Tag: Secondary

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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Jets, not Broncos, expected to sign CB Logan Ryan

The Jets believe they will sign cornerback Logan Ryan, according to a report.

The New York Jets believe they will be signing free agent cornerback Logan Ryan to a one-year deal, according to a report from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Ryan (5-11, 195 pounds) entered the league as a third-round pick out of Rutgers with the New England Patriots in 2013. After spending the first four years of his career in New England, Ryan joined the Tennessee Titans in 2017.

The 29-year-old Ryan has totaled 494 tackles, 11 sacks, 17 interceptions and 78 pass breakups in seven seasons in the NFL.

After losing Chris Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers during free agency, the Denver Broncos selected cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third round of the NFL Draft. If Bryce Callahan plays in the slot this season, Ojemunia might be asked to start across from A.J. Bouye at cornerback.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he feels good about the team’s depth at cornerback after the draft but it’s fair to wonder if Denver could use some more experience at the position.

The Broncos have about $17 million in salary cap space and Prince Amukamara, who played under Fangio from 2017-2018, is still available.

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Trey Marshall will be asked to step up in Broncos’ secondary this season

Trey Marshall will likely be asked to replace Will Parks in the Broncos’ secondary this season.

After the Broncos lost Will Parks to the Eagles during free agency, Denver didn’t select any safeties during the NFL Draft.

That means Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson will serve as the two starting safeties — and there won’t be much depth behind them.

One of the most experienced safeties behind Simmons and Jackson is Trey Marshall, who will be entering his third season in 2020.

“[When I was] out those last two games, I think he stepped in,” Jackson said during a Zoom conference call on May 5. “I think he did some good stuff. I think he showed some signs. With him playing the way he did those two games, that would probably be the reason we didn’t sign or draft anybody.”

Marshall (6-0, 207 pounds) signed with the Broncos as a college free agent out of Florida State following the 2018 NFL Draft. Marshall served as a rotational defensive back last season and started the final two games of the year. This season, Marshall will likely fill the role Parks used to play.

“I’m very confident in what he can do,” Jackson said. “He has a ton of talent. I think he showed that in the last two games. Going into Year 3, I think for him it’ll be great. He can go into camp and take some more steps and show some more signs so everybody else can be confident around him. I think he’s ready for that role.”

Marshall, 24, totaled 25 tackles and forced one fumble last season.

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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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Kareem Jackson praises Justin Simmons, hopes he gets a contract extension

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson wants Justin Simmons to get a long-term deal.

After placing a one-year franchise tag on Justin Simmons, the Broncos have until July 15 to reach a long-term extension with the safety. If the team doesn’t sign Simmons to an extension before then, he will have to play the 2020 season on the franchise tag before becoming a free agent in 2021.

Speaking to media members during a Zoom conference call on Thursday, fellow Denver safety Kareem Jackson emphasized how important it is for Simmons to stay with the team beyond this season.

“Justin is one of the guys that I talk to pretty much every day,” Jackson said. “We have a great relationship outside of football. I think everyone on this call right now thinks he should get paid. With the franchise tag, hopefully they get a deal done before the deadline. I think his work — what he does on the field — is self-explanatory. He’s in great spirit. Obviously just knowing that we’ll get him back whether he’ll have a long-term deal — I’m sure he’ll want one. It just has stability with having that long-term deal as opposed to playing on a one-year under the tag.”

Last season, Simmons totaled 93 tackles and four interceptions. It wasn’t a one-year fluke.

“I have no doubt that he can go out and have the same year, an even better year, than he had this year,” Jackson said. “He’s definitely one of those guys that’s the heart and soul of our defense. He’s a leader. He’s great in the locker room. He’s in great spirits.

“I just hope they get a deal done for him.”

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Seahawks did not address the secondary in 2020 NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks chose to address the pass rush in the 2020 NFL Draft, but not the secondary. Why this could be a point of concern.

The 2020 NFL Draft has concluded, and the Seattle Seahawks now turn their attention toward the rest of the offseason. However, fans and analysts were befuddled that general manager John Schneider did not select any players to reinforce the secondary.

Schneider stated that the team must put an emphasis on improving the secondary following their divisional-round loss to the Green Bay Packers last season.

It is true that the Seahawks have made a few moves on that front, such as acquiring Quinton Dunbar and trading for Quandre Diggs last year, but improving the pass rush was evidently their biggest priority in the draft. That is understandable given the uncertainty of Jadeveon Clowney’s return and the pass rush could help the secondary if they get to the quarterback consistently.

However, Seattle’s secondary did not perform too admirably last year overall and with few changes, could be a point of concern for 2020, especially with defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. returning along with his defensive scheme.

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Broncos have exchanged offers with Justin Simmons’ agent

The Broncos are working with Justin Simmons’ agent on a contract extension.

After slapping a one-year franchise tag on free safety Justin Simmons in March, the Denver Broncos hope to reach a long-term contract agreement with the 26-year-old defensive back this offseason.

Broncos general manager John Elway confirmed during a pre-draft Zoom conference call with reporters Monday that the team has already begun negotiating a multi-year extension with Simmons.

“We’re in negotiations right now,” Elway said. “We’ve given them [him and his agent] an offer they gave us an offer back so we’re now in active negotiations with Justin.”

Denver currently has 79 players under contract with approximately $16.8 million in salary cap space, according to a projection from Spotrac.com. That projection includes the $11.441 million salary cap hit that Simmons is scheduled to have if he plays on the franchise tag in 2020.

Simmons’ market value is estimated to be about $14.4 million, according to Spotrac. That’s just $3 million more than his current cap hit for this season.

Simmons, 26, totaled 93 tackles and four interceptions last season.

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Bill O’Brien is ‘really excited’ about the Texans’ secondary

Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has great enthusiasm about the team’s secondary heading into 2020.

Bill O’Brien’s overall thoughts on the Houston Texans’ secondary couldn’t be any clearer.

“I would say that I am really excited about the secondary,” O’Brien told Houston media on a conference call Thursday. “I think we have a very diverse secondary.”

The coach and general manager’s retooling of the secondary goes as far back as the end of the preseason in 2019 when the club was trimming down to a 53-man roster. With the philosophy of “versatility” in mind, the Texans added cornerback Keion Crossen in a trade with the New England Patriots on Aug. 31.

However, the additions didn’t stop there. Prior to the Texans’ Week 8 tilt with the Oakland Raiders, Houston traded with Oakland for former 2017 first-round cornerback Gareon Conley. The Texans picked up former 2016 first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves off waivers in November.

Hargreaves was released early in the 2020 offseason, but the Texans brought him back, as they did with Phillip Gaines and Bradley Roby.

Roby, a former 2014 first-round pick for the Denver Broncos, is another versatile cornerback that helps the Texans’ scheme.

“One of the things about Bradley Roby is the versatility that he brings, the ability to play outside, the ability to play inside, the ability to play a lot of different positions, play man-to-man, play zone,” said O’Brien.

One of the overlooked cornerbacks is Lonnie Johnson, who enters his second season after Houston took him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The former Kentucky Wildcat has been keeping in touch with strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubanks as he seeks to take a developmental leap in 2020.

“He’s another guy when you ask about off-field workouts and things, he’s doing a great job working out and staying in touch with Mike Eubanks,” said O’Brien. “Expecting big things out of him.”

The versatility isn’t limited to the cornerbacks. O’Brien likes the versatile roles that the safeties may be able to play in first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.

Said O’Brien: “If you look at the safety position, Justin Reid, Eric Murray, Jaylen Watkins, A.J. Moore, just a real diverse group of guys. You know, Eric Murray played corner. Jaylen Watkins has played nickel. They’re not just safeties.”

Coverage and pass rush are intertwined aspects of a defense that feed off of one another. If the Texans’ coverage can improve, then the Texans ought to be able to improve upon their 31 sacks from 2019, tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.

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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REPORT: Former Alabama DB Saivion Smith signs with Cowboys

He’s not likely to serve in a starting role to begin with the Cowboys, but it’s a possibility that he works his way to a lead role in th…

Former Alabama cornerback Saivion Smith has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, as reported by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Details of the contract are not yet available.

Smith will be joining other former Tide products in Dallas, such as star wide receiver Amari Cooper and newly-signed safety HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Smith only played one season in Tuscaloosa as a junior, but chose to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

In that one year with Alabama, the cornerback accumulated 60 total tackles, five pass deflections, three interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

There was plenty of criticism thrown at Smith after he decide to forgo his senior season. He later went undrafted and spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Smith will likely serve in a rotational role with the Cowboys, but it’s not outside of the realm of possibility that he could eventually work his way up to a lead role in the secondary.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Alabama alum in the NFL!

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