Denver Broncos Pre-Season – Winners and Losers
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In every single pre-season game, especially one where most starters and even second stringers didn’t touch the field, content creation is a little trickier. That being said it is easy to see how some players stood out, some people were beneficiaries to mistakes/injuries, and how some didn’t capitalize on their opportunities. Sometimes a player is a “loser” because the person they are competing with had an outstanding day, and sometimes people are “winners” because of injury and additional opportunity afforded to them. I am not rooting for injury, just simply calling out people leaving the game as opportunities for others, and when players get those chances and stand out, that is a win for that individual.
The Broncos dominated the Cowboys with a final score of 17-7. The Broncos didn’t score in the second half, but went into the break, up 17-0 and controlled the flow of the game. The Cowboys refused to play disciplined football and were heavily penalized for it, but the Broncos played a complete game. That being said, below were the big winners and losers from tonight’s first preseason game!
Winners –
Josh Johnson – A guy I wasn’t that excited about before this game, an old, journeyman QB that didn’t seem to bring much to the table in his 8 career games played, he started out slow but dominated the second quarter of the game. Throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns without getting sacked a single time. Proved to me that he’s a very capable backup and dropped some dimes on Saturday night!
Baron Browning – Sacks, pass break ups, pressures, explosive off the edge and making plays in the run game. This was a guy I was excited about after the end of last season at inside linebacker, I was shocked when they said they were converting him to an edge rusher. That being said, immediately understand that he’s got some elite pass rushing skills. With Chubb, Bonito, Reed and Randy Gregory ahead of him, he needed a good night and good film to get his reps during the regular season, great start to the pre-season.
Brandon Johnson – For a guy whose name was NOT on my radar at all, when I saw him on the starting offense I was like “Who??”. Well four catches for 64-yards, a few big-time first downs, and some good catches in the holes of the defense. This guy was stand out especially considering his lack of fame. I thought that Kendall Hinton was amazing as well, but I expect Hinton to make the roster, Brandon Johnson threw his name into the ring tonight as well. The Broncos two touchdowns were to fringe roster guys in Hinton and Seth Williams, and Brandon Johnson lead the team in receiving yards.
Justin Strnad – Led all linebackers in tackles with six total, this guy was making plays all over the field. Earning more reps after the injury to Griffith, Strnad took advantage of his extra playing time and created some good film. He has been a guy on these Broncos squads that is brimming with talent but when he received his chances in the past, he’s been disappointing and ultimately hasn’t been able to stay healthy, lets hope this year is different and he can stay on the field and make a difference.
Montrell Washington – Drafted as a game breaking punt returner, we saw him take two punts for 45-yards and setting up his blockers with micro-movements. He is electric as a special teamer, and that is undeniable. Now, he was exactly what I wanted to see in special teams, but he also had a few gadget-plays like a jet sweep, and four targets in the passing game. He was showing his versatility and the impact that he can have on the offense outside of special teams. He was not exactly stand out on offense, but he was involved.
Jamar Johnson – Last draft, the Broncos drafted safeties Caden Sterns and Jamar Johnson, last season I remember Jamar having a huge impact on special teams, this game he was making plays all over the field leading the team in tackles with 7 total. Jamar Johnson was likely competing for his job with the Broncos drafting Dalarrin Turner-Yell from Oklahoma this draft and PJ Locke fighting for a single roster spot. Typically, teams keep four MAYBE five safeties and the Broncos currently have Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns and three guys competing for a single roster spot or two at most. PJ Locke had the only turnover of the game for the Broncos snaring an interception, but he wasn’t really visible on the field besides that single big play.
Losers
Michael Ojemudia – This dude has the chance to be a CB2 on the squad this season and get some serious playing time. Opportunity is within his grasp, and he gave up a few plays over his head. He had an amazing break on a ball and should have had an interception but dropped the pick. Dropping a pick isn’t really a negative, you’d like him to secure turnovers, but the fact he had a great read on the play should be good. But he had a chance to make an impact play and dropped it. Then his night ended with an injury landing him in the concussion protocol. He must be stand out in the last two pre-season games.
Jonas Griffith – as mentioned above, he was penciled in as the starter for this defense next to Josey Jewell and had an apparent collar bone or forearm injury in the first series of the game. Only considered a loser because he was considered a starter, and now it’s a position that is up for grabs and Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton are chomping at the bit to step into that role.
Broncos Run Game – at the end of the first half, they mustered nine carries for eight yards… For an offense that was moving the ball through the air, at will, they could not get any traction running the football. The running lanes didn’t seem to be there, and the running backs simply weren’t special against the Cowboy this week. At the end of the game the Broncos offense had 22 rushes for 39 yards, which is 1.8 yards per carry, and is atrocious.
Corliss Waitman – There was supposedly a punter battle for the Broncos this training camp, but all Sam Martin did tonight was hammered two big punts for 101 yards flipping the field two times and pinning the Cowboys inside the 20 on one of the two punts. I’m not sure that Corliss really did anything wrong, but the fact that he had two punts for 75 yards with a ton more room to boom the punts, I just think that Sam Martin’s big day and Waitman’s meh day, didn’t bode well for him taking the incumbent’s job.
Faion Hicks – for a seventh-round pick, this guy had to perform well to make the 53-man roster and I think his name was called too many times on the negative end of plays, and he ultimately gave up the only Cowboy’s touchdown of the evening. He was most likely a special teamer on the Broncos roster, but to make the team as a special teamer, you also must be able to contribute as a position player. As a cornerback, Faion looked rough in the third and fourth quarters.
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