Jamaal Charles has been the talk of Denver and the NFL world since signing with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday afternoon, and he continued to be just that during phase two of the Broncos’ offseason conditioning program.
Denver resumed offseason training activities at the team’s headquarters on Wednesday, where linebacker Shane Ray and cornerback Bradley Roby met the media and shared their thoughts on their new teammate.
Ray is excited about the addition, believing it will pump life into an offense that averaged only 2.2 touchdowns per game last year. That, Ray said, will open things up for the pass rush.
“Me personally, I’m so excited for our offense and what they can do now because as a defense, we feel like if you can score 14 points, we’re going to win the game. This offense is looking like it’s going to do way more than that, and I can’t wait. As a pass rusher, they’re going to have to throw the ball if we’re playing up,” Ray said.
That will mean better opportunities for Roby to make interceptions against opposing quarterbacks. He just wants fans to be sure they know who comes down with them, as he and Charles share a similar dreadlocked hair style.
“I also don’t want Broncos’ fans to get me mixed up [with him]. I know, the dreads (laughing). Everyone wanted to call me [Former S] Omar [Bolden] back in the day and [Former S David] Bruton. I hope they can see the difference for sure.”
As an entrenched star on the defense, there should be no doubt Broncos fans will know the difference between Roby and Charles. The big difference fans will want to see is an improvement in the Denver running game, which ranked 27th in the league last year. Given Charles’ success in Kansas City, there’s a good chance they will.
Both Ray and Roby faced Charles and the Chiefs in 2015 in a memorable Week 2 Thursday Night Football game Denver won in Kansas City thanks in part to a pair of fumbles by Charles, including one recovered for a touchdown by Roby. Still, that game doesn’t appear to sway their opinion of the two-time All-Pro.
“I think that’s a great addition, a really good addition,” Roby said. “I think that he’ll help us out immediately. When we played against him, I thought he was one of the best in the league, if not the best. When we watched film on him and played against him and felt his cuts and things like that, I thought he was the best. It’s a great pickup.”
Ray, who was charged with covering Charles on several occasions in that game, remembers what a challege it was stopping the dynamic back.
“I tried to cheat out because my responsibility was to cover Jamaal to the flat. That little hesitation I had of being out too wide trying to make sure he didn’t outrun me. He was able to cut the ball in and take it for a touchdown. It was just a split second. It was so fast. That’s the kind of playmaking ability that he has. That’s why I’m so excited. I don’t have to worry about that, I’m good,” he said.
Roby is well aware of what a mismatch Charles can be for any defender on the field.
“He’s a mismatch with every linebacker. He’s a mismatch for a lot of safeties. I know [Offensive Coordinator] Coach [Mike] McCoy is going to do a great job of working him in,” Roby said.
Ray, who is a Kansas City native, knows that Chiefs fans are feeling sick about the loss of the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
“I know they’re sick back at home [in Kansas City]. They’re sick, Ray said laughing. “I can’t tell you how many calls I’ve gotten, ‘No man. Not Jamaal Charles, man.’ For us, it’s a great addition. Second to [Former NFL RB] Priest Holmes, Jamaal Charles is probably one of the greatest running backs in Chiefs history. To acquire him and his play-making ability just adds a completely different dynamic to our offense. The fact that now we can run downhill with guys like [G Ron] Leary and [RB] C.J. [Anderson], but also spread the field out and have Jamaal Charles receive the ball out of the backfield or those stretch plays with his kind of speed, that opens everything up. It’s going to open everything up for our receivers.”
