With Vic Fangio running the show and a stacked front seven, the only question on the Broncos defense was, ‘are the cornerbacks up to snuff?’
So far, the answer is a resounding yes.
A.J. Bouye is playing like his Pro-Bowl-caliber former self, Bryce Callahan is looking like he’s back to 100 percent, but the winner of the battle for the No. 3 cornerback job is still undecided.
“He’s got good instincts,” Fangio said when asked how Bouye has been able to come away with so many interceptions and big plays in camp. “When you couple instincts with experience, you have a chance to be around the ball more often. He’s dove himself into learning our system, all the fine points that could help with corner. He’s picking them up quickly. He’s a good addition. We’re really happy to have him both as a player and a person. Looking forward to him.”
If Bouye continues to make plays like that in real games, it’ll be huge for the Broncos defense that was tied for 24th in takeaways last season. The chemistry on defense should also help boost those poor takeaway numbers.
“[The chemistry] is developing great,” Callahan said. “It’s a great group of guys. Easy to get along with and they’re picking up the scheme really well. I’m excited to get out there on the field with them.”
He also emphasized his health heading into the 2020 season.
“Right now, I’m 100 percent,” Callahan told the media in a post-practice press conference. “I put the foot behind me. I’m not really feeling it at all out there, so [I’m] moving forward from the foot.”
That would also be huge for the Broncos, considering that last time Callahan was healthy he surrendered the fewest yards per snap of any slot cornerback in the league. Denver will need Bouye and Callahan to both perform at that pre-2019 level, with the third cornerback job still undecided.
“I’m hoping to see that it’s so obvious that you guys can make the pick for us,” Fangio said. “I don’t think that will happen. I think they’re all very close, but I’d really like to see one guy surface above the rest and go grab the position and not win it by default. They all have their plusses and minuses. They’ve got to accentuate their plusses more, eliminate their minuses. Hopefully, we’ll find that guy. We’ve got about 19 days to do it.”
“It’s always good to have competition,” Callahan added. “That’s what’s going to bring the best on our team. To have three solid dudes fight for that position is always good for our team.”
If either De’Vante Bausby, Isaac Yiadom or Davontae Harris are able to cement themselves next to Bouye and Callahan, the Broncos should have one of, if not the best defense in the league.
