09-03-25 Hour 1 of Broncos Country Tonight with Zach Segars

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, Broncos Country, and welcome to another late night post
Rockies edition of the show hosted by yours truly Zach Seegers.
Have a fun rundown for the show for you all
today as we are right around the corner from Broncos football.

(00:20):
Rockies not quite as fun. Just hit one hundred losses
the other night. They're they're looking to get over that
elusive forty two win mark. Looks like they'll probably get there,
but don't want to count any chickens before they're hatched.
Looking at the Broncos here, it's almost Broncos season, and

(00:41):
let me tell you, I cannot wait. And I am
just praying for not even a win, but convincing win
over the Titans. I feel like Rocky preseason up and
down has I don't know, brought out the worst. Maybe
that's a little strong, but some of the lesser tendencies
of Bronco's Country. I'll say, where man bo Nicks? Is

(01:07):
it done? Is he back to being a bust? You know?
The defense? Oh my god, maybe the defense is bad.
And I'm not even trying to put lipstick on a
pig here. They had a bad preseason performance, don't get
me wrong. But like Brandon Whedon, is the preseason go
You know, I don't like, do we think just suddenly
Jared's did and is contending for a title of best
quarterback in the NFL. No, I don't really think so.

(01:28):
So I don't know why we're suddenly describing so much
value to the preseason. And granted you want the team
to look good, they did not look good. I'm not
trying to dismiss any of those points. All that said,
I do think this is a quality team, even if

(01:49):
they're not a contender for the AFC West. I mean,
I think they'll they'll give the Chiefs run for their money.
But even if you know they're not deserving, maybe of
all the hype they got for a month there as
top six, top seven super Bowl contender, maybe they're more
of a top thirteen to ten team. I don't know
where they end up falling, but I think the preseason

(02:09):
fear is greatly over exaggerated, and I think we'll see
a strong performance against the Titans. But I really, I
really hope where we can just put it all to rest,
and we'll get into that more later in the week.
I'll be back later in the week for another late
night fill in gig, do more in depth Broncos Titans preview.

(02:30):
Then once we know who's healthy, who's playing where Bronco's
depth chart came out, so that helps some. But want
that image to come into even clearer focus before we
get too far into it tonight. What I want to
look at is some Broncos specific award predictions. Who will

(02:51):
be the MVP for the Broncos this season. The Offensive
Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive rookie,
and defensive Rookie of the Year. Maybe I'll even get
into Coach of the Year if we get crazy. So
go into those. I always think that's a fun preseason exercise,
get you primed for some big players, some big breakout
candidates to maybe watch for. And with that in mind,

(03:15):
let's start with one of the smaller ones here, Offensive
Rookie of the Year. Now, this one smaller in part
because le Broncos only have three rookies on offense on
the roster or even the practice squad, with Caleb Loner
being that third guy sitting on the practice squad, and

(03:38):
it's pretty unlikely he contends for this award, so there's
really only two contenders, and that would be R. J. Harvey,
the rookie running back out of Central Florida, and Pat Bryant,
the rookie receiver out of Illinois. Now I really think
both have decent cases. I mean, Pat Bryant has looked
amazing throughout training camp in the preseason. Devon Valet being

(04:01):
traded I think opens up some of those snaps for him.
I think Evan Ingram is going to be that that
oversized slot a lot for the Broncos offense, but he
won't be it all the time. And when he's not,
it looks like Pat Bryant's the favorite to slot in
there no pun intended, and so you know there's a
path to him maybe having a large enough impact to

(04:24):
justify being the Broncos' most impactful best rookie this season,
but I think it's going to be pretty hard. He's
going to be competing with Sutton and Ingram and Franklin
and maybe even Marvin Mimms for targets and then in
the in the slot alone, he's going to be competing
with Ingram and Franklin and Mims for snaps just playing time.

(04:45):
And you know, even if he emerges as the best option.
He's you know, we're probably talking about a forty fifty
percent share of the work. Trusherfield too, who I totally
didn't mention. So I think it's just a tougher path
for him to get that meaningful play time. Meanwhile, I think,
you know, all things considered, r J. Harvey has a
pretty clear path. JK. Dobbins is the starter right now.

(05:09):
It's clear it's on the depth chart to Dobbins won
r J. Harvey the two. But I think that can
change pretty quick here. You know, just look at the preseason.
R J. Harvey is a dynamic ball carrier. He's a
dynamic receiver too. I think a large part of the
reason the Broncos wanted to invest so highly in a

(05:30):
running back. You know, r J. Harvey obviously picked in
the second round, but they were also really connected to
Travon Henderson trade down maybe in the first round. I
think the reason they wanted one of those guys was
they want an option who when bo Nicks checks the
ball down, it's not you know, going to Javonte Williams
for three yards, it's going to RJ. Harvey, who can
maybe pop it for seven, eight, nine, ten. You know,

(05:54):
I was putting together some bold predictions for a different
thing I'm working on, and my prediction for the Broncos
this year is that R. J. Harvey becomes the first
Bronco since twenty twenty one to reach eleven hundred yards
from scrimmage. I think he's going to have a great
year this year. And not only do, I think he's,
you know, the more dynamic ball carrier and receiver than JK. Dobbins,

(06:15):
and I think that'll help him get some work. I
think he's also just the healthier option. You know, JK.
Dobbins has really been unable to stay healthy for an
entire season in the pros. That's as first talented as
he is, that's the one thing that has plagued his
entire career. Sadly. Now, you know, hopefully he has good

(06:38):
injury like this year. But I think even if he
does stay healthy, we saw last year in LA before
he got injured down the stretch, his play really kind
of tapered off after a very strong stretch those first
you know, four or five weeks of the year. I think,
you know, again, hopefully that doesn't happen here, but I
think it's understandable to expect his Broncos campaign to maybe

(07:01):
follow a similar trend, even if he does stay healthy,
which I'm hoping he does. If that happens, I think
the only impediment to r J. Harvey getting the lion's
share of the snaps, and I mean an overwhelming lion's
share of the snaps, is he needs to prove himself
as a pass protector. He didn't have a single pass
protection rep in the preseason, and I think that's scary.

(07:22):
I think that that's the Broncos coaching staff kind of
telling us something there, and it's why Dobbins is the
starter now. But r J. Harvey's going to have to
pass protect sooner rather than later in the regular season
if he holds up when Sean Payton turns to him
to do that, and that's easier said than done. But
if he manages to hold up, they're only going to

(07:43):
give him more and more snaps, and I think he
will take over this backfield and be you know, I
think everyone's going to see work, but I think he's
going to be seeing fifty sixty percent of the snaps
and the other three will fight over the remainder there
snaps and touches you know, Caleb Lohner, I'll this guy.

(08:04):
I think he probably gets activated for maybe a game
or two. You know, I think he does offer something
pretty unique as a receiver, and if he can get
up to speed as the season goes on, maybe you
can activate him and again use him for some sort
of special red zone package. Again that the measurables are

(08:24):
such a unique advantage that maybe he contributes in some
way his rookie year. But I just I think even
if he does, it would be a tremendous surprise, probably
one of the biggest surprises of the season, if it
eclipses what either Pat Bryan or r. J. Harvey bring
to the offense. I want to spread the love with

(08:45):
some major awards in either section here, So let's get
into the Offensive Player of the Year. I'll get into
Actually I'll do MVP first because I hate there's this
weird unspoken rule offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player
of the year. They can't win MVP. You know, you
don't often see it doubled up, even though you know,

(09:07):
the offensive player of the year oftentimes seems like they
should be the MVP, right, They're normally an offensive player.
So with that in mind, I won't overlap MVP, so
I'm not tipping my hand on whom I win. The
other awards nominees here, I think you go patzer Ten
the second, Zach Allen, Nick Benito on defense, and then

(09:32):
on offense, Courtland Sudden and bow Knicks. Maybe you could
argue for Quinn Miners or something. I just thought guard,
you know, not really a premium position. I was ultimately
too tough for me. Now the case is for everyone else,
I think is pretty clear. Nick Benito is a wildly
impactful pass rusher. I think you know, he's improved every

(09:55):
single year he's been in the league, and I think
he's due for a year of similer, if not potentially
greater production for the Denver Broncos. I've said this on
here before, but it wasn't just a one year flash
in the pan. If you look at his pass rush
win rate, you know, advanced analytics on his pass rushing numbers,
he looks like one of the best pass rushers in

(10:16):
the league over not just a one year span, but
a two year span now, and I think secondary is
only better. Defense is only better. There's only going to
be and he's only better. I think there's going to
be more opportunities for him another tremendously impactful year. That said,
you've also got Zach Allen right there on the defensive line.
You know, I'll parse between those two when we get
into the defensive Player of the Year conversation, But man,

(10:39):
I mean, what a tough draw there. I mean, Zach
Allen looks like one of the three four best interior
pass rushers in the league. I think his ability to
defend the run is also underrated, and he just opens
up so much up front for everybody else, whether it
be Benito Cooper, DJ Jones, John Franklin, Myers, everyone I

(11:01):
think eats feasts feasts even excuse me, because of what
Zach Allen brings to the table on offense, Bo Knicks,
you know, he's the quarterback of the team. I think,
you know, he could take a big leap this year.
If he does, he'll have as strong a case as
anybody for this mark. He's probably the biggest swing factor

(11:22):
for the Broncos this season. Are they going to be
a legit contender or you know, kind of where they
were last year, like a young team is still still
maybe trying to take that next step. I think a
lot of that's going to come down to bo Nicks
and his development. So I think, right, there's the argument
maybe for him as most valuable, and then Courtland Sudden,

(11:42):
I think he is the engine of the offense and
has been for several years now. He's coming off his
best two years with the team. We'll get into both
those cases more in a second. The winner for me, though,
and should be no surprise, it's patzer Tam the second
finished number ten in the player vote Top one hundred,

(12:04):
number six in ESPN's analyst a combined vote. You know,
I think I lean closer to six, but point being,
he's one of the very best players in the league
and a true difference maker at the cornerback position. You
because cornerback are the secondary rather is a weak link
system where you're more defined by, you know, what can

(12:25):
be exploited by the other team, rather than your greatest strength.
It's hard to be in MVP level play team's MVP
at the cornerback position, and certain really is that not
only because he's the best player, but because of what
he enables them to do as a defense. He changes
the math for them. You know, football, when you get

(12:45):
down to it is a game of math and angles,
and he's a crazy enough athlete to really distort some
of the angles and a talented enough player in terms
of the skills of the cornerback position. Is along with
the freak athletic ability to just fundamentally change the math
where you know, hey, maybe most other teams would want

(13:09):
to shade over a safety or something kind of devote
two guys to one problem. The Broncos only have to
devote one, and so they have an extra guy to
put everywhere else. And I really think he's the skeleton
key for this Broncos defense and just a really special
player which everyone knows which but that's why he is

(13:29):
my Defensive Player of the Year for the Denver Broncos.
You know what, we don't have a lot of time
here before the break, so I'll knock out one other
smaller one Defensive Player of the Year now or defensive
Rookie of the year. Excuse me, We do actually have
four candidates for this one. You got Q Robinson, you
got Saveon Jones, You've got Jade Baron the first round

(13:52):
pick of course, and then I even threw Karene Reid
in here. The UDFA who surprisingly made the roster at linebacker.
You consider that injury history of the Broncos linebackers and
you figure there's a chance he gets to play. That said,
I you know, I think it'd be crazy to pick
him over some of the other options here, save I'm
excited for him. I think Brian Baldinger just put out

(14:13):
a great little Twitter film breakdown of Savion Jones and
how he's he's making an impact, a quieter impact, but
still a nice impact on that Broncos defense in the preseason.
Check that out. But still, I don't think either of
those two contend with Q Robinson and Jadde A. Baron.
I know Jade Baron's not. Sorry, obviously Q isn't, but

(14:34):
Jade Baron, surprisingly, I think to an extent, isn't starting
in Week one. I wouldn't be worried about that. You know.
You know, Patrick Sartan, as a lot of people have
reminded me, didn't start in Week one. I think Jaddey
Baron is a pretty amazing talent when the coaching staff
thinks highly of I think he's going to get on
the field for the Broncos quite a bit this year.

(14:55):
And when he does, I think he's going to make
an impact. I just think Jay Con McMillan kind of
pitched a shutout this summer and didn't leave in opening
for Jade Baron to try and surpass him. And then
Ke Robinson, I mean, he just looks like a menace
he already. You know, I'm not following all thirty one
training camps as closely as I am the Roncos, but

(15:16):
an edge drafted in the fifth round looking like how
Ke Robinson looks right now, has the potential to be
one of the biggest deals of the draft, if not
the biggest steal of the draft. All that said, I'm
ultimately going with Jade Baron. I think the path to
playing time for Q is just too difficult to overcome.
I mean, Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, Jonah Ellis seems to

(15:37):
be on the verge of a breakout season. Before Jonah
Ellis was fully healthy in training camp, I thought Andre
Tillman was the guy in that dgroom who was on
the verge of a breakout season. I think it's just,
you know, they've got an embarrassment of riches at the
position right now, and even if Q is really good,
I don't know how many snaps there will be on defense.
I think we'll get on the field on special teams,

(15:58):
but I don't know how many defensive snaps there will
be for him. So I have to go with Jade
Baron is my defensive player or Defensive Rookie again of
the Year for the Denver Broncos. I think he's going
to get onto the field sooner rather than later, and
I think when he does, he's going to be an
instant impact player. One thing that gets overlooked when he

(16:19):
was with the Long Words, he was a turnover machine
in Absolute Ballhawk. He's instinctive, has great hands. I think
like j Kwon McMillan made his presence immediately known to
Broncos Country with all the takeaways, I think Jade Baron
will do something similar, making him a shoe in for
this Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Coming up next,
we'll look at more of these Broncos awards right here

(16:40):
on Broncos Country Tonight on eight fifty KOA, Hello Broncos Country,
and welcome back to so more Late night Broncos Country Tonight.
Whole lots to talk about today. It is fine finally

(17:00):
football season. Hoping the Rockies can reach that elusive win
forty two forty three mark. But in the meantime we
at least have some football to be excited about. Big
news today with the Denver Broncos, we found out who
the team captains are. Some surprises, some not so some

(17:24):
expected names. I guess I should say Dj Jones I
think is maybe the biggest surprise of the bunch. Been
here for a few years, now gets his first nod
to be a team captain. Let's look at those defensive
captains first. Actually you've got DJ Jones, Tallano Hufonga, Alex Singleton,
and Patrick Sartaana second noose surprises there outside of maybe Singleton,

(17:47):
but he was a captain last year, so that adds up.
Teleno Whu Funga. I guess that means, you know, he
has made a pretty substantial impact early on with the team,
if anyone. I was trying to think in my head
who will the captain's be before I opened up the image,
I was thinking Drake Greenlaw had a good chance of
being one Talano Hu fun guy. I think that speaks

(18:09):
to again his presence, leadership in the locker room, all
that good stuff. I think it is intentional that you
kind of have one guy representing every room there, at
least on the defensive side of things. Offense looks a
little different. But turning over to those offensive captains, you
have Bo Nix. No surprise there, he was a Rickie
captain at quarterback, defends that crown Courtland Sutton, no surprise

(18:33):
there either. He's been a captain several years in a row.
Now Quinn Miners again. Captain last year, one of the
best players on the team. No surprise he holds down
that title. And then the lonest specialist captain Will Lutz again,
you know he's most experienced. No, Sean Payton, Well, I
don't think there's any surprise he was the special team's captain.

(18:54):
If anything, a little odd you have one captain for
every defensive room. I mean maybe they viewed Sutton as
the captain for the weapons, wide receiver, running backs, end,
tight ends. But a little interesting they didn't, I don't know,
split that up somehow though. You know, running backs, it's
a lot of inexperienced guys, you know, new faces. That
Julia McLoughlin, the most senior of the running backs, is

(19:15):
fourth on the depth start would be weird. For him
to be a team captain. Then again, this is all
player voted on, so you know who seems sensible enough
to me? I don't think it's worth getting it too
hung up on in any direction. All right, back to
our Broncos team awards, which we started in the last
segment did the Rookie of the Year awards. There also

(19:37):
talked about the big one MVP, who the team MVP
will be here will get into off heasive player of
the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and the Coach
of the year. Little you know, it is spreading the
love evenly across the two segments. Let's start off with
Offensive Player of the Year. You know, I think there's

(20:00):
few obvious candidates for this one. Gotta throw bow knicks
out there. I think you know that that one explains
the stuff. He's the quarterback of the team. If he
does take the leap that many are hoping for this year,
he will be the most valuable player on the offense,
and therefore, you know, a very deserving candidate for the
Broncos title of Offensive Player or Offensive Bronco of the Year,

(20:21):
whatever you want to call it. Courtland Sutton, of course,
he's been the best weapon on this team since you know,
at least Javonte's ACL tear, if not before, then you know,
he's been at the top of his game these last
two years. He's turned in the best two years of
so maybe even three years of Courtland Sudden we've seen

(20:42):
so far as he kind of built that connection with
Russell Wilson and now with bow Nicks. But this is
going to be the first time during his Broncos tenure
that he's having the same quarterback and the same offense
in consecutive seasons. And I think, you know, not only
has it seemed like he's figured out how to win
post ACL over these past two years, but now he's

(21:04):
he's set up to win more frequently. And I think
he's going to have the most productive season of his
NFL career this year. You know, he's never been a
high volume target guy. I don't know if that changes
this year, but I think, you know, he probably tops
his yardage total from last year. I think the touchdown
total returns closer to where it was that last year
with Russ Quinn minors. I think you have to mention

(21:26):
him too. I think you could argue right now he's
the best player on the offense, and right, there is
a pretty compelling argument for Offensive Player of the Year.
Along with you know, maybe being the best player on
the offense, he has an incredible presence in the run
game and the pass game. I think, you know, he's
got a very strong case in his own right. Lastly,

(21:47):
I'll mention a new addition here, Evan Ingram. I think
Evan Ingram, all said and done, might be the most
productive weapon on the Broncos offense or productive pass catcher.
I just mentioned Cortland. Sun's never really been a volume weapon.
You know, maybe he sees more of that this year.

(22:08):
But I think Evan Ingram I kind of think he
ends up being the most targeted weapon in this Broncos offense,
and if not the most a close second. I think
he's going to be a huge underneath threat for bo
Nicks that the offense leans on hard. We saw flashes
of how good he could look in Orange and Blue,

(22:28):
and that that one preseason game where he immediately made
a massive impact on the offense. So I think he's
got a pretty strong case too. All that considered, I'm
going Courtland Sutton. I just I think he is ready
for not a breakout campaign because he's well established in
the NFL now, but a campaign that kind of reminds

(22:48):
everyone who he is or reframes it actually even better.
I think he's going to set career highs darn near
across the board. He's playing his best ball as of late.
I think he's reaching his career peak right now. And
now he finally has a situation around him that is

(23:09):
conducive to having high end production. You know, even last year,
he's dealing with a rookie quarterback. If bo Knicks takes
even a modest step in his development, it should be
the best quarterback play Sutton has ever had in the
best offense Sutton has ever played in with I mean
close to, if not the most scheme familiarity Sutton has
ever gotten to enjoy. So I'm excited for the season

(23:32):
from him on so many levels. That's why he's my
pick there. Next up, let's talk about Defensive Player of
the Year. No surprises, but with the Broncos having such
a great defense, I mean, there are a lot of
great options here for I highlighted PS two. I mean,

(23:55):
best player on the defense enables the Broncos defense to
play the way they want to play. Zach Allen. I
think he's the skeleton key, not to overuse the term,
but he unlocks the entire front seven for the Denver Broncos.
He makes Nick Benito's life easier, and Jonathan Cooper's and
John Franklin Myers. He just opens everything up for everyone

(24:16):
in the front seven, the linebackers behind him too. Nick Benito,
I think he's going to lead the team in sacks again,
and I think it's going to be a high number
once again. I think he might even build on one
he showed last year. I don't think he's just a
one year flash in the pan. He's demonstrated it over
multiple seasons now, and I just think he's one of,

(24:37):
you know, the very best defensive players in the league. Frankly,
one of the best edge rushers in the league. I
think there are flaws to his game, but if you
can consistently get I mean, not many guys get double
digit sacks. I think it was like eight nine players.
If you can consistently be you know, one of the
ten most productive pass rushers in the league, it forgives

(24:58):
a lot of your their since whatever they might be,
you know, lack of run defensibility or or you know whatever.
I just I think he's worth the contracts. I know
I've been on that hill in these Broncos countries and
night segments before. But I think he's got a strong
case for Defensive Player of the Year. I mean, this
is an award that oftentimes goes to edge rushers, and

(25:20):
then the last one I'll highlight Dre Greenlaw. I think
he has a chance to just come in and you know,
he's got to stay healthy, he's got to stay on
the field. But I think he for a defense that's
already well established as a talented defense with a bit
of an identity and style and attitude and way they
want to play. I think, in spite of all that,

(25:40):
Drake Greenlaw is going to come in and at least
change more the Broncos identity to match closer to those
incredibly physical, terrifying forty nine ers defenses when they were
at their peak. You know, they this defense, for as
good as it was last year, I think lacked a
little to clacked, a little high end physicality, and you

(26:03):
know Drake Greenlawn and Talano Hufanga both bring that in spades.
Dray green Lawn being you know, in the middle of
the defense, I think his impact will be felt even
more so than Hufanga's and he deserves a mention here now, Cirtaana.
Before I get into the winner, I'll acknowled Curtain's the
best defensive player on this team. I kind of saved

(26:25):
him for a different award. If you've already heard the
last segment, you know he was my pick for MVP.
I won't double up and have him be both MVP
and Defensive Player of the Award, So with that eliminating
him from consideration here, I'm going with Nick Benito. You know,
if you wanted to get into the nerdy film x'es
and O's of it all, Zach Allen is probably, after Certan,

(26:46):
the next best defensive player on this roster, and he
really does open everything up for guys like Nick Benito
and whatnot. You know, he's he's maybe the most valuable
member of the defense outside Patrick Certan. But I think
de Panito is going to have a monster of a year.
The little bit we saw of him in the preseason,
he looked like a man possessed. I think he's playing

(27:08):
with his hair on fire all season as he chases
a bag that you know, could be an excess of
forty million dollars. That's that's plenty motivation. In my mind,
I think he's going to have a crazy year. He
is my early pick to be outside of Patricks Terutan
the Broncos Defensive Player of the Year for twenty twenty five. Okay,

(27:29):
last award I want to get into here, Coach of
the Year for the Denver Broncos. Now, to be clear,
Sean Payton probably deserving of you know, the coach that
he's the head coach. He oversees all the coaches, so
we're illuminating him from consideration. Want this to be a
more open level playing field where everybody can get some consideration,

(27:53):
some shine, some love. With that in mind, the first
candidate I'll highlight is the boy Wonder himself, Davis Webb.
You know, I think he had a great play calling
debut in the preseason, but that's not why he lands here.
I think he deserves consideration because that's what I keep
going back to. If bo Nix takes the leap that

(28:14):
many are hoping he does, many are expecting he does.
The quarterback coach Davis Webb, who seems to be having
a larger and larger influence on the offense is certainly
going to warrant some consideration. Vance Joseph next name up
worthy of head coach consideration in my opinion, and the architect,

(28:34):
the CEO of what figures to maybe be the best
defense in the NFL. He certainly considers serious conversation. Jim Leonard.
You know, this is a guy who I think has
really slept on. He's the defensive pass game coordinator for
the Broncos. He's also their secondary coach. I think I
think he's kind of the secret ingredient to that Broncos defense.

(28:56):
It was good two years ago down the stretch, obviously
awful start, but down there it looked pretty good under
Vance Joseph that second half of the season, but it
went to a different level a whole. They found a
different gear last year down the stretch or over the
entire season. I mean, they were just an elite defense.
And I think that had a lot to do with

(29:18):
what Jim Leonard brought in terms of mixing up the coverages,
disguising the coverages more. And also, like Jim Leonard believes
in physical physicality in the secondary and hitting guys hard,
and you watched the Broncos cornerbacks and safeties last year.
They were flying around with their hair on fire, and
I think they were hitting at a level we hadn't
seen from them in prior seasons. I think it was

(29:39):
the most physically seen certain or PJ. Locke, and I
mean Brandon Jones was laying the wood. Not that he
was a prior Bronco, but I mean just I think
Jim Leonard brought that and added just a little spice
to the defense that Vance Joseph was lacking. One of
the sharpest up and coming minds in the game. He
deserves consideration. Here a couple more defensive coaches that made

(30:01):
my short list. Here, Jamar Kaine, the defensive line coach.
I mean this, this group just keeps churning out great
great defensive linemen. Have to consider him in my opinion.
And then Isaac Shoemaker, who this is going to be
his first year working with the linebackers, not the inside linebackers,
but the outside linebackers or the edge rushers as I

(30:24):
like to call him, And this will be his first
year with them, third year on the coaching staff, but
first year as the linebackers coach. And I mean, this
is a big spot for him. He's got a lot
of talent to work with. I think you could argue
this is the best edge room top to bottom in
the NFL. They go one through five with serious contributors.
You know, is he able to get the most out

(30:45):
of all that talent or do we feel like he
ultimately ends up muting it. That's something I'm curious to
watch for this season, and you know, if he does
live up type, maybe he deserves serious consideration. Ultimately, though
I'm giving it to Vance Joseph. I think he's maybe
worthy of a head coaching job. I think he puts

(31:06):
together a great defense for the second year in a row,
and it probably gets hired away from the Denver Broncos.
And if he does, I mean, what a boon that
would be for the Denver Broncos. If you get at
a diversity hiring candidate from your team, either a GM
or a head coach, you're compensated with two third round picks.

(31:28):
That's a third round pick in twenty twenty six, and
then they would get another in twenty twenty seven. And
I think it's not only valuable for that reason, but
it would also make it more likely they're able to
keep the afwormentioned Jim Leonard around, which I think would
keep the defense playing at a high level. Not saying
he would completely replace Vance Joseph, but I think he's

(31:49):
a guy you could trust to shepherd the defense into
the next rain. Got a break coming up here, but
when we get back, more Broncos A Country Awards coming
up right here on eight fifty KOA