Tag: Bradley Chubb

Bradley Chubb thinks Broncos can have a top-5 defense in 2020

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb says Denver’s defense could rank among the NFL’s best this season.

In his first season with the Broncos, Vic Fangio led a defensive unit that ranked 10th in points allowed (19.8 per game). Denver ranked 12th in yards allowed, which is respectable. Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb believes the defense can rank even higher this season.

“I feel like we could be top five or top 10 in the league,” Chubb said during a Zoom conference call on July 31. “Like I said, we’re in the second year of the defense. Everybody is going to be a lot more comfortable and communication is going to be a lot clearer. We have a lot of playmakers now.”

After bringing in cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, Denver’s defense should take a step forward in 2020.

“It’s just going to be fun to get everybody back in the building and see how we gel in Year 2,” Chubb said. “Unfortunately, I went down last year with the injury, but me, Von [Miller] and everybody coming back way hungrier and ready to prove something is going to be chaos.”

Chubb and his teammates will get their first opportunity to make a statement when the Broncos host the Titans on Monday Night Football in Week 1. That game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

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Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb refocused and ‘ready to go,’ says Von Miller

“He’s stronger and he’s refocused,” Von Miller said of teammate Bradley Chubb.

After missing most of last season with an ACL injury, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb is making good progress in his recovery.

“He’s not 100 percent [yet], but he’s pretty damn close and I think he’s had a hell of a rehab,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said on July 28.

Chubb said on July 31 that he will be eased back into action.

“We’re going to play it smart,” Chubb said. “Just try to ease me back into it. Right now, I haven’t been doing anything physical — going against somebody and going against the offensive line — so I’m working into it.

“With my health, that’s going to be the next step, just getting my confidence back. When we get into the flow of things, I’ll be good.”

Chubb expects to be 100 percent healthy in time for Denver’s season opener against the Titans on Sept. 14.

After an offseason of rehab, Chubb should be poised for a big bounce-back season.

“Bradley Chubb is already a monster,” teammate Von Miller said on Aug. 4. “I feel like he’s stronger and he’s refocused. Not that he needed to refocus, but he’s definitely refocused, and he’s ready to go.”

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Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb ‘full speed and ready to go’

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb is ‘ready to go,’ defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said.

Last season, Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb appeared poised to have a big year playing under coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. Four games into the season, Chubb suffered an ACL injury that prematurely ended his year.

Before the injury, Chubb was a great fit in the team’s 3-4 defense.

“He fit in very well,” Donatell said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 11. “He’s just good in all areas. He’s such a solid, consistent person in all areas of his life. He’s just got a lot of skill and ability.

“[He] is a Bronco that’s going to be a great Bronco for a long time — we just didn’t get to see enough of it last year because of the injury. We’ve seen him running on tape, and he’s full speed and ready to go. You’ll see a really good year from him.”

When he played in all 16 games as a rookie in 2018, Chubb totaled 59 tackles and 12 sacks as a starter across from Von Miller. Chubb will start again this season and he will look to improve his career total of 13 sacks.

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NFL.com lists Bradley Chubb among 2020 bounce-back candidates

NFL.com expects Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb to have a big year in 2020.

Last week, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt published a list of “12 players returning from a significant absence in 2019 who are primed to make the biggest impact in 2020.” Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb made the list, ranked No. 9.

“A strong Year 3 from Chubb could provide a major boost to a Broncos team on the verge of potentially turning things around in 2020 — and if he proves better than [Von] Miller, he could even allow the Broncos to move on from the decorated but pricy veteran next offseason,” Brandt wrote on NFL.com.

While it’s great to see the national media expecting big things from Chubb this season, it’s a bit alarming to read Brandt suggesting moving on from Miller. He will be 32 years old in 2021 but $17.5 million won’t be too pricey if Miller continues producing sacks and pressures.

Miller obviously won’t play forever, but there’s no need to move on from him before his contract runs out in 2022. At that point, Miller will be 33 years old — and he will probably deserve an extension (at a much cheaper cost, of course). Denver’s front office showed support for Miller by picking up his contract option for the 2020 season earlier this year.

Miller and Chubb should be a dynamic duo for at least two more seasons.

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Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Linebacker

Which linebackers will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

As we continue our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at the linebacker position.

Previously, we predicted QB, RB, TE, WR, OL, DL and CB depth charts.

OLB ILB ILB OLB
Von Miller Alexander Johnson Todd Davis Bradley Chubb
Malik Reed Justin Strnad Justin Hollins Jeremiah Attaochu
Derrek Tuszka Josey Jewell Joe Jones Malik Carney
Tre’ Crawford Josh Watson

The Broncos’ four starting linebackers are pretty easy to predict. Unless Davis is cut for cap reasons, the top-four LBs on the depth chart will likely be Miller, Johnson, Davis and Chubb this season.

The backup spots are harder to predict.

Reed and Hollins seem like safe bets to make the team and Attaochu was an excellent injury fill-in for Chubb last season. If those three make the team, seven linebackers could be fighting for just one remaining spot.

Jones is an excellent special teams player but Strnad might be able to fill a similar role at a cheaper price. It’s hard to imagine Denver moving on from Jewell this year but he will face tough competition for a roster spot.

Some of the linebackers that don’t make the active roster could end up on the practice squad. Tuszka is a likely practice squad candidate.

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Bradley Chubb and Von Miller could be a better duo than DeMarcus Ware and Miller

DeMarcus Ware thinks Von Miller and Bradley Chubb could be a better duo than Miller and Ware were.

Speaking with Mark Schlereth and Mike Evans on 104.3 The Fan on Wednesday, former Denver Broncos edge defender DeMarcus Ware was asked if Von Miller and Bradley Chubb could be as good of a combination as Ware and Miller were from 2014-2016.

Ware had a somewhat surprising answer.

“I think they can be a lot better,” Ware said. “They’re young. With Chubb, when I was [in Las Vegas] coaching him and Von, Chubb is one of those guys that — one thing I didn’t have was as much power and size as Chubb.

“He wasn’t as fast as me, but he was stronger. And that’s what you need on that right side to be able to push those big left tackles . . . I think this year, those guys are going to come back a little bit more hungry.”

Miller and Ware were a dynamic duo in Denver, recording 60 sacks as teammates. They dominated the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line in Super Bowl 50, totaling six quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in a 24-10 win.

If Miller and Chubb truly become a better duo than Miller and Ware, opposing offenses are going to be in a lot of trouble this season.

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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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Jurrell Casey says Von Miller and Bradley Chubb will make his job easy

“They’re going to push the quarterback into the pocket and make the job easy,” Broncos defender Jurrell Casey said of Miller and Chubb.

Broncos defensive lineman Jurrell Casey totaled 51 sacks during his nine years with the Titans. In Denver, he will now team up with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb to give the Broncos three feared pass rushers.

Casey is an interior pass rusher and Miller and Chubb are outside edge defenders. If opposing teams focus on Miller and Chubb, it will make Casey’s job a lot easier.

“Those guys are amazing pass rushers,” Casey said during a conference call with reporters on March 19. “To see how those guys play, the effort that they give every game, the tenacity . . .  those guys are great. What else can a guy like me who loves the pass rush and getting after the quarterback ask for but have two great edge rushers who can collapse the pocket and make the job a lot easier for me where I don’t have to push a hundred guys backward and push them too far?

“They’re going to push the quarterback into the pocket and make the job easy. Nobody can complain about that right.”

In 2018, when all three players were healthy, Casey, Miller and Chubb combined to total 33.5 sacks. Denver fans would love to see that kind of production from the three defenders this season.

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Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb says his knee is doing great

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb says his knee is recovering well.

During a live appearance on the Broncos’ Instagram page on Tuesday, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb provided a positive update on his ACL recovery.

“My knee is doing great. I am in rehab every day. Me and one of the trainers are working out. It’s just the two of us [at the facility],” Chubb said, via KMGH-TV’s Troy Renck. “We are making sure we are doing the right things to stay clean and do the right things so there are no setbacks for the coming year.”

Chubb also had positive things to say about quarterback Drew Lock.

“Yes, Lock is ready to go off,” Chubb said. “I am excited to see how he reacts to a new offensive coordinator and new system. A lot of guys have taken huge jumps [in Year 2]. I am looking forward to it.”

Chubb totaled 12 sacks as a rookie in 2018. Last year, he had one sack through four games before going down with a season-ending ACL injury.

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Bradley Chubb responds to PFF video, sticks up for Von Miller

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb was not happy with PFF saying 2020 might be the “beginning of the end” for Von Miller.

Pro Football Focus, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats and grades players on a 0-to-100 scale, released a video on Wednesday suggesting that Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller could be a “shell” of his former self this season.

“Is this the beginning of the end for Von Miller?” one of PFF’s show hosts asked before going on to point out that Miller had a low PFF grade last season. “He’s now 31 years old, that is a massive decline in terms of overall PFF grade. Still generated pressure, but not quality pressure the way he used to in the past.”

Miller won’t turn 31 until later this month. He “only” totaled eight sacks last year — his lowest total since 2013 — but Miller was the team’s only star edge defender last season after Bradley Chubb went down with an ACL injury. He might not be the pass rusher he once was, but Miller still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

The other PFF host noted in the video that the team will lose their top two defensive backs — Chris Harris and Justin Simmons — during free agency. That’s not accurate. Denver will use its one-year franchise tag on Simmons if they can’t reach a multi-year contract extension with him.

Chubb clearly wasn’t pleased with PFF’s video, responding by calling them losers.

When Miller and Chubb were both healthy in 2018, they combined to record 26.5 sacks. Chubb missed all but four games last season and the two outside linebackers combined to record just nine sacks. If both players stay healthy, that number should increase significantly this fall.

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