Tag: A.J. Bouye

A.J. Bouye aims to mentor Broncos’ undrafted defensive backs

“I always want to work with the undrafted guys extra because those guys are sponges,” A.J. Bouye said.

Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of UCF with the Texans in 2013. He has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods since then and will serve as Denver’s No. 1 cornerback this season.

As an undrafted player himself, Bouye will appreciate working with rookie defensive backs Essang Bassey and Douglas Coleman III, who signed with the Broncos after going undrafted in April.

“Essang, he’s from Columbus [Ga.],” Bouye said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on May 14. “He’s actually in Georgia. I’m actually going to hit him up to see if he wants to come get some work in with me. I don’t really know much about him. Before the coaches gave me Douglas’ number, my dad actually called me and told me that he knows somebody who’s close to him and gave me his number to reach out to him and stay close to him.

“I’ve always had that mindset. That’s one thing I really like about OTAs and camp, usually the drafted guys, they’re still learning and trying to fit in with everything like that, but I always want to work with the undrafted guys extra because those guys are sponges. They always want to learn anything because they’re open to playing special teams, open to everything. I just feel like I can relate more to those guys because they’re always learning.”

When Bouye was a young defensive back, he learned under Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph in Houston and he hasn’t forgotten their help. “I want to be able to do the same thing now,” Bouye said.

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Broncos’ front seven poised to create pressure and turnovers

“You’re only as good as your d-line and vice versa,” Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye said.

The best secondaries in the NFL are often complemented by great defensive lines. Just look at the Broncos’ 2015 defense — Denver had two great cornerbacks in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris but those defensive backs benefited from playing with a defense that featured Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

Talib and Harris benefited from quarterbacks rushing passes under pressure and Miller and Ware benefited from the secondary forcing the QB to hold the ball longer than he wanted to, often resulting in sacks.

This year, Miller and Bradley Chubb will aim to make life easier for the secondary by continuing to generate pressure, something that new cornerback A.J. Bouye appreciates.

“I always believe — especially early and playing in high school, I had a good d-line — I always believed that you’re only as good as your d-line and vice versa,” Bouye said on May 14. “That definitely showed in Jacksonville. You’ve seen the sacks we were getting and the turnovers we were creating.

“Just to be able to bring that presence over here in Denver, I’m going to do my job. Everybody back there is going to do their job but we’re going to have some dogs up there getting after the quarterback. Now we just have to capitalize on these opportunities because they’re going to give us some.”

In addition to Miller and Chubb, the Broncos now also have a great interior pass rusher in Jurrell Casey, who owns 51 career sacks. Those three defenders should generate frequent pressure and force plenty of turnovers.

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Broncos CB A.J. Bouye aims to ‘prove a lot of people wrong’

“I’m going to have to prove somebody wrong,” Broncos CB A.J. Bouye said. “I embrace that. I love it.”

Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye went undrafted in 2013 and was a longshot to make the Houston Texans’ 53-man roster. He overcame those long odds and made the Texans’ team and won a starting job.

Bouye has been an underdog for most of his career and he has kept an underdog mentality even after arriving in Denver.

“Leaving Houston, I was told I was a one-year wonder,” Bouye said on May 14. “After whatever happened in Houston, I ended up becoming an All-Pro. They always said it was the scheme. It’s just always in my mind, I’m going to have to prove somebody wrong. I embrace that. I love it.”

Bouye left the Texans to sign a five-year, $67.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. He went on to earn a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors in Jacksonville. Now with the Broncos, he will be tasked with replacing future Ring of Famer Chris Harris.

Bouye still has doubters — and they still motivate him.

“That’s what helps me get up early in the morning, even going into Year 8, acting like I’m coming into the league and just grinding,” Bouye said. “It’s what motivates me on the inside. I believe that chip on my shoulder is why I’m still here, and I’m definitely out to prove a lot of people wrong.”

Bouye, 28, has totaled 315 tackles and 14 interceptions in his career. He’s under contract in Denver through the 2021 season.

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A.J. Bouye comments on replacing Chris Harris as Broncos’ No. 1 cornerback

“I can’t focus on trying to live up to someone else who’s not even here anymore,” Bouye said of replacing Harris.

When the Broncos acquired cornerback A.J. Bouye from the Jaguars and inherited his $13 million salary earlier this offseason, it became apparent that Denver was not planning to re-sign cornerback Chris Harris.

Bouye was brought in to replace Harris, a four-time Pro Bowler who helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 in 2015. During a Zoom conference call with reporters on Thursday, Bouye was asked if he feels pressure replacing Harris as the team’s new No. 1 cornerback.

“No, I don’t look at it as pressure,” Bouye said. “Me and Chris have a great relationship. That’s a guy that took me in when I first came into the league. That’s when we had the same agent. I’m close with his family. They’re great people. Honestly, when I was studying Chris a lot, especially early in the league, I always watched him on the inside, but I don’t really play on the inside. This was the first time [last season] I really got to see him play on the outside, and I liked everything that I saw.”

Bouye said he has studied and learned from Harris’ film but he’s not going to compare himself to the former Denver cornerback.

“I don’t really listen to the outside noise and comparisons because, at the end of the day, it’s a new year,” Bouye said. “It’s a new football year. I have to focus on what I have to do to be the best. I can’t focus on trying to live up to someone else who’s not even here anymore.”

Bouye has totaled 310 tackles, 14 interceptions and 66 pass breakups in his career so far. Bouye will serve as the Broncos’ top cornerback this season and Bryce Callahan (if he’s healthy) will likely serve as the No. 2 cornerback. Denver will need them to step up in Harris’ absence.

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Broncos CB A.J. Bouye says safety is the top priority

“We all have family members that we don’t want to put at risk, especially older family members,” Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye said.

NFL facilities have closed in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and teams have been conducting virtual offseason programs online. The Broncos will continue having meetings and workouts online through the end of the month.

Not being able to go to Denver’s facility is a unique circumstance for the players but they realize that it’s a necessary step to ensure safety.

“It’s pretty tough, man. I think Kareem [Jackson] said it best — he just wants to get back and get with the guys,” Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on Thursday. “That’s how I am.

“I was looking forward to getting to know a lot of the players, not only at my position but just the whole team. Right now, the main importance [for us] is just the safety of everybody. We all have family members that we don’t want to put at risk, especially older family members. So, that’s the first [priority].”

When it is safe to do so, the NFL will allow teams to open their facilities again, hopefully in time for the start of training camps in late July.

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Kareem Jackson looking forward to reuniting with A.J. Bouye

“I’m just looking forward to seeing how much he has progressed,” Kareem Jackson said of reuniting with A.J. Bouye.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson and cornerback A.J. Bouye were teammates with the Texans from 2013-2016. During that time, the two defensive backs combined to total 12 interceptions. Now, they’re reuniting in Denver.

Jackson signed with the Broncos during free agency last year and Denver acquired Bouye in a trade with the Jaguars in March.

“Like you said, I played with A.J. for four years,” Jackson said during a Zoom conference call on May 5. “I know what he’s capable of. I’ve seen him since Day 1 when he got in this league as a young kid out of UCF. He was always talented. Then once he kind of put the mental aspect to it his game kind of took off. He was rewarded for that. He’s capable. He’s very capable. He can go it all. He can press. He can play off. He’s a good tackler. He’s one of those guys that if he needed to, he could follow.

“I’m just looking forward to reuniting with him on the field. I haven’t played with him in a while. I haven’t been able to prepare with him. I’m just looking forward to seeing how much he has progressed in those two categories and seeing him on a day-to-day basis and see how much we can help each other and learn from each other and help the younger guys.”

Jackson and Justin Simmons will be the Broncos’ two starting safeties this year and Bouye will be one of the team’s starting cornerbacks. Unless he ends up playing in the slot, Bryce Callahan will likely be the team’s No. 2 cornerback. Denver will have at least two new starters in the secondary in 2020 so Simmons and Bouye having familiarity should be helpful.

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Jaguars select Florida CB C.J. Henderson with No. 9 overall pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars roll with another Florida Gator for their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball, including two Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. That said, they’ve decided to bolster the position with the selection of Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson with pick No. 9 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Henderson was regarded as the second-best cornerback of the 2020 NFL Draft class by most, only under Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah. His addition will give the Jags a new No. 1 cornerback after they traded Ramsey last year and he’ll join Tre Herndon to make for the team’s new tandem on the outside. 

His dominance at cornerback earned him first-team All-SEC honors in 2019. He was also able to garner 33 tackles and 11 pass breakups in 2019 while facing elite receivers like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Ja’Marr Chase.  

Projecting Broncos’ secondary depth chart before the NFL draft

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth in the secondary going into the NFL draft.

With the 2020 NFL draft now just one week away, here’s a look at the Broncos’ projected secondary depth chart as it stands right now:

Cornerback Safety Safety Dime Cornerback
Bryce Callahan Kareem Jackson Justin Simmons Duke Dawson A.J. Bouye
Davontae Harris Trey Marshall Alijah Holder Shakial Taylor De’Vante Bausby
Isaac Yiadom P.J. Locke Kahani Smith Tyvis Powell

Denver has a pretty good group of starters but the team is lacking depth across the board. If any of the team’s starters are injured (like Callahan was last year), the secondary will suffer greatly.

After losing Chris Harris to the Chargers during free agency, the Broncos have a big hole at cornerback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team use one of their first picks in the draft on a cornerback.

Denver also needs more depth at safety. Simmons should be a reliable defensive back for years to come (assuming he agrees to a contract extension) but Jackson is 32 years old and will need to be replaced in the coming years.

The Broncos should target a cornerback early and add a safety in the mid-rounds of the draft next week. Denver will have 10 picks to use.

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Watch: All of Tre Herndon’s pass breakups, interceptions from 2019

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered 2019 with arguably the best cornerback duo in the game, but it was only a matter of weeks before that changed. After starting one game in A.J. Bouye’s place Week 2, second-year corner, Tre Herdon, was called on again …

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered 2019 with arguably the best cornerback duo in the game, but it was only a matter of weeks before that changed. After starting one game in A.J. Bouye’s place Week 2, second-year corner, Tre Herdon, was called on again Week 4 with Jalen Ramsey feuding with the front office and remained there until the season’s end.

After that, Ramsey was traded and Herndon knew there was a grand opportunity ahead of and took advantage of it. He showed growth and promise throughout the process and accumulated 55 tackles, three picks, and 13 pass breakups.

Like Gardner Minshew II, Herndon’s growth throughout 2019 likely will get him a starting role in 2020 and the Jags may find a gem. Before we get to that point though, here are his highlights from 2019:

Chris Harris says Broncos told him to fire his agent

Chris Harris says the Broncos told him to fire his agent and then worked with that same agent to acquire A.J. Bouye.

Chargers cornerback Chris Harris posted a collection of photos on his Instagram page on Monday highlighting his NFL career so far.

“Wouldn’t change a thing… except your agent. you should be a Bronco,” one fan commented on the post.

Harris responded by saying Denver directed him to fire his agent and then didn’t negotiate a contract extension with him.

“Well they told me to fire my agent and I did , then they went back to my ex agent to sign AJ 🤷🏽‍♂️ Facts,” Harris wrote.

Harris, of course, is talking about the Broncos working out a deal with the Jaguars to acquire cornerback A.J. Bouye, who is represented by the agent Denver apparently told Harris to fire.

After trading for Bouye, the Broncos opted not to re-sign Harris. The four-time Pro Bowler ended up signing a two-year deal with Los Angeles. Still in the AFC West, Harris will face Denver twice a year.

It’s probably safe to assume that Harris will have a chip on his shoulder when he goes up against his former team.

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