“Mature” Jerry Jeudy turns heads at Broncos OTAs
Jun 1, 2021, 1:16 PM
Game 15 of the Denver Broncos 2020 season is one Jerry Jeudy won’t soon forget, though he might like it if he could.
In a 19-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Denver rookie had five dropped passes, much to the chagrin of many in Broncos Country.
It’s a game, however, that head coach Vic Fangio pointed to as a defining moment in Jeudy’s career.
“I thought it was going to be a defining moment in his career, how he played the following week,” Fangio said after OTAs on Tuesday. “And then our last game, if you remember, he had a very good game. He caught a bunch of balls for a bunch of yards.”
Indeed, Jeudy responded to his lowest point as a professional to with one of his highest, grabbing five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.
“I think that was a very defining moment in his career, and I see a more focused, more diligent receiver on the details,” Fangio said. “He knows he can’t slack. I see a much more mature guy right now.”
Jeudy echoed Fangio’s thoughts on Tuesday, saying he also feels he’s matured and learned from his rookie campaign.
“Mostly concentration and focus on the ball. I’d be so quick to catch and run and hurry up and make a play instead of catch first then run,” Jeudy said. “That’s mostly what it was. Just trying to make plays too fast and not focus on the big picture, which is catching the ball first.”
The second-year pro also touted his better familiarity with the playbook, specifically when it comes to timing on his routes.
“The biggest thing for me was the timing of plays. That’s the biggest thing for me. You want to get in a certain spot and a certain place. That is that timing,” Jeudy said. “So, knowing how to make the defender move where you want him to be and get to that spot at that timing of the play, that was the biggest thing.”
With a view from the opposite side of the ball, Jeudy’s teammate, cornerback Bryce Callahan, said he’s also seen a difference in the wideout this offseason.
“Jeudy, I mean, he’s adding on from last year,” Callahan said Tuesday after OTAs. “His releases are looking great. His routes are looking crispy. He’s catching the ball. It’s all looking good.”
