Defensive snap share for the Broncos – season assessment

The Denver Broncos protection completed third in factors allowed at 311. That’s 11 factors greater than the primary place Los Angeles Chargers. Regardless of that each AFC West groups obtained blown out of their wildcard video games. In actual fact, groups with scoring defenses ranked 1st, third, fifth, sixth and eighth all misplaced within the wild card spherical. 4 of the highest 10 defenses are nonetheless in although – Eagles, Chiefs, Lions and Ravens.

As we came upon painfully on Sunday, the Bronco protection had some holes that our defensive coaches had been capable of conceal for many of the season. These had been at ILB and free security. PJ Locke performed the second most defensive snaps for the Broncos, but was one of many worst beginning safeties within the league. Cody Barton had essentially the most defensive snaps, but was one of many worst beginning ILBs within the league (my opinion, however backed by knowledge). Very like Alex Singleton in 2023, he stuffed the stat sheet with tackles, however was typically misplaced in protection and/or taking poor angles within the run sport.

Barton had 4 TFL in 1053 whole defensive snaps. That’s another than Alex Singleton had in 190 snaps. Barton additionally solely had 3 PBUs (1 defensed, 1 deflected and 1 batted). Admittedly, Justin Strnad solely had 1 PBU in 676 defensive snaps. Each had been alternative degree (or worse) ILBs in opposition to the run and the go. With no less than one good ILB, the 2024 Bronco protection would have been elite. It could have made it a lot simpler to cover the weak-link that was PJ Locke.

When it comes to ILB go protection, the most effective go protection ILBs enable 75% deserved catch or much less. Each Barton and Strnad had been above 95%. The 4 All-Professional ILBs for 2024: Zack Baun, Bobby Wagner, Zaire Franklin and Frankie Luvu allowed 88%, 65%, 82% and 83% deserved catch respectively. In addition they tended to have loads of TFL. Luvu had 16, Baun and Franklin each had 15, and Wagner had 14. Luvu may very well be thought-about a protection OLB since he did rush the passer 37% of the time, however I don’t comply with the Commanders carefully sufficient to know his actual position of their protection.

The purpose stays the identical although, our ILBs weren’t good in 2024. PFF gave Cody Barton an total grade of 66.1 (81st of 189 LBs). Strnad graded out at 55.5 which was one hundred and fortieth. PFF’s prime three for the season had been Wagner, Baun and Fred Warner who had been all at roughly 90 PFF grades.

So let’s with the precise snap knowledge for complete bronco protection. I’ll present the ILBs first since I’ve already hung out discussing them.

Participant
Pos
Num
Pct

Cody Barton
ILB
1053
91.17%

P.J. Locke
FS
1000
86.58%

Patrick Surtain II
CB
978
84.68%

Brandon Jones
FS
975
84.42%

Zach Allen
DE
964
83.46%

Ja’Quan McMillian
CB
870
75.32%

Riley Moss
CB
835
72.29%

Jonathon Cooper
OLB
820
71.00%

Nik Bonitto
OLB
708
61.30%

Justin Strnad
ILB
676
58.53%

John Franklin-Myers
DE
533
46.15%

Malcolm Roach
DT
489
42.34%

D.J. Jones
DT
465
40.26%

Jonah Elliss
OLB
434
37.58%

Jordan Jackson
DE
310
26.84%

Levi Wallace
CB
307
26.58%

Devon Key
SS
251
21.73%

Dondrea Tillman
OLB
242
20.95%

Alex Singleton
ILB
190
16.45%

Baron Browning
OLB
146
12.64%

Kris Abrams-Draine
CB
123
10.65%

Damarri Mathis
CB
80
6.93%

Kwon Alexander
ILB
65
5.63%

Eyioma Uwazurike
DE
63
5.45%

Kristian Welch
ILB
36
3.12%

Tremon Smith
CB
19
1.65%

JL Skinner
SS
19
1.65%

Drew Sanders
ILB
18
1.56%

Keidron Smith
FS
16
1.39%

Zach Cunningham
ILB
15
1.30%

Levelle Bailey
ILB
5
0.43%

Singleton performed each defensive snap within the three video games earlier than he was injured (highlighted within the graph). Whereas he was not nice, Barton was a step down in my view, though PFF graded Alex at 62.9 for his three video games, which was decrease than Cody. PFF is rubbish, however extra on that later. Singleton did generate two pressures on solely 17 go rushes which was akin to Barton’s 11 pressures on 89 go rush snaps. Strnad was our greatest go dashing ILB this season producing strain on 13 of his 69 go rush snaps (3.0 sacks). His 18.8% strain price was the most effective on the staff for gamers with greater than 50 go rush snaps. That was close to the highest of the league for second degree defenders who had been primarily utilized in protection on passing snaps. SIS numbers that present up on their website are nearly all off by a little bit (excessive).

Our OLB group was a lot better and deeper than our ILB group. Baron Browning, who was one of many higher go rushers on the Broncos in 2023, was relegated to the bench after which traded after the emergence of each Jonah Eliss and Dondrea Tillman.

Browning’s capability to hurry the passer was lacking this season and he was despatched packing. 4 pressures on 72 go rush snaps is horrible for edge rusher. That’s 5.6%, which is poor even for an IDL man.

Tillman’s 14.9% was good for eighth amongst edge guys with a minimal of 100 go rushes. Kaden Ellis led the league at 22.8% strain (34 pressures on 149 rushes).

All-Professional Zach Allen was second within the league in whole pressures in response to PFR with 47 (Trey Hendrickson had 54). Allen had a loopy variety of go rush snaps – 586 – which was most within the league. Due to this, his strain price was not all that spectacular at 11.8% (69 pressures in 586 rushes), however his 69 pressures (in response to SIS) was tied for fifth most within the league with former DPOY Myles Garrett. SIS credited Hendrickson with 85. Oddly sufficient, PFF doesn’t like Zach, grading him out at 63.7 total which is 61st (?!?) amongst 219 DL guys. In case you weren’t conscious, I believe PFF is a joke, however this proves it past the shadow of a doubt. PFF credit Allen with 75 pressures, which is first amongst DL guys. His 964 whole snaps was additionally essentially the most within the league amongst DL guys, but by some means, they man that THEY present because the league chief in pressures for his place is ranked 61st?!? I discover it loopy that PFR, PFF and SIS all differ within the pressures that they attribute to a given participant with PFF crediting Allen at 75, SIS at 69 and PFR at 47. It’s not like they’re shut. 75 is nearly double 47.

Critically, the stat websites for the NFL want to determine what the definition of a QB strain is and standardize it. That is laughable.

Our greatest DL participant for producing strain was John Franklin-Meyers when it comes to strain share. He had 347 rush snaps and generated 46 pressures in response to SIS (13.2%). Eyioma Uwazurike obtained three pressures on solely 22 go rushes, however that would have been a results of taking part in in opposition to backups within the remaining sport of the season so I wouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into that.

Malcolm Roach had a extremely excessive go rush win price for a lot of the season. ESPN solely exhibits the highest 20, however he was within the prime 20 as of week 13. He completed the season exterior of the highest 20. The one Bronco IDL man who completed within the prime 20 in PRWR was Zach Allen who completed third with a price of 15%.

Each Roach and DJ Jones completed within the prime 10 in run cease win price. Jones was 2nd at 45% and Roach was seventh at 38%.

Our cornerback group shifted dramatically throughout the season. We misplaced All-Professional Patrick Surtain for ostensibly two complete video games. Which compelled Levi Wallace into an enormous position the place he was uncovered by Jerry Jeudy (who must ship him a thanks reward for getting him into the Professional Bowl) then he was benched and inactive for the tip of the season as a result of he’s horrible in man protection. The Broncos noticed the emergence of Riley Moss who did nice because the goal of many QBs who wished to keep away from PS2. Ja’Quan McMillian had a worse season than he did as a rookie, however he was nonetheless stable as CB3 (slot nook). Kris Abrams-Draine seemed respectable within the two video games the place he was thrust into the highlight. Former beginning CB, Damarri Mathis was basically relegated to a particular groups position.

Rk
Participant
Pos
G
GS
Int
Tgt
Cmp
Cmp%
Yds
Yds/Cmp
Yds/Tgt
TD
Rat
DADOT
Air
YAC

9
Patrick Surtain II
CB
16
16
4
62
38
61.3
326
8.6
5.3
2
58.9
6.4
229
97

61
Brandon Jones
S
16
15
3
70
47
67.1
492
10.5
7.0
2
79.0
7.3
245
247

93
Ja’Quan McMillian
CB
17
9
2
101
65
64.4
688
10.6
6.8
3
85.7
7.1
398
290

165
Riley Moss
CB
14
14
1
103
67
65.0
747
11.1
7.3
4
95.4
11.2
541
206

228
Levi Wallace
CB
13
2
0
30
20
66.7
271
13.6
9.0
1
106.4
8.9
138
133

293
P.J. Locke
S
15
15
0
54
40
74.1
484
12.1
9.0
4
125.8
8
297
187

Amongst CBs PS2 completed third in passing score allowed at 58.9. Moss completed the season at 95.4, which is a little bit above common. PJ Locke’s 125.8 was one of many worst amongst beginning safeties within the league. He ranked 293rd out of 315. PFF gave him an total grade of 57.5 which was 123rd of 170 safeties. PS2 was graded out at 85.6 which was first amongst 223 CBs that PFF graded. Brandon Jones 86.7 was fifth out of 170 safeties. Moss graded out at 60.5 which was 119th of 223. Ja’Quan graded out at 60.6 which was 118th. So PFF confirmed that we had two elite starters in our defensive backfield, two common starters and one terribad starter. I agree with their evaluation right here, though I assumed that Moss performed above common, however that may simply be my homerism coming by.

Each Devon Key and Keidron Smith had been horrible in protection permitting passer scores of 115.5 and 118.7 respectively though neither had a lot likelihood to play in go protection. Key’s man was focused 11 instances and Smith’s solely as soon as. Key allowed solely 5 catches, however two of these had been TDs. KAD and Mathis each had actually good PR allowed values, however each had been in pretty restricted taking part in time, they allowed PRs of 34.6 and 39.6, however KAD’s man was solely focused 16 instances (7 catches allowed) and Mathis’ man was solely focused six instances (1 catch allowed).

Locke allowed essentially the most passing TDs with 4 (tied with Moss). Whereas his man was solely focused 54 instances, he allowed catches on 40 of these, which was the best allowed completion share amongst our beginning DBs (74%). His 12.1 yards allowed per completion was additionally worst amongst our beginning DBs. What’s scary is that his common depth of goal was 8.0 yards, but he allowed 12.1 yards per catch. That both means he was in protection of RBs on outlet passes continuously, or that he was permitting a bunch of YAC. He solely allowed 4.7 YAC/comp, which was decrease than Brandon Jones at 5.3.

PS2’s 2.6 YAC/comp was tied for the fifth finest within the league. Solely Quinyon Mitchell, Chidobe Awuzie, Kristian Fulton, Cam Smith, and DaRon Bland allowed fewer YAC/Comp. Mitchell’s 1.8 was finest within the league.

Singleton is the one ILB that the Broncos may have on the roster in 2025 and he might very simply be a cap casualty if the staff weren’t so skinny at ILB. Chopping Singleton would supply 5.6 million in cap financial savings, however then the Broncos would haven’t any ILBs with any NFL expertise.

I’d love for the Broncos to draft a security within the first spherical to pair with Brandon Jones. I doubt that Broncos will be capable to get Xavier Watts with the twentieth decide, but when he’s there, the Broncos ought to soar on the likelihood to get the 2023 Nagurski award winner. Fortunately we must always be capable to plug the holes at ILB and security with some astute draft picks on day two or early on day three.

Ballot
How do you like we handle the holes at ILB and FS?

15%

Draft a security after which no less than one ILB

(6 votes)

34%

Draft a security, however fill the ILB holes with costly veterans

(13 votes)

5%

Fill each with costly veterans

(2 votes)

10%

Draft and ILB and handle the FS spot with an costly veteran

(4 votes)

34%

Draft each and pursue low-cost/cut price FAs

(13 votes)

38 votes whole

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