Did the Broncos find any answers in their loss to the Rams?
Aug 26, 2019, 6:44 AM | Updated: 7:00 am
Even though the starters didn’t play for either team, the Broncos-Rams preseason tilt on Saturday night wasn’t entirely meaningless. In fact, there was a lot to be learned during the battle of the backups.
Heading into the game, there were five questions that needed to be answered. Did the battle of the “B” teams provide any clarity?
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1. Who on earth is going to return punts?
No one knows. Only two players had the chance to officially return a punt on Saturday night, with neither instance providing any excitement. River Cracraft had one return for a whopping five yards, which led the Broncos on the night. Kelvin McKnight had the other chance, but his return netted zero yards. At this point, no one has emerged as a consistent punt returner for the Broncos, as this remains a phase of the game where Denver doesn’t generate any excitement whatsoever.
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2. Who will be the backup middle linebackers?
Alexander Johnson played well in Los Angeles, recording a team-high five tackles and two assists. Josh Watson wasn’t as productive, posting just one tackle and a pass defensed. So advantage Johnson in that head-to-head battle. But a dark horse candidate remains, as rookie Justin Hollins was all over the field on Saturday night. The linebacker played all 69 defensive snaps for Denver on Saturday night, posting five tackles, three assists and a tackle for loss on a big fourth-and-one play. While traditionally an outside linebacker, the possibility of Hollins moving inside remains.
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3. Is the DeMarcus Walker era over?
Saturday night’s game didn’t provide any reason why it shouldn’t be, as Walker had yet another so-so game. The third-year pro who continues to search for a home on Denver’s defense had one tackle and two assists against the Rams, which is a mediocre line by any measure. Given that he’s trying to show enough flashes to warrant another season of development, that type of production might not cut it. At some point, the Broncos need to see signs that the former Florida State star could blossom into a big-time player. That just hasn’t happened. At least not yet.
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4. How do the Broncos bridge the gap while Jano is hurt?
This remains a mystery, as Denver’s offense was so anemic on Saturday night. George Aston was on the field in place of Janovich, but he didn’t do much. The rookie didn’t have a carry or reception against Los Angeles, as he was only targeted once in the passing game. And his lead blocking wasn’t exactly opening huge holes, as the Broncos once again struggled to move the ball on the ground. Given this lack of production, it’s back to the drawing board for Rich Scangarello and Company. The combinations they used on Saturday night to fill Jano’s shoes simply weren’t good enough.
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5. Is Kevin Hogan a viable backup?
It depends on who is answering the question. From an outsider’s perspective, the answer would be know. Against the Rams, Hogan got the start and put on a very pedestrian performance. By the time his night was done, the fourth-year quarterback was 8-for-12 for 69 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He led the Broncos offense to a pair of field goals. That type of dink-and-dunk performance doesn’t exactly instill confidence that he can back up Joe Flacco early in the season. But because it wasn’t a total disaster, there’s a good chance that Denver will roll the dice and stick with what they have until Drew Lock returns from injury.
