Tag: Vance Joseph

Riley Moss says Broncos’ defense can still improve

“There’s still some things we’ve got to clean up. We shouldn’t have given up that many points. There’s still some stuff to get after.”

Five weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL. And there’s still room for improvement.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph loves to blitz, and he’s able to do so frequently because Denver’s defensive backs hold up in man coverage. In those scenarios, though, all it takes is one missed pass breakup or one missed tackle to give up a big play.

That’s what happened against the Las Vegas Raiders last week when safety P.J. Locke misjudged a pass to tight end Brock Bowers, who went 57 yards for a touchdown. That’s the kind of play the Broncos can get cleaned up.

“It’s one of those things where you need to be present,” cornerback Riley Moss said of the defense’s approach. “Mentally, physically, every day. You want your work days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, to be harder than the game so when you come into the game, it’ll be a lot easier.

“That’s kind of the mentality that our entire defense has had. It has been working, but there’s still some things we’ve got to clean up. We shouldn’t have given up that many points. There’s still some stuff to get after.”

Denver ended up winning last week’s game 34-18, but Moss wasn’t satisfied with the defense’s performance. The unit will look to take another step forward when the Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

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Vance Joseph’s self-made defense ranks second in the NFL

The Broncos’ defense ranks No. 2 in points allowed this season (14.6). “It’s a group of self-aware, young, hungry guys,” Vance Joseph said.

Five weeks into the 2024 NFL season, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been widely praised for his impressive defense.

The Broncos’ defense ranks second in points allowed per game (14.6), third in total yards (271.2), fifth in passing yards (159.8/game), tenth in rushing yards (111.4), third in sacks (19) and seventh in interceptions (five).

During his media availability last week, Joseph deflected praise to the “self-made” players who make the defense work.

“We have a defense full of just young guys who are mostly self-made,” Joseph said last Thursday. “We have one first-round pick, and that’s Patrick [Surtain], who is a really good player. Everyone else are pretty self-made guys that are just grinders. That’s helped our process of working hard, being smart, studying and just doing it right. Playing together and being team-first guys.

“It’s a group of self-aware, young, hungry guys who are still trying to reach for more. So I don’t have a problem of motivating guys, of keeping guys humble because it’s there every day. Again we have one guy, Pat, who’s a first rounder. Everyone else are just self-made guys who want to get better every day.”

This week, Denver’s defense will face a Los Angeles Chargers offense that ranks fourth-worst in the league in yards (263.8) and fifth-worst in points (17.0). The Chargers have the best scoring defense (12.5) in the NFL, however, so Sunday’s showdown could be a low-scoring affair.

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Peter Schrager dubs Broncos DC Vance Joseph his Coach of the Week

NFL analyst Peter Schrager heaped a ton of praise on Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph following Week 5.

The Denver Broncos have a winning record thus far in the 2024 season, in many aspects due to their stifling defense. And NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager has taken notice of the elite group.

“I give out a coach of the week award every week. It could be a head coach, a special teams person, it could be an assistant coach at any level, and I am so excited to give Vance Joseph the award for coach of the week this week,” Schrager said on Good Morning Football this week.

“The Denver Broncos defense is the best in the league, and they were rocking those Orange Crush uniforms and they absolutely dominated the Raiders.”

Schrager went on to praise the Broncos’ defense for their success across the 2024 season.

“Looking at this unit this season, they are allowing 14 points per game this season. That’s good for second in the league,” Schrager said. “They have 19 sacks, 75 quarterback pressures and 41 quarterback hits, all good for top three in the league entering Monday Night Football.”

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Later on in his segment, Schrager lauded the humility of the defensive coordinator.

“Vance, personally, the story is so cool. He was the head coach of the Broncos, got unceremoniously fired, worked elsewhere, got the job with Sean Payton to be defensive coordinator, has no ego, says ‘Sure, I’ll be defensive coordinator.’ They give up 70 in a game to the Dolphins last season, and everybody says ‘Get rid of Vance Joseph!’

“They have since been one of the most dominant units in the league [since then]. Vance Joseph, love the focus, love the way this team is performing and we love the fact that your story tells you that you do not shut the door on a guy who’s done it his entire career.”

Well-deserved praise for Joseph and Denver’s defense.

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Broncos star CB Pat Surtain praises DC Vance Joseph

“VJ is just dialing up,” Pat Surtain said. “He has so much trust in us as players and that allows him to call these exotic schemes.”

The Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL four games into the 2024 season, ranked second in yards allowed per game (256.5) and third in points allowed per game (13.8).

Much of the credit goes to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who is getting the most out of stars like Pat Surtain and veteran journeymen like Cody Barton.

Joseph loves to blitz, and he can do so frequently because of the confidence he has in the team’s defensive backs to hold up in man coverage.

“VJ is just dialing up,” Surtain said after a 10-9 win over the New York Jets in Week 4. “He has so much trust in us as players and that allows him to call these exotic schemes, show different looks and frustrate opposing offenses because his ability to trust us and his ability in his play calling. Obviously, these past few weeks it’s paid dividends.

“The offenses we’ve been going against, and we played another great quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and, like I said, we’re just going to keep on building and keep on performing. VJ is just going to keep on calling great calls defensively and we’re going to get after it for sure.”

This week, Denver’s defense will face a Las Vegas Raiders offense that ranks ninth-worst in yards per game (288.8) and 19th in points per game (19.5). After forcing two turnovers and totaling five sacks against the Jets last week, Joseph and Co. will look to keep the momentum going in Week 5.

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Broncos defense ranks near top of the NFL in major categories

The Broncos’ defense ranks second in yards (256.5) and third in points allowed per game (13.8) this season.

Through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL. That’s not an opinion — the stats back it up.

On a per-game basis, the Broncos have allowed 256.5 total yards (second), 146.0 passing yards (third), 110.5 rushing yards (12th) and 13.8 points (third). Denver also has 16 sacks (second) and five takeaways (11th). Vance Joseph has the unit playing at an extremely high level, and they shut down the New York Jets in Week 4.

“Yeah, I think, look, they’ve got a good rushing attack, and I think when that’s rolling it’s hard, you know he (Aaron Rodgers) does so much,” coach Sean Payton said after a 10-9 win over the Jets on Sunday. “I thought we defended the run real well today.”

New York’s offense was limited to 2.8 yards per carry against the Broncos and Rodgers was sacked five times in Week 4.

“It’s tough to do against him,” Payton said of the sacks. “He’s someone that’s real good with his protection IDs and he’s also someone who he knows if he’s short one and he knows right away. So, you’ll send a guy in motion, he’s extremely smart so you may go another 20 games before you see that happen to him. Look, that was part of the success today.”

Up next for Denver’s defense is a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders, who have averaged 288.8 yards per game and 19.5 points per game. Joseph will undoubtedly send the heat against a Raiders line that has allowed 14 sacks through four games this fall.

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Vance Joseph’s defense dominated Aaron Rodgers in Week 4

The Broncos’ defense absolutely dominated Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on Sunday. Vance Joseph’s unit has been brilliant this season!

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has his unit flying through the first four games of the 2024 NFL season.

Denver’s defense sacked New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times for -41 yards in a 10-9 victory in New Jersey on Sunday. The Broncos also forced and recovered a fumble and forced a turnover on downs against the Jets.

Rodgers finished the day 24-of-42 passing for 225 yards with no touchdowns as New York’s offense was kept out of the end zone. Denver’s defense also limited the Jets to just 2.8 yards per rushing attempt.

Following the Broncos’ upset victory, fans and pundits took to Twitter/X to praise Joseph for the defense’s impressive performance.

Denver’s defense already ranked near the top of the NFL in several major categories going into Week 4. After allowing just nine points against New York, the Broncos have now allowed an average of just 13.75 points per game this season. Joseph deserves also the praise he’s getting right now.

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Vance Joseph has Broncos’ defense playing at a high level

The Broncos’ defense ranks 2nd in passing yards allowed, 3rd in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed three games into the season.

What a difference a year makes.

One year after a 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos returned to Florida on Sunday to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This time, the Broncos took care of business with a convincing 26-7 victory. Denver’s defense — led by coordinator Vance Joseph — dominated from start to finish, ending the game with seven sacks and two takeaways.

“I think we made [Baker Mayfield] hold [the ball],” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the game when asked about the sacks. “I think we made him hold it some. That is a credit to coverage.”

Denver cornerback Pat Surtain held Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans to just one catch for eight yards. Broncos safety Brandon Jones grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble.

Six defenders recorded a sack, including two sacks from former UFL pass rusher Dondrea Tillman in his NFL debut. Following that impressive performance, Denver’s defense ranks high after three weeks of play.

The Broncos have allowed 259.3 yards per game (third-best), 133.3 passing yards per game (second-best) and 15.3 points per game (sixth-best). Denver’s 11 sacks are tied for fifth-most and while that number is inflated by Sunday’s seven-sack performance, the team’s 44.8% pressure rate is a good sign that the sacks should continue.

If there’s a weakness, it’s the 126.0 rushing yards allowed per game (12th-worst), but that’s not a big factor when the Broncos are able to build a lead.

Denver’s defense is off to a great start this season, and Joseph deserves credit.

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Broncos CB Riley Moss ‘held his own’ in first NFL start

“He played with confidence and he wasn’t shaken by anything,” Broncos DC Vance Joseph said of CB Riley Moss. “He’s going to be fine.”

Making his first NFL start last week, Denver Broncos second-year cornerback Riley Moss held up relatively well across from Pat Surtain.

“I thought Riley played well in his first NFL start versus a high-end NFL receiver with a high-end quarterback,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said this week. “Obviously, they wanted to attack Riley from time to time, but he was always in the spot to make the play and that’s what you ask young guys to do. Compete and challenge guys every play. He tackled well.

“That was encouraging for a young corner to go out there and tackle that back one-on-one a couple of times. That’s encouraging. He played with confidence and he wasn’t shaken by anything. He’s going to be fine.”

Moss was just inches away from breaking up a fourth-quarter pass from Geno Smith to Tyler Lockett that ended up sealing the game.

“I was in good position and he just made a play,” Moss said. “And sometimes you get the short end of the stick … I’m still pissed off about it, but that’s why we play multiple games, so you can get better.”

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Surtain has been encouraging to the young cornerback coming off Sunday’s loss.

“I just tell him, ‘That’s the NFL,'” Surtain said. “I think perfect throws beat perfect coverage. Some sequences like that, it occurs. At the end of the day, I told him it happens. I think he had a great game. Matter of fact, Riley, he came in following one of the top receivers that’s been doing it for a long time in the game and he held his own for sure.

“I told him, ‘Man, you played great.’ All those catches and all those throws, sometimes it happens. It’s a part of the game. I just told him to always keep his confidence no matter what.”

Moss is now set to make his second career start when the Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.

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Broncos expect Nik Bonitto to ‘make some hay’ in 2024

“Nik [Bonitto] is a special rusher,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “He had a great year last year.”

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is pleased with the outlook of the team’s pass rush rotation ahead of the 2024 season.

Last fall, Jonathon Cooper led the team with 8.5 sacks, followed by eight sacks from Nik Bonitto. Baron Browning missed seven games due to injury and finished the year with 4.5 sacks.

When asked about his expectations for Bonitto in June, Joseph praised the entire outside linebacker room while calling Bonitto a “special player.”

“I think as a group, it’s a good group between ‘Coop,’ and Nik and Baron,” Joseph said. “It’s a good group. They all can rush the passer; they all are good run game players. Nik is a special rusher. He had a great year last year. Even with missed time, he had a pretty good year.

“So obviously, he’s a natural rusher and it’s my job to find spots for him to kind of showcase that. It’s a good room, it’s an experienced room. It’s a room that should make some hay this year for us.”

The Broncos added to the room this spring when they used a third-round pick to select Utah pass rusher Jonah Elliss. Bonitto, Browning, Cooper and Elliss will be tasked with “making hay” in Joseph’s defense this fall.

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Vance Joseph looking for a resilient CB to start across from Pat Surtain

Vance Joseph wants a resilient CB who can work through adversity to step up this summer to win a starting spot across from Pat Surtain.

Vance Joseph knows what it’s like to play as a defensive back in the NFL.

He started six games at cornerback for the New York Jets in 1995 and then played for the Indianapolis Colts in 1996 before transitioning to coaching.

Joseph broke into the NFL’s coaching family as an assistant defensive backs coach with the San Franciso 49ers in 2005. He now serves as the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator and while he oversees the entire defense, Joseph’s experience makes him especially qualified to coach up the DBs.

Denver has star cornerback Pat Surtain as the CB1 on the depth chart, but it remains to be seen who will start across from PS2 this fall. The candidates include Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis and Levi Wallace.

“It’s been [a] competition,” Joseph said on June 12, “… obviously, Pat is one of the best corners in football, so if you’re playing opposite of Pat, you’re going to get most of the targets. That’s part of it. So having a guy who is resilient, and who can work through adversity during games and kind of invite being attacked.

“It’s kind of a good thing for a corner also because you can make a lot of plays that way also. It’s my job schematically to kind of push the ball back to Pat. That’s tough sometimes, but we can do it.”

Mathis and Moss struggled to make an impact last fall and the team turned to Fabian Moreau. The Broncos did not re-sign Moreau this spring, but the team did bring in Wallace to provide veteran insurance at the position.

In an ideal world, one of Moss or Mathis will step up this summer and prove to be worthy of a starting role across from Surtain. With training camp set to begin this week, it’s up to Joseph to coach up the team’s secondary and get the most out of Denver’s cornerbacks in 2024.

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