Why LSU Linebacker Devin White, Not a QB, Should Be Broncos' First
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Why LSU linebacker Devin White, not a QB, should be Broncos’ first-round draft target By Mark Kiszla Denver Post March 3, 2019 Yes, quarterbacks are sexy. But resist that temptation. LSU inside linebacker Devin White is the guy for Denver. If the Broncos target any other player to select 10th in the NFL draft, they’re nuts. White can bench press 225 pounds like it’s nothing, but his real strength is athletic arrogance. What’s athletic arrogance? By the definition of new Broncos coach Vic Fangio: “A guy who is confident, willing to take risks because he knows he’s good. He’s not cocky or rubbing it your face. That’s athletic arrogance.” At the NFL combine, I watched Heisman winner Kyler Murray strut like such a rock star and heard San Francisco general manager John Lynch declare the Niners are willing to trade the draft’s No. 2 overall pick to a quarterback-needy team. But make no mistake. John Elway, the man entrusted with rebuilding the Broncos from the rubble of consecutive losing seasons, is not only satisfied with Joe Flacco as the team’s quarterback in 2019, I strongly suspect Elway is genuinely excited about the prospect of a 34-year-old veteran with a big arm and a chip on his shoulder leading the Denver offense. When I suggested what the Broncos intend to do offensively seems like the same stale stuff favored by former coach Gary Kubiak instead of the new-fangled philosophies sweeping the league, Elway chuckled and said: “What did we do the last time we used that stale offense? We won the Super Bowl. Remember that?” Whether the restless fans of Broncos Country like it or not, Denver is going to try to win in 2019 with the defensive genius of Fangio and a quarterback that takes snaps from under center in a balanced, ball- control offense. White is the perfect fit for that plan. It would make absolutely zero sense for Denver to take Missouri quarterback Drew Lock at No. 10, much less trade up to select Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. I have a mancrush on Murray, who might stand only hair over 5-foot-10 but has athletic arrogance that’s bulletproof. After a lone season as the starter at Oklahoma, Murray not only walked away from a seven-figure bonus with the Oakland A’s, he sneered at the big, free-agent contract signed last week by star outfielder Bryce Harper, saying a star NFL quarterback can earn a more lucrative annual salary. “I’m always the smallest guy on the field,” said Murray, his admission backed by this piece of confidence: “I feel like I’m the most impactful guy on the field. I’m the best player on the field at all times.” Elway, however, shot the swagger of Murray full of holes, dismissing undersized quarterbacks as generally limited to shotgun duty in the NFL. For better or worse, under center is where Elway wants his quarterback because he believes running plays are more effective with the QB under center and play-action passes can expose wider windows in the defensive secondary. You might say: So what about Lock or Haskins? Well, they have almost zero experience under center. Get the picture? Unless Elway goes counter to everything he has done and said of late, the Broncos won’t take a quarterback until the middle rounds of this year’s draft, then will wait until 2020 to re-examine Justin Herbert, Jake Fromm, Tua Tagovailoa and the opportunity costs involved in pursuing a young franchise QB. At the combine, Fangio said the Broncos need help at all three levels of the defense. There is no shortage of defensive linemen and cornerbacks that merit a first-round grade. But White, the Butkus Award winner from LSU, is the plug-and-play defensive prospect that not only could be an impact player for the Broncos from the first game of his rookie season, he also possesses the tackling ability and the coverage speed to quickly become a three-down linebacker that earns regular invitations to the Pro Bowl. There’s no guarantee White will be on the board when the Broncos are on the clock with the 10th pick. With the rise in intrigue for what once was regarded as a weak quarterback class, however, it now appears Murray and Haskins will both be taken among the top nine selections, pushing White down toward Denver, in much the same way Elway was surprised and delighted to discover edge rusher Bradley Chubb available with the fifth choice in 2018. During his career, LSU coach Ed Orgeron previously had the pleasure of working in the college ranks with Ray Lewis long before he became a Hall of Fame linebacker and Patrick Willis prior to any of his seven Pro Bowl seasons with the Niners. How does White compare? “I’ve been part of Ray Lewis, I’ve been part of Patrick Willis, and he’s right in that group,” Orgeron told reporters that cover LSU. “No question, one of the best I’ve ever been a part of, as far as a middle linebacker, and I still think he’s going to get better.” If White is available to the Broncos with the 10th pick, it’s a no-brainer. Broncos expecting a jump from running back Royce Freeman in Year 2 By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 3, 2019 Cleaning out the Broncos- and NFL-related notebook from a week at the Scouting Combine: Counting on Freeman. Phillip Lindsay became the Broncos’ no-doubt No. 1 running back after Royce Freeman sustained a Week 7 ankle sprain. Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards before sustaining a wrist injury that required surgery. The Broncos need Freeman, last year’s third-round pick, to take a jump. He had six explosive rushes (gains of at least 12 yards) in the first five games, but only one thereafter. “We feel really good about both of them,” general manager John Elway said. “I think they’re a good combination and change of pace. We have big plans for Phillip as well as Royce to get them both involved in the passing game as well as the run game.” Lindsay had 35 catches and Freeman 14 last year. Elway on Scangarello. Elway and the Broncos moved on from Gary Kubiak as an option for offensive coordinator but stayed in the Shanahan coaching tree by hiring Rich Scangarello, who worked three years with and for Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta and San Francisco. “I like the system; it’s a system I’m familiar with,” Elway said. “Mike (Shanahan) started it and Kyle has taken it to the next level and evolved it. The success Kyle’s had wherever he’s been and to have Rich studying underneath Kyle is excellent.” Cravens’ future. Safety Su’a Cravens missed the first half of 2018 (knee surgery) and was a healthy scratch for the final three games. Does he have a future with the Broncos? “It’s up to him,” Elway said. “He’ll have a chance to make the football team so we’ll see what he does.” The Broncos have Justin Simmons, Darian Stewart and Will Parks — the three safeties who ended last year in the primary sub-package — under contract for 2019. Adding help. Kubiak was a senior personnel advisor for the Broncos in 2018; does his departure mean the Broncos are in the market for a replacement? “We evaluate that after the draft so we have not looked at filling that position at this point in time,” Elway said. The contracts of most NFL scouts/front-office types run through the end of the draft season. But minus Tom Heckert, who passed away last summer, and Kubiak, now with the Minnesota Vikings, adding a set of veteran eyes could be beneficial. Helping out. Among the NFL coaches assisting with the on-field drills Saturday was Broncos receivers coach Zach Azzanni. Around the NFL Impressed with Risner. Kansas State running back Alex Barnes delivered high praise for teammate Dalton Risner, the right tackle from Wiggins, Colo. “Toughness. Smarts. Grit,” Barnes said. “Everything you want in a football player. He’s the toughest o- lineman in this class. That’s for sure.” Risner, who could be a late first-round choice, lifted the 225-pound bar 23 times. A center (one year) and right tackle (three years) in college, Risner was moved around the line during Senior Bowl Week. “I felt like the Senior Bowl was a (heckuva) week for me,” Risner said. “I did some great work down there in terms of meshing with the o-line, being a leader and going against the top talent in the nation.” Popular player. Colorado State receiver Bisi Johnson (Bear Creek High School alum) was available to the media Friday at the same time as Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. But Johnson still drew a crowd to his table. Wisconsin reporters wanted to ask Johnson about new Green Bay Packers receivers coach Alvis Whitted, who was Johnson’s position coach at CSU. “Great dude, great coach,” Johnson said. “He really taught me a lot of life lessons and how to ball on the field. He’s not only a coach, he’s also there to coach you in life. He’s not your friend. He knows the difference between being your friend and your coach.” Switching positions. Teams can request players at the Combine work at a second position. Per the league, this weekend’s list: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (asked to work at tight end), quarterback Trace McSorley (defensive back), running back Devin Singletary (receiver), receiver Hakeem Butler (tight end), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (linebacker) and defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones (linebacker).