Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos' Vance Joseph DEMANDS More From Defense After Loss to Green Bay Packers

Episode Date: August 26, 2026

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph sent a clear message to the Broncos defense after their lackluster showing against the Green Bay Packers, calling their approach unengaged and lazy. �...� Cody Roark and Sayre Bedinger break down Vance Joseph’s scathing critique after their showcase against the Green Bay Packers, spotlighting concerns over complacency and how continuity could actually be working against Denver’s defensive unit. They also discuss the smart approach with Riley Moss, unlocking opportunities for Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine at cornerback. Plus, Hakeem Butler's surprise exit, the arrival of UFL standout Ron Stone Jr., and what these late roster moves mean for the Broncos' depth chart.   Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and provides boots-on-the-ground coverage of the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Together, both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos.   📸 - Ron Chenoy — Imagn Images   WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT? For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today --   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-broncos/   Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/   📲 Cody Roark Twitter / (https://twitter.com/codyroarknfl) 📲 Cody Roark Instagram / (https://instagram.com/codyroarknfl) 📲  Sayre Bedinger Twitter / (https://twitter.com/sayrebedinger)   Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. one 📲 https://lockedonbroncos.supercast.com/   TEXT LINE: Support the show and interact with us on Denver Broncos rumors, News, Game Previews, Q&A's, and more. 📲 https://joinsubtext.com/c/lockedonbroncos 📲 TEXT: (720) 580-5759   📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gusto Try Gusto today at gusto.com/LOCKEDONNFL, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   KALSHI For a limited time,Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10.   Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 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 Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, Van Choseph, wasn't happy with the team's performance on Friday night against Green Bay, and he had one message for the team. We can't be lazy. 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? Cody Roark, Sarah Bedinger here for another episode, Locked on Broncos. Today's episode is brought to you by Kaushi for limited time.
Starting point is 00:00:30 Download the Kauci app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade $10. Broncos defense, according to Vanjose, Joseph wasn't shy about calling out the Broncos defense at his Tuesday press conference. We'll go into what he said. Plus, the Broncos are taking the smart approach with cornerback, Riley Moss. And we'll talk about what opportunities it affords guys like Jaday Barron and Chris Abram's drain. And then we'll talk about Hakeem Butler, waved by bye by the Denver Broncos. And they welcome in another UFL standout. We'll talk about what that may mean for the Broncos roster more in the final week of the NFL preseason. sincere. Vance Joseph, look, I think we were all eager a little bit to hear from Vance during his weekly
Starting point is 00:01:08 coordinator conference that, you know, the Broncos give us access to those guys. I think everybody wanted to know, hey, what happened on that touchdown to, you know, on the Packers opening drive, right? I think everyone was wondering what happened there. And of course, the Broncos aren't going to reveal that. But Vance kind of took it a little bit deeper, not just that specifically. He said he felt like with the first group, he just felt like that the approach that they had, was lazy. Like he used the word. I felt like our approach was lazy. It felt like that in the pregame. And he said ultimately, like as the game played out, I felt that. Not a surprise that, you know, Vance would be able to call the stuff out because
Starting point is 00:01:46 the players really respect him. I just find it very interesting because once again, I think it goes to show maybe the disconnect sometimes we see like when we're watching on TV or the press box, we're like, man, you know, Bronco was just playing soft playing vanilla. And Vance's like, no, like we didn't take our approach serious enough here. And we kind of got popped in the mouth a little bit. what were your thoughts on what Vance had to say on Tuesday? I'm glad to hear him say those things, honestly, Cody, because I think honestly this team, it's not like the Broncos get an overabundance of good publicity these days.
Starting point is 00:02:15 Let's be honest about it. I mean, they're called overrated. They're being considered, you know, they're still the overdogs in many ways from the general perception of the NFL world. But I will say that I think when you get used to any certain place that you're at, it's kind of nice sometimes to have a little fire, you know, rekindled inside of you, especially when it's as a unit. Like that first drive for the Packers, you can't just pin that touchdown drive on any one player
Starting point is 00:02:43 necessarily, right? I mean, it's all 11 guys out there that were giving up plays, that were committing penalties or what have you. And so like we talked about in after the game, the Broncos did a lot of things on that particular drive that we just didn't see them do last year, giving up their downs, giving up fourth downs, giving way in the red zone, and then ultimately giving up a touchdown in the red zone, which they were the best defense in the NFL last year at not doing.
Starting point is 00:03:09 So even when the defense bends, you feel like, well, they certainly won't break, but they broke in that game. And I like that Vance is calling them out for, you know, legitimate stuff. Like if you're going to be lazy to start the season, you're going to get your, you know, what's kicked by the Kansas City Chiefs. Like you can't be taking that approach from week one, that oh we have so much time together
Starting point is 00:03:32 oh we've been we have continuity like it's so nice to be in the fourth year of this defense together or whatever right I mean you can see how that can be easy even as a professional so I like that he's kind of lighting that fire again in these guys it reminds me of just a really good coach
Starting point is 00:03:48 like how Vance goes about it like that's what I respect so much about him because Vance has had one of the best units in football for two consecutive seasons right and outside of the start he had initially in 2023 the Broncos you take way those first couple of weeks of whatever the heck they were doing. I mean, they would have ended up as one of the better defenses in football. They were certainly down the stretch. But,
Starting point is 00:04:07 like, you make a great point on that because sometimes when you have so much success, you have all the continuity, sometimes guys get into the habit of smelling their own roses a little bit. I think Vance does a really great job of setting the standard saying, like, guys, like, we don't have it made. And I think he made it an emphasis this offseason as well, right? Because he went to the drawing board. It was one of the very first things, Pat Certan. told us during mini camp that, you know, Vance, he said what we did last year, like all the success we had last year, it means nothing now. We have to go out there and we have to redo it. We can't just be complacent with, hey, you know, we were the best defense in football last year
Starting point is 00:04:42 in the year before and this, that and the other. We got to go out there and we got to do it all over again. The work has to be put in. And so I understand like the difference between, okay, maybe you're playing a vanilla coverage or a vanilla scheme in the preseason, which they do. But within that, he didn't like the way that they came into that game pre-season. game, the approach, maybe felt like they were a little too lackadaisical and loose. And I love that Vance also mentioned, he said, this is what teams are going to try to do to us now. He said, teams are going to try to win on first down. And we're going to see a lot more boot actions, quick game, things like that, because if you go start off second and four or second
Starting point is 00:05:18 and two, let's say, you know, he even gave an example, you give up a slant on first and ten and you get six yards on it. Second and four, well, guess what? That eliminates our best superpower. And that is our rush, our ability to get after the quarterback. because now they can run the ball on second as short and maybe have more favorable conversions there. They're going to tighten up in this area. But I like that Vance says, hey, we're not subject to, you know, not falling into the trap of complacency. Like we have and we did certainly in that preseason game. And I think he's got these guys refocusing a little bit.
Starting point is 00:05:49 I'm excited that you have a coach like him who holds those guys accountable into a higher standard. I thought the way that Vance talks at a press conference, you know, I've always been impressed with that. I think he's a great speaker. I think he's a great leader, but we're actually seeing these things being talked about and drilled in during practice as well. So I'm hearing Vance say it, but I'm also seeing him do it. I loved like the section of his press conference that you just referenced. I think everybody in Broncos countries should go back and listen to it because ultimately it was something that I haven't even considered. And you know, yours and my job is to uncover every rock in the off season.
Starting point is 00:06:24 Every storyline that can possibly be talked about, that's what that's our job. jobs. And I think what Vance said opened my eyes to something that in all these months that we've had to kind of think about last season and how the team can get better, I had not even considered at all, not a single bit. And he was talking about just the adjustments that teams are making, like you said, after having years of tape on the Broncos defense, that continuity, well, oh, that sounds really good on paper. Like you've got all these guys who know the defense and they can, you know, communicate with each other with their eyes closed. And although we saw an example to the contrary against the Packers, right?
Starting point is 00:07:02 But like their communication should be in theory really good. And the depth is really good. And the top end talent is is top end. It's top shelf. You got PS2, Nick Venito, Zach Allen, all these guys. And what Vance is saying is that the continuity can work against these guys in many ways because teams now are going to start picking them apart in different ways. So how does this team with all this continuity, all this talent,
Starting point is 00:07:25 how do they adjust? And what he talked about was winning first downs again. And it's getting back to that. How do you win first down? And I love that he brought that up because like I said, I haven't really thought about that from the context of, okay, the team's continuity being a factor in how they win every down now. Because like he said, if they're ripping off a chunk play on first down,
Starting point is 00:07:49 if they're getting four yards, they get two yards on second down. All of a sudden, like you said, their superpower is taken away. Superman is, you know, encountering kryptonite. And that's exactly what you can't have happen, especially not early in the season when you're trying to, you know, get off to a much better start than you have in recent years and
Starting point is 00:08:07 kind of prove everybody wrong that this six-game stretch is going to be unbearable for this team. So I highly encourage it's way too long of a segment to read it word for word. I'm sitting here looking at the transcript right now. So I would encourage Broncos country, go on the Broncos account after you listen to this show and listen to Vance's press
Starting point is 00:08:25 conference and be enlightened by what he said there because it's it's important to know that that's what's being coached to these players not man you guys are so good you guys are that you could be the best defense ever you could set the NFL record in sacks no the message is you need to learn how to win first downs again because teams are going to adjust how they play you and you're not you just got your butts kicked against green bay and they have to take the approach seriously and i also like that vance said how we counter that we got to treat first down like it's our third down like we're one of the best third down defenses in the league. But we have to treat first down and essentially play third down twice on a course of a series.
Starting point is 00:09:00 And I agree with him 100 and 10 percent here. Brockos country, let us know your thoughts on what Van Joseph said about the defense, him calling him out. I like it. I think it's refreshing. I think for a defense that has so much talent, you need to be able to have a coach who can kind of put the standard a little bit higher for that room. And I guarantee you the players that are receiving the message. I've been privy to it all week.
Starting point is 00:09:20 I've been seeing it translate there. So that's obviously something I'm excited about. But coming up next, also talked about how the Broncos, and specifically Vance Joseph, they're being smart with Riley Moss and how that opens up opportunities for other guys at the cornerback position. Today's lockdown Broncos is brought to you by our friends over there at Kaushi, America's number one prediction market platform where you could trade on NFL predictions like the Denver Broncos win total this upcoming season. On Kauci, 13 plus wins for the Denver Broncos is trading
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Starting point is 00:11:33 And right now you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at Square.com slash go slash locked on NFL. That's SQUARE.com slash geo slash locked on NFL. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. The Broncos are going to be safe and careful with Riley Moss. No need for him to suffer any sense. setbacks before the start of the regular season. Matter of fact, Riley Moss might have made the best play of any player in the preseason game against the Green Bay Packers before he got injured Broncos Country.
Starting point is 00:12:03 We're going to talk about that approach as well as the players who get an opportunity to step up with Riley on the mend. Cody, let's talk about that. First of all, shoot, Riley made a really good play. I thought for sure he was taking one back to the house there with the break that he made on the football. Kind of a different angle of that replay on the play that he made. on the ball was, it was a little bit more congested traffic there than he would have maybe needed to actually take the ball back for six. But it was another just brilliant play from him in coverage in a long series of them.
Starting point is 00:12:36 That's been kind of the theme of this offseason. I mean, Riley Moss has been in a two-horse race with Pat Bryant for the most hyped player this offseason. And unfortunately, Hurtt Ribs diving for a fumble that, you know, I was told wasn't actually a fumble on the post. game show, Cody. But I digress there. I thought it for sure was out. But you know what? I side with the Broncos on that one. But Riley, he's on the mend. Guys are getting an opportunity to step up in his absence. Yeah, I mean, that play you're referencing in particular. It was funny to me
Starting point is 00:13:08 because Christian Watson, we all know that dude is fast. He's a fast guy. Riley's a former track athlete as well. So I always laugh. Like sometimes people say Riley's slow. Riley's the furthest thing from slow. That's why they match Riley up on all the other team's fastest receivers. I mean, come on folks what are we doing here but for him to open up right he's he's opened up he's own turned he's running vertically with watson watson breaks on the out he did such a great job of pivoting his hips flipping and undercutting it i mean once again that's what we've seen for mildly all training camp and look the bronco is doing the right thing by being smart he will not play this week against the minnesota vikings even if the starters do end up playing he's not going to
Starting point is 00:13:47 play good updates for broncos country he has been on the team sidefield doing some rehab stuff and then coming over and watching and observing the rest of practice, he's good to go. But here is where I think the Broncos being smart with Riley right now because he's the unquestioned other guy opposite of path. I think people tried to write that there was a competition there that simply was never going to be there. Riley's job was never in danger or in jeopardy. But here's the thing that it gives the Broncos the opportunity to do. Something that they've had to do in the last two years. See what happens.
Starting point is 00:14:18 See who steps up in the event of an injury on the outside. And that's you're going to get more extensive. Radei Barron and Chris Abram's drain. Sarah this week at practice with Riley out, the Broncos have been rotating those guys in opposite of Pat Certan. And obviously, Jaday is still playing his primary dime role. So when that happens, you get Chris Abrams drain on the outside opposite of Pat. So a lot of cornerback reps for these guys. And this is the cool thing about it, Sarah, about this position, about these two guys specifically. You're not worrying about whether or not they're going to make mistakes. You know that these guys can step
Starting point is 00:14:50 up and play because guess what they've done? They've stepped up and they've made plays already on Sundays. Yeah, that's where you have that enviable depth that other teams around the NFL wish they had. And this is why we've said, although we've entertained the thought, because like I said earlier, we entertain every thought and we turn over every stone during the off season, even though there's been thoughts of like, well, could the Broncos trade somebody from that depth and get some value? And does it make sense to keep everybody? I've been on both. of the extreme to be sure. But man, this is one instance where you're kind of glad and you say,
Starting point is 00:15:25 hey, we're not going to apologize for having great depth at this position. Because ultimately over the course of an NFL season, you tend to end up needing it, right? I mean, that's just the nature of the game is that guys get hurt. So it's good for these other young guys to be getting these reps because obviously nobody was getting them when Riley was able to be out there for practice. I mean, he was taking every first team rep as far as I know, unless Pat was rotating out
Starting point is 00:15:50 and then you have other guys rotating in. So to me, this is good for everybody because it's not a major injury to Riley. He's going to be okay. And it's also an opportunity for those young guys to continue to get reps and to continue to build confidence, which I think we've been seeing from them. Like you mentioned earlier this week,
Starting point is 00:16:09 Chris Abrams-drain had a really good game against the Green Bay Packers. I think Jaday obviously played a little bit better maybe against Atlanta, but obviously had the splash plays. to kind of go along with that. So it's just a matter of these guys really feeling comfortable with their roles for the season and understanding their number could be called at any moment.
Starting point is 00:16:26 And you have to be ready to keep this defense playing at a top five level whenever that does come up. Yeah, and you don't have to necessarily worry too much about the guys behind these two, right? These guys have starter capabilities. And here's where I would say things are maybe a little different between the two guys, right? Abrams Drain, I think, is more of an outside corner. I don't think that they want to flex them as much inside outside. whereas Jaday, I think they view him as the ultimate flex guy. Like he is a versatile weapon defensively.
Starting point is 00:16:53 Can play dime linebacker, can play in the nickel in the slot, can play on the outside. Can play safety. I know Vance Joseph said he can play safety. Not that he's been playing safety. He can play safety for everybody that was freaking out over that. There's a lot more on Jaday's plate in terms of processing terminology. When you switch a role, like when you're going from playing in the inside to the outside, your responsibilities and what you need to know defensively, they change.
Starting point is 00:17:20 It's not just under this, you know, one umbrella. Like my same rules apply when I'm inside the slot, you know, as I do when I'm on the outside. That's tough. But here's the thing that we've seen was Jaday. He's handled it, man. And that's the one thing I would applaud about him. He has picked up this defense. He's more comfortable and confident inside that scheme.
Starting point is 00:17:37 He said it himself. But now I think you do have a true option where, let's say an injury pops up in the regular season to PS2 or to Riley Moss. Chris Abrams Drain is your prime guy that can go out there and play on the outside. And you don't have to change Jaday's roll up too much. But when you get into certain packages, you might be able to get very creative defensively with what you want to do out of the dime, which for those that don't know what the dime packages, it's when you have six DBs on the field. The nickel is when you have five DPs.
Starting point is 00:18:05 And we're seeing, I think right now in the NFL, we're seeing a lot more base defenses becoming the nickel now more than ever with how NFL offenses are spreading certain things out. There could even be a chance. we see the Broncos live a little bit more in the dime this season. So I'm very curious to see what they can do with that because think about it. And the dime, they could actually move Talanoa, Hufanga down into the box. They could put Jada as a linebacker as the other guy,
Starting point is 00:18:27 or Taylor Rap, like that's just a hypothetical with Brandon Jones and everybody else. Denver's got the flexibility to be very creative with these guys. Or if they want to go like a big dime package, well, let's say you want to bring Hufanga into the box and you want to bring JL Skinner against a team that runs the ball really, but you want to be able to match up coverage-wise. Denver's got flexibility right now. And that's what we talk about.
Starting point is 00:18:48 When we enviable depth, that's where Denver is really excelling right now. And as much as you only have 11 positions starting on offense and defense, you can find roles for certain guys. And I think for Abrams Drain, man, he's a really good special teams player as a gunner and a jammer. We've certainly seen that. I've seen it in training camp practices. But with these two guys, you know if something were to happen, yes, I mean, you can't replace a guy like PS2, but you're not losing sleep over a guy like Chris Abrams
Starting point is 00:19:15 Drane or Jada Baron getting in there and playing, I think, as much as we used to with guys like Levi Wallace. So anything to avoid what we saw just a couple of years ago with that Monday night football debacle where Jerry Judy just had a legacy game against his former team. And unfortunately, it wasn't against PS2. It was against Levi Wallace. So at least Jerry Judy has that to hang his hat on. But I like where Denver's cornerback depth is in Broncos country.
Starting point is 00:19:39 We always want to ask you your thoughts, too. How do you feel about Denver playing it smart with Riley Moss getting him there to week one? but more importantly, how do you feel about Gideh, Chris Abrams Drain? Let us know here on today's episode of the show. But coming up next, Sarah and I are going to talk about one UFL darling that maybe in Broncos Country had their eye on. He didn't make it far enough, didn't make it to the finish line with Denver, and they shifted their sights to another UFL player.
Starting point is 00:20:01 We'll talk about that here on today's episode of the show. Broncos Country, today's episode of the show is brought to you about friends over there at game time. There are so many live events going on right now, and the NFL season is upon us, whether it's your favorite games, favorite concerts and artists comedy shows festivals you name it the hard part isn't deciding what you want to go see it's usually getting your hands on tickets become a hassle in today's age between the long wait times confusing checkout processes and the surprise fees that you get hit with when you go to check out buying tickets can sometimes feel harder than it should be it doesn't have to be that way with the game time
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Starting point is 00:21:11 first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account, redeem code, L-O-C-K, E-D-O-N for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today. Denver Broncos mini-camp darling, Hakeem Butler, didn't make it to the end of training camp and the Broncos have their eyes set on another UFL player for their roster. That's what we're going to get into here. Sarah, let's talk about a Hakeem Butler. Look, there was a lot of hype surrounding him early on when the Broncos initially signed him to their mini-camp roster. He got a training camp invite, And he got that tryout initially, and he made a play over and undrafted a rookie corner going up and high pointing it during rookie minicamp or mandatory minicamp. And then he got the training camp. And he was making plays in the first handful of days when the pads weren't on.
Starting point is 00:21:55 When the pads came on, Sarah, it was a much different story with Hakeem Butler. Really disappointed for him, obviously, Cody. I mean, I know he's a 30-year-old who's still trying to make his way to the NFL. He's gotten a lot of opportunities, right? He was drafted by the Cardinals, fourth round pick in 2019, and he's had opportunities with the Eagles, the Steelers, the Bengals. And then you go to the UFL and you just kind of dominate. And you win UFL offensive player at the year twice.
Starting point is 00:22:23 And then you get to the Broncos where there's an opportunity there. Like I'm not saying, oh, well, they would have adjusted their entire roster to keep him. But we know the Broncos keep at least two, three wide receivers on the practice squad pretty much at all times. And you could have done well enough to earn one of those spots, but to get cut before the third preseason game really says a lot. I remember reading a couple of reports during Camp Cody where he was just kind of lacking some effort, missed a block on a play that was supposed to go out to Marvin Mims,
Starting point is 00:22:51 didn't give good effort on a play that it was a jump ball between he and Brent Austin during practice and ultimately Brent Austin won the rep and broke up the pass. So then you get four targets in the preseason, two targets against Atlanta, two against Green Bay. I think honestly the conversation about Jared Stidham is maybe even a little bit different if Hakeem Butler comes down with one of those passes. I mean, one of them was a perfectly placed ball from Stidham that would have been a touchdown
Starting point is 00:23:17 to a guy like Butler who's 6-5-225 or whatever he is. And you just go up and you go make a play for your quarterback in one-on-one coverage. He didn't make the play. And he got two of those opportunities against Green Bay. He got multiple opportunities down the field against Atlanta. So I hate it for him because, you know, you kind of root for a guy like that. but at the same time, like if old habits die hard, you got to feel like you're on your last shot in the NFL
Starting point is 00:23:43 and you've got to play with that urgency. And it's unfortunate to see that he's, you know, didn't do that. And one of those was that fourth and four play. I mean, I understand taking a shot, I didn't like it. But down there to Hakeem, I don't know if he thought little Jordan Humphrey was down there or something, but maybe got him mixed up there. But I felt like early on in camp with the way that little Jordan was playing
Starting point is 00:24:04 and the way that Hakeem was playing the first handful of days, It's like, man, there might be a nice competition between these two guys to make the case for either practice squad or if Denver's going to carry a six guy. Like could, could they do it? Could he can do it? Like, it was kind of an odd, like, long shot for him. But, I mean, that's what we were talking about just in the first handful of days when these guys weren't out there in pads. Lord Jordan Humphrey has seemingly since then pulled way far ahead in that race. And, I mean, we're even talking to the point now on some of our shows as we're starting to predict the 53 men roster.
Starting point is 00:24:35 does Denver keep six because of little Jordan Humphrey, because of what he's done. I think he's earned it. He's made a strong case for himself. But unfortunately for Hakeem. And look, here's the one thing about Hakeem that I also mentioned as well. It just felt like he's very limited in terms of what he could do. Yes, he's got the size and he could go do the jump ball stuff. But it seemed like he was much this vertical guy and then he could just run across the field.
Starting point is 00:24:57 But the ability to start and stop, right, to throttle down to run effective routes based on what this Broncos offense runs and how every route kind of tells a story, attacks a different level, and puts defenses in a bind. He couldn't do those other things at the level of other guys right now. And that was a big reason why the Broncos ultimately moved on from him. And they waived him obviously on Tuesday. And it's very unlikely that even when roster cuts happen, they have to fill out their practice squad.
Starting point is 00:25:23 It's very unlikely he even makes it back to the practice squad. But you have to applaud a guy for continuing to fight for his dream. I mean, this has been going on for years, him bouncing back and forth between practice squads, the UFL at these different stints, training camp invites, but not being able to stick on an NFL roster. I mean, I'm sure he's frustrated, but this dude has put in a lot of work to be able to do that.
Starting point is 00:25:42 So I'm not going to kick the guy while he's down, saying it just didn't work out in Denver. They did go out, however, and get Ron Stone Jr. An outside linebacker who played in a handful of games, the last two seasons for the NFL more recently this past year, five and a half sacks for him and five TFLs. Vance Joseph also made note that he didn't know much of the defense, but he actually stood out and made a couple of plays.
Starting point is 00:26:02 plays during Tuesday's practice. Here, I'm not a tin foil hat theory. I know he liked those. But what I could see possibly happening, I could see a scenario where Johnny Walker Jr. And Ron Stone Jr. Maybe end up as practice squad guys because the thing that Stone Jr. has and he's got only one opportunity outside of a couple,
Starting point is 00:26:22 you know, Wednesday's practice and Friday's game. He's got one opportunity to do something on special teams, but also in the reps so that I imagine will come in the fourth quarter for him defensively. and if he impresses enough in those, it could be enough to get him a practice squad spot because he could be one of those guys that can really help you when you have to go against the scout team and also you need guys that could give you special teams potentially.
Starting point is 00:26:45 I think he could be one of those guys that could get in the mix. And I think the Broncos would have signed somebody else or maybe waited to wave. McKean Butler, if they didn't think that this guy might have some potential. Yeah, I'm absolutely circling number 53 for Friday's preseason game. Like you mentioned, Vance Joseph said that he's going to play a lot in that game. And I think it does speak volumes that after just one practice,
Starting point is 00:27:07 you know, you go out there and you catch the attention of Vance. You know, as opposed to him, that's really tough. So I'm impressed even just at that. And yes, over the last two seasons in the UFL, nine and a half total sacks in 19 games, nine tackles for loss. And last season had a forced fumble, I believe. So one of the two seasons doesn't really matter at this point. But also has a connection to the Broncos coaching staff, Cody.
Starting point is 00:27:32 I don't know if you, I'm sure you caught that during the press conference, but Broncos linebackers coach Jeff Schmetting. That's a name I don't believe we've said on this. It sounds like a fake name to me. This is Jeff, hello, this is Jeff Schmetting calling. But Jeff Schmetting was the decorinator at Washington State in 2023 and 2024. And he was obviously there cross paths with Stone during the 2023 season. And he was an undrafted pickup by the Raiders in 24.
Starting point is 00:28:02 didn't make it. So, you know, I like the chance that lightning could strike twice in the same place because the Broncos obviously had success with Dondre Tillman coming out from the UFL. That's why I just think you never write these stories off, right? I mean, this is still a young guy too compared to even Dondrey, who I think spent three, four seasons at the semi-pro level before the Broncos came calling. This guy's got, you know, potential.
Starting point is 00:28:28 And I think you're right. I mean, the tinfoil stuff, there might be something to that, Cody. I think there's a chance that, okay, the Broncos, they don't know what's going on with Jonathan Cooper. What's the NFL going to decide? You've got to have guys on the ready on the practice squad. So I'm interested to watch him play. I think it'll be a fun little addition here. I think Johnny Walker Jr. will be on the practice squad. I think the guy like Ron Stone Jr. will probably be competing with Desan McColo for maybe another practice squad spot here. And McCullo's obviously got a larger body of work sample size being here, obviously since rookie minicamp.
Starting point is 00:29:00 but all it takes is that one impression. I mean, Stone Jr. has been playing football pretty periodically, I think, from the spring. Now, I don't know if he went anywhere or tried out for any other teams before coming to Denver initially. But something worth monitoring Brockow's country and Friday's game against Minnesota Vikings. Keep your eye on number 53. But with that said, we want to say thank you so much for Rockwood with us here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Also, the number one sports podcast network in the country.
Starting point is 00:29:25 If you love today's show, make sure you do his favor. Hit the subscribe or that follow button so you never miss out of what's going on. with your favorite team. Sarah and I tomorrow will be back for another episode of the show as we'll focus on offensive players and defensive players. We feel like we'll be under the most pressure coming into the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings. You'll get all that and more on tomorrow's episode of the show.

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