In order for the Denver Broncos defense to be consistent all season long, they will need Jonathon Cooper and Riley Moss to play well.
The Denver Broncos had one of the most inconsistent defenses in the National Football League during their 2023 campaign.
Over the course of the offseason, the team made numerous moves to help improve their play defensively in 2024. On paper, it’s definitely more talented than last year’s crop of players. Without question, a good defensive performance in ‘24 will certainly help take pressure off Bo Nix and the young Broncos’ offense.
There were ups and downs to the Broncos’ Week 1 effort against the Seattle Seahawks. They played well through two quarters but suffered some breakdowns in the final 30 minutes. Overall, Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph was happy with the effort from the players on his side of the ball.
“The rush was pretty effective. Obviously in the first half, we had more third downs and more rush opportunities. In the second half, it was more first and second down football, which we didn’t like,” stated Joseph.
#BroncosCountry LIVE: DC Vance Joseph meets the media https://t.co/pXEIP9NWJe
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 12, 2024
“The rush is going to be consistent. We have good enough players, and we have good enough scheme and cover guys to rush the passer. That won’t be a concern.”
Jonathon Cooper wasn’t one of the new additions to the team this spring and summer, but he was one of the best performers on defense in Week 1. He started off his contract year with a bang by registering two sacks, seven pressures and one of the highest EDGE rusher grades for his efforts against the Seahawks.
He has come a long way since his draft stock tumbled due to a heart condition and has become a key cog in Joseph’s defense. Joseph lauded Cooper’s efforts and his development since coming into the league. Moreover, spoke with the utmost confidence about what he can achieve on a week-to-week basis.
“He’s only improved each year I’ve been here in the last two years. He is a good football player,” remarked Joseph.
Jonathon Cooper in Week 1:
79.3 PFF grade (12th among EDGEs)
2.0 sacks (T-3rd)
7 pressures (T-4th)
29.4% pass rush win rate (5th) pic.twitter.com/f02xOV7FP4— PFF DEN Broncos (@PFF_Broncos) September 11, 2024
“Versus the run and versus the pass, he wins his one-on-ones. He is the same every day, so I’m not surprised that he was winning one-on-ones.”
Another veteran Joseph found time to praise was second-year cornerback Riley Moss. He had a tough assignment going up against veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett. He is a player I believe is one of the savviest route runners and underrated receivers in the game.
Truth be told, any cornerback playing opposite of Patrick Surtain II is going to get tested. Quarterbacks aren’t going to throw at the All-Pro because they know he is a shutdown cornerback. That was definitely the case with Moss who had a lot of passes thrown in his direction.
It’s not realistic to think Moss will be a top performer ever week and shut down opposing receivers. He missed a lot of last year and is still learning on the go. However, if he can do enough to mitigate big plays and not give up too much ground—the Broncos should be just fine defensively.
“He was always in the spot to make the play and that’s what you ask young guys to do. Compete and challenge guys every play. He tackled well. That was encouraging for a young corner to go out there and tackle that back one-on-one a couple of times,” stated Joseph.
Broncos CB Riley Moss, on his 1st start — & Tyler Lockett’s game-clinching catch: “I was in good position & he just made a play. And sometimes you get the short end of the stick…I’m still pissed off about it, but that’s why we play multiple games, so you can get better.” pic.twitter.com/rqSvhpSBgW
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 13, 2024
“That’s encouraging. He played with confidence and he wasn’t shaken by anything. He’s going to be fine.”