Despite Inexperience, Broncos Confident in Rookie Linebacker Justin Hollins’ Versatility by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post May 19, 2019
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Despite inexperience, Broncos confident in rookie linebacker Justin Hollins’ versatility By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post May 19, 2019 He appeared in 52 games for Oregon. He was an outside linebacker, a defensive end, and an outside linebacker again. He played for three head coaches and three defensive coordinators. Justin Hollins saw a lot during his five years on the Ducks’ campus, but not what he experienced during the Broncos’ rookie camp last week. A chance to play inside linebacker. “It was mainly during the (East-West Shrine Game) that I played inside,” Hollins said. And that’s it. Hollins was the Defensive MVP of that game, one reason that the Broncos drafted him in the fifth round last month. He is working at outside linebacker in the Broncos’ base defense and inside linebacker in nickel. Outside, he can serve as a rotational player behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Inside, he could join Todd Davis, Josey Jewell or an extra safety in covering the intermediate-to-deep middle part of the field. So how did this come about? The Broncos credit outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley. “(Staley) came to us with the idea,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said. “He thought he (Hollins) could get it done. He’s done a great job getting him ready. … Certainly, he can do both. But he might only do parts of each — maybe one full time and part of the other.” That’s why the Broncos view the experiment of moving Hollins around as reasonable. As Donatell said, they aren’t force-feeding Hollins the entire playbook at multiple positions and he is being taught the roles by the same person (Staley). No need for the Broncos at this point to figuratively drown Hollins’ mind with too much information. And, having one voice in front of him every day could mean the message is processed easier. “That’s not the first time that’s ever happened,” head coach Vic Fangio said. “We have outside linebackers that play defensive end in nickel all of the time yet the outside linebackers coach coaches the end in nickel.” But does the Broncos’ plan also feel like a square peg in a round hole? Hollins is listed at 6 feet, 5 2/8 inches, which made him the tallest inside linebacker at the NFL Combine (only three were taller than 6-foot-3). And playing in the sub-package defense as a rookie at a new position is a big ask. The biggest adjustment is playing in a high-traffic area. “There’s a lot more going on that you have to be involved in,” Hollins said. “Outside is more an on-the- edge type of thing. Inside, you have to know where two or three (players are). You have to see where the (running) back is. You have to know what the guard does on the snap of the ball. You have to key people.” But a change of positions, even on a situational basis, is nothing new. “The amount of football he’s seen has added up,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal told reporters last year. “He knows not only what he needs to do, but also what those guys around him have to do as well. His instincts allow him to get better and better.” Hollins was a special teams player as a true freshman in 2014 when Oregon lost to Ohio State in the national title game. A torn Achilles kept him out in 2015. In 2016, new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 front and Hollins became a defensive end (three sacks). After head coach Mark Helfrich was fired, Willie Taggart replaced him and hired Jim Leavitt as defensive coordinator and he moved back to a 3-4 and Hollins returned to linebacker. Hollins had a career-high 64 tackles, 14 1/2 for lost yardage, 6 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and eight pass break-ups last year at Oregon. In an overtime loss to Stanford, Hollins showed good discipline and strength when setting the edge, and the Cardinal generally ran away from his side of the field. He also dropped into zone coverage. All of that work, though, was on the boundaries. If the Broncos make him a starting nickel linebacker, his coverage area will expand laterally and vertically. Hollins followed up the Shrine Game with an impressive Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds, second-fastest of the 19 edge defenders (Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat ran 4.41 and was drafted in the first round by Washington). There is a playing-time opening for Hollins. He can spell Miller/Chubb in the base defense and if he proves to be a quick study, he can challenge Davis/Jewell for sub-package playing time. “It’s a credit to the type of kid he is,” Donatell said. “You usually don’t do this with a young player.” Broncos to host graduation for school in mass shooting By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press May 19, 2019 The Denver Broncos will host graduation ceremonies at its Colorado training center for students from a school where one student was killed and eight others injured during a recent shooting. Administrators from STEM School Highlands Ranch had reached out to the football team about the possibility of using the facility following the shooting on May 7, just days before graduation. Broncos executive vice president Patrick Smyth says the organization wants to help the school, students and their families in any way possible. Graduation ceremonies are planned for Monday night at the Bronco's UCHealth Training Center in Dove Valley. Two teenagers face charges including murder and attempted murder for the shooting. Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo, who was killed trying to stop the gunmen, was laid to rest Friday. One way or another a Rypien quarterback is with the Denver Broncos By Woody Paige Colorado Springs Gazette May 19, 2019 The Broncos seem infatuated with the sons and nephews of former Super Bowl quarterbacks. Brett Rypien becomes the fourth of that category. But it’s all relative. Brian Griese was first. Dad Bob was starting quarterback in two championship games. Griese The Younger was selected by the Broncos in the third round of 1998’s draft to possibly become John Elway’s air apparent. Brian did start 51 games in an injury-laden span of six years with the Broncos, but never started a playoff game. Next was Chris Simms, signed as a veteran free agent in Denver in 2009. The son of Phil, MVP in the Super Bowl XXI victory over the Broncos, started one game before being dumped. The third was Chad Kelly, the nephew of four-time Super Bowl starter Jim Kelly. After sitting out a season with injuries, “Mr. Irrelevant’’ was elevated to backup last year and likely would have started before season’s end if he hadn’t become “Mr. Inconsequential.’’ I asked Rypien how familiar he was with Kelly and his episode of 2018. “Not very,’’ he replied. Rypien is the fourth with a QB kin connection to join the Broncos. His uncle is Mark Rypien, Super Bowl 26 MVP as Washington’s quarterback. The Broncos signed Brett as an undrafted free agent to a three-year, $1.765-million contract, although only $146,000 in the first season is guaranteed. According to his agent, Kyle McCarthy, Brett chose the Broncos over 10 other offers. McCarthy knows. The ex-Notre Dame safety was an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2010-11, but suffered a pair of knee injuries. The Cowboys — whose former reserve quarterback and new offensive coordinator, is Kellen Moore, Rypien’s predecessor at Boise State — obviously were trying to grab him. Rypien surpassed Moore’s Washington state prep records and eclipsed the all-time Mountain West Conference passing yardage mark (13,578). Known in Boise as “Mr. Deliver,’’ Rypien threw 90 touchdown passes. He didn’t even have to change nickname monogram on his towels. “Honestly, I didn’t even think about being a ‘Bronco’ again until it was official. He still wears the No. 4 jersey. Guess who else was a “4”? Another Brett. This Brett was born in July 1996, six months before That Brett was Super Bowl MVP with the Packers. “Brett Rypien’’ is a quarterback name. But, does he have their quarterback game? I asked Brett if he wants a “mentor,’’ a topic of controversial conversation lately at Broncos’ OTAs. He got my drift. “I’ve read about that,’’ Rypien said with a chortle. “My main job is to learn and absorb as much as I can from everybody, especially from coach (Rich) Scangarello (offensive coordinator) and (quarterbacks) coach (T.C.) McCartney. I have to prove I belong here.’’ Rypien was convinced to continue as a Broncos’ quarterback based on his NFL combine meeting with Scangarello, the Broncos’ interest in him since they interviewed at the East-West Shrine game, and the tradition of Broncos Super Bowls and quarterbacks Elway and Peyton Manning. However, he is the four man on a match — behind Flacco, Kevin Hogan and Drew Lock. Lock and Rypien have been inseparable, but not insufferable with each other. “We live close in the hotel and come to the facility together. I’m around him almost all the time. We’re helping each other.’’ The actual mentor for Brett was Uncle Mark. “Almost from the time I started playing football in the fourth grade he gave me advice and worked with my fundamentals.’’ They starred at the same high school in Spokane, Wash., 30 years apart.