Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and his snap count is limited by the presence of both Von Miller and rookie Bradley Chubb, but Barrett’s making the most of his opportunity, and impressing with the limited time he’s being given.
Following the Broncos’ 20-19 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Barrett joined Nate Lundy, Shawn Drotar and T.J. Carpenter on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 to discuss the extra-point he blocked – which turned out to be the difference in the game – and his expectations for himself and the team.
“We know we can get a lot better… the first half, the offense wasn’t doing too much; the defense was letting [the Raiders] drive,” Barrett said. “We were holding them to field goals, but we still gave up too many yards. We also know that games like that; that’s how you are going to have to win playoff games and Super Bowl games.”
Even in his limited snaps, Barrett rates as the Broncos’ third-best defender (81.9) by Pro Football Focus; collecting a sack and three tackles for loss on the season already, plus the critical, aforementioned blocked kick. “[Derek] Wolfe, Shelby [Harris] and [Adam] Gotsis… they all did a good job of occupying the guys they had to occupy to get me to come free, and that’s what happened,” Barrett said, explaining the blocked extra point. “I came free, and had to make the layup.”
Barrett wouldn’t take much credit for his game-changing play. “There’s nothing special in doing what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “If you do something out of the ordinary – something spectacular – then you can applaud… but in your everyday job? You don’t need a handclap for it. I had the layup; they made it free for me. If I’d have had to beat somebody, If I’d have gone through three people, then I would have done something special, but it literally opened up for me; I just had to run through the open gap and put my hands up.”
“It was part of the game plan, but I didn’t do [anything] special. The guys that helped me out? They probably did more than I did.”
Sorry – this audio content is no longer available..
Sorry – this audio content is no longer available.
Catch Mornings at 5280′ with Nate Lundy, Shawn Drotar and T.J. Carpenter every weekday from 7a-9a on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup. Download all-new the Mile High Sports Radio mobile app for Apple or Android.