ranked No. 1 among FBS linebackers.
Brothers has a knack for being around the ball, has good tackling form and holds his own in coverage. The negatives? He tested poorly and lacks the athleticism to be a first-round pick.
Clemson’s B.J. Goodson (6-1, 242) projects as an early third-day draft prospect Saturday who flashed as a run stuffer and pass rusher in his lone year as a starter. He drew the Broncos’ interest to be invited in for a predraft visit.
Florida’s Antonio Morrison (6-1, 232) is a third-day prospect because of injury concerns. He is a physical player.
A few other late-round run-stuffing specialists are Stanford’s Blake Martinez (6-2, 237), Houston’s Elandon Roberts (6-0, 235) and Boston College’s Steven Daniels (5-11, 243).
The wild card in this class is Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith (6-2, 223). He was a star for the Irish, but a gruesome knee injury involving nerve damage has his NFL status in jeopardy.
No one is sure whether he’ll play again, but his talent makes him an intriguing prospect. He could fall to the third day of the draft.
Inside linebacker might be the most likely position for Denver to have a rookie starter in 2016.