The excitement in the city is growing. The regular season kicked off Thursday night with the hated New England Patriots defeating the slightly less hated Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, Broncos Country must wait two days before they can begin their quest for a third championship. When the Baltimore Ravens come to town three players, either not on the roster last year or simply not starting, will have to come up big in order to start the 2015 season off right.
When the season kicked off last year, David Bruton Jr. was an aging, but respectable, career special teamer, C.J. Anderson was an undrafted backup running back and Evan Mathis was across the country playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. This season, at least in week one, all three will be facing tough matchups.
No. 3 — David Bruton Jr.
Bruton Jr. not only is the longest tenured Bronco on the team but he has accomplished that feat by playing almost his entire seven year career on special teams. However this week, due to T.J. Ward’s one-game suspension stemming from an altercation with a bartender shortly after his arrival to the team March 12, 2014, Bruton Jr. will get his seventh career start at safety.
His last start in the secondary came in last year’s regular season finale against the Oakland Raiders. While he only has 61 career defensive tackles and nine passes defended, he has become a leader in the locker room and in the community. Furthermore, his coaches’ statements this week reveal that they are more than confident in his abilities and preparation.
“David has worked as a starter a lot in camp. He was in the battle with ‘Stew’ (Darian Stewart) a lot. David is a talker. He’s being put into an environment where he needs to lead. David is a leader, his teammates named him captain. It’s an opportunity not only for him, but for Antonio [Smith] and [Vance] Walker, too. In this league, taking advantage of opportunities is what it’s all about,” head coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday.
Bruton Jr.’s special team’s coach, Joe DeCamillis also knows he has what it takes to start on defense and is happy to see the veteran get an opportunity.
“He’s just a playmaker. You guys see him every week and how hard he works. On the field, in the meeting room and on the practice field, everything he does is [like] a pro. He’s a pleasure to be around,” he told the media Thursday “I love to see him being able to play defense to be honest with you. It’s great. I’m glad for him. He’s still a main cog for us.”
Bruton Jr. has played against the Ravens five times in his career and has certainly game planned for the strong-armed Joe Flacco every time. Flacco, an eight year veteran, is coming off of arguably his best season and when asked about his keys to the game, Bruton Jr. had a quick response.
“You know you always see the big throws. Flacco has that big arm and you definitely see that. You see a productive run game. They always have that as well,” he said Wednesday. “As far as differences they don’t have Torrey Smith out there, you know their big speed guys but they have a quarterback that can get it anywhere.”
The Ravens lost Torrey Smith and the infamous Jacoby Jones to other teams but Steve Smith Sr. remains. Of course Bruton Jr. will be asked to plug the running game like Ward is known to do, but like he alluded to he will have to watch out for the big plays. Despite seeing so few starts at safety over his career Bruton Jr. prepares every day for the opportunity and now, Sunday, it has come and he stated empathically Wednesday that he is ready.
“I’m going to hold my own. I’m seven years in. I’m a grow man too. I am going to go out there and make the plays I need to make.”
No. 2 — Evan Mathis
The big reliable right guard, Mathis came to town just in the nick of time on August 26 via free agency. After looking for a new home the entire offseason he agreed to come to the Broncos for a fraction of what he was seeking originally from the Eagles. To be a part of a contender was his main contention.
Now the Associated Press All-Pro choice from 2013 is ready to make his Broncos debut on Sunday on only two week’s worth of practice. Due to his experience in the NFL, Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison are not concerned.
“Evan’s played more football than anybody on that offensive line. I feel very comfortable with that. He had good work today. If there was anybody up front that’s the most experienced, it’s him, even though he hasn’t been working with us. I feel really good about where he’s at.” Kubiak said Monday.
Entering his eleventh NFL season, Mathis is looking to regain his 2011-13 form after a slight down year that was cut in half by a week one medial collateral ligament injury in his knee. Mathis has allowed the fewest sacks (5.5) since 2011 among starting NFL guards and during that time he ranked in the top two overall guards according to Pro Football Focus. He is ready for the challenge of joining a new team and an inexperienced one at center and left tackle. Even though he has barely been around long enough to learn the playbook he discussed the easy transition Wednesday.
“It really wasn’t that bad. You just have to get here. A lot of stuff really carries over from system to system, and I’ve played in a lot of systems. The main thing is learning the verbiage and what they call each play.”
Mathis will have to contend with conditioning issues that relate to missing an entire preseason and playing at mile high elevation yet he has said several times he is peak physical shape. He will also have to go against one of the most formidable front sevens in the NFL. Chris Canty, Brandon Williams, Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley, Elvis Dumervil and Daryl Smith are all returning and will be an extremely tough test. Mathis, who has already stated confidence in himself and his new teammates, stated Wednesday what he believes the transition will be like this season.
“It’s going to be very smooth.”
No. 1 — C.J. Anderson
Anderson is entering his third year but is just months removed from his first Pro Bowl experience due to an explosive second half of the 2014 season. Despite his success and national notoriety, he is remaining humble and holds onto the attitude of an undrafted free agent. Sunday he will enter the season as the starter and he and the team believes he has grown into the player the Broncos will need.
“I think he has grown. I think sometimes you forget that he is a young player, but he’s played a lot of football in his young career. He’s been in a lot of situations, whether it’s two-minute drills or faced a lot of blitzes, he’s seen a lot of defenses and he’s really a bright player. I think he has a good concept of what defenses are doing,’ Manning said Wednesday.
“He kind of has an understanding of which way the defense is rotating, so he know where the blitz might occur. That is development right there and that comes with experience. He has used his playing time, his repetitions and his young career really to his advantage and to make him a more confident player.”
That skill set will come in extremely handy when dealing with a Ravens defense that compiled 49 sacks in 2014. Suggs and Dumervil will be the main culprits that may try and get to Manning in the backfield. Each player had double-digit 2014 sack totals as they continue to be some of the most feared in the league. Anderson certainly showed he can run with the best of them in 2014 but Wednesday he commented on how the mental side of the game is becoming easier for him.
“I think that it’s a little stronger. It’s broadened after getting so many reps last season, and seeing all of the reps now. You can understand what defenses are really trying to do. It’s starting to click more and I’m a fast learner, so it’s working.”
Anderson’s season opener begins with a tough assignment against big-time pass rushers and the fourth ranked run defense from 2014. Beyond that he will be looking to show the Broncos and the NFL that he can carry the load for an entire season. He will certainly be looking to rush for well over his career high regular season rushing total of 849 yards.
The Broncos season is just days away and the anticipation for Kubiak’s head coaching debut is growing by the second. His team is loaded with talent but as every year begins it is accompanied by questions. Bruton Jr., Mathis and Anderson are just a few, but arguably the most important ones to answer in week one. Football season becomes official for the Broncos Sunday and the town and entire region will certainly be hoping it starts off on a favorable note.
Prediction: DEN 23, BAL 16
