Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Training Camp: Inside Linebacker the Biggest QUESTION MARK on Defense

Episode Date: July 14, 2025

Denver Broncos training camp will open with the inside linebacker position as the biggest question mark defensively. Can Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton return to form? Will Drew Sanders step up? Cod...y Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos. WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT?For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today -- Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBroncos?sid=YouTube Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL Follow on Twitter: @CodyRoarkNFL and @SayreBedingerFollow the show on Twitter: @LockedOnBroncos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos lineback room got better with the addition of Dre Greenland. But there's a competition taking place for the other starting job. And we're going to highlight that and much more on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. What's up, Brancos country? Welcome to another episode, Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Lockdown podcast, Network Greeno is your team every day for all your
Starting point is 00:00:35 Broncos news content coverage analysis more. This is the place to be every single day all year long. So a special shout out to all the everydayers out there in Broncos country. Thank you so much for tuning in and making us your first listen. However, you choose to do so. If you're not yet in everyday air, become one, hit their subscribe and that follow button. So you never miss out on what's going on with your favorite team. I'm Cody Roark, Broncos reporter for Mile High Sports.
Starting point is 00:00:57 And I'm Sarah Bedinger's side expert at predominantly orange.com. Our training camp position preview series continues with the inside linebacker position here as we focus on the new edition, Drey Greenlaw and the impact that he's going to bring to the Broncos defense at this position. We'll also look at the guys at this position behind him and Alex Singleton's return from an ACL injury, but can he return to formal highlight that? And we'll take a look at whether or not any of the younger linebackers here for the Broncos can step up and impress during the hot summer days that is training camp in Del Valle. Get all on today's episode of the show.
Starting point is 00:01:32 So Sarah, inside linebacker, I feel like definitely is a position that we are having our eyes on probably the most defensively. I know we talked about already the cornerback battle at the nickel spot between Jada, Baron, and Jaquam, Macmillan. But I feel like if there's one position battle that's going to be important here for this Broncos defense, all eyes are going to be on inside linebacker. And really, there is one guy right now who's unquestioned to be a starter. And that is Drake Greenland who comes over from the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. And the Broncos are going to be hoping that they get the pre-injury version of Drey Greenlaw, right? Who only played two games last season, suffered the injury in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs a couple of seasons ago where he was getting, you know, geeked up to run on the field and just unfortunately suffered kind of a freak accident sort of injury there. But before that, I mean, I feel like Drea Greenlaw was establishing himself as one of the top 10 best linebackers in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:02:29 obviously playing next to Fred Warner, they were one of the best duos, if not the best duo at the linebacker position. And they can do a little bit of everything, right? And Dre Greenlaw just has that range. He has the football IQ. He's got the ability to play instinctive at the position. He can play in coverage. He attacks the line of scrimmage.
Starting point is 00:02:49 He's tough. So everything that you look for at linebacker and why did he hit free agency? Well, because of the injuries, right? Because he only played two games since that Super Bowl. And I think that's the biggest thing there is, all right, are you getting that pre-injury Dre Greenlaw? But he's obviously, I think defensively, maybe the biggest addition the Broncos made, Cody,
Starting point is 00:03:11 because this was the weakest position on the roster in 2024. Yeah, 100% agree with there. And obviously, Denver is banking on the fact they believe that their investment in Greenlaw is going to pay off with more production at lineback. I mean, you get a guy who can blitz at a high rate. you get a guy who can drop back and roam the middle of the field and be that extra, you know, coverage protection for you that simply, I don't think the Broncos athletically had a guy that could do it at the rate in which Drake Greenlaw does.
Starting point is 00:03:39 And they're hoping now, obviously, they're going to be getting this guy this upcoming season. Obviously, suffered an injury during April workouts and that held him out of the team's offseason program, but he's expected to be a full go here for training camp beginning on July 22nd. And hopefully they can keep him going there. And you can avoid a set back at that position. in terms of that injury. But then also you talk about another guy returning from injury,
Starting point is 00:04:01 Alex Singleton, while he was present for the team's offseason program, he did individual period for the Barracos, did not do any teamwork during the offseason program, but is expected to be ready to go. I think day one to begin his first reps, getting team reps, probably alongside Drake, Greenlaw, whereas Justin Sternad and Drew Sanders, those are the guys that got all the reps primarily during the offseason program.
Starting point is 00:04:25 So for Singleton, he's coming back from, injury, but he's going to have guys right behind him there in Justin Sternod, Andrew Sanders. And then you've got, you know, sort of the unheralded, the guys that are scraping and clawing for roster spots, right? Starting with Lavelle Bailey, who was, I believe, called directly by Sean Payton after the 2024 NFL draft to recruit him to come to Denver. Broncos really like him. And then you've got some other sleeper candidates there at the linebacker position, J.B. Brown, an undrafted free. agent in 2025. Actually, all of the other guys are undrafted rookie free agents from the class of
Starting point is 00:05:03 2025, Karen A Reid, out of Utah, and then Jordan Turner, who was actually a tryout player at one of the Broncos minicamp sessions or OTA sessions, who ended up impressing enough to get signed to the 90-man roster. So I think the biggest distinction between the linebacker position battle, Cody, and the cornerback position battle is that the linebacker one is full of uncertainty. you almost question the level of talent the Broncos have there as compared to corner where you have a plethora of great options. It's a very different discussion. So at linebacker, the Broncos are really needing these guys to step up and show something
Starting point is 00:05:43 that maybe for many of them, they haven't done yet. I guess Justin Sernod is maybe the most proven guy on the team from what we saw last year. So we know what the other veterans can do. We don't know what any of the young guys can do. That's what makes this competition arguably one of the most fascinating. And I think on paper you can look at this position group, right? If you factor in the injury history of Dre Greenlaw, you factor in Alex Singleton coming off of a major knee injury,
Starting point is 00:06:09 you have to wonder, like if there's any setbacks, right, let's say that the top two guys here, Singleton and Greenlaw, let's say they're not in the mix right now. Let's just approach that hypothetical as much as we would hate to do that. What's the level of confidence in that inside linebacker room? It's relatively unproven, really outside of Justin Sternaud, who's been a veteran guy, special teams ace, got his first real extensive look at starting last year. And you got a young guy Andrew Sanders, who the team wants to eventually bring along to potentially become a starter. I mean, he could be in the picture in the next year or two here for this team.
Starting point is 00:06:42 But it's tough to say right now. Like, even with Drey Greenlawn, Alex Singleton, I think Drake Greenlaw is obviously the most talented of the entire bunch. But if there's an injury here, I truly worry about the. position once again at 2025. I do too. And the warning signs have been there, right? Earlier in the offseason, Dre Greenlaw, it's reported that he's got a torn quad and then everybody's freaking out.
Starting point is 00:07:06 Like, oh my gosh, he's going to miss time. Thankfully, it wasn't torn. Thankfully, it was only pulled, but still kept him out of OTAs in minicamp. And he also is expected to be ready to go at the start of training camp. I know there was pictures circulating of him out there on the practice field with his helmet on at mini camp and things like that. So maybe he's been progressing better than even the Broncos would have expected. But either way, the injury concern at linebacker is arguably the one factor here that's going to take this unit from being one of the better ones in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:07:39 I think it could be, honestly, with Drake Greenlaw and Alex Singleton at the top to potentially being disaster again. Like last year, Broncos had Christian Welch, Zach Cunningham, Kwan Alexander. You had all these different guys out there playing linebacker for you. And unfortunately, nothing has materialized into a long-term solution for the team. And that's what we're really struggling with right now is, is there a long-term solution on the roster? Are these just short-term bandages for the team to get by for the time being? That's maybe the one area that sort of puts a cap on the ceiling of excitement for the linebacker spot for Denver right now. Well, these are a lot of the storylines surrounding this position group going into training camp.
Starting point is 00:08:25 We're going to dive deeper into the actual training camp position battles. Alex Singleton looks like the guy and obviously as a team captain, there is consideration there. But he's going to have some competition for that starting linebacker spot right next to Dre Greenlaw. We'll highlight what that looks like to tell the tape on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. Today's episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by game time. And we've all been there, right? logging on early and waiting forever for concert tickets to go on sale only to lose your spot for a show that you've been dying to see. And live music, it should be about making memories,
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Starting point is 00:09:32 So there's no surprises there. Take the guesswork out of buying concert and show tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use the code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code L-O-C-K-E-D-O. and NFL for $20 off. Download the game time app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. If Alex Singleton can return to form the Denver Broncos may have themselves the best
Starting point is 00:10:05 linebacker duo, at least in the ASC West. We won't say the NFL just yet, but it'll certainly be a lot better than it was last year for what was one of the weakest units on the entire team and maybe the weakest unit defensively. Cody and I are going to tell you why Alex Singleton returning to form his best case scenario for the last case scenario for the last. this team and what we can expect from some of these younger guys here as they enter this training camp competition. But Broncos Country, thanks so much for making us your first listen of the day, every day. We appreciate you so much. If you haven't done so already, hit subscribe. Go check us out
Starting point is 00:10:37 on TikTok as well. There's lots of short form content you need on your 4U page as the Denver Broncos get back out on the field here in the near future. But let's talk about it. Alex Singleton went down. Well, I guess we can't say he went down, Cody, because the guy played through a torn ACL against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And it was a shocking report to everyone when the Broncos were on their road trip to Virginia or whatever it was. The Green Breyer. The green briar.
Starting point is 00:11:04 Yeah, the green. The old coach Herman Boone took him out into the woods and told them all about Gettysburg and, you know, all these things. No, but I think that if Singleton is able to come back at full strength, you and I were looking at the numbers. And I think we were both kind of shocked by this that he had 177 tackles in 2023. And he was easily on pace for 170 again in 2024. The dude is a machine.
Starting point is 00:11:34 Is it the best case scenario for him to be back fully healthy for this Denver Broncos linebacker position in 2025? Yes, 100%. If he and Dre Greenlaw are the two healthy starters at inside linebacker, this Broncos defense is going to be in great shape on that second level of the field in comparison to when Singleton was out. I mean, you mentioned it as well. We were talking about a few days ago. When looking at the Broncos defense as a whole,
Starting point is 00:11:59 Cody Barton wasn't brought in initially last year to be a star. He was brought in to compete for a starting job, but primarily be a special teams guy. And it ended up not working out that way as the Broncos are playing kind of chair roulette a little bit with the different linebackers through the first part of the season through the first four or five weeks of the regular season. Whereas now it's like, all right, going into it, the idea here is that will be Alex Singleton,
Starting point is 00:12:23 Dre Greenlaw, as the two starters, if both of those guys are healthy. Though, my understanding here is Singleton enters the last year of his deal is that the Broncos, because he's on the last year of his deal, the Broncos re-signed Justin Sternad to a one-year deal. You have a young guy Andrew Sanders. These three guys are going to be competing for that job, though I'd say going into it,
Starting point is 00:12:45 probably it's not going to be talked about as a position battle, but Alex Singleton isn't just going to have the spot handed to him. That's the business of the NFL. And I think Singleton knows that. The dude is an absolute competitor. He's got tremendous heart. He's tough his nails. And I think that's going to benefit him.
Starting point is 00:12:59 Look, a lot of it is up here, the mental side is like when you're coming back from an injury is, okay, physically, you've gone through the rehab. It's just gaining confidence from the mental side of being able to do those physical things once again without limiting, without overthinking how wide you're stepping, things like that. Like those little nuances. I can't speak for Singleton where he's at. from what I've seen from him on social media and just the level of training that he's doing, I think he's going to be just fine. I think he can return to form. But it will be some competition for his spot there with Sternad and obviously Drew Sanders, who is really trying to find his footing now at a solidified position. If the best case scenario for the Broncos defense is that Alex Singleton comes
Starting point is 00:13:43 back fully healthy, returns to form, I wonder if there's a, if I'm poking at that ceiling just a little bit and saying, hey, there might be something else beyond here that we haven't quite, we haven't quite dug deep enough to find it. Is this hypothetical scenario of Drew Sanders, the third round pick from the 2023 draft, former All-American at Arkansas, somebody of the Broncos believe in that George Peyton said earlier this off season, they believe he can still be a starter.
Starting point is 00:14:10 If we dig a little bit deeper past the idea that the best case scenario is that Singleton returns to form, is the hypothetical scenario of Drew Sanders beating Alex Singleton for a starting job. And not just because he's a high draft pick. We want to get him on the field. We're going to play him. Like him actually going out there, they're exchanging, you know,
Starting point is 00:14:33 reps with the first team defense. And the Broncos are like, dang, this guy is so good. We have to keep him on the field. What would you say is better for this team, Cody, in 2025? Is it that Drew goes out and just straight up beats Singleton, for a job or that Singleton returns to peak form? I would say Singleton returns to peak form, right? Because it kind of feels like it's setting up like we want Drew Sanders to continue to develop.
Starting point is 00:14:59 And they've messed with his development a little bit by switching in positions almost every year he's been in the league so far. But the idea would be like, all right, maybe in that situation they see enough from Drew and they're like, all right, hey, we like where he's at. But Singleton is the proven guy. Worst case scenario of Singleton, you know, if he's struck, struggles. Maybe we make a change during the season, which I wouldn't anticipate that being the reality, but more so it's like, all right, Drew Sanders will more than likely be the guy next year next to Dre Greenlaw as opposed to like, hey, we're going to play it out with Singleton here. We'll move on after this year more than likely. I mean, I don't know how it's going to go. I mean, hypothetically, you can look at it on paper and see that there are so many different options that the Broncos have here, also including they could even revamp the room next year in the off season. There's a very distinct possibility. of that as well. So that's where I'm kind of stuck, but I think definitely Singleton returning to
Starting point is 00:15:52 form is more so what would be in the best interest of the team, while Drew Sanders also takes a step forward in his development. I mean, it's hard because now Denver had a four three defense. Okay, I think it might be a little more manageable. I would like Drew Sanders, Singleton, and Dre Greenlaw in a situation like that, but is that going to happen? No, probably not here in this Broncos defense. We talk about that being a position training camp battle between those three guys there. Part of me is also wondering too, I mean, Sarah, because of the injury history of great Greenlaw, because of the recent injury to a guy like Alex Singleton, and even Drew Sanders fits into this category as well coming off the Achilles from last year. And there could be even some time that it takes to really kind of get fully back from that. How many linebackers do the Broncos carry at this position?
Starting point is 00:16:37 Because right now we can talk about Singleton, Greenlaw, Sternad, and Sanders. There's four. I think they almost have to keep five considering the injury history at this position, which means. means Lavelle Bailey fighting off guys like Karen A. Reed, J.B. Brown, and Jordan Turner, other undrafted rookie free agents, maybe for that fifth and final spot where these guys, that fourth, and I think that, I mean, the third, fourth and fifth linebacker essentially would play a lot of special teams. I, that's the dilemma that I found when I'm putting together, you know, projected 53-man rosters and you try to say, okay, I think that the right idea is to keep five linebackers,
Starting point is 00:17:15 but does that, you know, where do you pull that other position? Like, what position do you pull from, right? Do you keep five defensive linemen instead of six, in which case we're talking about like Jordan Jackson probably not making the team? And he played a pretty substantial role last year. Or do you keep one less safety, you know, from the many that you have to choose from right now? Do you cut a draft pick, like a recent pick like Audrick Estimate and keep only three running backs? Or do you cut, you know, somebody else at tight end?
Starting point is 00:17:45 and say, hey, we can only keep three. Is it keeping eight offensive linemen instead of nine? That's the thing that's like, to me, okay, you have to really decide that this linebacker is going to play probably the most special teams of anyone on the team. And he's also got potential to play defense. To me, you've already signed enough guys that only play special teams to say we, you know, because Justin Sardod can play special teams. Drew Sanders can play special teams.
Starting point is 00:18:11 Singleton was initially signed to play special teams. So, like, we know those guys can do that. Q Robinson was drafted probably initially to play special teams. There's plenty of guys on the team that only play special teams. So if you're keeping Lavel Bailey or any of these other linebackers, to me it has to be because that guy could potentially play defense for you in the near future. 100% agree. And obviously, if the Broncos and Sean Peyton were high on LaBelle Bailey,
Starting point is 00:18:37 they want to see him continue to stack that, which he had an impressive training camp in preseason last year. Got him a spot on the 53. though it was very short-lived. You made the 53. It was waived and brought back on it to the practice squad. I can't remember for who there, but it was just the roster gymnastics that Denver had to play
Starting point is 00:18:53 during the roster cut down date. So Broncos Country, we want to know your thoughts here on the linebacker competition for Alex Singleton, Justin Serrna, and Drew Sanders for the starting gig right next to Drey Greenlaw. Your thoughts on that. And then who do you think out of Lavelle Bailey, Karen A Reid, J.B. Brown, and Jordan Turner
Starting point is 00:19:09 will more than likely make up that potential fifth and final linebacker spot there. Make sure you let us know here on today's episode. Locked on Broncos. But we're going to go through some of our biggest questions here remaining at this position going into training camp and a number one factor has to do with can this group stay healthy? And if they're not healthy, what are the Broncos contingency plans? We'll look at that much more on today's episode, Locked on Broncos.
Starting point is 00:19:37 Health is probably one of the most important questions surrounding the Broncos inside linebacker room going into training camp. And if this room can stay healthy throughout training camp, that's good news for the Broncos and for their defense. but if this is a room that can't stay healthy in 2025, what is the team's contingency plan? We'll look at all the options here on today's episode of the show. Sarah,
Starting point is 00:19:58 I feel like this is definitely probably one of more important questions surrounding inside linebacker. We could talk about health. We've talked about almost every player, their injury history so far on this show here. But let's look a little bit deeper. Let's break it down to another layer of if this room doesn't stay healthy, what is the Broncos contingency planted inside linebacker?
Starting point is 00:20:21 I personally don't think it's necessarily on this position group, whereas I think if there is an injury or it's a debilitating injury to one of the key guys here, Sarah, we could see the Broncos play with more of maybe a dime linebacker, right? Maybe J.L. Skinner or Taleno Hu Fonga kind of play a little bit in the middle next to a guy like Drey Greenlaw. In the event, one of these other guys gets injured or that position is just not performing up to standard. How do you feel about this? Because I know this isn't something that we had in our notes. No, I think you're right on. I think the idea of getting your best 11 guys out there at all
Starting point is 00:20:55 times. And you have some maybe built in contingencies in order to make that happen with your bigger safeties, the guys like JL Skinner, right? And Tala Noah Hufanga, who are physical and can play that type of role and keep your deal. That's the thing that last year, the Broncos really struggled with that linebacker was just such an inconsistency at taking angles. making tackles. That's why Brandon Jones led the team in tackles because too many guys are getting to that third level of the defense. And yeah, he's great at attacking the line of scrimmage. Don't want to take that away from him. He wasn't just dragging guys down as the last line of defense all the time. But at the same time, you need those guys who can attack their gaps, who can play
Starting point is 00:21:34 instinctively, who are making tackles for loss. It was only Justin Sternard last year who was really productive in that way with eight tackles. It was really productive too, with eight tackles for I mean, he was, he made the bigger splash plays out of any of the linebackers, Denver had. But the last couple of years, the Broncos have just been way too reactive at the linebacker position, right? They, they need somebody so desperately to be the next Wesley Woodyard, the next Danny Trevathan, the next Brandon Marshall, the next Todd Davis, those guys who kind of came up from out of nowhere to provide the team with a solution and a long-term solution at that, at an important position.
Starting point is 00:22:15 And that's what just, it feels like it's either lacking right now or those guys aren't getting the opportunities because they're going to, remember a couple of years ago, the Joe Schoberts. And then this last year, Zach Cunningham, Kwan Alexander, these veterans who are just retreads at this point, they have to figure out a way to avoid that, Cody. So I like getting creative more so than I like the retreads who are not desirable to any team. Well, and look, the number one thing you want to see is more looks and more reps for a guy like J.L. Skinner. They talked about him playing the big nickel. Well, he can also play dime linebacker. Taleno who Fonga could play that dime linebacker role. Jadae Barron could play the dime linebacker, though.
Starting point is 00:22:53 Do you really want Jadae where he's at playing, you know, kind of an inside linebacker type of alignment? I don't like that. I'd rather, you know, you have a guy like J.L. Skinner, who is physical and was a guy who was an absolute thumper at Boise State could play the box, I think, relatively well. I think you want to be able to see that because it gives you some size and versatility there. defensively. Now, so much I think is also being contingent upon matchup, you know, who you're
Starting point is 00:23:18 facing. I'm trying to think right off the top of my head who the most heavy run favorite team will be here for the Broncos this year. I think there's an argument to be made about the Chargers, that's Harbos style, especially with Najee Harris and obviously O'Marion Hampton added as there are two backs down there in L.A. I'm trying to think of who like the most run dynamic offense you're going to face this upcoming season is going to be. I mean, I feel like Brian Robinson of the commander is pretty good. Sequin Barclay. Against Sequin, I want as much of a loaded box as possible, and I want to play man coverage against those receivers all day because that's going to be your best bet against the team like the Philadelphia Eagles. So we'll see. But yeah, I mean, maybe the contingency plan for this room is, in fact, a different position, different personnel group. Though I would say that that also might be one of your favorite words there, roster malpractice because could the Broncos have done more this offseason at inside linebacker, I think Drey Greenlaw is the big splash, but could they have done more?
Starting point is 00:24:17 I mean, if you look at the guys that are still available at this point for training camp, there's only maybe one or two guys. But once again, it falls under that retread category that you were just talking about. And that's not what the Broncos need right now. Right. And we've seen like even last year the Broncos aren't going to be high enough on the waiver wire to get a desirable guy that gets cut after the preseason. Like they got Christian Welch last year.
Starting point is 00:24:41 And the reason why we say, if anybody. takes issue with the statement that we made earlier about Cody Barton wasn't initially signed to be a starter. The proof of that was in week one when Christian Welch was playing next to Alex Singleton against the Seattle Seahawks after just being picked up off the waiver wire. So that wasn't the plan was to have Barton out there. Now it worked out well for him. He got his money from the Titans, but I think it speaks volumes that the Broncos didn't even try to bring him back that we know of when they easily could have. They could have said, hey, let's get this guy. back in the mix. He was valuable to us last year. And ultimately, that didn't end up being the case.
Starting point is 00:25:19 And so to me, yeah, you don't want to get into the Christian Welch situations with all due respect to a former Hawkeye, right? You want to get yourself in a position where you are, you believe in somebody enough like the Broncos believed in Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, these other guys who were on the team with them when the off season or picked up off waivers that they felt you can contribute right now. So that's where the roster malpractice will come into play is if they keep guys around that they don't believe can play because that was the case last year with Lavelle Bailey. They signed these veteran guys and they said so much stuff about Lavelle Bailey. Oh, yeah, we loved him at Fresno State. I felt like he had some really good stuff on tape coming out.
Starting point is 00:25:59 And I think there was even some starter rumors thrown around. And then he doesn't even play when you have all these injuries piling up and you need a guy to play. And he played well in the preseason. Like you said, he had a good camp. So I just think that's the frustrating thing is that if you have a plan, if you have a guy, put him in there and get him those opportunities to become something instead of just spinning your wheels. Because if you're going to sign a veteran, go do it now.
Starting point is 00:26:24 Go get Joanne Bentley now. Go get, go make a trade for somebody now. Why not sign Isaiah Simmons? The Packers did. I mean, why not sign him? They already have their linebackers set up. Go get a guy like that who's played for Vance Joseph. I just, Cody, that's the stuff that I don't understand is that if we,
Starting point is 00:26:40 look back and we're having this conversation in September or October or November, it's going to be ridiculous that the Broncos didn't do something when they had a chance. Yeah. And I wonder what the line of thinking is from the roster standpoint. Like are they banking on player development? You know, it's going to work with some position. It's not always going to work with every player, right? So with that in mind, there is a question that we have here as could any of these young guys emerge as future core pieces? I think right now the only guy you can look at and say, you know, you have the highest hope for that is a guy like Drew Sanders who is still very much trying to go back and learn the nuances of the position has a new position coach.
Starting point is 00:27:18 I also should mention Todd Davis is a member of the Broncos coaching staff now. So I wonder what kind of feedback he will have in that regard. But get a question. Is there anybody besides Drew Sanders that is a younger player on this team that could be a core piece down the road? I think it would be one of these guys that's an unknown, right? Like I said, where's the next Wesley Woodyard? where's the next Todd Davis.
Starting point is 00:27:41 Those guys, those guys could be on the roster. We just haven't seen it, right? We haven't seen anything from Karen A. Reed or or J.B. Brown or, you know, the other guys that are on the, the team there. Like, even LaVelle Bailey, who was exciting in last year's preseason, we haven't seen enough to be able to say definitively that you can be the next one, the next Brandon Marshall, right? Who's Peyton Manning notices the guy in practice making a bunch of plays.
Starting point is 00:28:06 And he's like, that guy should be playing for our defense. and then he was the Broncos best linebacker for a good stretch of time. So it's getting those guys. And shoot, if Todd Davis has to, Cody, he's going to be in his Michael Jordan, Washington wizard's era. He's going to be like, screw it. I'm throwing on the pads and I'm going back out there to play. Dang it, you guys suck.
Starting point is 00:28:24 No, but I think that's like he's got to find. Ironically, Todd Davis got to be the guy to find the next Todd Davis. That's kind of a fun storyline to maybe monitor. We'll see how things go here at this position, Broncos country. We want to know what's your level of confidence in the inside linebacker. room right now considering the injury history. Best case scenario, these guys stay healthy. What does it look like defensively?
Starting point is 00:28:44 Worst case scenario, what is the contingency plan? Make sure you share your thoughts with us on today's episode of the show. A Broncos country that I'll wrap up today's inside linebacker training camp preview. Tomorrow's episode, we'll take a deep dive into the Broncos edge rush room and tell you why that room is pretty much set in stone going into training camp and why that's a good thing for this Broncos team. We'll talk about that more on tomorrow's episode of the show.

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