Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - CLEAN UP: Denver Broncos’ Playoff FUTURE Hinges on Eliminating Penalties & Creating Takeaways

Starting point is 00:00:00 Denver Broncos head coach, Sean Payton, says that the team must clean up two key areas if they hope to maintain top seating in a push for the AFC playoffs. We'll break it all down here on today's episode of the show. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up Broncos country? Welcome into another episode. Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network in the country. Thanks to all you every dayers out there. Thanks for tuning in making us your first listen however you choose to do so. I'm Cody Roarck, credential Broncos reporter four mile high sports.

Starting point is 00:00:44 Join as always by Sarah Beninger, site expert over there, predominantly orange.com. Got a lot to break down here on today's episode show here on Thanksgiving week as the Broncos are back on the practice field here. We'll take a look. We heard from Sean Payton, who says that the team has to address two crucial areas in the second half stretch of the season if they hope to maintain top seating inside the AFC playoffs. Plus, Sean gives a little bit of an insight into the Broncos run game, including why Jalil McLaughlin could be leaned on a little bit more to establish flow and rhythm in the run game.

Starting point is 00:01:15 We'll highlight that. And Sean Payton praised the Broncos wide receiver room, which is young and continuing to develop. Could there be a big step taken forward by this group in the second half stretch of the season? You're going to get all that here on today's episode of the show. Brought to you by our friends over there at Fandu. And right now new customers can bet just five. And if your bet wins, you're going to get $300 in bonus bets that you can use all throughout the entire app.

Starting point is 00:01:38 Sarah, my man, look, the Broncos back on the practice field here today. We're going to get our first look to see whether or not Pat or Tan is back on the field. Alex Singleton is expected to be back on the practice field as well, Denver getting healthy here ahead of the Washington commanders. But we had a chance to catch up with Sean Payton on Monday. And he addressed some of the more important things that go into the byweek. The team needed to figure out how to add to certain categories of their production, and they must find a way to take away certain elements that are impacting their production.

Starting point is 00:02:09 We learned a lot here from Sean. Yeah, he wants to obviously see two things be better going forward. Number one, penalties, which every single one of us in Broncos country has been just lamenting week after week, even when the Broncos are on an eight game winning streak, right? It's like, man, how much more could they win by, if not for the penalties? but also turnovers and takeaways being created. I mean, the Broncos are one of those rare teams that they don't take a lot of sacks. They don't turn the ball over a lot offensively.

Starting point is 00:02:36 And yet still, they're not necessarily one of the best teams in the NFL in the overall plus minus and the turnover differential department. So those are two areas that Sean Payton called low hanging fruit, Cody. Obviously, the penalties are one thing that you look at and you just, man, you go back to certain moments in this season. Of course, the Indianapolis Colts game stands out above. the rest because that one penalty literally cost a game at the end there. But I think overall, it's one of those things that the turnover differential might be even a bigger thing than the penalties, right? Obviously, your penalties, they're stalling drives or they're extending drives for the opposing team. But if you can create extra possessions, you build an extra margin

Starting point is 00:03:18 for error, right? And that's something that we've seen the Broncos have that margin for error, even with the penalties, even without forcing a ton of takeaways. But just imagine where this team could be if they were, I mean, forcing two, three turnovers a game at this point. I mean, Cody, I'm just saying if that starts to happen here in the post-by portion of the season, things could get a little crazy for Broncos country. I mean, it really could. They could go on a tear.

Starting point is 00:03:45 And look, it's not like they're not capable of doing. And I think this defense, certainly the personnel is so much better than what Vance Joseph had in 20, 23. Remember that stretch of games, five or six games, the Broncos defense. God, they were forcing turnovers and takeaways left and right. And it was crazy because everyone's like, they can't sustain this. This is not something that they can do on a week-to-week basis. They did like five or six weeks straight of, you get a takeaway.

Starting point is 00:04:08 You get a takeaway. The Broncos have had opportunities, right? Talanoa who Fonga has been one of those guys who's almost had five or six interceptions, but it's just for some reason hasn't been able to secure the catch there. And it's just going to fuel the narrative, unfortunately. D.Bs, this is why. they don't play wide receiver. Hey, I played wide receiver and DB. I could catch anything. So, uh, but yeah, you look at all that and it's like, all right, like if the Broncos can find a way.

Starting point is 00:04:31 And also like you look at the sacks there that Denver has 49. There's nobody in spitting distance of them in terms of being close. All those sacks and you're telling me the Broncos haven't found a way to create strip sack opportunities where they're dislodging the football there. To me, that's crazy. But I understand it as well. They're trying to wrap up guys because there's been a couple of QBs had been able to sneak out a little bit, at least last year. That's one thing I think we need to see a little bit more of here going forward. And Sean Payton ultimately agreed with that. Here's what he had to say to us in his Monday morning conference call.

Starting point is 00:05:04 Well, I think this, I think the easy illustration for us coming out off the by. It's not like we're at the halfway point, but nonetheless, you know, here we are in a position to compete for seating. and there are two things that stand out. The penalties stand out. If you said, what's the low-hanging fruit that you have to clean up to improve your chances of getting the best possible seed? And then secondly, is harping on the plus-minus turnover, giveaway takeaway. We ended up one last week, and it meant a lot. We were close to being up too, but in important games, that one possession can be the difference.

Starting point is 00:05:55 So that was two of the main topics this morning before we broke up. And I think really when you look at where this team can improve, Cody, it's the situational, you know, okay, hey, it's first and 10. We just had a great drive starter play, a nice 12-yard run, and then all of a sudden you have a procedural penalty that that kicks you back five yards or you have a holding call that wipes away a big play or a third down conversion that gets taken off the board. And so just making it hard for yourself. You're making it harder for yourself when you're not, you know, having a clean operation. And I think, too, these turnovers coming in bunches, like that's, it's not something that you can just speak into existence, right? It has to, it has to happen for you. You've got to force the

Starting point is 00:06:42 issue in a way. But at the same time, it's kind of like, you know, I always go back to baseball analogies when a power hitter is on a cold streak and you know that that power hitter has home run power in them. It's only a matter of time before they go on this absolute tear. It's not like you can just say, hey, power hitter, go hit home runs today because you know that it's in them, right? They can do it and it's going to just happen at a certain time. Something's going to click. The ball starts to look like a beach ball out there. That's what it's going to be like for this Denver Broncos defense. All of a sudden. sudden things are going to start to click and these guys are going to get turnovers and

Starting point is 00:07:21 bunches. Maybe we need Brock Purdy and Bryce Young out there throwing passes. I don't know. Maybe that's the key is like, hey, get these guys out there. They're throwing interceptions left and right. They're giving the ball away for free. Let's get somebody. Give me a game like that, right?

Starting point is 00:07:36 That's the game that the Broncos need where the opposing quarterback is just like, here, you get to an interception and you get an interception. That's what they need right now in the worst possible way to maybe just. sort of get that, okay, yeah, we can force takeaways in bunches and then it starts to sort of snowball from there. Well, and the thing is, too, is the Broncos at practice, when we get to watch them, they go through a little bit of a turnover circuit. Like the offense has their own, you know, feel that they're doing their own kind of specific drills on, whereas the defense will have a little turnover circuit where they focus on. And every group off the defensive linemen,

Starting point is 00:08:11 linebackers, corners, safeties, they all go through it where it's like, all right, one of them is someone's holding a ball, someone comes out and punches it out from behind, and then you recover it, right? Another one is tip drill. They work on the tip drill. Every single unit, watching the defensive linemen do a tip drill is one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen. But you know what?

Starting point is 00:08:30 There's a reason for it. Get those hands up at the line of scrimmage. Tip that pass and it may go to the safety. It may go to one of your linebackers. Heck, big man might even end up with the football. That's something that those guys always dream of here. And then they also do just certain tackling ones. They do strip sack ones where they're.

Starting point is 00:08:46 They're, you know, corners are rushing off the edge and they're knocking it away. So I just think that it is a matter of time, sir. And if this Broncos defense, which has been playing so well through the first half of season, number one red zone, number one third down defense right now in the league, if they can start to ramp up the takeaways, that's going to do so much to get this offense going as well, right? At least theoretically speaking, there's been times where the offense has been able to capitalize on a takeaway or great field position, but maybe that's the trend that changes here in the

Starting point is 00:09:15 second half. With the NFL being wide open, the perfect opportunity presents itself here for the Denver Broncos to go on a run here continuously in the second half stretch. And more importantly, sir, they want to go deep in the playoffs. They want to go to the Super Bowl. This is the year to do it. It's wide open right now in the NFL. And if they can get these things corrected and adjust it into their favor, I have a great feeling about this Broncos team. I think they're going to be a team that people think is very, very scary. And they don't want to have to go to the mile high city in the month of January. Broncos country, sure you let us know what you think of today's episode. Lockdown Broncos, two areas of Sean

Starting point is 00:09:49 Peyton addressed the turnover, takeaway margin there, and the penalties. What is your confidence level in those things getting corrected here in the second half? Make sure you let us know here today. But coming up next, Sarah and I are going to dive deep into what Sean Peyton said about the Broncos may be leaning on the run game a little bit more. And could Julule McLaughlin be one of those players that gets them in flow and rhythm throughout the course of a game? You'll get that here on today's episode of the show. Today's show is brought to you by friends over there at Peloton. Look, folks, it's time to break through the busiest time of the year with a brand new Peloton cross-training, Tread Plus that's powered by Peloton IQ. It's Peloton's most elevated technology and equipment yet that gives you real-time guidance and it gives you endless ways to move whether you want to work out by yourself or if you want to work out with your favorite instructor, like my personal favorite, Alex Toussaint.

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Starting point is 00:12:13 And that's important in today's world. And you can check out Doer in store here in Denver at 2621 Larimer Street. Pick up a pair for yourself or as an amazing holiday gift. And mention my promo code Locked on Denver in store to get 15% off your first order. Or check them out online at shopduer.com slash locked on Denver for 15% off that shopdoer.com slash locked on Denver. Jalil McLaughlin may have been inactive for the majority of the first 11 games of the season, but the Denver Broncos are planning to lean on him heavily here after the bio. We're going to tell you what Sean Peyton had to say about Jolil McLaughlin,

Starting point is 00:12:51 a number of other players as well, including Adam Prentice, getting a shout out. We're going to talk about that on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos, but want to say quickly, thank you to every single one of you that makes Lockdown Broncos what it is, which is part of the number one sports podcast network out. there, the Lockdown Podcast Network. We appreciate all of you Broncos country for rocking with us every single day. And we're especially grateful this time of year as we're obviously approaching Thanksgiving here. But Cody, let's talk about Jalilil McLaughlin. Speaking of being thankful, I think the Broncos are thankful that they kept for running backs on their active roster here

Starting point is 00:13:27 going into the season. Of course, you know, it's, it's tough to look back because right now it might be kind of nice to have Audrick Estimate in your back pocket. But Jolil McLaughlin, he kind of exemplifies everything that Sean Payton loves. We've talked about it before, you know, being the first one at the facility, last one to leave, works hard, teammates love him. He may be a smaller back, but he definitely is somebody the Broncos are going to have to lean on here after the buy week. Yeah. And look, I think you, you know what you're going to get from Jalil. I'd say the thing I've liked about him is just you always see him, no matter what, if he's running outside, he doesn't stretch it outside if nothing's there. Like he looks to find a way to get north-south quickly, right? Which is, I think,

Starting point is 00:14:10 and so important for the running back position, because sometimes guys will just try to get as far outside thinking that their speed can obviously be a benefit to them, maybe beating there. But sometimes when defenses close that gap, it's, hey, what kind of yards can I get here? Because if I keep stretching it outside, I'm going to lose yards. Jalil, and I felt like this was on display against the Kansas City Chiefs. And obviously his first game since being actually, against the New York Jets back when they played in London. That was the one game. We got to see him in.

Starting point is 00:14:35 He did a really good job of falling forward and getting positive yards. And that's something that Sean Payton highlighted, obviously in his Monday conference call. Here's what Sean had to say about the run game and where it's at, because really Denver against the Chiefs, they didn't run it that much. The number of touches that we had, the number of runs we had was down.

Starting point is 00:14:53 I think looking back at it, Jaliel had a handful of good runs. and I think with the flow of a normal game, you know, he's going to be important for us in this stretch. Obviously, RJ as well. And then Prentice played probably one of his better games. You know, he didn't just play at the fullback position. But, you know, he actually went in with some of the pressure stuff that we were getting from Kansas City on third down and was outstanding. Very interesting wrinkle that Peyton mentioned there at the tail end.

Starting point is 00:15:26 I know we're kind of talking on Jolululahel Hoffland and leaning on him, but an interesting note there about Adam Prentice being in as, you know, we saw him get that third and long draw play that, you know, everybody hated, which I think justifiably so, right? But when he's in there for pass protection or if he can be an asset as a receiver out of the backfield, I mean, shoot, let's let's see what he can do, right? So it's going to be a committee approach to replacing J.K. Dobbins, but Jal is going to be the one that they rely on outside of R.J. Harvey the most to sort of keep that offense, you know, the, the drives where J.K. would take over, right? And you just really want to lean on the running game. You want to say, hey, we're going to hand it off. You got to go do your thing and create offense for us right now. We're trying to flip the field. We're trying to bleed the clock, whatever it may be. Jalil is going to be counted on to now be that guy, not just R.J. Harvey, who's getting probably

Starting point is 00:16:20 the majority of the looks out of the backfield as a receiver, I would imagine going forward. but man, it's going to be these two guys having to really maximize their touches. Jalil, he did that against Kansas City in a couple of different opportunities. Now going forward, I like that Sean Payton noted. It's in like that regular flow of the game. It's not just a carry here in the first quarter. And then your next carry comes late in the second quarter. You know, it's the regular flow of the game.

Starting point is 00:16:46 Can you build that head of steam like we've seen from Jalilil against the Bengals last year, against the Saints last year? Yeah, and I think that's what Sean has to get back. to, right? And I think when you go back and it's the by week, you can look at what's working, what's not, you say, okay, I probably could have been better with this. But the question that I have is, okay, when Sean now gets back on the sideline for a game, does he factor that into his mind, you know, because it's when you're there, when you're calling plays, it's one of those things where you're just laser focus. Sometimes it's tunnel vision. Sometimes that can be a good

Starting point is 00:17:16 thing. Sometimes that could be a bad thing. And I think when it comes to the rhythm of the run game, Sarah, we saw it against the Cincinnati Bengals. Like the Broncos, I felt like the strategy they had with jk gets a series rj gets a series that worked well with the flow and the rhythm of the offense versus okay this guy's going to get a couple of carries and we're going to bring this guy in on this down it just you change it up a little bit and i understand the thinking behind it because if let's say you have jillilin for two plays and jillel rips off let's say at 20 yard now you bring in rj harvey who also has the explosive ability but he's a little bit more bigger and physical here now that defense is tired they're worn down you can play certain games

Starting point is 00:17:54 with those defenses and try to get them to overcommit to something and hit them with something else. I understand the thinking behind that, but I think the flow and the rhythm of the run game, Sarah, that has to be a huge emphasis here. You and I've talked about this during the by week versus what it has been, where it's pass heavy in the first half and only a few rushing attempts overall. It has to be more balanced here going forward. And I think Jalil is one of those guys too, even out of the backfield, Sarah. I mean, last year, that's where we saw Jalil with Bo Nicks specifically thrive.

Starting point is 00:18:24 whether it was out in space. I mean, there was the play against Tampa Bay where he completely made a defender miss and he got into the end zone for a touchdown. You see it as well, like in terms of just those quickouts or throwing it underneath. Now you have two backs here in Jilil and obviously with RJ who can impact things. And I would maybe like to see. Could you imagine some two back sets? The Broncos have been running a little bit more pistol as of late.

Starting point is 00:18:46 Can we see some more two back sets here where maybe RJ and Jal are on the field at the same time where you can have maybe RJ be a lead blocker or you can even do this with that apprentice? Adam Prentice Lees. And now you have RJ or Jal back there trying to cut up and carve up a defense. The run game is going to be crucial, sir, because if you can't run the ball in the playoffs, you're going to get your ticket punched a little bit early.

Starting point is 00:19:06 And that's going to have to be something that I think Denver is going to have to get fixed going forward here. My question to you here, with this running back room, because it's clear the Broncos, look, they had interest in, obviously, Damien Pierce. They could have claimed them through waivers. They decided not to submit a waiver claim. He cleared it. He ends up signing with Kansas City on their practice squad, even though Denver was interested in him. In your opinion, what is your goal with this Broncos running back room?

Starting point is 00:19:32 What do you want to see from them the most? I think the thing that I want to see the most is R.J. Harvey becoming that guy, right? I think I want to see him being the not necessarily the featured ball carrier or whatever you want to call it. I think it's fine if you want to have two backs out there, splitting touches and splitting carries and things like that. But I want to see R.J. Harvey really become an. every down threat and be that player that you can lean on in the second half of this season, right? Because he was a second round pick and he's somebody that you believed in.

Starting point is 00:20:03 He's got the best vision of any back in this draft potentially. He's got great quickness, great feat. He's got the ability to hit home run plays for you. I just feel like a guy like that with a higher volume of touches, a higher volume of carries, he's going to give you that opportunity to hit those big home run plays throughout the course of a game. So I just, less carries, less opportunities to hit those home runs, right? More carries, more opportunities to hit the home runs.

Starting point is 00:20:31 That's the way that I see it. And I know it's not that simple, right? But I'm not saying to give the guy 30 carries a game, but I think if we can see RJ Harvey become a true, clearly defined running back one for this team going forward, that would be my number one, like, wish list item for the post by stretch of games here. Broncos country. Make sure you let Sarah and I know what you want to see from the Broncos running back room here in the second half stretch as they go forward with Jullum McLaughlin, R.J. Harvey, Tyler of 8 and pullback Adam Apprentice here. But coming up next, Broncos, there was a lot of scrutiny for Sean Payton and this Denver team for not going out and getting a wide receiver at the NFL trade deadline. But Sean Peyton has stuck to his guns here. And he's committed to this Broncos wide receiver room. We'll take a look at that and more here on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos. Today's episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by FanDuel.

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Starting point is 00:22:14 The Broncos wide receiver room contains a veteran savvy guy like Cortland Sutton. And then you have some young guys sprinkled in throughout the entire system here for John Payton. And there was a lot of scrutiny about the team not going out there and trading at the deadline for a big play wide receiver. John Peyton appears to be sticking the course with the guys that he has in that wide receiver. And we'll highlight that here on today's episode of the show. Real quick one say thanks to all the everydayers out there in Broncos country. Thanks for making us your first listen here. Once again, we appreciate you so much here.

Starting point is 00:22:43 Sarah, one thing I think when you have a chance to go through the biweek, sit back and evaluate the tape, evaluate where you can get better, where you can grow, what worked, what didn't work. There's, I think, some things with this wide receiver and when you look at it specifically, you dealt with the injury to Marvin Mims, where he missed two weeks due to the concussion. You look at obviously the growing pains of a young player there. Obviously, Troy Franklin has taken a huge leap forward. But even then, he's still making some mistakes out there. He's a second-year player, and he's being thrust into a role right now where he leads.

Starting point is 00:23:13 the team and targets. And then you've got the emergence of Pat Bryan, who has certainly been very special as a run blocker. We've seen him start to develop this little bit of a clutch factor where he's making some big time catches and big time moments from Bo Nix. And then, of course, there's Marvin who you want to see a little bit more of in terms of usage from Sean Payton and then Lord Jordan Humphrey, who's replaced Trent Sherfield here. The move the Broncos country wanted at the deadline was to go out there and get a big name wide receiver. That was not in the cards here for this Broncos team. Sean Payton kind of reaffirmed his commitment to this wide receiver room.

Starting point is 00:23:45 When specifically asked about Troy Franklin, the leap that we've seen from him, but also Peyton took time to highlight the rest of the wide receiver room. Here's what he had to say to us. Yeah, I mean, I think he's explosive out of his break. I think he's, man, he's not afraid to compete at all. He's real good at the line of scrimmage with his releases. I think there's a confidence that Bo has with him. And so it's a little bit what we saw from Marvin.

Starting point is 00:24:11 And I'm happy with that room. I mean, those guys are all competing, working hard and going against some real good defenses. The Broncos right now are kind of the epitome of we have that at home at the wide receiver position, aren't they? I mean, let's just stick with me here for a second. Okay, Cody, you know me. I love shoes. I love clothes. I love all that stuff, right?

Starting point is 00:24:34 There's, you know, when you go online shopping, you maybe look at some items that are priced a bit out of your range at times. You're like, oh, man, I would really love to have that. pair of, you know, Travis Scots, but they're, they're $2,000. I'm not spending $2,000 on a shoe or maybe you see like, oh, I want to get this like Louis Viton accessory, right? I want to get the handbag. I want to get the crossbody bag, but it's like $25. Speaking our wife's language.

Starting point is 00:25:00 Speaking our wives language right there, right? So you're looking at these items and you're saying, all right, well, I'd love to have that, but it's out of the price range. And I'll roll with what I got, right? I've got my other shoes that are, you know, they don't cost $2,000. but they're still cool they're still valuable right i've got the accessories that's how the broncos wide receiver room is right they're finishing second place in the you know stephan digs free agency bidding they don't want to pay multiple first round picks for jalen wattle but they were still interested in both guys

Starting point is 00:25:31 they're still interested in jalen waddle still interested in stephan diggs these are confirmed reports that are out there so they're looking at guys they're looking at players and that's that extends beyond this year, right? So we have, we've plenty of names that we can look at and say, hey, the Broncos have maybe thought about going big game hunting at wide receiver, but ultimately they've decided we're okay with what we have at home. And we'll see if that pays off, right? I think we saw it in the second half of the game against the Chiefs with Troy Franklin, didn't we? The first half, he has one drop. That was really bad. The second half, though, he kind of explodes and gives you that glimpse of, man, this is what he brings to the table when he's at his best. So thanks for.

Starting point is 00:26:13 sticking with me on that analogy there. That's kind of how I feel about receiver though right now for this Broncos team. And I think it's a good thing because you're allowing these guys to grow and develop. And look, certainly the attention that Cortland Sutton has seen from defenses dating back to the Philadelphia Eagles game plan essentially, right? They had put Quinion Mitchell on him. They had a safety over the top there. And they were making things difficult in terms of trying to bracket him. Teams have kind of copied that a little bit because they want to say, hey, we want to, we want you to beat us with Troy Franklin. We want you to beat us with Pat Bryant or Trent Sherfield previously. Maybe now it's a little Jordan Humphrey going forward here.

Starting point is 00:26:45 I still think that there's room for Marvin Mims to have an even bigger role here on the offense, especially in the second half stretch. Not only do you get that in the return game, but I think we are going to see a little bit more Marvin at wide receivers split out and used in different ways. I think that there's value to being able to do that. And then, of course, Pat Bryant, you've got a guy in Marvin who, you know, obviously is entering a very crucial year for himself. but Sarah, his usage, there's not a large sample size to say like, hey, like Marvin can or can't be this, right?

Starting point is 00:27:15 I don't think the usage of him has been good enough by the Broncos coaching staff to say like, okay, like, you know, we needed another guy. What I found to be interesting is what John said there in his bite to us about Troy. He mentioned Marvin, his voice. Marvin could do that as well. Are we going to see a little bit more Marvin in the second half? I think that we are. But also at the same time, people have to remember Troy Franklin is still growing. You know, yes, you know, he's got to obviously focus on the drops,

Starting point is 00:27:40 but you know he's going to go make a big play for you as well. You look at Pat Bryant. He's going to block, block, block even if he doesn't get a target. And then when he is targeted, he's going to come up with a big catch or he's going to spring a guy free in the run game. Like you're getting these contributions from these young guys. You have to let them grow at this point. I'm okay with the Broncos doing that.

Starting point is 00:27:58 They're nine and two. They're growing. These guys are making plays. And that's going to help them going forward as they get more NFL experience. To me, that is what I think is going to push the needs. needle here for the Broncos offense and specifically this wide receiver room that certainly maybe next year in free agency maybe next year in the draft maybe they do upgrade maybe they do add a prolific playmaker if they do get the opportunity to do so but i like the room that they have i think it's

Starting point is 00:28:20 better than what they had last year and certainly two years ago as well yeah and these guys developing the young players on the roster is the best thing for the team long term right that's the ultimate goal i mean we've talked about it with george peyton getting guys to second contracts drafting, developing, having the ability to correctly identify players during that draft process that can fit your system, that can fit your culture, that can make plays for you. The Broncos had high grades on all those guys, right? Obviously, they had a second round grade on Troy Franklin, got him in the fourth, traded up to get him, traded up to get Marvin Mims, effectively traded up to get Pat Bryant, right?

Starting point is 00:28:58 I know that was kind of a, you know, a weird situation where they traded back, but also moved up in round three. So effectively, you're talking about you traded up for all three of those guys that you have. So there's a degree of belief in the front office, the coaching staff, in all of those players that you had to have those guys to a certain level. They're not first round picks, but they're day two picks. So I think that's the thing.

Starting point is 00:29:24 I know Troy Fringham was round four, but you know what I'm saying. He was valued in the second round. Yeah. Yeah, second round grade. So you've got these guys that you believe in. make sure that you give them the opportunities to prove to you why you believed in them in the first place. I mean, look at Tampa Bay. Look at Tess Johnson. Whoever's like, ah, you know, obviously his size was a question.

Starting point is 00:29:45 You know, he's going to go undrafted. Look what he's doing. He's having a big impact there for that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense. And I also couldn't help but think, you know, watching the games over the weekend over the by. And does Jerry Judy ever regret leaving Denver? Does he regret like wanting out there? But, you know, to be honestly, I think I think Denver is better off without Jerry. And certainly Jerry wanted out, but you know, you got to reap what you so.

Starting point is 00:30:07 Good luck in Cleveland. You know, they have a prolific player there on Miles Garrett that is unbelievable. He's going to shatter the NFL single season sack record. And he's going to do it in a record amount of times. He's a monster and it's crazy to see a player kind of get wasted in a place like Cleveland like that. But Denver is watering the grass, so to speak, with who they have. They're hoping things grow there. And I think the grass is greener in a mile high city here.

Starting point is 00:30:30 But with that I said, Brockos country, that'll wrap up today. episode of the show. We know we have Thanksgiving coming up here, but we're still going to be doing our work here. Sarah's going to sit down with Locked-on Commanders, David Harrison, to preview Sunday's big game. Plus, you have practice reports and coverage as well. We got you covered all week long here at Lockdown Broncos. Plus, you get a final game preview on Friday's installment of the show. We'll Pat Certan be playing. You'll get all that information and more this week here on the Lockdown Broncos podcast. Thanks for making us your first listen. Hit that subscribe to that follow button wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube. We'll see you next time for a brand-new

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