Broncos can take advantage of Ravens DBs if they hold off pressure

Sep 20, 2018, 10:53 AM

Quarterback Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos passes against the Seattle Seahawks int he first quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Among the keys to a Denver Broncos victory on the road Sunday is being able to pick up the Baltimore Ravens pressure on offense, keeping Case Keenum upright so he can attack their secondary, says Mark Schlereth.

Using last week’s bout between the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals as an example, the “Schlereth and Evans” co-host said the Broncos can “take advantage of that secondary” if they handle the pressure from the Baltimore front seven.

“We can take advantage of that secondary. If you handle the pressure and you pick that up, guys are going to get open in that secondary,” Schlereth said Thursday. “… I think their corners are guys that you can expose.”

Last weekend, the Bengals kept quarterback Andy Dalton upright, not giving up any sacks in a 34-23 victory.

Dalton, in turn, was able to connect with wide receiver A.J. Green for three touchdowns and Tyler Boyd for another on the day.

It’s the type of outing that Broncos quarterback Case Keenum desperately needs, said “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey on Thursday.

“In this opponent, against the Baltimore Ravens, that defense is not the defense that we normally associate with Baltimore. And if Andy Dalton is going to go out there and light them up with one guy, A.J. Green …,” Lammey said. “You’ve got a plethora of weapons, Case Keenum, and now’s the time. No more waiting. You have to have your best game of the season starting on Sunday.”

Through two games, Keenum has struggled at times, throwing a league-high four interceptions to go with a passer rating of 73.6, fifth lowest in the NFL.

In 481 passing attempts in 2017, Keenum had only seven interceptions compared to the four he has already in just 74 passes. His completion percentage that season (67.6 percent) is more than 8 points lower in 2018.

“Whatever doubts I may have about Case Keenum and whether or not he’s still a one-hit wonder, one doubt I did not have was that he’d be a turnover machine and we’d be going into Week 3 saying, boy, I hope Case doesn’t throw picks,” said Schlereth’s co-host Mike Evans on Thursday.

“That’s the last thing I thought we’d be talking about.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.