Things start to get real at the latest round of Broncos OTAs

The Denver Broncos are a week away from mandatory minicamp. That’s when things look more like training camp, which happens later in the summer. However, in this final week of OTAs, things are taking shape for the 2021 Broncos roster. The 11-on-11 drills are the closest thing we’ve had to real football since the end of the 2020 regular season.

Broncos inside linebacker Alexander Johnson was asked after practice on Monday if the intensity was picked up because of the 11-on-11 drills.

“I feel like we had a pretty great day today. There weren’t any bodies on the ground. We were competing and playing smart, but getting good reps in. That was a pretty solid day for the first day of having 11-on-11. Intensity wise—I feel like we’ve been practicing at a high intensity already. That just carried over to today (in terms of) being sound and competing and communicating out there.” Johnson said.

Things are getting more real at Broncos OTAs. Here’s the latest from UC Health Training Center.

***

Bridgewater/Jeudy Chemistry Evident

Several reports have come in over the last two weeks about the connection we’re seeing at practice between veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and second-year receiver Jerry Jeudy. It seems like every day these two are hooking up for some great passes, both on intermediate routes and deep routes run by Jeudy.

One look over the Broncos Twitter profile and you’ll see more than one video of Bridgewater and Jeudy connecting for a touchdown. At the same time, you don’t see many highlights from third-year quarterback Drew Lock.

Last year when Jeudy was a rookie, he did not show a strong connection with Lock and the two struggled to find a groove. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Bridgewater as they have a near instant connection.

After practice, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio was asked about the duo’s developing chemistry.

“It takes forever, but it’s a process that gets better every day. You can think of some of the all-time great quarterback-receiver tandems. They’ll tell you that even in their seventh, eighth and ninth year together that they were still growing. It’s a daily happening that can keep improving. You can see strides early. I don’t know that those strides have been made yet, but hopefully that’s what all of our quarterbacks can get with all of our receivers,” Fangio said.

I’ve written about this situation before. Jeudy’s game is all about precision, but so is Bridgewater’s game. That’s why they make such a strong duo on the practice field, and we’ll see if this can carry over to training camp and the preseason.

***

Missing Tackles

On Monday, the Broncos were without both of their starting tackles on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Garett Bolles was out and presumed starting right tackle Bobby Massie was also missing practice.

This is not the end of the world, but it would be nice to have your projected starting five up front on the practice field as much as possible to build chemistry. The Broncos dealt with offensive line woes last year, specifically at right tackle. Bolles was rock solid and a standout left tackle, but they need to find the player who can best complement him on the other side.
Fangio gave us clarity as to where his tackles were.

“Bobby (Massie) was here, but he’s nursing an injury. Garett (Bolles) is dealing with a personal issue. I expect him to be here for the minicamp,” Fangio said.

So long as Massie’s pec injury is not serious, he should be ready for the start of training camp. He’s not the official starter at right tackle, but I fully expect him to win the starting job. I like Massie as their starter at right tackle, and he could be the answer at the position the team has been looking for since Tyler Polumbus retired after Super Bowl 50.

***

Need More From Johnson

The inside linebacker position has evolved over the last few years. Gone are the days of throwback ILBs who stuff the run but come off the field in passing situations. Instead, inside linebackers must be able to cover – especially with teams throwing early and often in today’s NFL.

Johnson and Josey Jewell as the starters at the position but have a bright spotlight on their play this offseason. The Broncos have a strong defense, maybe the best in the league, but questions remain about how their ILBs fit in the modern game.

Fangio was clear what he wants from Johnson this season.

“We’re looking for him to be more assignment and technique conscious and be a fundamental player. At times, he can stray a little bit from the exact thing the coaches are telling him to do. He fits into that other category. You don’t want the guys that only do what the coaches say, and you don’t want the guys that don’t do what the coaches say. He’s learning towards too much of the other right now in his career. We’ve got to get him more dialed in. When he does, and when we find that happy medium, he’ll even be a lot of better,” Fangio said.

The Broncos have a couple of young players who could eventually push for a starting spot at the inside linebacker position. Baron Browing, a rookie from Ohio State, and Justin Strnad, a second-year player who missed all his rookie season in 2020, have the coverage ability that Johnson and Jewell struggle with. It may take some time, but we could see a changing of the guard at ILB if Johnson and Jewell don’t show better in coverage. Fangio was up front with what he expects from Johnson this year, and it’s now time for him to respond.

***

Too Early To Tell… But

The quarterback battle between Bridgewater and Lock will go through most of the preseason in my opinion. The work in OTAs and mandatory minicamp gives us clues as to what could happen as their competition continues into the summer.

Bridgewater seems to be the player emerging as the best passer. He’s showing accuracy and touch as a passer, with receivers like Jeudy talking about how great Bridgewater’s anticipation is when making a throw. Bridgewater understands what he sees and makes quick decisions to get rid of the ball and get it to playmakers like Jeudy.

Lock seems to be the same player he’s always been. Multiple reporters have commented on Twitter that Lock is still holding onto the ball too long. In addition, Lock is still throwing interceptions and Mike Klis tweeted on Monday that it looked like Lock was “pressing” after one of the picks.

After practice on Monday, Fangio was immediately asked what he thought of the quarterback’s performance in practice.

“Overall, it was good. I saw that we had a pick or two on defense. I’m not sure who threw it, but I’ll watch the tape. It was good to get 11-on-11. We did about 20 plays of team [(work). (We) kept the same amount we’ve been doing so far as plays go. We did a little less ‘skelly,’ but it was good. It’s really good for the lines to get involved. It’s really good for the defense to have to figure out if it’s a run or a pass, (which is the) most fundamental and important thing you have to do on defense. It was great work and I was pleased with it. I’ll take a look at the tape and see how it looked totally,” Fangio said.

Lock had a blister on his throwing hand according to Fangio, but the coach does not know how much that injury affected his young passer. No matter the issue, it’s clear that Lock needs to get healthy and get better if he wants to win the starting job.

Related

Broncos’ Robinson ‘looks like a future starter,’ so, can they get him more reps?Rockies ride Goodman’s 31st homer to win over NationalsRockies don’t necessarily need to trade 2x All-Star Hunter GoodmanFormer Broncos starting cornerback gets another shot with BrownsLos Angeles Angels fire scout who filmed Rockies coachesDr. Ramos & Zach Bye Discuss Patrick Mahomes’ Return from an ACL Injury