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Broncos Position Preview: Committee approach appears to be plan at By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post July 11, 2019

Phillip Lindsay emerged last year as the No. 1 back, but missed the off-season program after wrist surgery.

Phillip Lindsay emerged last year as the No. 1 back, but missed the off-season program after wrist surgery.

Third in a series previewing the Broncos.

In seven of the last eight seasons, two Broncos running backs have had at least 100 rushing attempts. Look for that trend to continue this year.

When the players report to training camp on Wednesday, the expectation is Rich Scangarello will choose the run-it-via-small-committee approach.

A third-round draft pick in 2018, Royce Freeman was overshadowed by undrafted running back Phillip Lindsay a year ago. Lindsay and Freeman had 192 and 130 attempts, respectively. The Broncos are hopeful the return of Lindsay from off-season wrist surgery and a step forward from Freeman will create a productive tandem.

The Broncos’ Week 1 running back room could be unchanged from a season ago: Lindsay, Freeman, Devontae Booker, and fullback Andy Janovich.

Point: After gaining 1,037 yards as a rookie, Lindsay should be expected to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

Counterpoint: Circumstances may result in a dip in Lindsay’s numbers.

Lindsay emerged early as a physical, durable player and by the time Freeman returned in November from an ankle injury, the run game was going through Lindsay.

Lindsay’s wrist surgery kept him out of team work during the off-season program so the new staff has not seen him run a single play from their playbook.

Hear us out on Lindsay’s production dipping but his impact increasing: If Freeman can improve, the rushing attempts should be close to 50-50. Fresher players should equal more explosive players. Lindsay showed big-play ability last year — his eight rushes of at least 20 yards were tied for ninth in the league.

“He’s just one of the more dynamic players in this league,” Scangarello said of Lindsay. “He’s a guy that we know is capable of a lot.”

Point: Freeman could be a candidate for additional third-down work.

Counterpoint: As a rookie, Freeman had only 14 catches and eight came in the season finale. Booker was the primary third-down back last year, but the Broncos should explore using Freeman in those situations. A key will be pass protection. Per the Denver Post’s game charting, Booker was booked for 4 1/2 sacks last year in protection. Not good.

If Freeman shows he can get in position and then block a blitzing /, he appears to have good enough hands to help as a receiver in the flat.

“I always have high expectations for myself,” he said. “I definitely feel like I have so much to still offer.”

Point: Janovich has hit the jack-pot, entering his contract year in an that is fullback-friendly.

Counterpoint: Eight catches last year doesn’t suggest a whopping increase in production.

Scangarello was previously the coach in San Francisco. Last year, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszcyzk had only eight carries, but 30 catches.

Janovich is going to play a lot of snaps — a lead blocker is expected to be a staple for the Broncos’ running game. Training camp will be a showcase for Janovich. If he can be motioned out of the backfield and win match-ups downfield, he will be targeted.

Friday: Tight ends.

Broncos’ offensive line ranks 12th in NFL, according to Pro Football Focus By Joe Nguyen Denver Post July 11, 2019

Your morning dish of Denver sports news, cooked up daily.

Despite the loss of star center Matt Paradis in free agency and two brand-new starters penciled in to start in 2019, the Broncos’ offensive line is just a hair outside the NFL’s top 10, according to one report.

Entering the 2019 season, Denver’s O-line is ranked the 12th best in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF credits the addition of free agent right tackle Ja’Wuan James and rookie Dalton Risner to the improvement.

“Brought in as a second-round pick in this year’s draft, Risner is expected to start at guard for Denver, a position change that should play out well for the former Wildcats road-grader,” according to PFF.

It’s a vast improvement over the 24th place Denver garnered after Week 17.

“Chock full of potential, Denver’s front-five needs to answer a lot of questions to stay within reach of a top-10 spot on this list,” according to PFF.

The were No. 1, followed by the . At the bottom of the list are the . Free training camp session at Broncos Stadium set for July 27 By Alexander Kirk KUSA July 11, 2019

Although the session is free, fans will be required to secure mobile tickets ahead of the event through Ticketmaster. The will hold a free training camp stadium session at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Saturday, July 27 from 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Although the session is free, fans will be required to secure mobile tickets ahead of the event through Ticketmaster. Limited stadium parking will be available for $10. Parking lots for the stadium session will open at 10:15 a.m. with stadium gates opening at 12:15 p.m. The Broncos say the NFL’s clear bag policy will be in place. The Broncos will host several family-friendly activities at Broncos Stadium at Mile High including: Miles the Mascot’s Birthday Celebration – Free Miles visor to first 1,000 Kids (12 and under) Kids Zone featuring inflatables and Jr. Training Camp Football Drills Face painters Performances by Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and Stampede Drumline Thunderstorm in-stadium jump Post-practice player autographs The camp session at Broncos Stadium at Mile High is one of 19 free practices that are open to fans. The other practices will be held at the team’s UCHealth Training Center headquarters beginning Thursday, July 18.

Free tickets for Broncos' training camp session at Mile High available later this week By Blair Miller KMGH July 11, 2019

Tickets for the Denver Broncos’ free July 27 training camp practice at Broncos Stadium at Mile High will become available Thursday for season ticket holders and Friday for the general public.

Training camp at UCHealth Training Center kicks off Thursday, July 18 and the free practice at Mile High will take place Saturday, July 27 from 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Season ticket holders will gain access to the tickets for the Mile High session at 10 a.m. Thursday through Ticketmaster. The public will then be able to download free tickets starting at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Seating for the session will be general admission. Parking will be available in limited quantities for $10.

Parking lots will open at 10:15 a.m. and stadium gates will open at 12:15 p.m. Standard security protocol will be in place, as well as the NFL’s clear bag policy.

In addition to the practice, there will be a kids zone, face painting, performances by the Broncos cheerleaders and autograph sessions. The first 1,000 kids aged 12 and under will receive a free Miles visor for the mascot’s birthday celebration.

Former Broncos CB Nate Jones among 6 new NFL officials for upcoming season By Staff Associated Press July 11, 2019

Two former NFL players are among the six new officials for the upcoming NFL season.

Field judge Nate Jones joins the NFL officiating staff from the Pac-12, following an eight-year pro career as a defensive back, including a stint in 2010 with the Denver Broncos. Umpire Terry Killens was a linebacker during his seven NFL seasons before officiating in the American Athletic Conference.

Jones played 16 games with Denver, recording 57 tackles.

The other first-year officials are side judges Dave Hawkshaw and Jimmy Russell, down judge Patrick Holt and line judge Tripp Sutter.

Referees , John Parry and retired after last season. Line judge Jeff Bergman, entering his 28th NFL season, is now the longest-serving official.

The roster also includes two other former NFL players. Back judge Steve Freeman was a defensive back for 13 seasons and down judge Phil McKinnely was an offensive lineman for seven years.

Freeman and his son, side judge Brad Freeman, are the only set of father-son officials active in the NFL. Referees Shawn Hochuli and Alex Kemp and line judge Walt Coleman IV also are the sons of former NFL referees. Additionally, three sets of brothers — Allen and Rusty Baynes, Jeff and Jerry Bergman, and Carl, Dino and Perry Paganelli — are on the 2019 roster.

The Denver Post contributed to this story. Broncos training camp details include open (and free!) practice at Mile High By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette July 11, 2019

The Broncos' practice at Mile High on July 27 is free and open to the public — but fans must secure their tickets in advance.

Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, fans can get their mobile tickets for the training camp stadium practice session via Ticketmaster. Season-ticket holders get early access to tickets Thursday. All seating is general admission.

The Broncos will practice July 27 at Mile High from 2:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Parking lots open at 10:15 a.m., while gates open at 12:15 p.m.

The Broncos have 19 training camp workouts that are open to the public — 18 at UCHealth Training Center, one at Mile High.

Thursday, July 18 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Friday, July 19 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Saturday, July 20 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Sunday, July 21 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Monday, July 22 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Wednesday, July 24 (2-4:45 p.m.)

Thursday, July 25 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Friday, July 26 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

*Saturday, July 27 (2:15-4:15 p.m.)

Monday, July 29 (2-4:45 p.m.)

Tuesday, July 30 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Saturday, Aug. 3 (2-4:45 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 4 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Monday, Aug. 5 (9:15 a.m.-Noon) Tuesday, Aug. 6 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Saturday, Aug. 10 (2-4:45 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 11 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Monday, Aug. 12 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

Tuesday, Aug. 13 (9:15 a.m.-Noon)

*at Broncos Stadium at Mile High

10 Burning Questions for Camp: Who will be the top backups on the offensive line? By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com July 11, 2019

In the last two seasons, the Broncos have seen starting offensive linemen lose 35 games to injuries. They have not had the same starting five on the line for every regular-season game in a season since 2011 -- and in the 16th game of that campaign, Chris Kuper, then a stalwart right guard and now the Broncos' assistant offensive-line coach, suffered a horrific ankle injury.

Considering that two of the Broncos' five projected starting offensive linemen have finished two of their last four seasons on injured reserve, the reality is clear: A reserve will be called upon to play, and likely start. Sometime in the Broncos' 2019 regular season, their hopes of sustaining the offense will ride in part on one of the reserves' ability to ensure there is no drop-off.

For them, the watchword is versatility.

Seven-year veteran Don Barclay has starting experience at right tackle, right guard and left tackle. He brings the most first-team experience to the backup mix, having started 27 games, including 26 in a five- year stint with the .

Fifth-year veteran , who joined the Broncos in the wake of Nico Falah's season-ending Achilles- tendon injury, started at left guard and left tackle in Dallas in 2016 and started at left guard for the Raiders in Week 15 of last year.

Coming into his fourth year is interior offensive lineman Jake Brendel, whom Kuper coached in Miami the last three seasons. Brendel played a career-high 176 snaps last year. He started two games at center and one at left guard before a calf injury ended his season.

Next, you have the collection of young players still awaiting their first regular-season snaps. Sam Jones, a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, can be a swing interior player, possessing the versatility to play at center and both guard spots. Austin Schlottman, who spent last year on the , could also handle the same type of role. Tackle Jake Rodgers, who has bounced around through the practice squads of six teams in the last four years, was active for one week with the Giants in 2016, but did not play.

Then there are four undrafted rookies: interior linemen Nathan Jacobson and Ryan Crozier and tackles Quinn Bailey and John Leglue. For this quartet, a place on the practice squad serves as the potential goal; as was the case for Elijah Wilkinson in 2017, this could lead to bigger things and playing time.

But Wilkinson himself is perhaps the most fascinating potential reserve. He came to the Broncos after working at offensive tackle at the University of Massachusetts, and continued to emphasize that position in his first training camp two years ago.

By Week 11 of last year, season-ending injuries to Matt Paradis, Ron Leary and Max Garcia forced him into action at right guard. Now he's back at tackle, but with an armful of lessons taken from his quick switch inside.

"At right guard last year, I had a little problem dropping my foot a little bit when I [went against] a wide 3-technique," Wilkinson said two weeks ago. "But it's different now that I'm playing tackle, so I'm sitting on 9-, 7- and 5-techniques, so it's going to be a lot different.

"I like tackle. I had a lot of experience with it at UMass; I played right and left. I went against some good competition as well. It's all about technique. It's all about being keyed into the snap count. You have to be locked in when you play the game and it just is what it is."

While tackle is Wilkinson's home for now, the ability to hold his own at guard gives helps his chances of being the first reserve into the lineup, no matter where an injury strikes.

"Anywhere, honestly. It doesn't matter -- guard, tackle, I just feel confident that I can go out and get the job done -- right, left, either-or. I'm out there trying to play football, that's all."

And whether the top reserve offensive lineman is Wilkinson or one of the other players grappling for roster spots, it is a near-certainty that the Broncos will have to rely upon him.

Broncos announce fan information for free training camp stadium session on Saturday, July 27 By Staff DenverBroncos.com July 11, 2019

The Denver Broncos free training camp stadium session taking place at Broncos Stadium at Mile High from 2:15-4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, will require fans to secure mobile tickets ahead of the event. Tickets will be available for mobile download through Ticketmaster.

Season-ticket holders will have early access to tickets at 10 a.m. on Thursday, and the general public will be able to download their free tickets on Friday at 10 a.m. All seating will be general admission and limited stadium parking will be available for $10 through Ticketmaster.

Parking lots for the stadium session will open at 10:15 a.m., and stadium gates will open at 12:15 p.m. Guests are encouraged to plan accordingly as standard stadium security procedures including the NFL’s clear bag policy will be in place.

In addition to the on-field portion of the day, the Broncos will host several family friendly activities including:

Miles the Mascot’s Birthday Celebration – Free Miles visor to first 1,000 Kids (12 and under) Kids Zone featuring inflatables and Jr. Training Camp Football Drills Face painters Performances by Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and Stampede Drumline Thunderstorm in-stadium jump Post-practice player autographs

Broncos Training Camp Preview: outside By Cecil Lammey 104.3 The Fan July 11, 2019

The Denver Broncos want to get back to their winning ways in 2019. They’ve completely revamped the roster with the hopes that this combination of players makes a run at the postseason — or at least plays .500 or better football.

This roster is full of talented players on both sides of the ball, but there are questions that need to be answered during training camp. In this series, we will go through each position group searching for those answers.

Today, we’ll take a deep dive on the outside linebacker position.

***

Starters: Von Miller (LOLB), (ROLB)

These two are among the best at their positions and certainly both are top-5 players on the Broncos roster. Von Miller is the established superstar who is on track to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame when his playing days are done. Bradley Chubb is coming off a sensational rookie season and looking to take that next step in his pro career.

In fact, Chubb might surpass Miller in 2019.

It’s a great debate to have because no matter the outcome, so long as both stay healthy and play at a high level, it’s good news for the Broncos and their fans. Before we get to Chubb, let’s spend time with Miller and examine how he could be better than ever this season.

Miller is general manager John Elway’s first and greatest pick. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft is going to be in Canton, OH someday when he will be recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the game. After eight seasons as a pro, Miller has 95.5 sacks and still has plenty left to give. He’s a known prospect and there really isn’t any mystery to how he does his work and produces at such a high level.

So how could Miller be better? The answer is simple; he could be fresher and more disciplined. Last year, Miller seemed to wear down at times and take some plays off when the play went away from him. He also played undisciplined at times and would jump off sides too often and hurt his team. This is what new Broncos calls ‘death by inches’ and he won’t stand for it in 2019.

Miller seems to already have a great respect for Fangio due to his stellar history of coaching outside linebackers (just look up the Saints Dome Patrol people), and he should have no problem responding to the new coach’s guidance. When Fangio was first introduced as the Broncos new head coach, he indicated that he felt Miller could be better.

Pushing Miller in new and exciting ways could lead to the best production of Miller’s career. If the Broncos are better on offense as they should be, Miller won’t feel like he has to do everything on the other side of the ball. That could lead to more disciplined play and more production as a pass rusher.

Chubb reminded me of long-time Ravens linebacker from day one. The number ‘55’ is the same on their jersey, and their strong, ferocious style is similar as well. Chubb plays with a jarring style that can break down an opponents’ will quickly. He notched 12.0 sacks as a rookie, and he had three multi- sack games where he seemed unstoppable at times. As crazy as it may seem, Chubb is still learning how to be a pro and developing his game.

Like Miller, Chubb is going to get a ‘Fangio bump’ in 2019 but this young player does not have any bad habits and is incredibly receptive to coaching. Chubb has been called ‘tailor made’ for the Broncos by Fangio, and clearly the new head coach is excited to work with him.

Chubb is not a perfect prospect, but he’s close. He’s got the size to be a factor as a run defender when he needs to set the edge. Chubb is also a smart player who knows how to set up tackles who are trying to block him. He will use multiple moves to get after the passer and plays with a relentless motor.

He does need to improve in coverage, but honestly, he should not be asked to do that too much anyway. Chubb’s best asset is rushing the passer and he should be asked to do that early and often.

***

Reserves: Jeff Holland, Justin Hollins, Aaron Wallace, Ahmad Gooden, Malik Reed

While the Broncos have superstar OLBs as starters, the reserve group is full of question marks and inexperience. This group has a player who could be the next Shaq Barrett, a rookie who is going to get a look both outside and inside, a late-round pick who has one year of experience but a couple of years of on practice squads, a small-school prospect who was considered a late-round sleeper and an undrafted rookie who was a sack master in the Mountain West.

Jeff Holland has always reminded me of former Broncos pass rusher Shaq Barrett. Like Barrett, Holland fell undrafted when he came out of college and some has speculated (like Barrett as well) that it was due to being what scouts call a ‘bad body’ prospect. Holland was built to get after the and that’s what he did best during his college career at Auburn.

Measuring in at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Holland had one year of starting for the Tigers and compiled 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a featured player. He is productive as a pass rusher because of his quick get off the line of scrimmage that gives him a step around would-be blockers. Holland also has powerful hands to disengage from an opponent and control the point of attack. He’s not a technician as a pass rusher, but Holland makes plays due to a relentless motor and a willingness to play to the echo of the whistle.

Holland made the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and as a rookie played in three games, compiling just one tackle and five assists. With Shane Ray and Barrett both moving on in free agency, we’ll see if Holland can do more with what is likely a much larger role.

I graded Oregon’s Justin Hollins as an EDGE player and gave him a mid-round grade for the 2019 NFL draft. The Broncos added Hollins in the fifth round and Elway said from day one that Hollins would get some looks as an inside linebacker.

I’m including him in the outside linebacker conversation because I feel that is his best fit in the pros. The Broncos official website has Hollins as one of three players not listed as OLB or ILB but simply LB – so we could see a position switch by the time training camp is over, and if he stays outside then he could have the best chance of making the team. In fact, Hollins has the upside and skill set to push Holland for the No. 3 pass rusher behind Miller and Chubb.

Hollins has great length for the position, measuring in at 6-foot-5, 248 pounds. That length gives him an advantage going around the edge and he can reach the quarterback just a bit faster than others due to his wingspan and height. He also has a knack for knocking the ball away from a ball-carrier, finishing second in the FBS last season with five forced (and eight over the last two seasons).

He can get off the line of scrimmage quickly and has a unique ‘triple jump’ step to get around the kick slide of a tackle. Hollins needs to develop more inside moves as a pass rusher but he moves smoothly and has no problem stacking moves on top of each other. He can drop back in coverage if need be and has the athleticism to cover ground quickly. Simply put, Hollins has more upside as a player than Holland – but he needs to prove that his best spot is on the outside.

Aaron Wallace has been fighting for a roster spot in the NFL since the Titans made him a seventh-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He was a one-year starter in college at UCLA and was known as a player with quick-twitch ability off the edge. Wallace has good strength and can win at the point of attack. He does lack instincts for the position and sometimes seems a step slow as he diagnoses the play while it unfolds in front of him. Wallace has to stay healthy as he dealt with a back injury with the Titans that knocked him out for the 2017 season. He was picked up by the Bengals for about a month in 2018 before the Broncos signed him away. Wallace is now trying to show that he is worthy of a roster spot with his pass rushing ability and special teams play.

Ahmad Gooden was not a household name coming out of Samford this year, but draft analysts like myself considered him a sleeper at the pass-rushing position. He was a defensive in college, but his skill best translates to outside linebacker at the pro level. Gooden’s game is all about hustle. Even when plays go away from him, Gooden will sprint to the ball in an effort to make a play. Gooden does a good job of staying sound with his reads and rarely is fooled by play fakes. His speed was on display as a rusher, but also showed off when he returned a 50 yards for a against Furman last year. Gooden seems bound for the practice squad, but he’s a ‘toolsy’ prospect who makes an intriguing developmental player to invest time in.

Malik Reed was an All-Mountain West Conference in each of the last two seasons at the University of Nevada. Reed only measures in at 6-foot-1, 237 pounds and will need to add 10 pounds of muscle in order to play up to his potential in the pros. Reed has quickness and speed off the edge, and he has a variety of moves that help him get to the passer. He’s unproven in coverage and needs to show instincts if tasked with staying with a receiver in the open field. Reed might have to prove himself on special teams just to stick with the Broncos as a practice squad player.

***

Summary

The Broncos are likely to have an elite-level defense again in 2019 – thanks in large part to their starting outside linebackers. Miller is a superstar and set to wreak havoc on opponents once again this year. In fact, Miller could be better than ever under the guidance of Fangio. He will be asked to do more, and the Broncos should manage his snaps well enough to keep him fresh all season long.

Chubb is a superstar in the making. If he got 20 sacks this year, I would not be surprised. I don’t project him for that number, but getting 10-plus sacks almost seems like a given. Chubb will be put in the best position to succeed this year under Fangio and that could pay off in a big way for the Broncos. Miller is a danger to opponents, and Chubb could be a greater nightmare.

The reserves may not get that much time if Miller and Chubb dominate the way they should. Players like Holland and Hollins have upside as pass rushers and could be fine situational players for the Broncos in 2019.

With this pass rush provided by these outside linebackers, the Broncos are going to be one of the most fun (and ferocious) defenses to watch this season.

Sixty Since 60: The greatest Broncos of all-time, Nos. 1-5 By James Merilatt 104.3 The Fan July 11, 2019

On September 9, 1960, the Broncos played in the upstart League’s first-ever game, beating the Patriots 13-10 in Boston. On September 9, 2019, Denver will kick off the 60th season in franchise history when they travel to Oakland to take another of the AFL’s original teams, the Raiders.

Sixty seasons. Starting in 1960. It’s all too symmetrical and perfect not to celebrate.

From that first season through today, thousands of players have donned the orange and blue (and even the brown and yellow). Plenty came and went, having forgettable careers in the Mile High City. But a select few stood out. And a handful of Broncos became legends, in this town and beyond.

Who falls into that category? In the coming weeks, 1043TheFan.com will count down the 60 greatest players in Broncos history.

It continues today, with Nos. 1-5.

***

5. Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990-99 / 2002-03

The player who arrived in Denver hardly resembled the one who retired there 14 seasons later. Initially, he was a from tiny Savannah State, a seventh-round pick wearing No. 81 who was best known for being “Sterling’s little brother.” But eventually, he’d become one of the best tight ends in NFL history, a draft steal and the more-accomplished Sharpe.

After catching just seven passes as a rookie and 22 more in year two, Shannon Sharpe became a bona fide star in his third season as a pro. In 1992, the Broncos figured out how to use the converted wideout to be a match-up nightmare, as opposing linebackers couldn’t cover him in the middle of the field, and his numbers exploded. That year, Sharpe caught 53 passes for 640 yards and two , earning his first invite.

That was the first of seven-consecutive seasons in Denver where he’d make the trip to Honolulu at the end of the year. During that time, Sharpe became the most-prolific pass-catching the NFL had seen up until that point. On three different occasions, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, with a career- high 1,107 coming in 1997. In ’96 and ’98, he caught 10 touchdown passes, evidence that he was one of John Elway’s favorite targets in a high-powered Broncos offense.

But it was a play in the 1997 AFC Championship Game that best illustrates his importance to Denver during his time with the franchise. Clinging to a 24-21 lead late in the game, the Broncos needed a first down to prevent the Steelers from having a chance to win at the end. With the Pittsburgh faithful in a frenzy, Elway called a play that wasn’t in the game plan; he simply told Sharpe to get open. The rest is history, as No. 7 hit No. 84 for one of the biggest completions in team history, helping to send the Broncos to XXXII, where they’d beat the Packers to earn the team’s first Lombardi Trophy. The next season, Sharpe was a big part of an offense that powered Denver to back-to-back titles. Unfortunately, a knee injury early in Super Bowl XXXIII prevented him from having what promised to be a big day against the Falcons.

After a two-year stint in Baltimore, Sharpe returned to the Broncos for his final two seasons. During that time, he broke nearly every NFL receiving mark for a tight end, confirming his eventual place in Canton and ending things on positive terms in Denver.

***

4. Champ Bailey | CB | 2004-13

After five great seasons in Washington, where Bailey earned four trips to the Pro Bowl with the Redskins, the was sent to Denver in one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NFL history. The centerpiece of the deal from the Broncos side was Clinton Portis, a running back who had eclipsed the 1,500-yard mark in each of his first two seasons in the league. It wound up a steep, but worthwhile price to pay.

As good as Bailey had been in D.C., he was even better in the Mile High City. During his first three seasons in a Broncos uniform, he wasn’t just a Pro Bowl player; he was a first-team All-Pro, giving Denver a shutdown corner unlike the franchise had ever seen. In 2005, Bailey helped the Broncos reach the AFC title game, hauling in eight during the regular season and another memorable one, which went 100 yards the other way against the Patriots, in the playoffs.

That said, 2006 might’ve been Bailey’s finest as a pro, and was arguably the best year ever turned in by a Broncos defensive back. That season, the cornerback hauled in an NFL-high 10 interceptions, while also recovering a fumble and recording 85 combined tackles.

It’s perhaps that final stat that separates Bailey from other great corners. Fellow Hall of Fame members like were equally as good in pass coverage, but few were willing and able to tackle like the Broncos great. He wasn’t just a cover guy; he was a football player who was willing to come up and make a play in the open field.

During his decade in Denver, Bailey picked off 34 passes, returning three for touchdowns. He also forced five fumbles and had 203 passes defensed. But it was his 522 solo tackles that made him special; the Broncos could essentially turn one side of the field completely over to Bailey, knowing he’d cover anyone who came his way, as well as tackle any back who ran that direction.

In 10 seasons as a Bronco, Bailey was a seven-time Pro Bowl invite and three-time All-Pro. He’s been inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame and will be enshrined in Canton in August.

“The most gifted player I’ve had the blessing to be around. He was great in practice. He was great in games. He just left everything out there on the field. The best cover corner to ever play the game. And the best all-around corner because he tackled, as well.” – Nick Ferguson Five Burning Questions: Broncos safety Will Parks on all things Philly By Johnny Hart 104.3 The Fan July 11, 2019

Earlier this offseason, Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan was able to catch up with Denver Broncos safety Will Parks during teammate Von Miller’s “Celebrity Bowling Bash,” and we obviously peppered him with questions about his home town of Philadelphia.

Here’s what Philly Will had to say:

Digital content producer Johnny Hart: How did your Twitter handle (@PhillyWill11) come about?

Denver Broncos safety Will Parks: So, I was at the University of Arizona, and I’m from Philadelphia. They called me Willy. It was the first time I had ever been called Willy out wherever. And then, the next thing I know, it was Philly Will. These two girls who were on our gymnastics team … they gave me the name Philly Will. And ever since then, it just carried over.

Hart: Will Smith is famously from Philadelphia as well. Considering he’s perhaps the original “Philly Will,” have you met him, spoken with him about your moniker?

Parks: Naw, I’m the original Philly Will. Will Smith has been gone for a very long time. I’ve not met Will Smith yet. Hopefully, one day, I’ll get to meet him. Man, he’s obviously a legend in our hometown. Everybody knows Will Smith is from Philadelphia. To have a guy like that from my hometown and for me to be where I’m at today, man, it just speaks kudos to our hard work and our upbringing and where we come from. It’s tough to make it out of there. Obviously, to have that guy to kind of start it off, it’s pretty exciting. It makes you want to do more.

Hart: Very important question here. How do you get your cheesesteak?

Parks: Salt, pepper, ketchup, mayonnaise, and fried onions. Plain and simple.

Hart: No Whiz?

Parks: No. I don’t even know what Cheez Whiz is. I swear I don’t. I’ll be confused if people say Cheez Whiz.

Hart: Have you ever run the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by the “Rocky” movie series?

Parks: You know what, brother? I’ve walked the stairs but never run them. But now that you’re asking that, I’m going to do that just for you.

The NFL's best and worst offensive arsenals: Barnwell's 32-1 ranking By Bill Barnwell ESPN July 11, 2019

When I was compiling my rankings of each NFL team's offensive weaponry last year, the Chiefs came out at No. 1. I was a little surprised. I ran through the rosters again. The Chiefs were still tops. I ran with it, and, well, things went OK. won league MVP in his first season as a starter, and while Mahomes is unquestionably an incredible quarterback, it didn't hurt to be surrounded by the likes of , Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill.

Now, it feels like a mistake as I mention that the Chiefs aren't atop these rankings for the second consecutive season. There's no clear-cut leader for the best set of weapons in football, but instead probably four or five teams that could easily be considered No. 1 without much of an argument. By a different set of rules, you could very easily justify picking the Chiefs or another team. Here's what I went for in creating my list:

These rankings are attempting to consider a team's skill-position talent without including the impact of the quarterback, offensive line or scheme. This is extremely important. If you're getting angry because these rankings don't include the impact of Tyron Smith, , or , you're wasting your time. This isn't a list of offenses.

These rankings don't include contract value. I'll mention a contract here and there, but if a team has a good player on a bad deal, the money doesn't matter for the purposes of this piece.

I'm solely considering how these players will perform in 2019. I'm looking at typical aging curves and injury histories to estimate how a player will perform in the upcoming season, but I'm not focused on anything after 2019. I'm also factoring in suspensions or likely suspensions, which cap the value of players like Hill and Kareem Hunt.

The arsenals are weighted more toward receivers. The NFL's 20 largest active multiyear deals for wide receivers pay those players an average of $14.2 million per season. That same figure comes in at $6.6 million for tight ends and $6.8 million for running backs. The league clearly values wide receivers as more important than players at the other skill positions, so my rankings follow suit.

Top-level talent wins out over depth. To try to sort between the various teams, I generally focused on each team's top six options across running back, wide receiver and tight end, as those are the guys most likely to see the field. I gave a bit of extra credit for truly transcendent weapons like and DeAndre Hopkins, who manage to shoulder enormous workloads while playing at a high level. When there were relatively similar scores, I gave the edge to the team with more depth, which helped the likes of the Eagles and Patriots move up the board.

Finally -- and this is also important -- I didn't mention everyone. Just because a player isn't discussed in the blurb doesn't mean he wasn't considered as part of the analysis. In some cases, I only briefly touch on star players, if only because I don't need to tell you how good Michael Thomas or are. The Jets ranked last when I did this exercise in 2017 and stuck around in last for 2018. The good news: Signing Le'Veon Bell to a massive deal has propelled the Jets out of last place in the weapons rankings! It remains to be seen whether it'll do the same in the real standings, but for now, let's start with the new bottom team:

32. 2018 rank: No. 25 | 2017: No. 13

Nick Foles might have won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, but he'll have way less help on his new team. The Jags' most prominent weapon is running back , who hasn't been healthy or productive across his first two pro seasons. Just 35.9% of his carries have improved Jacksonville's chances of scoring by ESPN's Expected Points model, which ranks 34th among 46 backs with 200 carries or more over the last two years. This is a make-or-break year for the former No. 4 overall pick.

The Jaguars are young at receiver, and there's still reason to hope that the likes of Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole and DJ Chark will get better with improved quarterback play, but the No. 1 option here -- nominally Westbrook, Chiefs import Chris Conley or the returning Marqise Lee, who missed all of 2018 after an ACL tear -- might be as low as fifth on some other depth charts around the league. There's also little at tight end, where Geoff Swaim and rookie third-rounder Josh Oliver will compete. Foles will miss & Co.

31. Denver Broncos 2018 rank: No. 22 | 2017: No. 23

Injuries push the Broncos down the pecking order here, as is coming off a torn Achilles, while breakout running back Phillip Lindsay is recovering from a serious wrist injury. Both will be back, but Sanders is 32 and is the only veteran of note in 's receiving corps. Flacco will need to find a connection with second-year wideouts Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton.

Like Foles, Flacco has a history of going for his tight ends; he has a far more promising option than the Jags' pickings in first-round pick Noah Fant, but the track record of first-round tight ends as rookies might temper enthusiasm. Just four rookie tight ends in league history -- Charle Young, Keith Jackson, Jeremy Shockey and -- have topped 700 receiving yards. Fant's impact is more likely to come in 2020 and beyond.

30. Miami Dolphins 2018 rank: No. 31 | 2017: No. 3

With the end of the Adam Gase era and its running back-go-round, the Dolphins mostly stayed put with their weapons this offseason, only swapping out Danny Amendola and Frank Gore for tight end .

Kenny Stills has proven to be an effective second wideout and deep threat, but everything afterward is mostly projection. DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson each had one big game last season, but the two have combined for one 16-game season in nine tries. Mike Gesicki (22 catches, no touchdowns) was a reminder of what usually happens to rookie tight ends. The old staff alternated Gore with , who remained efficient and effective in a limited role, but can he handle more? In a rebuilding year, the Dolphins need to figure out their future core.

29. Seahawks 2018 rank: No. 28 | 2017: No. 16

The Seahawks got a breakout year from and continued effectiveness from 2017 seventh- rounder , but struggled to stay healthy before retiring, while first-round pick was little more than a change-of-pace behind Carson and the departed Mike Davis.

The depth chart behind Lockett at receiver is scary thin, with the likes of David Moore, Amara Darboh, Jaron Brown and third-round size/speed monster DK Metcalf at wideout, and Ed Dickson, and post-patella tear Will Dissly at tight end. It's telling that the Seahawks gave Brandon Marshall meaningful snaps last September; it's scary that they're actually worse at the position without replacing Baldwin.

28. Washington 2018 rank: No. 18 | 2017: No. 19

The investments Washington has made at wide receiver haven't worked out. Former Seahawks wideout Paul Richardson, signed to a five-year, $40 million deal, wasn't healthy in Seattle and caught just 20 passes in seven games last season. Former first-rounder Josh Doctson hasn't developed, and Washington just declined his fifth-year option. Jamison Crowder left for the Jets and is in line to be replaced by Mr. Irrelevant . Jay Gruden & Co. drafted Terry McLaurin in the third round, but is there any reason to think Washington is going to start developing wideouts effectively? This is likely the league's worst group of starting wide receivers.

Washington is better at other positions, but injury concerns perennially loom over Jordan Reed and now 34-year-old running back Adrian Peterson. , a second-round pick in 2018, is coming off a torn ACL, while Chris Thompson was banged up all season and saw his efficiency metrics crater after returning from a broken leg. An impressive debut season from Guice would give Washington a building block for 2020.

27. 2018 rank: No. 20 | 2017: No. 9

You certainly can't accuse the Cardinals of standing pat at wide receiver. is going to use plenty of three- and four-wideout sets in his Air Raid attack, and the Cards added to starters Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk by drafting Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson. Former Bears first-round pick Kevin White's here as a flier, too. The moves to sign tight ends Charles Clay and Maxx Williams make less sense given how infrequently this team is likely to use multiple tight ends for anything beyond special-teams plays.

Strangely, this is probably the first year in over a decade in which the most important weapon for the Cardinals isn't the guy wearing No. 11. Fitzgerald is going to be a Hall of Famer, but as he turns 36 and enters what is likely to be his final season, the Arizona offense will need to depend more heavily upon Kirk and David Johnson, who never seemed to get going last season. This offense will move fast and should generate a ton of possessions, which will bump up everyone's numbers, but if Johnson doesn't piece together an impressive year, it'll make the 27-year-old's breakout campaign from 2016 look more like an aberration than an indication of what was to come.

26. 2018 rank: No. 24 | 2017: No. 28

The Cardinals and Ravens are about as philosophically opposed as any two offenses could possibly be, and that diversity should make for a more entertaining NFL. As Baltimore turns its offense over to quarterback and offensive coordinator on a permanent basis, the Ravens will mostly be relying on young talent around their second-year quarterback. The vast majority of Jackson's targets are likely to go to players on rookie deals, including first-round picks Hayden Hurst and , both of whom have injury flags. Even players like and are only 26.

The key exception is Mark Ingram, who turns 30 in December and is likely to be Baltimore's featured back. Ingram remained effective after returning from a PED suspension last season, and while the Saints set up their running game with a dominant passing attack, the likes of Chris Ivory have had success after leaving ' grasp. Ingram should be productive in Year 1 of his three-year, $15 million deal.

25. 2018 rank: No. 29 | 2017: No. 24

Some teams try to target one big weapon for their young quarterback. The Bills, on the other hand, went to Costco and bought in bulk this offseason. In addition to bringing in four new starters along their offensive line (who aren't considered here), the Bills signed two starting wideouts, brought in three tight ends and added three running backs to compete with LeSean McCoy, who had his worst season as a pro in 2018.

The Bills are unquestionably deep and likely better at the skill positions than they were a year ago, but there might not be a needle-mover in the bunch unless or breaks out as a rookie. John Brown was promising in the first half of 2018 with the Ravens, and and Tyler Kroft are upgrades on what was previously replacement-level talent, but the most important wideout on this team likely is undrafted free agent Robert Foster, who seemed to find a rapport with in December. If Foster's back-to-back 100-yard games turn out to be a flash in the pan, the Bills will likely be back in the market for a No. 1 wideout this time next year.

For all the additions, this group probably still needs impressive years from McCoy and Foster to take a step forward.

24. 2018 rank: No. 26 | 2017: No. 31

Another team whose strength comes in numbers, the 49ers have as many as four viable running backs, a fullback they use in the passing game, three second- and third-round picks at wide receiver, and an Olympic-caliber sprinter. Counting on any of them to stay healthy and/or effective for a full season in 2019 seems dangerous. Marquise Goodwin posted a 613-yard half-season with Jimmy Garoppolo during the second half of 2017 before both Garoppolo, who tore his ACL in September, and Goodwin struggled through lost 2018 campaigns. He's the guy the 49ers need most out of the bunch. The biggest difference between the 49ers and the Bills, though, is that the 49ers do have one weapon coming off a star-caliber season in tight end George Kittle. The third-year Iowa product probably won't have as many big plays in 2019 -- he was the first tight end in league history to rack up two 80-plus-yard touchdowns in a season -- but the 25-year-old should be in line for another 120-plus-target campaign.

23. Oakland Raiders 2018 rank: No. 19 | 2017: No. 8

Moving down four spots after adding Antonio Brown and isn't as controversial as it seems, in part because last year's Raiders looked better on paper than they actually were on the field. This time last year, the Raiders still had Amari Cooper and and were extremely optimistic about Jordy Nelson and .

Oakland is certainly better at wideout, and offers more upside than Lynch, but Williams is likely to take a hit after moving away from , and the team will replace Cook with the likes of and , which is a huge drop-off.

22. 2018 rank: No. 17 | 2017: No. 12

Christian McCaffrey's 2018 was a lesson in touchdown regression. The league's regular backs scored about once every 26 touches last season. Over his first six games, McCaffrey scored just once on 118 touches. I won't do the math, but this would have been a good time to trade for him in fantasy. Over the final 10 games, he scored 12 times on 208 touches, or once every 17.3 touches. He actually went past the mean, but in the long run, McCaffrey's 2018 season saw him rack up 13 rushing and receiving touchdowns on 326 touches, for one in every 25 opportunities.

McCaffrey had to carry the offense for stretches with 's shoulder ailing, but DJ Moore showed enough in his rookie season to hint at a possible leap into the top 20 in Year 2. also exhibited big-play ability amid injury concerns, but it's probably about time to let go of the past with Greg Olsen, who has now missed 16 games over the last two years and turned 34 in March. Ian Thomas' end to the season -- 246 yards and two scores over the final five weeks -- makes him a quietly promising target at tight end.

21. 2018 rank: No. 14 | 2017: No. 15

No team feels like it is in more of a holding pattern than Tennessee. Though that's mostly about , it extends to the Titans' weapons, too. Corey Davis improved in his first full season as a starter and showed flashes of looking like a No. 1 wideout, but the former No. 5 overall pick averaged 45 receiving yards per game over the final seven weeks of the season. was out of the offense for stretches, but then racked up more rushing yards over the final four games of the year (585) than he had over the prior 12 (474). These are the two key ball carrier building blocks of the team, and it's still too early to say what they're going to be.

What do we know? Adam Humphries is an upgrade in the slot. The two veterans who might have pushed this team over the top, though, aren't looking as imposing as they did a year ago. Delanie Walker, now 35, missed virtually all of 2018 with a brutal ankle injury and still isn't 100 percent; the Titans are likely going to lean more on Jonnu Smith in 2019. Dion Lewis stayed healthy, meanwhile, but the former Patriots dynamo was extremely inefficient as both a runner and receiver, and the track record of Patriots backs after leaving New England isn't inspiring. Anything significant out of either player in 2019 would be a bonus.

20. 2018 rank: No. 32 | 2017: No. 32

In handing out that 32nd-placed ranking a year ago, I wrote that the Jets would be investing in skill- position talent during the 2019 offseason. It was always easy to link them with Le'Veon Bell, and when a market didn't really form for the Steelers star, the two came together. Bell is a massive upgrade on Isaiah Crowell, whose gaudy 4.8 yards per carry mark belied the league's second-worst Success Rate. Bell's efficiency as a runner and ability as a receiver should keep out of third-and-long, which is a victory in itself.

The biggest concern with Bell has always been availability, given that he missed two Steelers playoff runs with injuries and has already been suspended twice. He's not the only one. Quincy Enunwa has missed 22 games over the last two seasons with neck and ankle injuries. Robby Anderson was out for two games and slowed for others in 2018 with his own ankle ailment. Jamison Crowder missed seven games a year ago with, you'll never guess, an ankle injury. Bilal Powell, competing as a change-of-pace back, is coming off of a serious neck injury. There's plenty of promise here, but it's tough to imagine everyone staying on the field through December.

19. Green Bay Packers 2018 rank: No. 23 | 2017: No. 11 While general manager Brian Gutekunst invested heavily to try to rebuild Green Bay's pass defense and add help along the offensive line, he curiously left the skill-position talent untouched outside of third- round tight end Jace Sternberger and sixth-round running back Dexter Williams. In part, that might owe to Gutekunst's big addition from a year ago struggling; 's touchdown rate regressed way past the mean, with the former Saints and Seahawks standout going from a 57-catch, 10-touchdown season in 2017 to an anonymous 55-catch, two-score season a year ago.

Davante Adams had his best full season as a pro, of course, but the Packers will have to hope for significant second-year growth from Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who will compete with for starting work. Consider where these non-Adams wideouts would fall in the depth chart for most top NFC competitors. The clearest path to a rise up these charts in 2019 would be a breakout full season from tailback Aaron Jones, who missed the end of the year with a sprained MCL.

18. 2018 rank: No. 21 | 2017: No. 22

Few teams can boast a more promising top three on rookie deals than the Lions, who have running back Kerryon Johnson, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and first-round pick T.J. Hockenson taking over at tight end. There are also caveats; Johnson's impressive rookie season was really an impressive half-season before going down with a season-ending knee injury, while the struggles of Eric Ebron in a Lions uniform are a reminder of how even highly drafted tight ends can be a dicey proposition.

The upside is certainly there, but what pushes the Lions toward league-average in 2019 is their depth. Marvin Jones missed seven games a year ago, but he has averaged nearly 17 yards per reception in Detroit. was a viable starting tight end in Pittsburgh and should see plenty of snaps out of two tight end sets with Hockenson under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. C.J. Anderson looked, well, like Todd Gurley in Los Angeles. Danny Amendola even had a relatively healthy season in Miami.

17. 2018 rank: No. 9 | 2017: No. 26

Matt Nagy's first year in charge with the Bears was an obvious success, but that was heavily weighted toward the defense; the Bears' offense finished 20th in DVOA, below the Giants, Broncos and Bengals, among others. Some of that has to do with inconsistent quarterback play from , but none of the weapons imported by general manager during the offseason had outstanding individual seasons. , making $14 million per year, averaged 58 receiving yards per game and continued to struggle with staying healthy. It's fair to wonder whether his magnificent 2015 season was an outlier and not a harbinger. , with the third-largest active deal for a tight end in the league, posted a more promising 54-569-6 line in his debut season as a starter, finishing sixth among tight ends in fantasy points.

The most exciting weapon on this team continues to be , but Nagy needs to do a better job of keeping the back in games from week to week. After a game with 186 yards from scrimmage and a passing touchdown against the Giants in Week 12, Cohen had just 222 yards from scrimmage over the final five weeks, including 27 on five touches in the playoff loss to the Eagles. There's plenty of upside here with the aforementioned trio, second-year wideout Anthony Miller and rookie back David Montgomery replacing , but if it's not Robinson, is there someone to take over when the Bears really need a big play on offense?

16. 2018 rank: No. 12 | 2017: No. 18

Here's another situation where health affects the ranking. DeAndre Hopkins is my pick as the best wide receiver in football; at worst, he's somewhere in the top five. has produced a 45-782-11 line in 11 starts with at quarterback, but he has now undergone two knee surgeries in two years and has missed 17 games in three years.

Keke Coutee was only healthy enough to play seven games last season, but he averaged nearly 57 receiving yards per game amid hamstring issues. The Texans only had their trio on the field for 85 dropbacks last season; if Hopkins, Fuller and Coutee are on the field regularly, they could very well make up for uninspiring options at running back and tight end.

15. 2018 rank: No. 4 | 2017: No. 2

In a way, it's a credit to the Steelers that they could lose a top-five running back (Le'Veon Bell) and wide receiver (Antonio Brown) in the same offseason and still have something close to a league-average set of weapons. That's a product of developing a pair of young stars in James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, both of whom should assume significant workloads as the primary back and top wideout, respectively, in this offense. Jaylen Samuels also flashed as a useful backup behind Conner last season. No team in the league has a bigger drop-off from the top two to the rest of their weapons. Vance McDonald had his best season as a pro by a comfortable margin in 2018, but the former 49ers draftee has missed nearly a quarter of his pro career with injuries and hasn't played a full 16-game slate. is still only 25, but he has yet to top 800 receiving yards in a season. The best bets for a breakout are 2018 second-rounder James Washington and 2019 third-rounder Diontae Johnson. Pittsburgh's track record in developing Brown, Smith-Schuster, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace and Martavis Bryant out of the middle rounds of the draft over the past decade suggests that one of the two should turn into a valuable contributor, even as early as this season.

14. 2018 rank: No. 15 | 2017: No. 10

How high can you make it with the league's worst running back corps? Nobody seems to be very excited about a Bucs backfield paced by Peyton Barber, although it's too early to give up on Ronald Jones after Tampa took him in the second round a year ago. With a league-average running back room, the Bucs would be in the top five of these rankings.

They've made it to No. 14 because Tampa's receiving corps could be devastating. Mike Evans posted his best season in 2018, averaging more than 11 yards per target and playing all 16 games for the second time in five tries. Chris Godwin added more volume at the expense of the now-departed DeSean Jackson, although he fumbled four times on 59 touches. The Colts are the only team whose one-two punch at tight end currently tops Tampa's combo of O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. There's not much in the cupboard beyond those four unless 's minibreakout from Cleveland sticks or Jones delivers on the promise he showed in school.

13. 2018 rank: No. 16 | 2017: No. 6

The emergence of Tyler Boyd as an above-average second wideout behind A.J. Green helps push the Bengals up, even as it seems less likely we'll see much from former first-round picks Tyler Eifert and John Ross. Boyd, who was a healthy scratch at times in 2017, was on pace for a 98-1,240-10 season before got hurt.

Joe Mixon added nearly 1.5 yards per carry to his rushing average from 2017 and didn't fumble once across 280 touches. Gio Bernard has proven to be a useful change-of-pace back, although 2018 wasn't his best season. C.J. Uzomah emerged as a viable tight end behind Eifert and Tyler Kroft. If the Bengals ever could get anything consistent out of Eifert or Ross, this would be a top-10 unit.

12. 2018 rank: No. 27 | 2017: No. 25

Great athletes always have some shot at turning their potential into production, so while it seemed like Eric Ebron's chance had come and gone after four frustrating years in Detroit, the former top-10 draft pick broke out with a 750-yard, 14-touchdown season in Indianapolis. Ebron and Jack Doyle are likely the top tight end duo in the league on paper, and has exhibited some affinity for targeting tight ends. Though Ebron probably won't post a Gronk-esque line again in 2019, the Colts are likely to get more than 245 yards and two scores out of Doyle, who missed 10 games with hip and kidney issues.

Indy's three-headed halfback hydra was effective on the whole a year ago, even if no one posted eye- popping numbers. The trio of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins combined to carry the ball 340 times for 1,558 yards and 12 scores, then chipped in with 96 catches for 613 yards and three touchdowns. The one thing Indy seems to be missing is a promising second wideout behind T.Y. Hilton, but if Devin Funchess returns to the form he showed in 2017 or second-round pick impresses as a rookie, the Colts could rise even further.

11. 2018 rank: No. 10 | 2017: No. 7

Los Angeles didn't replace Tyrell Williams after the deep threat left for the Raiders in free agency, and the onus for replacing him will fall upon their two rookie-deal weapons. Mike Williams' touchdown rate (11 scores on 50 touches) is unsustainable on its face, but if we assume he adds an extra 30 targets to the 66 he received a year ago, the former No. 7 overall pick could approach double-digit scores again. Anything the Chargers get out of starting tight end will be an improvement, given that the popular breakout pick last offseason missed all of 2018 with a torn ACL. Philip Rivers could also direct more attention toward , who increased his efficiency while seeing 23 fewer targets in 2018.

The names in the Chargers' arsenal might be bigger than their actual production. Henry, for one, still hasn't topped 600 receiving yards as a pro. I wrote about the gap between Melvin Gordon's fantasy production and his actual on-field value to the Chargers back in February, and while Gordon had his best season in 2018, the combination of injuries and middling inefficiency may overshadow his versatility as a receiver. If he can stay healthy and keep up his 2018 level of play for another season, I'll be on board.

10. 2018 rank: No. 3 | 2017: No. 4

If I was making a list of the scariest wideout sets in football, the Falcons would rank in the top five for a third consecutive campaign. slowed down after a hot start, but he became just the fifth wide receiver over the past 40 seasons to top 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie campaign. The other guys in that group are Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Mike Williams (Tampa edition) and Randy Moss. Mohamed Sanu, overqualified for third wideout work, racked up 838 receiving yards as what amounted to Atlanta's third target. You know Julio Jones, and his bizarre touchdown-less streak dissipated with eight over his final nine games. Jones has also only missed two games over the past four seasons.

The Falcons fall, though, because I'm less enthused about what they have elsewhere. caught an 88-yard touchdown in Week 1 of 2017 and hasn't topped 80 yards in any of the ensuing 31 games; he has averaged 34 receiving yards per game and scores once a month. Devonta Freeman signed a big deal after an impressive pair of seasons under running back whisperer Kyle Shanahan, but the past two years without Shanahan have been underwhelming. Freeman saw his average drop to 4.0 yards per carry and he fumbled four times on 232 touches in 2017, then missed 14 games in 2018 with various injuries. It's possible that an improved offensive line and the departure of unloved coordinator help Freeman return to form, but when you consider that Atlanta lost Tevin Coleman this offseason, running back isn't projected as a plus for the Falcons until Freeman rebounds.

9. 2018 rank: No. 8 | 2017: No. 1 No team has suffered a bigger drop-off at any one spot than the Patriots, who go from arguably the most impactful tight end in NFL history with Rob Gronkowski to Benjamin Watson. The veteran Watson is already suspended for the first four games of the season, which means the Week 1 starter at tight end might very well be Matt LaCosse. With Josh Gordon likely unavailable and Chris Hogan, and Dwayne Allen all gone, more than 52% of the passing yards Tom Brady posted a year ago went to players who are no longer on the roster.

As good as Gronk was, does anyone really think the Patriots will be a mess on offense this season? We know they'll adjust. They used a first-round pick on N'Keal Harry and signed Dontrelle Inman and Demaryius Thomas, though the latter might not be healthy enough to play as he recovers from a torn Achilles. No team in the league is deeper at running back, where the Patriots can run out some combination of , James White, and third-round pick from snap to snap. It won't look the same without Gronk, but let's be honest: This offense is going to work just fine.

8. 2018 rank: No. 2 | 2017: No. 20

It's strangely impressive that the Giants managed to be so uninspiring on offense a year ago with one of the best arsenals in football. Obviously, trading away Odell Beckham Jr. is going to make any team's weaponry worse, but the Giants at least have a short-term solution in , who should help soften the blow of willingly trading away a franchise wideout for ... reasons. Both Tate and Sterling Shepard rank in the top eight for receiving yards out of the slot over the past three years, so will need to find a way to get both of his starting wideouts time on the inside.

The Giants are the first team on this list to rate out as above-average at running back, wide receiver and tight end, though other teams (notably the Packers and Steelers) come close. Evan Engram struggled to stay healthy last season but averaged 9.0 yards per target, which was just ahead of guys like Travis Kelce and Jared Cook. And though 's rookie season was less impressive under a microscope, it's fair to say that the offense was almost entirely dependent upon Barkley for stretches in 2018. With a better offensive line, Barkley could be the most productive back in football in 2019.

7. 2018 rank: No. 11 | 2017: No. 14

After adding Jared Cook at tight end, the Saints can boast seriously dangerous weapons for Drew Brees at all three skill-position spots for the first time since the Jimmy Graham days. In and Michael Thomas, the Saints have two of the most devastating players in the league at their respective positions. Including the postseason, Thomas was just the 10th player in NFL history to post three 170-yard games in a single season, including a 211-yard salvo against the Rams in midseason.

Cook is not quite on their level, and after that big three, you can certainly pick holes in what the Saints bring to the table. Ted Ginn's late-career renaissance has been fun to see, but the 34-year-old averaged just under 42 yards per game when healthy a year ago. Tre'Quan Smith flashed as a rookie, but it's not as if he had a Calvin Ridley-sized debut campaign, and guys like Keith Kirkwood and Cameron Meredith aren't likely to move the needle. is also likely a step down from Mark Ingram as New Orleans' power back, given the 29-year-old's middling production in Oakland and Minnesota. This group will go as far as Kamara and Thomas can take it.

6. Dallas Cowboys 2018 rank: No. 30 | 2017: No. 5

Talk about a swing! The Cowboys headed into 2018 with Ezekiel Elliott and a laughably bad receiving corps, but one year later, there's a lot to like for . The trade for Amari Cooper revitalized Dallas's passing game; Prescott posted a 104.6 passer rating with the star wideout on the field and an 86.8 rating with Cooper sidelined or in Oakland. Michael Gallup got better as the year went along, finishing with a 119-yard performance against the Rams during the postseason.

And though might not have much left in the tank at age 37 after returning from a year of broadcasting, Dallas' starting tight ends last season posted a combined line of 38 catches for 345 yards and one touchdown. Even a limited Witten should be a comfortable upgrade in offensive coordinator 's offense.

5. 2018 rank: No. 5 | 2017: No. 21

How far can two star wide receivers take you? The Vikings have the best one-two punch in the game with and Adam Thielen, and though the eight consecutive 100-yard games Thielen posted to start the 2018 season probably won't pop up again this season, the 28-year-old has topped his receiving yardage total four consecutive times. still insists on Minnesota running the football -- a curious emphasis given that the Vikes have these two wideouts and are paying their quarterback $28 million per season -- but don't bet against Thielen making it five in a row.

The Vikings were able to bring back Kyle Rudolph on a restructured deal and drafted Irv Smith Jr., though the Alabama product will likely be a part-time player until Rudolph eventually moves on. Rudolph's injury concerns have faded, as the Notre Dame product hasn't missed a game in four years. We can't say the same about Dalvin Cook, who has missed 17 games in two NFL seasons. If Cook can't stay healthy, the Vikings would have to turn to rookie third-round pick Alexander Mattison as their starting back.

4. Philadelphia Eagles 2018 rank: No. 7 | 2017: No. 17

I don't think anybody is deeper at the skill positions across the board than 's team. If you took away their best player at each position, you could still roll out a starting five of Miles Sanders, , DeSean Jackson, JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Dallas Goedert. You would probably prefer that to the Jags' starters. Down the stretch last season, the Eagles started Josh Adams and then Wendell Smallwood at running back; it's not clear whether either back will make the active roster. No team has this sort of depth.

Outside of Zach Ertz, though, it's fair to wonder whether there's the sort of top-level talent we're seeing from the other teams in this top 10. hasn't been healthy for a full season since 2014, though he did make it through the full 16-game season in 2017 with a torn labrum. Jeffery is unquestionably tough and has been a brutally tough out in the playoffs -- aside from the drop against the Saints -- but he also hasn't hit 850 receiving yards in a season in four years. The running back rotation has plenty of interesting options, but there's no guarantee that Miles Sanders steps in and hits the ground running as a rookie back. The sum adds up to more than the individual parts here.

3. 2018 rank: No. 13 | 2017: No. 30

It's hard to believe that we're only two years removed from a Browns receiving corps whose leading weapon was 395 yards of Seth DeValve. No duo is going to be more fun to watch than Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, who should challenge Diggs and Thielen as the league's best wideout pairing. The only blemish here is Beckham's injuries, as the three-time Pro Bowler has played just one 16-game season in five tries and missed 16 games over the past two seasons.

Unlike the Vikings, though, the Browns also boast one of the best running back trios in football with Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson and a half-season of the suspended Kareem Hunt. Counting on Hunt to make a meaningful impact given his abhorrent off-field behavior and the looming suspension seems naive, but the Browns don't need him to dazzle offensively. The weakest point in this chain is tight end , but the Miami product showed signs of delivering on his freakish ability a year ago with a 639-yard, four- touchdown season. I don't think Njoku's numbers will leap again in 2019, but that might be because the Browns only get to play with one football.

2. 2018 rank: No. 1 | 2017: No. 27

The narrowest of margins separates the Chiefs from the top spot. On paper, though Damien Williams looked fine as Kareem Hunt's replacement in December and January, it's hard to believe that the former Dolphins backup and are an upgrade on Hunt and , who were Kansas City's two leading backs this time last season. Andy Reid should be able to draw up a bunch of receiving yardage for his backs on screens, but that's more a function of Reid and Patrick Mahomes than it is these backs.

There's also the likelihood that the Chiefs start the year without Tyreek Hill, who might be suspended by the NFL after the league completes an investigation into his alleged child abuse. If we assume Hill will be suspended for three games, there's likely going to be a significant drop-off between the star wideout and rookie second-rounder Mecole Hardman. Fellow starting wideout Sammy Watkins is a perennial injury risk, with the former Bills standout missing 18 games over the past four seasons. Travis Kelce is on the short list for best tight end in football, but the chance that the Chiefs will have to replace their starting wideouts for eight to 10 starts with Hardman or Demarcus Robinson is enough to push them to No. 2 here.

1. 2018 rank: No. 6 | 2017: No. 29

Indignant Chiefs fans are likely yelling about Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp right about now, and indeed, there are reasons to be worried about two of the Rams' stars. Kupp is returning from a torn ACL and should be active for Week 1, but it's impossible to say whether he will be the same guy who was on pace for 1,132 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns before blowing out his knee.

Gurley is a scarier proposition. The reports suggesting he is suffering from arthritis in his knee seem to be accurate, and everything the Rams have done and said suggests that the days of Gurley taking 90-plus percent of the offensive snaps are over. Los Angeles is enthused about third-round pick Darrell Henderson, and ESPN guru Bill Connelly raved about Henderson's explosiveness before the draft, but Gurley was the best running back in football when healthy over the past two years. It's tough to imagine the Rams will get that sort of volume and efficiency from a combination of Henderson and an arthritic Gurley in 2019.

With that being said, this isn't a binary problem. Gurley probably isn't going to average nearly 23 touches per game or average five touchdowns per month like he did from 2017-2018, but he could still be a very useful running back in the range of 15-18 touches per week. That's less exciting for fantasy football, but it's probably better for the Rams, especially if Henderson delivers on the preseason hype. There's not much at tight end here, but when you think about just how deep the Rams are at wide receiver with Kupp, and Robert Woods, even 85% of the old Gurley is enough to propel the Rams to the top of the weaponry charts.

2020 NFL Draft fits for AFC West teams: Players to watch this college season who'd be ideal need-fillers By Chris Trapasso CBS Sports July 11, 2019

Here are prospects fans of the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders and Broncos should keep an eye on during the 2019 college season.

With the reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes leading the Chiefs, a playoff-caliber team in the Chargers, and new-look clubs in Denver and Oakland, the AFC West is primed to be one of the most competitive divisions in football this season. But none of the teams are without flaws and roster holes that'll need to be addressed after the 2019 campaign.

As a primer for the college football season that ties in the NFL and the NFL Draft, we want to provide the top 2020 prospects who'd perfectly fill next year's needs for every professional team in division-by- division installments.

Our series concludes today with the AFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs Biggest need: Cornerback

The fit: Stanford CB

As a sophomore in 2018, Adebo erupted with 17 pass breakups and four interceptions. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, Adebo has immense length and knows how to use it to his advantage in press coverage and when the ball is arriving. He's more of a smooth mover than he is twitchy and has good downfield speed.

Adebo put his length, awareness, ball skills, and athleticism on display on this pass breakup in the win over Oregon last season with the game on the line:

Kansas City will head into the 2019 season with one of the least-impressive cornerback groups in the NFL. Bashaud Breeland's been wildly inconsistent in his NFL career, Kendall Fuller has flashed, but behind them are a collection of bottom-of-the-roster talents.

While the Chiefs did finish 12th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA in 2018, much of that had to do with their pass rush. Justin Houston and Dee Ford are gone. Frank Clark is in. Regardless of how good or bad the pass rush is this year, Kansas City must address the cornerback position early in the 2020 Draft. Adebo would fit the bill as someone who can routinely face the top target of other teams on the outside.

Los Angeles Chargers Biggest need: Receiver

The fit: Colorado WR An injury kept Shenault from playing a full season in 2018, but he dazzled when he was on the field with 86 receptions for 1,011 yards and six receiving scores in nine games as well as 115 yards on the ground on 17 rushes and five more touchdowns.

The 6-2, 220-pound Shenault has enough speed to stretch the field but is best working as a running back after the catch.

Lined up near the top of the screen on the numbers on this play, watch as Shenault hits the breaks to come back to the football, makes the reception, bounces off a defender, and accelerates down the field:

While Keenan Allen's the borderline superstar and former first-round pick Mike Williams emerged down the stretch in 2018, Tyrell Williams was a steady and important aspect of the Chargers' passing game last season. He averaged a gigantic 10 yards per target and just under 16 yards per catch.

With Williams gone, Los Angeles is left with to fill that role, and while he has the speed to do so to a certain degree in 2019, he's coming off a 12-catch, 186-yard season last year, and he'll be 31 in 2020. The Chargers are probably going to want to add another receiver to squeeze as much out of the end of the Philip Rivers era.

Shenault would fit perfectly in Los Angeles.

Oakland Raiders Biggest need: Linebacker

The fit: Alabama LB Dylan Moses

Moses showed signs of his massive potential as a true freshman then became the best linebacker on Alabama's defense in 2018. His athleticism pops in every game, and in true Crimson Tide linebacker form, he consistently lays the lumber.

Moses had 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 tackles for loss last season. He's more impactful against the run right now but undoubtedly has the movement ability to eventually thrive in coverage with more experience.

While he wasn't blocked on this tackle for loss against Tennessee, it's meant to highlight his explosiveness, smoothness when changing direction, and closing speed:

Jon Gruden and have done an admirable job addressing Oakland's myriad of needs this offseason but the linebacker spot was a patchwork job, with veterans Brandon Marshall and Vontaze Burfict signed to one-year deals. Behind those two are Tahir Whitehead, a full-time player last season who was more of a liability than an asset, and youngsters and Jason Cabinda.

I actually liked Cabinda during the pre-draft process a year ago, and he flashed on 15.9 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. But chances are the Raiders will want a high-caliber talent at the linebacker spot as they head to Las Vegas.

Denver Broncos Biggest need: Safety The fit: LSU S

Delpit was the No. 9 safety recruit in the country in the class of 2017, per 247 Sports, and he's been the best young safety in college football since arriving in Baton Rouge. As a true freshman in 2017, he made 60 tackles, broke up eight passes, snagged a pick, and had 3.5 tackles for loss. Last season, Delpit upped all his figures. He had 74 tackles, five picks, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and nine pass breakups. Stat- sheet filler.

A smart, aggressive blitzer and an above-average athlete for his 6-3, 203-pound frame, Deplit is best close to the line of scrimmage but can make plays on a regular basis at the short and intermediate levels in coverage and the occasional big play down the field.

For an illustration of his tremendous instincts, watch as Delpit -- aligned as the safety near the bottom of the screen -- reads the shallow crosser on this play against Arkansas then darts to the intended target to break up the pass:

Both starting safeties in Denver, Justin Simmons and Will Parks, are set to hit free agency in 2020, and after a strong start to his career, Simmons put on a lackluster performance in 2018. Parks is a quality player.

The Broncos are severely lacking depth behind those two and with Simmons likely to hit the market after this season, unless he rebounds, they'll need another starter next to Parks. Delpit looks like a modern-day safety with cornerback-esque coverage skills and the assertive style of a linebacker. Veteran CB Chris Harris wants to be a Bronco 'for life' By Kevin Patra NFL.com July 11, 2019

Chris Harris got a one-year salary bump in May, ending an offseason of questions for the Denver Broncos' top cornerback.

The best part of the deal for Harris is that not only did he get a pay raise for 2019, but he retained the ability to hit the free-agent market next offseason. If the 30-year-old stays healthy and continues to play up to his normal caliber, he's in for a sizable deal in 2020.

"It's a big relief just to go out there and focus on doing my thing this year, knowing that next year I got an opportunity to cash in and be able to dictate the rest of my life and career and I'm excited about that," Harris told NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Wednesday.

Despite enjoying the ability to be a free agent next year, Harris hopes his next contract keeps him in Denver, where he's played his entire career since going undrafted in 2011.

"I've always wanted to retire a Bronco and finish my career there," he said. "Going on Year 9, so this is a huge year for me so hopefully after this year they'll want to lock me up and keep me here for life."

Harris' NFL journey is an incredible tale of persistence, skill, and work ethic. After going undrafted out of Kansas, the 5-foot-10 defensive back worked his way into a starting role, and eventually became the stickiest slot corner in the NFL -- a vital position with the proliferation of three-receiver sets and prolific slot receivers. His status as an undrafted player, however, suppressed his ability to get paid big bucks early in his career. In order to see his first huge payday, he had to redo his contract early, which ultimately led to this offseason's issues.

Whether John Elway is willing to meet Harris' contract demands -- he didn't acquiesce on a long-term deal this offseason -- to keep him in Denver the rest of his career is something to tackle after the season.

For now, Harris keeps that underdog chip on his shoulder, and is out to prove once again he's one of the top corners in the NFL.

"I'm definitely a top 25 player," Harris said when asked about NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2019 list. "I don't know where you have me yet, but I think over my career and everything that I've done, I've definitely been the best slot in the NFL since I got in the league since 2011; you can look at the numbers on that. I'm definitely in the top 25 every year I should be."

Broncos CB Chris Harris: 'I like being the underdog' By Kevin Patra NFL.com July 11, 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs have won the past three AFC West titles, and with Patrick Mahomes leading the charge could be poised to make it a quad streak.

That fourth straight win won't come easy for a team transitioning to a new defense and facing improved division rivals. The Los Angeles Chargers boast a talented crew on both sides of the ball, led by Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, and . The Raiders added Antonio Brown along with a bevy of young players, and even if they are a year or two away from competing, are much more compelling than a season ago. And the Denver Broncos, somewhat forgotten in the mix at the top of the division, upgraded at head coach and quarterback.

Joining Good Morning Football on Wednesday, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said he likes that most are ignoring the Broncos during the offseason.

"The Chiefs are the team to beat right now. They've won it, I think, the past three years so until somebody knocks them off they're the team beat," Harris said. "I'm telling you right now, I like being the underdog right now. Teams are sleeping on us and so I like taking that approach this year. They're going to have to wake up when we hit them in the mouth."

The Broncos -- winners of the division the previous five years before the Chiefs' reign -- certainly boast the defensive talent to punch teams in the mouth. Harris is the league's top slot corner, Von Miller is a premier pass rusher, and Bradley Chubb could be in for a Year 2 leap as a quarterback nightmare. Toss in corner additions of Bryce Callahan and and Denver boasts both a strong back end and fierce pass rush. Importing Vic Fangio's proven scheme should make the Broncos one of the best defenses in the league.

Whether their offense behind Joe Flacco can match that defensive prowess remains the question mark.

With Brown joining the AFC West, the receivers the Broncos face could be among the best collections in the league. Harris knows the division will a test every time week.

"I got Tyreek Hill fighting with me twice a year, Keenan Allen, A.B., so the AFC West is going to be a track meet," he said.

If the Broncos' defense can slow that track meet, it could give Denver a chance to get back in the division race after finishing third or worse each of the past three years.

The NFL’s Top 10 Edge Defenders for 2019 | The MMQB NFL Podcast By Andy Benoit MMQB July 11, 2019

On the Monday Morning NFL Podcast, Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling discuss edge defenders across the NFL, why so many edge guys are still great well into their 30s, who is good lining up inside, who is ready to breakout, and why teams drop edge guys into coverage. Plus, they unveil their ranking of the top 10 edge defenders in the NFL heading into the 2019 season. Listen and subscribe to The MMQB Monday Morning NFL Podcast here. The following transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

GARY: Baltimore and Kansas City are two teams who, last year, dropped their edge guys in coverage a lot, at a higher rate than most teams. Justin Houston was dropping into coverage on 20 percent of his passing- down snaps last season. So I guess this is a two-part question: What's the logic in doing so? And why did it work really well for Baltimore but not as well for Kansas City?

ANDY: These are good teams to contrast because, yes, they both dropped guys into coverage but they do it for very different reasons. For Kansas City, I don’t think it will continue like this under Steve Spagnuolo who’s now their defensive coordinator. But I recently saw Bob Sutton, their previous coordinator—he’s with the Falcons now. When I did the rookie minicamp piece with the Falcons, Sutton and I sat in the lobby for about 30 minutes and just talked defense, and I asked him, flat-out, why do you drop edge guys into coverage. Because when he was first in Kansas City, Sutton was blitzing as much as anyone in football, and by the end of his tenure he was dropping eight into coverage more than anyone in the NFL. It was a big, wild shift for him. I asked him why, and he said his reason was very simple: Quarterbacks throw the ball so quickly, so why would we send the bodies after the QB if the ball gets out so quickly. We might as well crowd the passing lanes. My sense was there really wasn't much more to it than that. That’s his philosophy.

ANDY: Now, the Ravens are a different philosophy. They send five pass rushers on a lot of their plays. They’ll play zone coverage and rush five, fire-zone blitzing. And as part of their fire zones they usually overload one side and drop from the other. So if I'm the left , we're showing pressure from the left side with all these other guys around me. But we're actually going to bring the pressure at the last minute from the right side and I'm going to drop back and that's really the foundation of Baltimore's method to defense. Their defensive ends wind up in coverage but it's because of the way the pressure designs are working, as opposed to Kansas City, where they just—for the last few years—believed in eight- man coverages.

GARY: I wondered specifically with Justin Houston—who, as I mentioned, was back in coverage on about 20 percent of his passing-down snaps last year. I remember, long ago, talking to LaMarr Woodley, Steelers great and Titans and Raiders, uh, person, and we were talking about this. And I said, boy, it must really get your goat when you have to drop into coverage rather than rushing the quarterback. He said no, because it’s like getting a breather without having to come off the field. I wondered if the approach with Houston last year was also in part to keep him healthy and fresh without frequently pulling him off the field.

ANDY: Well, LaMarr Woodley had a little bit of a reputation as a guy who noticed when he had the chance to catch a breather. I think a lot of who drops is dependent on the formation. Vic Fangio, he’s now in Denver of course but he was in Chicago last year as their defensive coordinator, kind of brings us full circle. We've talked about the Chiefs, who drop eight into coverage. We've talked about the Ravens, who dropped six into coverage and rushed five. And the Bears—and now the Broncos—they rush the traditional four but will drop a defensive end into coverage because they’re trying to create the effect of a blitz without actually blitzing. Fangio has done that a lot. Even with Khalil Mack last year, there were a lot of instances where Mack would drop into the flat. Or on base downs, on first and second down if the Bears were in their base package, you can make an offensive formation dictate that Mack would walk out over the slot. When Fangio was defensive coordinator for the Niners, the Ravens in the Super Bowl that year employed a lot of base slot formations, meaning all their wide receivers were on one side and the rest of their base personnel was on the other. And what that did was make have to walk out over the slot receiver, and all of the sudden Aldon Smith was a non-factor as a pass rusher in that game. So you can dictate to some. Fangio is willing to live with the tradeoff; he’s that big of a believer in disguising his seven-man zone coverages. But there are a lot of different reasons you would drop a defensive end into coverage. I would bet 99 times out of 100 it’s just a function of the scheme.

GARY: I was playing around with the numbers today, how frequently players dropped into coverage, and the league average for edge players dropping into coverage was 8.1 percent. I was surprised to see Mack up there at 12 percent.

ANDY: There you go. Who else had some high numbers?

GARY: of Green Bay was the league leader.

ANDY: Yup, another team that shows pressure.

GARY: Fackrell was 34.5 percent.

ANDY: Let me back up on Fackrell really quick. That’s probably part of his natural role—he’s miscast in the data. He might not be a pure edged defender in Green Bay.

GARY: Whitney Mercilus was the other guy over 30 percent. We also had T.J. Watt, Anthony Chickillo and , three Steelers, way up there, in the 17 to 22 percent range.

ANDY: And that's because the Steelers subscribe to that same Fangio belief. The Steelers show a five- down front, we call it 3-4 but really it’s more of a 5-2 with those outside linebackers up on the line of scrimmage. And the whole idea is, we’re gonna send four but because we’re in a 5-2 and it looks like we’re sending five, you'll never know who the four are, and one of these guys will drop into coverage. Offenses know this going in, teams scheme a lot how we can attack T.J. Watt in coverage, and for a defensive end, an edge guy, he’s a very good coverage defender but he's still an edge defender often going against running backs in space, sometimes even tight ends and wide receivers. So, again, it’s all part of the tradeoff of the defense. You’re hoping that by dropping a guy into coverage you confuse the quarterback just enough that he holds the ball and you give your pass rush that much more time to get home.

GARY: J.J. Watt who is in our edge defenders show this year—he’s been the on defensive line show in past year—he had 676 passing-down plays, and he dropped into coverage twice.

ANDY: I guarantee you Whitney Mercilus took note of that, because when I sat down with a Texans coach this offseason, I said Whitney Mercilus was invisible this year, I would imagine you guys aren’t going to have him back because Mercilus is not cheap. And the coach said, Well, Whitney was asked to do a lot of different things in our scheme this year and he had to drop into coverage a lot more, so you’re taking one for the team a lot of times when you do that.

GARY: Good man, Whitney Mercilus.

THE MMQB PODCAST TOP 10 EDGE DEFENDERS FOR 2019 “Others receiving votes” is included if you listen to the show, along with more edge defender discussions including why so many edge defenders are aging so well, why they drop into coverage, who’s good lining up inside, and who is poised for a breakout season. Position ranking voting is AP Poll-style among three panelists, with Andy’s votes counting double:

1. Von Miller, Denver, 77 points (1 first-place vote) 2. J.J. Watt, Houston, 76 (1) 3. Khalil Mack, Chicago, 75 (1) 4. Cam Jordan, New Orleans, 66 5. Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas, 64 6. Joey Bosa, L.A. Chargers, 57 7. , Arizona, 50 8. , Jacksonville, 46 9. , L.A. Chargers, 42 10. Calais Campbell, Jacksonville, 41 Denver Radio Station Abruptly Scraps All-Day Broncos Coverage By Staff Sports Business Journal July 11, 2019

Colorado-based KDFD-AM is making changes to its programming, as all-day Broncos coverage is "no longer on the station's airwaves," according to Kyle Fredrickson of the DENVER POST. The Denver iHeartMedia property has "not announced formal programming changes." The so-called "Orange & Blue" station, founded in July '17 with a Broncos partnership, had "featured commentary and analysis from former players." It also "carried live news conferences and featured exclusive interviews" with then-coach Vance Joseph and President of Football Operations & GM John Elway. But by yesterday, the station's Broncos coverage had been "replaced by patriotic rock and country music." Denver iHeartMedia also operates KOA-AM, the Broncos’ flagship station, which "could absorb some coverage" formerly provided by KDFD.

Chris Harris likes that teams are “sleeping on” the Broncos By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk July 11, 2019

While trying to work out a new contract with the Broncos earlier this year, cornerback Chris Harris expressed interest in a trade if the Broncos weren’t willing to meet his financial demands.

The two sides eventually came together on a revised deal for this season that left Harris on track to become a free agent after this season. He said he’s happy with how things worked out and said on NFL Network Wednesday that it’s “a relief” to be able to focus on football after all of the contract talk.

When it comes to football, many people have expressed a dim outlook for the Broncos in the AFC West thanks to the presence of the Chiefs and Chargers. Harris acknowledged the Broncos aren’t the favorites, but said that works just fine for him because they’ll be able to take some teams by surprise.

“The Chiefs are the team to beat right now,” Harris said. “They’ve won it, I think, the past three years so until somebody knocks them off they’re the team beat. I’m telling you right now, I like being the underdog right now. Teams are sleeping on us and so I like taking that approach this year. They’re going to have to wake up when we hit them in the mouth.”

With the likes of Harris, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on hand, the defense should be able to throw some haymakers this season. The chances of the Broncos overcoming expectations may come down to whether the offense can do the same.