The Denver Broncos offense needs a boost in the most significant way on Monday Night Football and rookie tight end Greg Dulcich could add an interesting wrinkle within the lineup. How is Broncos special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes adapting to the changes of having key special teams players being called up to start?
Greg Dulcich could add interesting wrinkle in Denver Broncos offense
The Denver Broncos are hoping to see what rookie draft selection Greg Dulcich can add to the offense as he prepares to make his potential debut on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Dulcich was designated to return earlier this week and has looked impressive in practice. His 6’4″ size is something the Broncos could utilize with quarterback Russell Wilson in the quick passing game. One thing that’s been noticeable with his return to the practice field is how fluid his movement is, tracking the football, planting his foot on the turf and accelerating to create space.
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett shared how Dulcich could add an interesting wrinkle inside the Broncos’ offense alongside other tight ends like Eric Saubert, Albert Okwuegbunam, Andrew Beck, and Eric Tomlinson.
“It’s going to allow us to do a lot of different things,” Hackett said regarding the flexibility Dulcich adds to personnel groupings. “You have another guy who can stretch the field vertically, a guy that strains in the run game and in pass protection. Anytime you can put those guys out there, their skill sets are so unique that it’ll be fun to have them out there.”
The Broncos will likely announce whether or not Dulcich, Justin Simmons, and Michael Ojemudia go from designated to return status to activated onto the 53-man roster.
Broncos special teams rolling with the punches of roster maneuvering
Under special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes, the Broncos have grown steadily in comparison to years past. Unfortunately, the Broncos’ offense and defense have encountered various injuries to starters that have pulled key players from special teams this season in elevated roles.
Stukes and his assistants have rolled with the punches and have done a tremendous job adapting to having to coach up and insert new players into critical roles, including long snapper after Jacob Bobenmoyer was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.
This week, Denver signed two long snappers to the practice squad to help find relief in Bobenmoyer’s absence. Mitchell Fraboni and Joe Fortunato have competed all week long to determine who gets the start on Monday Night. For Stukes and his staff, they’ll go the route of whoever has demonstrated the most consistency leading up to kickoff.
How does a staff prepare a new long snapper for the responsibilities needed in order to execute on special teams seamlessly? Pressure.
“We work them out, myself and [ST assistant coach Mike Mallory],” Stukes said. “We take them through drills to try and put them in adverse situations and put pressure on them to see how they respond to pressure. We also try to pay attention to how they learn, if a guy picks things up quickly, he’s got an advantage in my opinion.” Denver will announce who their long snapper against the Chargers will be leading up to kickoff.
For the Broncos matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, the special teams unit will have to make plays without Alex Singleton, one of their key core players, while he steps in at inside linebacker for Josey Jewell who is considered week to week with a knee sprain.
“To be honest with you I don’t think you can, right?” Stukes said regarding having to replace the production Singleton has offered to special teams this season. “You try to put the best core group of guys out there possible. You try to put them in place so they can be successful, but to lose Alex, I’m happy for him that he’s getting the opportunity to start and play defense like he did in Philadelphia, but you miss that type of player because he is a leader.”
Despite losing Singleton who will start on defense, Stukes and his staff will get key special teams ace P.J. Locke back after he missed the last two games due to a concussion as well as outside linebacker Aaron Patrick.
The Broncos will kick off against the Chargers on Monday Night Football at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN.